On Valorossiyans, a culture briefing provided by the Imperial Ministry of Commerce.

The icy north holds many perils, from avalanches that can sweep one off his feet to vast crevasses that can swallow the unwary traveller whole, and this just concerns the landscape. The native fauna can be even more dangerous, with massive ice dragons that lurk in the swirling blizzards that plague that land and titanic bears that can grow to the size of houses. Yet none are more dangerous than the hulking native tribespeople of that land, the Valorossiyans.

The Valorossiyans are to a certain extent the product of their surroundings, and Evolutionary Theory's ardent defenders would likely take their existence as proof of his teachings. It is not the place of this work to engage in theological speculation, however it is clear that the Valorossiyans are perfectly suited to their habitat, though it does not appear so on first glance, with their massive frames requiring a similarly massive amount of nutrition to keep them fighting fit. However, their snowy white biological coloration provides excellent camouflage amidst the swirling storms of the north. Their eyes are likewise perfectly adapted for life on the steppes, being in most cases narrow and slitlike to provide natural a natural shield against snow-blindness.

The Valorossiyans are almost entirely carnivorous, with meat and fish making up substantial portions of their diet. Detailed examination of their jaw structure reveals twin rows of dentures that are more suited to the rending and tearing of flesh as opposed to the varied dental structure that we residents of warmer climes enjoy. Though there are molars and crushing teeth towards the rear of the mouth, it is unclear to what extent vegetation features in the diet of a healthy Valorossiyan, however as there are so few areas dedicated to agriculture, we cannot assume it features heavily. Naturally a large portion of this is speculation since the Valorossiyans themselves rarely take their medical plaints to outsiders.

There are many who think the Valorossiyans, like the Zebricans and the citizens of the Federation, are human. We would advise the prospective traveller to discard such notions with haste. We share less biology with the Valorossiyan than we do with the chimpanzee. His bone structure is based on cartilage and bony plates. We have one liver, he has two. We have two eyes, he has four. Most crucially, his behaviour differs from ours in many notable respects. The Valorossiyan does not enjoy long country walks, or a good book by the fireplace, or a good game of badminton. He is crude and aggressive and loud. He is quick to anger, and where an Equestrian gripped in the throes of a quarrelsome rage will pick up a quill and write to the Times or drink a little more brandy than he should, a Valorossiyan gripped in the throes of the same quarrelsome rage is wont to disembowel whoever has offended him, and there we come to the crux of the matter. The Valorossiyan does not consider himself a human, and if you attempt to liken him to a human, he will take offence and gut you like a fish.

Yet for all the perils of the Valorossiyans, they represent an incredibly good business opportunity for the discerning merchant. The Valorossiyan state is locked in the grip of perpetual civil war between the alliances and tribes that inhabit the region. In truth, none living outside those forbidding borders know how the conflict started and asking questions is likely to get you into trouble. For the last ten years, the war has coalesced into a war between three major blocs, the Western Union, the Northern Alliance and the PVU, or the Party of Valorossiyan Unity. Perpetual war means a perpetual market for goods of that nature, particularly since the Valorossiyans rarely manufacture their own. It should be noted that Equestrian merchants are encouraged by the Crown to deal with the Western Union. Whilst we will not advise you who to deal with, we should remind the prospective merchant that there are several tax incentives available for the merchant that deals with the Western Union. The Northern Alliance has traditionally been backed by the United Federation and the PVU is the Khanate's horse, both of whom will not take well to Equestrian attempts at competition.

The Valorossiyan is not a shrewd negotiator, his concern is to get as many weapons and as much ammunition as possible, and he will normally be willing to pay up to ten per-cent over the odds for them, however attempting to defraud a Val is not the course of wisdom, and offering him shoddy goods is a very good way to get into trouble. To conclude, dealing with the Valorossiyans is fraught with risks, however for the wary tradesman, it can be an exceptionally profitable venture that will lead to friendships that can last a lifetime, because breaking a friendship with a Val is likely to be the last thing you will ever do.

Author's Notes:

Apologies all, I know this isn't a chapter, but I felt it was high time that I put out something, and a little bit of worldbuilding always goes a long way.