Topsiders
In the wake of the now-ancient Human Wars along the shores and across the fields of Mordrekain, the majority of Dwarves and Gnomes may have returned to their subterranean holds to work out the terms of their new allegiance, but a small number remained on the surface, in the towns and outposts the Gnomes had built during their long exile. When refugees from the Humans' own wars against themselves began to turn up, willing to work and make amends for the sins of the past, they were welcomed with open arms by some and mild suspicion by others. Nevertheless, they proved themselves hardy and trustworthy, and in time, the cultures of all involved melded together. No longer were they simply surface-dwelling Dwarves and Gnomes living alongside Humans who'd fled their homelands. Now, they were Topsiders.
It's not a matter of simply living on the surface. To be a Topsider is to be part of Mordrekain's history and culture, but also to walk in the sun, to view its grand vistas, and to meet those who visit its shores. We are the first faces you'll see upon visiting, and the ones to wave you off should you have to go. We are the vanguard of the land's hospitality. If you come without malice, with an open mind and heart, know that you are welcome.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Being an amalgam of folk from Human and Underkingdom cultures, Topsiders often embody the primary aspects of all involved, fostering a love of invention, creation, exploration, and discovery. They've spearheaded most of the colonization efforts into the Desert of Òr, Mórcrann, and the swamplands that are now home to the city of Moortop. They turned failed coring efforts in the southeast into the prosperous port-city of Anchorhal. They even served as the first to parlay with the various solitary Drakenath that roamed the landscape and previously proved to be terrible threats to smaller villages and towns.
This almost seamless blending of disparate peoples has led to Topsiders having the largest population of Halflings in the known world. Nearly every family of more than one or two generations is likely to have at least a few individuals of mixed-species ancestry. Though some individuals may try to downplay this fact and still refer to themselves as their 'primary' genetic ancestry due to older stigmas involved in 'crossbreeding', efforts to erase the negative connotations and instead embrace the sense of community and cooperation it implies have steadily been gaining traction beyond Mordrekain's surface cities.
Parent ethnicities
Related Locations
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