Zhari

The Zhari people are long descended from the old Dwarrin who originally fought in the Necromantic War. Because much of their history is frozen over and forgotten, they grew from the ashes and split paths from their Scandian cousins further north. The unforgiving cold of winter has only strengthened the Zhari resolve and they rely on it against invaders. Today, the Zhari are thriving people who have a strong sense of community. You will never be in a more hospitable place than a Zhari home.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Agata, Akilina, Aksinya, Albina, Aleksandra, Alisa, Anushka, Boleslava, Darya, Esfir, Feodora, Galina, Galya, Ira, Irinushka, Isidora, Karina, Katenka, Katya, Katyushka, Kira, Klava, Kseniya, Lidiya, Liouba, Lizaveta, Ludmila, Lyuba, Lyubov, Mariya, Masha, Matrona, Milana, Miroslava, Motya, Nadya, Natalya, Nina, Oksana, Olya, Petya, Praskovya, Roksana, Sanya, Stasya, Svetlana, Tanya, Tatyana, Uliana, Valentina, Varya, Vasilisa, Vaska, Vera, Verochka, Vitaliya, Yana, Yelena, Yuliana, Zina, Zinaida, Zoya

Masculine names

Akim, Aleks, Aleksandr, Aleksei, Anatoli, Andrei, Arseni, Artyom, Boleslav, Borislav, Demyan, Dmitri, Feodore, Fyodor, Georgy, Kolya, Konstantin, Kuzma, Lazar, Leonid, Makar, Mikhail, Oleg, Pasha, Patva, Pavel, Petya, Pyotr, Rostislav, Sergei, Slava, Stepan, Timur, Vadimir, Valentin, Varlam, Vasili, Vasya, Victor, Vitali, Vlad, Vladilen, Vlas, Volodya, Yakim, Yakov, Yasha, Zakhar

Unisex names

Motya, Nika, Sanya, Sasha, Zhenya

Family names

Aleksandrov, Alekseev, Antonov, Bogdanov, Borisov, Chaykovsky, Fedorov, Filippov, Ignatov, Ivanov, Kozlov, Krupin, Kuznetsov, Lagunov, Markov, Matveev, Medved, Mikhailov, Orlov, Pasternak, Pavlov, Pavlovsky, Petrov, Popov, Romanov, Sobol, Sokolov, Utkin, Vasilev, Viktorov, Volkov, Voronin, Yakovlev, Zima

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Because they are descended from the long dead Dwarrin people, the Zhari share the Dwarrin language with the Scandians even further north.

Average technological level

Compared to the Colonials in Europa, the Zhari have only been recently introduced to the Enlightenment and line formations and tactics. Generally, they prefer to use bayonet and cavalry charges to solve disputes.

Common Dress code

The Zhari believe it is very important to dress appropriately for the season. If you find yourself scrutinized by a Zhari for your outfit, it is only out of care for your wellbeing than fashion sense. Usually doing the colder months of late Autumn and Winter, they like to bundle in all sorts of furs to stay warm. During the warmer periods, that is when they wear much more colorful and brighter clothing.

Art & Architecture

Many Zhari buildings have triangular or spherical rooftops so snow doesn't pile on top. The weight of snow tended to cause collapses into a yurt. As time progressed and building designs could withstand snow, the Zhari kept the design as a signature style.

Funerary and Memorial customs

When a Zhari dies, their remains are paraded around the regions they impacted most. For example, if a well-beloved Tsar dies, their remains are escorted throughout the land so that the commoners can pay their respects.

Common Taboos

Magic can be a very taboo matter in Zhari culture. Being superstitious at times, they tend to believe that magic usage is dangerous and could lead to unsavory consequences. Arcane magic especially shocks even the hardiest Babushka or Dedushka of a village.

Common Myths and Legends

The Motherland Lives

Many Zhari like to believe that the Motherland lives. In their past when old enemies contested against the Tsardom, winter would always come early or keep crawling in the late spring. Usually caught unprepared or wilted by attrition, the Zhari's foes would easily be pushed back and a swift victory is obtained by the Zhari. Other times when war gets sour, the winter would slow their enemies and give enough time for the Zhari to recuperate from their losses and regain their composure.
So if you find yourself invading the Tsardom and winter comes early in Autumn, it could be the Motherland defending her people.

Historical figures

Pasha the Wise

Pasha the Wise was an extraordinary man who led the first expedition to found the first Zhari settlement.

Ideals

Relationship Ideals

After surviving centuries of harsh winters, the Zhari believe that family and community is essential. Therefore, if anyone threatens just the slightest member, the whole community is under pressure. That is why when you make friends with a family in Zharitov, you make friends with entire Motherland.

Related Organizations

• Tsardom of Zharitov

Related Locations

• Stravingrad, Zharitov

Zhari

Ability Score Increase +2 Constitution, +1 Wisdom

Size Medium

Speed 25 ft.

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Darkvision. Because your ancestors were accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Zhari Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.
Zhari Combat Training. You have proficiency with the battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and warhammer.
Stonecunning. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Zhari Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.

Languages. Common, Dwarrin