Chondathan (chohn-ah-THAN)
Chondathans are slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair that ranges from almost blond to almost black. Most are tall and have green or brown eyes, but these traits are hardly universal.
Chondathans are one of the more common human ethnicities, found in great numbers throughout the Western and Eastern Heartlands. They are hardy, risk-taking folk who are apt to travel or take on new endeavours to better their lives and those of their loved ones. Their prominence throughout the Realms was due in large part to the extensive trade routes they established, rather than military conquest.
Chondathans make up the bulk of the population of Altumbel, Chondath, Cormyr, the Southern Dalelands, the Dragon Coast, the Great Dale, Hlondeth, the northern shore of the Vilhon Reach, the Pirate Isles of the Sea of Fallen Stars, Sembia, and Sespech.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Rowan, Shandri, Tessele
Masculine names
Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd
Family names
Amblecrown, Buckman, Dundragon, Evenwood, Greycastle, Tallstag
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The widest-recognized trade language of Faerûn, common, is a sign of the widespread Chondathan culture. In addition, they speak the closely-related Chondathan dialect, which shares the usage of the Thorass alphabet with the common language.
Culture and cultural heritage
Because of their widespread distribution across the Realms, Chondathan society varies greatly from between nations, and even between cities. As a people however, they have a shared emphasis on trade, exploration and freedom as opposed to the draconian structure that often accompanied a life of religious or arcane devotion. Considering the diverse lands in which they had settled, the Chondathan people are not overly proud of their ethnic heritage and often identify themselves by the nation or kingdom in which they live. Their most commonly shared cultural value is their focus on garnering wealth, power and prestige for their own.
The Chondathan people are fiercely competitive and extremely self-reliant. They look upon acts of altruism and selflessness with bemusement and surprise. Those Chondathans who take on a life of adventure are attracted by the potential riches and fame they could claim for their own.
