Ískalni

"The Ískalni of today get many of their customs from the Vokans. They mix their own traditions with that of the Vokans to create something new."

— Book

  The Ískalni are the polar people native to the east of the Known World. They are not one entity, but a collection of different ethnic groups that live in the region. As their customs are so similar, it is not uncommon for people to refer to the Ískalni, rather than their individual groups.
  The Ískalni people formed during the Age of Triumph, when the Vokans conquered the north of The Mainland. To preserve their culture, the eastern tribes of the Rutkolna came together as one group. However, many of the old Ískalni customs were soon lost to time, since many had to assimilate in Vokan culture. This worsened when the Ice Age came, which destroyed a lot of records and reduced the Ískalni population.
 

Ethnic Groups

Most Ískalni groups can be found in Taqairo or Dathela, but some groups live in northern Brigadia. There are about eight recognised ethnic groups in the eastern parts of the Known World. However, there could be more ethnic groups that are not recognised by the United Government.
 
 

Naming Conventions

Surnames

Many Ískalni surnames have been lost to time after some groups assimilated into nearby cultures like the Vokans. They adopted traditionally Vokan surnames or names from the south if they didn't want a Vokan name.
  After the Vokan Empire fell, many switched back to their ancestral names. Others kept their new names, as they had long forgotten their own family names. Most people alive today probably have foreign surnames, rather than Iskalni surnames.
 

First Names

When naming a child, parents take a few days or weeks to actually name them. Children are usually named after an aspect of nature that fits their personality, or that they take a liking to. Because of the way Dathels is, names are often joined together to create new meanings. Common combinations would be verb-noun names, or adjective-noun names.
  However, to the United Government, this means that a child remains nameless for a few weeks. So they mandated that every Ískalni parent has to name their child from a list of names to ensure they are registered properly. This leads to Ískalni having two first names - one that is their government name, and the other that is their actual name.
 

Clothing

Ískalni wear heavily-insulated clothing, which keeps them warm throughout harsh winters. The most recognisable piece of their clothing is the parka, a long hooded coat made from animal furs. The Ískalni parka often reaches the shins or the feet, and have slitted sides for ease of walking. Male parkas tend to have slits at the front and back, while female parkas tend to have slits at the sides.
  The most commonly furs are bear furs, as they are quite common in the Rutkolna. Different furs are sewn together to make certain patterns on the parka. Ískalni patterns are soft in comparison to the harsher and sharper patterns of the Vokans. Many Ískalni parkas incorporate the six elements in their clothing, but most parkas use wind currents and snow or ice patterns.
  Apart from the parka, Ískalni wear thick trousers, mittens and furry snow boots. As the Ískalni live near the Rutkolna, they often use animal hides in their clothing.
 

Pathways

"The right path is the one you are willing to follow until the very end."

— Pathway Guide

  When an Ískalni turns 16, they can choose a pathway to follow for the rest of their lives. This is an important moment celebrated with a ceremony. For most people, their decision is final, and they do not change it afterwards. Each path has a role to play in many Ískalni cultures, and so choosing a path is seen as joining the community for the first time in an active role.
  The main pathways are in agriculture, fishing, hunting and teaching. Many Taqairan tribes offer additional pathways like machining, smithing or joining the Outriders. Some tribes also allow people to follow their own ways, like navigation or adventuring.
  Sometimes, people do not like the pathway they chose, and they change course. There is no formal ceremony or announcement for this, partly because it is still frowned upon in some cultures. Changing paths is personal, and is mainly to ensure they are still living in a way that aligns with their values and lives.