Extinct Cultures

The Politeia- Residents of the Elven Empire, who lived in great shining mega cities powered by the captured gods of assimilated and conquered cultures. They have been split into the Cannibals, Vila, and Draykon.
Inspiration- Classical Greeks/Romans. Attitude toward other elves was similar to the Rauatai attitudes toward natives in Pillars of Eternity 2.
Dragon Cults- Elves who lived in the mountains in the time before the rise of the Elven Empire. They were shepherds whose lives revolved around migration and paying reverence to the Elder Dragons. The Empire assimilated them and enslaved their gods, extinguishing the dragon cults as an independent culture, though many practices from their time have resurfaced among the Draykon.
Fey Childer- Elves who lived among the forests and served the fey. Killed or incorporated into the City Elves as a result of military expansion.
Inspiration- Every sort of wood elf you've seen in normal D&D.
Mariners- City state traders sailing the inland sea. Killed or incorporated into the City Elves as a result of military expansion.
Inspiration- Carthage and the Phoenicians more generally.
Ermorians- Primarily human followers of the Death Emperor who who ruled central Hyarmenor for three hundred years. Known for their use of undead conscription and skeletal remains in decoration. Destroyed in the War of the Fairy Bride.
Inspiration- Rome and 40k
Nommon- Precursors to the modern day Highlanders. Capable of great astral magic drawing upon the stars.
Inspiration- Dogon religious cosmology.
The Hero Cults-Human communities on the northern continent ruled by immortal heroes. They were wiped out by an undead plague triggered by the First Gnosis. A very small number live as refugees in the south.
Inspiration- Classical Persia
The Ka Mi- Agricultural human society that once inhabited the Ta-Meri floodplain. All killed or driven into the Highlands and Bayou by elvish aggression.
Inspiration- Middle Kingdom Egypt
Khazad- Dwarves who lived in great mountain holds of the northern continent. Work as miners and smiths naturally, but also fungal farmers and weavers of giant spider silk. Found it intolerable to live anywhere without close family and friendly neighors, extremely urban minded. Most never left their home hold more than a few times in their lives. Worshipped their ancestors and some old gods they believed to have left the earth long ago. Recently ended the Kinstrife a civil war which divided dwarves along ideological lines. The winners were the consitutionalists who believed in personal determination overseen by a written constitution. They retained their king but had reduced him to a mostly symbolic role. Wiped out by a great plague of monsters known as Kingsmen which spilled from the royal palace during the First Gnosis. All survivors either incorporated into the Uban or are beyond contacting now.
Inspiration- Victorian era Londoners and Old English epic poems.
Umber- Independent dwarves who lived in walled cities above hill mines on the surface of the northern continent. Famous for alcoholic exports and general friendliness to visitors but also famous for vengefulness toward enemies. Status unkown after contact was lost with the northern continent, Khazad-gathol.
Inspiration- Dwarf fort and medieval scotland
Duergar- Religious fundamentalists who believe that WORK is a holy vocation with no need for justification. A dwarf is meant to build and expand because that is why dwarves were gifted sapience in the first place. Anything that does not willingly build must be enslaved and made to work by their logic. Defeated in the Kinstrife and banished to the deep underground.
Inspiration- Calvinists and Puritans
Derro- Religious fundamentalists who believe the mind is the only true thing, and all physical sensations are lies. As such do not acknowledge the personhood of any save those who have used their brain machines to share thoughts in the great network. Defeated and banished into the underground during the Kinstrife.
Inspiration- Conspiracy theorists in particular though the Shaver mystery.