Snowpine

**Snowpine** is a small nation located in the southwestern taiga of Alveyra, located in the south of Cloire. The people of Cresbel follow the religion of **Linum**. Snowpine is considered a monarchy. People born in Snowpine are called Pineans, which is also the name of their race.

## Etymology

The name Snowpine translates to "P'yna's snowy taiga". "Snow" refers to snowy taiga, and "pine" reffers to P'yna". It is believed they gave their settlement this name in order to recieve blessings from P'yna.

## History

### Pre-A'ynar

Before the creation of the A'ynar clan, the Pinean people were divided into small factions, each having their own land and regional power, this era is described as a time of chaos and war. Most of these wars were fueled by the need to expand, whether it would be to gain more resources, food, or just land to settle.

#### The Great Winter War

Around 600 years ago there was a very strange, meteorological event, which occurs every 1000 years. A **supermassive winter** would strike southern Alveyra, which would ruin the crops. Pineans were hungry and desperate, so they declared war on each other, this war lasted centuries, it is believed that around 245,000 Pineans died on the battlefield, and countless others starved to death.

### Arrival of A'ynar

After around 130 years of war, a hunter named J'el A'ynar would find out that berries could grow under extreme cold. He would start cultivating these, and eventually, he would start selling them. He gained more riches than anyone could ever dream of. The Pineans saw his ability when it came to trading, selling, and anything related to economics. They chose to make him king. Not everyone was happy with J'el becoming the new leader. They threatened to start a rebellion. Pineans agreed that whoever wanted to lead Snowpine would have to be a strong individual, so they decided that whoever wanted the throne, would have to fight for it, they would have to beat J'el in a **mud fight**.

### Present Era

J'el's grandson Max A'ynar is the current leader of Snowpine. Snowpine is growing fast, multiple houses are being built. The Pineans are happy with their current situation and hope they can keep growing and expanding.

#### Uniting with Donfuer

Wanting to learn more if its people's origins Max would visit the Azure Monastery's library, there he would learn that Pineans originate from an ancient land to the north called Donfuer. According to the ancient texts Pineans were sent by Donfuer's "high command" or "leadership team" to colonize the southern continent, following this Max and a few others traveled to Donfuer and agreed to rejoin as a colony.

## Culture

### Food

Pineans love berries and mushrooms, mainly because they've lived out of those two main ingredients for hundreds of years. Their most common dishes are grilled mushrooms, mushroom stew, wild berry jam, mushrooms and grilled lamb, and wild berries with a beef stake.

### Religion

Pinean's worship P'yna, the god of the earth. They believe he planted the first forest, and that he is the one responsible for the growth of their crops. They believe that by worshiping him they will gain prosperity. They host ceremonies where people fight in a mud pit. They claim mud gives them strength as it contains P'yna's blessing.

## Government

The Pinean government is a monarchy. When the king dies, their son becomes the new king, if the king has more than one son, they mud wrestle to determine which of them is the strongest, whoever wins keeps the throne. Max A'ynar is the current leader, he had to mud wrestle his brother A'jro A'ynar after his father J'boc A'ynar was eaten by a **strange-looking wolf**. Due to this incident, there is a law to **kill any wolf on sight**.