The Adena are a Phemaire ('People of the Sea') tribe who migrated west to
Miredor at the time of the
Great Darkness. There they settled in the most northern (and fertile)
part of the country and now are the dominant population of
Maldor as well as the most numerous human population of the halfelven Dominion
of Miredor (not to be confused with the ancient name for the whole of the
Seven Dominions).
Adena society is dominated by matriarchs. Marriage customs dictate that an individual must marry outside of
their tribe. Each of the seven Adena tribes, however, will have one or two preferred tribes from which a
partner will first be sought. The priests of their religion are also exclusively female and their gods
are all portrayed as winged serpents. The
Elves believe that the Adena may have formed a symbiotic
relationship with a dragon in the distant past and that their chief god is an aspect of Bahamut.
Adena society values military prowess and all able bodied members of society, both male and female, are expected
to train with sword and bow. Historically any joint army of the Dominions has tended to be led by an
Adena general although this may be due to the fact that the Elvish and Half-elvish Dominions have been less
precipitate in going to war.
In general Adena society is more rural and conservative than other parts of the Dominions especially in Maldor
itself. The Adena diet consists of much grain and dairy products supplemented by fish and shellfish. Their houses
tend to be oval in shape with brick foundations. Temporary partitions are used to divide the interior living space
in the typical Adena house. Richer families have larger dwellings with more permanent partitions.