Lakeshore Details

The following are some cultural notes about Lakeshore that may assist with character development, roleplay, and general setting immersion. This will be updated as aspects of Lakeshore culture are requested – check back every once in a while!

Food and Cuisine

Lakeshore’s food production is more hunting and gathering than it is fishing; the primary staple starch is plantain, which is gathered in large quantities from the forest. The other main staple of Lakeshore is fish and other aquatic creatures: shellfish are a common source of food, as are lake- and river-dwelling fish. Agriculture only supports what can be gathered or hunted – most of the region isn’t suitable for farming.

• Starches: Plantain, Yams, Cassava, Taro, Rice, Corn.
• Fruits: Mango, Citrus, Banana, Soursop, Cherimoya, Passion Fruit, Papaya, Guava
• Vegetables & Nuts: Avocado, Okra, Peppers, Squash, Beans, Cashew, Agouti Nut.
• Fish: Clams, Mussels, Catfish, Arapaima, Crab, Catfish, Squid, Conch, Grouper.
• Meat & Dairy: Ostrich & Ostrich Eggs; or else game meat such as gazelle, zebra, or agouti.
• Spices: Cinnamon, Cardamom, Allspice, Vanilla, Nutmeg, Cumin, Pepper, Curry.
• Miscellaneous: Chocolate, Tea, Coffee, Sugarcane.

Fried or roasted fish tends to be the main feature of any meal in Lakeshore; this is usually accompanied by fried or mashed plantains. Curries are another common dish, and can range from vegetable to meat or anything in between. Almost all meals are accompanied by fresh fruit; fruit and nuts are a common snack as well.

Clothing Styles

Clothing is almost all made of plant-based fibers – particularly cotton and linen, which grow well in many parts of Lakeshore. Silk is also not uncommon, though is generally somewhat harder to produce. Dye sources – from plants to minerals to shellfish sources – are plentiful here, so clothing tends to be richly dyed regardless of wealth.

Lakeshore’s clothing style generally takes the form of long, flowing wraps. There are many styles of wearing these wraps, depending on the demands of one’s profession and the region one comes from. Particular methods of wearing or securing wraps are one of the traits by which people can tell where a person comes from. Sleeved clothing, such as shirts and pants, are uncommon and unusual; when they are seen, they tend to be looser styles that help shed sweat and body heat.

Jewelry is essential to any outfit. Fastening mechanisms for clothes – belts, pins, brooches, etc – are one of the most common forms of jewelry. It is also normal to wear many layers of necklaces, bracelets, and rings; these are often swapped as gifts between friends. Piercings are also common. Most jewelry is made of organic materials rather than metal: worked bone, wood, shell, and occasionally precious stones such as jade. Gems are rare, other than crystalline; the most common in the region is opal, which is prized for its association with water and dreams.

Bard Schools

Bard schools are the only central method of education in Lakeshore; all other skills are generally learned with apprenticeships under trades and crafts of choice. Children are not required to learn at a bard school, nor is there an age at which they are meant to do so; children of any age may come to learn, and many adults do so as well.

There is no set curriculum; bard schools simply teach what feels valuable to the culture at a given time. In many ways, they are set up much like real-world elementary schools: rather than rows of desks, there are stations that focus on skills such as weaving, basketry, ceramics, painting, and other crafting skills that people need. Certain times of day will see circles for learning music, storytelling, or playing memory games that are important in a culture dependent on oral tradition. Writing is rarely taught, but speaking well is valued; basic math is often taught through counting games.

Bard schools also serve more purposes than education. Many of them also tend to healing needs: medicine, doctoring, and magical healing when necessary; many also have tools that can be loaned out to the local community. Bard schools will also often make large nightly meals to feed those who have fallen on hard times; most will ask that those benefiting from the meals help make them, or help keep the school tidy.

Social Status

Social status in Lakeshore is predicated almost entirely on reputation – it has no bearing on wealth, education, and certainly not on land ownership (which is mostly a foreign concept and not practiced in this region). Word gets around about who’s friendly and who’s not; who’s reliable and who’s not; who gives back, and who is selfish. High social status is generally associated with high generosity and community involvement; low social status is associated with selfishness and those who don’t keep their word.