#hyperborea

[merkabatraindepot]

Cold Islanders/Shvuumh

An introductory primer to a new birg culture under the cut. Project done in collaboration with @iguanodont

Across the lashing grey waves of the Messenian strait, and south of the great equatorial ice belt lies a land once thought as little more than myth. Suhurmv vi Hmascah, or as it is known by people of the West, The Cold Islands. Despite the name of the archipelago, the Islands are just as affected by Hyperborea's extreme seasonality as the rest of the planet.

Inland temperatures during summer on larger Islands will often soar to 45C°, while winter temperatures plunge to -64C°. The fauna, and flora (inso much as such terms are applicable, on Hyperborea Adult Sedentary vs Adult Motile are more useful) native to the archipelago are adapted to these extremes. Currents flowing from the ice belts in conjunction with warmer waters from the East keep oceanic temperatures in a range from 12C° to 5C°. The nutrient rich upwellings mean the waters surrounding the Islands are particularly fertile, and home to some of Hyperborea's largest marine life. Inland likewise represents high endemism, the rugged topography somewhat reminiscent of Earth's Aotearoa- including several large flightless distant relatives of the velocifalcons. In the mind of outsiders The Cold Islands are, perhaps not undeservedly, a Burroughsesque primordial lost world.

(Rest of entry under cut)

Suhurmv vi Hmascah is not a land without people. Indeed, the largest island of Ksmah susc (lit; Honored Sma's toe bones) supports a population of almost five million across seventeen distinct polities, and over sixty spoken languages. As a people, every Shvuumh culture has ties to the sea, being the only region on Hyperborea to successfully domesticated fully semiaquatic predators as a kind of damp hunting hound. The attached image of a Shvihiim canoe depicts the less glamorous above water aspects of a hunt.

The Shvuumh (Most common blanket term for the Cold Islanders, taken from the Susmahk language word for "people". All Northwestern Ksmah group languages use a derivative of a common root for this word) are generally considered the most isolated population of on Hyperborea. Historically this had them interpreted as almost mythical, a race of sea wizards during the early days of infrequent Ss'wassoum contacts. Modern science has confirmed their isolation, if provided no clarification on their collective wizarding capacity. Shvuumh are characterized by several cold resistant adaptations found in no other Hyperborean people, including ice belt nomads. Their peleage is dense, but the outer layers rapidly detach in summer heat. Similarly, their facial ruffs are famously expansive. The only true beards on the planet, and are styled a dizzying number of ways. They also exhibit extensive feathering on their limbs, though during the warm season this is often trimmed to fit inside traditionally leather leggings. Their physical colors tend towards paleness, with some piebaldism present in specific ethnicities.

Perhaps the most interesting trait found in indigenous islanders is their incredible internal filtration system. The Cold Islands are the site of Hyperborea's longest ongoing chemical arms race. Nearly every native plant being minimally unpalatable to outsiders, to abjectly toxic. Perhaps curiously, this has also resulted in a society for which hard narcotics are roughly as damaging as tea or coffee in their preferred dosages. Most Twowi heartland street drugs (especially dream stings) would be metabolized by a Shvuumh before any effects set in. Conversely a mild smoke on the Cold Islands would have the most hardened Ss'wassoum glimmerbeak fiend convulsing on the ground within a single hit.

All peoples of the islands practice aquaculture to an exceptionally sophisticated degree, though only cultures on the larger islands have a dedicated land based agricultural system. These land crops are the result of independent plant domestication disconnected from any other agrarian development. Some can be seen in the above illustration, such as the tuberous looking kskhid, which has both rhizome and leaf focused cultivars. Several cultures on the main island are also seminomadic pastoralists who migrate seasonally from different villages (see Kikram long house for the most common form of multi-family summer home) who graze a mixture of indigenous livestock mixed in with introduced animals from both East and West. Shvuumh notably lack the sex segregation which is the norm for most of their world's cultures. Rather large fusional family groups work with almost no separation of roles beyond some ritual acts in various religious events. Even in the more Sedentary cultures, the notion of a gifter or receiver exclusive town is bizarre to say the least- that would be akin to only using one specific color of feathervane log to build a long house.

It is generally believed the ancestors of the Shvuumh arrived to their homeland via island hopping roughly 45k years ago during an unusual warm era (out of the normal long cycle). Their ancestors were from a Southwestern population referred to as Paleo-Masakkid people, who left no genetic trace on any modern ethnicity of the Eastern Continent. For roughly half of their history, they have hugged the coasts, only establishing static inland populations approximately 10k years ago (based off of archeological evidence). Their histories and diversity have been vast, and only began contacting the outside world some 700 years before the present day with global current shifts allowed for outside sailors to visit them.

By 300 years ago, these interactions increased. Some even resulting in interested Shvuumh spending years away from home as itinerate specialists, or in more sinister cases victims of the slave trade akin to the scourge of Pacific blackbirding. 200 years ago, the spectre of colonialism began to rear is head over Suhurmv vi Hmascah. Suddenly every nascent empire found itself interested in a land full of mineral wealth, virgin forests, and valuable botanicals populated by a people without firearms. In most cases, this would mark the beginning of a tragedy- the first act in a sordid drama of subjugation and genocide.

Curiously, it was drugs which saved the day. The very same compounds which attracted attention to their home also gave the Shvuumh an incredible collective bargaining chip against invaders, as early exports of what were to the islanders mild stimulants resulted in an explosion of addicts. This massive demand combined with invaluable pharmaceuticals have safeguarded Suhurmv vi Hmascah from being truly invaded beyond a handful of port towns. Well, that and the fact that it would take roughly fifteen minutes to poison the entire food supply of colonial armies with crushed leaves. Or just leave them alone for the high summer biting gnat swarms. Truly, living in what most of Hyperborea considers a hell has worked out wonderfully for the Shvuumh.

-Excerpt from Bulakul's Reference Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Cultures, 20 year anniversary edition, volume three

[atlas7seo]

Genshin 5.7 spoilers specifically for a space and time for you. (I havent gotten to skirks thing yet)

My disorganized current thoughts on the new main quest

OKAY. Istaroth!? What are you doing????? How many times has it been now? First with the ancient Sakura, the before sun and moon parable, and now this? Also samsaras but I don't know if thats actually Istaroth's doing.

Its so interesting. Also i wish we could have found out a way to not start the loop.

Istaroth has done so many shenanigans now! Also lowkey this kind of mildly meddles with the boxed time theory of Teyvat. But also not.

Also Surtalogi and Dain were classmates!? And and! It was probably the sibling's power the five sinners stole. It was pretty much spelled out for us by Haden but like also we shouldn't take things at immediate face value too? I mean its Genshin.

Also Vedrfolnir is the reason Dain doesn't rot!? (Lowkey forgot they were siblings) He gave him a ring!?? I wonder if Pierro is the same. This also has a lot of fun hints with The Ring Cycle which Khaenri'ah takes a lot of inspiration from.

Dain really out here knowing all the sinners personally. Like it was assumed since his hatred was so strong but its funny. His classmate, his older brother, I don't quite remember if he has close ties with the other 3 but like this is funny right? And then being a personal companion to our sibling the prince/princess. Dain out here as a main character man.

Also maybe the fact that our sibling forgetting their memories is part of the reason why they're not a descender because they consider themselves part of the world. One trait I find really interesting is that our Traveler genuinely doesn't care that much. The moment the sibling says "let's go", the traveler wouldn't even hesitate they'd be out of there. Traveler just wants to leave, the only reason why they're still here is because of their sibling. But its our Twin's pride and connection to the world that makes us stay. Like we're a trapped star.

Also technically there's three hibernation keys at one time sorta. Imagine we use the third for Paimon.

On another note

Also 3 of the four Samsaras being named after locations in the game Hyperborea, Remuria, Natlanese ect. is interesting. And Khraun-Arya sounds awfully close to Khaenri'ah. Ya know what's interesting about all 4 of these locations. They had some sort of major revitalizion/rebrand(?). For example, Hyperborea is the original location of the Frostmoon Scions who relocated to Nod Krai. Remuria had the Grand Symphony and turning people into machines. Natlan relocated from Ochkanatlan to current Natlan. Now Khaenri'ah is being remade whereever our twin places the Atlas. Maybe this is why we're in the fourth Samsara because Khaenri'ah hasn't been remade yet.

Or it could be time travel

I had a really random thought about Samaras about how maybe each Samasara is a loop we're involved in. So like the first one being The Sakura, the second being this one from 5.7 and so on? But thats really far-fetched I don't really buy it either

[extort4me]

Frosty the snowman

[siegrune]

I really despise edgy tryhard wannabe neo-nazis, especially those who are obsessed with true crime cases like brenton tarrant, and think it is cool, like at least read actual books and be educated about your stupid ideology, and have good points supporting your views, if there are any, and don't just be like "grrr [insert enemy]😡".

BTW. The SS killed other SS for being too brutal and sadistic, as it was viewed as a subhuman trait.

you neo-nazis are the exact reason people view nationalsocialists as stupid hateful white-trash who don't think for themselves, you are not like the Schutzstaffel (SS), and more like the Sturmabteilung (SA), but stupider, the nationalsocialists back then would've put you in camps too, with the reason of you being "subhuman".

[masochist-mouse]

YOU ALL LAUGH AT ME BUT LETS SEE WHOS LAUGHING WHEN I LEARN ALL THE RIGHT WING DOGWHISTLES SO I CAN AVOID THEM AND YOU DONT HMPH

[victusinveritas]

Conan the Barbarian / Red Sonja and the Quest for Beer

Art by Loopydave

[apollosothertwin]

Sometimes you gotta just leave for the winter and go to Hyperborea to chill with your wind god boyfriend, you know?

[lemongirl456]

I AM A HOLLOW EARTHER

I have just found out about Agartha, I and after lots of consideration I have found I agree that it is real and all the ideologies that come with it. The hollow earth is the only correct way of thinking in my opinion and as a white blonde blue eyed person myself I feel that I come from Agartha or at least descend from Aryan people. Bow to the superior race.

I have made permanent changes to my diet to eat more Vril foods such as beef, raw milk and Monster Energy Ultra.

[castellanisms]

my favorite canon fact about Apollo is the fact that he goes to hyperborea for the winter. like no one’s forcing him to like Persephone he just...migrates like a bird going south for the winter. honestly, so real of him. like it gets a little chilly and he just...dips.

bonus point Demeter and Leto have a Mothers Whose Children Leave Them for the Winter support group ™

[castilestateofmind]

[z0vdiac]

lulz trve as fvk

[brantheblessed]

You can't search"hyperborea" on TikTok 😂😂😂

[father-of-the-void]

Of the fairest glories that mortals may attain, to him is given to sail to the furthest bound. Yet neither by ship nor on foot could you find the marvelous way to the assembly of the Hyperboreans. Yet was it with these that Perseus the warrior chief once feasted, entering their homes, and chanced upon their sacrifices unto the god, those famous offerings of hecatombs of asses; for in their banquets and rich praise Apollon greatly delights, and laughs to see the rampant lewdness of those brutish beasts. Nor is the Muse a stranger in their life, but on all sides the feet of maidens dancing, the full tones of the lyre and pealing flutes are all astir; with leaves of gleaming laurel bound upon their hair, they throng with happy hearts to join the revel. Illness and wasting old age visit not this hallowed race, but far from toil and battle they dwell secure from Nemesis' remorseless vengeance…

— Pindar, Pythian Ode 10, 26-45

[extort4me]

aha

[siegrune]

[masochist-mouse]

absentia you have to stop.... your vrilposting too esoteric...your larp too believable.... your bitch (pocketcat) is too bad...theyll kill you....