Tamian

Tamian are a race that live in the kingdom of Sunsgrove, sharing it with the Lutren. The Tamian have a special relationship with the forest, especially the trees. Their capital city is Terria.

History

Before the Treaty of Cenolau, the Tamian were a close-knit community that looked down upon the scattered Lutren, seeing them as inferior, because they were land-bound creatures and desired their land.

By the Second Era, the Tamian and the Lutren kept to themselves, staying in their territory and not interacting. But that changed when the Polcan arrived on the western coasts during the war in 2E:98. The Lutren and the Tamian put aside their differences to defend themselves. The Tamian still largely kept to themselves after Sunsgrove was formed.

A few years after Sunsgrove was united, but before the Ermehn were driven out of Aisling and before the Treaty of Cenolau was created, the Canid came to Sunsgrove for help, claiming the Ermehn intended to invade their land. Sunsgrove believed the Canid and helped them fight the Ermehn.

Currently, the Tamian and the Lutren are the only known races to have formed a lasting alliance or to share a kingdom.

Geographic Distribution

Because of the closeness of the two races, many Tamian can be seen in Lutra.

Some Tamian live in Nessa, enough to warrant a local ambassador to look out for their interests.

Culture

The Tamian live their daily life and define their military strategy by the Tenets of Tesque, their martial art. Most Tamian can be described as workaholics and remain active for as long as the sun is in the sky or longer, and the vast majority of Tamian spend their entire lives in the Western Deep.

The oak leaf is the symbol of the Tamian- not just as a political icon, but also as a cultural unifier. All Tamian, even those who aren't patriotic, can wear it comfortably. It is seen in many places through Terria.

Because they need their tails in their natural environment, Tamian avoid tail ornamentation like rings.

Painting is a form of Tamian art.

Architecture

The workaholic Tamian, who are comfortable sleeping in hammocks or on the treetops, have little need for a house. The idea of lounging about at home is foreign to them, and the Tamian have a very loose idea of ownership.

The closest thing that the average Tamian has to a home is a network of communal hammocks that lie toward the edges of the city. What houses do exist in Terria are reserved for the nobility, with the structures passed down from generation to generation. Even then, the health of the trees is kept in mind. As such, the homes are only partially carved into the trees, with structural supports, balconies and walkways that stick out from the side of the tree giving more room for the occupant. It is common to see plaques inscribed with The Tenets hanging on the walls.

High-class Tamian citizens have more visitors from outside Terria, so their homes are usually bigger than the average house and built on the ground. One such example is the throne room. It is a two-storied structure, with the top floor used as the King's living space and the bottom floor serving as a place for audiences with the King.

Currency

The Tamian use high quality amber drops as currency. They harvest the sap from special trees and then grade it by quality. The highest quality amber is shaped into uniform pieces by master craftsmen, whose families have specialized in this craft for generations. The next grade of amber is turned into jewelry. In Nessa's marketplace, a discounted amber pendent is worth three hundred silvers.

Etiquette

Tamian have a variety of bows they use for different situations, from a simple head bow to an elaborate gesture designed to show trust in the one the Tamian is respecting. This complex position, formally called a “proper bow”, was developed to help the land-bound races feel more secure when meeting with the Tamian because of their ability to execute surprise attacks.

Contorting into the awkward position of the proper bow removed the advantage the Tamian had over those landbound races and set a positive tone of trust. Despite this, the Tamian know the quickest ways out of the bow should they put their trust in the wrong individual.

Food

The Tamian rely on the plants of the Western Deep for their food. Commonly seen in establishments around Terria are beverages made from fermented grains and berries, breads packed with seeds or sweetened with sap, and fresh vegetables, which may be served by themselves or in vegetable soups. Noodles can be made from local starches such as buckwheat. Such noodle dishes often have vegetables diced up in them for extra flavor. The Tamian excel at finding uses for normally inedible ingredients like danberry, which is fermented into wine. Danberry wine, nut and fruit bread, and treesap candy in particular are foods unique to the Tamian culture. In winter time, spruce beer is a specialty of the Tamian.

In general, Tamian cannot digest meat. However, a few Tamian may eat some fish.

Music

The Tamian like flutes, whistles, and simple string instruments like the fiddle, the last of which is a Lutren influence.

Religion

Tamian believe in a pantheon of gods, and that their entire civilization was founded by the God-king Tesque, whose exploits include driving back Treewalkers with his bare hands. Sermons about his brave deeds are still told in Terria today from stone daises that the citizens gather around. Some Tamian believe that these arboreal origins make them superior to the other races in the Four Kingdoms.

The Western Deep is considered holy ground, because that is where Tesque landed when he fell from the heavens. The Tamian believe that the trees are gateways to the heavens if one should climb all the way to the top. Killing one of the giant trees is a crime as serious as killing a fellow Tamian, and cursing the trees is akin to cursing Tesque himself.

They believe that loved ones who die watch over the living from the highest trees of the Western Deep.

The Tamian have a myth of a people with tree-like ears, but no such creature has ever been documented anywhere in the Four Kingdoms. According to Gairian scholars, the myth of a part-tree creature is a concept unique to the Tamian.

Language

Tamian will swear by Tesque is surprised. The idiom 'a Tamian without a tree' is used to refer to someone who is out of their comfort zone.

Script

The Tamian writing system forms syllable with certain sounds instead of replacing letters. It takes inspiration from visual appearance of trees and branches- early scholars considered it a worthy display of reverence for Tesque.

Military

Most Tamian warriors wield a bow and arrow and a sword.

Tamian military strategy is exemplified in the Tenets of Tesque.

Scouts

Scouts serve as steadfast watchmen over the untamed Western Deep, away from any thick fighting. However, the work of a scout is still dangerous, because of the carnivorous Treewalkers that inhabit the Western Deep. Platoons of scouts regularly patrol the Western Deep to prevent the Treewalkers from getting too close to Terria, and their members are familiar with how to handle sentry duty. Despite the dangerous nature of their work, the scouts receive little recognition. Scouts tend to be quiet and solitary by nature.

Tamian scouts keep their uniforms simple to allow safer and quicker navigation of the trees. Tamian scouts carry a lightweight Treewalker Blade, which can kill a treewalker with one blow.

The scouts have several tactics they use against enemies. Their primary weapons are misdirection and confusion, and have been known to lead foes into the lair of a treewalker. They may also knock an enemy from a high branch.

Royal Guard

While little has been said about the Royal Guard itself, the Captain of the Royal Guard has many responsibilities. It is a merit-based position. Many expectations are put upon the captain, who must be the ideal Tamian warrior- a superior tactician, agile and fearless. The captain must also be acquainted with Tamian Law and a Master of Tesque, as well as being of noble blood, which means having worked under the royal family for the past few generations.

The Captaincy is a prestigious position that earns respect from all of the Seven Races. The Captaincy involves direct interaction with the other kingdoms in the world, and it is an enviable post for adventurous Tamian who desire the chance to leave the Western Deep.

As for duties, the captain must uphold the law of Terria, and mediate the minor disputes of the Tamian nobility. To the King, the captain serves as an adviser on the matter of security and oversees the defense of the royal family. If necessary, the captain is expected to give his life to save the King's.

Politics

The Tamian have ambassadors in Nessa to represent both Terrian interests and the Tamian who live in Nessa. Gair and Aisling at the local Sunsgrovian Embassies.

The Tamian are in an alliance with the Lutren and share the kingdom of Sunsgrove. Sunsgrove itself is allied with the Canid of Aisling. If the Canid are attacked, Sunsgrove must send aid.

Notable Tamian

• King Dabheid
• Caldus
• Captain Quinlan
• Ambassador Rowan
• Ambassador Janik
• Scout Captain Crim

Gallery

A Tamian scout takes aim at a Treewalker.

The Tamian according to a Felis text.

Trivia

• The Tamian are based on red squirrels, and their name comes from the genus of the American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus).
• The friendship of the Lutren and the Tamian are a "direct homage" to Brian Jacques' Redwall series, where the otters and the squirrels are close allies.