Pretan

Pretan {prɪətæn, or prɪətɜ:n}, a name that meant "Fertile Soil" in a language long forgotten, was a semi-state lying south of the river Lombech. It lied at the southernmost point of the world, and its landscapes could be categorized by its dense taiga, along with its eponymous fertile soil. Though not religious, its people were strongly ideal-based, seeking an idyllic life above all else, often even blinded by it.

## History

#### Origins - Opening the pack.

Though not much iss known of the origin of Pretan and its people, what iss known starts around 500 years before the time of writing, where the Pretani existed as a race of proud, defensive tribesmen, surviving off of berries and wild local game amidst the cold tundra of the time, along with the occasional supply of fish, should the coast prove generous. However, this peaceful life was not fated to continue, as currently unknown barbarians from the north travelled south, searching for easy targets - and Pretan was their prey.

From the few writings that have been recovered, it can be assumed these barbarians slaughtered any warriors who opposed, before staying in these lands, emptying it of its natural food supplies and killing what few warriors were left to oppose them, before most - though not all - travelled back north. Evidence of their boats nearby, however, suggests they did not travel far, either by choice or necessity. Those that stayed fathered families of their own with what was left of the tribe they ravaged. Some may assume this is out of pity, some say it was malice, but it is undeniable that this new generation brought with them the knowledge of the north, and thus, agriculture was introduced.

It is believed that it is around this time Pretan gained its name, as its fertility was no doubt impressive to these travelers. For the next few hundred years, as the descendants of these invaders grew more reliant on the land around the capital and less on their spears, they grew lazy, and simple. No other invaders ever returned, seemingly realizing its lands had nothing more to offer than the very ground itself, and so would look elsewhere. The simplistic way of living began to develop, and those who opposed it left the capital of Pretan, now known as Levenshire of Lombech, to settle in the nearby village of Hallmoor of Seara, to protect the lands when their capital could not, though no opportunity has yet presented itself. This divide has, much to the surprise of many, left no hostility between the two settlements, as they both proudly present the same flag, and trade routes are healthy. A rare, living example that difference does not demand demonization.

## Culture

### Food

The Pretani, as mentioned prior, survived mostly off of crop foods, however recently (at least in the grander scheme of things), a new culture of food has prevailed. After some poor weather and even worse timed harvests, the Pretani were low on food. Through fear of starvation, it was decided that all citizens should bring a single item of food into a communal pot, which was then stirred into a soup. This event was such a success, even beyond being a necessity, that it sparked a new tradition of a Capital-wide communal soup to be served every eighth day, and similarly inspired farmers to begin growing exclusively crops that would work well in a larger stew, to improve everyone's experience. This tradition somewhat carried over the Hallmoor of Seara where many meals are eaten as family-shared stews, and what little meat was left to hunt was hunted for the same reason of improving the experience of the broth.

### People

The people of Pretan were, at times, awfully varied, though most within an area tended to stick to the same few archetypes - each area was the same from east to west internally, but as a wider nation, Pretan was divided. As such, it could not be fair to label all people as the exact same.

#### Levenshire of Lombech

The people of Leven, despite their rich history, were not the fighters they were previously, neither ravager nor warrior. Instead, the people of Leven seeked nothing but a simplistic life of farming, craving routine and relaxation above all else, often giving time for the latter within said routines. The people here were naturally kind hearted, if simple-minded (they wouldn't have it any other way), and will often treat travelers as temporary family during their visit, seemingly oblivious to the dangers an outsider could bring. Their biggest exports included root vegetables, pumpkins, and pastries, with a recent interest in brewed products.

#### Hallmoor of Seara

Hallmoor citizens were much more hostile than their river-side counterparts, preferring not to communicate with outsiders - not aggressive to them per-say, and those who prove their worth are welcome, but turning away most who would wish to visit. They prioritized fighting ability above all else, believing that this would create a town of "true warriors", improving their chances if attackers were to invade. Their colder climate added to this, believing testing themselves against the sub-zero conditions would prove them stronger, however also making them rely on what little meat is left after the invasion. They have no exports, however have been known to travel to distant lands to "test" themselves against the seas, gathering materials while abroad.

#### Blachrone of Hand

Finally, Blachrone of Hand lied atop the Powder-Hand Mines, known for its abundance of coal. The people want very little, and, although cautious with counting their stock, were very reliant on the grounds rich gifts. The people here were much a middle ground between their river and mountain brothers, both being simplistic yet hard working people, who were initially cautious to strangers, yet were quick to warm. They did not have much, the coal dust scarring the land of its boons, but they were happy trading coal and steel for whatever little they could.

### Naming Conventions

Most towns and villages in Pretan were given their names along with the suffix "of" with the name of the nearest landmark to accompany it, such as Levenshire of Lombech, named after the River Lombech, Hallmoor of Seara, named after the Seara mountain on which it sits, or Blachrone of Hand, after the Powder-Hand Mines.

Often, visitors and travelers would be given nicknames based off of where they travel from. A traveler from, for example, Casa Ceida, may have been nicknamed Cei, or Kass, though this specific example brings with it an exception - many Casa Ceidan citizens were still often referred to by the nickname "Tey", despite the reason for this nickname was long since forgotten.