Associated with the aldgoat, the N tribe is one of the original 26 Seeker of the Sun tribes to cross the icy remains of the Fifth Umbral Calamity. The N tribe settled in the regions around Mor Dhona, specifically within Yafaem — assisting in the foundation of the monarchic city-state of Mhach (though there was also a branch located around Amdapor). Their close association to Mhach’s foundation, as well as the royal family, led to the N tribe becoming rather prominent among the Mhachi nobility. This of course was not universally true — poor and destitute N tribe members could be found across Mhach’s territory, but a tradition would soon arise to help quell this “problem.”
Rather early in their history within Eorzea, noble and well-off N tribe members would “adopt” children of lesser stature. The quality of life of these children varied as one might expect, but it wasn’t terribly uncommon for the noble to view the child as indebted to them, more akin to a servant than a family member. Those who were adopted would be expected to cast off their old surname, taking on their new parent’s name in its stead. As one might expect, orphans were rather popular targets for this practice, and even some who wound up in a good and proper family would resent it, viewing it more as being ‘taken’ than being adopted.
This practice came to a screeching halt near the end of the Fifth Astral Era, when well-known Mhachi noble’s (or depending on the canon, princess’s) retainer, N’ekros Avet, was arrested for treason. N’avet Tia, a Mhachi judge, had adopted N’ekros from a town on the border closest to Amdapor’s claimed land, and much of the nobility saw their lowborn status as tied to their betrayal.
In truth, N’ekros’s betrayal was the act of becoming romantically involved with an Amdapori knight named Lockhart. The two were childhood friends who had found each other again some few years prior, exchanging letters and meeting in secret. On the day they had planned to finally flee from their lives and elope, the pair were arrested by their respective nations in a manner that would suggest collusion to most who saw it. The two never saw each other again. Lockhart was doomed to become an Angelo Knight, a warrior with a Sin Eater bound in his flesh, while N’ekros was sentenced (by N’avet no less,) to death. Three failed execution attempts were carried out — beheading, drowning, and live burning — and so their sentence was changed to imprisonment for life. They remained imprisoned until the Sixth Umbral Calamity swept them away in its floodwaters.
Several members of the N tribe were among those who were rescued by the great Archon Nyunkrepf. Tomes and family records were safely secured by these individuals, and those who survived accompanied the Roegadyn to that northern isle beyond the Empty. So it was that the N tribe went from assisting in the foundation of one city-state to the foundation of another — Sharlayan.
Since those days of yore, the N tribe has entrenched itself within Sharlayan. The same family records and tomes that survived the Great Flood are now kept within the historic N tribe estate — owned and maintained by N’zhet Ralverd. Not all members of the tribe opt to stay on the island however, which makes the tribe rather widespread. Every year a reunion is held in a large fairground in Sharlayan, organized by the current Nunhs.
The tribe is large enough that it has multiple Nunhs — never less than three. It also has a disproportionately high queer population. Common N tribe traits include pink hair, shorter statures, and a tendency to call every meal of the day lunch.
Some (less than 2%) members of the N tribe find themselves stricken by a strange genetic disease, one that eludes treatment and befuddles scientific minds. In truth is is not a disease, but rather more akin to a curse, the result of a pact forged in the days of Mhach. A small group of N tribe elders made a deal with a powerful voidsent, exchanging the life of their progeny for greater aptitude with void and Black magicks. This aptitude is passed down within their bloodlines, but so is the curse — thwarted only by proper exposure to void aether (such as in the form of a voidsent bond).
Children born into the N tribe are not assigned a gender at birth, and there is no pressure to “decide” on a gender until one comes of age. It is quite common for N tribe children to explore gender before their coming of age, and not uncommon for N tribe adults to continue to do so after. Given this practice, all N tribe children take their birthing Nunh’s surname as their own. An adult of any gender who issues an official challenge to a Nunh and fails is made a Tia. Children of any gender are permitted to either keep their Nunh’s surname when they come of age, or become a Tia. The tribe also has no rules prohibiting marriage or relationships outside of the tribe, and some tribe members opt to take on their spouse’s surname when they marry. In the case of a Nunh, they may opt to do the same if they retire.
It is customary for the birthing Nunh to give their approval to a child’s partner in the form of a woven bracelet, usually connected to a small metal object with an ‘N’ engraved on one side. Each Nunh chooses what goes on the other side, such as in the case of N’zhet, an engraved owl. One of these is also given to a child at birth, and it symbolizes the lasting bonds of blood and covenant both.
N’avet Tia — Prolific Mhachi judge, surrogate father of N’ekros Avet. Past life of Harkyn Izunia.
N’ekros Avet (originally N’ekros Yhai) — Disgraced noble Mhachi retainer. Elyas Kara’s past life.
N’arza Rozo — Traveling Mhachi doctor. Artellius Ralverd’s past life. Ancestor to Elyas Kara and one of Sharlayan’s earliest residents. One of the Twelve Archons, in fact.
N’zhet Ralverd — Formerly N’zhet Nunh, Forum member and extremely skilled goldsmith, biological father of Elyas Kara.
N’vanuh Nunh — Archon in the science/art of pugilism, current Nunh.
N’zire Nunh — Current Nunh.
N’baki Nunh — Current Nunh.
Elyas Kara (originally N’aeda Zhet) — A skilled adventurer, voidsent hunter, and occasional Carnivale performer. Went missing after the Exodus from Dravania and wound up raised by Ishgardians.