Kusharans (Coo-SHAR-rans)
North of Sarkara lie the Kusharan Principalities: a loose collection of small kingdoms, ruled mostly by Princes. Throughout most of them, the Kusharan culture and language is dominant, though much of the land remains untamed. In keeping with the independent spirit of their leaders, the Kusharans are also an independent-minded folk, who value self-reliance and freedom from restricting laws.
One of the most common ways of making a living in Kusharan society is through the wilderness, so hunters, trappers and scouts are common professions among the Kusharans. The principalities are also heavily reliant on mutual trade, especially through overland travel, so caravan merchant and caravan guard is also a common way to make a living. Logging and farming are in some places done extensively, and in others almost not at all, so depending on where you are in the Principalities, those are also common professions.
The Kusharan people are a mix of mostly humans, dwarves, small folk and, in some principalities halfbreeds and other outcasts, such as demonkin. Consequently, there are few unifying ethnic traits in the way Kusharans appear physically, but culturally, Kusharans are often recognized by their love of fur; coats and capes certainly, but especially hats. Large beards are also valued among many Kusharans.
The Church of Light reaches into the Principalities as well, though it is centralized around the Heirophant of Mayard's Run, and so, is somewhat different, and politically independent from the same church in the southern Kingdoms. The other gods of the Seven are also worshipped, some places much more than Arathion. There are some principalities where Baal is among those worshipped, which puts them in a precarious position with their neighbours, and especially Sarkara to the south.
One of the most common ways of making a living in Kusharan society is through the wilderness, so hunters, trappers and scouts are common professions among the Kusharans. The principalities are also heavily reliant on mutual trade, especially through overland travel, so caravan merchant and caravan guard is also a common way to make a living. Logging and farming are in some places done extensively, and in others almost not at all, so depending on where you are in the Principalities, those are also common professions.
The Kusharan people are a mix of mostly humans, dwarves, small folk and, in some principalities halfbreeds and other outcasts, such as demonkin. Consequently, there are few unifying ethnic traits in the way Kusharans appear physically, but culturally, Kusharans are often recognized by their love of fur; coats and capes certainly, but especially hats. Large beards are also valued among many Kusharans.
The Church of Light reaches into the Principalities as well, though it is centralized around the Heirophant of Mayard's Run, and so, is somewhat different, and politically independent from the same church in the southern Kingdoms. The other gods of the Seven are also worshipped, some places much more than Arathion. There are some principalities where Baal is among those worshipped, which puts them in a precarious position with their neighbours, and especially Sarkara to the south.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Kusharan is the dominant language in the south west of the Principalities, but in truth, theirs is probably the most diverse culture, in terms of language. Many of the tribes in the greater Kusharan diaspora have languages of their own, and Sarkaran is in some places as useful a language as a lingua franca as Kusharan, since everyone speaks their own tongues locally anyway.
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