Commonwealth Culture
Geographic Presence
have a shared history and by and large a shared culture, with some generally minor distinctions. has always been the larger and more populous of the two regions, though still sparsely populated by the standards of the rest of the empire. They share a language and share a general outlook on the world. Their totemic religions seen in the Commonwealth, though similar religions exist elsewhere along the southern Wailing Sea, particularly in .
Values
The people of the Commonwealth have a collectivist outlook, built up within the bounds of their societal structure. A problem for one is a problem for all, particularly when it is a problem brought about by an external threat or a natural disaster. The collectivist approach is not nearly as prevalent when it comes to the general internal functioning of the Commonwealth, though in part because there is rarely agreement about what the best way is. There is great prestige in sending aid to another who needs it. This has allowed to exist for far longer than its low population and the constant threats from would suggest likely.
For the people of Lonin, the maintenance of an army is important to the exclusion of most else. This was recognised as a fundamental problem by the rulers of Lonin long ago, and they have done what they can to promote art and music in , to remind people that there is more than just war. The Ice Gallery is a major, if improbable, centre for the arts, and people from far away in Elthos make the journey to see it.
Settlement Patterns
Hanans live mostly in widely dispersed towns and villages, rarely reaching any consequential size. Most Hanan nobility live on their own land, even if that land is only a single farm. There are no formal systems of vassalage in Hana, but most minor nobles defer to their larger neighbours and there are thousands of local, low-level agreements that just about amount to vassalage. Many Lonins live in Vilslev or else in one fortress or another, with some farmers spread along the Whitewater Plain, and a few other folk living in the harsh conditions of Lonin's tundra.
Festivals
The greatest Commonwealth festival is in mid-winter, when people gather in large numbers to share food, exchange gifts, and to generally act in defiance of the harsh conditions in which they live.