Northern Kor
The Northern Kor are all the Kor bands living north of the Salmon Coast and in the surrounding subarctic plateau. Largely nomadic, these Kor groups organize in bands and traverse the Northern Plateau far and wide, climbing up mountains and deep into the underdark. Many Kor travel far afield, leaving their ancestral lands for a time to see the clouds or the southern realms of groups such as the Jan Pana and Empire of Keoland, both of whom they frequently trade with.
The Northern Kor largely have pale white skin, as opposed to some of their more southern and central counterparts whose skin varies in grey and blue tones.
The Northern Kor largely have pale white skin, as opposed to some of their more southern and central counterparts whose skin varies in grey and blue tones.
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Names were passed down through families and believed to have a great affect on a Kor's life and personality. Due to the common belief in reincarnation, a child named after a deceased relative is often believed to literally be that relative.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Bilateral kinship. An individual nuclear or extended family (a househould) was the basic unit. Several households made up a band.
During long winter months, when food was scarce communal entertainment via song, dance, and various games was common. Children play with toys carved from wood, including minature sleds, animals, and small tops.
During long winter months, when food was scarce communal entertainment via song, dance, and various games was common. Children play with toys carved from wood, including minature sleds, animals, and small tops.
Shared customary codes and values
The Northern Kor value the lands they travel across and locations greatly. They place a high emphasis on self reliance and individual skill, and using those abilities to best cooperate with the group. Sharing, modesty, and self-control are all essential values to Northeern Kor cutlure, as they live in a desert region that can be incredibly dark during Ringshadow and, in the furthest north regions, due to the Arctic Circle.
Caribou migratory routes are well known and important to Kor society.
While warefare does occassionally happen due to fueds, pacifism is valued by the Northern Kor as a way of ensuring survival by avoiding unnecessary conflict.
Caribou migratory routes are well known and important to Kor society.
While warefare does occassionally happen due to fueds, pacifism is valued by the Northern Kor as a way of ensuring survival by avoiding unnecessary conflict.
Average technological level
The Northern Kor are masterful ropemakers and hookcrafters, carving hooks from stone and bone or cold-forgining it from copper, Kor harnesses, ropes, and hooks are renowned in southern lands for their strength, reliability, and accuracy.
Trade with the empire has brought both firearms and alcohol into Kor territories, which has upset the balance of the ecosystem and Kor way of life, respectively.
When traveling with cargo or long overland distances, Northern Kor often use sleds pulled by dogs or nets suspended from some flying animals to transport goods. These sleds are made with wood or bone, and often have sled runners made of antlers or even frozen fish. A layer of ice is often applied to the sled to decrease friction with snow.
While most warfare is conducted through supernatural means by shamans, body armor is made of wood, skin, and bone. Spears and hooks are the primary weapons used in physical confrontations.
The manufacture of Northern Kor clothing was an incredibly detailed task requring immense skill, and performed almost exclusively by women.
Kayaks are employed by many Northern Kor living along rivers (and, for the Northernmost Kor, the coast). Oftentimes, kayakers hunt with harboons and floats made of inflated animal skins. Larger umaiks are also created for the transport of goods across the water.
Bows and arrows are employed by some groups, and increasingly muskets are as well, but the ideal ranged weapon is the hook-and-line, as it allows for the capture of a target.
Skins and furs are used for boats, tents, clothes, blankets, and many other manufactured goods.
Northern Kor skill with hooks and ropes translate nicely to a variety of curved knives - such as the ulu - and other tools being manufactured.
Wood, ivory, and antlers are used to create snow visors and lamp-bowls, which burn with moss wicks and seal oil fuel.
Clothing is important to the Northern Kor. In the cold, paraks, pants, and watertight boots are worn (made of caribou and sealskin respectively). Two layers of clothing are worn, with the inner layer having fur facing the body and the outer layer having fur face away from the body. In the summer, tunics and leggings are worn while boots are swapped with moccassins. New clothes are made whenever possible.
The Northern Kor are heavily involved in the Fur Trade.
Trade with the empire has brought both firearms and alcohol into Kor territories, which has upset the balance of the ecosystem and Kor way of life, respectively.
When traveling with cargo or long overland distances, Northern Kor often use sleds pulled by dogs or nets suspended from some flying animals to transport goods. These sleds are made with wood or bone, and often have sled runners made of antlers or even frozen fish. A layer of ice is often applied to the sled to decrease friction with snow.
While most warfare is conducted through supernatural means by shamans, body armor is made of wood, skin, and bone. Spears and hooks are the primary weapons used in physical confrontations.
The manufacture of Northern Kor clothing was an incredibly detailed task requring immense skill, and performed almost exclusively by women.
Kayaks are employed by many Northern Kor living along rivers (and, for the Northernmost Kor, the coast). Oftentimes, kayakers hunt with harboons and floats made of inflated animal skins. Larger umaiks are also created for the transport of goods across the water.
Bows and arrows are employed by some groups, and increasingly muskets are as well, but the ideal ranged weapon is the hook-and-line, as it allows for the capture of a target.
Skins and furs are used for boats, tents, clothes, blankets, and many other manufactured goods.
Northern Kor skill with hooks and ropes translate nicely to a variety of curved knives - such as the ulu - and other tools being manufactured.
Wood, ivory, and antlers are used to create snow visors and lamp-bowls, which burn with moss wicks and seal oil fuel.
Clothing is important to the Northern Kor. In the cold, paraks, pants, and watertight boots are worn (made of caribou and sealskin respectively). Two layers of clothing are worn, with the inner layer having fur facing the body and the outer layer having fur face away from the body. In the summer, tunics and leggings are worn while boots are swapped with moccassins. New clothes are made whenever possible.
The Northern Kor are heavily involved in the Fur Trade.
Common Dress code
Women carried babies within their parkas and could be maneuvered from the back to the front without removing any clothing.
Art & Architecture
Most Northern Kor dwellings are tents made of animal skins, designed for maximum portability. Some groups do have permanent dwellings used seasonally, however, which typically are semi-subterranian.
Foods & Cuisine
Large mamals, fish, and (for very northern groups) whale are all staples of Kor diet. Salmon is of particular importance, while hunted game includes caribou, moose, squirrels, and even bears.
Game is hunted in groups and individually, while food is distrubed and shared so that the entire community can eat. Meat is prepared via smoking, boiling, drying, or barbecuing. Every part of an animal that can be eaten is eaten.
Kor hunters are highly respectful in how they hunt, seeking to appease the spirits of the animals they kill lest the animal be reincarnated and refuse to be killed and eaten again.
In cold regions and times of Ringshadow, food is stored in stone cairns for use during times of famine. Due to the extreme cold, food freezes and keeps for years at a time.
Plants make up a very small portion of most Northern Kor peoples diets.
Game is hunted in groups and individually, while food is distrubed and shared so that the entire community can eat. Meat is prepared via smoking, boiling, drying, or barbecuing. Every part of an animal that can be eaten is eaten.
Kor hunters are highly respectful in how they hunt, seeking to appease the spirits of the animals they kill lest the animal be reincarnated and refuse to be killed and eaten again.
In cold regions and times of Ringshadow, food is stored in stone cairns for use during times of famine. Due to the extreme cold, food freezes and keeps for years at a time.
Plants make up a very small portion of most Northern Kor peoples diets.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Mothers are assisted by the husband and a few midwives, and sometimes a shaman, in giving birth. Despite the practice of wifesharing, all babies born to a woman are considered to be her husband's child. Unfortunately, due to the harsh conditions of their environment, infant mortality is common among the Northern Kor.
Infants are not given a name until the couple decides to keep the baby, and are not considered people until they have names. Due to this, infanticide (which is unfortunately common in such a harsh environment) is not considered murder within Northern Kor society. Furthermore, due to reincarnation it is believed the soul of the child will simply wait to be born at a more opportune time.
The timing of births was important; children were usually born in mid-to-late winter so as to maximize the time a pregnant woman could be sedentary while also ensuring both she and the baby had adequate food to survive. Pregnant women rarely could make it through a full winter, and infants needed as much time to grow as possible before facing their first full winter.
Infants are not given a name until the couple decides to keep the baby, and are not considered people until they have names. Due to this, infanticide (which is unfortunately common in such a harsh environment) is not considered murder within Northern Kor society. Furthermore, due to reincarnation it is believed the soul of the child will simply wait to be born at a more opportune time.
The timing of births was important; children were usually born in mid-to-late winter so as to maximize the time a pregnant woman could be sedentary while also ensuring both she and the baby had adequate food to survive. Pregnant women rarely could make it through a full winter, and infants needed as much time to grow as possible before facing their first full winter.
Coming of Age Rites
By around the age of six (sometimes a little older for boys), children were expected to help the family and band in chores and labor. While boys have no puberty rites, first menses is important for women. A menstruating woman is isolated from the rest of the group to a menstrual hut during times of sedintary living, or simply to one side of the group (typically left) when traveling.
The vision quest, where an adolescent seeks a spirit helper, is a common practice among Northern Kor bands.
The vision quest, where an adolescent seeks a spirit helper, is a common practice among Northern Kor bands.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Due to the difficulties of burying the dead in frozen and/or snow-covered ground, the dead are typically placed on above-ground platforms, open to the sky and snow. People are typically left to the elements this way with their worldly possessions.
When too old to aid the group, many elderly Northern Kor would die by suicide or euthanasia. Depending on the individual, a party may be thrown in their honor beforehand, they may be killed by another person on request, or they may simply slip out into the night never to be seen again.
When too old to aid the group, many elderly Northern Kor would die by suicide or euthanasia. Depending on the individual, a party may be thrown in their honor beforehand, they may be killed by another person on request, or they may simply slip out into the night never to be seen again.
Common Taboos
The livers of polar bears are not to be eaten due to their toxicity making people ill. Furthermore, foodstuffs from aquatic and terrestrial animals can never be stored together as such is seen as a mixing of two different realms.
Common Myths and Legends
The Northern Kor held animistic beliefs, and interact with the world for their survival conscious of the fact every living creature possesses a soul. Shamans channel divine magic through spirit-helpers and charms, warding off evil spirits and blessing their communities.
Despite this animistic belief system, Northern Kor generally revere no overarching deity or supreme spirit. They do, however, recognize the inherent magic of the world and stress the importance of individuals practicing good to attain great levels of personal magical power. Shamans have the greatest expectations placed on them, and a shaman practicing evil is often killed.
Due to the importance of song, dance, and stories in the winter months, spellcasters analgous to bards are incredibly common among the Northern Kor, and they even have a similar system of song-fighting as the Jan Pana practice of Bladesinging.
Despite this animistic belief system, Northern Kor generally revere no overarching deity or supreme spirit. They do, however, recognize the inherent magic of the world and stress the importance of individuals practicing good to attain great levels of personal magical power. Shamans have the greatest expectations placed on them, and a shaman practicing evil is often killed.
Due to the importance of song, dance, and stories in the winter months, spellcasters analgous to bards are incredibly common among the Northern Kor, and they even have a similar system of song-fighting as the Jan Pana practice of Bladesinging.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Women often had many tattoos in geometric patterns, and similarly went to great lengths to decorate their clothing.
Gender Ideals
In Northern Kor society, women are seen as life givers and men as life takers. As such, men take on the dangerous job of hunting, fishing, and conducting warfare while women raise children and act as craftsmen, creating clothing and tools for the band.
Despite the strict division of labor along gender lines (indeed, the Kor concept of gender is largely rooted in the type of work preformed), transgender and non-binary individuals (perhaps more accurately labeled as two-spirits) do exist within Kor socieites and partake in labor appropriate to their gender or to both genders, with many trascending the hunting/homemaking divide and becoming spiritual and religious leaders as shamans. While some bands may reject such non-conformity, many welcome it as a better way to distribute resources. After all, if a man is born a woman, he is seen as having the potential to be more useful to survival hunting than homemaking despite his assigned sex at birth.
Despite the strict division of labor along gender lines (indeed, the Kor concept of gender is largely rooted in the type of work preformed), transgender and non-binary individuals (perhaps more accurately labeled as two-spirits) do exist within Kor socieites and partake in labor appropriate to their gender or to both genders, with many trascending the hunting/homemaking divide and becoming spiritual and religious leaders as shamans. While some bands may reject such non-conformity, many welcome it as a better way to distribute resources. After all, if a man is born a woman, he is seen as having the potential to be more useful to survival hunting than homemaking despite his assigned sex at birth.
Courtship Ideals
Disputes between men over women - can be physical, can be song battles. Most marriages are arranged, often between young women just starting puberty and men in their late teens. Divorce is a simple matter in Northern Kor society.
Relationship Ideals
Wife sharing is the practice of a husband and wife agreeing to allow the wife to have sexual relations with another man, often to create a kinship bond between the two households.
Polygamy is common for individuals who could support multiple spouses. Typically these unions were one man with several wives (who were typically somehow related to the first wife) but women could have several husbands as well.
At least for a man's first wife, he typically moved in with her in a form of matrolocality.
Polygamy is common for individuals who could support multiple spouses. Typically these unions were one man with several wives (who were typically somehow related to the first wife) but women could have several husbands as well.
At least for a man's first wife, he typically moved in with her in a form of matrolocality.
Major organizations
Northern Kor are organized into bands, typically named after geographic region with the suffix -muit added to the end meaning "people of". Some bands stay together year-round, while others split into small groups of a few households during the winter and only come together for Peakarch until Ringshadow retreats.
In the summer, some groups closer to the mountain ranges that formed the southern border of Kor lands join into temporary regional bands; political alliances of cooperation lasting at most a season.
Band membership is generally flexible, with individual households being able to freely leave and join bands with ease.
Each band elected a man (rarely a woman or non-binary Kor) as their headman, who often only performs ceremonial leadership duties and lacks any strong political power. However, during times of war headmen have immense power. Their primary advisors are their wives, and as such the suitability of a man's wives are a major point of consideration in the election process. The wives of headmen are respected by all.
Some southern groups had moiety systems similar to the Jan Pana.
Within a band, skilled laborers and hunters with similar specializations form into task groups to organize labor.
In the summer, some groups closer to the mountain ranges that formed the southern border of Kor lands join into temporary regional bands; political alliances of cooperation lasting at most a season.
Band membership is generally flexible, with individual households being able to freely leave and join bands with ease.
Each band elected a man (rarely a woman or non-binary Kor) as their headman, who often only performs ceremonial leadership duties and lacks any strong political power. However, during times of war headmen have immense power. Their primary advisors are their wives, and as such the suitability of a man's wives are a major point of consideration in the election process. The wives of headmen are respected by all.
Some southern groups had moiety systems similar to the Jan Pana.
Within a band, skilled laborers and hunters with similar specializations form into task groups to organize labor.
Related Locations
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