The Peoples of Sundren

[Euniana]

Sundren is a land that was recently colonized by civilization. Its people are mostly migrants from the Faer?nian north, with minority groups that came from elsewhere. For the most part, Sundren is composed of humans, the vast majority of whom are Illuskans and Chondathans. In that regard, Sundren is not unlike the metropolises of the Sword Coast. Its overall demographics shows enough diversity as to not be completely homogeneous, as both ethnic groups maintain their distinct identities in harmony.

In politics, Chondathans tend to dominate leadership positions, as their complex social structure makes them more suited to upholding the day-to-day running of Sundren. In other pursuits, Chondathans and Illuskans are equally able workers, though Chondathans are more likely to have backgrounds in farming, engineering, scholarship, and commerce, whereas the Northlanders are the stereotypical fisherfolk, seafarers, builders, and soldiers.

Illuskan-Sundarians are migrants or descendants of migrants from the north, the Silver Marches, and the Sword Coast. They outnumber the Chondathans, but have adapted to living peacefully alongside them. Most Illuskan-Sundarians speak Common, Illuskan and understand Chondathan to varying degrees. Some Chondathan-Sundarians are the descendants of early settlers that came with Mundus of Waterdeep, though the vast majority migrated later from the Silver Marches, Waterdeep, and the Faer?nian heartlands. They speak Common and Chondathan, and the lower-class amongst them tend to understand Illuskan to some extent.

Whilst Illuskans make up roughly sixty percent of the human population, Chondathans make up most of the remaining forty percent. Intermingling is nowhere from rare, but neither ethnic group is likely to entirely disappear to assimilation in the foreseeable future. In addition, Common (which itself began as a dialect of Chondathan) is used not only in trade or casual communications, but has also been adopted as the language in official use.

Other prominent civilized peoples that have colonized Sundren include elves, half-elves, and dwarves. The migration of half-elves accompanied that of humans, and they face no ill treatment even in rural parts. Considering the age of Sundren, few elves were born in Sundren, and there thus is no elven culture unique to the region. The dwarves came to Sundren as miners, mercenaries, and explorers. Most of them are Shield Dwarves, with a negligible minority of Gold Dwarves. They have their own thriving if small communities.

[Euniana]

Humans

Illuskans

Descendants of the strong and barbaric northlanders, Illuskans are typically fair-haired, pale of skin, blue-eyed, and tall of build, a people that spread all over the Faer?nian west through the years. Though many have come under the influence of their southern neighbours, the Chondathans, Illuskans as a people remain proud at heart and strong in their dedication to their past and their kin.

The Illuskans of Sundren are of a milder breed than their fearsome barbarian ancestors who roamed the far north and raided the coast with impunity. Most of them are migrants from the south, from relatively peaceable settlements such as the Silver Marches and the Sword Coast, with some from Icewind Dale to the north. Whilst they are unlike the savage Illuskans who still cling to their old ways in the arctic northlands, the Illuskan-Sundarians are nevertheless a sturdy folk who value strength, honour, and faith above aught else.

Illuskan-Sundarians for the most part labour in careers as they have for generations. They work tirelessly on the sea and at the docks, lay the foundation of settlements with bare hands, and defend their land with a great passion. The Illuskans also lack the stricter class divisions of southern cultures, their free spirit contributing to the openness and tolerance for diversity in Sundren.

Whilst somewhat underrepresented in the upper echelons of government and education, Illuskans more than fill the roles of soldiers, sailors, and artisans, and foolish are those who look down upon these capable folk as savage northlanders.


Chondathans

Known as some of the premier pioneers of the Realms, Chondathans are said by some to have crafted the most culturally pervasive civilization in contemporary Faer?n, with many scholars believing them to bear the partial heritage of the Netherese. Indeed, their language gave rise to the Common lingua franca of the Realms, and their trades and migrations have filtered past the Faer?nian heartlands, seeping into every corner of the continent.

Typical Chondathans, unlike modern-day inhabitants of Chondath who do not share their openness and fervour in commerce and religion, are invariably folk with something to trade, be it great or small; skills, labour, or merchandise. Indeed, the many mercantile city-states of the Sword Coast are largely the legacy of early Chondathans who heralded a culture of open trade.

Chondathans have migrated to Sundren from the east and the south, from regions such as the Sword Coast, the Western Heartlands, and as far as the Sea of Fallen Stars. Their appearances range from blond-haired to dark brown and black, fair-skinned to tawny and tanned, and their eyes vary from blue, hazel, and green to brown and black -- a living testimony to their partial Netherese heritage.

In Sundren, the versatile Chondathans work in every trade. Some are farmers who trade their harvests, some are bakers and butchers who exchange products of their skills and labour, and others yet are grocers and shopkeepers who stay true to the Chondathan spirit in their own ways. Those with loftier backgrounds or ambitions sometimes pursue exploration in various fields, some as traders and merchants, and others choosing instead to unravel the mysteries of the Realms through scholarship.

The elite of the Chondathan-Sundarians invest themselves in the politics of Sundren, ensuring the day-to-day functioning of society with strong dedication to common prosperity. As Sundarian society greatly relies on Chondathan-influenced principles of trade and government, they naturally tend to excel at administrating what their forebears have created for them.

It is no coincidence that the churches of Helm and Waukeen prosper, with Chondathan culture dominating much of Sundarian life.


P.S. Everything stated above is stereotypes and generalizations and is in no way intended to restrict options and deviation.