OVERVIEW AND HISTORY

The Tir are an unusual, gypsy-like, nomadic race.   They are seen as flamboyant; energetic, playful, colourful, and artistic.  They are a rather musical group as a whole, which is evidenced by the lilting, musical tones of their spoken language.    Throughout history, they have typically travelled in caravans of loosely related family groups and were rarely known to settle in one place for longer than a year, often moving with the seasons in a migratory pattern.  

Their nomadic and gypsy-like traditions and behaviour have often resulted in misunderstandings with other races in the past, leading to mistrust and even, in some cases, intense discrimination against the Tir.  Their wandering lifestyle was often seen as a disguise for deviant and criminal behaviour, and they were quite regularly the first to be accused when a crime was committed.  The Tyeni were responsible for the worst of this discrimination, and across Aagos the Tir were often enslaved by the Tyeni and those under their rule.

While slavery has since been eradicated, the centuries of repetitive subjugation of the Tirrish people have resulted in a distinct division between their public persona and their private or 'true' selves.  Publicly, the Tir are stoic, despite their often flamboyant dress and behaviour, for the most part calmly accepting circumstances, and rarely, if ever, expressing any negative emotion.  Their internal, true selves, consisting of their emotions, dreams, and goals, are typically only known to those closest to them, and rarely exhibited outside of the home.

Discrimination against the Tir by established governments, along with the nomadic lifestyle which some still maintain, has resulted in an inherent distrust of those in leadership positions, and a tendency for the Tir to rebel against any defined form of authority.  This has become so cultural that very few Tir maintain a surname or patronym, and titles or political rankings within the Tirrish race are unheard of.

The carefree lifestyle, which is heartily embraced by many Tir, has resulted in very loose family ties at best.  Tirrish caravans are usually composed of individuals with compatible personalities or similar interests, rather than blood ties.   Monogamy is restrictive, and is therefore not a trait that is particularly valued by the Tir.  While they do value their heritage, they are light-hearted about it, and taking lovers from other races is quite acceptable, and does occur.  When these relationships result in half-breed offspring, the children are accepted as equals with all full-blooded Tir, with the only exception to this being, for obvious reasons, the Tyeni, or any with mixed Tyeni blood.  Those caught taking a Tyeni as a lover are treated as if they were Tyeni themselves, or worse, and have on occasion been attacked or even executed for this 'crime' against their people.

The Tir have no official written language of their own, and though they have borrowed the human alphabet to create a make-shift written language, it is bare-bones and often used for little more than brief communication and trade.   Tirrish history therefore, has been passed down via oral traditions, with storytellers highly valued within the caravans.  Because of this, stories have changed from telling to retelling, and from group to group, becoming quickly about the aesthetic value of the story, rather than the facts.    Even to the present day, a Tir will often embellish a retelling of an event, to make it more interesting.  This is not typically an intentional deception.  To the Tir, the facts are secondary to the entertainment of telling and hearing the story.

VITAL STATISTICS
 

Name of Race: Tir, plural Tir  (adjective: Tirrish)

Language:  Tir 

Height range:  

Males: 6' 3" - 6'11" norm (with extremes ranging from 5'10" - 7'3") 

Females: 5' 8" - 6'2" norm (with extremes ranging from 5'5" to 6'6") 

Weight range:  

Males: 130 - 200 lb.  

Females: 110 - 180 lb.  

Life span: Child 1 - 12, Young Adult 13 - 20, Adult 21 - 65, Old age 66 - 100 

Build: Tall and lean with toned, rather than bulky, muscle.

Hair colour range:  Pale to golden blondes and light reds and browns.  Full-blooded Tir do not have dark hair. 

Eye colour range:  Greens  and blues are most common, with hazel occurring occasionally.  Full-blooded Tir do not have dark eyes. 

Skin colour range:  Pale cream to soft tans.  

Any other differences from the 'norm':  Narrow, elongated, flexible ears that can be moved independently of each other, lifting and pivoting without the need to turn the head. 

Population: 3,500  

Number of villages: 1. (Perran) 
 

Location of villages: Perran is located on the continent of Tarkas. Those that do not live in the trading village of Perran are scattered throughout the world, typically living among the other races. 
 

Average number of offspring per family: The typical female Tir will give birth to 2-3 children, though males may father many more than that. 

Type of culture:  The Tir are inherently a nomadic, gypsy-like people.  Since the Cataclysm however, many have settled into larger cities and villages, modifying the culture of the people living there, or adopting it entirely. 

Technology Level: Low, typically the Tir make use of technology borrowed from other cultures. 

Weapon Types: Small arms such as daggers and short swords are common among the Tir though many traditionally favour spears and spear-like javelins which have traditionally been made of wood with bone or stone heads, although metals have also begun to be used with the Tirrish integration into other cultures and societies.

Armour Types:  If the Tir wear armour at all, it is likely to be leather or hide.  Very little metal is used, and it would be rare to see a Tir in anything heavier than studded leather as they typically rely on their speed and quick reactions to keep them alive when hunting.  Serious militaristic combat is rare for the Tirrish people as a whole. 

Building Type:  Tents fashioned from brightly coloured fabrics and leather, and other make-shift buildings are common among the Tir, given their nomadic heritage.  However, those who have made cities their home after the Cataclysm often use the house and building structures of that culture. 

Main Foods They Eat:  Traditionally, the Tir are hunters and gatherers, and as such their diet has tended to consist of wild meat such as venison and rabbit, fish, wild vegetables and herbs.   Tir living in the cities may adopt the dietary customs of those they live with however. 

Typical Clothing Style:  The Tir are, as a whole, an artistic and somewhat flamboyant race who finds significance in colour.  Brightly coloured, gypsy-like garments with vibrant accessories such as sashes and head-scarves, and jewellery are common among the Tir, both male and female, though more sombre styles are also accepted - a Tir dresses to fit their personality.  Tir living within the cities often hold on to this traditional style of dress, though it may have become somewhat muted as they have assimilated into other cultures.  To a Tir, the colours of one's clothing and accessories often are seen as a way to honour or worship their chosen deity or deities, as well as a way to express their internal, 'true' selves which are otherwise kept quite private. 

Typical Occupations:  The nomadic tendencies of the Tir have often prevented them from becoming involved with occupations that require settling, such as farming.  Even within the cities, Tir tend to migrate towards occupations and professions that support this aspect of their nature.  They are, as a whole, a creative people, and many renowned artisans have been of Tirrish ancestry.   Many Tir are artists and craftsmen, even if they consider it more of a hobby than a true profession.  Others are drawn towards the wild places, working as hunters and gatherers.  Very few Tir have traditionally been sailors, although for those born and raised within the cities, it is becoming more common.  Given their outwardly peaceful nature, it is also rare to find a particularly militaristic Tir. 

Differences (if any) between male and female and how they are treated:  The Tir are a very open-minded culture, where one is encouraged to find one's own place.  Male or female, to the Tir one's calling determines one's place in society, and it is not uncommon to see the Tir crossing the gender boundaries established by the human cultures with males doing "women's work", and vice versa.   

Method of Transport:  For the most part, the Tir travel on foot, as they have traditionally.  Long distances however may call for the use of ships.   

Gods and Worship of:  Though the Tirrish race has no patron deity, the lifestyle of most Tir tends to direct them towards the worship of Sykala and Elbahn.  To the Tir, worship of the Gods is a mystical thing, with true worship inspiring both emotion and devotion.  The Tirrish tradition suggests that this emotional response to a God ought to be demonstrated by outward attempts to prove their devotion.  Often, Tir who follow one specific deity devotedly will dedicate themselves as priests or priestesses, while others use their skills to combat the demons and the darkness. 

The Darkness: The darkness is a mystery, an enigma with the true answer known only to the Seven.   Most Tir consider it an affront to creation and to the Seven themselves, as well as an extreme inconvenience to their lifestyle, and many will work to combat the darkness and demons, though their methods and reasons for doing so will vary.  

Their View of Magic:  The rarity and mystical nature of magic appeals to the superstitious nature of the Tir, and those with the capability to draw and manipulate the Kha are encouraged to do so by their people.  This ability is viewed as a gift from the Seven, and magic users are looked on with respect.  Those of any race who have such a Gods-given gift and refuse to use it or whom use it in a manner deemed inappropriate by the Tir are viewed as heretics, and often ostracised. 

Their View of the Other Races: For the most part, the Tir are a very unbiased people, and see the good in most races, alongside the bad.  

Skrel'eth:  A strange race full often obnoxious, stubborn people.  Their strong clans and forceful personalities make the Tir somewhat uncomfortable, but the Skrell are reasonable, for the most part, and easy enough to get along with.  Besides, they are warriors, and this makes them a useful ally. 

Sayaki: These people truly know how to appreciate the beauty of the world around them, even if they are rather arrogant.  Their dedication to the Gods is to be admired, and their strong military force makes them a useful ally. To the Tir, a Skrel'eth and a Sayaki aren't too different, barring the color of their skin, the shape of their ears and the weight of their weaponry.

Aartirans:  There is much about these people that makes living among them a simple matter.  With their extravagant tastes and often flamboyant lifestyles, the Tir often fit right in, even if the humans do insist on putting down roots and staying in one place.  The caveat? Government.  The human race seems to be obsessed with it. 

Tyen: If the Tir are racist at all, it is against this particular group.  They are despised for the cultural injustices meted out against the Tir, and no Tir with any pride at all would interact with the Tyeni or any with Tyeni blood in any manner.  They are often ostracized by the Tir, treated as if they do not even exist, as are any Tir who would lower themselves to the point of interacting with them. 

Half-breeds:  With the exception of those of Tyeni heritage, the Tir view half-breeds as no different than those of the races from which they originated.   

TIRRISH TOWNS
 
Perran is the only official Tirrish village.  With a population of approximately 5,000 Tir, it is the largest accumulated population of Tir in the known, accessible world.  Perran is a trading village located in the Skrel'eth homeland, and while it is considered by most Tir to be their homeland, it was originally a Skrel'eth village, and is still occupied by many Skrell.  Given the Tirrish feelings about government, many of those in leadership positions within Perran are, in fact, Skrell rather than Tir.

Outside of Perran, one can expect to run into a Tir pretty much anywhere they aren't expected to be. Such a spontaneous nature is that of the Tirrish people that they can be found in Seahaven, the wilderness about Heas and Tarkas, and even occasionally the various smaller Skrel'eth villages.