Race's and Culture Of The Northern Continent

## Races

The Following races are all races with established cultures on the continent. Other races do exist on the continent but are very rare.

### Humans

Humans of the Northern continent have no distinguishing features due to the mixed nature of their blood. Humans came to the North several thousand years ago and were made up of members from every other continent and while some of those trends can still be seen like Landoran light hair and Tao Shenii eyes most of these features are mixed with features of others cultures. This can mean that Northerners often look familiar but odd to humans from either Thea or Ikari. However Northerners are distinguishable from others due to their odd accent, attitudes and dress. It's not uncommon for Northeners to matte their hair into dreadlocks like some of the southern Tribes or bride it into large war braids. Northern clothes are practical and tough, you wont see northerners in fancy silks or vibrant colours. Often gruff and tough Northeners who travel to other continents are rarely friendly.

As mentioned below most races conform to the Northern Identity and humans make up one of the largest groups on the Northern continent and so also make up a large group of those who follow the Northern identity but in turn also the largest number who diverge from this path.

### Dwarves

The Dwarves of the North are of a dual identity. While they are fully committed to the Northern identity providing aid to any Northerner of any race they also know themselves to be Frostfang dwarves. The Frostfang dwarves hate all other dwarves and consider them weak trash. Where their tunnels used to meet they are now all collapsed due to fighting however the Frostfangs are developing new tunnels to find the Dwarves from other continents even if the have to go through the underdark to do so. They see Northerners as their true kin and consider them their equals where as they see those form other lands as weak and in particularly other dwarves as having abandoned their strength in favor of comfort.

The Dwarves of the north are commonly seen with white hair all though this isn't natural and is commonly dyed until old age. Much like the humans of the North dwarvern clothing is all about practicality and not wealth. Padded clothing is common even in their tunnels as no amount of fire is able to push away the cold winds of the North during the winter (Which lasts for 8 months).

The Dwarves of the North make their home in the Circle of Spikes.

### Goliaths

Goliaths are one of the two "friendly" members of the Giant Kin where "Friendly" essential translates as probably wont bash your head in on site. Of the two Goliaths tend on the side probably wont bash your head in on site but give them a reason and they will be glad to do it. Goliaths were massive in comparison to humans, standing at somewhere between 8-10 feet tall making them taller than Dragonborns and half orcs and on par with the larger orcs your could

find.

Goliath skin was often gray or brown and was extremely tough (often compared to stone). One of the most distinctive features of the goliath was the darker (often vertically symmetrical) patches of skin that covered their entire bodies. Goliaths believed that these markings somehow explained or controlled their fate or destiny. This lead to a strong superstition in Goliaths surrounding their skin when it came to scars and tattoos.

Goliath skin was littered with bony growths. These growths were roughly the size of a coin and appeared like studded pebbles on their arms, shoulders, torso or head and formed the eyebrows that sat over bright green or blue eyes which in some Goliaths even glowed slightly in the dark.

Goliaths' most notable characteristic was their competitiveness. They kept track of their accomplishments and saw everything as a challenge. Those not familiar with goliath psychology would often get annoyed when goliaths constantly reminded them how many times a certain thing had happened, thinking them arrogant or self-centered. This was not the case however. To goliaths, score-keeping was a natural and integral part of life, not meant to belittle or demean anyone But a goliath's most fierce competitor was themselves. Beating their own records was the most satisfying victory for a goliath. They were also competitive with their companions and other goliaths, but were never arrogant or cocky. Because of this Goliaths have little time for cheaters, gloaters and sore losers.

The Northern Goliaths split in two with regards to the Northern identity. Half would join with the other races seeing it as forming a stronger whole while the other half viewed it as weakening them as the Goliath way of life was superior in the wild and brutal north. Some Goliaths live over the the circle of spikes the mountains that separated the south of the continent from what the Northeners called the Very North. The Very North was filled with monsters, giants and dragons and so crossing over was seen as beyond peril less however Goliaths could cross over and find lives with their Giant cousins. Whether these lives were better or not is generally unknown.

### Kenku

Kenku are a common sight in the North particularly in Human settlements. The conform to the Northern Identity and

because of this they are often made allowances for particularly among the humans and Dwarves who readily trade with them. Kenku in the North also have a Kenku city named Featherloft. To anyone not from the North the Kenku seem mysterious as in the South they are known to be selfish and secretive in nature and were often engaged in plots to acquire wealth and power. They operated in small gangs and often lived in large human cities, where they often worked as spies, assassins, or thieves. However to Northeners, Kenku are simple folk who work hard to better the North.

Kenkus tended to be slightly smaller than the average human, standing at around 5 feet (1.5 meters). Because they had partially hollow bones, they were lighter than most creatures their height, averaging only 75 pounds (34 kilograms). They were therefore not as strong, but they were more agile and dexterous.

Kenku fight well alongside allies and unlike many races this extended to those not of its kind. Although they hold a reputation for being selfish they were known in the North to be compliant and hardworking if a little cowardly at times. However their cowardice was generally considered sensible due to the immense danger of the North and to most northerners a cowardly northern Kenku was ten times a southern champion.

Kenkus lived in close-knit gangs, family groups, or clans, commonly called "flocks". These flocks were distrusting of outsiders, and unless you could prove yourself a Northerner you were not given access to Featherloft.

### Kobolds

Kobolds exist on every continent but only in the North is their presence truly felt. Kobolds were the true master of the underground in the North and in the Circle of Spikes causing endless problems for the Frost Fang dwarves. Kobolds were more troublemakers than something viscous but when ganged together they could certainly cause damage to those not expecting it.

Many Kobolds lived over the Circle often working for Dragon masters.Much like Dragonborn they are related to dragons and so match their colourings.

Kobolds have a strong sensitivity to sunlight meaning most of them live underground and if the ever come up to the surface it will be during the night. However The North is in complete darkness for half the year and the other half it is almost in gloomlight under the clouds. Kobolds in the North are bolder with their movements and while they still dominate underground they can also often be found out in the open.

### Orcs

The First Orc to come to the North came shortly after the first humans and as was standard for the time they began at each others throats. The great Northern war began but did not last long as it was not long before the treachery of the North caught up with the two races. Nothing unite two warring parties than a greater threat raising its head and not keen on their land being invaded a rare alliance of dragons and giants attacked the new settlers and the second great Northern war began and after a Pyrrhic victory against their invaders the humans and orcs regrouped now one unified force instead of two battling parties.

Northern Orcs make up one of the three largest groups in the North with humans and Half orcs and as with the others are found in either the surface settlements or in the dwarvern homes. Northern Orcs do not acknowledge sub races of orcs as all are equal in the Northern identity. However much like humans many orcs leave this path to become bandits and vagabonds in the North preying on unsuspecting travelers and forming large bandit gangs with other humans.

### Half Orcs

Due to the unity between orcs and half orcs in the North half orcs are as common if not a little more common than the

other two groups.

Half orcs in the North are not looked down on and are instead heralded as equals in the North.

### Tieflings

Teiflings are common in the North as the stigma that follows them over the rest of

the world isn't present in the North. Tieflings in the North do not fall into the usual trap due to this and so many are considered good.

Teiflings came to the North with the Orcs and fought alongside them in both wars. Because of the threat of the second great Northern war they fought along side the humans and Dragonborn who were before their enemies and this seemed much like the Orcs to remove any stigma held by either race of each other.

### Dragonborn

Dragonborn are in two distinct groups in the North.

#### Far Travelers

Groups of Dragonborn travelled north often with humans in the early migration to the north. These Dragonborn worked with the humans in the early days and served alongside them in the war. much like the other races all pretense faded away after the second great North war and they became part of the unified Northern identity.

A notable fact of these Dragonborn is that they are all colours but white.

These Dragonborn maintained their hatred of dragons however and often joined hunting parties and outriders who crossed the circle of spikes looking to kill them.

#### Native Shadows

The true natives of the North along with the Dwarves, Kenku and Goliaths, the white Dragonborn Often called The Faded played an instrumental role in both fighting the second Northern war and in turn forming the Northern identity. It was Faded

spys and scouts who alerted the humans and orcs to the upcoming danger of the dragons and giants. Before then they had been resigned to studying the Orcs and Humans decided who to ally with.

The Faded form hunting bands who hunt white dragons beyond the spikes. These groups can be one of two types. One group is made up of only Faded hunters who have been trained since childhood to hunt. These are elite units named the Blizzard Blades. The second are open to anyone and are regular led by Blizzard blades who have retired from Service and who teach other races and Faded who aren't part of the Blizzard blade class techniques for hunting dragons and staying safe within the circle. Much honor can be gained by joining one of these units including an honorary title in the Blizzard Blades and with enough experience the right to teach young blizzard blades regardless of race. In some rare circumstances members of other races have even led teaching expeditions over into the safer parts within the circle of spikes but never lead or are aloud to go on what the Blizzard Blades call True hunts.

## Culture: The Northern Identity

The Northern Identity bleeds into everything about Northern life. Most of the people of the North conform tot he ideals set out by it but oddly there is not decree of made by a king not religious edict holding it in place. No god is invoked and not money payed. It is a simple organic relationship between people who see this as the best way to live and that is what makes it so strong as kingdoms have risen and fallen and the North prevails. Bonds forged in war last to this day and Northerners who may never have met before greet each other as brothers.

### Laws of the North

The Laws of the North are those set out by its people the agreements of co-operation between people to best move forward.

These laws are pretty simple.

1. Offer Aid to Kin if you can. This is often understood to mean feed those you can, offer lodgings if you can and help them if your skills permit.
2. Do not ask undue burdens on each other. Essentially if someone has the aid to offer you do not ask for more than needed.
3. Kin before all. This one is broad but basically means if you benefiting damages another Northerner then do not do it. Also if it is dangerous to protect another Northerner you should ignore that danger (Within Reason for example this is not obeyed by Blizzard Blade if it means an true hunt would have to return).
4. Share anything above your need. During a harvest or in a place of work the individual makes a case for what they need (How much food or money) As long as enough is made they will get this and if extra is made then it is shared equally between all.
5. Respect the other as yourself. Any tradition either racial, religious etc that does not conflict with another Northern Law must be respected and upheld. The Northerners see them self as a collective of individuals who use the laws to live well.

As well as these laws the are Controls that effect Northern law but essentially deal with the mundane, for example one of controls lays out the role of Warden an individual within a community who can use his judgment to settle disputes. Many of these controls define special positions and the price of betraying any of these is exile.

### Language

The Primary language of the North is common. However, Northerners are distinct both their accent and the honorifics they use for all people. There are three used by Northerners and they as follows.

1. Shem - Shem is the term used for a Northerner of one of migratory species; Humans, Orcs, Half Orcs, Tieflings and Non White Dragon Born. It carries no Stigma and is equal to the Shep.
2. Shep - Shep is the term used for a Northerner of a native species: Dwarves, Goliaths, Kenku and White Dragonborn all go by Shep. It is seen as equal to Shem.
3. Shan - Shan is the term for a non Northerner and while when used properly carries no stigma it is also used a grave insult when used to refer to a Northerner.

### Life in Danger

The North is a peril less place not only is there the climate which leaves the continent in freezing cold dark for half the year but the rest of the year while you can grow crops its is still cold and direct sunlight is rare. This can mean food is often scarce to grow but not only this due to the massive wilderness of monsters hunting is limited to the spaces the Northerners can keep safe and keep populations of animals stable in. This creates an odd dichotomy where Northerner both protect and hunt the same animals. This has lead to a deep respect for nature in the North and Independent druid circles and bands of rangers are common throughout. These as well as trained soldiers and magic wielders often form outrider groups who will yearly launch assaults over the mountains to stop the more dangerous of the threats from attacking the settled Northern land.