The Norade & Noradanean Mysticism

The Norade people are Nether nomads, a steadfast tribe warrior-mystics who use the Nether to journey vast distances in search of enlightenment. They are spread thin across the earth, forsaken by their own homeland, wandering between the Overworld and Underworld as though lost. They settle in far-away lands to study faith and philosophy, lore and history, magic and craft.

Values
The Norade use Nether portals to fast-travel across the Overworld in order to cover as much distance as possible. This involves spending significant amount of time in the Nether, and so the Norade value in a person strong principles, a stiff spine, and skill in combat, all necessities for surviving the trials of the Underworld. They believe that the perils of traveling through the Nether (Called "Coreine d' Norane"/"Coreine Noraneon" or "Realm of Trials" in their language) tests and purifies them, making them stronger people. Their name for themselves means "The Tested."

The Norade place great value on sanctuary and hospitality, which are virtually nonexistent in the Nether. The Norade do not forget charity. This value placed on sanctuary manifests itself most visibly in the form of the Sanctuary Fortress: A Norade cultural center which serves as a base of operations for all of their activities. A Sanctuary Fortress is both open and closed: An asylum-seeker and a friend of the Norade will find learning, warm food, and protection, but an enemy and a conquering destroyer will find naught but high walls, closed gates, and sharp spears.

The Norade are a composite people - They hold that their traditions, in particular their Mysteries, are the true binding force which connects all Norade people. Anybody can share in the Norade traditions.

The Nether
The Norade use Nether portals to fast-travel across the Overworld in order to cover as much distance as possible. The Nether is a perilous place, full of wicked creatures and treacherous terrain, but nonetheless, the Norade see the Nether as a sacred, purifying place - Dangerous, but sacred. This runs contrary to the beliefs of many surface-dwellers, who see the Nether as a corrupting force to be tamed and subjugated. Many Norade resent the exploitation and docilization of the Nether by various civilizations, including the building of sealed Nether roads, which they see as an attempt to escape the Nether's purifying rigors. While in the Nether, the Norade scavenge to survive. They make clothes from Strider hair and Hoglin skins, and loot ruins to find equipment and goods to trade when they get back to civilization.

The basic necessities of life require even the Norade to resurface frequently to collect water, food, and fill their lungs with fresh air before plunging once again below the surface. They typically use this time to get their bearings look for places to explore, and if they find themselves in a populated place, they might settle down.

Netherite
Netherite in particular is held in particular value, and "Norfaire" tools (As they are called in their tongue) are regarded as a gift to Nether-dwellers to aid them in their fight for survival, and a symbol of the Coreine Noraneon's purifying power. A rusted scrap of dark slag, born in the dark heart of the lower realm, is refined by fire into the strongest metal in the known world. Those Norade who are regarded as particularly pure-hearted are said to have "Cardane d' Norfaire" - Hearts of Netherite.

Noradanean Mysticism
The Noradanean Mystics seek after a concept they call "ALITE" - The All-Truth. Their hope is that one day, through their faithful perseverance in searching for ALITE wherever it may reside, ALITE will draw them into the "fold of eternity," the "Coreine d' Alite" or "Coreine Aliteon" - The Promised Land of Truth, an eternal sanctuary against from all evil and falsehood. The Norade achieve this by traveling to each land, adopting what is true, and rejecting what is false. In particular they hope to discover the "Mysteries of ALITE," fundamental truths that define their trajectory toward ALITE. These Mysteries are closely guarded in public, but freely shared in private with those who wish to share in Norade tradition or record their beliefs for posterity.

Norade culture and belief is described in more detail in the book "Chronicles of the Norade" by Tirado, the first Norade to come to Rathnir.