Vietic

The Vietic are a populous and widespread culture dominating the eastern continents. Composed primarily of Demi (Humans), they also include Volu (Halflings), Half-Quessir (Half-Elves), and Avaar (Dwarves). Vietic people value trade, diplomacy, and family, with food being a central pillar of their culture. Travel among the Vietic is often inspired by a desire to experience foreign cuisine. While known for their kindness and focus on trade, they are also renowned for their mastery of guerilla warfare and their willingness to unleash destruction on those who underestimate them.
Homeland: The Vietic people hail from the once-great nation of Sonia, which fractured during the Starkened Night into smaller nations. Today, the Vietic are primarily found in Binhia and Biencia, with their former homeland now part of the Alsani Caliphate. Despite this loss, they maintain strong trade and diplomatic ties with the Alsani and have flourished in their new lands.
Demi Appearance: Vietic Demi are generally petite, with smooth, rounded faces, small chins, and almond or honey-toned skin. They often have hair the color of fresh-fallen snow and citrine or blue eyes, giving them a distinctive appearance among eastern cultures.
Primary Religion: The Harmonious Way The Vietic people follow The Harmonious Way, a religion that reflects their pursuit of balance, prosperity, and the interconnectedness of all things. At its core, The Harmonious Way teaches that harmony is achieved by uniting the virtues of compassion, strength, fortune, and peace. This faith influences every aspect of Vietic life, from personal ambitions to communal bonds, providing a framework for navigating the complexities of existence.

The Teachings of The Harmonious Way
The Harmonious Way weaves together the principles embodied by its four main deities, each representing a crucial facet of balance. Yan-Shi, Fortune's Favor, governs prosperity, luck, and familial harmony, teaching that fortune flows like a current, rewarding those who act with honor and generosity. Lady Nel, the Goddess of Healing and Light, symbolizes renewal and compassion, urging her followers to mend what is broken and nurture growth in all its forms. Lady Zhou-Shi, Peerless Among Equals, embodies strength and honor, guiding the Vietic people to approach conflict and mastery with discipline and valor. Finally, Lady Ta-Yin, Tongue of the Sun and Moon, governs peace, negotiation, and unity, reminding her followers that true harmony arises through understanding and cooperation.
Together, these teachings emphasize that strength must be tempered with compassion, prosperity must uplift the community, and peace must be actively maintained through preparation and diplomacy. Followers of The Harmonious Way view their lives as part of a greater cycle, where every action and decision ripples outward to shape the balance of the world.
Rituals and Practices The Harmonious Way encourages rituals that honor the deities and align followers with their teachings. Prayers to Yan-Shi are offered during family gatherings, trade negotiations, and moments of personal ambition, accompanied by acts of generosity to ensure the flow of fortune. Lady Nel is honored through acts of healing, care, and the tending of crops or communities. Followers of Lady Zhou-Shi engage in ceremonial duels, martial displays, or artistic performances that embody strength and discipline. Ta-Yin’s rituals often accompany treaties, merchant ventures, or community discussions, where offerings of gold or textiles symbolize harmony and goodwill.
The Role of Superstitions Superstitions play a vital role in reinforcing the principles of The Harmonious Way. Abstaining from meat before a journey is believed to ensure safe travels, while presenting a thoughtful gift before declaring affection fosters luck in relationships. Acts of fairness in trade or negotiation are said to curry favor with Yan-Shi and Ta-Yin, while practicing both martial and artistic pursuits ensures blessings from Zhou-Shi. These practices reflect the Vietic belief in maintaining equilibrium through small, meaningful actions.
The Heart of The Harmonious Way The Harmonious Way binds the Vietic people together, guiding them to live with integrity, compassion, and respect for the balance of life. Through devotion to Yan-Shi, Lady Nel, Lady Zhou-Shi, and Lady Ta-Yin, the Vietic people navigate the currents of fortune, strength, and peace, ensuring that their legacy endures in harmony with the world.

Common Races: Demi (Humans), Volu (Halflings), Half-Quessir (Half-Elves), Avaars (Dwarves).
Background Skills:

Artistry - Culinary Arts, Playwriting, Philosophy.

Lore - Diplomatic Etiquette, Guerilla Tactics, Trade Routes.

Background Traits:
Traveling Merchant
Empathic Diplomat
Street Wary
Cultural Equipment:
Bastard Sword

Vietic Language:

Vietic is characterized by sharp consonants and clipped vowels, giving it a unique sound that resembles clicks and pops of the tongue. While not considered melodious, its precision and complexity make it an effective trade language.
Written: The Vietic alphabet is divided into three libraries, though only one is widely used. Despite its technical range of over 200 characters, most speakers use no more than thirty in everyday life.

Dialects
Lotus - The origin dialect, spoken in Binhia, refined with a strong emphasis on clarity and precise description. It is considered the most "pure" form of Vietic.
Coral - Spoken by seafaring merchants and traders, practical and efficient, with many borrowed words from other languages.
Scada - Common in the underbellies of cities, cryptic and filled with slang for quick, discreet communication.
Ivory - The dialect of Biencia, incorporating regional influences and a softer tone, but still clearly native.
Silk - Used by the rich and powerful, this dialect is elegant and formal, with a measured cadence.
Jungle - Spoken in Vungia's deep jungles, raw and vibrant with poetic expressions drawn from the natural world.

Vietic Abilities and Lore

The Vietic are a deeply adaptive and resourceful culture, shaped by centuries of trade, diplomacy, and conflict. Despite the fragmentation of their original homeland, they have maintained a strong cultural identity, valuing family, culinary traditions, and an intense pride in their heritage.
Vietic societies tend to place significant importance on hospitality and generosity, believing that welcoming others strengthens the bonds of community and trade. However, this kindness is balanced by a sharp pragmatism—those who betray their trust quickly learn the Vietic are not to be underestimated.
The Vietic are known for their ability to seamlessly navigate different cultural spheres, speaking multiple languages and often serving as intermediaries between nations. This adaptability makes them highly valued as merchants, diplomats, and negotiators.

Cunning Survivors

One of the defining traits of the Vietic people is their mastery of guerilla warfare, a skill born of necessity during the fragmentation of Sonia. This ability has been honed over centuries, allowing them to hold their ground against larger, more powerful forces.
While not all Vietic actively pursue martial prowess, their culture holds a quiet reverence for those who defend their people with cunning and strategy. Vietic warriors are often seen as protectors rather than aggressors, and their tactics focus on evasion, misdirection, and swift, decisive strikes.
Their close ties to food and agriculture are also evident in their traditions, as many Vietic communities celebrate their victories and alliances with grand feasts, symbolizing both resilience and unity.

Culture Ability:

The Vietic have an innate ability to read social cues and adapt quickly to interpersonal dynamics. Once per week, a Vietic character may spend an hour observing a person or group. This grants them a free successful Sense Motive check to glean a valuable insight about the person or group's intentions or mood. On their next interaction, they gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy or Bluff checks when dealing with the observed individual or group.

Common Superstitions:

• Never speak ill of an enemy where they cannot hear you; it will bring them good fortune to balance the scales.
• Paying in exact change is considered an act of good fortune before adding generosity.
• Eating meat on the day of a sea voyage will make you seasick as the soul of the animal tries to return to land.
• Romantic confessions should always be preceded by a thoughtful gift. If the gift is poor, forego the confession.
• Trying foods from a foreign culture is thought to bring luck and grant positive aspects of the culture to the consumer.
• A person with a sword who cannot dance is deemed untrustworthy.