Vantha
From Mizahar Lore
 The People of the Aurora Borealis | |
| Height | 4'8"- 6'0" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 80-150 lbs |
| Lifespan | 80 - 100 years |
| Major features | Dark skin, Black Hair, deep vividly colored eyes that change color with their moods. |
| Abilities | Winter Survival and Carving |
| Population | 5,000 |
| Most common in | Avanthal |
| Reputation | Carvers and Storytellers |
| Racial gods | Morwen, The Goddess of Winter and Rhaus God of Bards and Music, Numerous Other Gods and Goddesses |
| Racial bonus | +10 Carving |
The Vantha, or the People of the Aurora Borealis as they call themselves, are humans that dwell in the far northern reaches of Taldera and within their lovely ice city of Avanthal. Hearty, well-adapted to snow and extreme cold, these people have a rich history that stretches out well prior to the Valterrian and is rife with storytelling and carving at its foundation. Famed for their intricate carvings and masks, and the storytelling that goes with them, the Vantha have a tremendous oral history that not only explains the beginning of the world, but how the world will end as well. Also famed for their changing eye color, the Vantha claim that everything about their existence is owed to the Goddess Morwen who dwells among them for three seasons before venturing out in Winter to walk the rest of the world.
Contents |
History
It is said, in some of the favorite hold stories, that the Vantha arrived on Mizahar through the colored pathways suspended in the stars. To a Vantha, simply looking up in the night sky of the extreme north is proof enough that the stories are real. No other place on Mizahar do Morwen's Lights or the Aurora Borealis shows itself. And these colorful ribbons of blue, green, violent, pink, yellow, and orange hum and crackle with the static energy which the Vantha believe can be channeled into a pathway to other worlds. It is this same pathway they believe they came through when the world was still very young. They settled it, and because some of the oldest living people on Mizahar in the modern age. And the proof they have that they are indeed beholden to these wondrous lights is in their eyes. For unlike other humans, the Vantha's eye color changes as their moods change, but always remaining in vivid jewel tones and deep rich color that reflects Morwen's Lights.
Biology
Physical Appearance
The Vantha are a sleek athletic people that have a smaller stature and perhaps shorter height than a lot of Mizaharian races enjoy. They range from 4'8" to 6'0" and never really get heavier than around one hundred eighty pounds. The Vantha always have dark hair, usually black, though it can go silver and finally white with age. Unusually though, their hair seems to shimmer with highlights that often reflect the color of the aurora. This trait is one of the reason they are considered 'People of the Aurora'. A man might have black hair with blue highlights, while a woman might have black hair with a subtle shimmering of green to its glossy features. Their hair can be straight or curly, though regardless it is often (especially when venturing outside in the cold) braided and wrapped with fur. The Vantha also have an unusual trait to their eyes. Unlike other humans, the Vantha enjoy vibrant hues to their eyes, which are always darker in color, which changes with their moods. Deep greens, brilliant violets, rich dark blues, subtle ruby, and even luminous gold are not uncommon colors for Vantha eyes. This feature, they claim, validates their oldest tales that the Vantha did indeed come from the stars. It is not even uncommon for their eyes to be multiple colors at once, banded or blended as their moods mix and transition.
Their skintone ranges from olive to almond, to almost a golden brown, though this can vary considerably. They almost never have extremely pale skin tones, instead tending towards richer deeper coloring. In terms of facial shapes, The Vantha tend to have smaller more rounded heads, rather than the elongated or square shaped faces. Their noses are somewhat small, sized to fit their features, while their hairlines tend to be set low on their scalp. Their eyes are not as big and wide as some humans enjoy, instead, the Vantha can be described as almost subtle or delicate in terms of their features. They have an almost ethereal quality to their beauty, that often makes one think of the twilight time, when the Borealis is strong, and night is chasing day away or vice versa.
Common Traits
Most Vantha, while not being terribly strong, are considered very hearty. This isn't so much a physical trait as it is a learned ability from having lived generation after generation in the frozen northern wastes of the Ice Reaches. But other than their heartiness, Vantha are particularly dexterous. And while they have been known to weave, they are not particularly good at metalsmithing and gageteering. Instead, they are amazing carvers, dancers, and storytellers. Their long slender fingers are particularly useful for manipulating delicate tools, and as such they are incredibly good at embroidery and leatherworking.
Psychology
Having a flare for the dramatic, a Vantha can easily take what most people would equate to a rather boring mundane day and spin it into a tale of epic proportions without ever changing any of the facts. Given enough time, they can probably produce costumes, props, and orchestrate sound effects to make the tale even more lively. Their extroverted friendly behavior comes from the season after season of being crowded together in their snowbound homes, and being forced to entertain themselves when all the work is done and night has fallen. For the most part,the Vantha are showman to the core, taking careful precaution to make every word count, have meaning, hold intent, and lure an audience into an astonishing audio experience.
Reproduction & Aging
Like most humans, the Vantha live anywhere from about eighty to a hundred years under normal conditions. Considered mature at age sixteen, girls are often married to the husband of their parents choice anytime thereafter up until age twenty. Women unmarried after age twenty are considered either Icemaidens or hopeless. Suitors often provide a bride price which can consist of a small fortune in carvings - whale bones being considered the most valuable - masks, candlesticks, tradegoods (furs, blubber, beadwork, fabric) and anything else the Vantha consider valuable. The price is paid to the parents by the male wishing to marry the girl, and is either excepted or rejected according to many factors. The parents might not accept the most lavish bride price when a girl turns sixteen, but in fact might wait a few years. Sometimes they take the girls feelings into account, and accept the bride price from the male the girl most wants to marry. The girl will then leave her Hold and join with her husbands Hold, bringing with it the stories, songs, and poems of her people. At that time, the move, a girl will change her last name to reflect her new Hold. Sisters and best friends will often plead with their parents so they go to the same Holds. Children are born shortly after the marriage, and are welcomed into both families with much joy. The Vantha really cherish their children, protect them, and often indulge the entire subraces flair for exaggeration when children get into trouble and make up wild tales as to why whatever unfortunate event happened.
The elderly among the Vantha are truly respected and protected. Their wisdom is timeless and passed out without a thought to the fact that their opinions might be considered meddling. Younger parents often consult elders on marriage arrangements for their children. In fact, after age fifty - halfway through their lives - The Vantha stop celebrating their birthdays and instead celebrate a Wisdom Day marking off the time they have been alive and giving a nod to the accumulated knowledge they have acquired.
Society
Social Structure
The Vantha gather together with Avanthal as their primary settlement. However, unlike other provinces, the Ice Reaches of Taldera are fairly remote and safe, so there are quite a few smaller settlements called Holds scattered throughout the region, both up and down the coastline. There are five in all of any significant size. Each hold has its own traditions, stories, and microculture. They specialize in various things; some breeding reindeer, some are proficient whalers, and some even capable of growing food in the bowels of their Holds. Avanthal is the culture hub of these five Holds, and houses by and large a mix of all these holders. Avanthal contains the schools, training centers, and markets that are required. The Ice Palace is also located in Avanthal, which his the reported home of Queen Morwen, Goddess of Winter. She rules the Vantha fairly and justly for three seasons out of the year.
Language
The Vantha speak Vani, a musical lyrical language designed for storytelling and singing. It is said that a simple sad song written in common and translated to Vani can go from an interesting moving piece to a subtle heart wrenching ballad when sung in Vani rather than common. Vani is designed for storytelling, both epic and simple. It is said that a Vantha is the only race that can take a single syllable word and turn it into an lengthy fluid paragraph.
Names
Vantha names are varied. They have no set form or structure, but do tend to sound alike from Hold to Hold. Here are a few examples of names. Vantha rarely if ever use surnames. They do however, tend to associate themselves with their Holds. So, a Whitevine Hold resident might call themselves Kavi Whitevine.
Example Names
- Slaryn
- Senra
- Isastle
- Coren
- Svisra
- Nenith
- Keliselle
- Fenia
- Slarra
- Nohadar
- Minosa
- Dadaryi
- Aviastas
Family Life
Everyday Life
Weapons
Religion
