Culture and Cuisine

Styx considers itself a culture of honor and hospitality.

Despite the tendency of the Sumraki-Ashaī for isolating themselves, for looking down on all those different than them and for fearing what they do not know Stygia has a lot to offer in terms of culture and cuisine.

An invitation to obed (dinner) is customary if one makes a new friend and such dinners are celebrated greatly.

In the circle of friends and family at the table tend to be served a variety of foods and drink, bread made from a variety of hardy grain that grows in the earth of the region, root vegetables like potatoes, carrots and beets in many preparations, mushrooms from the Leshivoi Forest, herbs and spices as well as game, fish and the savory meat of the lifestock that the people of Styx keep make up much of their diet. Cows, sheep, goats and pigs are kept by the Sumraki-Ashaī, as well as a number of insectoid or arachnid creatures unknown to the suface dwellers.
The most widespread of these, the Cow Beetle produces a substance called Bug Milk (or Beetle Juice) which is used to make a stunning variety of dishes including cheeses and pastries (like Foxfear's Delight), like cow milk it is fermented but its taste is both sweeter and more savory at once.

The citizens of the City of Styx love hardened drink, preferring beers, ales and the famous vodka which is made from fermented potato and grains over water any day; the chance for contamination of unfiltered water is high near Lake Aphon and the industrial sites of Styx and so alcoholic brew is drank by most people frequently.

One of the most popular imported goods in Styx is pipeweed which is not grown in the area but brought in in immense quantities from abroad, the Sumraki-Ashaī love to smoke as much as they love to eat and drink.

The ordinary people of Styx live a simple life eating simple dishes but anybody who has been invited to dinner with even the poorest family knows that they take pride in hospitality and what they pantries have to offer.