The People of Padwell
Physical Features
The people of Padwell have brown or black skin and dark hair; residents of the nation with pale skin, without fail, have recent foreign ancestry. Freckles, large birthmarks, or conditions like vitiligo occur regularly within the population and are seen as normal, with no superstition surrounding their cause.
Padwellan hair comes in shades of brown, black, and rarely deep red. Curly and coily hair textures are common. Hair is frequently cut short or worn tied/braided back to avoid getting caught in the dense plantlife covering their territory. The population as a whole tends to be quite fit, with lankier body types being common. Their homeland provides plenty of challenges simply to get from one place to the next, and children grow up learning to traverse thick patches of forest, climb smooth-barked trees, row canoes to get through flooded regions, and even swim short distances fast as a last resort. Overly stocky body types are uncommon, though individuals with Xocrian or Riverlander ancestry may have wildly different features. Men and women in Padwell are around the same height on average, usually ranging between 5’2-5’7 (or 157-170cm), and not exceeding 6’1 (185cm) or falling below 4’8 (142cm). Brown, ranging from near-black to a light copper, is the most common eye colour in Padwell. Grey, hazel, and green are not uncommon. Blue is only found in individuals with recent Xocrian or Riverlander blood and is viewed as ‘a little unsettling’ by the general population. |
Toivo Aalto, a famous resident of Padwell. Art by J-Haskell. |
Clothing & Fashion
Despite the hot and humid climate of most of Padwell, the people who call it home often wear clothes that cover a significant portion of their body made of light, loose fabric; these provide protection from bugs and harsh sunlight. In colder regions, thicker clothing may be found, but most of the population lives in tropical swampland.
Shoes are made of waterproofed leather or otherwise water-resistant materials, and often rise up to at least the mid-calf (and shoes that cover the entire leg are not unheard of either). These provide protection from conditions such as ‘trench-foot’ and keep any nasty, bloodsucking critters from latching on. While most villages have large walkways above the water, flooding is not uncommon, and many still need to venture into the wilds to hunt.
As for armour, Padwellans rarely use metal for protection. While the benefits are undeniable, the constant rains and water make it rust very fast, and that anyone wearing a full suit of plate armour will sink down in the mud or even drown in very little time at all. Their warriors instead wear armour made from scales, usually harvested from animals such as false serpents, with light padding or leather underneath.
Waterproofing in Padwell is often achieved by soaking clothing in the sap of rubber trees. They also have the ability to make harder rubber items, such as balls, toys and boots.
Shoes are made of waterproofed leather or otherwise water-resistant materials, and often rise up to at least the mid-calf (and shoes that cover the entire leg are not unheard of either). These provide protection from conditions such as ‘trench-foot’ and keep any nasty, bloodsucking critters from latching on. While most villages have large walkways above the water, flooding is not uncommon, and many still need to venture into the wilds to hunt.
As for armour, Padwellans rarely use metal for protection. While the benefits are undeniable, the constant rains and water make it rust very fast, and that anyone wearing a full suit of plate armour will sink down in the mud or even drown in very little time at all. Their warriors instead wear armour made from scales, usually harvested from animals such as false serpents, with light padding or leather underneath.
Waterproofing in Padwell is often achieved by soaking clothing in the sap of rubber trees. They also have the ability to make harder rubber items, such as balls, toys and boots.