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Profile of Cimera’s Native Ethnicities |
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Official Name: Cimeran Other Names: Meritéan, Wesmerian (both overgeneralizations,) Eichensehrian Ethno-linguistic Grouping: Ingallish, Aracimric, Liliani, Sjomanian Primary language(s) spoken: Cimeran Ingallish Background: The ethnic classification to which most Cimerans belong, an ethnic Cimeran is somewhat of a mutt in ethno-linguistic terms. People claiming this ethnicity are descended from the original inhabitants of northwestern Eras as well as later waves of settlers and immigrants. The Cimeran “ethnicity” is the least “scientifically” definable because it is basically a catch-all for those descended from multiple native (defined as having been a part of Cimeran society for at least 500 years) ethnic groups though other aspects, such as language, are fairly homogenous in this grouping. Ethnic Cimerans speak an Ingallish dialect mutually intelligible with Standard (Cruisanan) Ingallish but with noticeable Somerish and Meritéan influences as well as minor influences of Careiran and Kimersk. The term “ethnic Cimeran” should not be confused with the term Cimeran which simply describes a person hailing from the Kingdom of Cimera.
Official Name: Meritéan Other Names: Wesmerian Ethno-linguistic Grouping: Aracimric, Ingallish, Liliani Primary language(s) spoken: Meritéan, Meritéan Ingallish, Cimeran Ingallish Background: This ethnicity resulted from the intermingling of three different ethnic groups centuries ago, but is now completely homogenous. From the 18th to the 16th Centuries BP, land inhabited by the Middic branch of the Aracimrii was subject to steady, moderate settlement by Cruisanan tribesmen who originally came as traders in the late 19th and early 18th Centuries BP. According to Wesmeritéan scholars, these tribesmen may have been fleeing their homeland after finding themselves on the losing side of a major conflict. Additional theories suggest that they were attracted to the fertile farmland in the Bay of Merité region. By the time Liliani traders and colonists arrived in the mid-15th Century BP, a semi-homogenous Ingallo-Middic culture was beginning to form in the province that would be called Meritus, a Lilianisation of the local name of the region. While the number of colonists were not numerous in comparison with other Liliani settlements, Liliani language, technology, and culture spread throughout the area. Obvious evidence of this is the modern Meritéan language which is classified as Liliance. The 7th Century BP saw the waning of Liliani influence which was replaced by trade and cultural exchanges with Phenixia, itself a former colony of Liliana. As with Liliani influence, the most noticeable relic of Phenixia’s impact on Meritéan culture is the Meritéan language which is mutually intelligible with Phenixian though there are various differences in spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary because of continued Ingallish influence. While the majority of Meritéans speak the language of the same name, almost as many speak Meritéan Ingallish, a dialect, distinct from Cimeran Ingallish, which was and continues to be spoken throughout Greater Merité. This dialect is less influenced by Somerish and more by Meritéan and was often considered preferable to Cimeran Ingallish before the collapse of the Meritéan Commonwealth while the reverse tends to be true in Cimera nowadays.
Official Name: Careiran Other Names: None Ethno-linguistic Grouping: Aracimric Primary language(s) spoken: Cimeran Ingallish, Careiran Background: Over time, the Aracimrii in Cimera became locally differentiated into three main groups. The Deassic (or Southern Aracimric) branch occupied much of modern-day Cimera and beyond, extending southwards to Rosardan. By the time Careirans were sufficiently distinct from the Kiltanscots and Rosardanach, they inhabited the greater portions of what is today southern and western Cimera. During the 17th Century BP, the Careirans began a push north and northeastwardly along the Deneen River, causing conflict with the Ingallo-Middic and Estron peoples already settled in the area. Eventually, the Careirans manage to dispossess them of their fertile land along the riverbanks as far north as the Angelus Mountains where the Deneen River originates though, after centuries of petty conflicts, the Careirans ended up being dominant only in central and southern Cimera. Careirans have always considered themselves a nation, but came to be dominated in inland areas by Meritéans from 671 BP through conquest and intermarrying of Careiran nobility with that of the Meritéans. Even earlier on, sometime in the 800s BP, (Cabotenian, Dahlian, and Värish) explorers and raiders appeared in the Futuronian Sea, conducting raids along the western coast of Eras. While raiding was the status quo for a while from the central west coast of Cimera all the way down deep into Ulan, eventually Vinns began settled these areas their forebears once raided. These settlers subjugated some of the Careiran clans and drove others further inland. The Battle of Beldneen was a decisive victory for the Careirans taking place in the year 596 BP. It marked the end of Vinnish dominance in Greater Careire (an area roughly corresponding to the modern Cimeran counties of Allough, Avoy, Calhoun, Careire, Dillon, Goldneen, Kildneen, Srue, and Wynfrith as well as parts of northern Castronovia.) Also, while Careirans once controlled the majority of the territory now part of Castronovia and Sehria (in fact, Tara, the capital of Sehria was once a Careiran settlement,) the southernmost tribes were isolated when Ulanian and, later, Hismorcan forces drove Careirans out of modern-day Castronovia settling the land themselves. The few remaining Careiran tribes in what is now Castronovia were eventually absorbed into Hismorcan society which is why the occasional Careiran surname may be found attached to a Hismorcan given name in Castronovia. Due to later dominance and cultural influence of Cruisanans and Cruisano-Cimerans later on as well as the practicality of using Ingallish as a lingua franca, Cimeran Ingallish has become the primary tongue of Careirans, though most are bilingual and speak Careiran, the tongue of their ancestors, as well.
Official Name: Somerish Other Names: Somero-Cimeran, Cimeran Somerish Ethno-linguistic Grouping: Ingallish, Aracimric Primary language(s) spoken: Somerish Ingallish, Somerish, Cimeran Ingallish Background: The Somerish ethnicity is a mainly an amalgamation of the Estron, being the natives living on the peninsula, part of the Ethwynic branch of the Aracimrii, and the Summer Clan from Cruisana, who first colonised the Somerish peninsula around 1200 BP. The Estron added “their own spice” to the Summer Clan, intermarrying with the Cruisanan settlers, mixing their own culture with theirs, until out of that mixture came a new culture, which could be categorised as nothing other than Somerish. While there is a strong sense of kinship between Somes from Somery and Somes from Cimera, there are marked differences in some aspects of their two cultures. While Somerish culture north and south of the border is one noted for its valuing of music and the arts, Cimeran Somes tend to be more devoted to Cruisianity than their brethren to the north. Also, the primary language of the Somerish in Cimera, unlike those in Somery, is Ingallish, though it is a distinct accent marked by both Somerish and Cruisanan influences. Somerish, however, is still widespread and spoken by many Somes in Cimera, though the Cimeran dialect differs from dialects to the north; the “r” is never rolled and diphthongs are more clearly marked. Some Somerish people, especially in North Angelus County, speak the Cimeran dialect of Ingallish.
Official Name: Estron Other Names: Somerish (incorrect) Ethno-linguistic Grouping: Aracimric Primary language(s) spoken: Somerish Ingallish, Cimeran Ingallish, Estron Background: The Estron form the greater part of the Ethwynic or northern branch of the Aracimrii. They once inhabited all of northern Cimera and spread into the far reaches of the Somerish peninsula, but were forced out of what is now North Angelus County by Ingallo-Middic (proto-Meritéan) tribes and, later, Careiran clans. Their primary fortified settlement there, Midd (thought simply to mean “enclosed space”) later became Sligomeagh under the Cimerans. The name Sligomeagh is thought to come from a phrase meaning “river with many shells [running through the settlement] of the people of Midd” in Careiran. Ever the victims, the Estron were also forced north into the “Little Somery” region (Counties Somerllyn and Tragwythall) by Cruisanan settlers on the northwest coast (and those remaining were subjugated by them) and Careirans moving north along the Deneen River. While many Estron were absorbed by the Somerish in northern Cimera or by the Cruisanans along the west coast, pockets of ethnically “pure” Estron remain. Insofar as the language goes, most Estron speak Ingallish in the Somerish or Cimeran dialects. Estron, the language, was, in time overshadowed by Somerish and Ingallish, and supposedly died out as a spoken language at the end of the second century, with its last speaker, Frithall Kimbethery of Ombridgeshire in Somery. His great-grandson, Rother Kimbethery, has taken the initiative, by forming An Geniol Ethuín, The Estron League, to start a campaign to restore this modern version of Estron in Somery and also in Cimera. The language, which had developed considerably since the classical era of Estron has been preserved through old letters and a limited amount of literature up to the turn of the last century. The interest in the language has been on the increase in the last few years and time will tell if the League can keep it alive, reviving the language. In any case it is a way to preserve an important part of the culture and history of northern Cimera.
Official Name: Festnozish Other Names: None Ethno-linguistic Grouping: Aracimric Primary language(s) spoken: Festnozish, Meritéan, Meritéan Ingallish Background: The ancestors of the Festnozish made up the other group, besides the Estron, of the Ethwynic branch of the Aracimrii. After losing ground to the Careirans in their advance up the Deneen River, theirs was the only Ethwynic group to migrate southeast, into the hills while their cousins, the Estron, found themselves pushed into the north and northwest. The area in which they found themselves was sparsely populated allowing them to revitalise an area in which there was evidence of earlier Aracimric habitation. Though the Festnozish originally called themselves something translating roughly to the “southern Estron,” they became known to Lilianis, and later Meritéans, for their night festivals, “fest-noz” in Festnozish and, eventually the Meritéans began calling them “les festnosais.” The name became so widespread that their capital city, Krestern, became known as “la ville des Fests-Nozes” which was eventually shortened to Festnoze. While maintaining sovereignty and territorial integrity admirably for centuries, royal marriage eventually placed Festnoze and environs under the control of various Meritéan nobles, save for a stint as part of the Cimeran Confederation. Having great pride in their culture and language, the Festnozish have managed to keep the language of the same name as the first language of the majority of their people. Festnozish is taught concurrently with Meritéan from the very beginning of a Festy child’s education. Meritéan is also spoken by nearly everyone in the region. Ingallish is begun later, but most Festnozish speak it proficiently, in the Meritéan dialect.
Official Name: Cruisanan Cimeran Other Names: Ingallo-Cimeran, Cruisano-Cimeran, Cimeran, Eichensehrian, Wesmerian Ethno-linguistic Grouping: Ingallish Primary language(s) spoken: Cimeran Ingallish Background: Although various renegade Cruisanan clans, such as the Summer Clan and those tribes that intermingled with the Middic peoples, had settled the Somerish Peninsula and the region surrounding the Bay of Merité, the first Cruisanan missionaries and traders arrived in the 10th Century BP during Cruisana’s “first kingdom,” representing the establishment, rather than fleeing from it. Cruisanan influence spread slowly but surely in northwestern Cimera as Cruisanan traders gained prestige and educational institutions founded by missionaries became the most highly respected in the region. Despite its influence in the region, the Kingdom of Cruisana did not encourage settlement for the first several centuries, though Boren, an inland trading hub controlled by Cruisanans appeared for the first time on a Cruisanan map dating from around 900 BP as “Borontium.” However, a domestic conflict in 628 BP was to change the nature of Cruisana’s involvement in northwestern Cimera. A Cimeran Somerish thane, Eadward Bowen, who was engaged in a territorial feud with the chieftain of the Careiran MacFearghus clan, sought the military assistance of a Meritéan nobleman. This, in turn, forced Charlick MacFearghus to implore the king of Cruisana to grant aid. While the Cruisanan king was otherwise engaged, he guaranteed MacFearghus the assistance of any Cruisanan noblemen he could muster. Though the Cruisanan mercenaries and MacFearghus’ men drove back the Cimeran Somerish and Meritéan forces, it was by no means a victory for MacFearghus because of the strings attached. Charlick MacFearghus himself died in battle. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how one regards the situation,) MacFearghus had married his oldest child, his daughter Fíonna, to one of the Cruisanan nobles to entice him to come to Cimera. Careiran culture, unique at that time for its ideals of gender equality, mandated that titles descend through the oldest child, male or female. This meant that, within the next generation, an entire line of Cruisanan nobility had some claim to Careiran lands opening them up to settlers and Cruisanan overlords. While the Cruisanan settlement and usurpation of the area was not without resistance from Careirans, Vinno-Careirans, Cimeran Somes, Estron, and Meritéans, their forces were generally superior, allowing them to control a large part of what is now Cimera. Even Sligomeagh fell into Cruisanan hands more than once. The very name Sligomeagh is an Ingallicised spelling of the original Careiran name for the town, “Shligigh Midheach” which as based on an early Estron name, “Midd.” While Boren had been the main town for Cruisanan commerce in the area, New Aurora was to become the administrative centre for the colony. Cruisanan influence has played a major role in Cimeran history even in recent times. Cimera was, upon the demise of Merité, directly administered by Cruisana. The Cimeran royal family is also intrinsically linked with that of Cruisana. In fact, the father of King Carl III of Cimera is a Cruisanan citizen and lives in that country.
Official Name: Kimersk Other Names: Vinno-Cimeran, Vinno-Careiran, Vinnish Ethno-linguistic Grouping: Sjomanian, Aracimric, Ingallish Primary language(s) spoken: Cimeran Ingallish Background: The 9th and 8th Centuries BP marked the golden age of Sjomanian (Cabotenian, Dahlian, and Värish) exploration and settlement. Sometime in the 800s BP, Sjomanian explorers, follow soon after by raiders, began to appear in the northern Futuronian Sea. Raids were common all along the coast of Eras. The toponymy of Cruisana also suggests that some of these peoples settled down on the island intermingled with the natives. Names such as Copehaven, Danskia, and Ingefor appear on modern Cruisanan maps proving that these seafaring distant cousins of the Ingallish came calling and caused a family reunion of sorts. While initial settlements in Eras were little more than winter camps where raiders could regroup, groups from the various Sjomanian nations (Cabotenia, Dahlia, and Väring) comprised mostly of free farmers and less nobles were attracted to lands known to Sjomanian explorers all over the globe, most notably Islandia and Vingarmark, but also to some extent Cruisana and, later, an area from southwestern Cimera down into Sehria where Defender became their most notable stronghold and remained under Vinnish control well into the 3rd Century BP. Note the use of the adjective Vinnish which also applies to the settlers of Vingarmark. This was simply the collective names of the various Sjomanian immigrants to the colonies, be they Cabotenian, Dahlian, or Värish. The Vinns in what is now southern Cimera and northern Castronovia influenced and fought with the Careirans there until a decisive battle in 596 BP forced them both north into west central Cimera and south into the territory around Defender and ended their presence in Greater Careire. The Vinns in west central Cimera managed to set up petty kingdoms there, though they intermixed extensively with various northern and western Careiran clans as well as southern and eastern Estron clans and even Cruisanan Cimerans forming a unique culture still Sjomanian, but markedly different from the Vinns in Defender and elsewhere. As domestic issues in Northern Smalik cut off the flow of immigrants, the population began to evolve even more independently of mainstream Sjomanian culture. The people of this cultural area came to be called “Kimerskers” which was ironically the name that they themselves had applied to the locals. A language, obviously Sjomanian, but influenced greatly by Careiran, and also, to some extent by Estron and Ingallish, called Kimersk, developed and was spoken for centuries until Cruisanan and Meritéan domination caused its demise. While revival efforts have been attempted, Kimerskers speak Cimeran Ingallish as their first language. |
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Cimeran |
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Meritéan |
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Careiran |
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Somerish |
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Estron |
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Festnozish |
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Cruisanan |
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Kimersk |