Vylmöt

The Vylmöt, like the iron that winds its way through the heart of their lands, are a hardy and resilient folk. Born in the rugged embrace of Chalornok's frigid wastes and mountainous terrain, they are as sturdy as the rocky peaks that pierce the northern skies, their spirit as unyielding as the relentless cold. They walk the frosted earth, their footprints echoing the tales of their ancestors, the beat of their hearts a rhythmic homage to the ancient rhythms of their land.
The echoes of the Eannelk Occupation (707-598) still resound within their collective memory. The great conqueror Callag Eannelk, a Vylmöt of unmatchable valor, led his people to an age of glory and expansion. The remnants of his legacy can be found in the Yanocs, a distinct group descended from the Vylmöt who settled in Draksineon during this epoch. The cultural practices of the Yanocs today, a vibrant mix of High Northern and Drakoyan influences, serve as a reminder of this shared past. Callag Eannelk himself continues to be lauded by the tribes that live here as a larger-than-life hero, and example of Vylmöt brilliance.
Economy and daily life are intertwined like the intricate patterns on a Vylmöt warrior's shield, with each stroke a testament to survival and perseverance. They mine the unforgiving mountains, their strength etching deep into the rock as they extract iron and precious stones. Crafting this raw bounty with masterful hands, they produce goods that reflect their own robust character: weapons and tools that, like the Vylmöt, promise durability and practicality over ornate display.
A shared sense of responsibility threads through their communities, stitching together a fabric of cooperative existence. A child might be born to a family, but they are raised by the village, nurtured on stories of courage and tales of their ancestral glory. Through tales of ancestral glory and lessons of courage, they are nurtured to carry forth the legacy of their people. The divisions of gender are faint, blurred by the need to survive, with men and women alike taking up the axe, the loom, or the trowel.
Their faith mirrors the vastness of their northern sky, their gods often associated with the natural elements. The wind, the mountains, the deep forest, and the ever-present frost - all are sacred to the Vylmöt. Rituals are woven into the fabric of daily life, each task a humble offering, each meal a gratitude-laden feast.
Art and entertainment spring forth from the rich loam of their oral tradition. Legends are spun around firesides, epic sagas recited with the rhythm of the northern winds, each verse a gust of raw emotion. The rousing beat of their drum songs, the energetic stomping of their dances, and the compelling power of their storytelling all reflect a people forged in the crucible of nature’s extremes.
Their cuisine is a hearty reflection of their environment, dishes cooked over open fires, imbued with the smoky essence of the northern woodlands. Game meats, root vegetables, and wild berries dominate their diet, often washed down with hearty ale or potent spirits that warm the belly against the unforgiving cold.
Among their unique customs, the Winter’s Embrace stands out. Celebrated during the harshest period of winter, it’s a testament to their enduring strength. Filled with feasting, storytelling, and a series of physical trials, it serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience inherent in their spirit.
Such is the essence of the culture, a people as tough as the terrain they inhabit, as enduring as the mountains they mine, and as vibrant as the tales they weave, bound to the land, to their iron, and to each other.