[Neus]

TUNNIN

Sigil: A pitch black spear with the tip shaped like a Zeran horn.
The sigil of House Tunnin is, in fact, their heirloom, Gae Bolg. Its imagery brings to mind their basic pride as weaponsmiths, as well as hunters, though its lack of subtlety has been criticized by the artistic Zeran society as a whole. Not that subtlety was ever House Tunnin's strong point.

Colors: Green, brown, grey.
These earthy colors represent the Tunnin simply because it is what they wear to help better camoflague themselves in the wilderness where they often hunt the dangerous beasts of Alstalsia.

Heirloom: Gae Bolg
Made from Zera's repairs, this spear is said to be one of the deadliest weapons in the world, and legend states that if you are wounded by it, you are fated to die. Whether or not this is true, many have seen its power firsthand, piercing armor and monster hide as if it were simply air. It is commonly held by the head of the Tunnin tribe in the Darklands. Many have tried to claim it for themself, thinking it would be trivial to seize it from such 'brainless savages', but they are often killed by monsters before they get the chance. And, it's said, the ones who aren't are the 'unlucky ones'...

Size: Large
While not a noble house in the traditional sense, Tunnin villages are often found inbetween the lands of other houses, particularly in dense forests or mountains. Thus, their size can be seen as rather impressive, more numerous than many other noble houses, but unorganized.

Stronghold: The Darklands
The Tunnin do not really have a stronghold in the traditional sense. However, they have lived in the Darklands for as long as one can remember. The Darklands, essentially, refer to the valley south of the Godly Stage. Due to the depth of the land, the land is illuminated by the sun for a smaller portion of the day, commonly giving it long periods of twilight. This area is known for its high activity of magical monsters, but the Tunnin hunt them for their parts and fashion weapons and clothes out of them.

Values:
The Tunnin people have one thing that they are commonly known for; their macabre crafting. Gae Bolg was made from the remains of Zera, and while most noble houses have some artifact made from their patron deity, the Tunnin take it to an extreme. They often wear the remains of monsters they hunt, fashion powerful weapons from their remains, and decorate their villages with their bones. The common confusion between trying to identify someone as a Reaper or a Zeran can almost solely be traced back to the Tunnin, who share their taste for treating bones as accessories.

But beyond that, the Tunnin also value strength and respect for the deceased. A weak Tunnin will never survive the lands they live for long, and for those they hunt, they are always worthy opponents. It is not uncommon to hear a Tunnin who comes to the capital for trade to talk up the spear they smithed out of monster parts by pointing to a scar that monster gave them. A surprisingly persuasive argument given such a grim people.

History:
House Tunnin's history is a rather odd one. The Tunnin were, at one point, simply a large tribe of Zeran peoples who lived in the wilds rather than cities. As Alstalsia grew and the High Council was formed, they were more or less forced into the role of a 'noble' house; one, to ensure that they would operate within the interests of Alstalsia as a whole, and two, because the prideful Zerans thought it shameful that their beloved homeland would have so many 'uneducated savages' surrounding their lands. To this day, despite this 'noble' status for the Tunnin as a whole, they are still seen, and treated, this way by many Zerans.

In this way, they are technically a 'noble house' but more in the sense that their people have a seat on the high council, rather than any willingness or effort put into playing the political games of the rest of them. Indeed, House Tunnin do not follow normal lordly behaviors or fashions, and prefer to live in the lands between other houses, particularly south of the Godly Stage, which are notoriously dangerous for the magical monsters they attract. When asked, a Tunnin will likely reply that they 'feel safer' there, rather than around the ambitious highborns...

Despite not living in cities and having access to many conveniences and knowledge bases, the Tunnin are still surprisingly intelligent despite the stigma the other Zerans give them. Rather than simply study, the Tunnin live out what they learn every day, and the highly skilled individuals of the tribe are always willing to share what they know with their fellow Tunnin... but much less so to other Zerans, who dare to view them negatively, and insult their Zeran pride.