Landsmen: Northern Continent

The Northern continent Landsmen are concerned with wealth above all. They have a feudal system that is changeable based on wealth. Old families that lose wealth due to poor decisions or investments fall down the social scale while up-and-coming families who make good investments move up. Old families do have their lands to fall back on, but craftsmen and workers may leave at will to work for others. Some workers who have been treated well show loyalty, others are cutthroat opportunists.

Naming Traditions

Family names

In marriage, the family name that brings the most wealth to the marriage is the surname that is continued. The original surname is kept as a middle name.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

Loyalty and honor are held up as ideals in the Northern Continent. In actuality, the value that holds most of the population together is the pursuit of financial success. There are laws in place to keep the criminal element under control or in check, but they're largely useless due to the respect and almost reverence for the rich.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The beauty ideals on the Northern Continent are strong, tall, and slim to medium build. The hair in both genders is generally kept long and styled. Taste in females runs to wide in the hips and shapely.

Gender Ideals

Ideals are for industriousness and wealth.

Courtship Ideals

Both males and females have liberal gender ideals. People are expected to have an education and trade. Only the very wealthy families can afford to have a spouse for entertaining only. There are some extremely wealthy families that have a 'third spouse' that takes care of host/hostessing. The gender of the spouse is dependent on where the lion's share of the wealth originates. If the female is wealthier, she may engage the gender of spouse she wishes, and vice versa.

Relationship Ideals

Romantic relationships are in theory entered into on equal terms. Craftsmen may marry for convenience, and wealth multiplication and may keep confidantes of whichever gender they choose if they are wealthy enough. It is expected that spouses in these arrangements will be honest with each other. Some of the wealthier families arrange marriages, sometimes also involving spouses of both genders, with the most wealthy of the spouses families assisting to choose mates to increase wealth and status. In general, the poorer the person, the more likely they are to enter into a contractual relationship based on emotional compatability.

Major organizations

Oligarchies rule the cities in the northern continent. The City of Saldaak is ruled by the Eaash family, the City of Muno is ruled by the Plaatjies family. Other, more minor cities have changes in rulership as the financial fortunes of their constituents change. As of the current time, the Black Vulture Clan is ruled by the Telasin family through the maternal side.