Sairan
The people of Sair and the Sairan Empire.
This page is still in progress.
The Sairans are the people of the restored empire. Their land was once Cyre, then the Mournland, and Numilvara made it bloom again; five centuries later it is more bountiful than any other. Sairans say their empire exists to restore the glories of the world that was, and most of them believe it. On the frontier, where Sairan rule comes with Sairan taxes, not everyone sees the difference between restoring a land and taking it.
People
Sair is majority human and ruled by a human Empress, but it has made room for many peoples: the Reforged, given the power to bear children by Numilvara herself; dwarves and orcblooded from the Ironroot Mountains, sheltered in the Year of Trembling; the gnomes of Zilargo; a colony of drow; and changelings. All of them can be Sairan. Valerian elves cannot: they have been refused citizenship since the Trembling. In the occupied north, Khoravar are viewed with suspicion for their elven blood.
The Taarani of Haven are Sairans too, though they count themselves apart. Other Sairans call them Scarna.
Blood and rank
Sairans take rank seriously, and much of it is inherited. Patrician houses fill the city councils, and the old noble houses hold the counties and the courts. The Dragon Houses have wealth and magic to rival any noble, but the law bars them from any rank above count.
Some humans descended from Sair’s nobility or saints are born Exalted, blessed by Numilvara with a divine grace. Across Sair they are recognized as rightful authority: see the Exalted Aristocrat, Exalted Disciple of Talavosh, and Exalted Wonderworker.
Customs
The faith of Numilvara runs through daily life, and a blessing does for a greeting: “Bounty keep you.” Her son Talavosh and The Binding Flame are honored alongside her; the old Sovereigns are tolerated but uncommon in Sair proper.
How a Sairan carries that heritage depends on where they stand. The state and the great houses keep the style of an old empire: marble, eagles, laurel, and long formal speeches in the Senate. The cities keep Cyre’s love of beauty, art, and magic, and dress with its flair. The countryside keeps the harvest and the goddess’s favor. Wherever they go, Sairans tend to be well fed, well dressed, and sure of their welcome.
Old grudges
Sairans have not forgiven Valeria. On the Day of Mourning, Valerian border patrols massacred Cyran refugees fleeing the destruction of old Cyre, and relations between the two have run from border skirmishes to open war ever since. On the “Bloody” Talenta Plains, Sairan settlers fight Caernathi exiles and Valerian raiders for the land.