Raech-Born

Technlogy and Culture

Technology and the sheer ability it allows for faster and safer travel over greater distances is having an affect on Raech-Born values and the cultural structure of their, comparatively, still very feudalistic-like society. This is having some impact on how younger generations behave and view the world, seeing a departure from seeing their immediate neighbours and communities as people they have to get along with and make work those relationships. With more mobility comes more freedom of choice. Particularly the introduction and massive success of rail travel across the continent of Durol, and the interconnectivity it has allowed not just in the three nations themselves, but across the entire continent, has seen the starting of a notable cultural shifting in the country of Raechin amongst younger generations.

Common Etiquette

The Raech-Born are a people for whom family and community were everything. For a long time that was a defining part of their culture and it still is to this day, even as the lines to define what that looks like change with the times. Though they possess language for manners, they hold similar views to the Suranthi in regards to gratitude and friendship, putting far greater weight on deeds over words. However even as the definition of community and how narrow that field used to be begins to change, even abroad those whom are Raech-Born embody the values they were born and raised with. No where is this more obvious and evident than any large scale community or family meal. The clear structure and unspoken rules, such as no seconds before everyone has eaten their firsts, is obvious in how they behave.

Beyond this however is a cultural of teamwork. Of unity and community. Those whom are Raech-Born genuinely will oft volunteer to help with tasks around their community, with no immediate expectation of anything in return. This behavior, as one might imagine, has come with some hard cultural lessons for Raech-Born living far flung and abroad in places like Waston, Valewyr, or Mora. Places where that kindly nature is oft at first taken advantage of until the individual becomes more savvy to the situation.

On the other side of this however, it is nearly unheard of for someone Raech-born, if raised amongst their homeland and culture, and physically able, to be ill practiced with arms of some kind. From a very young age they are taught to handle basic weapons as tools, things like hatchets, bows, crossbows, and knives. They are taught these things in a survivalist and hunter's sense, and taught a deep respect for these tools and their purpose, lessons that in more modern times are beginning to be applied to firearms as well. Wrestling and fist-fighting are favorite pass-times amongst the highland peoples of the Koltani and have also bled into the wider culture of Raechin, and so generally even if not a true brawler or trained fist-fighter, anyone who is Raech-Born is far from uncomfortable with a back alley scrap or bar-room brawl.

Cultural Garb

Cultural garb amongst the people of Raechin is primarily focused on hardy, well made garments, clothing, armor and gear that will hold up to tough terrain and tough work. Quality tailoring, stitch-work, and craftsmanship are heavily valued amongst the Raech-Born, and it is not uncommon for them to have garments they've invested time and effort into fixing and maintaining over and over again. This is a feature of that respect of craftsmanship, for they would rather get the most out of quality garments instead of disposing of them.

The Raech-born are a people of colorful personality, and that extends to their garments as well, with many colors appearing in regular day to day dress. The Highlands are home to a startling variety of flowering plants with a wide range of colors, their petals used to make a wonderful variety of dyes for clothing. Soft reds, sharper oranges, lighter greens and blues being some of the most common.

Raechin has harsh winters not unlike those that Suranth suffers for temperature, though with more ice storms, and has heavy snowfall, though not as heavy as Depenwood. The length of the winter season is more akin to that of Depenwood than Suranth however. The summers are notably cooler, likely due to elevation, not unlike those of the tundra, though notably a month or so longer. All this plays out to see a preference for heavier garments, often of wools or other heavier fabrics.

Arts and Architecture

I would humbly describe the normal approach to architectural endeavors across Raechin as 'rustic' in nature given my own background, coming from Susma, specifically Tiate. The city of monuments is, to be fair however, not a standard any other locale or culture should be held to. There is a charm to the rustic, homely style. Solidly built timber homesteads with brick work fireplaces and chimneys, larger structures with simple stone blockwork foundations and built from hefty old wood growth lumber framework. What I will note however is the skill of the construction. Rustic though it may be, in larger settlements many are the structures that pass down through families for generations, or places of community or business equally aged, yet solid and unyielding in their construction. Though repairs and maintenance are obviously necessary as they are in any infrastructure, there is an impressive hardiness to the work around Raechin.

On the side of the arts, music and the visual arts hold a high place in Raechin society. Ballads, jigs, work songs, music has a strong place in the culture here. Simple tempo worker tunes are commonplace, not unlike shanties used by sailors, used to help keep time in coordinated tasks by work crews. They are a boisterous people and the love of music seems almost part of the identity. On the side of visual arts, most every discipline is practiced heavily. Painting, stitch-work, sketching these are very common hobbies and pass-times amongst those of Raechin.