Surinite

Surinites are the owl-people that call southern Trecath home, in Nydiowa and Hanoan. They are the second smallest ethnicity in terms of population, but are very popular with their exports, especially with magic, the magical forests they live in give them a great opportunity to trade valuable items and materials between countries without access to them.
The happiest race of harmonids, they enjoy their freedom and will celebrate it constantly. They have many festivals celebrating their freedoms, including sky festivals, water festivals, and celebrations down streets, some would even say their celebrations are a bit outlandish.

Culture

Common Dress code

Surinites wear short t-shirts, essentially crop tops, made of thinly weaved leaves and vines that form a sturdy, leather like material. These can be dyed and patterned as one wishes. Shorts or other trousers are not needed as they have feathers. Nobody really understands why surinites wear clothes, as they do have feathers.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Surinites have many festivals celebrating freedom, seasons, dawn and dusk, as most of them worship the God of Fire, Asherin, the God of Seasons, Wepotheos and the God of the Suns, Neoyar.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When born, babies are submerged in a bath of silken ashes. These ashes cover the feathers in a shiny coat, symbolising the purity of surinites. Anyone who was not bathed in the ashes as a child can be distinguished easily among others and are punished, for being unholy. One of the only religious races of harmonids, the ashes are believed to be the materials that created Asherin, the God of Fire.

Coming of Age Rites

On a surinites 19th birthday, they are celebrated by entering the Ring of Fire, which is a podium that essentially determines and solidifies the adulthood of a surinite. The newly adulted surinite will be adorned with a symbol of fire on their heads, which represents their adulthood, allowing them to enter adult only areas, court, and buy items restricted to adults.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Recently passed surinites are given a funeral to mourn. The body is worshipped by relatives and friends, and silken ashes and flowers are thrown amongst them as the body lays down in a large coffin. The coffin is closed and tied with a ribbon, then thrown into a fiery pit. It is believed that when the body enters the pit they are now amongst the Gods in the afterlife.

Historical figures

The most worshipped God, Asherin, is a major figure in surinite culture. A large statue of Asherin is displayed within the magic forest that many call home, and is often visited throughout a surinites lifetime, to pay respect. The statue is created solely out of silken ashes.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Surinites are fascinated by pristine feathers. They value their looks very much, and attempt to have the cleanest feathers they can, so far as to creating preening salons where you can have professionals tend to your feather coat and make them look shiny and new.

Courtship Ideals

Proposals are usually done with small necklaces that hold a surin stone within it. The stone is said to tie together the lovers forever. It is considered good fortune to propose to the other around some kind of fire, be it candles, a campfire, or even a forest fire, if that isn't too extreme. The fire represents the burning passion the lovers have for each other.

Cultural Exports

Surinites, for the longest time, have had an advantage over other mages around the world, with their settlement locations being in the middle of magic forests. These forests have distinct differences that set them apart from regular forests. Magic powers are enhanced and magnified in these areas, and there are many unique materials found here that the surinites have obtained and use to trade with other people around the world. The most famous trade they make are surin stones, these bright orange stones can be used to enhance fire spells, such as the "Fires of Ferathon". These stones are popular around the world so they are rather expensive. The increase in popularity in recent years has driven up prices, and are now a unique collector's item.

Surinite Guard