Northern Kentier

As the Kentier began to spread across the western regions of Egera, eventually they were bound to venture beyond their native plain lands. A minority of the species took root in the forests and mountainous foothills of the north, and their culture, while similar to their southern cousins, has been shaped by the different environment. Where traditionally kentier life revolves around the cycle of planting and harvesting, the northern lands are not easily farmed. Fruiting trees and mushrooms are the staple crops of the region, and the people still rely on foraging for a portion of their diet. If anything, the northern kentier are even more beholden to the changing of season than their southern brethren, so their lifestyle is focused on the cycle of seasons rather than harvest.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

In the north the kentier speak a dialect of their species' native tongue. Some claim this dialect is closest to the original kentier language, because it has seen little to no influence from other languages.

Culture and cultural heritage

When the tribes that now make up the northern kentier first migrated into forested lands, they attempted to live the same way their people always had. They had brought with them seeds and cuttings to begin new farms, but found the rocky ground unforgiving to all but the hardiest of crops. During the first hard winter in their new home, some fled back to the south when conditions became too hard. But a determined few remained, perhaps relishing the challenge or perhaps merely too stubborn to give up; whatever it is that drives people to settle in new lands. They adapted to their new environment, learning what could be farmed between the trees, foraging what could not, and finding new ways to build and live. Today, the northern Kentier are familiar and comfortable with their environment, but they remember the challenges that their ancestors faced when coming here and honor their hard work.

Common Dress code

Clothing styles have adapted to the cooler climate of the north. In the south it is uncommon to see a kentier clothed from the waist up in their own lands except in the dead of winter. In the north the opposite may be said. Colder temperatures require more layers, and styles tend to be closer fitting for better movement through difficult terrain.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The northern Kentier brought with them the traditions of their southern kinsfolk, but because Kentier culture is closely tied to the land, some aspects have been adapted to suit their different environment. The northern Kentier year revolves around the changing of the seasons rather than the harvest, although the two are closely related. Some tribes are semi-nomadic, living at high altitudes during the summer and descending into the foothills at autumn to avoid the winter snows. For these, festivals and ceremonies revolve around this yearly migration.

Common Taboos

All Kentier value hospitality and community, but for the northern tribes this can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. For them, it is considered taboo not to offer hospitality to travelers or people in need, particularly in the colder months of the year. While this primarily applies to their own species, it also extends to others, though they are notably a little more discerning with outsiders.