Nersaillian people

The Nersaillians are an ethnic group native to Apfeldonia. They make up roughly 7% of the imperial population, and 23% of the mainland population. They are reknown for their loyalty and courage, their odd facial hair styles, bagpipes, intricate wooden crafts, and unique architecture.

Early History
Historians believe the Nersaillian peoples have lived in Nersailles for aslong as the Schulfens have lived in Apfeldonia, however it is not confirmed, as despite the Nersaillians having a written language, no findings have dated back to that point. They are first mentioned by the Apfeldites whom referred to them as "the swamp devils", a name which was earned because early Apfeldite settlements in Nersailles were ambushed and destroyed to keep them out. Other peoples have mentioned the Nersaillians, specifically mentioning their highly decorative trading galleys.

Before the unification, it is known that the Nersaillians were constantly fending off Zstaitne raiders, aswell as counter attacking Zstatine coastlines. This ancient bloodfued would carry well into later history.

Medieval History
The Nersaillians swore fealty to Rutgar I without putting up a fight, they used his backing to defend against Zstatine raiding. Despite this, Rutgar's help was not used much against the raids, the Nersaillians would continue to defend themselves, and would adopt an isolationist policy, they did however continue trading, doing more so now that their galleys were protected when they sailed north via the Uiop.

Imperial History
The Nersaillians would slowly come out of their isolationism, in part due to the Civil War and even more so due to the Beagelton wars. By the great war, Nersaillian regiments made up a large section of the infantry, and were reknown for their bold and headstrong offensive attitude, often winning them fame but high casaulty rates. The Nersaillians hold on to tradition far more than any other mainland ethnicity, most still dwell in traditional housing and carry on traditional practices. Nersaillians are starting to play a much larger role in the empire, and are now aiding the modern world.

Culture
The Nersaillian people have an ancient culture, potent in it's roots, the culture has changed little over the centuries and remains an overwhelming force within modern Nersailles.

Architecture
One of the most defining features of Nersaillian culture is it's unique architecture. The Nersaillians traditionally built wooden round houses, the walls were typically made of a light, almost white colored with the roof and bindings in contrast made of darker lumber. These houses could vary in size, some being massive, and usually were clustered togather in villages, they were even build as treehouses, an incredible part of Nersaillian architecture, is that, especially in the swamp lands, they built huge villages amongsts tree tops. Some of these villages were built on platforms over water or marshy ground. The Nersaillians used this unique architectural knowledge to build island fortresses or even "floating" ones, which they could move at will and block river ways against attackers.

Food
Nersaillian cuisine is based highly on the geography and climate of the province itself. It revolves around seafood and freshwater fish, turtles, herbs, other spices, and water fowl. Sweets wise, honey plays an integral part of desserts, lemons are widely found in the Nersaillian swamps and the swamps are also home to many unique fruit and nuts.

Clan system
The clans of Nersailles resemble those of Freiheit, however several large destinctions exist. Clans in Nersailles encompass the community, as were in Freiheit the clans are more ruling families. In the same difference, the Nersaillian clans ruling family may or may not share the name with the clan itself, as to where in freiheit, the ruling family does, as it is, essentially the clan. The political distrcts of the province are based on these historical clans, and all the clans still exist, for the most part. Nersaillian regiments are also clan based for the most part, as putting one or two of the same clan into a regiment as proven to raise moral, as everyone is from the same communities, it also avoids conflict, as certain clans are disaproving of eachother to say the least.

Arts
The Nersaillian people are reknown for their wooden crafts, they are skilled wood carvers and are often sought to make anything involving wood. The incredibly complex and intricate designs they carve are admited throughout the world, one way to determine a Nersaillian trading galley in a harbour full of ships was by it's amazing and grand designs that are carved on the hull.

Symbols
Like other cultures and ethnicities, the Nersaillians have symbols associated with their culture. A list of some of them can be found below

Owls: The owl is a major Nersaillian symbol, more than 150 unique owl species can be found native to their swamps. Nersaillian regiments would often carry regimental flags bearing owls as the main design and historically Nersaillian trading galleys would paint owls on their sails.

Fish: The fish is also another major symbol of the Nersaillian people, as a main food source, it has impacted the culture heavily. Certain Nersaillian regiments use fish as their main flag design.

Fireflys: The firefly is, like the owl and fish, a major symbol of the Nersaillian people, they are abundant in the warm swamps of Nersailles. Like both the owl and fish, certain clans use it as their symbol and thus use it on their regimental flag.

Bagpipes: The bagpipes are an unique instrument used by the Nersaillian people, Nersaillian regiments use it as their instrument in parade and battle.

Laterns: The Nersaillian people incoporate laterns heavily in their architecture, prefering them and candles as sources of light even to modern electricity. The latern tulip, the official flower of the province of Nersailles, is a tulip found only in the swamps there. It's bottom half is a birght yellow that slowly fades with a flame design into a dark red on the upper half of the flower, the flower glows in the dark.