Chan Trading Co. -post convergance (Ch-an)

Interior Chan has retained much of the original cultural undertones of the original Cha people. The first people of Cha were the gnomes and halflings, they established a home on the continent as a sanctuary from the larger races who often overlooked them or found them easy to prey on. The district of Karkolohk (kar-ko-loh-k) is the historical location of these first settlements and much of their original culture has been preserved, it also serves as the seat of the Governors of the Court of Directors. Many of the more westwardly departments also keep to the older traditions. Within the interior gnomish is the predominate language though common is wide spread as well. Those who live here often mix in gnomish words even when speaking common, making for an interesting mixed dialect.   Buildings in the interior tends to be smaller and at least in the towns and villages built in to the ground, often a town will be mistaken for a cluster of smaller hills. The Cities are a bit more varied in size and construction but many buildings still feature underground sections. Wood and river stone are popular building materials and even the underground spaces are fully furnished and built out. Furniture tends to be light and easy to move with a focus on comfort and craftmanship. Many pillows and soft places to sit are common and a piece of chan-ite craft will last a life time.   In these areas the most important things are family, innovation, education and joyful living. part of the reason Chan has so many noble families is because of the importance placed on family ties and loyalty, without ones family all the riches in the world mean nothing. Innovation is highly prized, as a small people often overlooked by a world that has become geared to the larger races the small folk have had to come up with ways to adapt and be notices or alternatively to disappear from sight. hand in hand with innovation is education, Gnomes are taught from a young age that the truest joy is that of discovery and learning the truth of something. As such centers of learning are very popular places. The halflings made sure that the simple pleasure of a life well lived and seeped in joyful pursuits was integrated in to the way of life in early Cha. While there is still plenty of wheeling and dealing that goes on and keeping the great gears of their trading empire moving are still integral parts of day to day life they are not the end all be all as many outsiders would presume. Handicrafts, arts and food are prized and the more variety one has in either the better.   Within the interior fashion varies broadly with personal taste and a lesser extent profession, Overall earthy colors and sturdy fabrics are preferred and shoes are entirely optional and when worn tend more towards sandals or sturdy boots. Aprons featuring many pockets are a very common accessory, even being worn over the finer clothing of the nobility. Emblems of ones house can be worn when visiting other departments but with in ones hometown are rarely needed. it is not uncommon for people to work in some sign of their trade in to their outfit either as an accessory or a design. if a person has managed to produce something truly innovative they are bound to have something on their person to commemorate their invention.   The upper class tends to have a finer version of the usual day to day clothes. They tend to have nicer fabrics and more varied clothing. Special cloth woven with magic infused fibers is especially prized. The type of infusion can vary from practical to purely cosmetic and the latest trend is large hoop skirts that can depict moving scenes usually chosen from the wearers favorite books, plays or songs. Another trend is clothing that can change to suit the situation. Caught in the rain by surprise? Never fear this over coat can be transformed in to an umbrella!

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