Rhalans

Originating from precursor tribes, the Rhalans are known for their numerous yet occasionally powerful principalities. Rhalans tend to excel in shipbuilding, sailing, and survival as well as governance to a degree.

Home Region: North Treshin Mountains and along The Great Rhalan Coast
Origin: Tribes and clans documented around 800 BR
Presence: Steadfast
Common Religions: Rhalian Pantheon
Real World Influence: Ruthenian, Rhalan
5e Additions:
Magic Proficiency: Water Evocation
Non-Magic Proficiency: Survival

History

The Rhalans are a loose and fragmented people, originating along the frigid northern coasts of Severon. The name of the Northern Continent "Severon" comes from the Rhalan language. Along the large expanse of the coast, the Rhalans eventually split into two distinct groups - East and West Rhalans.
The vast majority of Rhalan history is found independently within several grand principalities which have risen and fallen over the centuries. The likes of Dmitrov, Vago, Zizech, Bovets, and Great Rhal are all hallmarks of Rhalan civilization, separated by clusters of independent minor clans and tribes.

East Rhalans

The East Rhalans believed in a somewhat united nation called Great Rhal. Indeed, Great Rhal existed for many centuries since at least 300 BR, but largely only in name. Great Rhal came to mean more to outsiders, who witnessed the prowess of Rhalans as raiders who'd strike at random and with great surprise. The proper territory of Great Rhal occupied the northern-most point of the Great Rhalan Coast, where a body of representatives from various clans would meet and, occasionally, govern the place.
Every generation or so, Great Rhal would exert its influence over the other tribes as its vassals. Most notably was a series of wars in the 300s AR between Great Rhal and Zizech, fighting over the ailing principality of Bovets in an attempt to expand their domain. These wars were but the largest of hundreds fought between Rhalans. Every so often the Eastern Rhalans went to war with the Salkans even farther to the east, or the Slintans to their south, but the East Rhalans are most remembered for their devastating and quick raids.

West Rhalans

The West Rhalans are often depicted as more civilized and diplomatic, but no less ferocious as their eastern brethren. They spent considerably more time fighting each other than the greater foreign powers to their south. Nevertheless, the West Rhalans did interact more with the Knori and Slintans which they neighbored - and eventually the Makans as well. Several invasions against the Slintan nation of Tyros and even Cytos saw vast expansion of Rhalan lands under the Dmitrov principality.
Makan historical documents suggest that the Makans came to revere the Rhalans as much as they did the Steerians. Several small wars were fought against various Rhalan clans, but to no avail. Unlike the Steerians, no respect was returned, and Makan coasts suffered some of the worst raids at the hands of the Western and Eastern Rhalans.

Traditions

Rhalans take great pride in ship building, and consider it among their chief arts. Salkans and Rhalans frequently interact in both raids but also in sharing technology, a sign of respect among both cultures. Rhalan architecture is also an artistic blend of Salkan Great Halls and Slintan columned temples, leading to something unique that cannot be seen anywhere else.
Rhalans take pride in what few crops they can cultivate, and festivals are often held in an attempt to increase both production and public endurance. The Rhalan gods also play a classical and extensive role in these celebrations. Legends amongst the Rhalan pantheon also tend to tell of interaction with the Salkan gods and their pantheon.

Fantasy Additions

the Rhalan people are well-versed in the arts of waterbending, and use it to propel their ships in untold ways. Ice-sculpting is a common use and practice for Rhalanian waterbending, and some cities of ice are even said to be erected in the winter to host for celebrations, until they melt in the summer. The Rhalanians also boast considerable defenses of ice and water currents outside of their ports, making attacks by non waterbenders nigh impossible.
The Treshin Mountains are said to spill horrors onto the tundra and plains around them, but the Rhalans are said to be even more horrific in fighting them - causing many to tread south into the Subcontinent of Hersinos rather than venture north.

Artwork by Oleh Yolchiiev on Artstation