Tsumetan

Fashion

City Life

Those that live in the city often have clothing accessories resembling cogs, gears and other clockwork parts. It is common to see goggles resting on heads. However, the cleaner the goggles look, the less practical they are.

Food & Drink

People know the Tsumetans for their steamed foods. They slow cook meats using steam to create juicy tender chunks of meat. They specialize in a meal called Steamed Hog, which is shredded pork meat cooked using steam and covered in a tangy sweet sauce.

Geography

Tsumetan is the main culture of the Tsumeta Empire. It is commonly referred to as the culture of the frozen lands, as the Tsumeta Empire lives in the coldest region.

Hidden steam geysers throughout the tundra provide heated underground caverns. They built cities in the tundra around the steam geysers. Larger cities have massive bronze and glass domes that completely cover the city in order to keep the city warm. Most of the cities are underground and built-in massive pits.

They are known for illuminating their cities using steam powered lamps that are maintained by the city. The lamp’s steam canisters are replaced every morning to indicate the start of a new day.

Tsumanzan

The City of Steam

Tsumunzan, the capital of the Tsumeta Empire and home to the world’s largest steam geyser. The Tsumeta clan founded the Tsumeta Kingdom in the year 612 ME. Tsumunzan was established as the capital and first permanent settlement in the tundra, marking the beginning of the kingdom.

605ME the Tsumeta clan discovered a steam geyser at the bottom of a massive chasm that provided heat but also the ability to melt and purify snow into drinkable water. The Tsumeta clan created a trading post using steam power to offer shelter, water, and other goods for nomadic clans. By 612ME Tsumunzan had grown into a thriving city with clockwork steam powered lifts and mechanisms to aid in traveling into the chasm and central area of the city. The Tsumeta clan claimed the right to rule over all who wish to live in their city and surrounding area. Although some clans opposed the idea of permanent settlements and still clung to the nomadic life, many adapted and welcomed the change. There was an overwhelming agreement with how the Tsumeta clan ran Tsumunzan that they were welcomed openly as the rulers of the kingdom.

On 615ME, three years after the initial founding of the kingdom, Grendlar Tsumeta was crowned king. Since then, the Tsumeta family has ruled over what is now known as the Tsumeta Empire. Grendlar’s successors have all lived in his expectations to provide a safe and peaceful nation that is open to all humanoids. All that can withstand the cold, that is.

As Tsumeta finished building their domes, Grimslarian kingdom began expanding to conquer neighboring kingdoms in 700ME. They designed the glass and bronze domes for protection from both the environment and other outside forces. The domes kept the heat of the steam geyser in while keeping the cold and other opposing forces out. Tsumeta was the last kingdom to fall to Grimslar's expansion due to their technology and the cold tundra.

Religion

Tsumetans believe that Frosine (Element), the goddess of frost and snow, protects and watches over them. Her temples hold at least one service a week where she is worshipped. They held the main weekly service on the seventh day of the week, which is known as the Frost Service.

Frost Service

In order to give thanks to Frosine for blessing them with the ability to withstand the cold, they perform the sacred frost dance weekly at the temples. The dance is a small tradition done at the temples of Frosine as a weekly service.

Society

While this culture comprises many sub-species it is primarily made up of the Ramhar gnomes and Do’Kol goblins. This culture has the strongest connection to both steam power and cold environments.

The Last Kingdom

By 724ME, the Grimslarian kingdom had conquered the known world except the Tsumeta kingdom. The tundra and protection from the domed cities prevented Grimslar from fully taking the kingdom over. They had conquered the surrounding smaller surface cities, but Tsumunzan and the other domed cities still stood strong. However, Tsumeta wasn’t doing as well as they appeared. There was a shortage of food and other supplies, as the normal hunting grounds and trade routes were blocked. Tsumeta knew they wouldn’t be able to last much longer, so they sent an emissary to negotiate a peaceful surrender if their terms were kept. In 725ME Tsumeta became the last kingdom to fall to Grimslar, making the Grimslarian Empire complete. Tsumeta’s terms were simple. Let the kingdom continue its way of life without interruption and it would pay its due taxes to Grimslar to keep the peace. Grimslar had little to no interest in a frozen territory so they had agreed to the terms.

Tsumeta was the only place where Grimslar conquered with no bloodshed. Grimslarian armies conquered Tsumeta and people surrendered willingly. People thought Grimslar's military strength made Tsumeta's fall inevitable. So, to not cause any unnecessary bloodshed, each settlement of Tsumeta willingly surrendered. The snowy plains of Tsumeta witnessed the first bloodshed due to war during the Great War in 988ME.

Military

Their military uses steam powered weapons, and they train their generals and commanders to be snipers. They not only lead the troops and strategize for battle but also help in removing threats in the field. The generals make sure they never enter the fields and are far enough from harm. They receive extreme long-range sniping training and use it to take down high value targets that can turn the tides of the battle.

Traditions

The Cooling

A tradition held when a child reaches the age of adulthood. The Cooling is a test of stamina to resist the cold and test the limits of the child against the harsh environment of their land. Each child is prepared and trained for The Cooling at a young age. They are put through rigorous tests and problems they must solve that will help them during The Cooling. Once their twentieth year had come, they are sent out the morning after their day of birth. The night before is filled with celebration and cheer to give the child a proper send off.

Once the Cooling has begun, the child must survive in the harsh tundra with minimal equipment and supplies for three days. To survive, it's crucial to stick to their training in building snow shelters, hunting for tundra animals, and other survival tactics. Once the Cooling has begun, no one can interfere or provide aid. This test to come of age is literally a matter of life or death.

To complete the tradition, the child must make it back to their clan in three days. Upon returning, the clan provides medical care to the adult and restores them to health if needed. Following that, they hold a large party to celebrate the newest member of the clan. However, the clan mourns those who do not return after three days and holds a funeral in their honor. Neighboring clans give offerings and donations to the child’s clan out of respect to their loss. They mourn for one month, but they never forget the child.