The culture in which you were raised

IN AETALTIS, YOUR CULTURE REPRESENTS HOW
(and often where) you were raised. It’s the foundation of your values, desires, and personality. It also sets the stage for how you think about other cultures, the things you find attractive or offensive, and even your loyalties.

LINEAGE AND CULTURE
As with many fantasy settings, lineage and culture are tightly intertwined in the World of Aetaltis. A person of any lineage can come from any culture, but most Aetaltan lineages are closely associated with one or two particular cultures.

The following is a list of lineages and their common cultures. If you encounter a member of one of these lineages while traveling around the Amethyst Sea, you’d probably assume a person is a member of the paired culture. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time picking a culture, the list below us a good way to make your selection.

BREAKING THE MOLD
As you read the culture descriptions, remember that they describe the norm for your culture. As you know, few adventurers fit the norm in any way. In fact, the average per- son from any culture, except perhaps a Deeplander, would never



choose to become an adventurer. You decision to go adventuring already sets you apart, and it’s likely you break the mold in other ways as well.

The culture description suggests how someone of your culture typically behaves, but don’t feel locked into those traits. You may choose to fully embody what people expect of someone from your culture in some ways, but in others, you might be unusual.

By defining what "normal" is for a culture, and then thinking about how your personality fits or diverges from the norm, it unlocks a world of storytelling possibilities. For instance, if you were born an Icewalker but you love to read books, how did that come about? What happened in your life to set you on a path so different from your friends and neighbors? Was this unusual trait the thing that inspired you to become an adventurer? Or was it just one more thing in a long list of things that drove you to explore the world beyond your home?

Of course, you don’t have to be unusual. Except for the adventuring part, perhaps you are the embodiment of every stereotype, and by the Enaros, you’re proud of it! Why shouldn’t a Dalelander halfling take pride in their tradition of hospitality? And what drothmal Icewalker doesn’t revel in the blessings of Droth? In the end, it is all up to you.

Agthorian
Agthorians seek to spread the ideals of peace, security, and equality by restoring the proud culture of the Atlan Alliance. They believe this mission extends beyond their borders and feel duty bound to spread their ways to the rest of the world—even if rest of the world never asked for their help. Agthorians are suspicious of those who resist their aid and advice. They are certain if they persist in their efforts, the inevitable outcome is a better life for all.
Manner
Agthorians are scrupulous and lawful. They follow the edicts of the land out of respect for the local authorities and a sense of moral responsibility to society. They take great pride in their culture, to the point that they incorrectly assume anyone would be honored by conversion to the Agthorian way of life. This sometimes leads to troubled relationships between Agthorians and the people of other lands.
Appearance
Agthorian clothing makes heavy use of broad flowing lines and bright colors. Only a few colors are used in any one article of clothing, and patterns consist of simple geometric forms. Women wear dresses and men wear tunics and trousers, although on formal occasions men wear dignified robes. Women grow their hair long but keep it pinned up with artful ornaments. Men shave daily, regarding excessive facial hair as a sign of barbarism, and they keep their hair cut short and close to the head.
Language and Literacy
The people of Agthor speak Agthorian, a language derived from the old Atlan tongue. The most commonly observed trait of the language is the full pronunciation of all "r" sounds. Many people in Agthor also speak the Common language.

The majority of Agthorians are literate thanks to the old Alliance tradition of early schooling. The written word is used heavily in signage, business dealings, and long-distance communication. Books are uncommon, mainly due to the difficulty of copying books by hand. Scrolls are used for legal documents, holy books, and formal communication.



Homes
Agthorian homes are open and airy with minimal furniture or ornamentation. Murals cover many surfaces in the home to create the illusion of space in the form of false windows, whimsical nature scenes, and ceilings painted to look like the sky.
Virtues
Despite their sometimes overly-aggressive efforts to spread their culture, Agthorians truly are a beacon of hope in the Amethyst Sea basin. They have no doubt that if everyone does their best and keeps fighting, there isn’t anything they can’t accomplish. Agthorians are also protective by nature. If they see someone suffering, under attack, or facing a threat of any kind, they feel obligated to step in and help.
Vices
If hope is one side of the coin that is the Agthorian psyche, the other side is overconfidence. They take such pride in their accomplishments and perceived improvements of the world, they often cross the line into cultural arrogance. This may lead them to struggle to see the strengths and virtues of cultures other than their own.
Values
Agthorians see fairness as a foundation of their culture’s success. They also hold education in high regard, and all Agthorian citizens have at least a basic knowledge of letters and math. Land ownership is an important aspect of Agthorian life, and a person’s land holdings are considereda measure of their success. Agthorians also value improve- ment of all kinds, including personal, cultural, and technological.
Aversions
Barbarian cultures—that is, any culture that is subjectively perceived as primitive—are pitiable in the eyes of Agthorians. If they can’t convert members of these cultures over to their own, they prefer to avoid them. They equally avoid those they perceive as willfully ignorant. Agthorians also dislike uncertainty and the unknown. It is part of their underlying drive to expand and discover.
Rights and Responsibilities
Agthorians believe every person has a right to equal treatment under the law. It was one of Malinar Drakewyn’s founding principles for Agthor, and it remains an unquestionable right in the minds of Agthorians to this day. They also fiercely protect their right to own property. In reality, few Agthorians actually own the land they live on or farm, as most is a grant, held at the pleasure of a noble house. That said, there is nothing that legally prevents them from owning land if the opportunity presents itself.

Every Agthorian is expected to serve at least two years in a local militia, the greater Agthorian military, or another role of similar martial capacity.
Customs
Birth Labor and birth are a private affair between the wom- an and her midwife. Men are never allowed in the birthing chamber. The day after a child is born the infant is taken, with great ceremony, to the register’s office where the child’s name is recorded in the public record.
Majority Majority for an Agthorian child is marked by the completion of their professional apprenticeship. This apprenticeship lasts from four to six years. If the child never takes up a trade, majority is granted at the end of their compulsory military service. Although the path of military service only is technically acceptable, the failure to learn a trade is socially frowned upon.
Marriage Agthorian weddings are elaborate affairs that may last up to three days. For the parents of the young couple, the size and extravagance of the celebration are a mark of status.
Death A ceremonial procession is an important part of Agthorian funerals. Wealthy families will even hire professional mourners to fill out the ranks of procession. While burial atsea is the traditional method of interment (a hold-over from the Alliance days), cremation is the most common.
Names
Agthorians have two names. The first is their given name, given at birth by their parents. The second is their father’s family name.
Male Names Aelinar, Corsos, Corlis, Darvos, Joachim, Kynus, Rainin, Tevis, Ulmor, Melchim
Female Names Alia, Laril, Dorma, Vellea, Ania, Unyl, Malia, Cressi, Talay, Medeyl
Family Names Aranare, Duripi, Kikeru, Rusa, Yisharu
Religion
Most Agthorians worship the Enaros, slightly favoring Al- antra, Phensral, or Toletren over others. Some still practice the philosophy of Atlan Centering and make it a part of their daily life—often in addition to enaros worship. Ances- tor worship is rare among human Agthorians. Agthorians worship the Enaros with grand ceremonies in large temples. The priesthood is a highly respected profession, and having a cleric, priest, or priestess in the family is a great honor.
Magic
Magic and spellcasters are highly regarded in Agthorian culture. Nearly every family owns some sort of enchanted object, even if it is a minor trinket. Wealthier Agthorians may even have a mage on retainer.
Adventurers
As the descendants of explorers, soldiers, and colonists, it
is not uncommon for Agthorians to become adventurers— after all, one cannot hope to understand the world without going out to explore it. Lord Drakewyn’s declaration making adventuring a respectable profession has also drawn many Agthorians to the adventurer’s life.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
When feasting or celebrating, Agthorians always set a single place at the table for the dead. It is believed failure to do so will offend ancestral spirits and may lead to hauntings or curses. This is not ancestor worship so much as it is ancestor defenses.

Agthorian families place a high value on the family olive tree. Tradition suggests these trees were originally brought to Aetaltis from the Atlan homeworld. When a young Agthorian leaves their family to establish their own home, they receive a cutting from their father’s family tree to care for and nurture to maturity.

AGTHORIAN TRAITS
Languages Agthorian (L)
Equipment An Agthorian outfit, a razor or set of hair pins, your militia dagger, and 10 sp
Wealth Die d6

Calliosan
To Calliosans, life is a pageant, and the people of the world are the players. They live for the drama, passion, and excitement life brings, and they drink up its pleasures in whatever form they come. They live to excess and at times beyond their means, but few cultures compare in richness and vivacity to that of the Calliosan.
Manner
Calliosans are loud, boisterous, and unashamed; embarrassingly so for individuals not used to their culture. They do everything to extremes, push boundaries, and try to bring everyone else along for the ride. They see life as an exquisite experience to indulge in, and they’re eager to savor the many pleasures life offers
Appearance
Ruffles, lace, richly dyed silks, and heavy velvet all compete for attention in Calliosan clothing. Their attire is further ornamented with jingling trinkets of precious metals, beads, and glittering jewels. The current styles also favor wide-brimmed hats accented with garishly colored feathers. Hair is grown long and worn in flowing curls by men and women alike, a style which requires a great deal of preparation every morning. Calliosans who fund adventuring parties, a popular pastime, will often display elaborate embroidery on their clothes and capes that display the many accomplishments of their chosen adventurers.
Language and Literacy
Calliosan is based on the old Atlan tongue, but it makes heavy use of old cheebatan words. Calliosans throw the cheebatan words in like spice, unconcerned as to whether the listener (or even the speaker) understands what they mean. It has a more lilting rhythm than other dialects, giving it a sing-song quality.

Literacy is relatively common, although not universal. As such, signage makes mixed use of text and imagery. Business agreements are always written, and it is considered a sign of good upbringing to use written communication in a social context. Books are relatively common, although the binding is often as important to a Calliosan (if not more so) than the words it contains. Scrolls are used for legal and religious documents. Handbills are not uncommon in the main cities.
Art and Music
Calliosan art is filled with exaggerated motion. Statues are posed as if they are about to leap from their pedestals, and paintings turn even the most mundane scene into a tangle of reaching limbs and twisting bodies. Calliosans love their art and clutter their homes with as much of it as they can afford.

As for music, Calliosans prefer small groups singing in rich harmonies accompanied by stringed instruments. Visitors are quick to notice music is everywhere in Callios, from street corners to shops to grand concert halls. Wealthy nobles often have a small staff of musicians on permanent retainer.
Food and Drink
Calliosans embellish their meals as much as their homes. Elaborate garnishes, miniature pastries, and side dishes of every kind accompany even the simplest meal. Local wines are the beverages of choice, although sweet liqueurs have a strong following as well. Many Calliosans also drink illamos, a thick, bitter drink made from a jungle fruit. It is said to invigorate the body and sharpen the mind.
Homes
Calliosans fill their homes with heavy furniture, shelves overflowing with baubles, forests of draperies, large potted jungle plants, and as much art as they can afford. For those not accustomed to the Calliosan decorating style, the effect is almost claustrophobic.
Virtues
Calliosans are great patrons of the arts. They think nothing of spending as much to hire a talented artist, writer, or musician as they would a skilled lawyer or doctor. They are also quite charitable compared to most cultures, on the



condition that they can take public credit for their kindness. The acceptance of and interest in other cultures is one of their best-known virtues, making the city-states an incredibly welcoming environment for people from almost any walk of life or culture.
Vices
Calliosans live life to the fullest, but they don’t always know when to stop. They tend to do too much and want too much, and they’re always certain more is better. Many Calliosans are deep in debt, and overindulgence in wine, spice, and similar entertainments is a widespread problem. They’re also competitive to a fault, too often placing reason and pragmatism a distant second to their desire to win.
Values
Calliosans greatly value wealth, duty, luxury, and trade. It is extremely important to Calliosans that their success in these areas are on public display, and all are used to measure a Calliosan’s social status. For most Calliosans, loss of status is a tragedy nearly on par with the death of a loved one.
Aversions
Loss of face, embarrassment, or other events that contribute to a loss of status is extremely upsetting to Calliosans. When status is lost, it may consume them to the point of obsession. If an individual is responsible for this loss, they may turn to the ultimate means to restore their status: a duel. Although dueling is officially illegal in Callios, it is a socially accepted means of dealing with slights that resulted in a loss of status (perceived or actual).
Rights and Responsibilities
Although the Calliosan city-states are each independent, sovereign nations, thanks to a number of treaties and trade agreements Calliosans may freely travel between any of the city-states. They enjoy the same rights when traveling around Callios as in their home city.

Callios is a land of merchants, traders, and bankers. To avoid conflict and ensure the maximum possible profits for everyone involved, Calliosans have adopted a strict code of business conduct. These rules are described in a book called the Calliosan Compact on Fair Trade and Proper Procedure Related to Business and Financial Dealings. The Compact, as it is normally referred to, governs appropriate business practices for everyone from individuals to the great merchant houses. Every Calliosan engaged in business is expected to operate according to its codes.
Customs
Birth When a child is born, friends and family make investments in the child’s name rather than giving them gifts. The child may not access these until they reach majority.
Majority Majority for Calliosans is celebrated in one of two ways. The most common is by interviewing a string of prospective suitors for a month immediately following the birthday at which people of their lineage are considered adult. The process is expected to end in an engagement which takes the form of a marriage contract (although it may be many years before the actual wedding). Alternatively, a Calliosan may choose to serve in the army or navy for two years to earn their right to majority.
Marriage Weddings are weeks-long celebrations. The parents invite as many people to these events as they can afford. Gifts are heaped upon the young couple during the celebration. It ends with the signing of the marriage contract as agreed upon during the interview of suitors.
Death Calliosans bury their dead in above-ground crypts and mausoleums, decorated with a portrait or bust of the deceased. Black-clad processions follow the body to the cemetery. The body is carried in an elaborately decorated coffin on the shoulders of friends and family. A large and loudly mourning procession is a mark of high status.
Names
Calliosans go by a first name, a family name, and a house name. (For example, Antonin Toriano of the Three Coins) Their first name is chosen by their parents at birth. The family name may be that of either parent. Family name dominance is part of the contract negotiations that occur when a marriage is arranged. Typically, the wealthiest or higher status family wins this right, although if there is ever a concern that the couple might bring dishonor on the house, they may cede the right to the less dominant party.
Male Names Antonin, Francish, Giradain, Moro, Rizeren, Toriano, Venerarian
Female Names Cecili, Ellsari, Jayzella, Magara, Nameeni, Terina
Family Names Alipran, Barroz, Ferrara, Nomendur, Vajinarin
House Names Blade and Banner, Dragon’s Wing, Golden Star, Three Coins
Religion
Calliosans try to impress the Enaros in order to win their aid. Worship is performed in one’s finest attire and rich offerings are presented to the temple. Ostentatious displays of piety are also a way to gain status.
Magic
Calliosans love enchanted items and make extensive use of them in their everyday lives. A family might skip meals just to save enough to purchase some minor enchanted bauble.
Adventurers
Calliosans see adventuring and adventurers in a deeply romantic light. To Calliosans, adventuring is all dramatic escapes and pulse-pounding battles, peppered with a healthy dose of heroic sacrifice and divine intervention. This leads some young Calliosans to try their hand at adventuring, although most are quickly disabused of their romantic notions—assuming they survive.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
Funding adventuring parties is a popular pastime among the elite and those wishing to join their ranks. In return, the adventurers are expected to return with artifacts, treasures, and harrowing stories with which to entertain their patron’s friends and associates.

CALLIOSAN TRAITS
Languages Calliosan (L)
Specializations Calliosan Compact
Equipment A Calliosan outfit, a vial of perfume, a gem worth 10 sp, and 15 sp
Wealth Die d6

Dalelander
All a Dalelander wants out of life is good food, good friends, and a cozy house in the country—and the Enaros help anyone that tries to take that away! Dalelanders understand these things don’t come free, and experience tells them there’s always someone that will try to strip them of their comforts. That’s the reason they live by a simple motto: protect and prepare. Be prepared for anything and vigorously protect the people, things, and ideals you hold dear. Do that and things will always work out in the end.
Manner
Dalelanders are easy-going and slow to anger. They are generally kind-hearted and love to laugh, but push them too far or threaten the people and things they care about, and you’ll quickly discover that despite their small size, they’ve got some giant-sized fight in them. They’re also slow to forgive. It’s said the anger of a Dalelander runs as thick and deep as the roots of an old oak.
Appearance
Most Dalelander clothing is dyed deep hues of natural col- ors. They accent these muted shades with splashes of bright green, apple red, or floral yellow. Men wear their hair short, and women grow their hair long but keep it braided. Most women wear hats or bonnets when in public.
Language and Literacy
The modern Dalelander language is based on Old Dalelander with influences from Atlan and the Dwarven languages. The most distinctive qualities of the spoken language are the clear pronunciation of all "r" sounds and a tendency to drop the "h" from the beginnings of words.

Reading is a cultural pastime among Dalelanders. They teach their children to read at an early age, and Dalelanders love writing letters. Books are common, at least compared to the rest of the Amethyst Sea basin, thanks to the recent invention of the Dalelander press, a re-purposing of cider press technology to press text onto paper with ink. Also thanks to the press, printed handbills and notices are common in larger Dalelander settlements.
Art and Music
Dalelanders like paintings of calm pastoral landscapes in a realistic style. Personal portraits are also quite popular, as are representations of legendary events from Dalelander history. A momentous moment like a fantastically robust harvest, the founding of a new orchard, or the successful avoidance of a truly terrible monster are all fodder for paintings. Woodcarving is quite popular, and Dalelanders add decorative carvings to everything from farm implements to the beams that hold up their houses.

Dalelanders enjoy simple reels and jigs along with the occasional tragic ballad. These songs are performed by small ensembles consisting of a lute, recorder, hand drum, fiddle, and a singer.
Food and Drink
Dalelanders love food. Meals are an absolute necessity and are only missed in the direst of circumstances. In addition, the periods between meals are punctuated by mid-meals, where breads, cheeses, and desserts are served along with tea. Dalelanders also love wine, and their vineyards produce some of the finest wines outside of Callios. Dalelanders consider it an appropriate beverage for any meal and always maintain stocked wine cellars. Dalelander hard cider is also a point of pride for the people of the region, and most families have a proprietary recipe that is aggressively guarded.
Homes
Dalelander homes are made with wattle and daub, field stone, or some combination of these. Most structures have thick thatched roofs. The interiors have plastered walls and are decorated with comfortable furniture and paintings. The most important room in the house is the dining room, and Dalelanders spend most of their time there.

Recently, some Dalelanders have returned to their ancestral tunnel homes. Prior to the Age of Darkness most Dalelanders lived in tunnel homes—that is, homes built by tunneling into hillsides and then finishing the interiors as one would a typical above ground house. Sadly, the practice was largely abandoned during the Age of Darkness out of fear endrori might dig their way into the tunnels.
Virtues
Dalelanders follow a long-standing tradition of hospitality. Regardless of personal sacrifice, they will open their homes, their lives, and their larders to guests without reservation. Dalelanders will also go out of their way to behave in a civil manner. They excel at keeping calm in a crisis and staying steady when things get difficult.
Vices
Although Dalelanders strive to stay civil and open their homes to anyone without reservation, it doesn’t mean they do these things without discomfort. Dalelanders are highly suspicious of outsiders, and they’ll undertake complicated maneuverings to avoid strangers. Dalelanders are also slow to forgive and are known to hold a grudge for years, if not a lifetime.
Values
Dalelanders love good company and home-style comforts. They hold their responsibility of hospitality in high regard, and deeply respect others who uphold that tradition. Old friendships are cherished almost as much as family bonds, and their birthplace always holds a special place in a Dalelander’s heart. They value tradition and order, and respect those that maintain these.
Aversions
Dalelanders don’t like disruptions or change. They want things to carry on as they always have and don’t appreciate people who stir up trouble. Even the rare adventurer among Dalelanders insists on a regular schedule, including set meal times and strictly observed daily departure times.
Rights and Responsibilities
Every Dalelander has the right to their say on any issue directly affecting them. Class and position have no bearing on this right, and those unused to this practice are often surprised at the willingness of these otherwise quiet folk to speak truth to power.

When a Dalelander invites someone into their home, they are expected to treat the person like an honored member of the family. A home-cooked meal, a warm bed, a bit of wine, and any other comfort the Dalelander has is made available to the guest. The guest, in turn, has a responsibili- ty to not take advantage of their host’s generosity.
Customs
Birth Dalelanders place apples around the outside of a house where a baby is being born. The apples are believed to distract any dark spirits, in the hope they will be tricked into stopping to eat the apples rather than proceeding inside to disrupt the birth.
Majority A male Dalelander’s majority is celebrated with a romp at the local tavern accompanied by all the other men in the community. Girls are presented with gifts for their future home.
Marriage Weddings are always held outdoors, with tents at the ready in case of inclement weather. The celebration consists of feasting, dancing, singing, storytelling, and then more feasting.
Death When someone dies, the family cleans and dresses the body. After this, a driver dressed as Aelos comes in a black carriage to take the body to the spiritguide for the



proper rituals, followed by a private burial attended by close family and friends.
Names
Dalelanders have four names. Their first is a personal name given at birth by their parents. Their second is that of a respected ancestor. The third is the family name on their father’s side. The fourth is the Dalelander’s place of birth. So a typical Dalelander full name might be "Basil Findle Underwood of Northdown."
Male Names Basil, Findle, Roswick, Trundle, Imberly, Wilfor, Gimble, Elbert, Darbin, Belwick
Female Names Leeda, Nesta, Alorwyn, Elonday, Tanny, Kimma, Evwyn, Jenna, Lenela, Frindilay
Family Names Bindleknee, Gardener, Greatgirth, Longleg, Millkeep, Underfoot

Religion
The most important place of worship for a Dalelander is their personal shrine. A large town or village might also have a temple for people with particularly troublesome problems. Some Dalelanders observe the practice of ances- tor worship, but few are interested in Atlan Centering.
Magic
Dalelanders respect magic and appreciate the benefits it provides them, but most feel it lies beyond their reach. They don’t turn down magical aid if offered, but don’t actively seek it out either.
Adventurers
Not all Dalelanders agree with the idea of defense first and decide that taking the fight to the enemy is a better tactic. These feisty folk sometimes end up as adventurers. There are also a significant number of female Dalelanders that chafe at the traditional "hearth and home" roles for Dale- lander women. Becoming an adventurer is a way to break free of the old ways and forge their own destiny.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
In the Dalelander mind there is no such thing as being too prepared. House seems sturdy? Throw in an extra support beam just to be sure. Stocked up for the winter? Maybe add a few more barrels of dried apples. You never know what might happen. The most unusual manifestation of this is the amount of time Dalelanders spend making elaborate traps to protect their families, communities, and valuables. It’s almost a cultural pastime. These traps are seldom deadly, but one should always take caution when wandering the Dalelands without a guide.

DALELANDER TRAITS
Languages Dalelander (L)
Specializations Wine or Cider (Choose One), Cuisine
Equipment A Dalelander outfit, a wooden pipe, a gelenleaf tin, 10 pipe bowls worth of gelenleaf, 3 handkerchiefs, and 5 sp
Wealth Die d4

Deeplander
The Deeplander people work toward the singular purpose of retaking the Deepland halls. They don’t care how many endrori stand in their way or if the rest of the world thinks they’re mad; they won’t stop until they’ve achieved their goal. They are systematic and tireless in their efforts, taking one room at a time, fortifying it, and moving on to the next. They insist on living in the Deeplands, no matter how great the danger, and it is their firm belief that one day, through persistence and hard work, the Deeplands will be theirs again.
Manner
Deeplanders are blunt and to the point. When you live under the constant threat of attack by endrori or other monsters, you do away with social pleasantries and get on with things. You always know where you stand with a Deeplander, since they won’t hesitate to tell you. That said, their crisp demeanor and sharp honesty can feel rude to people of other cultures. And their single-minded focus on the topic of retaking the Deeplands grows tiring for most outside of their culture.
Appearance
Common attire for Deeplanders are simple trousers and tunics made from thick, tough weaves. They don’t bother with fancy ornaments or bright colors. They need functional, sturdy clothing that will stand up to their harsh life. Hair is cut close to the head for both men and women, although men grow long beards they wear in braids. Unlike Maladorans, the braids have no particular meaning.
Language and Literacy
Deeplanders speak the Deep dialect of the Dwarven language. It’s worth noting Deeplanders insist on referring to their language as Tsvergic Dol, its name in the old Dwarven tongue. They find the use of the Common language name of "Dwarven" offensive. Since most Deeplanders came to the culture later in life, usually from Malador, most speak Maladoran as well.

Some Deeplanders are fully literate while others can’t even write their names. All Deeplanders, however, have some ability to read old Tsvergic, the language used by dwarves before the Age of Darkness and the language used in almost all ancient writings found in the Deeplands. Deeplanders almost exclusively value knowledge that will help them to retake the Deeplands, and have little use for books and scrolls, though they respect anything written by their ancestors.
Art and Music
Deeplander art mimics the square-cut brutalism common during the final years of the Dwarven Age. Most art consists of small carved objects created during the few mo- ments of free time the typical Deeplander manages to pinch out of their day.

The low-toned, traditional dwarven choral hymns of the Dwarven Age are the preferred musical style among Deeplanders. These richly harmonized acapella songs reverberate off the underground walls, completely immersing the listener in the rich, resonant sound. Deeplanders also make use of the stone organ, a stone instrument that creates low, ghostly tones by sliding a polished rock over its specially carved stone surface.
Food and Drink
Deeplander food is made from a variety of giant fungi found growing everywhere in the Deeplands. Despite the odd texture of food made from these fungi, it is surprisingly flavorful and very nutritious. Deeplanders also drink enormous amounts of ale. This isn’t just a reaction to their difficult lives, but rather a practical habit since the endrori fouled many of the Deepland water supplies during the Age of Darkness.
Homes
Deeplanders make their homes in whatever structures are still standing in the halls of old. Their homes are lightly furnished and sparsely decorated, with the majority of the space dedicated to the storage of tools, food, and other equipment.
Virtues
Many call them crazy due to their single-minded dedication to their cause, but the truth is Deeplanders are some of the most courageous people in all of the Amethyst Sea basin. They will stand up to any foe, fight to overcome impossible odds, and give their lives in defense of their comrades and cause.
Vices
Sometimes a Deeplander’s single-minded determination can overwhelm their reason. They tend to take things they are passionate about just a bit too far for most people’s comfort.



They also struggle to see the difference between persever- ance and stubbornness. A more dangerous vice is their lust for vengeance. Although this desire for revenge is supposedly limited to the endrori that hold the Deeplands, it sometimes shows itself in other aspects of their lives as well.
Values
Deeplanders respect anyone who shows a willingness to work. Every person in a Deeplander community is expected to perform an equal share of the settlement’s work, and all but the most skilled tasks are regularly rotated among the residents. Deeplanders also have great respect for individuals who maintain calm even when faced with an impending or ongoing disaster.
Aversions
Lazy individuals don’t last long among Deeplanders. There is too much to get done, and people who won’t carry their share of the load simply aren’t tolerated. Deeplanders are also bothered by waste. Supplies are scarce in the Deeplands, and everything is used sparingly and reused when possible. Even if a Deeplander is living on the surface, they may have trouble letting go of their frugal ways.
Rights and Responsibilities
Every Deeplander has a right to food, shelter, clothing, healing, and the fulfillment of any other need. Whether in their home settlement or visiting a distant Deepland colony, they will receive the same benefits and treatment from fellow Deeplanders. As long as they are willing to fulfill their responsibilities, they always retain this right.

A Deeplander is expected to support the collective, obey their leaders, and perform all duties assigned to them to the best of their ability in a timely fashion. This responsibility is not negotiable, and it takes precedence over any and all other obligations.
Customs
Birth Deeplander births are usually followed by a farewell. The Deeplands are no place to raise children, and those who give birth in the Deeplands are encouraged to leave with their child shortly afterward.
Majority There is an expectation that when a Deeplander child reaches majority, they will go to the Deeplands to join their people. If parents have other children, they will fully outfit the child for their new life before sending them on their way. If the child is the last the parents plan to have, they will outfit the entire family and return to the Deeplands as a group.
Marriage Weddings are celebrated with a feast involving every person in the settlement except for those unlucky individuals who drew watch that day. After the wedding, the young couple head off alone on a two-day ceremonial "guard duty" at a safe and secluded place somewhere on the outskirts of the settlement.
Death Deeplanders transport the bodies of their dead to the surface where they are cremated. The Deeplanders fear what endrori sorcerers would do with the bodies if they captured them.
Names
Deeplander names consist of three parts. The first is their personal name, given by their parents at birth. The second, originally their "tribe" name, is their family name, which represents their family group. The third is their clan name, which always ends in "-kett", the Dwarven word for clan. Deeplanders always use all three names and are insulted if the clan name is omitted.
Male Names Threnn, Vogol, Togart, Agthon, Braund, Dreman, Gorman, Thal, Rogarth, Harwar, Drell
Female Names Vida, Drey, Elsbree, Frayer, Galea, Harra, Trellin, Stoga, Kathya, Dora
Family Names Feer, Gaess, Fraim, Dorrm, Shlakke, Craysse
Clan Names Hethkett, Dorenkett, Fallenkett, Briendelkett, Shoevenkett
Religion
Among Deeplanders religious worship isn’t just rare: it’s actively discouraged. The gods are betrayers in the eyes of the Deeplanders, and placing faith in the gods is seen not only a sign of weakness, but as a betrayal by association.
Magic
Arcane magic is valued by Deeplanders as an excellent tool for furthering their cause. As long as it doesn’t become an excuse not to work hard, it is readily accepted. Divine magic is unwelcome, and open practitioners of divine magic seldom find a home among Deeplanders.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
Deeplanders hate the word dwarf. They refuse to answer to it, confront anyone that uses it, and may even come to blows over its use. The word for dwarf in Dwarven is tsverg, and that is the only name they allow.

When Deeplanders establish a new Deepland colony, one of the first acts is to establish a brewhead. This involves the ceremonial tapping of the first keg, and the assembly of the brewing gear that will be used to produce the community’s supply of ale.

DEEPLANDER TRAITS
Languages Dwarven (Deep), Dwarven (Maladoran) Specializations Deeplands, the Old Kingdoms
Equipment A Deeplander outfit, a pewter mug, 5 miner’s rations, and 10 sp
Wealth Die d4

Elloriyan
Elloriyans are building a new fey culture that draws upon the lost majesty of the Age of Magic tempered by the lessons in humility learned after the destruction of the Ellor Nyall and the Age of Darkness. They struggle to walk the line between confidence and hubris, ambition and humility, and many Elloriyans worry over the result of choosing the wrong path. So it is that they move slowly and thoughtfully, taking advantage of their long lives to plot a steady course to a new, better way of life for both the fey and the world.
Manner
Elloriyans are deeply contemplative. They absorb experi- ences, probe emotions, and seek a deep connection to the people, places, and things in their lives. They make plans in terms of decades, not months or years, and make decisions based as much on facts as on a deep experiential analysis of their emotions. When they act, they do so with certainty, and so much thought leads up to these actions that they are often unwilling or unable to explain their actions effectively to non-Elloriyans. This leads some to see Elloriyans as rudely dismissive and reticent.
Appearance
Elloriyans wear light, loose fitting clothing that flows about them like water. These styles are common even in cold climates, and are made possible by enchanting the material to protect against the elements. Men and women both grow their hair long and wear it loose. Delicate ornaments—such as clasps, rings, and brooches—crafted in a graceful, natural style are used sparingly but to great effect.
Language and Literacy
The language of the Elloriyans, called Feyen, is said to be unchanged since the Age of Magic. Dialects are non-existent, due in part to the fact that even subtle changes in intonation, tone, or articulation can drastically change the meaning of a word or phrase. It is a musical language, dis- tinctive in part from the almost total lack of gutturals.

Nearly all Elloriyans are literate and many can write.



Learning to read and write Feyen properly can take decades. The written language is as nuanced as the spoken language, and minor errors in the curve of a line or the length of an accent symbol has a profound effect on the meaning. Scrolls are the preferred medium since the way words and letters appear as the scroll is unrolled can add additional layers of meaning to the manuscript. The Dalelander press is shunned, for Elloriyans believe there is magic in words and it is impossible to convey true meaning with a machine.
Art and Music
Magic is the preferred artistic tool for Elloriyan artists. They might coax a plant to grow into the appearance of a subject rather than using chisel and file, or use color changing spells to put an image on a surface rather than paint. Flowing, curving lines that create impressionistic botanical designs dominate Elloriyan visual art, although no subject is taboo.

Elloriyans see music, especially singing, as a form of magic. Songs have power over emotions, and this makes them as potent to Elloriyans as spells. In some cases, Elloriyans intermingle music and spells to create a mixture of melody and magic that is stunningly powerful.
Food and Drink
Most Elloriyans are vegetarians. They subsist on fruits, nuts, berries, and roots. These are typically eaten in their natural, uncooked state. Elloriyans see no point in tampering with nature’s bounty and view cooking as a foolhardy attempt to improve upon perfection. The only exceptions are Elloriyan wines, liqueurs, and sweet breads. While these fine foods are legendary, the goal is not the improvement of flavor but simply the preservation of perishable items.
Homes
Elloriyan settlements are constructed to blend seamlessly into the natural features of the landscape. In a forest for instance, Elloriyan houses seem to grow from the trunks of trees, roads are easily mistaken for patches of moss, and crops look like natural groves of fruit trees. The centerpiece of every Elloriyan settlement is a tree called the umilyian. It is claimed that the eldest of the umilyian sprouted from an acorn harvested from the Umilisyian, the first oak created by Grethken during the creation of the world.
Virtues
Elloriyan patience is legendary. They’re happy to take as long as necessary to accomplish important tasks, and they don’t rush others. They are deeply introspective, and are willing to acknowledge and address mistakes and personal flaws if there is a clear problem.
Vices
After spending years contemplating an idea or working on a problem, when challenged or asked to explain, Elloriyans are often dismissive—especially when dealing with people from other cultures. They often feel insulted if pressed for proof on something they spent months or years working through. An aspect of the Elloriyan culture many people fail to notice is their ambition. They move so slowly it’s easy to miss, but most Elloriyans see the inevitable outcome of their work as a return to dominance in the region. They believe this would be best for all the people of the Amethyst Sea basin.
Values
Elloriyans greatly value the natural world and see nature as an equal partner in life, not a tool or resource. They view magic in much the same way, and there is a belief among Elloriyans that essence, the source of all magic, is deeply important in ways we have not yet discovered. They also have great respect for wisdom, defined by Elloriyans as knowledge tempered by analysis and instinctual understanding.
Aversions
Pointless destruction, especially of the natural world, infuriates Elloriyans. They tend to react violently to such transgressions and struggle to forgive those they brand as destroyers. Elloriyans also have a deep, almost visceral response to corruption, the tainting of essence and the world by the power of darkness. It is the one area where they show no patience, preferring to cut corruption out and destroy it immediately rather than waiting for a cure.
Rights and Responsibilities
Elloriyans have a right to protection among their own people. Furthermore, they do not recognize any outside court or accept judgments against their kind, demanding the right to handle any transgression by one of their people internally. They respect the laws of other cultures, but they obey them only by choice and believe they have the right to simply ignore those laws if they see fit.

Conversely, Elloriyans have a responsibility to their people that is non-negotiable. If an Elloriyan is threatened, whether within their borders or without, they must come to their kinfolk’s defense. They are also bound to protect nature and wild creatures as much as reasonably possible. In particular, they must put a stop to wanton destruction of the natural world in any way they can.
Customs
Birth Births occur in complete privacy with only a midwife attending. If any other person witnesses the birth, even unwittingly, it is considered a bad omen for both the child and the witness.
Majority When a child reaches majority, they are taken be- fore their community’s matriarch, who declares a profession for them based on a reading of their spirit.
Marriage Marriages are private affairs performed by the matriarch, with only the couple and the matriarch’s handmaidens present.
Death When an Elloriyan dies, they are buried and a tree is planted over their grave. There is no ceremony or procession, and only those necessary to perform the tasks attend the burial.
Names
Elloriyans have three names. The first is the name given to them at birth by their mother, the second is their mother’s name, and the third is the name of their court. The third name is generally only used in formal situations.
Male Names Llorim, Vallinay, Dramolas, Beyellnor, Gevynyay, Cellinyr, Allormas, Esswynyr, Vellron, Feyellnor
Female Names Lariya, Lellwyn, Ennall, Gellora, Mellinane, Dramowyn, Sesswyn, Rayall, Clorwyn, Celliwan
Court Names Fynfellish, Tellinish, Synish, Emmyllish
Religion
Elloriyans revere Aelos. Religious rituals for her are per- formed outdoors by the light of the full moon. The cere- monies take place in holy glades set aside for her worship. Worship of the other enaros occurs in the home at personal shrines.
Magic
Minor magics are as natural to most Elloriyans as breathing. The elf, fairy, and sprite lineages are deeply bound to magic, and they have a powerful sense of connection with essence. They believe it runs through all things and that like nature it should be respected but not feared. They do not recognize any difference between arcane magic and divine magic, believing they are simply two paths to the same well.
Adventurers
As part of their effort to slowly return to power, Elloriyans are regularly sent out into the world for the benefit of their people. In some cases they seek lost knowledge and artifacts, in others they seek to better understand other cultures and how they should interact with them, and in still others they seek to cleanse the land of the lingering corruption from the Age of Darkness. Most Elloriyans will only spend a decade or two adventuring before returning home to apply what they’ve learned and accomplished to the greater Elloriyan good.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
There is a school of thought among some Elloriyans that all things are interconnected. They look for, and often see, meaning and patterns in even the most mundane things. It is their belief that by deciphering those meanings, they will learn to read the weft and weave of the universe as a path to power and a means of predicting the future.

ELLORIYAN TRAITS
Languages Feyen (L)
Specializations Loresongs
Equipment Feyen robes and feyen sandals
Wealth Die d6

Feylariyan
Feylariyans want to experience the world in the most visceral way possible. To Feylariyans, social mores, common courtesy, and even laws are seen, at best, as something to try out for fun, and at worst, as barriers to truly living your life. How they access their experiences and overcome these obstacles is as varied as snowflakes. There is no single path to being alive, and the Feylariyans see the future as some- thing you arrive at unexpectedly as opposed to something you plan for.
Manner
A complete lack of consistency in their behavior is the only shared mannerism among Feylariyans. Each chooses a different, often bizarre, path through life. One Feylariyan might constantly ask questions, while another pokes and prods at everyone and everything they see just to see what happens. Just when a Feylariyan’s behavior appears consistent, they move on to a completely new way of living.
Appearance
Feylariyans choose their appearance based on their nature or mood. They might wear dresses made from vines and leaves, fashion armor from the bones of a dead animal they found in the forest, or clothe themselves in comically exaggerated versions of a style they once saw someone wearing in town. This is, of course, assuming they wear clothing at all. Cloth- ing is unquestionably optional among their kind. There is no consistency in how they wear their hair either. They style it in whatever way aligns with the rest of their attire—or not at all.
Language and Literacy
Like Elloriyans, Feylariyans speak Feyen. Even subtle changes in intonation, tone, or articulation can drastically change the meaning of Feyen words and phrases, but Feylariyans are known to adopt drawls, accents, and dialects purely for the enjoyment of it. Feylariyans don’t have any sort of a written tradition, due in part to how little they concern themselves with the future. Few learn to write, although some enjoy stories and thus learn to read.
Art and Music
Feylariyans love to play with combinations of shape, texture, and color in their art. They like paintings they can touch and brightly painted sculptures. Even mundane goods are never mundane if made by a Feylariyan, with as much emphasis placed on form as function. To Feylariyans, singing is as natural as breathing. Feylariyans are known to break into song unexpectedly (and sometimes inappropriately) simply because the feeling strikes them. They also enjoy the music of pipes and drums but mostly as accompaniment for singing.
Food and Drink
Feylariyans are vegetarians. They subsist on fruits, nuts, berries, and roots. Typically these are eaten in their natural, uncooked state. Cooking is an art, however, and it isn’t at all unusual to meet a Feylariyan that discovered joy in creating amazing culinary experiences—for a little while at least.
Homes
Many Feylariyans live in the wilds, traveling in small packs for safety and companionship. These groups make their homes like creatures of the wilderness, fashioning nests from leaves, occupying caves, or digging burrows as suits them.

Others live in or around the settlements of other cultures, especially Elloriyan settlements. They see no problem with living in the streets or taking up residence in abandoned buildings. Small Feylariyans may even secretly live in occupied homes or barns. They steal food and other necessities from their unwitting hosts, occasionally leaving behind gifts of herbs, berries, or small trinkets as a thank you.
Virtues
Feylariyans see life as a miraculous gift, and manage to take joy in any circumstance. Even when faced with true hardship, they savor the experience and never lose hope that things will get better. They are curious about matters others take for granted and find wonder in even the most mundane places. Their mood and attitude are truly infectious.
Vices
The Feylarian pursuit of new experiences is occasionally selfish. This is particularly true of Feylarians of the sprite and fairy lineages, who at times seem unable to comprehend that the experiences they are pursuing may come at someone else's expense. They also rebel against any efforts to contain their behaviors and may grow quite disruptive or even violent toward those who seek to restrain them
Values
Feylariyans live for new experiences. Whether those are painful, joyful, or something in between, they greatly value anything and anyone that can provide them with opportunities to try new things. They also value anyone that brings them joy or who is joyful.
Aversions
Feylariyans have a deep dislike for anything that restricts their freedom. They are willing to follow rules that are for the public good, but enforcement of those rules rubs them the wrong way. They have a deep hatred for enslavement or bondage, and react violently to those who engage in such activities. Many would rather die than give in to or allow such a condition to persist.

Rights and Responsibilities
Feylariyan freedoms are based upon two unbreakable rules. The first is that one should never attempt to restrict the rights of another. The second is that the pursuit of one’s own freedoms should never cause lasting harm to another. In practice, adjudicating these seemingly simple rules can grow complicated, but Feylariyans see that as a small price to pay to protect their freedom.
Customs
Birth When a woman is about to give birth, her female family and friends gather with her. As the woman experiences the pain of labor, they earnestly mirror her every emotion. The Feylariyans call this the Chorus of Life.
Majority To ensure the safety of children, the only time a Feylariyan is not granted complete freedom is before they reach majority. Once they reach majority they are literally and symbolically set free in a ceremony where every door and window of a house (if they live in a house) is thrown open and the child sets out on a personal journey of discovery.
Marriage Feylariyans only marry to have the experience. They certainly enjoy weddings, and they develop deep bonds with their mates. The marriage itself, however, is unbinding. It may be dissolved at will or even abandoned without explanation.
Death Feylariyans don’t acknowledge a difference between life and death. Death is just the transition to a different kind of life. It’s on par with moving to a new town. For this reason, funerals are more akin to going away parties, and if someone is in the process of dying, they will try to hold the funeral before the person actually passes.



Names
Most Feylariyans have one name given to them by their parents at birth. Naming conventions stem from ancient lineage-centric traditions that date back to the Age of Magic. Today, lineage-centric naming is still the norm among Feylariyans, but there are no social limits on parents’ choices.
Traditional spritely names reference animals important to the Feylariyan’s family. Fairy names, on the other hand, may be inspired by anything, from a parent’s favorite food, to an important event, to an interesting sound. Elf names are typically plant inspired.

Feylariyan use the Feyen language version of their name among their own people, but they typically go by the Common translation of their names when traveling outside of their homelands. Some even come to prefer the Common version of their name if they spend enough time in the out- side world. The examples represent the Common language translations.
Elven Feylariyan Names Forestshadow, Greenthistle, Leafkeeper, Lilyhand, Oakfriend
Fairy Feylariyan Names Poot, Thistle, Blackfoot, Door, Chuckle, Brightness, Ohnonotagan, Birdfriend, Hassle, Bluebell
Spritely Feylarian Names Gullwing, Stagwyn, Hareish, Wolfin, Swifthawk, Bearlyn, Fyboar, Squirrelik, Doeheart, Robincrest
Religion
Feylariyans respect and love the Enaros deeply, but the spe- cific enaros who is the focus of that love may change daily. The enaros they align themselves with most often are Aelos, Larayil, Grethken, Phensral, and Vale. Worship takes many forms. At its simplest, Feylariyan worship involves immersing oneself mentally, emotionally, and physically in some element of life an enaros controls. For example, when worshiping Phensral, a Feylariyan may perform a ceremony while standing in the sea. At other times, they mimic the practices of other cultures, sometimes in ways that are inadvertently insulting, but always with the best of intentions.
Magic
To the Feylariyan way of thinking, magic is everywhere and in everything. It is never a thing to be feared, but rather a power to embrace and explore. They struggle with the rigidity of glyph magic, but do not fear it and many learn the art.
Adventurers
Many Feylariyans begin their adventuring career at their majority celebration. They set out on their personal journey which may morph into an adventuring life. Once on the path, they discover they like it and just keep on with it.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
Feylariyans like to wear masks. Many that take up the practice wear them all the time and may even sleep with them
on. There are some Feylariyans who claim to have worn their mask for years and swear they no longer remember what their true face looks like. Sometimes they’ll carry a number of masks that they switch between depending on their mood.

FEYLARIYAN TRAITS
Languages Feyen
Specializations Loresongs
Equipment Feylariyan outfit, mask, hammock, and 5 sp
Wealth Die None

Freefolk
The Freefolk want protection from the myriad threats of the outside world. The next attack may come at any mo- ment, whether it’s from the endrori clawing their way up from the Deeplands, a neighboring kingdom trying to steal what they’ve built, or the arrogant fools in Agthor trying to undermine their way of life. The Freefolk have a solution to all of this, however: a powerful leader with the strength to protect them. If one pledges themselves to that leader and serves them well, that leader will keep them safe from the infinite evils of Aetaltis.
Manner
Freefolk know their role and they willingly play their part. Some are born to rule, others are born to labor, and failing to know one’s place will undermine the safety all of them are working so hard to secure. This isn’t to say they don’t occasionally feel jealous of the nobles or resentful of their labors, but they are a practical people. They understand that just because they don’t like a thing doesn’t mean it isn’t for the best.

They are deeply religious, and highly suspicious of outsiders, especially fey. They are dutiful and loyal, taking seriously their responsibilities to those both above and below them. In this way, one gains honor, and honor is a thing never taken lightly.
Appearance
Commoners live simple lives and their clothing reflects this. It is sturdy and plain, designed for work rather than show. Men and women keep their hair relatively short, never allowing it to grow past their shoulders. Head coverings usually take the form of hoods or scarves. Grooming is saved for special occasions, and outsiders likely notice the distinct odor when a Freefolk approaches.

Nobles and commoners differ in appearance only as far as the quality of their clothing. Noble clothing is made from high-quality cloth dyed in bright colors. Hoods and scarves are often embroidered with fanciful designs. They accent their clothing with ornaments and jewelry made from precious metal and gems. The nobility also places more emphasis on grooming and go to great pains to avoid any unpleasant odors about their person.
Language and Literacy
Although the Freefolk feel inexplicable pride in their mostly-human population, their language, while based on old Atlan, is heavily influenced by the old Dalelander and old Dwarven tongues. Two traits that stand out in the Freelander language are the swallowing of middle ‘r’ sounds and the pronunciation of ‘ou’ sounds as ‘oo’.



Very few Freefolk read or write. These skills are limited to high-ranking members of the nobility and specialists such as scholars, clerks, and priests. Books are almost never found outside of temple libraries or the handful of schools scattered across the region.
Homes
Freefolk homes are wattle and daub buildings with thick thatch roofs. The only decorations are fresh flowers in springtime and a few small ornaments, such as colorful ribbons or a crude painting mounted above the family shrine. Even the homes of the nobility are cold, drafty affairs despite the presence of ornate furniture and grand pieces of artwork.
Virtues
Freefolk carry out their duties with unwavering loyalty. A promise made is a promise kept, and to do any less is to diminish one’s honor. They are highly practical and don’t let frivolous things or selfish desires get in the way of doing the work that needs to get done. They are strong, both mentally and physically, and can survive even the worst disaster.
Vices
The Freefolk dislike outsiders, whether they come from the next town over or across the Amethyst Sea. They are certain anyone from outside their borders is a threat until proven otherwise. The bigger the differences between a visitor’s culture and their own, the greater the Freefolk’s distrust. When problems arise, their favored solution is violence.
Values
The Freefolk deeply value duty and honor. For them, the two ideals go hand and hand. By fulfilling one’s duty, one achieves honor. It is a simple formula, and the Freefolk appreciate and respect these traits even in their enemies. Freefolk also value land, since the amount one owns is a symbol of a Freefolk’s status in society. Of course, only the highest-ranked nobles own any land at all, making land ownership an impossible dream for most.
Aversions
Freefolk have no patience for those who bring dishonor on oneself or those they serve. Freefolk also detest liars, since dishonesty is just another path to dishonor. They have a deep dislike of fey, originating from a series of conflicts between the fey and the Atlan warlords that settled in the region after the Cataclysm. The aversion to the fey is heigh ened by the Freefolk’s xenophobia and general distrust of arcane magic.
Rights and Responsibilities
Freefolk are entitled to protection by those they serve. This includes protection from enemies, famine, disease, and anything else that endangers their lives and livelihoods. This right is earned through labor, obedience, and loyalty. A vas- sal may seek redress from the High Court in Hawk’s Crest if they feel their leader has not fulfilled their obligation.

To earn one’s rights, one must faithfully execute their duty. For nobles, this includes the protection of their vassals. For those who serve the noble, this means unswerving loyalty and obedience. Every member of Freefolk society must also stand ready to fight in the defense of their kingdom if ordered to arms.
Customs
Birth Among the Freefolk, birthing a child is a dangerous prospect due to inadequate medical care. Births are a fright- ening event dreaded by women and their families and have few customs associated with them. For the same reason, a successful birth is greeted with celebration and makes children highly valued in Freefolk society.
Majority When a Freefolk child reaches adulthood they are taken before the lord or lady to whom their family pledges fealty to make their own pledge of service.
Marriage Marriages are held at high summer, and all the people of the couple’s community attend.
Death When a Freefolk dies, a spiritguide is called at once. Freefolk are terribly afraid of necromancy and fear for the spirit until the last rites are performed.
Names
Freefolk have two names. The first is their given name, given at birth by their parents. The second is their father’s family name.
Male Names Aelinar, Corsos, Corlis, Darvos, Joachim, Kynus, Rainin, Tevis, Ulmor, Melchim
Female Names Alia, Laril, Dorma, Vellea, Ania, Unyl, Malia, Cressi, Talay, Medeyl
Family Names Aranare, Duripi, Kikeru, Rusa, Yisharu
Religion
Freefolk are devoutly religious and have great respect for the holy orders. They make regular offerings to the Enaros, more out of fear of divine anger than a true sense of worship. This is a result, in part, of the draconian approach to worship and behavior imposed by the holy orders in the Free Kingdoms.
Magic
Magic is rare among Freefolk. A fear of arcane magic, a lack of education, and the fact that spellcasters are prime targets for enemies due to the danger they represent on the battle- field means few if any Freefolk learn the arcane arts. Divine casters are common among the clergy, but their duty is to the temple first and their blessings are seldom enjoyed by anyone outside the temple or its local flock.
Adventurers
Adventuring is one of the few ways a Freefolk person has to break free of their place in society. With their skill at arms and the treasure they find, an adventurer may carve a place for themselves among the nobility. With a bit of luck and a lot of work, they might even be able to found their own kingdom in the Free Kingdoms’ northern region.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
At midnight on the longest night of the year, the Freefolk raise effigies of that which they fear most and burn them atop massive bonfires. It is thought that this symbolic destruction may influence real-world outcomes. Masks are worn throughout the ceremony and warm spiced ale is served before everyone returns to their homes.

FREEFOLK TRAITS
Languages Freelander
Equipment A Freefolk outfit, a shortbow, a quiver with 20 arrows, and 10 cp
Wealth Die d4

Icewalker
Icewalkers constantly seek out new challenges to test their strength and resilience, both as individuals and as a people. The more trying the challenge, the better, since suffering is seen as the blessing of the god Droth. If no obstacle to success exists, they will find a way to make the task harder. Only through the constant hardening of their spirits through trial may they achieve the greatest glory.
Manner
Icewalkers are a proud people. They live and die by their word and react violently to any attack on their honor. They are stalwart companions and refuse to break even minor oaths. Icewalkers have dispensed with social pleasantries and can seem crude and uncouth when measured against the standards of other cultures.
Appearance
Icewalkers use heavy hides and thick furs to make their clothing. While the materials are crude, the clothing is not. Every stitch is tight, every ornament perfectly placed, and any wear on the clothing receives immediate attention. This gives the Icewalkers a crisp, well-kept appearance, despite the primitive designs and materials used in their attire. Hair for both sexes is shaved to a topknot, a style designed to reveal the distinctive pattern of spots that cover a dorthmal's head and back.



Language and Literacy
The Icewalker language is Drothmalen, a variation on the ancient language of the drothmal. It is spoken with the same aggression an Icewalker mercenary wields an axe. Even kind words are delivered with force and conviction. To outsiders, every Icewalker conversation, no matter the topic or emotion behind it, comes across like an argument. The language is rich with guttural sounds and hard consonants.

Icewalkers have no written language. Information is passed along by oral tradition. Common visual imagery is used to communicate simple messages, such as warnings about thin ice or other dangers, but it is not a written language. It is assumed Drothmalen had a written form prior to the Age of Darkness, but the drothmal left that behind when they traveled north and became Icewalkers.
Art and Music
The primary means of Icewalker artistic expression are carved bone and ivory ornaments of practical use, such as buttons or clasps. Tattoos are also a popular art form and use symbolic images and patterns to represent personal accomplishments or important life events.

Bone flutes and drums are the only instruments used by the Icewalkers. They use these to accompany raucous choral melodies that glorify legendary feats of combat by the tribe and its ancestors.
Food and Drink
The Icewalker diet consists primarily of meat and heartwine. Meat is eaten raw and fresh if possible. Heartwine is an alcoholic drink made from blood.
Homes
Icewalkers live in domed tents made from hides stretched over a frame constructed from the rib bones of the colossal mamut. The tents are easily broken down for transport when the tribe must move to follow the herds they hunt. Personal belongings are limited to that which is easily carried.
Virtues
From an early age, Icewalker children are taught to face and overcome their fears. Icewalkers also exhibit an unparalleled survival instinct. Their determination to survive makes them fearsome opponents. Icewalker culture is an honorable one, where one always keeps one’s word and always satisfies a vow.
Vices
The strict religious ideals held by the Icewalkers, that all suf- fering is a blessing from Droth and that one never complains about receiving such blessings, means they’ll often suffer when there is no need. They are equally disinterested in the suffering of others, seeing other’s pain as Droth’s blessing and not theirs to take away. Icewalkers have a vicious streak when it comes to anything that opposes them. Their survival instincts lead them to completely eliminate threats of all kinds rather than pursuing more measured responses.
Values
Icewalkers live in a world where only the strong survive, so physical strength and resilience are the most valued personal traits. Icewalkers also appreciate courage and determination, and they strictly follow the Icewalker Code.
Aversions
Cowards are not tolerated in Icewalker society. If a person flees from hardship or danger, they endanger the entire tribe. Such behavior receives a swift and harsh punishment. They also have no forgiveness for oath breakers.
Rights and Responsibilities
There is an implied right among Icewalkers to anything they can take, as long as it does not break an oath or promise. If a person cannot retain ownership of a thing, then they did not deserve to have it. This fundamental attribute of Icewalker culture is a driving force behind their raiding tradition.

Every Icewalker is expected to adhere to all oaths and promises. Even if circumstances change in a way that makes it difficult, or even deadly, to hold to that vow, there is an expectation the Icewalker will still follow through.
Customs
Birth On the first day after their birth, Icewalker babies lie exposed and alone on a hide inside the mother’s tent. The child is fed as needed during this period, but receives no other comfort, warmth, or protection. This seemingly cruel tradition ensures that only the strongest children join the tribe.
Majority When reaching majority, young Icewalkers take



part in a ritual called Iyeranka. The ritual varies slightly between tribes, but it typically involves excruciating pain inflicted through ritual scarification, branding, or extended periods of exposure.
Marriage Icewalkers don’t believe in marriage. Long-term bondings aren’t unheard of, but marriage carries the implica- tion of a bond stronger or more important than one’s bond to the tribe. This makes marriage an unacceptable practice.
Death When an Icewalker dies, they are given last rites, and their body is left for the wild creatures to consume. This returns the bodies to the Enaros in a final, gruesome trial, while providing strength to the natural world that supports the Icewalker’s way of life.
Names
Icewalkers have two names: a personal name and a clan name. The leader of their clan gives them their personal name at the age of five. Prior to that, they are referred to by their birth order and their parent’s name ("Urgoth’s First Child" for example). An Icewalker’s clan name is the name of their war clan. It holds an almost sacred place in the mind of Icewalkers. Note that the Common language translations are used in the sample clan names below. Outside of their homeland, Icewalkers regularly use the Common translation of their clan name.
Male Names Urgoth, Trahk, Korthan, Omnek, Grelth, Vonosh, Dirthon, Roth, Freegok, Rozarr
Female Names Chialnik, Dyarget, Meena, Sheyn, Kainik, Egrak, Trysik, Freyik, Jeeyet, Arrmak
Clan Names Bloodkeeper, Iceclaw, Stormbreaker, Thunderwalker, Wolfmaster
Religion
Icewalkers worship Droth, although asking Droth for aid
is seen as a sign of weakness. Most worship involves deep reflection on one’s past suffering. On the rare occasions Ice- walkers participate in group worship, they do so by building massive fires, drinking copious amounts of heartwine, and then dancing by the firelight while beating themselves with spiked whips.
Magic
There is little arcane magic among the Icewalkers, since the nomadic culture isn’t equipped to support the dedicated learning institutions needed to train arcane spellcasters. Enchanted items are also rare. Perhaps because of this, Icewalkers view arcane spellcasters with suspicion. Almost every tribe, however, includes a cleric of Droth.
Adventurers
Icewalkers constantly seek out new trials and, more importantly, battle. This leads many of them into the adventuring life.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
If an Icewalker bests another Icewalker in battle, the current mate of the other is expected to become the mate of the victor. Failure to comply is a dark stain on one’s honor.

If a body is not consumed by the creatures of the Icebound Plain, it is taken as a sign of corruption. The individual’s story is stricken from the tribe’s oral history, and the place where the body lay is marked as cursed and henceforth avoided.

ICEWALKER TRAITS
Languages Drothmalen (Icewalker) Specializations Arctic Environment
Equipment An Icewalker outfit, two tattoos, a bone razor, and 5 sp
Wealth Die d4

Selenthean
Selentheans are determined to forge a new path into the future. They have thrown off the shackles of tradition and are carving a better world out of the wilderness—both figuratively and literally. Not everyone is pleased by their disruptive new society, but with the backing of the wizards of the Silver Circle and the Selenthean Knights there are few outside of Selenthea who can stand in their way.
Manner
Selentheans are notoriously informal in every aspect of their lives, something that regularly results in unintentional insult when dealing with people from other cultures. They are extremely proud of their innovations and are eager to show off what they’ve built. They’re quick to point out flaws in the way others do things, while simultaneously explaining the clever new way they’ve devised to perform the same task. Selentheans are unashamed iconoclasts. Vigorously chal- lenging ideas both new and old is a way of life.
Appearance
Most Selentheans wear whatever they like, whenever they like. They choose their clothing for purely personal reasons rather than the demands of society. Some may place a premium on comfort, wearing a loose fitting tunic and trousers all the time. Others dress to make a statement, sometimes abandoning practical considerations altogether. Still others focus on utility, choosing the right clothes for the job. Hair is worn loose and long for both men and women, although for practical purposes it might be pulled up under a hat or braided.



Language and Literacy
The academics and scholars that founded Selenthea spoke an academic dialect of the old Atlan language. This gives their speech an unexpectedly formal air in contrast with their casual lifestyles. One example is the tendency to over enunciate compared to the other languages descended from old Ataln.


Native Selentheans can all read and write, but there is a constant influx of new blood. The literacy of those who have recently adopted the culture is dependent on where they grew up. In either case there is an expectation that all citizens can read and write or will soon learn. Signage makes heavy use of words. Shops and other businesses may have written lists of products and prices. Books are commonplace, although the Dalelander mechanical printing press was only recently introduced, so the majority of books are still hand-written. The only scrolls in use are antiques.
Art and Music
Every Selenthean artist tries to push the boundaries of the old styles and forms. Some do so by portraying shocking subjects, others make use of unusual media, and still others employ techniques imported from distant lands combined with traditional methods from other cultures.
Selenthean music is filled with variety. One piece might call for a huge ensemble with choral accompaniment while another is for solo voice. The variations are endless and the whims of the audience change by the day. The only thing constant is the public’s demand for innovation.
Food and Drink
Selenthean chefs are known for their exotic and often whimsical recipes, especially when it comes to preparing wild game. For many of these chefs, they love the challenge of finding ways to prepare something no one has considered eating before. Wines from the Dalelands are a favorite in the city, although there are a number of fine breweries making good local ales popular in the countryside.
Homes
Selentheans like to decorate with curiosities. Artifacts from ancient fey ruins, unusual art pieces from distant lands, and other oddities are sought after as ornaments. As in all things, Selenthean homes are casual places. Rarely do they feature formal dining rooms or carefully groomed courtyards. One is more likely to end up around the table in the kitchen, even in wealthy homes, than in the actual sitting room.
Virtues
The drive to improve on the past and pursue novel ideas inspires Selentheans to be deeply creative. That creativity is encouraged in all aspects of life, from work to religion to education. The constant influx of new things means people from all walks of life are unafraid of innovation, having grown used to the constant state of change. It takes very little prodding to get a Selenthean to pursue a new idea, no matter how outrageous it might seem.
Vices
The Selenthean desire to break free of the past slips into iconoclasm at times. Selentheans can be rude or dismissive when it comes to the deeply loved traditions of other cul- tures. As part of their creative culture, they are also accustomed to pushing forward new ideas. Sometimes they do this at the expense of learning from the past, and, as in any drive to innovate, many ideas fail.
Values
Selentheans hold creative individuals and those able to come up with new and better ways of doing things in high regard. These individuals are typically successful and well-respect- ed in Selenthean society. Selentheans also value academic thought and the pursuit of knowledge, an outgrowth of the original founders’ academic backgrounds and the influence of the Silver Circle and its associated college.
Aversions
Selentheans avoid traditionalism, seeing the ways of the past as a mire in which the mind becomes stuck and from which it cannot escape. They are annoyed by ignorance, seeing it as a personal failing by the individual to take the time to educate themselves.
Rights and Responsibilities
Every Selenthean has a right to an education. Wealth or power might ensure that one person gets a better education than another, but every person is entitled to better themselves through learning. As part of this right, every Selenthean receives unfettered access to the libraries of Toletren, and the Silver Circle runs free schools throughout the region.

Selentheans may be called to serve on special advisory councils by their leaders. Those with expertise in a topic are expected to share that expertise for the betterment of the community. It is a criminal offense to refuse a summons to an advisory council.
Customs
Birth Handmade items for use in a child’s adult life, from tools to insightful poems, are appropriate gifts for a Selenthean newborn. These items are placed in a trunk and stored until the child reaches majority.
Majority All of the family’s friends and relatives attend a special party for the child when they come into their adult- hood. At the celebration, the trunk that was filled when the child was born is brought out and opened.
Marriage Dancing, singing, and heavy drinking are the hallmarks of a good Selenthean wedding. A ceremony of the couple’s choosing may be performed, but the focus is on the celebration rather than the ceremony. Note that not all young Selentheans are interested in marriage, seeing
it as an outmoded concept that is more restrictive than useful.
Death When a person dies, their loved ones gather for a full day to share memories. These are not always good memories, and Selentheans fully expect their legacy to be appropriately challenged (and defended) by those they’ve left behind. The body itself is cremated as soon after death as possible. Ideally, the ashes are scattered in the sea.
Names
Selentheans have no strict rules on naming. Naming practices from every culture are found along with a number of new creative traditions, such as allowing a person to change their name at any point in their lives. For the practical purpose of keeping track of who is who, however, a first name given by one’s parents followed by a family name is still relatively commonplace.
Male Names Aelinar, Corsos, Corlis, Darvos, Joachim, Kynus, Rainin, Tevis, Ulmor, Melchim
Female Names Alia, Laril, Dorma, Vellea, Ania, Unyl, Malia, Cressi, Talay, Medeyl
Family Names Aranare, Duripi, Kikeru, Rusa, Yisharu
Religion
Toletren is the patron of the Selenthean people. Selentheans love to discover new knowledge, and they see Toletren as their guiding star. Offering a book to one of Toletren’s librar- ies is the appropriate way to ask Toletren for aid.
Magic
In a society ruled by mages, magic is an everyday part of life. For the typical Selenthean, magic holds little mystery, and its benefits are taken for granted. Enchanted items are common in both personal and public life.
Adventurers
Selenthea was founded by people who abandoned the safety of their homes and set out to explore new horizons. It’s no surprise then that adventurers are common among Selent- heans. There is also the city’s close proximity of the Elliyen Wilds and the ruins, treasures, and secrets it contains. The lost secrets of the past are fantastic fodder for those looking for inspiration, and the draw of the wilds is one many succumb to.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
Every year during mid-summer, Selentheans hold the Festial of the Magi. It is a week-long event marked by parades in which the citizenry dress in comical costumes that mock the elaborate robes worn by the mages who govern Selenthea. The joke is all in good fun and the Silver Circle cheerfully embraces this annual roast.

SELENTHEAN TRAITS
Languages Selenthean
Specializations Everyday magic
Equipment A Selenthean outfit, an enchanted bauble, and 15 sp
Wealth Die d6

Maladoran
Maladorans are determined to prove that by working together as one, they can achieve greatness without help from anyone on the outside—especially the Enaros. They stubbornly persist in pursuing challenging tasks to prove doubters wrong (even if the doubters are right), and they’re willing to take the longer, more difficult path if it means they can achieve their goals without help. As long as they remain loyal to one another and work hard, they know they will always succeed.
Manner
Maladorans are proud and opinionated. Once they’ve made up their minds on a subject, they stick doggedly to that decision and will see it through to the bitter end. This makes them quite industrious and leads to many great accomplishments. It also makes them difficult to deal with in situations that require compromise or change.
Appearance
Maladorans wear plain-cut clothing dyed in deep earth tones. They decorate their clothing with polished steel ornaments forged into dramatic geometric patterns of angles and curves. Both sexes wear their hair in intricate braids decorated with beads. The same is true for the beards of male dwarves. The braids and beads often represent aspects of their clan, personal achievements, or loyalties.
Language and Literacy
Maladorans speak a dialect of Dwarven unique to the land of Malador. It is a far more casual interpretation of the Dwarven language compared to the Deep dialect of Deeplanders. The language is marked by a de-emphasis of unstressed vowels and distinctive breaks between soft and hard sounds.

Literacy is only common among occupations in which it is required. True to the Maladoran view that you don’t waste time on useless things, if one isn’t going to use the ability to read and write in daily life, then why bother learning or teaching it? Books and loose notes are the most common form of written records. Scrolls are perceived as fragile and impractical, and thus seldom used.
Art and Music
The highest forms of Maladoran art are stone cutting and metalworking. Metal objects from Malador, from weapons and armor to decorative ornaments, are sought throughout the Amethyst Sea basin due to their fine workmanship and beauty. Maladoran stonework is precise and pleasing. At times the carving is so elegant it gives the impression the stone took on the shape naturally.

Maladorans enjoy the rich, sonorous tones of male choruses singing traditional dwarven hymns. In less formal settings they enjoy the heavy, chant-like drinking songs that originated with dwarven miners during the Dwarven Age. Women’s higher voices, either solo or in small groups, are preferred for common and folk music. The women’s songs tell stories about everyday life and include distinctive tonal chirps.
Food and Drink
Maladorans see eating as a necessity and not a pleasure. Food is meant to provide nutrition, and Maladoran cuisine is about as romantic as a good pair of work boots. Drink, on the other hand, is taken very seriously, and Maladorans are passionate about their ales. There is a tavern in the Maladoran city of Dor Falen Mal that boast over one hundred varieties of ale from around the Amethyst Sea.
Homes
Maladoran homes are plain and functional. They provide comfort only as needed with the goal of returning the Maladoran to work rested the next day. Cleanliness is expected, and an untidy home is considered a sign of an unstable mind and unresolved spirit.
Virtues
Maladorans are fiercely loyal to their community. They are also extremely hard-working and never hesitate to help when there is work to be done. Maladorans are known for their stolid demeanors, arising in part from their innate ability to count on the people around them, whether members of their family or the community, to all do their parts to overcome any challenge.
Vices
Maladoran determination occasionally morphs into a stub- born unwillingness to embrace change. This is especially true when dealing with non-Maladorans, since they are deeply cynical about advice coming from anyone from another culture. They’re also impatient when it comes to the efforts of others to live up to the Maladoran’s cultural standards. They don’t want apologies. They want you to get it right.



Values
Working hard for the good of the community is a key part of Maladoran life. Labor brings joy for Maladorans, particularly when they see results that bring a benefit to their family, their clan, and their neighbors.
Aversions
Slothfulness is unacceptable in Maladoran culture. In Malador, failure to reliably perform one’s assigned duties is punishable by public humiliation and forced labor. Religion is also frowned upon by Maladorans. It is seen as a crutch for those unwilling to work for what they need.
Rights and Responsibilities Maladorans live in communal groups where both the work and the fruits of that labor are shared equally with everyone in the community. Any Maladoran in need can enter any other Maladoran community and expect a warm welcome in exchange for immediately taking on a share of the labor.

A Maladoran must do their part to support the community. One doesn’t pick and choose what they want to do, but rather accepts what they must do. It is the responsibility of every Maladoran to live up to this ideal.
Customs
Birth Just before a Maladoran child is born, all the friends and relatives work together to improve the couple’s home in preparation for the impending arrival.
Majority Until a Maladoran person reaches maturity, their hair is not braided. A child’s first braiding is a solemn cere- mony that marks their passage into adulthood.
Marriage When a Maladoran couple is married, the event is celebrated with the construction of a new house or im- provement of an existing vacant home for the newlyweds.
Death Maladorans bury their dead in catacombs. They do this so that the dead may return to their ancestral Deepland homes. Digging catacombs brings with it the danger of breaching a Deepland hall, but the Maladorans see it as a worthwhile risk.
Names
Maladoran names consist of three parts. The first is their personal name, given by their parents at birth. The second, originally their "tribe" name, is their family name, which represents their family group. The third is their clan name, which always ends in "-kett", the Dwarven word for clan. Most Maladorans only use their first two names; clan loyalty has waned since the Age of Darkness. That said, many Mal- adorans know their clan name and hold a nostalgic respect for the old ways.
Male Names Threnn, Vogol, Togart, Agthon, Braund, Dreman, Gorman, Thal, Rogarth, Harwar, Drell
Female Names Vida, Drey, Elsbree, Frayer, Galea, Harra, Trellin, Stoga, Kathya, Dora
Family Names Feer, Gaess, Fraim, Dorrm, Shlakke, Craysse
Clan Names Hethkett, Dorenkett, Fallenkett, Briendelkett, Shoevenkett
Religion
Maladorans do not worship the gods. To do so is seen as a sign of weakness. It’s unwise to discuss religion around Maladorans.
Magic
Maladorans view magic as a tool and nothing more. Some individuals are adept with its use and others less so. Maladoran opinions on who should use magic are the same as their thoughts about tools: if a person doesn’t know how to use the tool, they shouldn’t meddle. Enchanted objects are not uncommon, but a Maladoran won’t use magic to do something that can be done just as easily by mundane means.
Adventurers
The main reasons Maladorans become adventurers is to recover lost dwarven artifacts from before the Age of Dark- ness, mete out vengeance upon the endrori, or liberate the Deeplands from Endroren’s armies. The most zealous may even leave their old lives behind to become Liberators, an organization of dwarven adventurers that dedicate their lives to reclaiming the Deepland halls.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
If a hammerhead cracks during the construction of a house, it is believed that the first person to sleep there will die. In the event a hammer does crack, the entire project is scrapped, and the building is torn down no matter how far along the construction is.

MALADORAN TRAITS
Languages Dwarven (Maladoran) (L)
Equipment A Maladoran outfit, a set of braid beads, a wooden mug, and 15 sp
Wealth Die d6

Newardine
The Newardine people’s greatest desire is to reactivate the world gates and return to their homeworld. They are unable to accept Aetaltis as their new home, and this underlying discomfort with their fate shapes their society, behavior, and personalities. Selenthean mages have proven that the magic used to operate the world gates is irreparably corrupted, but Newardines refuse to accept this. They insist the challenge is just a formula with an unknown solution, and like all formu- las, it can be solved with logic, reason, and effort.
Manner
Newardine are taught to weigh every situation logically. Their deliberate, careful consideration of all things, includ- ing emotional responses, is often seen as cold or unfeeling by outsiders. This is a misconception, for the Newardine do feel emotion. They simply do not react until they have consid- ered every aspect of a situation. Even then, they measure their reaction based on what they’ve calculated is proper and necessary. If an emotional response will not have a clearly useful effect, there is no point in having one.

Newardine are meticulous in their work. They may take longer to complete a task than another race, but the results of their efforts are precise and without error. Among the Newardine, there is no such thing as a "rough draft." The work is either complete and correct or it is not.
Appearance
Newardine clothing and styles are determined by their social rank. The system is staggeringly complex, but at its most basic level, the amount of color and ornament a Newardine wears indicates their status in society. Those of the lowest classes wear plain black cotton trousers and plain shirts of gray or black. Citizens of the higher classes dress in outfits made with a multitude of textures, fabrics, and colors. The most outrageous of these costumes are so complex they require the aid of several servants to put on properly.
Language and Literacy
The Newardine tongue makes use of a host of sounds and vocalizations physically impossible for anyone not of newardin lineage to replicate. Most notable of these are dual tone sounds that require the speaker to create two tones simultaneously. The tones and the distance between them communicate as much meaning as the word itself. The language consists of an almost unbelievably large lexicon of words, since many words have a single, highly precise meaning used only under extremely specific circumstances. Every Newardine can read and write, having been taught to do so as soon as they can hold a book and pen. The alpha- bet consists of thousands of symbols. To represent a sound in the Newardine alphabet, the writer superimposes one symbol on the other to create new symbols that represent the appropriate combination of tones, sounds, and empha- sis. These layered symbols are then assembled into words. Mundane books are used, but important texts are recorded on neerimissimee, enchanted crystal cylinders that display the symbols as the cylinder is spun on an axle.
Art and Music
The primary forms of Newardine art are paintings and drawings that make use of complex geometric visualizations of mathematical formulas. Success as a Newardine artist requires both artistic talent and skill in advanced mathematics. Newardine statuary, on the other hand, follows almost no rules at all. Statuary is often created in glass and makes use of strange, dream-like curves that are almost mesmerizing when examined closely.
The most popular Newardine instrument is the winree, a fragile construct that makes use of crystal spheres that vibrate when touched. The resultant music consists of perfectly tuned tones with a cold, haunting quality. To most non-Newardine, the ghostly sounds of this instrument are unnerving.
Food and Drink
Newardine eat a very limited range of foodstuffs. There are a total of fifteen Newardine recipes, and each dish has a specific place, time, and manner of consumption. Newardine generally do not drink alcoholic beverages, as most newardin are immune to the effects of alcohol, and the beverages have no place in their pre-determined meal structures.



Homes
Newardine homes are stark and functional. Furniture is included only where absolutely needed and bright colors are avoided. In lower class homes, the buildings and furniture feature simple, hard angles with little ornamentation. Homes and furniture among the higher class Newardine regularly feature the distinctive curving forms seen in Newardine sculpture.
Virtues
Newardine seldom act without fully considering the possible consequences. This allows them to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that they do not accidentally inflict harm, physical or otherwise, through their actions. They pursue logical solutions wherever possible, and this makes them uncompromisingly just and reasonable in their judgments. They are always open to negotiation, and if presented with a strong argument, they are willing to change their minds on almost any matter.
Vices
The same logic that is a virtue for the Newardine might easily be a vice under other circumstances. They are known to make judgments that don’t take into account emotion or extenu- ating circumstances, insisting instead upon the logical, but inhumane, course of action. Their dedication to controlling their emotions also leads them to have a lack of empathy toward others. Finally, their unswerving devotion to keep- ing the Newardine culture isolated and pure interferes with efforts to integrate into the rest of Aetaltan society.
Values
Order gives Newardine great pleasure. A clean, well-orga- nized society run by long-standing traditions, logical rules, and reasoned laws brings the typical Newardine a sense of comfort and satisfaction. The same applies to their personal life, homes, and relationships.
Aversions
Newardine do not take kindly to disruption of their ordered lives. Reactions to such disruptions are severe, although carefully calculated and coolly carried out. Outsiders in- variably disrupt Newardine life which is part of the reason outsiders are seldom welcomed into the Newardine’s society.
Rights and Responsibilities
Newardine of each class are guaranteed a set of clearly defined rights under Newardine law. These rights are vigorously protected, and a Newardine can have confidence that no exceptions will ever impinge upon these rights. For the lowest class individuals, these rights are limited, to put it plainly, and are without room for interpretation. For the higher classes, the laws are more complex, offer greater freedoms, and are open to logical interpretation.

Newardine are expected to completely and flawlessly adhere to the rules and regulations spelled out for a person of their class within Newardine society. The clearly defined consequences of failure are swift and harsh. When dealing with individuals outside of Newardine society, no such responsibility exists. All non-Newardine are perceived as classless and thus not part of the whole.
Customs
Birth Newardine births are treated as a medical condition without any spirituality or emotion involved.
Majority Newardine majority occurs in a number of growth stages. There is no defining moment after which Newardine children are considered adults. There are only levels of development.
Marriage Permanent legal bondings between two indi- viduals have proven beneficial to maintaining order. They are not celebrated but are ritualized to cement the couple’s bond.
Death The bodies of deceased Newardine are taken to an undertaker shortly after death and left there with the necessary payment. It is a business transaction.
Names
A Newardine’s name is a single word with multiple meanings. In its entirety, a full name can be quite long, to the point of being nearly unpronounceable by non-Newardine. They generally accept a shortened version of their name for the ease of other cultures. Newardine make no distinction between male and female names.
Male/Female Names Nichmen’aedos, Geesfanishmy, Deeyormenkay, Sessmanodesvin, Pehyormanesfa, Omneesvenisshay, Belinormavenoosmay, Kitwhygeshmina, Essnomendeewal, Behyormekveeyasmenwa
Religion
All Newardine learn the tenants of Atlan Centering and practice it daily. Some Newardine have taken to making offerings to the Aetaltan gods since they are clearly real beings that directly impact Newardine lives. These offerings are made without ritual and are better described as transactional than worshipful.
Magic
Magic is a highly respected science among the Newardine, and spellcasters are held in high esteem. Enchanted items are common, and most households have at least one.
Adventurers
Most Newardine find their way into adventuring as a by-product of scholarly studies, typically as part of the collective effort to rebuild the world gates. They often reach an impasse in their research that can only be overcome by hands-on fieldwork. Whatever the reason, they always set out with a well-defined goal and a clear definition of what is required to complete the task.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
Newardine find the physical acts of affection base and dis- gusting. If confronted by public displays of affection, Newardine may have to leave the room due to their revulsion.

NEWARDINE TRAITS
Tool Proficiencies Neerimissimee
Languages Newardine (L), Common (L) Specializations Centering
Equipment A Newardine outfit, five applications of cleansing powder, and 2 gp
Wealth Die d8

Outlanders
Outlanders are hardy individuals who carve a path into the wild lands of the Amethyst Sea basin. They don’t owe alle- giance to any ruler, recognize no laws, and fiercely defend the lives they carve out for themselves. They are independent to a fault, but fantastically self-sufficient.
Manner
Outlanders are straightforward and honest. They’ll tell you where you stand with them and don’t hesitate to offer their opinion. They’re cautious by nature, knowing that in the wilds, any decision they make is one they’ll have to live with. There’s no help coming if it’s the wrong choice. Outlanders within a hundred-mile radius often know one another, and their definition of community stretches the boundaries of what other people understand. A family homestead 20 miles away is considered a close neighbor, and a given Outlander might not have spoken to their neighbors in months. Outlanders are helpful to strangers, but slow to accept anyone into their full confidence.
Appearance
Outlander clothing is rugged and functional. Contrary to what one might expect, however, clothing is often dyed in bright colors, adding a bit of cheer to their hard lives. Hair is grown in whatever fashion suits the individual. Most outlanders keep one special outfit safely stored in a chest or cabinet, which they pull out for important occasions.
Language and Literacy
The Outland dialect of Common is a hodge-podge of words spoken with such a thick accent they’re effectively new words. There are also made up words used only by the speaker and their immediate neighbors. Very few native Outlanders can read. There just isn’t much call for it out in the wilds. Books, scrolls, and other written documents are equally rare.
Art and Music
Outlanders enjoy paintings of distant lands and exotic people. The more over-dramatic the subject and composition, the more the outlander likes it. These dramatic images provide an escape from their unromantic existence of isolation and hard work. Outlanders also like to carve the beams and boards of buildings into fanciful shapes and designs.

Outlanders enjoy rustic dance tunes played on simple stringed instruments, drums, and flutes. They also enjoy singing, usually about subjects that relate directly to their lives.



Homes
Outlander homes are sturdily built with plain, functional designs. The primary focus of an Outlander dwelling is protection from the elements. The secondary focus is defense against attack by endrori, bandits, and other dangerous creatures. Although not impregnable, Outlander houses at least give the inhabitants a fighting chance.
Virtues
Outlanders are always willing to do hard work that needs to be done and do so without complaint. They have a wide set of skills, knowing a little bit about of everything. When the nearest skilled craftsperson is hundreds of miles from your home, you’d better be able to handle things on your own.
Vices
Although most Outlanders are decent people, they are extremely distrustful of outsiders. They won’t turn away a person in need, but if the person seems capable of fending for themselves, they’re typically sent on their way in a polite but firm fashion. Outlander religious beliefs also lead them to be terribly superstitious. Charms and similar protective trinkets are considered necessities for a healthy, happy life. They’re terrified of curses.
Values
Outlanders appreciate those who pull their own weight. They are also very determined and respect anyone with a clear goal they are willing to fight for. Because they have so little established infrastructure to lean on, ingenuity is prized. Demonstrating clever workarounds and shared sur- vival tips are the keys to status in Outlander society.
Aversions
The wilds are no place for freeloaders. Those who shirk their duties face strict punishments and possibly banishment. Giving up on a project or goal is unheard of. Patiently wait- ing for a better opportunity is acceptable, but no Outlander gives up on anything they aim to get. Finally, interference is a great sin. An Outlander is expected to offer their help once, but if the other person refuses help, they walk away and the matter is not discussed again.
Rights and Responsibilities
Outlanders assume they have any property rights they want. This often creates problems when a noble or other would-be leader attempts to take control of an area where Outlanders are living.

Offering help is a must among neighbors, although refusing the offer is considered appropriate, unless an Outlander is in obvious need. After that, an in-kind repayment is required. An Outlander’s number one responsibility is to their family. Family always comes first. After family comes neighbors. And that’s it.
Customs
Birth
Any birth is an occasion for celebration among Outlanders. Every child is a representation of Outlander success and a sign of hope that others will carry on their work when they are gone.
Majority and Marriage Marriage and majority are one in the same among the Outlanders. When a child is an adult, they marry, and when they marry, they are considered an adult. Parents normally arrange these marriages, but if a young couple shows an interest in one another, the parents usually work with the choice. The wedding is a time of great celebration, and the event often turns into a community fair with Outlanders coming from far and wide to take part.
Death While death is all too common for Outlanders, they never become cold to it. Each death is followed by a somber ceremony where everyone in the area gathers to give sup- port to the survivors, presenting gifts to help the bereaved through the difficult time.
Names
Outlander names are generally simple affairs, easy to pronounce and easy to remember. They often consist of short, one-word names followed by an appellation based on something notable the Outlander has done or said. Appellations change occasionally if the Outlander has done something even more notable since the last time you met them. Married couples intertwine their names, sometimes exchanging names or combining appellations into something new.
Male Names Telly, Kurt, Duge, San, Bolb, Cail
Female Names Ana, Oby, Ell, Sary, Lolly, Tra
Appellation the Firemaker, Ankheg Head, Watersteps, the Hundredhunter
Religion
Outlanders are highly religious and see the work of the gods in everything around them. From a tree that falls near the house to a freak rainfall at midday, Outlanders are sure the Enaros are speaking to them through these events. Outlanders pray to the gods for just about anything, making elaborate offerings in the hopes of garnering divine favor. Clerics of all stripes are welcome, though they should expect to be asked for many small divinations throughout the day.
Magic
Outlanders would love to have access to magic, but normally it’s beyond their reach. Outlander children don’t have time to study it, few spellcasters care to venture into the wilds, and enchanted items are just too expensive.
Adventurers
The lives of most Outlanders are already adventures of a sort, so it is a relatively easy jump to an actual adventurer’s life. Many are motivated by the struggles of their neighbors, taking up the blade to make the outlands safe.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
Marriage is such an important part of Outlander life that they go out of their way to play matchmaker for individuals who aren’t married. This applies to strangers visiting their communities as well as locals. If a person expresses disinter- est in marriage, it is assumed there is something wrong with them.

Outlanders enjoy bragging contests, but if they get too heated, they’ll assemble for a competitive event known as a "make do," where contestants have a set of tools, a range of territory, and a declared amount of time to complete some task based on the contestants’ skills. Sample tasks include foraging and cooking a dish from wild ingredients, trapping monsters, orienteering across dangerous land, or avoiding touching the ground for the duration of the make do.

OUTLANDER TRAITS
Languages Common (Outland)
Specializations Home environment (select one)
Equipment An Outlander outfit, a small knife, a waterskin, a leather pouch with a shoulder strap, and 5 cp
Wealth Die d4

Selenthean
Selentheans are determined to forge a new path into the future. They have thrown off the shackles of tradition and are carving a better world out of the wilderness—both figuratively and literally. Not everyone is pleased by their disruptive new society, but with the backing of the wizards of the Silver Circle and the Selenthean Knights there are few outside of Selenthea who can stand in their way.
Manner
Selentheans are notoriously informal in every aspect of their lives, something that regularly results in unintentional insult when dealing with people from other cultures. They are extremely proud of their innovations and are eager to show off what they’ve built. They’re quick to point out flaws in the way others do things, while simultaneously explaining the clever new way they’ve devised to perform the same task. Selentheans are unashamed iconoclasts. Vigorously chal- lenging ideas both new and old is a way of life.
Appearance
Most Selentheans wear whatever they like, whenever they like. They choose their clothing for purely personal reasons rather than the demands of society. Some may place a premium on comfort, wearing a loose fitting tunic and trousers all the time. Others dress to make a statement, sometimes abandoning practical considerations altogether. Still others focus on utility, choosing the right clothes for the job. Hair is worn loose and long for both men and women, although for practical purposes it might be pulled up under a hat or braided.



Language and Literacy
The academics and scholars that founded Selenthea spoke an academic dialect of the old Atlan language. This gives their speech an unexpectedly formal air in contrast with their casual lifestyles. One example is the tendency to over enunciate compared to the other languages descended from old Ataln.

Native Selentheans can all read and write, but there is a constant influx of new blood. The literacy of those who have recently adopted the culture is dependent on where they grew up. In either case there is an expectation that all citizens can read and write or will soon learn. Signage makes heavy use of words. Shops and other businesses may have written lists of products and prices. Books are commonplace, although the Dalelander mechanical printing press was only recently introduced, so the majority of books are still hand-written. The only scrolls in use are antiques.
Art and Music
Every Selenthean artist tries to push the boundaries of the old styles and forms. Some do so by portraying shocking subjects, others make use of unusual media, and still others employ techniques imported from distant lands combined with traditional methods from other cultures.

Selenthean music is filled with variety. One piece might call for a huge ensemble with choral accompaniment while another is for solo voice. The variations are endless and the whims of the audience change by the day. The only thing constant is the public’s demand for innovation.
Food and Drink
Selenthean chefs are known for their exotic and often whimsical recipes, especially when it comes to preparing wild game. For many of these chefs, they love the challenge of finding ways to prepare something no one has considered eating before. Wines from the Dalelands are a favorite in the city, although there are a number of fine breweries making good local ales popular in the countryside.
Homes
Selentheans like to decorate with curiosities. Artifacts from ancient fey ruins, unusual art pieces from distant lands, and other oddities are sought after as ornaments. As in all things, Selenthean homes are casual places. Rarely do they feature formal dining rooms or carefully groomed courtyards. One is more likely to end up around the table in the kitchen, even in wealthy homes, than in the actual sitting room.
Virtues
The drive to improve on the past and pursue novel ideas inspires Selentheans to be deeply creative. That creativity is encouraged in all aspects of life, from work to religion to education. The constant influx of new things means people from all walks of life are unafraid of innovation, having grown used to the constant state of change. It takes very little prodding to get a Selenthean to pursue a new idea, no matter how outrageous it might seem.
Vices
The Selenthean desire to break free of the past slips into iconoclasm at times. Selentheans can be rude or dismissive when it comes to the deeply loved traditions of other cultures. As part of their creative culture, they are also accustomed to pushing forward new ideas. Sometimes they do this at the expense of learning from the past, and, as in any drive to innovate, many ideas fail.
Values
Selentheans hold creative individuals and those able to come up with new and better ways of doing things in high regard. These individuals are typically successful and well-respect- ed in Selenthean society. Selentheans also value academic thought and the pursuit of knowledge, an outgrowth of the original founders’ academic backgrounds and the influence of the Silver Circle and its associated college.
Aversions
Selentheans avoid traditionalism, seeing the ways of the past as a mire in which the mind becomes stuck and from which it cannot escape. They are annoyed by ignorance, seeing it as a personal failing by the individual to take the time to educate themselves.
Rights and Responsibilities
Every Selenthean has a right to an education. Wealth or power might ensure that one person gets a better education than another, but every person is entitled to better themselves through learning. As part of this right, every Selenthean receives unfettered access to the libraries of Toletren, and the Silver Circle runs free schools throughout the region.

Selentheans may be called to serve on special advisory councils by their leaders. Those with expertise in a topic are expected to share that expertise for the betterment of the community. It is a criminal offense to refuse a summons to an advisory council.
Customs
Birth Handmade items for use in a child’s adult life, from tools to insightful poems, are appropriate gifts for a Selenthean newborn. These items are placed in a trunk and stored until the child reaches majority.
Majority All of the family’s friends and relatives attend a special party for the child when they come into their adult- hood. At the celebration, the trunk that was filled when the child was born is brought out and opened.
Marriage Dancing, singing, and heavy drinking are the hallmarks of a good Selenthean wedding. A ceremony of the couple’s choosing may be performed, but the focus is on the celebration rather than the ceremony. Note that not all young Selentheans are interested in marriage, seeing
it as an outmoded concept that is more restrictive than useful.
Death When a person dies, their loved ones gather for a full day to share memories. These are not always good memories, and Selentheans fully expect their legacy to be appropriately challenged (and defended) by those they’ve left behind. The body itself is cremated as soon after death as possible. Ideally, the ashes are scattered in the sea.
Names
Selentheans have no strict rules on naming. Naming practices from every culture are found along with a number of new creative traditions, such as allowing a person to change their name at any point in their lives. For the practical purpose of keeping track of who is who, however, a first name given by one’s parents followed by a family name is still relatively commonplace.
Male Names Aelinar, Corsos, Corlis, Darvos, Joachim, Kynus, Rainin, Tevis, Ulmor, Melchim
Female Names Alia, Laril, Dorma, Vellea, Ania, Unyl, Malia, Cressi, Talay, Medeyl
Family Names Aranare, Duripi, Kikeru, Rusa, Yisharu
Religion
Toletren is the patron of the Selenthean people. Selentheans love to discover new knowledge, and they see Toletren as their guiding star. Offering a book to one of Toletren’s libraries is the appropriate way to ask Toletren for aid.
Magic
In a society ruled by mages, magic is an everyday part of life. For the typical Selenthean, magic holds little mystery, and its benefits are taken for granted. Enchanted items are common in both personal and public life.
Adventurers
Selenthea was founded by people who abandoned the safety of their homes and set out to explore new horizons. It’s no surprise then that adventurers are common among Selent- heans. There is also the city’s close proximity of the Elliyen Wilds and the ruins, treasures, and secrets it contains. The lost secrets of the past are fantastic fodder for those looking for inspiration, and the draw of the wilds is one many succumb to.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
Every year during mid-summer, Selentheans hold the Festival of the Magi. It is a week-long event marked by parades in which the citizenry dress in comical costumes that mock the elaborate robes worn by the mages who govern Selenthea. The joke is all in good fun and the Silver Circle cheerfully embraces this annual roast.

SELENTHEAN TRAITS
Languages Selenthean
Specializations Everyday magic
Equipment A Selenthean outfit, an enchanted bauble, and 15 sp
Wealth Die d6

Valorian
Personal power, security, and survival are the focus of a Valo- rian’s life. There is no sense of civic responsibility outside of what directly helps to improve one’s own circumstances. Some challenges require allegiances and assistance, but a Valorian always keeps their very personal end goal in mind. They’re not out to change the world or even their homeland. They just want to live as comfortably and safely as they can for another day.
Manner
Valorians come from a land where lies are more common than truth, making them deeply distrustful. They are habitually suspicious of others’ motives, and only give their trust if they have some way to ensure the other party will not wrong them. They regularly push for oaths, pledges, and collateral from others for even the smallest things.
Appearance
The common Valorian wears scant clothing. At most, men and women don a sleeveless tunic that hangs down just above the knees and is bound at the waist with a belt. Sandals are the typical footwear. Even wealthy citizens wear this clothing, although theirs is made from fine silks and decorated with gold and silver embroidery. Men wear their hair cut close to the head and women wear theirs in tight curls. Facial hair is considered uncivilized. Women highlight their features, both facial and otherwise, with elaborate applications of makeup.
Language and Literacy
The Valorian speak a language derived from old Atlan heavily influenced by the Stonegate dialect of the Dwarven language. Valorian is spoken quickly and makes heavy use of abbreviations and short slang terms. Most notable is the almost complete absence of a trailing "g" in words ending in -ing sound. They also have a tendency to roll their "r"s.

Very few Valorians learn to read. Only the wealthiest citizens, the clergy, and those who require the skill for their work can read or write. Even then, literacy isn’t a certainty. Signage is almost all visual and criers announce the news, offers of work, and other important public announcements. Books and scrolls are rare among common people.
Art and Music
Statuary, intricately carved stonework, and murals are the preferred art forms among Valorians. Lighter, more portable types of artwork are less popular due to the chance of theft.

Valorians enjoy the music of the ebar, a stringed instrument played with a bow that has a unique metallic sound. Ebar songs are often accompanied by chanted poetry. The topics of these songs are almost always the joys of passion- ate, physical love interrupted by a double cross of some kind and then resolved by an act of vengeance.
Food and Drink
Valorian dishes are heavily spiced and salted. The flavors require a fair amount of acclimation for the uninitiated to truly appreciate. Seafood is the primary ingredient, combined with a variety of aquatic plants that are grown in the rich coastal waters. The most popular beverages are the locally vinted sweet wines that are made from mixtures of fruit juice. The makers of these wines carefully guard the exact composition of their custom concoctions.
Homes
Valorians build their homes from stone if they can afford to, or from mud bricks if they cannot. Stone buildings are decorated with artful carvings and elaborate wall paintings. Builders of mud brick buildings press patterns into the drying mud during construction to create the impression of a carved surface. Furniture fills the rooms of Valorian homes and patterned rugs cover all the floors.
Virtues
For Valorians, the world really is out to get them, and they’ve developed a variety of strategies to help ensure their survival. Chief among these is an excess of caution. Valorians are always on the lookout for trouble, and they learn early on how to spot a threat, physical or otherwise. They also learn ways to get out of trouble once they’re in it, primarily through the application of clever, unexpected solutions.
Vices
Early in life, Valorians learn to look out for themselves. They don’t put a lot of value on telling the truth, since doing so is likely to put them at a disadvantage. These two vices are part of why strict- ly enforced loyalty pledges are so important in Valorian society. It’s fair to say that few Valorians like living this way, but they gave up on any hope of changing things long ago.
Values
In a land filled with threats, Valorians value physical security above all other things. They also value the servitude and pledged loyalty of others. The number of people that have pledged service to a person determines their standing in society.
Aversions
Valorians dislike it when people strictly follow rules and laws. Laws should always be open to interpretation, and they should leave room for exceptions. Pledge and oath breakers are hated and are dealt with in the strictest fashion.
Rights and Responsibilities
Any enslaved Valorian can earn their freedom in the arena. Once they’ve earned that freedom, no person can ever take it from them again for any reason.

Valorians are expected to fully uphold and fulfill any and all pledges they make. Unhappiness with the terms at a later time, missing an important detail, or simply deciding the pledge is no longer advantageous are not valid excuses for breaking a pledge. Punishments for breaking a formal pledge are severe, including enslavement or execution.
Customs
Birth At the birth of a child, all those who have pledged themselves to the parents present the child with a gift.
Majority When a child reaches majority they symbolically pledge themselves to their parents. This first pledge is already inherent in the parent-child relationship, but the legal act of performing the pledge represents the adult responsibility every Valorian has to their patrons.
Marriage Valorian marriages are performed in the center of the neighborhood where all can witness the exchange. This gives any who have objections to the impending union a chance to voice them and ensures ample witnesses to any vows that are made. It isn’t uncommon for a duel to precede a wedding when an outside party contests the marriage.
Death The dead are interred above ground in mausoleums. These structures are clustered in "cities of the dead" located on a main road just outside of town.
Names
Valorians have two names. The first is their given name, given at birth by their parents. The second is their father’s family name. It is also customary to include the family name of one’s primary patron in the full formal name, preceded by the Atlan word, "doen." For example, Aelinar Duripi doen Yisharu.



Male Names Aelinar, Corsos, Corlis, Darvos, Joachim, Kynus, Rainin, Tevis, Ulmor, Melchim
Female Names Alia, Laril, Dorma, Vellea, Ania, Unyl, Malia, Cressi, Talay, Medeyl
Family Names Aranare, Duripi, Kikeru, Rusa, Yisharu
Religion
Valorians worship Zevas by making private offerings behind curtained shrines at the temple. These curtained shrines are sacred and no person may intrude on the penalty of Zevas’s curse. They offer the only true privacy from spies a Valorian is likely to find in their homeland.
Magic
Valorians see magic as a commodity. Those who have it benefit from it, and those that don’t will pay for it. Enchant- ed items bring top prices in Valorian bazaars. The desire for power over rivals, even if just to ensure one’s personal safety, leads a dangerous number of Valorian arcane practitioners to explore dark magic as a means of gaining more power.
Adventurers
The inherent danger of life in Port Vale makes the jump to the life of an adventurer an easier one than for individuals leading more secure lives. This is especially true for the enslaved, gladiators, and those cast out due to a real or perceived oath breaking. With nothing to lose, these individuals may find the life of an adventurer an improvement on their circumstances.
Unusual Customs and Taboos
Those blinded by nature or circumstance are considered holy by Valorians. It is said that Zevas sees through the eyes of the blind, and any action taken against a blind person is an action taken against Zevas. When making a particularly important pledge, a blind witness is often demanded so that Zevas himself might know of the promise and hopefully ensure it is carried out. Conversely, blind Valorians are often avoided and excluded in day-to-day life since no one wants Zevas constantly watching them.

VALORIAN TRAITS
Languages Valorian
Specializations Criminal enterprises, urban environment
Equipment A Valorian outfit, a dagger, a wired purse, and 5 cp
Wealth Die d4

Warrener
Warrener life is centered on a simple principle: if one is good, two are better. Getting more is the driving force behind every aspect of their lives. Competition is both expected and invigorating, and a rival’s jealousy is a badge of honor. All is fair in this pursuit—just as long as you behave according to the rules of trade called the Cheebatan Codex. To a Warrener, this life is the ultimate path to satisfaction, both for themselves and their people as a whole.
Manner
Warreners live at a breakneck pace that is dizzying to anyone not used to it. Everything is done quickly, ostentatiously, and with such over-dramatic flair it would make a Selenthean actor seem reserved by comparison. Most Warreners are honest, but even the most upstanding Warrener citizen sees no problem with benefiting from technicalities, misinforma- tion, or omitting key facts. Fortunately for the Warreners, they are also good-natured, fun, and unswervingly loyal to their companions, which allows their associates to overlook or forgive most minor transgressions.
Appearance
Warrener dress is designed to draw attention. It glitters, billows, shakes, and rattles and is adorned with as much ornamentation as it can support. Warrener hairstyles for women are just as outlandish as the clothing, while male warreners color their hair and slick it back with pungent perfumed oils.
Language and Literacy
The creation of the Common language is credited to early cheebatan colonists. It is an amalgam of the Atlan, Dwarven, Halfling, and Cheebat languages and has evolved into the primary trade language of the Amethyst Sea basin. The Warrener dialect is distinctive not because of its pronunciation or unique words, but rather by its overly dramatic enun- ciation and exaggerated gesticulation.

Most Warreners learn to read and write. Careful record keeping is a vital part of Warrener life, and the inability to do so leaves one exposed during negotiations. Written signage is commonplace although only if the text can be made flamboyant enough. Many Warreners own books. Of notable popularity are Nanty Narkers, little books that fit easily into an inside cloak pocket that tell fanciful stories about adventurers, romance, and dramatized historical events.
Art and Music
If a work of art doesn’t make you gasp, then a Warrener isn’t interested. Warreners want shock value. The shock may come from any aspect, whether its expense or quality, the subject, or even the physical size. Sculpture is preferred since it tends to jump out at the viewer more than a simple painting on the wall.

Warreners love the music of the greeteen. This instrument creates a loud, blatting noise that rattles the listener’s bones when played at its greatest volume. Greeteen songs make liberal use of dramatic runs designed to amaze the listener with the speed sand precision of the performer. Ensemble greeteen pieces with excessive percussion accompaniment are popular in the theaters.
Food and Drink
Warrener recipes make heavy use of Zhamayen food spices. To those unaccustomed to the cuisine, the scent of Warrener food is nearly overpowering and most find the riot of flavors an acquired taste at best. Warrener drinks are complex concoctions using a variety of alcohols as well as fruit juices, milk, or any other odd liquid the Warrener barkeep can get their hands on.
Homes
Warrener homes are as maze-like and hodge-podge in their design as the warrens. Rooms seem to appear out of nowhere, staircases are placed seemingly at random, and the decor changes every ten feet or so.
Virtues
Warreners love company and will welcome almost anyone into their social circle. They are friendly and outgoing, and they are generally cheerful. They don’t fear or avoid other cultures, and will joyfully immerse themselves into new ways of life—especially if there is an opportunity for profit.
Vices
Unfortunately, the motivations behind many of a Warrener’s most admirable traits is personal benefit. They truly are as friendly and welcoming as they seem, but their actions are never disentangled from their mercantile motivations. Warreners desire luxury, rich comforts, and finery and measure their personal worth by their ability to indulge. Once they have these things, they are equally opposed to giving them up. They tend to get deeply jealous if they think someone else has something better.
Values
A person’s position on the social ladder combined with their wealth is the ultimate representation of a person’s worth to a Warrener. As long as one follows the rules of the Codex, moral issues such as honesty and honor take a back seat to fame, wealth, and power when judging a person. Warreners also place value on people and things that stand out from the crowd. Again, the Warrener doesn’t care why the thing stands out, just the fact that it does.
Aversions
The thought of living in poverty is a horror to the typical Warrener. Warreners also distrust people who are reserved, believing they are either unintelligent or hiding something.



Rights and Responsibilities
Warreners hold to the idea that anything and everything is for sale and they have a right to buy it. For instance, they can’t comprehend the problem with buying a judgement in a legal case, buying a position of authority, or buying literally anything else that they want. The one notable exception is people. Warreners hate slavery.

The Cheebatan Codex is a huge, complicated, and arcane set of rules and regulations that govern the proper means of conducting commerce. This holdover from the culture of the cheebatan homeworld is a fourteen volume collection written in old Cheebatan, and every Warrener is excepted to obey it. Unlike its sister document, the Calliosan Compact, the Codex goes far beyond mercantile interactions. It includes rules for all types of transactions, whether they be business, social, or even romantic.

Customs
Birth When a Warrener birth nears, friends and family of the parents present extravagant gifts to the expectant couple. Traditionally, the parents are then expected to incorporate the name of the individual who presented the finest gift into the name of the newborn child.
Majority Upon majority every Warrener child begins a pre-arranged apprenticeship. They are expected to perfect their skills in the chosen trade, and failure to succeed is considered a sign of bad upbringing.
Marriage As one might expect, a Warrener wedding is a sight to behold thanks to its extravagance and drama. Families have been known to bankrupt themselves attempting to outdo friends, neighbors, and associates with the weddings they throw for their children.
Death When a Warrener dies, everyone they know takes the day off work and stands outside the deceased’s home weep- ing as loudly as possible. To do less is a sign of disrespect.
Names
Parents choose a given name for children at birth, although relatives have been known to give extravagant "gifts" to influ- ence name choice. Names are usually flamboyant, designed to draw attention and stand out. As a result, Warreners have no problem borrowing names from other cultures or making up completely new names to achieve the desired effect. Most Warreners also have a family name, but it is seldom used since their personal names tend to be unique.
Male Names Blezenalvingayeld, Fezelnaff, Vremmelzor, Gleemin’geldinar, Helzomyish, Vrenozerxk, Jestgomerzinbas, Beshvoniz, Zimdoraxx, Bizzelvize
Female Names Grezendevorma, Bechelie, Micalina, Veeshminocavee, Keevensa, Mimimdininda, Lissdrekindo, Jevdinfodingala, Fessenaba, Pleorinobelaneedo
Religion
Warreners love Zevas and construct elaborate personal shrines to him as well as ornate temples. Warrener prayer is more like a negotiation than a
bequest for aid, with the penitent arguing the value of their offerings to Zevas in the same way that they’d sell wares in the market.
Magic
Warreners love magic and enchanted devices, only if they’re loud, matic, and showy.
Adventurers
Young Warreners in need of coin (and with nothing else to lose) may look to adventuring to help them accomplish their goals. Perhaps they have an expensive idea for a business no one will back, or maybe their past efforts have left them deep in debt. For these Warreners, adventuring might seem like a quick way to gain the wealth they need. Of course, for Warreners, adventuring just for sake of acquiring treasure is often reason enough.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
As one might expect, given its size and complexity, few Warreners truly know or follow every rule in the Codex. More often, Warreners use lines from the Codex to defend what- ever action they’ve already taken. Opposing parties will pull out long forgotten edicts and badly worded rules to gain the upper-hand in a negotiation or disagreement. In a sense, it’s a form of intellectual duel. Warreners especially like using the Codex as an excuse for their behaviors when operating outside of their own culture."I’m sorry, friend, but you can’t blame me. The Codex says..."

WARRENER TRAITS
Languages Common (Warrener) (L), Additional language of your choice (L)
Specializations Cheebatan Codex, Trade
Equipment A Warrener outfit, a vial of perfume, a coin light and 15sp
Wealth Die d8

Wastelander
Wastelanders seek to restore their homeland. They recognize that there is no way to achieve this by mortal means, so they are searching for a lost spell from the Age of Magic called the Aasyrssa. To find this spell, the Wastelanders send out synaasyr, meaning "seekers" to find it. Each year, the most talented and resilient among their people are trained, outfit- ted, and sent forth into the world in the hope that the spell can be found and their land returned to its former state.
Manner
Wastelanders are passionate people who follow the pull of their hearts. They are gentle and kind, but when brought to anger, they exhibit a violent fury as powerful as a sandstorm. They trust instinct over logic and have a strong respect for nature. Wastelanders value peace, solitude, and natural beauty, and often take long walks alone in the wilderness. The deeply emotional nature of Wastelanders is part of what makes them unparalleled artists. Their creations are some of the finest in all the lands.
Appearance
Wastelander dress is loose fitting and made from light colors that reflect the desert heat. Their tunics have large hoods that protect their faces and heads from both wind and sun. Elaborately wrapped linen bindings protect the legs, lower torso, and feet. There is no differentiation between male clothing and female clothing. In formal settings, Wasteland- ers wear clothing decorated with intricate embroidery. They also attach bits of reflective, colored glass to their formal clothing. The amount of glass is a sign of status, and the highest-ranking Wastelanders jingle as they walk. Scythaan Wastelanders will often tattoo mosaic-like patterns into their skin.
Language and Literacy
The Scythaan language makes use of clicks, hisses, and other vocalizations unique to the scythaas’ anatomy. It is nearly impossible for a non-scythaa to learn to properly speak the language. Gesticulation, including the use of the tail, are an important part of the language, and are necessary to properly convey meaning. These motions are so important, that used without speech, they are an effective, if simple, sign language.

Very few Wastelanders learn to read. Their nomadic life- style doesn’t lend itself to the transport of books and scrolls, making reading and writing of limited to use in day-to-day life. Wastelander scholars, however, do learn to read and write and are highly respected. In particular, they are oftencalled upon to interpret writing found in and on the ruins of the ancient Scythaan cities lying just beneath the sands of the Wastes.
Art and Music
Wastelanders produce exquisite blown glass objects. Some items are functional, others are decorative, but all are works of incredible beauty. They are also excellent gold and silver smiths, working the precious metals into jewelry of the finest grade.

When it comes to music, Wastelanders prefer percussion instruments but play wind instruments as well. The combination of hide drums, bone xylophones, and the haunting drone of sandpipes, creates music unlike anything in the Amethyst Sea basin.
Food and Drink
Wastelanders are honor bound to prepare elaborate multi- course meals of roast mutton, rare nuts, exotic dried fruits, and other desert delicacies for visitors, but their normal meals are quite plain. On special occasions, wild game is thrown on the fire and roasted whole as a supplement to the Wastelander’s usual diet.
Homes
Wastelanders live in square tents designed to go up or down at a moment’s notice. The tents have no furnishings, although carpets and cushions abound. Decorative glassware is brought out only for guests and special occasions.
Virtues
Wastelanders are an honorable people who always hold to their word once given. They are also deeply devoted to their tribe and will sacrifice anything if the tribe is in need. Wastelanders believe that the truth is important, and they are cautious to avoid lies in any form—whether overt or implied.
Vices
Wastelanders hold others to the same high standards of honor that they hold themselves, and they react poorly to attacks on their honor. Violence can rage between tribes for decades over seemingly minor infractions of honor. Questioning a Wastelander’s ability to protect his or her tribe is the gravest offense and is always resolved by ritual combat.
Values
Not surprisingly, Wastelanders hold great respect for people of honor and those that keep their word. They also place exceptional value on freedom. This even extends to the animals that serve them. The only time they will tie up or restrain an animal is if it is necessary to keep the creature safe. Wastelanders value their privacy as well. Although honesty is a virtue in the culture, they believe truth is something given, not owed. Silence is an acceptable answer to any question.
Aversions
Wastelanders are aggressively opposed to the practice of slavery. They deal with slavers violently and without mercy and see those who partake in slavery in any fashion as the basest of individuals. They also react harshly to invasions of their privacy.
Rights and Responsibilities
Every Wastelander has a right to keep their truth. Coercing, demanding, or otherwise pushing a person to reveal something is considered unacceptable behavior. Wastelanders may also call upon a right of food, shelter and water from any other person or tribe for one night. Even an enemy may ask this of their opponent, although this may be denied if fulfilling this duty would endanger the tribe.

Wastelanders have a duty to protect their tribe. This might come in the form of physical protection by fighting off violent threats to their people. This responsibility might also take the form of material care, in the form of food, water, coin, or medicine. One must never place oneself or one’s own needs ahead of the good of the tribe.
Customs
Birth Wastelander births require an elaborate naming ceremony whereby the spirit of the child is contacted to deter- mine its true name.



Majority When a child reaches majority, the entire tribe joins them in a ritual where they are presented a ceremonial dagger. This blade remains with them their entire life and is only used to resolve matters of honor.
Marriage In Wastelander marriages, the parents take one quarter of everything they own and give it to the wedded couple. Not surprisingly, marriage order—and thus birth order—becomes very important in traditional Wastelander families.
Death The bodies of deceased Wastelanders are interred in caves. Whenever the family passes the cave, they stop and leave offerings of food and water in case the spirit hasn’t reached Numos yet.
Names
Each Wastelander has three names. The first is their personal name, given at hatching (or at birth in the case of non-scythaa). The last is the family name.

The middle name is the most important, the spirit name. Wastelanders believe when an egg is laid (or while a person is gestating in its mother’s womb), it is without a spirit. Only as the body inside develops is a spirit drawn into it. This may be a new spirit, but it is more likely a spirit that lived before and is returning to this world. Wastelanders believe every spirit has a true name. The true name is the name of the spirit itself, as opposed to names it is known by during its physical life.

A tribal mystic examines either the egg shortly before it hatches or the mother while she is in labor, and performs a complex ceremony to determine the true name of the spirit that has inhabited the body inside. This becomes the spirit name of the Wastelander. This name is used only in religious and mystic ceremonies and is seldom known by anyone other than the Wastelander’s immediate family and closest friends.
Male/Female Given Names Synish, Singh, Estok, Ozzard, Onynsish, Sliysse, Unsal, Nijar, Yysnag, Desh
Family Names Dyynyshya, Eyenessya, Nystinya, Ssysstyanir, Tyesskynya
Spirit Names Dyna, Cessa, Ohna, Tyanso, Ussa
Religion
Wastelanders worship Grethken and Vale by presenting them with offerings of food. These are left at the highest point in the area and prayers are intoned over the offering.
Magic
Magic is uncommon among Wastelanders, so spellcasters are respected for both their power and wisdom. Enchanted items are rare and greatly valued.
Adventurers
Most of the Wastelander adventurers one is likely to en- counter are synaasyr, the individuals charged with searching for the spell that will heal the Wastelands. The nomadic nature of Wastelander life, however, leads many to adopt unorthodox professions. The transition from nomad to wandering adventurer is a natural one, even if the Wastelander doesn’t have some larger overarching goal.
Unusual Customs, Traditions, and Taboos
Wastelanders refuse to eat the meat of the keeska, a large, reptilian beast they use for transport and as pack animals. Tradition has it the keeska were the pets of Vale, and after Endroren turned the scythaan homeland into the Wastes, Vale gave the keeska to the Wastelanders to aid them.

WASTELANDER TRAITS
Languages Scythaan (Sand)
Specializations Desert environment
Equipment A Wastelander outfit, a ceremonial dagger, and three small gems worth 5 sp each
Wealth Die d4