Torrians
This is a subgroup of noothrons generally found operating barges and small trading boats along the river systems radiating out from the Windy Sea. The Torrians have a distinctive, but by no means universal physical appearence. They tend to be shorter and broader than your typical Northeron with strong limbs. They tend to be more dextrous than typical Northrons. Thye have tendency to have curly blond or red hair and blue eyes. Torrians tend to live on board barges or boats, often as owner/operators, but also as employees of river merchants. They are also clustered in riverports sometimes working as boat builders, shipwrights, rope makers, sail makers and other trades related to work on the river.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Family names, when they are not typical Northron names tend to show the family's association with a maritime profession. Hassos (Bargeman), Gurros (Shipper), Clasos (pilot), Vennos (Oarsman)
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Torrians understand the main Northron dialects well, but their own particular version of Northron gains a great deal of specialized vocabularly related to life and work on the tovers which other Northrons will find diffcult to follow.
Culture and cultural heritage
The Torrians have a rich musical tradition. They use songs to help pace themselves when rowing. They also tend to have stringed muscial instuments, reed flutes and hand held drums played with a wooden stock with a rounded head. Good singers are held in very high regard on these people.
Common Dress code
Both men and women among the Torrins tend to wear sturdy, highly functional clothing. Usually consisting of canvas breeches and a simple tunic with long or short sleeves. For footwear they will wear either waterproofed boots or sandals.
Art & Architecture
The canvas or Torrians tends to be their barges and boats which are often elaborately painted and decoated.
Foods & Cuisine
These people eat a lot of fish, bacon and biscuit. There work in trade tends to bring them greater access to spices than a typically peasant so their cusine tends to be richer and more flavorful.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
In additional to typical Northron holidays they have to major holidays of their won. Icebreak, celebrating when the northern rivers thaw enough to oepn for springtime traffic and putting in when barges and boats are put in for the winter. These events are geenerally celbrated in riverports where the Torrians will have feats accopanied by dances and music making. It is common for marriages to take place during these festivals.
Funerary and Memorial customs
When a Torrian dies, their funeral culminates with the process of returning to the river. The body will be stripped, wrapped in canvas and weighted down and lowered into a deep stretch of the river.
Common Taboos
Never mess with another family's vessel. Even speaking deresively of another family's vessel is liable to cause a serious fight. Burning another family vessel is generally considered about the gravest act of retribution or expression of anger possible in this society.
Major organizations
Boat societies. These are mutual aid associations, almost every vessel owning family belongs to one of these organizations typically based in a port they frequent. Every year a member family will make a contribution to society. In the event a family lhas their vessel destroyed or it is seriously damaged, the boat society will provide money to build or repair the vessel.
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