Theriad Caravans

On the edges of everything reside the Theriads. Their steps count cycles into the earth, and the few that settle make their homes in the cracks: they are the ones that brave the icy tundras within the Frozen Wastes; they are the ones trying to settle the edges of the Kimarel Wild Lands; their Heartstone Road connects every country to the other. Welcome nowhere yet essential everywhere, they eternally search for the place one can call home.

Geography

A nomadic civilization.

Architecture

They have painted caravans.

Notable Locations

There are a wide variety of landmarks Theriads note on their journeys, from Kimarel's creeping edge to Coronus's talus screes. A selection of some of the most well known ones are as follows.

Honeyed Valley

A beautiful and lush valley in the center of the Coronus mountains.

Heartstone Road

The main route theriad caravans travel.

Frozen Wastes

The far north. Semi-settled.

Kimarel Wildlands

The thin line of wilderness where people don't up and vanish. Semi-settled.

History

There is one point on which the legends agree: theriads were created from a group of humans who were traveling in the desert and encountered a godbeast. That, however, is the only point on which they agree.

Outside of theriad circles, the prevailing story is this: the humans were criminals on the run. They were thieves, murderers, liars, and cheats; they were a band of the worst of the worst humanity ever had to offer. They tried to run, but instead crossed paths with He Who Will Devour Land and Sea. Not even the sight of the Devourer itself could humble these fools, and their disrespect brought its wrath down upon them. The curse made their monstrousness manifest, contorting their bodies into horrible beastly shapes and revealing them to be no more than ill-bred creatures of hunger. To this day, the filth runs so deep that even their children's children's children still hold these horrid forms.

Within theriad circles, the story plays out much differently: the humans were explorers. They were seeking to map the desert expanses, but befell disaster, and began to run out of supplies. Starved and dying of thirst, they crossed paths with He Who Began All. They were supplicants at its feet and begged for its mercy, and indeed, the Lifebringer took pity on them. It blessed them the only way it knew how: it changed their bodies into a new shape, granting them the capacity to survive just a little longer, and make it to the next wellspring. The endurance of their form is proof of the Lifebringer's eternal blessing and protection.

Technology

They're the mailmen.

Politics

Each caravan appoints a leader. Noncentralized.

Legal System

Restorative justice, but may depend on the caravan.

International Relations

Either really bad or really good.

Economy

Communal.

Cuisine

Hunting and foraging.

Culture

Gentleness and acceptance. Conflict resolution is a very important skill.

Arts and Entertainment

Turned knot-tying into an art form.

Childrearing

Typically, a caravan elder supplies the role of teacher and caretaker for the children. Others passionate about the work assist.

Death

Road markers and epitaphs.

Family

Long distance lovers are common. Invented the love letter.

Fashions

Caravaners primarily wear wool and leathers, since they also raise animals. They'll trade yarn and thread they make for other kinds of fabric, but they don't make plant-based fabrics themselves. Looms can be quite large; a loom with enough space for someone to work can be a whole entire wagon in and of itself, so their fabric is more commonly knit, crocheted, and knotted instead of woven. That said, some caravans boast a signature patchwork look, with their clothes woven on smaller, much more portable looms. As fibercraft is such a common hobby while on the road--anything to keep hands busy--caravaner embroidery and cross stitching can get really intricate, and their fiber arts of all kinds are highly valued.

More than half the Heartstone Road is in a cold area--Kimarel through the far north--so overall, caravaners favor warmer clothes. When traveling through the desert or other hot climates, caravaners will simply shed their layers to beat the heat, and it's not uncommon to run across a group hanging out half-naked.

Romance

Theriads are credited with the invention of the love letter: it is very common for theriads to form relationships with those in other caravans and only see each other once or twice per year, which has made love letters into a full-fledged art form. This yearning for your far-off lover is heavily romanticized, and it's fairly common for someone to have both a local lover and a far-off lover. Sometimes, they'll even move caravans to switch who is local and who is far.

Religion

Focus on small shrines to local deities.