Lands of Asheron Magazine Tear-out/Cultures

Aluvian Realm As the first people to answer Asheron's call and venture to Dereth, the Aluvians brought with them a strong sense of justice and right. Many an Aluvian would rather go penniless and hungry, and be on the right side of the law, than be wealthy, powerful, and thriving on the misery of others. Even decades later, their utilitarian architecture reflects these traits. Unfortunately, these cultural tendencies often lead them to rebellious and warlike ways. The most famous of the Aluvians on Dereth are the heroes Thorsten Cragstone and Elysa Strathelar. Their Aluvian values proved priceless when the led the human slaves to revolt against the insectlike Olthoi oppressors.

Gharu'ndim Domain Descended from powerful magicians, gifted poets, and intrepid traders, many Gharu'ndim follow the belief that knowledge is power. Those lured to Dereth soon discovered they could not return home, but found the next best thing in the A'mun Desert. The famed noble Musansayn led the newly arrived to these comforting dunes. Here, they established towns and cities and followed the Ghayaraqa Yadina (the poem also known as The Dozen Roads). Skilled Gharu'ndim smiths have set up shop in many settlements and some even started crafting their coveted scalemail armor. One such smith is Maqura al-Waryah in the settlement of Tufa.

Sho Nation Trained from youth for unarmed combat, a Sho is never defenseless. The elders use martial arts as a foundation for instilling the four principles called the Stones of Jojii: discipline, detatchment, compassion, and humility. This philosophy is embodied in the meticulously crafted weapon, the tachi&mdash;a blade now forged in Derethian villages such as Baishi and Sawato. Although known to be reclusive, even the Sho on the homeworld of Ispar are beginning to trade with the distant Gharu'ndim and Milantan kingdoms. Certainly, for the Sho culture on Dereth to survive, they, as well as the other humans, must start working together.