Totemreach

Totemreach

Totemreach is a collection of tribes (Plemya) and villages within a vast and varied wilderness. Its people call themselves Plemyans, after their word for tribe. Totemreach began as a mission to restore the natural order of the wilderness following the Sundering. It grew to encompass different and sometimes opposed ways of achieving that mission. The name Totemreach is derived from the practice of leaving cairn-like totems when a Plemya moves. Many trails in and out of the region are dotted with them. Plemyans are deeply dedicated people, stemming from their shared goal. They are loyal, kind, charitable, and creative. The people of Totemreach must be incredibly skilled, as the harshness of the wilderness demands inhabitants who are strong enough to survive it. Many talented channelers, naturalists, skirmishers, and warriors have come from this region and consider it a brutal but warm home. Sylvans, Humans, and Beastkin are prevalent here, though almost all species can be found among the wilds. The only exceptions are undying and soulforged; it is rare to find either of these races amongst the Plemya.

Culture

Plemyans believe that the world was inherently broken by the Sundering and that it is their job to restore it. They believe they can bring the wilderness back to its pre-Sundering glory through skill, cooperation, and nerve. Plemyans understand that their way of life is not for most people. Many come to Totemreach from other cultures to work towards something more important than their own personal goals. They specifically avoid the affairs of other cultures; intervention outside of Totemreach is unusual unless nature is at risk.

Appearance

Plemyans tend to dress in brightly patterned clothes that they dye using local plants and minerals. The colors and patterns mimic the native foliage. Each tribe has a set of distinct colors that they wear proudly in their clothes and on their banners. Some Plemyans wear more muted or natural colors, while others take pride in their vibrancy. Hats and head coverings are common, ranging from simple caps to large head pieces designed and made by the wearer. Southern Plemyans dress in long tunics made of cotton. They wear sashes and toga-like robes over them. Sashes and robes are often functional as well, serving as bags or blankets to sleep under. Northern Plemyans, who live in and around mountains, favor heavier wool fabrics. They tend to wear darker colors to retain and catch more heat from the sun.

Territories

Superstitions & Taboos

• Exploring alone. The people of Totemreach deeply understand how dangerous the world is, and consider the act of exploring by themselves to be a death wish or suicide mission.
• The woods will trick you. Too many people have been lost to familiar sounds in the woods. If you hear someone calling your name when they shouldn’t be, it may be the woods trying to take you.
• Shrines of those before. You must respect the flowers and totems left by a site’s former occupants. Many make small houses for the totems so that they can be protected from weather. Desecrating a totem shrine is equivalent to wishing death on the previous Plemya or declaring a war against them.
• Think before you kill. Plemyans are hesitant to kill an animal while hunting for fear that it could be connected to a Primal Spirit. Plemyans thoroughly inspect tracks for any deviations from known animals and look for “stars against the sun:'' spots of light that seem to dance and play in trees and on the tops of rivers and ponds that signal the recent presence of a primal spirit.
• Ash moons and the dark sun. Eclipses of all kinds are interpreted as omens and signal the fate of the land. The lunar eclipse, named the Ash Moon, is considered a deeply bad omen. Conversely, the solar eclipse, called the Dark Sun, is considered a good omen.
• Walking over the sleeping. It is considered bad luck to walk over someone's body while they are sleeping.