Eseris is a forgotten kingdom on the far western side of Kessix, unseen by other nations. The people of Eseris are refugees from the Iksandi empire long ago, shaped by the cultures they came from.

GEOGRAPHY

Eseris takes up the Night Woods of western Kessix, bordered by the Black River to the east and by ocean on all other official borders. The borders don't end strictly in the forest, but people tend to stay away from the farther reaches, sticking closer to the river and the central woods.

GOVERNMENT

Eseris is run mainly as a series of independently governed villages and towns, linked through messanger trails. This leads to postal workers being highly valued in society. Most Serians end up running messages and errands between towns at one point or another.

CULTURE

Serian culture is a blend of Riweni, Civielite, Iksandi, and Jehisi cultures, with more cultural developments added later in time. The refugee origin of Eseris means that many folk form small, tight-knit communities as opposed to larger, looser ones. Self-sufficiency and interdependency are prized, as are useful skills like carpentry, sewing, and farming. 

Visual Culture

Clothing in Eseris, like most other parts of culture, is a cross-cultural development. Leather, hide, and wool are the main sources of textile, with cotton being a rare luxury among towns nearer to the river. The winter coats of the Jehisi are seen in the lightweight hide shirts, retaining the boxy hem and linear decorations. Many are worn without sleeves in the summertime. Most Serians wear loose, lightweight wool leggings and skirts, adding layers in the winter. The winter shirt is typically made of knitted wool, resembling a sweater, and worn under the hide shirts. Girdles are popular among Serians, shaping the clothing and adding a way for tools to be hung.

Serian architecture blends in well with the surrounding forests. Houses are constructed of a frame of wood, usually in a half-cylinder or vaulted shape. Wattle-and-daub is used to form the walls, and bark is placed over top of the roof. The entire frame is secured inside with clay and mud. A row of stones or mud-bricks are used to support the base of the structure. The doorframe has been compared to a tunnel, since it extends outward from the house and is covered in clay and bark. Each house usually holds one family.

DEMOGRAPHICS

The population of Eseris is dominated by Myra, mainly Dravic, Civielite, Jehisi, and Riweni. Some Mari magefolk, descendants of the initial refugees from the mage wars, live in the forests as well. The religious population is a blend of Avonistic, Kewenis, and Ervaju.