Poscaeans

Originating from precursor tribes, the Poscaeans are known for the world's first empire under the same name - an event so instrumental that it altered the calendars. Poscaeans tend to excel in firemaking, shock warfare, and pursuit of wisdom.

Home Region: Eastern Coast, Subcontinent of Lukon
Origin: Various tribes from before 1000 BR, united 0 BR/AR
Presence: Steadfast
Common Religions: Poscaean Pantheon, Aetian Pantheon, Dominion, Ghiskan
Real World Influence: Persian, Mesopotamian
5e Additions:
Magic Proficiency: Abjuration
Non-Magic Proficiency: Perception

History

The Poscaean peoples originated some time before 1000 BR, as conglomerations of tribes and clans around the rivers and valleys around Lukon. Agriculture in their region came easy, and it was the dominant tradition, dictating their practices of economics, government, and diplomacy. Their religion revolved not only around physical prowess, but also around their tradition of fallowing fields. They are known most prominently for the Poscaean Empire, considered the world's first Empire, which dominated for only a short time, but brought about the very idea of an "empire". Poscaean proficiency with the tactic of "ambushes" allowed their conquests to spread far and rapidly, and their unique approach to statesmanship allowed for such a union to exist.
After the Seleutine-Poscaean war in the first century AR, the Poscaeans were largely vassals and second-rate citizens under the new Aetian empire. However, the role of Poscaeans in political positions was not to be underestimated, as the Seletutines used them to govern the mostly-Poscaean provinces. Meanwhile, the Aetian and Poscaean people became more and more integrated in this time, and traditions began to mix. The religious fervor of Poscaea's religion worshipping The Spirit of Fire died down after the fall of the empire, and some converted to the Aetian Pantheon.
Pure Poscaean culture persisted after the fall of the Empire - in the form of a similarly governed state called Neo Poscaea, situated on Barakon along the Zenos Straits. It was the result of Poscaea's colonization attempts. The fall of the empire resulted in a newly independent and cut-off state at odds with the Iananosians already occupying the region.

Traditions

Poscaeans have a number of Festivals of Fire, they are obsessed with its metaphor for life as well as prowess and skill. Men take it on as something to embody - whether that being rage on the battlefield or nurturing of a field and its crops. Women take fire to mean their patience but also diligence in both farming and everyday activities. It is usually the women who produce many fine and extremely articulate pieces of earthwork or metalwork. Poscaea's smiths see an even distribution of men and women when it comes to smithing.
Beyond that, Poscaea values its wheat, being its number one crop. They have learned for centuries how to take care of the river-valley land they inhabit, and carefully cultivate for a bountiful harvest. However, when a harvest is ruined for even a quarter of a season, the whole of a Poscaean state will take a hit, for they can rely on little else. The ocean can provide fish, and the coastal cities often are proficient in fishing, but to traverse their goods upstream to the cities further within the region has proven to be a different challenge altogether.