Ganeta-Meru are the southernmost of the Fanakara and the only who live away from the Wounds. Pacifistic traders who connect the Stormlands with the broader world, Ganeta-Meru merchants are the first to carry most of the aeon stones that find their way elsewhere on Kishar away from the shores of the Stormlands.
Geography
See also: Island Where The Mountains Transfix The Sky
Though they live distant from the Wounds, the Ganeta-Meru are still island dwellers, with all their permanent communities located on the Island Where The Mountains Transfix The Sky, a large island roughly 750 miles from the Stormlands. The island is roughly 270 miles across at its widest and 160 at its narrowest.
The titular mountains in the name of the island are the Cradle of the Clouds, whose peaks rise sharp and unnaturally high above the surrounding landscape. Covered in snow for much of the year, traversal through the mountains is exceptionally difficult, though the Ganeta-Meru rarely attempt such journeys regardless due to religious reasons.
The climate of the Island Where The Mountains Transfix The Sky is broadly temperate, though this can differ greatly by elevation and proximity to the surrounding Na-Gaesa Ocean. Forests cover much of the lower reaches from the foothills to the beaches and cliffs, with a notable exception of the southeast closer to Crushed Point, where the landscape of miles of exposed rock renders it difficult for plants to grow. Birds, including many large flightless ones, and sea life are common across and around the island, but there are few other large animals. Magical creatures are a different matter, however, with the giant witch-serpents of the coasts particularly feared.
Demographics
The Ganeta-Meru are primarily human, though they are joined by sizable numbers of gnomes and half-elves. Less common but still present within Ganeta-Meru communities are dwarves, mostly those from the Grievous Islands in the Wounds, tengu, and hobgoblins from the Stormlands.
Culture
Religion
Many of the Ganeta-Meru came to the island before the Rasharekan Empire formed, and therefore while worship of the Beating Heart is present it is not their dominant faith. Instead their religious life centers around an animistic reverence for the Cradle of the Clouds, the immense mountains in the center of their island home. Rarely entered except for ritual purposes, the mountains are said to have been the first things to exist in the world, after which they brought the clouds into existence at their highest peaks. The clouds themselves brought rain, filling the ocean where they touched stone and turning into plants and animals when they struck dirt. The mountains, then, are seen as benevolent nature spirits that allow the Ganeta-Meru to prosper, and are therefore afforded the utmost respect. Ganeta-Meru monarchs regularly speak to the Cradle at shrines near the rivers the run from them, especially in times of crisis - their input, through rarely given, is always the surest route to success.
Society
As descendants of multiple Fanakaran tribes that arrived on the Island Where The Mountains Transfix The Sky over the millennia in waves, Ganeta-Meru culture and society is a blend of many influences. Old tribal lines have long since fallen away, however, and nearly all identify as Ganeta-Mery first and only. The powerful families of each community are some of the few relics that remain of the previous social order, as these are often, though not always, descended from the tribal leaders of the past.
Learning and education is valued very highly by the Ganeta-Meru. Often the most prominent and central buildings in their villages and cities are schools and other institutions of learning. In these they train young generations to be warrior-diplomats - orators teach through leading long debates, while martial and magical instruction is given by fighters who have gained experience in the perils of the sea and far-away lands. Through these schools the Ganeta-Meru seek to impact all skills necessary to leave their island home, as many do for at least part of their lives as merchants and couriers.
A way with words and a trained mind to remember them are the greatest virtues to the Ganeta-Meru, critical to success both abroad and at home.
Though they keep a distance from the ceaseless strife that pervades the Stormlands, the Ganeta-Meru make regular and frequent trips to its shores to engage in trade. There they acquire valuable items like aeon stones and firearms, as well as resources less unique to the Stormlands, trading them for other goods they pick up in the Wounds. Ganeta-Meru merchants have even been known to reach the Three Great Seas and the Spine, though this is exceptionally uncommon, as they typically keep to around a 1500-2000 mile radius of their island. They are careful to cultivate productive relationships with the various disparate nations and peoples of the Stormlands, even seeking, and general receiving, guarantees of safety from warring factions. The majority of Ganeta-Meru traders travel to Bohaar, Vukararn, and various outposts on the edge of the Storm-Path where they engage in commerce with trailblazer and agents of the Oasis states, but some head as far south as Akatzar and north as Apanvar.
Languages
The primary tongue of the Ganeta-Meru is Ri-She, a language that bears some similarity to the Fanakaran dialects of the Wounds but has diverged significantly over time. In order to facilitate trade they are also frequently proficient in Sea-Speak and the various languages of the Stormlands as well.
Architecture and urbanization
Ganeta-Meru architecture uses primarily stone and thatch. They prefer to dry-fit the stones in their walls as much as possible, shaping them to interlock tightly without the need for mortar. Within Ganeta-Meru villages and cities, buildings are always constructed for specific purposes, as not only are certain rituals required when they are erected but also their physical shapes must always match their aims, and not always in intuitive ways. A house where a family with elders dwells, for example, must always have six sides, a conical roof, and two hearths, while those where two newlyweds dwell is required to have four walls, a slanted roof, and a single hearth. As a result it is not possible for new inhabitants to simply move into an existing house without it being first torn down to the ground and rebuilt.
Ganeta-Meru settlements dot the coast of the Island Where The Mountains Transfix The Sky. Their largest, and the only cities, are in the south of the island, but other prominent communities can be found around the northern and eastern coasts as well. There are no permanent Ganeta-Meru settlements outside the island, but in places where the frequently trade they often congregate in transient neighborhoods.
Seafaring
The Ganeta-Meru travel across the Na-Gaesa Ocean on sail-driven outrigger canoes, similar to those used by other Fanakaran peoples. Their vessels tend to be on the larger side than is typical in the Wounds, however, often both longer and wider so as to increase their cargo capacity. Another difference from traditional Fanakaran ships are in the shape of the sails, which are battened and rectangular rather than triangular.
Weapons are never permitted on Ganeta-Meru ships, even those of their war-fleet, lest the skies see them and call down storms in a rage. Instead they are carried strapped underneath the hulls where they are visible only to the more placid, and forgiving, seas.
Food and cuisine
Despite their proximity to the sea, the ingredients used in Ganeta-Meru cuisine are largely terrestrial. Gourds and yams serve as staples, supplemented by hunted game, fruits, and other farmed crops. Oysters, mussels, and sea turtles account for most of the seafood consumed - fish are considered suitable only to be eaten while on the move over the ocean. Clay and stone ovens are used in the preparation of most food, though most meals prepared for ritual or celebratory purposes use earthen pit ovens instead.
Despite their close ties to various peoples across the sea, Ganeta-Meru cuisine is remarkably conservative, rarely adopting new techniques or ingredients unless forced to due to a lack of availability of those which with they are more familiar.
Names
As with the Fanakara more broadly, Ganeta-Meru names most commonly take the form of a family name first, then a given name, then any honorifics the individual in question may have earned. This is transcribed in the form Family-Given-Honorifics, though written names are uncommon.
Government
Very unified by Fanakaran standards, the Ganeta-Meru are ruled by an elective monarchy based in the capital of Kita Bay. Upon the death or abdication of the previous king or queen, delegates from each major settlement on the Island Where The Mountains Transfix The Sky convene a summit to deliberate for two months, after which they choose a new candidate for the Obsidian Throne. Each community is then given the opportunity to vote to approve or reject this candidate. If the majority accept, then the new monarch ascends to the throne. Otherwise, the summit reconvenes and a new candidate is chosen. This repeats until a monarch is ratified, though in practice it is exceptionally rare for any candidate to be rejected.
Traditionally Ganeta-Meru monarchs rule for 27 years, enough time to celebrate three nine-year coronations, after which they abdicate.
While formally the monarch enjoys absolute authority, in reality their role is primarily as a spiritual mediator and, in times of war, the commander of the Ganeta-Meru war-navy. Most day to day decisions and governance is instead undertaken by the local prominent families of each community.