ost Ricobans are first or second generation immigrants to the domain. Since these folk trace their ancestry back to numerous other domains, their appearance varies greatly. Generally speaking, the majority of the domain's residents are fair of hair and skin. The nobles tend to exhibit darker features, particularly sleek, black hair. Commoners prefer to dress in colorful yet simple garb. Only the scattered farmers and shepherds of the countryside wear clothing that could be considered plain. Nobles, of course, dress most impressively of all. Ricoban fashions are highly prized throughout the Core, although folk from Dementlieu and Mordent tend to regard them as a tad gauche and scandalous. Men of all classes wear heavy mustaches, but shun beards. Women tend to let their hair grow wild and curly, although they often keep them under kerchiefs for practical reasons. Ricobans speak both Falkovnian and a phonetic dialect of Mordentish. Although both tongues have widespread usage, the latter tends to be preferred by the nobles and clergy.

Most Ricobans dwell in the domain's cities, where they earn a living marketing goods and services. Nearly every trade imaginable is practiced, but the domain is mostly known for its exquisite handicrafts and smything. Each of the three cities is particularly famous for a single product: Ponferrada for its silver, Santoņa for its swords, and Monesterio for its ceramics. A healthy trade also exists in the rebuilding of the ruined structures that fill Ricoba's cities, as more immigrants arrive each day. The nobility pay good coin to retain the services of architects, masons, carpenters, sculptors and glassblowers. There have been problems, however, with workers disappearing...

Although folk often think of Lamordia as the most scientifically advanced domain, Ricoba is known throughout the Core as a land of learning. Ricobans do not differentiate between magic and science, however; they are equally interested in astronomy and astrology, mathematics and enchantments, engineering and conjuration. Most of Ricoba's learning is concentrated in religious institutions, such as monasteries. Indeed, almost all of the domain's scholars are also priests. Some of the most impressive libraries in all of the Demiplane are locked away within the walls of Ricoban abbeys and temples.

The native faith of Ricoba is actually a triumvirate of religions, colloquially referred to as the Three Faiths. All follow the same god, a magnificent conqueror known as Salvador. All are theologically lawful, although practitioners may be of nearly any alignment. Bitter contention exists between the Faiths, however, over matters of dogma and interpretation of their mutual sacred text, the Thorns of Redemption. Nonetheless, an outsider would be hard pressed to discern the differences. The Pescadores are dominant in the northern portion of the domain, and is the faith adopted by the ruling Reniego family. The Sometos, meanwhile, are the primary faith in the south. The Escogidos are much more scattered in their influence, but do maintain an enormous following within the city of Santoņa. The Church of Ezra is gaining strength in Ricoba as more outsiders immigrate to the domain, but followers are not well-received by the Three Faiths. The Pescadores in particular are suspicious of the anchorites and their congregations.

If anything unites the Three Faiths, it is their fear of all things infernal. Followers of the Faiths often refer to the demonic as a collective malevolent force known as the Pit. Ricobans are absolutely terrified of the Pit's influence in their daily lives. Many of the Three Faiths' practices are directed at preventing the attention of the minions of evil. Wizardry is relatively accepted in Ricoba, but the people are vigilant for the taint of the Pit in its practitioners. After all, power corrupts, and Ricobans believe that magic is a powerful force indeed. Few have the strength of will and soul necessary to wield such power.

The Three Faiths do not war openly with one another over religious matters, at least for now. Indeed, among scholars and theologians of the Faiths, cooperative debate and study is frequent. Since the Reniego family officially adopted the Pescadores as their faith, however, the balance of power in the domain has been slowly shifting in favor of that sect. The Reniegos are urging the other noble families to likewise convert completely, and are pressing the Pescadores clerics to be more aggressive in their "discouragement" of the other two faiths.

"He's playing the Ricoban." In many domains of the Core, this phrase is applied, with just a touch of contempt, to those who act shifty or deceitful. It roughly means "He has something to hide." Although deceit does not truly characterize Ricobans, they could hardly be called forthright. Simply put, few Ricobans are willing to give information freely. It is too valuable a commodity. A stranger who begins asking pointed questions of every nearby Ricoban will receive a dizzying mixture of silence, stares, jeers and cheerfully offered lies. Information moves at a staggering pace through the layers of Ricoban society. A word whispered in the Reniego court is often the subject of gossip in Ponferrada's market by the next morning. Secrets are therefore the true treasure of Ricoba, whether they are political, social or arcane. A canny Ricoban, however, never reveals everything he knows... just in case.