Chukot
The people of the Chukot Plateau
From the Wind-Chilled Loft
Atop the windswept Chukot Plateau, the hardy Chukot people not only survive but thrive. Summers bathe the region in a warm, golden glow and winter lock it in a frozen embrace; the Chukot spend the short warm months collecting the plentiful bounty of nature in preparation for the long, bone-chilling months to come.Physical Characterists: The Bears of the North
Well-adapted to life at elevation, the Chukot are a sturdy people; burly, thick-skinned, and exceptionally hairy. Men and women alike reach heights from the mid-five feet, upwards of six feet tall. Additionally, their pale frames hold quite a bit of heft in muscle and fat alike, weighing up to 300lbs. Their hair tends to be dark, thick, and oily; the natural oils act as a weather barrier, helping insulate them from the harsh weather.Strong jaws and furrowed brows are hallmark of the Chukot, as are their sucken eyes and heavy nose. The men often sport rugged moustaches and beards; rural Chukot tend to be quite uncomely. To see a Chukot without their face twisted in a firm scowl is atypical; even the friendliest amongst them don hard looks.
Culture & Society: Life Above the Cliffs
The Chukot are well-known for their bluntness and abrasive nature; do not, however, conflate their brashness with acrimony. You will truly never meet a kinder, softer people. It is said that the trying conditions of their homeland have hardened their shell and softened their hearts; struggle has fostered cooperative and generous communities. Community is a key tenet of Chukot society, as it is understood no person can make it alone. There are two great Chukot cities, Nivenka & Prestol Tsarya, however, most Chukot live in small towns and villages. Chukot social order is fairly loose, where everyone is generally free, but all have obligations to their family, friends, and neighbors.Celebration and festivals are fundemental to the Chukot way of life. With the changing of each season, the Elfs of the Great Lesfeya Woods migrate onto the mortal plane, where they live amongst the Chukot. The five-day long Festival of the Elfs marks a period of great joy and merriment once per season; even in the dark and cold of winter, the Chukot host the Elfs for extravagent celebrations. These \include feasts, fires, fairs, and much more. Festivity in the face of hardship keeps the spirits of the Chukot high.
Chukot culture is not all sunshine and primrose, however. Their history is a long line of violence and warfare, both within the Plateau and extending out of it. Poor seasons leads to scarcity. Scarcity leads to desperation. Desperation leads many to the path of violence. In days past, it was common for individual communities to raid neighboring towns for supplies; this was not some unspeakable act, but simply a matter of life. When the rivers ran full once more and the berry bushes began to bloom, the Chukot would forgive one another for their acts of necessity. Their neighboring peoples did not hold the same views. The Dwarfs, the Marcot, the Orks, and the Hillanden all suffered the hammers and axes of Chukot war parties. The general "peace" of the Chukot people is only a recent development. Even now, the throughways across the plateau are wrought with violence, with bandits seeking an easier life.
Cuisine: A Summer's Bounty to Last a Hard Winter
The unique climate and geography of the Chukot Plateau has inspired a rather atypical cultural cuisine. The short summer months, excessive rainfall, and generally poor soil have made agriculture a challenge. While there is small scale, highly localized farming, the diet of the Chukot is moreso based on herding and wild harvests.Within the shady understory of the Great Lesfeya Woods, there lies a cornucopia of unique flora. Those who live nearby the mighty forest often brave the dangers in pursuit of these treasured berries, greens, fungi, and herbs. Most notable is the Silverbloom Flower, a rare plant with a number of uses. South of the woodlands, in the vast meadowlands, there are numerous herbs and root vegetables that contribute the distinct earthy flavor of Chukot cooking. It is here you'll also find the famed Frostberry, which sweetens meads through the cold winter months. Hunters track the elusive wild hare, the aggressive fat-headed boars, and scaled meadow snakes. Shepherds guide there sheep through their pastures, and fishermen reap the bounty of the fast-flowing rivers that cut over the plateau.
These ingredients come together in many forms, vastly different through the seasons. The summer air is always filled with the smells of roasting meats and charred vegetables, accompanied by the sweet tang and bitter earthiness of simply chopped fruit and green salads. Summer is the season of open-fire cooking. As the first frosty kiss of autumn rings in the changing of the season, the smell of hot roasts shifts to the smells of cold-fire smoke, as the Chukot begin to smoke and dry their mutton and fish. The last fruits of the season are jammed and jarred, and vegetables are packed in root cellars and salted. During the coldest months of winter, the Chukot people come together and prepare deep pots of communal stews, using whatever few ingredients they have on hand. Silverbloom tea warms their bellies as they ride out the frigid times of scarcity together. Finally, with the arrival of spring, the simple raw greens and yardlong onions are seen as delicacies after the long months of smoked meat and preserved vegetable stews.
Religion: To Each Their Own
Traditionally, the Chukot are practicioners of Sylvan Shamanism, but due to the pluralist nature of the Shamists, it is common for Chukots to practice another faith in addition or even convert. The town of Headwater has a large population who follow of Trinitism; a significant portion of that population are full converts. There are several communities near the Grey Crags who practice Dwarfish Spiritualism.
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