The Najamat

Origin

The Najamat originated with the discovery of the Beyda pantheon in the southern New Anglian Desert. After a group of nomads banded together in caves surrounding Nabilzahir, they journeyed south for enlightenment. The discovery of the pantheon, specifically the Star God Najm, united the nomads for life. Najm led them to a peninsula in the southernmost part of the New Anglian continent and the Najamat founded a village, called Najma, and began to call themselves after the god. What were once wanderers from many different walks of life and backgrounds became a unified people under the worship of Najm and eventually the other three major gods in the Beyda pantheon.

Traits

Physical

The Najamat are a nascent culture without a very long history. With that being said, there are not many defining traits of a Najamat person. Skin, hair, eyes and body shape are all variable for the Najamat. However, there are an abnormally large percentage of Najamat who are above average height for humans. This is purely a coincidence as many of the new generation come from entirely different families. But, it could lend to the belief of ancestry lines from non-human sources. The Najamat ignore this prospect.

Behavioral

While the Najamat may look diverse, the behaviors of Najamat have largely become uniform over the few generations they have grouped together.

Generally, all Najamat are kind, considerate, and xenophiles. After being isolated for a time, Najamat are extremely curious of the outside world and what it offers. They hold no nationalist grudges towards other peoples and wish to learn from all. It can also be said that many Najamat hold little value in currency and instead place value in hard work and cultural development.

Culture

As the culture of the Najamat is still relatively new, the culture is subject to growth and change. Foreigners who wish to live with the Najamat and learn their ways are welcomed with open arms. The growth of the culture requires this kind of integration and exchange. However, the acceptance of the Beyda pantheon is a requirement.

Naming custom

The Najamat culture is unique in its naming conventions. Middle or surnames do not exist for the Najamat. After discovering their pantheon, the nomads shed their last names and took on names of religious or other meanings that were specific to the individual. A family name wasn't necessary as ancestral worship was forbidden in favor of the pantheon and families as a unit are largely similar to how Najamat deal with their culture at large. The Najamat views each one of its own as a member of the greater family, so for them last names are meaningless. For outsiders, it is a clear marker to know a Najamat if they have only identified with a single name.

Architectural style

The Najamat made their home in the desert, and so primarily build with sandstone. However they also use wood such as acacia when available. Before Tamarint led Najma, the Najamat lived in simple homes. Najma is entering a rapid urbanization which will see many multilevel homes and a complex road system. Many new Najamat dwellings are multi use and / or multifamily housing. More than anything else, the Najamat believe in making the most out of the space being used and to use the surrounding elements. The plans for a new urban Najma show the buildings as tall, slender, and often very close to one another.

Food

The Najamat rely on the Asg and Akb rivers (the two rivers which carved their homeland peninsula) for much of the meat consumption. A traditional Najamat meal is candied fish served along boiled water. Other food sources are hardy desert berry bushes and the occasional personal garden crops such as carrots, potatoes, and wheat. The Najamat, not on account of religious beliefs, do not consume much alcohol. There are no notable brewers or traditional drinks from the culture as of yet. It has been reported that some sugarcane farmers have made alcohol in their homes, but there is no reports of sales between the people.

Religion

The religious customs of the Najamat are further explained in a page dedicated to the Beyda pantheon. However, generally most Najamat are avid participants in their religion and often choose one god to follow primarily in their pantheon. There are often shrines in homes or other symbols dedicated to the gods. There are also plans to develop large temples and festivals in honor of the pantheon as the culture continues to grow. The Najamat are not explicitly taught to spread their religion, however true believers in the pantheon often try to spread the religion. For many, the Beyda pantheon and the Najamat culture are one in the same. However this has inevitably obscured some of