Saos'Minthas Culture

Cultural identity amongst the citizens of Saos'Minthas is influenced by a range of sources. Perhaps the most significant source of this identity is the ocean and the rivers the city relies upon for survival. Second is the influence of Saos'Minthas's elvish founding, felt through its architecture and aging infrastructure. A notable example of this influence is the persistence of the Mage College (name???), which is mentioned even in the city's oldest histories. Third is the monarchy, whose wealth and power have significant say in the patronage of art.

#### The Arts

Music, dance, theater, and media arts are supported across economic class in Saos'Minthas.

Art galleries aren’t terribly common. Permanent ones are generally located in nicer parts of town, catering to the tastes of the upper class. Pop-up galleries may be hosted by a local tavern, theater or guildhall. Finally, the Emerald Market hosts several public, open-air art festivals over the course of the year. These festivals often feature live music, food vendors, and art competitions.

Scholars have described several artistic subcultures persisting through the city's history and cultural identity.

* **Nautical** - dominant media are bone and animal hide. Artists may create bone tools engraved with a nautical theme. Animal skin garments and tapestries are frequently decorated with depictions of seafaring scenes or try to describe the feelings of sailors far from home: for example, missing one's family, or fear of the deep.
* **Elvish Natural** - this ancient tradition entwines nature magic with virtually all naturally occurring materials. Its style is recognized by graceful lines and curves. Works are usually focused on representing 'wild' scenes virtually untouched by humanoid hands. Often the pieces are infused with an emotional undertone.
* Elvish Post-war (?) - After the little civil war in the city’s history, some elves expressed their feelings of aggrievement, loss and injustice through art
* **Dragonborn Royalist** - A more strict classification of the styles of art that have benefited from patronage by the Dragonborn Monarchy.  It is characterized by geometric style, a limited color palette, and subject matter usually relating to public figures and politics. The Monarchy sometimes funds public works in this style. It has been criticized as propaganda.
* **Dragonborn Reversal** - Some artists co-opt the Royalist style to make social commentary.  It is known for its similar geometric style, but contrasted with distorted figures and a wider range of (usually clashing) colors.

###### Street Performance

Street performers are a common sight in Saos'Minthas. Some buskers are known to get into fights with each other over performing spaces. Sometimes this results in short competitions of skill, where the winner is judged by responses from passerby. Most street performers are musicians, but there are groups which dance and perform improv. While street magic is effectively illegal, less patrolled areas may see performers enhancing their shows with illusion spellwork.

An uncommon street performer is the flame swallower, of which there are relatively few in number. They tend to perform only in the evenings and usually announce their show a couple days beforehand, so as not to invite ire from townspeople living nearby.

###### Public Works

- big statue of dragonborn monarchy heritage

- uhhh the churches? the various districts??? idfk.

#### Holidays

###### Star Trader Festival

Githyanki pirates turned collector-merchants visit on the spring equinox to trade. The traders arrive from the Astral Sea through the twin spires of dark etched metal located in the waters south of the East Boxyards. They stay for five days, and then leave in an unofficial sendoff - the spectacle of the portal's formation draws a crowd.

Their primary trade good is bottled magic - they infuse crystals with arcane energies and sell them to magic users looking to supplement their own power. Enchanters can enchant with their own magic but for larger spells or stacking multiples it’s better to have crystal reservoirs that can hold magic. The collectors generally trade for food and supplies, as well as knowledge of the material plane. Rumors hold that the collector-merchants are servants of Oghma - or perhaps they just want to trick out their nice boats. They're certainly not telling.

The Star Traders are currently led by Dar (Captain/Commander) Mosca. Dar Mosca has filed her teeth to sharp points and adorned herself in gems. Her voice is raspy and low. She wears a well-cut set of practical leather armor (dyed maroon) and carries dual short swords. She is short, with a climber's build.

###### Midsummer Burnings

These events really only occur outside of town, amongst the farms and fields. Mediterranean grassland ecology requires yearly burning for nutrient cycling and the germination of some seeds. The people wait for the day when the wind is right and then do controlled burns in fields. The burns themselves are short-lived, but require a lot of effort to set up and control. Each one is usually coupled with chanted or sung prayers to the goddess of harvest, Chauntea. Neighboring properties work together to make sure everyone’s land receives proper treatment. The day is finished out with celebrations and socialization.

###### Fantasy Thanksgiving

This festival takes place on the first day of Hammer, in early winter. It celebrates the beginning of the new year. Traditionally, the ruler of the city would take a ship of warriors and fishermen and sail towards the horizon for three days. The crew and ruler would fish for six days before returning. The quality of their catch would be an omen for the rest of the year. A good haul meant a good year, and vice versa. The height of prosperity was forseen with the catch of the elusive Sickle-Jawed Eel, an electric eel the size of a carriage with a sharklike form of jaw protrusion. Once back in port, the catch would be judged and then ceremonially prepared. A feast followed, typically lasting about two days. The feast would be centered around celebrating surviving another year, remembering who did not live to see it, and connecting with one’s friends and family.

Fantasy Thanksgiving persists to the modern day still, although with some changes. While letting the ruler leave the city for more than a week’s time used to be acceptable because of the beliefs surrounding the quality of the ruler’s fishing, now the ruler appoints a “deputy” to perform the role, usually another member of the succession or a high level noble. Additionally, rather than a feasting menu of any kind of fish, the city’s maritime prowess means that the staple meal is simply pastry-wrapped sea bass filets. It’s popular for celebrants to give their loved ones gifts of strung coral or large crystals of sea salt for luck.