Teuz
Korrigan of the Meadows
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Teuz are a bipedal ungulate race of Korrigan, sharing physical traits of Bediz and goats. Their legs, covered in short fur, end in cloven hooves, although a common mutation results in uncloven hooves in a small, but notable, minority. All Teuz possess tails, which are typically short and pointing straight up, although others possess longer, ropelike tails tipped with a tuft of fur. From the waist up, Teuz resemble Bediz, covered in skin and light hair. Their arms are proportioned similar to those of the Bediz, ending with 4 digit hands, 3 fingers and an opposable thumb.
Genetics and Reproduction
The Teuz are a rarity among the faerie peoples with a low, but sustainable birth rate. Procreation from sexual intercourse, typically results in a single offspring, with twins and triplets being incredibly rare occurrences. Teuz families are typically small, but can include larger extended families
Ecology and Habitats
Also called the Korrigan of the Meadows, the Teuz typically reside in relatively flat, grassy plains regions, although they can survive and thrive in other biomes as well, with dales and moors being frequent choices. The Teuz are willing to relocate, however and are found across Letha and the Fortunate Isles in a wide variety of landscapes. Typically, they prefere to live in areas that allow for extensive agricultural pursuits with open areas of arable land.
Teuz typically live in small communities of 1 to 50 families, residing in simple houses constructed of local materials, with stone and thatch being traditionally preferred. The interior of these structures are typically cozy, clean and well kept, proving a tight, but ordered lifestyle. A communal sleeping chamber is located in a loft above common areas like kitchens and dining rooms, which are typically the social centerpiece of a Teuz house. Kitchens and dining rooms are always separate spaces. Simple wooden furniture, walls and floors make up the interiors of these structures, which are not as reliant of the extra-spatial dimensions typically found in Faerie architecture. This effect is in play, to a lesser effect in kitchens, pantries and dining areas, which are measurably larger than the exterior dimensions of a house. The Teuz are especially noted for storage space with walls, benches and beds typically hiding many and surprisingly large pantries, boxes and cupboards. Apocryphal stories credit the Teuz with the creation of the Gwele-kloz (Box-Bed) and the Bank-Tossel (Bench Safe). Animals, including sheep, Cro Sith and chickens, are typically kept in an attached wing of the house, accessible from the interior and exterior.
Teuz will travel to markets, both mundane and magical, in small carts or boats, and are much more open in their travel habits than other Fae peoples, sharing portions of the road openly with Bediz. They are not constrained to the same physical constraints of these and are known to vanish around corners and over hills as they take unseen shortcuts and hidden side paths to their destination with supernatural speed and efficiency.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Teuz diet consists mainly of buckwheat, legumes, mushrooms, berries and cereals, as well as eggs and dairy. They are typically vegetarian and do not eat meat, poultry or fish. Unlike other Korrigan, they do not consume Foyson, but rather tangible food. Teuz diet is typically self-sufficient, growing their own crops, raising chickens and cro sith, a breed of Faerie cow that produces large quantities of milk.
A staple of Teuz cuisine is a cake made of oatmeal, barley and buckwheat, which is often sold at markets, providing excellent nutritional value.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Teuz live in extended family units in single dwellings, which in turn are part of larger hamlet communities. Teuz hamlets are typically widely spread farming communities, with several hectares between residences. These are typically loosely centered around some communal feature, such as a tumulus, rounded hill or cromlech, and defined along major routes by Kalvar. Teuz will not live within Bediz settlements, but are often found on the rural outskirts, traveling into the cities for market days and festivals. Teuz hamlets, despite their relative distance, are typically tight-knit communities, with families interacting regularly. Teuz often consider their non-teuz neighbors within their Kalvar-bounded communities as part of the larger social group and interact fairly regularly.
Teuz families are typically led by one or two individuals, while the community is loosely governed by a council of elder family members. A Boléguéans is almost always a member of this council, either living in the community or with strong contacts with them, similar to a parish priest.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Teuz horns were once wrongly thought to be a fertility aid, but exploitation of these has dwindled considerably in the current age. With Teuz often paying taxes or providing tribute, a rarity for Korrigan within Bediz kingdoms, they are typically more protected, sharing a legal status similar to Bediz free tenants.
Facial characteristics
Teuz possess the most varied range of Fae ears, ranging from animalistic, typically resembling those of goats, horses and cows, to sharply pointed ears parallel to the head similar to the Bediz. Teuz all have horns, ranging from small nubs to impressively curved ram horns. They typically have large, round eyes and flat noses, but there are exceptions among individuals and communities.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Teuz can be found across continental Letha and Fortunate Isles, with large populations found all the way from Emain Ablach to the Sea of Wine. One of the most widespread Korrigan peoples in the North and West, permanent settlements along Slaver's Coast or Outremer are almost unheard of, with no major populations across the Mor Kreizdouar.
Teuz have integrated heavily into Bediz society, typically living in villages and hamlets near population centers or along roads, appearing on local maps and taxation ledgers. Teuz rarely live within walled cities or towns themselves, instead traveling into the city while living in the countryside. Younger and more enterprising Teuz may establish more permanent lodging and business in urban areas. Some exceptions, like the hortillonnages of Samarobriva or the islands of Naoned support permanent populations, slices of pastoral agricultural land within the confines of the city.
Average Intelligence
The Teuz have a reputation of simplicity, favouring tradition and proven methods rather than innovation and experimentation. However, Teuz intelligence can generally be measured in the same range as Bediz.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The sensory capabilities of the Teuz are on par with those of the average Bediz, possessing 5 basic senses, with sight and sound being their strongest. Teuz have a large field of vision and can see great distances, and can pick up subtle noises. Their sensitive hearing forces them to react strongly to loud noises.
The Teuz also possess a sixth sense, a natural ability to read the land and weather for agricultural benefits. Teuz seem to naturally and instinctively know the best place to plant, what times to sow and reap their harvest and when to allow fields to fallow. This ability has made them key assets in a region, allowing them to establish open communities in lands controlled by Bediz, Tuatha de Danaan and Fomorians.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Moreso than other Korrigan peoples, the Teuz are quick to adopt the naming conventions and styles of their neighbors, with the notable lack of surnames; instead identifying themselves by the good or service they provide, most typically the primary agricultural resource of their home region. For example, "de Pomme" (of the apple) is a common "surname" among Norman teuz and "Ed Du" (Buckwheat) is common among the Bretoned. Teuz use longer family names exclusively among their own kind, for example "de pommes dorées croustillantes de l'arbre noué près du ruisseau" (of the crisp golden apples from the knotted tree by the brook) in place of "de Pomme". These names grow in complexity when specificity is required, and is typically only used once in formal identification.
Major Organizations
Generally, Teuz align themselves in families and villages based on geographic proximity, rarely forming larger organizations among themselves for specifically the Teuz, although many do join city councils, merchant collectives or political factions, such as the Broceliande League, which supports a large majority of Teuz Korrigan. These are typically joined by individuals or villages, reflecting personal and local interests rather than a species wide trend.
Beauty Ideals
Throughout most of Letha, the Teuz place special importance on their horns, which are possessed by both males and female, with more elaborate and smoother horns typically conferring a more positive connotation of beauty.
Beards, ranging from short goatees to long flowing beards, are common for males.
Gender Ideals
Farmwork is the primary activity of the Teuz, with the majority of planting carried out by women, and males taking care of the animals. Traditionally, female Teuz would look after the farm and serve as matriarchs of the family business, while males would take part in council meetings and traveling to sell crops at market at trade. Exceptions to these roles are common, but the general trend follows these divisions of labour.
Average Technological Level
The Teuz maintain a simple agrarian existence, relying on simple machines and spells rather than complex technology or magic. Most teuz will own a simple cart or boat, as well as a plow and other farming equipment, either homemade by hand or purchased from a Kriores or Bediz neighbor. They avoid alchemical lighting and other such creations for the most part.
The Teuz are often skilled tailors, and are considered in Lethan folklore to the progenitors of tailoring, passing along their skills to the Bediz and other Tuath Korrigan.
Common Etiquette Rules
The Teuz adhere to a strict concept of Hospitality and neighborship, adhering to a strict policy of welcoming in any who seek it and giving aid to neighbors in distress, typically in the form of anonymous gifts.
History
The Teuz first appeared in Bedouar after the War of the Erlking, settling in areas largely abandoned by the Bediz fleeing the conflicts. Some accounts, however, place Teuz forces at the Battle of Meneziou Are, predating the Erlking's campaign by several years. What is known is that after establishing small agrarian communities across Letha, a mass migration from the Fortunate Isles added to their numbers in Flandrez and Breizh. These communities, left largely undisturbed, thrived and offered much needed assistance to struggling Bediz during the calamities of the following 3 centuries, establishing themselves as hardworking and peaceful farmers. Lacking the interest, cohesion or political will to establish their own geopolitical presence, they instead integrated into local Korrigan and Bediz societies as semi-autonomous traders, vanishing into the mounds and hills when threatened.
Tensions have sometimes flared, such as during the Heresy of Albi, when Teuz were persecuted by allies of the Southern Church, but for the most part, relations between the Teuz and their neighbors have been largely peaceful and mutually beneficial.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The Bediz
- Of all the Korrigan peoples, the Teuz have integrated the most into Bediz society, regularly living openly in and near population centers, regularly trading and often allowing themselves to be subject to the laws and protections of Bediz authorities, to an extent. Striving to an ere-hud of Hospitality and being good neighbors, they will often assist their neighbors in need and take part in larger community events and rituals. Intermarriage between the races is rare, but not unheard of. The relationship of the two groups is sometimes strained, such as during the Heresy of Albi and similar flareups, which saw violent backlash against the Korrigan, including the Teuz, across Letha.
The Korrigan
- The Boléguéans are another important relationship, with Boléguéan traders, sages and civic leaders taking an active role in the communities, even moreso than other Korrigan peoples. At least one Boléguéan is usually present in the role of a spiritual advisor at important summits, if not an ever present figure in the community, maintaining the Kalvar and Tumuli, as well as serving as an intermediary between the Teuz and other Korrigan communities. A boléguéan can focus on one hamlet or several within a region, depending on the scale of the habitation. Teuz along the Ar Mor Breizh have similar relationships with the Fées-des-Houles, who often teach Teuz children.
- The Kriores and the Boudics
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Average Height
1 - 1.4 m
Average Physique
Of the Korrigan peoples, the Teuz have one of the widest ranges of physiques, ranging in frame from petite and slim to stocky and muscled, with features ranging from fair to rugged. The average Teuz is slightly taller than a meter, allowing them to operate well in Bediz society.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The skin-tone of the Teuz generally reflects those of the Bediz population, with the notable exception of vibrantly red-coloured variants. Their furs are typically found in shades of black, browns and grey, with white fur being uncommon, but not rare.
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
Related Technologies
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