Thalassanos

The Thalassan language family encompasses a number of major language groups and numerous regional variations. In most cases, these variations are the result of intermingling with the other major language families of Leorem, although there has also been some independent evolution of the language across the course of the New Era.

The Thalassanos are the great wanderers of the world. Wayists attribute this tendency towards wanderlust to the fact that, according to their beliefs, the Thalassanos travelled further than any other people in the company of their god, Ngai, before they came to the place where they were ultimately instructed by their god to settle and begin building their civilisation.

The Thalassanos incorporate their love of both trade and exploration into their arts. Celebrated works of Thalassan art frequently depict rare natural wonders such as the towering trunks of the unnaturally swiftly growing Psilodasos Forest, or the mighty peaks of the Oreinos Mountains.    Some scholars suggest that Thalassan heraldry is also influenced by their exploratory outlook. Most crests use a circle as their base, representing the endless journey. More practically minded individuals will point out that a round shield is far more versatile and more easily stored than other shapes such as the great tower shields of the Toutatrikos or the kite shields commonly carried by the Maronites.

As travelers and traders first and foremost, traditional Thalassan cuisine revolves primarily around food that can be kept or found while on the move such as meat and milk from grazing animals, fish from rivers and seas, seawed and other coastal plants, fruits that can be dried or candied and nuts.    In addition to their own traditional dishes, the Thalassanos have made a habit of importing cuisine from the rest of the world and making it their own. This often involves drying or salt-curing imported meats to preserve them for long-distance travel. Similarly they often pickle fruits and vegetables.

At birth, infants of both genders are typically blessed by a cleric of the appropriate religion. Scholars agree that the most traditional form of this blessing is likely the one that is usually carried out by Praevians of Ngai. This blessing often includes anointing the feet of the new-born with salt water or grit-dust to grant them a connection to the world around them and good fortune in their journey through life.   Family and friends will often send gifts to the new parents to help them with the cost of keeping the child. This tradition is observed by Thalassanos of all faiths, except for those who adhere to the beliefs of

Travelling is central to the culture of the Thalassanos and this is reflected in their coming of age rituals, which generally entail a young man engaging in his first long distance journey. For some youths, this will be a voyage on a trading ship, while others travel overland with a caravan of merchants. For the more exploratory Thalassanos, a journey into a region that has not been fully explored yet, or at least one that has not been mapped in a generation, is also a common practice.   For girls, coming of age is a less dangerous affair, although their trials are no less challenging in the mental and spiritual sense. Not only must a girl provide evidence of her readiness to bear children before she can be considered a woman, she is also expected to demonstrate her good grasp of all the diverse areas of expertise needed to run and maintain a home. This generally culminates in her learning fighting skills so that she may defend her home in the absence of her husband or father. A common final test that serves as a 'coming-out' for many girls is participation in some form of competitive fighting tournament. The common theme of these rites of passage is the expectation that the youth be prepared to take up one of two roles: the travelling breadwinner or the sedentary homemaker. These roles are the cornerstones of Thalassan life.

As with most peoples on Leoram, cremation is the most common method of funeral as this is the only way to prevent a corpse from being reanimated into an Undead. In order to help the soul find its way to the afterlife, the Thalassanos typically burn a map with each of their dead. The map is   For those Thalassanos who spend their lives at sea, being laid to rest in a boat that is then allowed to drift out to sea and then set ablaze from a distance is a common practice. This practice is also common in settlements that are located near to rivers. Traditionally, the boat is also loaded with a small smattering of gifts and trinkets taken from the personal wealth of the    For more land-bound Thalassanos, a funeral pyre by the side of the main path leading to and from a settlement is traditional. The ashes of the pyre are then scattered across the road if it is paved, or buried into it if it is not.

For explorers and traders, the exotic and the rare are prizes beyond measure. Gemstones of unusual size, colour or clarity, unique artworks that break away from established conventions, rare metals such as gold and silver; these are the things that are highly prized in Thalassan circles.

For men, the ideal life is one of travel and the enrichment that journeys bring. Among the commonfolk this is most frequently expressed through the journey from their farm to the nearest market. Among the wealthier nobles, more extensive travels for discovery or trading are commonplace endeavours.

Although there are many variations on the courtship process across the various Thalassanos communities, there are two major rituals that are common to all: the Paratiri Paroisia or Tidewatching and the Asterenonei or Binding of the Stars.   The former is a simple ritual that is normally undertaken at a courtship's outset. In its original form, the ritual would see a prospective couple soend an evening sitting together on the seashore to watch the sunset with chaperones from both families nearby but staying at a respectful distance. As well as giving a chance for the prospective husband and wife to be introduced, careful note was made of any unexpected happenings in the local water, which would then be interpreted as signs about the future of the relationship. For example fish and other edible plants and animals being washed ashore would be taken as a sign of a prosperous future for the relationship while wreckage of a ship washing up on shore would be taken as a sign of future disaster. Both the feelings of the propsective couple and the omens gathered during the evening are taken into consideration as it is determined whether the relationship will go ahead, although the weight of other considerations, usually of a diplomatic nature, will sometimes outweigh even the worst of disagreements or omens. For those who live inland, the Paratiri Paroisia still takes place, but in a way that is adapted for the locality. Often this means sitting on a hill, near a river or other or by some other local landmark where the sky or surrounding area can be observed for omens.   The Asterenonei is a ritual that is typically undertaken partway through a courtship, but before any lasting commitments have been made. This is often viewed as the last opportunity for couples to dissolve their relationship. The propsective partners take a journey together, typically a short one with a simple purpose, such as foraging together in nearby woodlands, fishing together on a nearby river or lake, or merely travelling to a neighbouring village to purchase supplies.

Lasting bonds are considered ideal by the Thalassanos, whether this comes in the form of lifelong friends or marriage at a young age. Dissolution of a relationship is frowned upon unless there is just cause to do so, and even then it is expected that attempts at compromise and reconciliation will be made. Distance is considered no object in maintaining these relationships, and so most Thalassanos are faithful correspondents and willing messengers.