The Men Betwixed
The
Humans of the Akathian Realm have been historically forced into neutrality in times of conflict, and their culture reflects this. The most diverse realm, someone that travels through
Akathia stands to see all races of
Virosia with much higher frequency than that of other realms.
Amongst themselves, however, Akathians are not entirely united.
Drostollor and
Aleryn have historically never seen eye to eye for very long, and frequent rebellion from the north is nothing new. With limited success, Drostollor has oft waged war on Aleryn, demanding liberation from their rule, to little avail. Drostollor itself is not even entirely united, as the islands of Yrinvale and Oede wage constant war, and the cities of Drostollor's north all vie for power over one another.
The Akathian Culture
The people of this realm have a deeply religious history that has seeped into being a primary fact of the Akathian people. Often considered ambitious and stoic, for their lifespans, Akathians spend a significant portion of it in meditation and self-reflection, especially. Many take the time very seriously, with most spending around an hour a day in meditation. Especially spiritual individuals may spend as much as six hours a day in meditation, and those who have ancestral families that were religious leaders in the highest years of Akathia's worship. Alerean couples often meditate together, some citing that the Teurthan Belfry can actually meld their minds slightly as they do so.
Whatever the case may be, a primary tenant of Akathian culture centers on the bettering of oneself. To be a greater version constantly. To, by the end of their rather short lives, have made the impact that an elf could make only in several millenia. This culture of drive has only been made possible by the constant reminders by their neighbors that their lives can be so impactful, or more often, that their lives are of no significance. The need to prove someone wrong can be a powerful motivator.
Following a Spiritual Way is expected of any proper Alerean, and each path offers different internal guidance that will shift the life of a follower in subtle but exceptional ways. The Spritiual Ways have been one of the most prolific cultural cornerstones that has spread to other realms, though to little suprise, not to Drostollor despite its cultural adjacency and historic assimillation, as they normally follow the Vissicaran Way.
Ethnicities of Akathia
There are three primary Akathian ethnicities: Alerean, Drostollorian, and Valish, those being from Aleryn, the Drostollor region, and the islands north of Drostollor respectively.
Alerean
An iconic Alerean has deeply tanned skin, rich hazel eyes, and black hair that has a single strip of white that falls either on the right or left of their widow's peak.
Drostollorian
Drostollorians maintain a mid-to-tan skintone, a mix of black and deep green eyes, and dark-brown blonde hair. Drostollorians are born with a single birthmark in a streak, from two to three inches across, in a random location on their body. Being born without the mark, known as a Mark of Passing, is a sign of impurity in a bloodline.
Valish
The Valish people take on paler skin-tones, sometimes quite ivory. Their hair include bright blondes and auburn to fire-shades. Their eyes can be deep browns and blues. The individual islands Yrinvale and Oede distinguish themselves, due to political rivalry, via hair colors, which have even-blending across all humans. Oede bloodlines are distinguished by blones, while Yrinvale cherish red and orange hues.
