Suranthi

We are the sons and daughters of the storm, those whom thrive where others merely struggle to survive. We are those whom bow not to the ice and snow, but instead embrace the strength and power of it, become one with it. We are the Suranthi, those whom rule the Tundra Realms.

5e Character Benefits:

Dwarven: You are fluent in dwarven even if not a racial language for you.

One with the Tundra: You have Cold Resistance naturally, and it will stack (so you can have a second instance of Cold Resistance.)

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Dwarven is the other major spoken langauge, one that anyone of Suranthi Ethnicity can speak, alongside Valarian, the common shared parlence of the nations of Valerick. However notably, the Suranthi dialect and speech patterns have quite a unique finish to them, in the way their speech sounds on the ears. They have a clipped, almost tumbly speech pattern, with many words oft being spelled (and pronounced) with certain letters missing, replaced with an apostrophe in the context of written langauge. Some common examples;

Baseline Word	Suranthi Spelling
North-westor	Nor'westor
You	Ya, Ye
Here	'ere
Your	Yer
Nothing	Not'ing, or Nothin'

These sorts of linguistics outlined here apply beyond the few words shown here and are found all about their dialect, Suranthi Clipper, as most from other lands oft refer to the dialect and accent as.

Shared customary codes and values

The peoples of Suranth all value boldness, honesty and openness of communication. Culturally they rely on each other, on the strength of their neighbors a lot. They have a very tight sense of community. It is common to see neighborhoods rally together to care for sick or injured members, or to work together to provide care to family members left behind should someone die. There is a kinship these peoples feel towards one another that transcends the physical features, for like all the nation states of Valerick, Suranth is home to folk of every sapient race.

The Suranthi peoples are quite tribal as well, even in this modern day and age, working, living and interacting in tight knit groups and communities. They also have a sense of industriousness to them, and a shared value of resource maximization. They do not like to waste much of anything, and you can even see this in their industries. Mining ore any stone or impurities are collected, sorted and also utilized in some fashion. Whaling, another major industry, every part of the creature is used. Meat and organs for food, be it for beasts of burden (like sled dogs for example) or people. blubber melted down into Ghel and refined for all manner of different things, the rubbery skin, waterproof as it is, used in garment making, particularly gloves or shoes. The bones used in all manner of tools, etc etc.

Average technological level

Reinassance and into Early Industrial. It was a Suranthi whom invented the Gotlbrand Engine, and successfully brought the concept of steam power into reality.

Common Etiquette rules

The Suranthi are a people not known to stand on ceremony. They are a hard-nosed bunch, preferring open and brutal honesty over flowery words and politeness for its own sake. 'Wasted words' you'll oft hear such flowery southern speech described as. They are a hard people whom know that every second has inexplicable and immeasurable value, for they live in a harsh land that will do all in its power to remind those whom live how valuable and precious that time is. Many from other nations will find it remarkably difficult to adapt to their demeanor and behavior, for what most construe as rudeness or being short with someone, the Suranthi see as the apex of good manners, for they seek to be swift, to the point, and not take up more of your time than is absolutely necessary. Manners as one might imagine them are not a thing in Suranthi culture, words like 'please' or 'thank you' do not see much use, indeed they do not even exist in the Dwarven tongue at all.

They believe gratitude is shown, not spoken. Actions and deeds, not words. Paying on time, paying in full, is seen as the apex of good etiquette. Haggling as most from other southern nations would think of it is considered offensive in the highest degree. This is not to say you cannot negotiate, but you do so not to lower a price, but to lower the amount of raw coin an exchange will include, replacing some of it with other objects or offering services of some manner in exchange.

In dining too, there are customs. It is considered completely improper and offensive at a meal, to take your food before children or women. Generally the order is children first, women second, then guests and then everyone else. If you are a guest, you are expected to share news, or stories and tales in return for your meal in most Suranthi households. Despite their distaste for wasting time and wasted words, they are avid story-tellers and a strong bardic culture exists within the Suranthi peoples, for the preservation of legends, history and the tales of those whom came before, ancestors, is culturally significant and of great importance.

Common Dress code

There is no dress code amongst an entire nation, though like any nation, there are groups and sub-cultures within whom have a dress code of sorts, or a uniform. But among the Suranthi, there is a styling if you will, a standard in clothing. Layered and warm, often utilizing whale or seal skin on an inner layer to help seal against the cold. One will not find much in the way of silks or cottons this far north, except among the very wealthy, and even then, for practical reasons these are rarely seen outside heated structures. Animal hides, dyed and tanned, certain kelps and seaweeds also are harvest to create different fabrics. Various tundra plants, along with fish scales, certain minerals and other materials can be used to create dyes of a wide variety. Living and traveling amongst the Tundra Realms as they do, whenever traveling, even if but a day trip, it is pretty standard practice to insure one has a full change of clothing they are carrying and keeping dry. This is because wet clothes are death in the bitter cold of the tundra, so it is precautionary for yourself or in case you come upon someone in need.

Culturally though, there is a taste for earth and stone colors, with blues and deeper, darker greens as well. Less favored are bright standout colors like reds, oranges, yellows and their like.

Art & Architecture

The Suranthi are a hands on people, artisans and craftsfolk. Though they approach things in a utilitarian, with a focus on functionality over form, this is not to say there is not beauty or variety to their architecture and artworks. The harsh landscape inspires a great many painters of reknown, and many beautiful works come from artists local to the Tundra Realms. Stories, legends, poetry and song all are practiced and a deep root of culture amongst the Suranthi.

In architecture, their is a focus on imposing and practical design, every building a 'fort' in its own right. Stone architecture, solid and thick walls. Practical and effective designs meant to be quite defensible. Cities and towns are very delibrately built carefully, with great effort being put in to insure that, though their may be exceptions, such is the nature of settlement growth, by and large the shortest buildings and structures are closest to the walls, and they get taller the closer you get to the town or city center. This is meant as a defensive feature, especially in towns or villages, as bestial and greenskin raids are not uncommon. It allows the loss of the outer perimeter of a settlement while giving next to no ground to establish a secondary line of defense. Basically the theory is to turn every street, every layer of any settlement into brutal building by building combat

All this is not to say there is not a flourish or styling within Suranthi Acrchitecture. Like any skilled tradesfolk, those among the Suranthi like to take proper credit for their work, and hope to be remembered for it even after they are dead and gone. So maker's marks, little carvings or the like within the stone walls are by no means uncommon.

Finally there are the revered Rune-Forgers, those select few (relatively) dwarves whom have the skill and artistic talent to craft Rune-etched items, the most stable and safe form of magickal enhancements. Such items are almost all unique in their looks at least, and a display of one's artistic talents and prowess, each piece an art piece in and of itself.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Like all on Valerick they celebrate the holidays of seasons and those of the faiths, the Ascended. However, one of particular importance among the Suranthi, is that of The Final March, the celebration of the New Year.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Sea, Snow and Stone

In Suranth, there is a belief the tundra itself is part of what makes the peoples here what they are. Newborns are seen as needing to be introduced to the land, and as such, the rites of Sea, Snow and Stone. Babes will be dunked in water, ideally the ocean but the rites and ritual are done in rivers and lakes where the ocean is simply to far away, and then sprinkled with a handful of tundra snow and ice. From there, swiftly the babe is wrapped in a new blanket, swaddled and placed on a small stone that has been well warmed by flame, and soothed to sleep once dry and warmed up. This brief introduction so young to the lands and waters of the Tundra Realms is seen to help insure strength, health and a long and hearty life.

Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2022

Answering: "Α culture who lives by, near or within an ocean, desert or other expanse"

Visit Keon Croucher's Competition Page Check all other answers to this prompt Competition Homepage