Name: Nomads of Dun-Marr
Leader(s): Nenatalev Kabal Age (65): Elder of the Nomads, and undisputed Leader of the Elves. She is a young Elder, but the old Elder died before most thought he would. However, Nena was quick to learn and skilled and grasping all aspects of the Dun-Marr society, including the difficult mix of respect and wariness for the Arrow Whisperers. So, there was no question when she took the head of the Nomads and began to lead them.
Hannah Saal Age (160): The unofficial head of the small group of Arrow Whisperers, Hannah has a strong grasp of the power and also a decent skill in the use of a bow, making her a potent addition to the Nomads, and giving her a strong grasp of pesudo-leadership over the other Arrow Whisperers.
History: Nomads as far back as the mind can go, the Dun-Marr travel everywhere. No being has crossed as much ground as the Dun-Marr, and this makes them great pathfinders and guides, when you can find the camp.
National Culture: Wanderers by nature, the Dun-Marr mostly live off the land, and so have a great respect for it. They avoid conflict where they can, but are not above taking contracts to assassinate people if they require the money, since they take out their mark and then move on before anyone ever suspects them. They are not, as a rule, suspicious or disdainful of the outsiders, but common opinion is that nobody can be properly trusted. Traded with maybe, but not trusted. Other Elves are less subject to this, but some do not entirely trust them, as they are not part of the clan.
They hold their Elder's word in the upmost regard, but also no Dun-Marr fears to discuss the said Word if they feel it is made in error, or would be detrimental to the clan. They are very hardy travelers, able to tackle nearly any terrain, and settle in any climate, but they prefer a forest where they can relax and hunt animals. They have a great deal of skill with their bows, and only the very young or very old do nothing to assist. In times of great need, they can act as a psuedo-army, but without any professional warriors, they are more akin to a guerrilla force than anything else.
The ranking amongst the Nomads is referred by the bow they carry, and the materials used it in. The majority of the clan uses a Recurve, which was made from three different woods, each giving name to the rank. Birch, being the lowest, and usually reserved for the younglings, bring a very common wood and easy to craft in large amounts. The middle tier, for the standard hunters of the camp was Oak, a wood of moderate quality and quantity, which created good bows for the hunting of many different quarries. The highest class, for their most skilled Elves was Yew. Yew is a rare wood that is expensive because of it's rarity. However, it makes for the best of bows, and the quality is sublime, which is why it is reserved only for those who prove themselves worthy of it.
The other bow used is a Laminated Composite, mostly wielded by the Arrow Whisperers and superior to the Recurves that the rest of the Nomads use, but many times more difficult to create. There is an Esoteric group of hunters that have mastered the Art of the Bow who also are able to own these bows, but they are extremely rare, and make up only 0.4% of the Nomads. The Laminated Composite bow is made up of several matierals, Yew, horn and Sinew. This allows them to use their magic to it's fullest ability, since the Magic is partially reliant on the bow.
The Arrow Whisperers are both respected and stepped softly around because of their abilities, and this small group of elves can come off rather haughty because of this. However, they are Elf like any other, and can be spoken to and even befriended.
Population demographics (races, please describe[no need for a novel though]): Total population: 6000
100% Dun'Marr
Humanoid in appearance, The Dun'Marr are only distinguished from humans by their pointy ears and strange skin. It appears almost waxy in standard climate, but can change rapidly to cope with the climate they currently stay in. Very few of these Elves have a bulky build, due to that fact that large muscles are a hindrance when trying to hunt. However, they are not exactly slender either, their active life style and constant usage of high-pound bowstrings have created a rather toned body, one that only the very young lack. The very old have the look of reduced but once powerful bodies, but are not as apparently frail as the old of others. The hair of each Elf is a natural preference, and many enjoy having it long, so every Dun'Marr is skilled in braiding so they can hunt without being restricted by it. Their digestive system have evolved to be able to filter out more of the bad stuff in food, allowing them to consume what would make others ill without problem. Potently posionus mushrooms or heavily rotten meat will still make the Dun'Marr sick, or kill them in severe cases, but they can withstand more than the average race when it comes to bad food.
Major Religion: The Dun'Marr have no religion that can be seen by others, but and do not worship in the conventional sense. However, they believe the Earth that they walk is a Mother to everything, and so they respect all things that come from The Earth. Killing of animals is done almost ritualistically, and some apologise for having to take the life. They refuse to waste anything of a kill, feeling that pelt or bone left discarded is an afront to their Mother. Once a Dun'Marr dies, he is stripped of clothing and left in a small hole, so that he may give to the Earth what he took in life. On the rare occasion that a Dun'Marr commits a crime of great magnitude, the body is burned so that they can not give to the Earth and foul it with their bodies. There is no gods, no priests, no temples and no name, and it is very hard to understand the religion if the person has not been born into it. While this is similar to Tagschlictist religion, they do not call it such.
Other Religions: Some Elves like to believe there is a being - not necessarily a god - that watches every arrow let loose from the bow. This god is called 'Mahaā Kaāvayaya'. Roughly translated as 'He (the religion does not specify gender, but is translated as 'he') who Watches. A shot that would appear to miss hitting his target or visa versa is knowing as 'Mahaa's Nudge', referring to that fact that the arrow has been nudged to hit or miss by this overwatching being. Bragging about one's skill, or making claims about how well you could make a shot, is thought of as 'Tempting Mahaa' And so very few actually do this.
Location: (Nomadic)
Ookawa