Suranthi

Common Etiquette

The Suranthi are a people not known to stand on ceremony. They are a hard-nosed bunch, preferring open and brutal honesty over flowery words and politeness for its own sake. 'Wasted words' you'll oft hear such flowery southern speech described as. They are a hard people whom know that every second has inexplicable and immeasurable value, for they live in a harsh land that will do all in its power to remind those whom live how valuable and precious that time is. Many from other nations will find it remarkably difficult to adapt to their demeanor and behavior, for what most construe as rudeness or being short with someone, the Suranthi see as the apex of good manners, for they seek to be swift, to the point, and not take up more of your time than is absolutely necessary. Manners as one might imagine them are not a thing in Suranthi culture, words like 'please' or 'thank you' do not see much use, indeed they do not even exist in the Dwarven tongue at all.

They believe gratitude is shown, not spoken. Actions and deeds, not words. Paying on time, paying in full, is seen as the apex of good etiquette. Haggling as most from other southern nations would think of it is considered offensive in the highest degree. This is not to say you cannot negotiate, but you do so not to lower a price, but to lower the amount of raw coin an exchange will include, replacing some of it with other objects or offering services of some manner in exchange.

In dining too, there are customs. It is considered completely improper and offensive at a meal, to take your food before children or women. Generally the order is children first, women second, then guests and then everyone else. If you are a guest, you are expected to share news, or stories and tales in return for your meal in most Suranthi households. Despite their distaste for wasting time and wasted words, they are avid story-tellers and a strong bardic culture exists within the Suranthi peoples, for the preservation of legends, history and the tales of those whom came before, ancestors, is culturally significant and of great importance.

Common Cultural Garb

Among the Suranthi, there is a styling if you will, a standard in clothing. Layered and warm, often utilizing whale or seal skin on an inner layer to help seal against the cold. One will not find much in the way of silks or cottons this far north, except among the very wealthy, and even then, for practical reasons these are rarely seen outside heated structures. Animal hides, dyed and tanned, certain kelps and seaweeds also are harvest to create different fabrics. Various tundra plants, along with fish scales, certain minerals and other materials can be used to create dyes of a wide variety. Living and traveling amongst the Tundra Realms as they do, whenever traveling, even if but a day trip, it is pretty standard practice to insure one has a full change of clothing they are carrying and keeping dry. This is because wet clothes are death in the bitter cold of the tundra, so it is precautionary for yourself or in case you come upon someone in need.

Culturally though, there is a taste for earth and stone colors, with blues and deeper, darker greens as well. Less favored are bright standout colors like reds, oranges, yellows and their like.

Arts and Architecture

The Suranthi are a hands on people, artisans and craftsfolk. Though they approach things in a utilitarian, with a focus on functionality over form, this is not to say there is not beauty or variety to their architecture and artworks. The harsh landscape inspires a great many painters of reknown, and many beautiful works come from artists local to the Tundra Realms. Stories, legends, poetry and song all are practiced and a deep root of culture amongst the Suranthi.

In architecture, their is a focus on imposing and practical design, every building a 'fort' in its own right. Stone architecture, solid and thick walls. Practical and effective designs meant to be quite defensible. Cities and towns are very delibrately built carefully, with great effort being put in to insure that, though their may be exceptions, such is the nature of settlement growth, by and large the shortest buildings and structures are closest to the walls, and they get taller the closer you get to the town or city center. This is meant as a defensive feature, especially in towns or villages, as bestial and greenskin raids are not uncommon. It allows the loss of the outer perimeter of a settlement while giving next to no ground to establish a secondary line of defense. Basically the theory is to turn every street, every layer of any settlement into brutal building by building combat.

All this is not to say there is not a flourish or styling within Suranthi Acrchitecture. Like any skilled tradesfolk, those among the Suranthi like to take proper credit for their work, and hope to be remembered for it even after they are dead and gone. So maker's marks, little carvings or the like within the stone walls are by no means uncommon.

Finally there are the revered Rune-Forgers, those select few (relatively) dwarves whom have the skill and artistic talent to craft Rune-etched items, the most stable and safe form of magickal enhancements. Such items are almost all unique in their looks at least, and a display of one's artistic talents and prowess, each piece an art piece in and of itself.

Common Customs and Rituals

Like all on Valerick they celebrate the holidays of seasons and those of the faiths, the Ascended. However, one of particular importance among the Suranthi, is that of The Final March, the celebration of the New Year. Beyond this they also have a variety of their own unique customs and traditions, including those tied to birthdays and the birth of a child.

The birth of a child in specific has a unique tradition attached to it worth outlining, that of Sea, Snow and Stone. In Suranth, there is a belief the tundra itself is part of what makes the peoples here what they are. Newborns are seen as needing to be introduced to the land, and as such, the rites of Sea, Snow and Stone. Babes will be dunked in water, ideally the ocean but the rites and ritual are done in rivers and lakes where the ocean is simply too far away, and then sprinkled with a handful of tundra snow and ice. From there, swiftly the babe is wrapped in a new blanket, swaddled and placed on a small stone that has been well warmed by flame, and soothed to sleep once dry and warmed up. This brief introduction so young to the lands and waters of the Tundra Realms is believed to help insure strength, health and a long and hearty life.