The Duravi (pronounced durr-AH-vee) are a largely nomadic people that live in the drylands of northern Amshan. Descended from tribes of central Thadria that fled the Viridian conquests of the late eighth millennium, the Duravi have maintained their own culture over the centuries since, becoming particularly renowned as hunters in Amshan's arid border regions.
History
As Viridia expanded east across Thadria, the forces of the Dominion encountered innumerable existing tribes and settlements, the ancestors of the Duravi amongst these. Though the expulsion of the orcs is perhaps the best known, many other peoples found themselves moved out of their lands as well, either due to persistent conflicts or in self-exile, out of a refusal to follow their new imposed rulers. The tribes that would later become the Duravi fell into this latter category. For years they traveled east, staying away from the legions and Viridian-controlled lands, but with the accession of Erenon to the Dominion this became no longer tenable, and instead they were forced to seek new homes elsewhere. Like the orcs of Kudurru, they looked south, crossing through Ishtar and the Arrajan Wilds and into Amshan. There they slowly formed a new society, though still culturally tied to their past in Thadria.
Location
The Duravi primarily live in northern Amshan, within the drier regions away from the coast of the Kirnashal Sea. Most Duravi encampments can be found in the areas north of Madaktu but south of the Vivasvan Mountains, while others live closer to the mountains around the Rashnu River. It is not unusual to encounter Duravi traveling elsewhere in Amshan, however.
Demographics
The majority of the Duravi are human, but they also include half-orcs, half-elves, and others.
Culture
Religion
Duravi religion is a blend of Thadrian hero-worship, carried with them as they left their original homelands, and the veneration of the gods of the Kirnashal pantheon. They tend to see their deceased leaders as rising into the permanent ranks of Sraosheh and Mihr's servants, and as a result continue their veneration for far longer after their deaths than would be typical of hero-worship. The Duravi rarely build temples, but they do have dedicated clergy responsible for maintaining knowledge of their heroes and their deeds.
Society
The society of the Duravi is strongly matriarchal - families, and therefore encampments as well, are always led by women.
The Duravi are renowned in Amshan as expert hunters and trackers, able to follow their quarry across all terrains and environments. They largely support themselves through hunting, both for food and to sell the parts of animals and magical creatures. At times Amshan hires Duravi hunting parties to serve as border guards, not unalike the orcs of Kudurru in the south, defending the sparsely populated northern reaches of the nation from brigands and dangerous creatures from the mountains.
Languages
In the modern day the Duravi largely speak Kirnashal, but knowledge of Thadrian remains as a language in which religious and traditional stories are remembered and recited.
Architecture
Though their encampments might be inhabited for years at a time, the Duravi rarely build permanent structures, preferring instead to dwell within their distinctive steepled tents.