Editing Gloria-Etalia (section)

=====Culture=====

Trade with Storm Islanders, as well as the conquering, and resource extraction by greater empires; has been staved off by impracticality, because of the constant fog and storms surrounding the island, making travel to and from the Island, treacherous at best. However, they are not outwardly hostile to any un-enterprising outsiders, and are quite welcoming, and even more fun. The plants, animals, and even mineral make up of Storm Island, have evolved in a unique way, because of the inhospitable climate. The Storm Island Sheep, and the Storm Island Seal, are bigger, fiercer, and hardier than elsewhere in the world. The sheep provide wool, hide, meat and dairy, and the ram's horns are fashioned into instruments and drinking horns. The seals provide meat, furs, and a large supply of rich fats; used for anything from candles to preservatives, soaps, and more. The only known birds on the Storm Islands are large scavenging corvids, and fish eating sea eagles. It is uncertain why so many fish and whales live in the extremely stormy waters around the Storm Islands, it is as if they are swept there. There are many trees in the Islands, but all subspecies evolved for the climate. Broadleaf trees harder than the hardest mainland oak, growing twisted and gnarled, and Conifers which can bend completely in half without breaking. These unique woods are the backbone of Islander culture. They form their spears and bows, their storm-weathering architecture, and the only boats that can withstand a fishing expedition on their stormy seas. The unique climate, and the volcano on Cloud Island, give the Islands a unique black iron, that looks almost, iridescent in certain lights. Storm Islanders are warriors, farmers, and fishermen. They live hard, and recreate hard. They have an insatiable appetite for their dark ales and whiskeys, made with wild tasting herbs that grow there. Some are brewed with rarer herbs, that cause much stranger effects. There are even stranger fungi. The Islanders are hard, but fun loving, and ever adaptable because of their environment. A Storm Islander can be thrown from a fishing boat, climb back aboard unshaken, and share a good laugh about it. Storm Islanders cover themselves in tattoos. They mark status and deed, as well as personal beliefs and virtues. A deed for a Storm Islander may also count a funny anecdote. There are three inks used. The most common is black, from charcoal, The indigo woad ink is reserved for those more well off, or those committing greater deeds, and the rarest, a crimson ink, is reserved only for the Albinid Druid family, who will often mix in blue and black ink purely for aesthetic reasons. Most Islanders have hair ranging from Brunette to Dark Blonde, as well as many shades of Red, especially Reddish Blondes and Browns. Grey and Hazel, are the most predominant eye colors, and many tend toward a paleness. They tend to be anywhere between 5'4" and 6'2". Although Albino Islanders are mainly born within their own group, when this phenotype manifests among the other islanders, they are married into the druidic family.