Agbedu

The Agbedu are lean and wiry, their physiques being honed by a life of constant movement. Their skin tones vary across any and all shades of brown and golden hues, and they often adorn themselves with colorful body paints that signify their ties to their tribe. Their hair is black or dark brown in color, and it is often worn in decorative yet practical braids and dreadlocks or in shaved patterns and designs. Many tribes of Agbedu adorn themselves with various types of piercings, often using them to denote status within their tribe. They favor wearing light, breathable fabrics adorned with various beads and charms, representing their tribal identity and spiritual beliefs. Their eyes often hold an intensity that reflects their knowledge of the land and devotion to their people.

The Agbedu are highly skilled survivalists, and they always seem to know how to make do with very little. They can cross the toughest natural obstacles with ease and have even grown tolerant of slightly toxic food sources.

The Agbedu originate from the sprawling savannas and steppes of the Savage Lands of Jalafar, having been established here long before written history. While it is believed that their people were more settled before the Cataclysm, the Agbedu have lived only as loosely connected tribes ever since. There are countless tribes of their people spread throughout the Savage Lands, with each having its own distinct customs and leadership that make their history incredibly complex. The unifying thread between them all, however, is their intimate knowledge of the land they walk on and the reverence they have for those who share it with them.

One of the key unifying ideals that unite the varied Agbedu people are their reverence to their ancestors. As they continue their unending journey throughout the wilds, they believe that the spirits of those who came before them are forever with them acting as guides and protectors. To honor these spiritual guides, shamanic leaders will guide their tribes in ceremonies, songs, and dances that intend to show their thanks for the spirits' watchful presence. Agbedu culture is also rich with folk tales and other stories, often used to teach lessons on virtues or life's challenges. These stories and songs are as varied as the people who created them, and any time spent listening to them brings something new.

The biggest and most prevalent aspect of Agbedu culture is their reverence for the natural world. Their people are but stewards of the land, being interconnected with and no different than any other creature around them. It is due to this belief that their people utilize so little, taking only what they need and finding a purpose for all that they find. There are many things that more settled societies do that the Agbedu would never consider, as they refuse to vie for control over the cycles they are a part of.

The biggest part of Agbedu identity is their lack of established settlements, with only a handful of small villages sprinkled throughout the entirety of the Savage Lands. This nomadic lifestyle stems from their belief regarding their place in the world, and their perspective on the act of settlement has remain unchanged since they first arrived in the region. Yet there are a few key places that the Agbedu frequent, although most of them are remnants of bygone ages. One of the most well-known is Ziggurat Ikonye, which is a ruined temple found in the heart of the Savage Lands. Countless tribes utilize the Ziggurat as a hub of sorts, convening here to trade goods with one another or to settle disputes between tribes. Yet the largest and one of the most important to their people is the fabled Ismmiri, being the destination of many great pilgrimages. The site itself is a collection of ancient ruins nestled within a mountain valley, and a multitude of tribes make the arduous journey there. While details of the site's importance likely vary between tribes, the true significance of Ismmiri remains a mystery to outsiders.

The nomadic lifestyle of the Agbedu has defined how they interact with their neighbors, often times negatively so. Many settled societies, often those who seek to claim the Savage Lands, view their people as almost primitive or uncivilized. Most interactions with the Agbedu are also ones of hostility, as they view established colonies and developments in their native land as disrespectful to the land they respect. This has led to mistrust of the Agbedu among foreign powers in the Savage Lands, mainly among settlers from the Holy Empire of Acolytius and Janiib Sultanate. The diverse internal politics between the many tribes does not help this perception, as these tribes can have relations that vary between cooperative to contentious. However, as more and more travelers meet and interact with various Agbedu tribes, respect for their resilience and adaptability continues to grow throughout Asobria.