Bophan

The Bophans are a group of former nomads native to the Bophan Mountains, a mountain range running through central Nieden. Originally primitive nomadic tribes spread throughout the mountainous region, the Bophans eventually coalesced into what later became the Tribe of Rodos, referred to by modern Bophans as the Bophanites. The Bophanites were a multiethnic group, composed of various tribes of humans and what were collectively referred to as the Beastfolk, which included the Roghar, Sporeborn, and Savonne tribes. Despite these differences, they were united by a shared faith following the founding of Isidoranism.

History
The origin of the various tribes that would later become the Bophanites is assumed to be as varied as the ethnic composition of the Bophan people. Modern Bophan scholars and historians speculate that most, but not all, human Bophanites had a relation to the Niedene, who were native to the rest of the continent. It is known, however, that some Beastfolk tribes migrated into the Bophan Mountains from foreign lands. The Roghar and others have primitive records of their young tribes being in the region for generations, although it is clear they did not all originate from the continent of Nieden.

Bophan folklore says that after the angel Isidor revealed himself to Rodos and his Bophanites, the Bophan tribes in the region joined him out of religious fervor. While there are records of several Bophan tribes communicating with Rodos’ Bophanites and being converted to Isidoranism in the early days of the faith’s history, modern Bophan scholars also recognize that many tribes had begun migrating into the area that Rodos would settle his tribe. With the establishment of new kingdoms around their mountains, it is likely that many tribes, seeking isolation, migrated further south to avoid confrontation with the rapidly growing Niedene.

Bophan culture is not considered to have truly started developing until Rodos settled the Bophanites in what later became Tarnwick. In addition to the cultural evolution that occured over a prolonged period of peaceful isolation such as the development of language, establishment of unique architectural and artistic styles, and general growth of the population through reproduction and assimilation of other tribes, the Bophans developed hand in hand with Isidoran Theiosism. Their cultural and religious isolation, a product of neglect from the nations in the region, led to their faith being a concoction of nearby faiths being spread only through secondary and tertiary sources rather than direct proselytizing. This deep connection to a shared faith persists in modern Bophans, who maintain that to be Bophan one must also be Isidoran.

Today the Bophans are spread across Lynnmore, their influence stretching from the base of the Bophan Mountains to the Sea of Pearls to their east. The nobility and church work hand in hand, enforcing the cultural and religious laws of the region with little intermingling with cultures outside their borders. They maintain close ties with the Dhazad, a group of dwarves who were invited to the region on the condition they convert for the purposes of establishing a new dwarven culture.

Culture
The focus of Bophan attention is largely driven first by any historical traditions that their tribe had, and second by a noble house either through direct service or indirect influence exerted over a house’s territory. All aspects of Bophan culture, however, must be viewed through a theological lense. From the simplest day to day tasks to the grandest pieces of architecture, a Bophan is first and foremost honoring the traditions of their ancestors with an Isidoran worldview.

Language
Even before settling in the city of Tarnwick, the Bophans made an effort to stay out of the faces of nearby powers. As a result, the Bophan language has roots in the ancient languages native to the region and is somewhat mutually intelligible with the languages that developed as a result of them. It was only relatively recently, however, that the Bophans broke out of their generations of isolation, so many modern speakers of nearby languages consider the Bophan language to be mutually intelligible with their own, albeit difficult to understand at times due to its isolated development.

Architecture
As nomads, the Bophans had no clear architectural style. They travelled throughout the mountains making their homes in caves and grottos. Shortly after establishing Tarnwick, however, a foreigner came across the city and was welcomed by its residents as one of their own. This man went on to establish the House of Vitruvi, whose members have produced the greatest of Lynnmore’s architectural works.

Tribes
The primitive Bophan tribes were composed of numerous tribes of varying origins and different species, many of which merged into Rodos’ Bophanites. Following their assimilation as Bophanites, their former languages and pagan faiths were abandoned. Today some tribes, particularly those of non-human origin, however, preserve some aspects of their old traditions.

Roghar
Sometimes referred to as Dog-men, the Roghar are a tribe of canine Beastfolk that were spread out between three tribes of Bophans before joining the Bophanites. Originally from far off lands, they are a towering race of humanoids possessing incredible strength. With ties to a long dead group of dwarves, the ancient Roghar escaped a life of servitude with the help of dwarves sympathetic to their cause at the cost of their own lives. As a result modern Roghar feel a deep connection to the Dhazad, and are compelled by honor to assist them in rebuilding their race.

Savonne
Before uniting the various Bophan tribes, Rodos and his ancestors lead the Savonne. This tribe of humanoid scaled Beastfolk is marked by a pair of scaled horns on either side of their head where human ears are usually found and by unique scaled patterns all across their body, but otherwise have human faces, eyes, hair, and bodies. When the Bophanites were united, a tribe of humanlike fungoids, the Sporeborn, appeared in Tarnwick. They quickly established close relations with the Savonne and the new House of Rhodes. Many members of the house, at some point in their life, accept what the Sporeborn call the Fungus. Most recently, the late Theodore Rhodes accepted the Fungus, becoming Sporeborn.

Sporeborn
Although not beasts or animals in the traditional sense, the Sporeborn are a tribe of fungoids that are lumped in with the Beastfolk when discussing the races of the Bophans. The Sporeborn were some of the last to join the Bophanites in Tarnwick during the life of Rodos. They vary in shape and size, as all Sporeborn are created after the Fungus is spread into a living host. Anyone, from humans to other Beastfolk, according to the Sporeborn, can accept the Fungus, just as any animal, such as pigs and cows, can. With this way of reproducing, the Sporeborn are not necessarily united by a shared history or tradition, but an experience after taking part in a ceremony accepting the Fungus.