Welcome to our first Codex entry! Every Friday, we will focus on one topic from one of the upcoming books, or one of the books that have been published. The Codex will review what is commonly known about that topic in the world, even if just at a scholarly level. There will still be mysteries, but if you are interested in learning more about something you read in the book or in another blog post, the Codex is the way to go.
Today's topic is lifted from North Star, my first book. The nurain.
The nurain are the race of Riyya kin'Nanimah, the main protagonist of North Star. In layman's terms, one could call them centaurs (and in fact, Riyya herself states that foreigners use that derogatory term for her people). The term nurain, of unknown origins (although it seems to share the same origins as the names of other races, such as the lythrain or the caidain, possibly implying that the suffix "-ain" might mean "people" or "species"), refers to creatures with a human-like upper body, and a horse's lower body. The nurain's lower bodies are not designed for heavy work, but for speed and endurance. Accordingly, the nurain tend to be a nomadic people.
There are many legends about the origins of the nurain, but none can fully explain why the (admittedly very fragmentary) records of previous Ages, as compiled painstakingly by the Knights of the Ashes among others, do not mention the nurain until the Fourth Age. Nor do the legends explain the similarities between the nurain and other creatures sharing a similar anatomy, with a lower body of a different animal (such as the goat-like caidain). The nurain are sometimes derogatorily called one of the "Bestial Races", but this doesn't explain much, either. Some scholars suggest it's very likely the original nurain were sorcerous creations, which would also explain the small numbers and restricted geography of these creatures. But if this is true, who created them and why is a question no one has been able to answer, yet.
Most known nurain live in Ibrin on the plains of Irig, a vast temperate to subtropical savannah-like environment which the tribes roam endlessly. The exceptions are few - the exiles, the disillusioned, the pariahs - who choose to live instead in one of Irig's border towns, the region's only permanent settlements. But aside from these exceptions, nurain culture is fairly monolithic, and the various tribes tend to be friendly to each other, although occasional feuds may arise.
The nurain can live for almost twice as long as a human, and learn very early on how to live off the savannah. Many become hunters, for the nomadic tribes do not typically cultivate crops; however, occasionally, a nurain may be born with a sorcerous affinity. Since there are few nurain that can use sorcery, it is very unlikely that such a gifted individual may find a teacher who will properly develop their gift. Bereft of this option, their sorcery remains stunted, able to perform simple tasks, but unable to stretch its reach beyond those, and certainly not versatile enough to undertake the Ritual of Heaven's Eye. Riyya kin'Nanimah was one such individual.
Sadly, the nomadic tribes of nurain must constantly be on their guard. While other tribes may not be significant dangers, the nurain are seen by people in other kingdoms as exotic, and they can serve as good laborers. Therefore, it is not uncommon for slavers to try and send a party into Irig, hoping to capture some nurain to enslave and sell outside of the borders of their land. Often, these slavers encounter the full wrath of the nurain tribes. However, occasionally, large or well-equipped parties may succeed, often leaving behind a trail of blood. This is what happened to the Nanimah tribe, of which Riyya was one of the few survivors.
The nurain are a deeply spiritual people who worship a natural deity they call the Celestial Steed. The Steed has four (or five) children, each of whom represents broadly one of the major foci of nurain life. A storyteller, a hunter, a warrior, a healer, and an outcast. But the nurain have also an abiding and deep respect for Nature itself, and are a thoughtful people.
Sadly, their numbers are also shrinking with each generation. Partially due to attrition, but certainly also due to a decline in fertility, the nurain have been dwindling as a species for the last two millennia. Most scholars regretfully agree that in a few centuries, the nurain may all be gone from the world; when this happens, the Twinverse will lose one of its most spiritual species, and it will be poorer for it.
We will talk more about the nurain's origins and those of the other so-called "Bestial Races"; for now, what do you think of the nurain themselves? Chime in the comments, and thank you for joining us for our first weekly Codex!
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