Nomadic

The nomadic culture is broken up between troupes that travel the world, entertaining the masses for coin and supplies. Payment methods make settlements cautious of hiring troupes, but high demand sometimes makes it worth the risk. It has become a stigmatism that all troupes will steal everything not nailed down, but even nails can be removed.

Customs

Troupe to Troupe

When troupes are in the same region and cross paths, it is customary to give gifts as a sign of respect. These gifts can be anything the troupe possesses, including animals, artwork, gems, food, or even slaves. While the act of giving gifts is expected, the size of the gift is based on the wealth of the troupe and what they can spare. Asking or demanding more is a great insult and has led to skirmishes and even troupes being wiped out.

Fashion

Fashion in the nomadic troupes varies based on the troupe’s primary location within other cultures. They pick up different styles from multiple cultures, meshing them together to create their own. For example, troupe members in Grimslar Empire always wear hats, despite their clothing choice.

Tundra Nomad

Their clothing typically is anything that completely covers their body to keep the cold away. There is no set fashion for tundra nomads, but it is common to see their heads completely wrapped in cloth and only goggles protruding out for vision.

Laws & Regulations

Troupes have unique laws, but also share universal laws as a sign of respect. Most troupes avoid each other to prevent taking anything that has already been claimed as payment.

While part of a troupe, they consider it a betrayal if you do not share what you have with everyone else. Punishment for hoarding is having all your belongings taken and distributed to other members of the troupe. The members of the troupe tie you to a post in the center of the camp and flog you while they take away all your belongings for hoarding. Being found guilty a second time results in exile and banishment, leaving you to fend for yourself with nothing, not even the clothes on your back.

One for All and All for the Troupe

From time to time, a member of a troupe will be caught obtaining an item as payment and jailed to wait punishment. When this happens, the troupe assesses the situation to determine if a rescue attempt is viable. They will gather information as to how severe the punishment is, how difficult saving their member would be, and most importantly how negatively will it impact the troupe. Once the information is gathered the troupe takes a vote to determine how bad the troupe could be affected based on rescuing them or leaving them to fend for themselves.

Troupe members learn to sacrifice for their group at a young age and do it with honor. Such as being caught for obtaining payment and getting word to the troupe to not risk their rescue, as it would only harm the reputation of the troupe. That individual would then plea that they were working alone and without their troupe’s knowledge. This helps the troupe avoid damaging their reputation and keeps entertaining the region.

This does not mean all troupes leave their members to fend for themselves when they get in sticky situations. They need to gather information and assess the situation before attempting a rescue. This is because an unsuccessful rescue could damage their reputation.

Religion

At their core, the nomadic troupes believe Noma guides their travels and watches over them. Noma is the god of travel (Element, specifically air) and music/entertainment (minor energy/deity). Noma always flows with them as they traverse the land, pushing them onward to discover new places and entertain the masses.

Offerings to Noma

When a troupe packs up and moves on from a location, they leave a shrine to Noma in thanks for watching over them. The shrines comprise miscellaneous items collected during their time at that location.

Society

Equivalent Exchange

Nomads believe anything not nailed down is rightfully theirs to take if they are not seen taking it. The belief is that all is available for all to use, regardless of who possessed it originally. While this belief has gotten many troupes in trouble while visiting settlements, they strongly defend it when questioned. However, the settlers only uphold this belief if the troupes have provided entertainment or other services to them. It is their form of payment, regardless of the actual payment given by the settlement.

Nomadic troupes will share what they have with each other as if it belongs to the entire troupe and not the individual who provided it.