Sclaveni
The Sclaveni are a resilient and proud people whose culture is steeped in ancient folklore, where tales of spirits, cunning hags, and powerful sorcerers shape their understanding of the world. They hail from a cold and unforgiving homeland, where dense, mist-laden forests stretch endlessly, and the winds howl like mournful voices across the barren steppes. Life in these lands is harsh and unpredictable, fostering a culture where survival is a matter of both strength and cleverness. The Sclaveni have a deep connection to their ancestral land, believing that every tree, river, and stone is imbued with a spirit that watches and judges, rewarding those who show respect and punishing those who offend. Their homes are fortified against both the elements and the unseen dangers that lurk in the shadows—wards of iron, salt, and woven herbs are as common as hearthfires, and every household knows at least one charm to ward off malevolent forces.
Though the Sclaveni acknowledge a pantheon of gods, their devotion is subdued and practical. Their gods are distant figures, beings who shaped the world but take little interest in the daily struggles of mortals. Temples to these deities are places of tradition rather than fervent worship, where rites are performed more out of obligation than true reverence. The Sclaveni believe that it is the spirits of the land—the domovoi that guard the home, the rusalka that lures the unwary to watery graves, and the leshy who watches over the forests—that hold the greatest sway over their lives. These spirits are capricious and unpredictable, requiring respect, offerings, and careful negotiation. The line between mortal and spirit is thin, and many believe that the wisest among them can speak to these beings or even bargain for their favor.
At the heart of Sclaveni folklore are the hags and sorcerers whose cunning and power shape the fate of entire villages. Tales abound of crones who weave curses into the fabric of the world and of enigmatic sorcerers who bargain with unseen forces for knowledge and power. To the Sclaveni, these figures are neither wholly good nor evil—they are agents of balance, maintaining the delicate equilibrium between the mortal world and the realm of spirits. Wise folk and seers, often feared as much as they are revered, pass down the knowledge of these ancient beings, teaching that a clever mind and a watchful eye can be as powerful as any spell. Every village has its volkhv or znakharka—a local healer, diviner, or hedge-witch whose understanding of the unseen makes them indispensable in matters of health, protection, and fate.
Sclaveni communities are tightly-knit and bound by ancient customs that emphasize hospitality, loyalty, and respect for tradition. Stories are passed down through generations in the form of byliny—epic tales of heroes, cunning tricksters, and spirits that test mortal resolve. Festivals honoring the changing seasons blend revelry with ritual, where effigies are burned to ward off the chill of winter, and offerings are made to ensure a bountiful harvest. The Sclaveni have an innate understanding of the cyclical nature of life, where death is not an end but a passage into another realm, and where the dead may still linger, watching and guiding their descendants.
Despite their deep ties to tradition and the supernatural, the Sclaveni are practical and pragmatic, adapting to change when necessary while keeping their folklore and customs close to their hearts. Their homeland may be harsh and unforgiving, but the Sclaveni endure, fortified by a culture where ancient stories shape the present, and the unseen world is as real as the biting wind that sweeps across their cold and timeless land.
