Sumari

The Sumari, often referred to as fox folk in the Traveler's Tongue, are a species which primarily inhabits central Phoros and the country of Mosir-Sumari.

In, the Sumari emergence from their homeland beneath the eroded bedrock brought them to the lands of Terrather. This land was nominally under the dominion of Skjoldrbrodir, whom from their first interactions with the Sumari viewed them as savages, posturing to eradicate them. However, during the conquest of Terrather the Sumari met minimal resistance, and it swiftly became Mosir-Sumari's heartland. From there the Sumari expanded into Azuma-zi, the Forge's successor-state, Jestae — or a colony thereof — and Wolfin-Wildonia, integrating each into their larger identity. Following these conquests, many Sumari gradually dispersed into the surrounding lands, causing the Sumari to be viewed as a civilized and developed species within the whole of Eldham in spite of their militaristic origins.

Sumari mature significantly slower than Humans, reaching adulthood by fifty years of age in contrast to Humanity's twenty. Theoretically the Sumari can live indefinitely, but many become world-weary and perish of their own volition. Lastly, there are several Sumari ethnicities, which include but aren't limited to the Red and the White Sumari.

Scientifically, the Sumari are classified as the Lycanthropus Vulpes Sumari, and are categorized as a subspecies of the Vulpur or Lycanthropus Vulpes. This relation, however, is doubtful because the Sumari are more distinctly similar to the Kumiho of Southern Syltör rather than the Vulpur, despite irreconcilable differences from them as well. Therefore, there is mild debate on how they are to be classified, mirroring the debate on how the Kumiho should be classified.

Culture
The Sumari have a diverse and varied culture and society that greatly diverges from the dominant Human cultures of Eldham. Therefore, there is a noticeable difference between those Sumari which have and haven't lived among their own kind.

Artistry & Expression
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Cuisine
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Dress
Sumari clothing has historically been minimal but not necessarily modest. With their ability to shapeshift, clothes have more often than not proven an uncomfortable impediment for the Sumari. Therefore, they'd often wear a loose and vibrant dress or robe accompanied by sandals exclusively. This leaves many other garments — hats, socks, and so on — as generally foreign to the Sumari. Jewelry is an exception, however, as necklaces and rings, among others, are frequently worn as a flamboyant expression of oneself. Makeup is also fashionable for the same reason, but it is rarely seen outside of the high-born Sumari.

In contrast to traditional Sumari clothing, formal Sumari clothing has evolved to encompass ornate garments that now mirror the dress of Humans. This encompasses both military uniforms and tightly fitted dresses or suits among other attire. Fortunately, this is reserved for the royal court and important events among the Sumari and is seldom seen.

Literature
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Music
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Language & Gestures
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Manners
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Romance & Wedlock
Per their customs, the Sumari are renowned for their elegant pursuit of romance and their embrace of polygamy. Traditionally, letters and poems have served as the primary means for courtship, leading to an abundance of romantic poetry. Potential partners would frequently be judged on their calligraphy, the cleverness of their verses, and the quality of their paper, as a lot of creative effort was tied into this elaborate system of marriage and romantic affairs.

For the high-born Sumari, however, marriage became a practice of convenience for political alliances and unifying families. These marriages are typically arranged by the respective family matriarchs, often to provide the family with children that would inherit the highest possible rank with the best-placed lineage. Unfortunately, it has proven rare for marriages to remain permanent after childrearing with the Sumari tendency to follow one's whims.

Inheritance
Due to a scarcity of resources underground, the high-born Sumari have historically embraced Matrilineal Primogeniture. Through this practice, the eldest daughter is entitled to hereditarily succeed before her younger sisters, and the brothers remain unentitled. This isn't enforced through the law, however, and low-born Sumari have often given inheritances according to their conscience rather than according to Matrilineal Primogeniture.

Weddings
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Societal Values
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Communitarian
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Hierarchy
The society of the Sumari is vaguely hierarchical in nature, but in hardly a traditional manner. This owes to the fact that spiritual nature of the Sumaris' existence is in a constant flow and ever-changing.

Innovation
Their acceptance of change has also nurtured in the Sumari a fascination with anything curious and interesting. They've frequently adopted aspects of foreign cultures and sought out hidden secrets, both to expand their knowledge and understanding of the world. This has caused them many dramatic advancements in philosophy, science, and technology since their emergence from beneath the bedrock. For instance, one notable advancement is the Sumari's shipbuilding, which was previously unheard-of underground.

Superstitions
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Magic
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Religion
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Physiology
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Reproduction
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