Novorosi Culture

Novorosi culture refers to the culture of the Principality of Novoros, stretching from the jungles of western Cymru to the islands and peninsula of eastern Sparwood minor.

As Novoros' geographical holdings are quite widespread, it becomes quickly clear to any historians, anthropologists, researchers, and visitors that it is extremely difficult to give a simple explanation of the ethnic and cultural identiies of the province. Most definitively there are three major groups: the various native Novorosi tribes that live scattered throughout the Cymrian jungles, the more metropolitan and culturally open non-native minority in cities such as Cadabia, and the isolationist Kemrian clans across the Nekkic sea.

Even when able to narrow the population into these thre groups, there are multiple subdivisions to each, which only serve to confuse and disorient an outside observer who may not understand the differences between one tribe and another, or other similar blunders. However, at least in the south, it seems as though the lines between the cultures of Cymrian Novoros are becoming increasingly blurred, with tradition and progress slowly intermingling as the wheels of time continue turning. Unfortunately it seems as though in the north, the Kemrian people still retain their pride in independence, and it has been quite difficult to slowly incorporate the region-- or at the very least ease up on the wariness towards outsiders...

Cymrian Cuisine
The cuisine of Cymrian Novoros is as diverse as its people.

An eastern highland tribesman might break fast with bread baked from manioc flour, drinking a tea brewed from wild plants, gathered from the jungles of Cymru. He might celebrate a victory with a feast, serving beer brewed from millet, junglefowl, fried locusts or catfish caught from the many lakes and rivers. In stark contrast a coast-dwelling southerner might prefer a morning meal of a light fish broth or soup, served with rice noodles. He might well skip eating at noon entirely, spending the entire day on the sea, and instead eating a larger evening meal, including seafood such as oysters and lobsters or fish caught and gathered during the day.

In the cities of Novoros, such as Cadabia, among the non-native, mixed and integrated tribal city populations, more refined foods, such as sweet pastries, bread rolls, and grain breads are popular. Notable is that the population of the cities can be said to have a sweet tooth, from honey and chocolate to raisins and candied fruits. Meat is less of a staple of their diet, doubly in comparision with the hunting tribesmen, most of their protein stemming from fish or non-animal sources. For drinks, wine enjoys special popularity in the cities, often cultivated in the surrounding lands, though usually drunk watered down outside of festivities.

Overall Cymrian Novorosi cuisine is a result of two large factors, first its jungles and coasts, which provide ample ground for gathering, hunting and fishing, and secondly its climate, the year-round tropical climate allowing for cultivation of demanding and sensitive crops, from citrus to cocoa and sugarcane.

Kemrian Cuisine
Kemria's food, like all aspects of its culture, is distinctly different from the rest of the province. Most, if not all, of Kemria's terrestrial holdings (excluding the island-city of Kumaur) are semi-arid, with many people living semi-nomadic pastoralist lifestyles. Thus the agricultural productivity in terms of crop cultivation is not as high as Cyrmain Novoros. Because of this, the diets of the people are usually protein heavy, with fish and meat (depending on geographical location) being heavily featured, along with rice and wild greens. Food is usually rich, heavily spiced, and hot, and pickled or preserved foods are also popular, especially during the colder months where fresh ingredients may be harder to come by. The main food-related products of Kemria are reindeer milk and meat, seal meat, rice, wheat and barley, seafood, and other cold-hardy meats and plants.

Language
Cymrian Novoros does not have a single, unified language. Various Novorosi dialects are spoken among the tribes, though due to their relative isolation they are often barely intelligible in spoken form, only in writing. Additionally the various foreign peoples settling in the cities also add to the multitude of languages spoken in Novoros.

As a result of this, and its mercantile history, the traveler's tongue serves as a Lingua Franca through Novoros, being used for communication in most non-private contexts, and also being the administrative language of the state.

Architecture
As with all aspects of Cymrian Novorosi culture, its architecture is diverse, and hard to define, though that of the Cadabian kind is the most prominent.

It is notably marked by its use of native sandstone, quartz, bricks, terracotta and concrete, especially coloured ones, as well as native Novorosi red granite. This use of bright materials, especially for the outside of buildings, serves the same purposes as much of Novorosi architecture, keeping both people and buildings cooled in the tropical climate of Cymrian Novoros.

The same purpose fulfill the many roofed porches, galleries and overbearing roofs of Novorosi buildings, providing shade for both the building and the roads. Notably, glass windows are rare in Novoros, easily openable wooden windows being preferred by the population, since they out the light as well as allowing for easier ventilation.

Another important aspect of its architecture and overall Cymrian Novorosi culture are gardens, which serve to both provide a place of relaxation, as well as meeting. Especially notably about their style is the prevalance of water features, from fountains to small canals, which beyond an aesthetic purpose, symbolically demonstrate the power of the builder, as control of water, symbolically is seen as control of life and nature. Another important feature is that Novorosi gardens are nearly always walled or raised, thus establishing both a safe sanctuary as well a private space.

Warfare
Still largely decentralized, Cymrian Novorosi military doctrine is largely based on defensive action.

If invaded, Novoros relies on its terrain, nature and sheer size as its first defense. Any invading force coming by land will be forced to march along the coastal roads, lest it be forced to march through Novoros' jungles, which for outsiders are nigh unnavigable, and whose dense forests and soft grounds make the transport of baggage or heavy equipment almost impossible. Though, if given sufficient time to prepare, the roads will likely be intentionally obstructed or damaged, be it by flooding, torn down trees, or similar measures. The attrition, beyond that of long marches and stretched supply lines, will be further increased for any army, though especially foreign ones, unfamiliar with the country. This is mainly due to Novoros' harsh climate, hostile wildlife, tropical diseases.

Furthermore, any invading force which marches through the jungles, will have to deal with near constant harassment by small mobile raiding and ambush forces, organized from within the many hidden villages and cities of Novoros' tribes. These attacks will largely focus on the rear and vanguard of the armies, stretched out on the narrow roads. They begin with a short phase of short range skirmishing, followed by a rapid close in to a short and brutal melee, before pulling back in a fighting retreat, harassing the enemy army with slings and bows as they retreat into the jungle.

If the slowed and dwindling army successfully manages to reach a major town such as Cadabia, the defenders usually wait behind their walls to starve their besiegers into retreat, most Novorosi towns being able to be supplied by sea. While besieged, the defenders will avoid sallying out, instead disrupting siegeworks with artillery bombardments from the walls, while the supply lines of the attackers are disrupted by further assymmetrical warfare.

When forced to engage in offensive military action, such as when supporting broader Sirradri military action, Novoros will levy troops from the larger tribes, which are kept in their traditional organisation. This augments the rather small Novorosi standing army, numbering no more than two thousand men. Consisting of the principial guard, the Principe's personal guard which is armed as heavy armored infantry, a few paid regiments of Novorosi musketmen and pikemen, as well as war elephants, numbering about forty.