Along the fertile banks of the River Qorath, a chain of prosperous city-states has emerged from the chaos that followed the Great War of Naplica. What began as scattered refugee settlements has grown into one of the most important commercial regions in the continent.
Though politically divided, the peoples of the Qorathi cities share a common identity shaped by trade, survival, and the river that binds them. Despite this shared identity, strong regional cultures persist, each centred around its own city and traditions.
The Azari (Kiryat-Az):
Centred on Kiryat-Az, these people are known for their scholarship, law, and priestly traditions. Their society places strong emphasis on learning, contracts, and faith, and their courts often serve as neutral arbiters for disputes across the League. They are the most introspective of the Qorathi peoples, preserving a strong cultural identity rooted in tradition and text.
The Saphonites (Utic-Saphon):
Based in Utic-Saphon, at the mouth of the river, these people dominate maritime trade along the eastern sea. Skilled navigators and shipwrights, they are outward-looking and cosmopolitan. Their culture is shaped by contact with distant lands, and their ports are among the busiest in Naplica.
The Arami:
Spread across the inland cities of Ain-Marda, Tel-Aram, and Beth-Kadur, these people form the commercial backbone of the Qorathi League. Masters of caravan trade, they control the routes linking the river to the wider continent. Their culture is practical, adaptable, and deeply tied to commerce and negotiation.
The Hadathi:
The people of Hadath-Ruma are distinct within the League. Founded by merchants fleeing the authority of Māt Ṣēri, they value independence above all else. Living along the northern mountain passes, they are hardy, pragmatic, and fiercely protective of their autonomy. Their growing wealth and freedom make them both admired and resented by the other cities.
Physicality: Generally average height with lean, travel-hardened builds. Skin tones range from olive to bronze. Hair is typically dark—black or deep brown—and often worn long or tied for practicality. Eyes are most commonly brown or hazel. Coastal populations may show greater variation due to generations of maritime contact.
Culture and Society:
The Qorathi peoples are united by commerce and necessity:
Merchant Identity: Trade defines status more than birth.
City Loyalty: Allegiance is first to one’s city, then to the League.
Caravan and River Economy: Goods flow constantly between inland and sea.
Collective Defence: Cooperation exists to protect trade routes from raiders and rivals.
Tributary Tension: Most cities remain under the shadow of Māt Ṣēri, shaping politics and ambition.
While not a unified nation, they function as a connected economic network.
Kiryat-Az:
Male Names: Ezra, Micah, Yonah, Eliav, Asher, Nadav, Reuben, Malachi
Female Names: Tirzah, Yael, Miriam, Aviva, Shira, Eliana, Dvora
Family Names: ben-Az, ha-Levi, bar-Kohen, Azari, Zadok
Utic-Saphon:
Male Names: Hanno, Bomilcar, Hasdrubal, Adonibaal, Himilco
Female Names: Sophonisba, Elissa, Amastan, Tanit, Dido
Family Names: Barca, Saphon, Abdeshmun, Hannid, Milqart
Central Cities:
Male Names: Baram, Haddad, Zakkai, Malka, Tobiah, Samai
Female Names: Mara, Talya, Shoshana, Dalia, Naama, Kessia
Family Names: bar-Aram, ben-Marda, Kaduri, Telan, Arami
Hadath-Ruma:
Naming is mixed, often combining elements from all Qorathi traditions, reflecting its origin as a coalition city. Lineage names are less important than merchant houses and trade affiliations.