Adravosh - The people of Vosh {posting welcome]

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This is the conculture of my first conlang, Voshla. I put what notes I had together and came up with an encyclopedia reference to Vosh. Forgive me if the order seems scrambled, I will try to keep it organized! Thanks for reading! 4laugh

*~* Civilization *~*

Vosh [вош] is a small village of indigenous people in the Vanoj [ваной] Peninsula of Odyina [одёина] (think of Siberia). They are small community of nearly 30 families that have gathered in the valley of the river Iloski [илоски]. Most of them make a living as hunters, fishers and trappers. A nomadic sect of the Adravosh [адравош], called Adrasyuk [адрасюк], follow the migrating herds of reindeer, passing Vosh [вош] in the spring and autumn. The language of Vosh [вош] is Voshla. It is only spoken in this community and by the nomads. The Adravosh [адравош] are a peaceful people and barter among each other. Mostly isolated from the major cities, the Adravosh [адравош] have managed to thwart religious conversion and maintain a non-industrial lifestyle. They do, however, take advantage of some creature comforts such as indoor plumbing. Electricity, automobiles and other machinery is unheard of here. The closest they come in contact with 'advanced civilization' are the miners who make their way to the North by means of a railroad that stops 20 miles short of their lands.  

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*~* History *~*

RESERVED, but coming soon!  

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Geography and Climate

Geography
The Vanoj [ваной}Peninsula is an area occupying approx. 480,000 square miles of land in the northernmost part of Odyina [одёина]. Vosh only inhabits a minutely small percentage at only 20 square miles. Vosh [вош] is about 35 miles from the coastline so fishing and seal hunting don't make up a good percentage of their trade. They rely on the Adrasyuk [адрасюк] herds and the animals they trap for sources of meat. During the summer hunting parties will go North with the Adrasyuk [адрасюк] to the coast and bring back seal, loons and fish.
The landscape is mostly rocky and sloping with a thick layer of permafrost underneath. Not much plant life can grow except for the sparse few that cluster in the rocky landscape. The majority of their use is medicinal.

Climate
Winters are long and very cold. The temperature can get down to -40. Snowfall, if any, is very light. Winds are usually light but some winter storms have brought gusts of 120mph along the coastlines.

Summers only last for six-eight weeks on average and there is very little sunlight. (the majority being overcast or rainy.) Though the rain is minimal, the Adravosh [адравош] make use of the ice and the underground fresh water

Average temp in January : 32'F – 5'F
Average temp in July : 55'F - 60'F  

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*~* Native Life *~*

Native Plants
*Praunoj tosh [праюной тош] – a mossy plant the grows along the edges of the riverbeds. It is fodder for many of the small migrating birds that travel throughout the area.

*Praunoj yikye [праюной еике] – a low-growing carpet of dark green leaves that turn a bright red during the late-summer and fall. Fed on by reindeer, muskoxen and arctic hare.

*Moashshlaye [моашшлае] – a small evergreen hedge, similar to holly, with dark green leaves and small red berries. During the spring and summer, they bloom with a variety of light pink and white flowers. Fruits are edible. They have a slightly bitter taste and are often stored in honey. Roots are used for teas to treat coughs and provide relief from menstruation. Stems are used in tea to ease childbirth and recovery afterwards. Leaves are dried and smoked as tobacco.

*Driosyi [дриосеи] – a grayish-green lichen that grows on rocks. Usually food for reindeer. It is edible if all the harsh acids are boiled out of it, otherwise, it is used as an agent to tan hides. Made into tea to treat indegestion. Dried and powder to use as a thickening agent for soups.

*Zeyemak Yikye [зэемак еике] – A low growing tree that creeps along the ground. It is harvested in the spring before the leaves get bitter. Very rich in calcium, vitamin A and C. Twigs are used to make baskets as they are so bendable. The wood of the plant makes good kindling. The bark is used in teas to relive pain and reduce fevers just like aspirin.

*Vovryana [вовриана] – Forms a carpet along the ground of dark leaves with small white flowers. Made into tea to relieve stomach and nerve ailments. Leaves are scattered on clothes to keep pests away. (moths and vermin) Used externally in salves and poultices to treat skin ailments. Made into a syrup to treat coughs. Flowers are POISONOUS and are avoided by even the wildlife.

*Siik oliski [сиык олиски] - a carpeting plant with small pink flowers and a plum-like fruit. Fruit is edible and sweet. A common dessert. Flowers are used to treat diseases of the eye.

*Yatyersha [ятерша] – a non-medicinal plant that grows in small tufts between rocks. It has a fruit similar to a raspberry with many seeds. Fruits are juiced and cooked with gamy meats to enhance the flavor. Seeds are toasted and eaten as a snack or dried and scattered about to attract birds.

**A note on preserving plants : Since the growing season is so short, plants harvested are either dried, stored in oil, pressed into oils, or made into syrups, powders and tinctures. Fruits are preserved as jams. Most seeds are dried and/or toasted.


Native Animals
*Chavenoju [чавэнойю] – much like a reindeer. They are used for their skins, milk, meat and fatty bone marrows.

*Uevo [юэво] – like a muskox. They are the work animals of the Adravosh [адравош].

*Odrinaihm avoviyo [одринаым авовиё] – sled dogs. They are also work animals, but they are mostly used by the herders.

*Naiyet [найет] – small white fox. They are trapped for their fur and meat.

*Boosha [буща] – small white rabbit. They are trapped for their fur and meat.

*Bloodnas [“blooth-nas”] – a race of snow bears. They, the Bloodnas and the Adravosh [адравош], have a mutual respect for one another and do good in staying out of each others way.

*Pyecho [печо] – seals. They are prized for their skins, meat, and fat which is turned into oils for lamps and used in food preservation.

*Sheekou [шикою] – all parts of the fish are used. Bones are used to make soup stock.

***Nehzkou [нэзкою] – like a salmon. The most prized of the fish.

***Yulehsakou [юлэсакою] – like cod.

***Shuyegkou [шюегкою] – like trout.

***Obokou [обокою] – similar to flatfish.

*Onaoyeyo [онаоеё] – a member of the loon family, they are only seen in the summer. The are highly prized for their feathers and their meat is served at special occasions.

**A note on preserving meats and animal products : Meat is wrapped and buried in the ground to keep frozen, dried as jerky or smoked. (usually the smaller animals are smoked : hare, fox, loon and fish)


Native Insects
*Praunojak kipro [праюнойак кипро] – “snowy bee” -a small variant of bee that nests on cliff sides and produces honey. In the fall when they go dormant the nests are harvested for the honey and the combs melted down for use in candles and balms.

*Nojedradriyeena [ноедрадриеина] – 'blood-tasters' blood-suckers that ruin the fun of summer.

*Usepraeevehoni [юсэпраивэони] – “quiet-fly”small moths that are seen near large areas of lichen.

(wow, that was a long one! I will try to keep the other posts shorter!)  

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*~* Domestic Living and Customs *~*

Domestic living
Homes are shelters dug into the ground during the summers end. By then, the ground has had a chance to thaw slightly. The above ground section of the structure is made of stone and covered with skins. These homes usually fit a family of 10-12. Common areas include a room for sleeping, an area for cooking and an area to entertain. A bathroom is connected off the main room with a 'toilet room' further down a hall.

Customs (non-religious)
*When an elder of the Adrasyuk [адрасюк] tribe can no longer make the trek with the herds, they are invited into the home of one of the Adravosh [адравош] families. It is seen as a blessing to invite an elder into your home since they are so treasured. Many of them have wonderful stories to tell and oral traditions to pass down. They are also helpful in keeping the children occupied while the rest of the family is out hunting. Kinda like a nanny.
**more to come in this section later.  

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*~* Community Living and a Calender *~*

Community Living
The Adravosh [адравош] gather in the center of the town every three months for the 'fire festivals', and once a week in the shrine. This weekly gathering is not so much for religious observance, but rather to get out of the house and go mingle with ones neighbors. Bartering goes on at this time as well. Thrice during the harshest part of the winter, they hold a large-scale dinner for the community, like a pot-luck, where each family brings a special dish. These dinners are the equivalent to Thanksgiving, and Christmas. These dinners are meant to keep the families uplifted and eliminate 'winter depression'.

Calendar
*February 1st –(ehzuchovya mehdraz) [эзючовя мэдраз] - “Holy day of Lights”-first of the 'fire festivals' Candles and oil lamps are lit all around the edge of town during the week before the festival and a way to encourage the warmth of summer back to the land.

*March 15th – (odriesa ordrineshla) [одиэса одринаэшла] - “Gathering of Song”. This is a dinner in honor of those who conceived during the summer months. It is a time to welcome new life into the community.

*May 1st – (lachivya mehdraz) [лачивя мэдраз] - “Holy day of Names”-the second of the 'fire festivals'. Celebrating the coming of summer. It is officially spring now and the weather is getting a little warmer. Those who have given birth, bring their newborns to the shrine for the naming ceremonies and for the community to meet.

*June through July – Summer months. Nearly everyone is outside enjoying the warmth. Marriages are most common during this time as well as the yearly hunts.

*August 1st- (yetuonavya mehdraz) [етюнавя мэдраз] - “Holy day of Thanks” -the third 'fire festival'. In preparation for the long winter months, this is the time the Adravosh [адравош] give thanks to the land for the resources they have accumulated.

*September 15th – (veeazeh odrinaeshla) [виазэ одринаэшла] - “Gathering of Bread” Grains traded into the community are used to make an assortment of cookies, breads, pastries, pastas and cakes.

*November 1st – (nachemu mehdraz) [насэмю мэдраз] -”Holy day of Death” -the last 'fire festival' of the year. The honoring of the dead. All the people lost in the past year are remembered at this festival. The whole day is spent in silence and mourning.

*December 15th – (uleheecho odrinaeshla) [юлэичо одринаэшла] - “Story Gathering”. Children exchange gifts and adults take turns telling the regions oral legends.  

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*~* Government, Economy and Religion *~*

Government
The Adravosh [адравош] look to the High Priestess and High Priest when it comes to community matters, the settling of disputes and/or the exiling of a criminal. Exile is very rare, then again so is criminal activity. In a way, it is similar to a monarchy. Except anyone can apprentice as a priest/ess in hopes of becoming a High Priest/ess.

Economy
Mining for copper and coal are the most common. Some of the more able-bodied men of the Adravosh [адравош] will go to work there in order to make money to bring back foreign goods such as lumber, grain, textile fabrics and herbs/spices. Those that work in the mines also take advantage of an education in the cities, which they bring back to Vosh [вош]. Vosh [вош] doesn't have its own monetary system, so they rely on bartering. Trades usually include furs, skins, oils, jewelery, meat and medicines. Sometimes, they will even barter with the miners for copper.

Religion
They are an earth-based, polytheistic people. They have seven Goddesses and seven Gods. They have quarterly 'fire festivals' to mark the year and celebrate the cycle of life and death.
**More to come. Will be posted in the Conworld Religion subforum  

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*~* Families/People in the Community *~*

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*~* Legends and Lore of Vosh *~*

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*~* Alphabet and Symbology *~*

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