Nation of Vonor
The hills and mountains of Vonor are vaults of life, death, and memory. Vonor holds more of the remaining arable land than any other region, and they tend its terraced fields with care. In the halls beneath that have never seen the sun, the people of Vonor tend to the dead, not only of their own people, but all humans – as well as slain Gograzhi.
An elected council rules Vonor, its seats divided between the cities according to long-outdated census numbers. Cities lost to the Gograzhi still have seats on the council, elected from among those who can trace their lineage back to those settlements.
The workers of Vonor produce food (particularly grains, fruit, and meat), quarried stone, metal (including precious metals), and gemstones. Vonori culture teaches that Vonor is the foundation that supports all of humanity, so if they produce and distribute more than they receive, well, they were given the easiest land to live in. It's only fair.
Among the Vonori, those who have not taken holy vows to care for the dead wear colorful clothes, especially yellow or green, signifying their vitality and bond with life. There are three kinds of holy vows that they can take, for a year at a time or for life, and entitles them to wear clothes predominantly of black.
The Vow of Ivory is a commitment to receive dead brought by the Ora caravans. Other than tending to the bodies or funereal urns, their primary duty is recording stories about those in their care. They wear belts or other accent pieces of white. A few Vonori of this Vow are found in other countries.
The Vow of the Iron Gate is a commitment to tend to Vonor's own dead. In addition to protecting the physical remains of the dead, they handle inheritance matters. They wear belts or other accent pieces of gray, and often wear elaborate makeup to make themselves look skeletal. The expedition to the Citadel is the first time members of this Vow have left Vonor.
The Vow of Heartsblood is a commitment to bind and tend to Gograzhi, the ancient enemy. They wear belts, hoods, or other accent pieces of red. They are known to practice necromancy, extracting secrets from the enemy. This is regarded as dangerous but necessary. If you ask the people of Vonor about necromancy, this is what they think of first. It is considered an unwise risk to take this vow for life, or for even two consecutive years.
Vonori Names
Given Names
Vonori given names are based on Greek, Latin, or Byzantine names. Masculine names tend to end in -is, -os, -on, or -us (Antonios, Dysmas, Lycurgus), while feminine names usually end in -a or -ia (Anthusa, Eudocia, Nonna). The Vonori recognize names ending as -ai, -ei, and -en (Alexei, Ilien, Stathai) as gender-ambiguous. These trends have some notable exceptions, such as Xanthippe (fem.) or Nestor (masc.).
Contrasting that pattern, it is reasonably common for Vonori parents to name a child for a hero of another culture, particularly parents who have taken the Vow of Ivory.
Some change their names as adolescents or adults, choosing names of their own invention or in connection to older traditions. Spellcasters in particular almost always add to or change their name upon initiation, signifying the transformation and new path that such an event represents. This is also common among people whose gender presentation varies substantially from day to day.
Family Names
Family names tend to be three or more syllables (Dalassenos, Kontostephanos, Laskaris), though many use a House name as if it is a surname, or in addition to a surname. House names are structured "House of the [Concrete Noun]," typically an animal or natural feature (House of the Stag, House of the Long Lake, House of the Willow).
Name Examples
Halaz Melissenos
Sophia of the House of the Sun Ridge
Alexius Eirenikos of the House of the Fox
Ekri-dal (no last name given)
Gallen Bessarion of the House of the Couloir