by Cams
I. Land and Climate
Scanra is located to the north of Tortall, and they share a common border over which we are given to understand that many fights were fought in the Scanran war. The land is equal amounts flat and mountainous, with many forests. The climate is a very northern climate, with cold temperatures in the winter and mild to hot weather in summer. Snow is a frequent winter visitor. The farther north one travels, the colder and drier the climate will become, whereas around the Tortallan border, the temperatures and weather will be milder and the climate more humid. This explains the leafy trees that grow to the south of Scanra which are replaced by pines and other trees of that family farther north.
II. Fauna
The Scanran fauna essentially revolves around carnivorous creatures, seeing as the cold northern climate allows the usual herbivores to dwell only in the southern areas of the country. More resistant herbivores may be found around the north and might be entirely unknown in Tortall. Scanra is especially known for its bears and the resulting trade in bear fur and fat. Legend states that young Scanran men test their strength by wrestling bears in the forest.
III. Food
Scanrans would mostly eat meat, being a nation of hunters. Of course in the southern parts of Scanra, they might also be able to grow wheat, fruit, and vegetables. Farther north, the climate would not allow it and the inhabitants would resort to fresh or dry meat. This meat most often comes from bears, wolves, mountain deer, and other cold forest inhabitants.
The People
I. Appearance
A typical Scanran will have very defined attributes which would identify them as a Scanran. These include clear, light-coloured eyes, blonde or light-coloured hair, a well-muscled physique, tall stature, and pale skin. Of course, a Scanran can differ from this. Much as one finds blue-eyed Africans, one can encounter a black-haired Scanran. But those would be rare, seeing as the textbook Scanran appearance comes from generations of adaptation to a climate.
II. Clothing
The Scanrans living near the border wear clothes much like Tortallans. Shirts, breeches, often made of rough cotton. However, up north, warmer clothes are necessary. Furs are worn daily to protect from wind and cold; they usually come from the deer, bears, and wolves killed during hunting. Any Scanran living up north would own very thick boots to tread through snow and ice. Scanran weapons are similar to Tortallan weapons: bows, longbows, swords and daggers and knives, your occasional axe or warhammer.
III. Religion
Scanrans believe mostly in Mithros and the Goddess, like other cultures. Another Scanran god mentioned in the books is Yahzed, a god of repentance who loathes magic. While it may be likely that the Scanrans have their own gods similar to those we know from Norse mythology, it would be a mistake to use knowledge from our world to assume facts about Scanran culture.
IV. Language
Scanrans speak Scanran. Not that complicated, huh?
The System
I. Settlement
Scanrans mostly have oft-raided villages rather than big cities. The villages can reach considerable sizes, but it is not in the Scanran tradition to build large cities like Corus. Their habitations are mostly made of wood from the forests; some larger constructions like that which Keladry visited were built of stone.
II. Ruling
Scanra has always been an oligarchic country. The strongest tribe had the most power. Where Tortall is a very peaceful country, Scanra is violent. Villages spend a good deal of their time raiding others and being raided themselves for food, fur, and other goods.
III. Classes
There isn't much said about class in Scanra, seeing as a caste system wouldn't actually exist in a country where the law is determined by the tribe that is currently the most powerful. Most diplomatic relationships relied on strength--men are ranked above women and children, but all know how to fight, or at least defend themselves.
IV. Relationship to Tortall
Scanra has just lost a war with Tortall making the relationship between the two countries difficult, and the border dangerous to cross.