The Kishea
Very little is known of Kishea. They live in the desert, northwest of the Averian empire, and rarely have contact with the empire. What is known, only sparks more questions about them. The Kisheans are humans, although it is believed that there are other races that make up the Kishean population (what these are is still a mystery). They are dark skinned and dark haired folk who travel the deserts in caravans. They occasionally travel to the outlaying posts of the Averian empire to make trade.
The Averian empire has attempted to make way upon Kishea, long ago, and were miserably defeated. Since then, there has been an uneasy peace, on the Averian side. The state between the Averian and the Kishean can be best described as an understanding. The Averians know the Kishea outnumber Averia about four to one. The Averians also know that Kishea depends on them for trade, no matter how rare it may be. Kishea, on the other hand knows that Averia is the only people in the west to trade with them, and would rather have a peaceful encounter than a bloody one. Thus, once a year a huge caravan arrives at one of the small outlaying villages east of the mountains and trade is made. Both cultures spend thousands of gold, and almost a full month trading before the Kishea return home. Not wanting to give up on the wondrous art and other exotic goods, Averia has not since attacked Kishea.
Kisheans are a very spiritual people. They believe in one entity who gives the life and protects them from the harsh world they live in. They believe that there was a battle between chaos and order, resulting in the world being formed. Out of order came a entity, the one true being. This being created life, the Kishea, and others, to populate the world. The Kishea believe that the world is a testing place for humanity. Those living in it must endure the hardships of life in order to pass on to another world, a paradise. The Kishea believe that they have been placed in a desert as a test of their loyalty to the one true being. The Kishea worship the being for shade from the sun, water for their food, fair weather for traveling, all knowing that the true test of a Kishean is how well they can hold up with little shade, no water during a sandstorm.
Because of this intense desire to survive on little, the Kishea are a very stout hearted people. For them, there is little time for luxury (although there is a time every year, for a little longer than a month where the Kisheans are allowed to indulge). They are very serious in all their doings, especially trade. To the Kishea, trade is a spiritual test. Traveling across the desert to give another race of people (people who do not know of the one great being) their art, goods and sometimes knowledge.
Religion
The one great being has many names, each given to him by the Kishea. There has never been a time where the great being has given a name, or a way to be addressed. It is believed that he lives deep in the world, fueling it with his energy, allowing life to live wherever he desires. He has control over every aspect of the world, the wind, the sun, the flow of water, the growth of crops. The world he has created is a testing ground, showing his Beloved, the Kishea that even in a semblance of order, there is chaos. Chaos is something that can never be destroyed or removed. Instead, one must remained as ordered as they can, enduring through chaos. The tree that stands during the storm is an example used by many Kishea. The forces of chaos, then, have become the opposite to the one great being. However, it is not an entity itself. Chaos is a power, mush like order, but it is chaotic. By it's very nature it could never order itself into an entity, like the one great being. Thus, there is not an opposing entity, but an idea. Chaos only destroys, order creates.
Kishean Clerics are granted access to a variety of domains: Air, Animal, Cold, Community, Courage, Craft, Creation, Dream, Earth, Endurance, Fire, Glory, Healing, Knowledge, Law, Liberation, Luck, Pact, Plant, Protection, Purification, Strength, Summoner, Sun, Trade, Travel, War.