Heen (Realm)/An Elaborate Study on the Heenite Traits

Heenites are known to be desert folk, nomads, luxurious traders, great warriors even. But such are only names, words labelled upon men in a way that you do not have to understand what they really are, because the bigger picture of 'warrior' will suffice. I have studied who they really are, what lies beneath the empty meaning of the word 'warrior'. I have done so by living as one of them, amongst them.

The Heenite Physical Traits

The Heenite Strength

It is known that Heenites fight with great strenght in battle. My scriptures state one possible explanation for this: namely their craftmanship of weaponry. But in fact, there is also their physical fitness. The Heenite people have grown up in severe conditions in the desert. Sandstorms, lack of water, continuous travel and wild beasts force my people to grow strong in nature. Even before the age of six a Heenite is supposed to be able to carry water from an oasis over several miles; before the age of twelve a Heenite is supposed to be able to fight a lion to protect his sheep. They have tremendous strength by nature. It's just the desert's way.

The Heenite Skin

A Heenite is a particular sight when he leaves the desert. Only few nations share the same colour of skin, that is in fact unique to the desert climate. A Heenite will quickly stand out because of his dark skin, a type of brown that reminds me of desert sand itself. I hardly believe it has grown this way throughout the ages as a camouflage however, I think it is more of a natural reaction against the sun that coloured my own skin brown in a few days after my arrival too. The only oddity is that it seems they are born with this natural reaction. Perhaps the rays of the sun are so strong they can even reach inside a woman's womb. I dare say that a Heenite's skin is also tougher than that of most other people, because the of continuous attacks of sand that harden it up.

The Heenite Hair

Not so unique amongst other nations, yet very typical for the Heenite folk is the dark hair. Black hair is the most common hair you will find in the desert of Heen. Only few have brown hair and they are regarded as natural beauties. The Heenites seem attracted to the more rare brown hair. In only few cases children are born with light coloured hair and those who are, are usually charged with the duty to form a special guard to protect noble families. They serve as excellent guards because of the superstitious desert belief that such men and women hold the power of the light, or in common terms 'the sun'.

The Heenite Psychological Traits

The Heenite Word

Very important to know is the value of a Heenite's word. As one of few peoples, Heenites hold on to their word by all means. My people will die before they break their word. It is carried higher than any religion can fare, it is carried higher than any loyalty. It is their word that is one of the highest beliefs in the desert. So high that even the word of their father becomes their word when he dies. The word of their predecessor in title becomes their word when he succeeds them. It should be known that a Heenite never breaks his word, under no luxurious offer or threat. Not even the merchants.

The Heenite Stubbornness

Related to the Heenite word, some speak of the Heenite stubbornness. As a Heenite man never breaks his word, he also sticks to his very own opinion even when reckonnable evidence is presented to him that begs to differ. How I experienced it the phrase 'I'll believe it when I see it.' is very appropriate in this case. Other nations hold the stubbornness of the Heenites against them and claim they are fools to keep believing in values that do not exist anymore. But in some way I find their loyalty to their own opinion honourable and in some way even charming. In some way stubbornness can always be described as loyalty, can it not?

The Heenite Unity

I have traced one of the Heenite traits down into history. There has always been a unity between the people of the desert that makes them different from the egocentric regimes that have claimed lands on other regions of Beluaterra. Their sence of unity dates back from the primordial system of tribes. They survived against invaders and undead only because of their unity and fierce desire to protect each other. They consider each other as brothers. You will notice the fraternal friendship between Heenites that have never met before, because it is their nature to love their own people and protect them. Some foreigners do not know of this and in fact they should be warned that when you insult a Heenite, you've insulted all his brothers also, namely all the Heenites.

The Heenite Hospitality

One of the first things you are confronted with opun your arrival in the desert is the Heenite hospitality. Even foreigners who behave according to the etiquette of the guest-host relationship are considered brothers in Heen. They are welcomed with warmth and if they wish; food, rest and guidance will be theirs upon request. It is maybe this admirable trait that lets these people welcome nobles from other continents and doom themselves to be ruled by them. Luckily the civil war and all impure practices ended. Currently I, as Queen, am even enforcing nobles to accept or at least tolerate the Heenite culture. Some have even taken it over when they found its beauty.

The Heenite Directness

Intrigues and hiden meanings behind words were something introduced by foreign nobles from the other far away continents. In nature, Heenite have always preferred to use a direct approach with few guise and coating. However, this does not mean that they shared their opinion with no consideration for niceties and friendliness. We speak the truth out-rightly, unconcealed and overt. Many consider us blunt for doing so, but Heenites continue to stand strong as they know that this did not change the truth. The truth needs no fancy words to be the truth. Confronting, harsh words are more suitable to speak the truth. The truth practically needs to be felt in the used words. Confrontation and blunt, straight-forward replies are more truthful to Heenites than an eloquently composed stab under the water an ever be. Even more, when responded to in such a nuancating way, Heenite tend to become offended for a lack of courage on the side of the speaker and the lack of respect for pure honesty.

By the quill of Martana Curs, the second Monarch, Queen of Heen.