Mountain Nation

Land:

• Climate– Cold and snowy, almost always cloudy; Raging blizzards in winter, wet summers 
• Landforms– Almost entirely mountains, valleys too narrow to live in, so serve as trade routes instead; Flat ground is virtually unheard of; surrounded by boreal forests 
• Flora– Coniferous trees, snowberries 
• Fauna– Hares, Goats, Snow leopards, Grouse, Deer, Elk, Moose, Wolves 

People:

There are two main peoples that occupy this region, detailed as follows:

• Native people:
• Inspiration– Scandinavia and Inuit
• Skin tone ranges from pale to light brown, with cool undertones
• Eyes tend to be black, brown or blue, usually monolids or almonds
• Hair is black, brown, or blond, and very thick, with textures ranging from 1b to 2b. It's usually grown long, worn in elaborate braided styles or mattlocs. Full beards are popular with men.
• Build is typically tall and stout, with lots of muscle and fat; think Viking build
• Clothing is made from pale leather or furs for warmth and camouflage in the freezing environment. Skilled blacksmiths provide high quality metal armor for warriors, worn between layers of heavy furs. Thick leather armors are also common.
• Desert migrants:
• Inspiration– North Africa and Native North America
• Skin tone ranges from medium brown to deep ebony, with neutral undertones. Albinism and vitiligo are both extremely common, making up about 15% of the population
• Eyes tend to be brown or black, or blue in those with albinism
• Hair is usually dark and very fine, with textures ranging from 2c to 4c; grown long and thick for warmth, usually worn in protective styles such as braids or locs, often decorated with beads made from rock or bone. Full beards are popular with men.
  Build is typically tall and heavy, with high body fat
• Clothing is made from pale leather or furs for warmth and camouflage in the freezing environment. Colorful beaded robes are worn for underground festivals, where the camouflage is unnecessary. Skilled blacksmiths provide high quality metal armor for warriors, worn between layers of heavy furs. Thick leather armors are also common.
• Jewelry is usually made from metal or gems mined from the mountains, though they'll accent with whatever they can find: feathers, beads, dried flowers, ribbons, etc.

*Since Albino individuals have little to no melanin, they can better absorb UV rays and therefore don't need Sundew , which darker individuals use as a Vitamin D supplement. This advantage often gives albinos a higher social standing, not to mention plenty of surplus money. The same principle applies to those with vitiligo, albeit on a lesser scale. Their pale coloration also helps them blend into the snow, making them excellent hunters. Because of these advantages, time has vastly increased the frequency of these conditions, so much that they now account for about 15% of the region's population. Many believe that the gods have influenced their genetics, allowing the number of albino people in their population to grow much faster than it would have solely through natural selection. Some see this change as a blessing, allowing them to thrive in this new climate. Others see it as a curse, dooming them to never return to their homeland.

Society:

• Government– probably some kind of democracy, they're cool; albino people often end up in power due to their money and influence, though they're also less respected, as people recognize their biological advantage, so non-albino individuals still make up a decent portion of the government. (Perceptor suggested an oligarchy but I once again do not remember what that is).
• Economy– Major exports include metal, stone, gems, oil, timber, leather, and furs, while major imports include produce, dyes, medicine, and sundew. Goods are transported by sled across the steep mountain slopes or by caravan through underground tunnels. The most common occupations include miners, oil rig workers, hunters, traveling merchants, stone masons, metalworkers, woodworkers, and weavers. Upper class citizens work as artists, dancers, or musicians.
• Settlements– Many buildings are carved directly out of the rock, or are constructed from large stone blocks. Poorer residents live in naturally formed caves or even igloos. Royalty always gets the flat land at the peaks; most buildings are set on the steep slopes of mountains, connected by tunnels within the rock; it's possible to cross entire cities without ever stepping foot outside 

Culture–

• The migrant group are a joyful, artistic people and frequently hold concerts in large caverns inside the mountains. Artists, musicians, and other creatives are highly respected. The only times the natives use their voices at all is when they sing in the caves, so the migrants followed in their footsteps. When they're outside, they have to blend in, but underground, everything is vibrant and colorful. The most culturally important time of the year is the annual summer festival, which lasts a full month and is very important for general morale. Chefs and entertainers spend all year preparing. The festival has a farmer's market setup, with artisans displaying wares, artists and musicians performing, and of course plenty of food. The festival begins on the summer solstice.

History:

• Migration

The migrant group is native to the Desert Nation , but they were forcefully relocated a few generations ago. With no military force, they were easily kicked out, and many never even made it to the mountains, picked off by large predators or harsh weather. They lost much of their culture in an effort to survive, as their boisterous lifestyle and colorful dress attracted the dangerous creatures of the mountains. The native people taught them their ways of camouflage and nonverbal communication, and over time, the cultures mixed.