Axish

The Axish are the people of Axmund, descendants of the tribes of the northwest. Their culture places a high value on Honor and Inventiveness, while disdaining Deceit.
They commonly have brown or black hair, with red hair a rarity, and brown or green eyes. On average, they stand about 5'6", and have palish skin.
At their best, the Axish are honest, inventive, and loyal to the death. They commit themselves fully to a chosen cause, and never betray a friend or ally.
At their worst, the Axish are deceitful, oppressive, and cowardly. Those of high rank use the Virtues to conceal underhanded acts and control the lower ranks, while those of lower ranks use the Virtues to excuse themselves from action.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Axish names typically resemble English names for both sexes. The ending -benn is always feminine.
Ex. Abegail, Honra, Rosa, Sabenn

Masculine names

Axish names typically resemble English names for both sexes. The ending -burn is always masculine.
Ex. Elsdon, Hanburn, Rian, Terfin

Unisex names

A few Axish names are considered unisex. They are generally less common then male or female names.
Ex. Cass, Hafen, Kirn, Lithis

Family names

Family names are typically short, with only one or two vowels. Noble houses usually have longer and more ornate names.
Ex. Cald, Cann, Eldred, Stern; House Axmund, House Borne, House Rexana, House Vyncis

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

Axish culture revolves around the Three Virtues of Loyalty, Respect, and Honor. To be Loyal is to obey one’s superiors unswervingly and command one’s inferiors fairly, to accept and embrace one’s role in society, and to reject undue ambition. To be Respectful is to avoid scandal, to discuss personal issues with another privately before resorting to public solutions, and to forget the secrets of one’s superiors. To be Honorable is to strive for Loyalty and Respect in all things, to uphold your oaths, and to shun deceit.
The hierarchy of Axish culture is divided into the Nobility and the People, and roughly follows the pattern below. One’s place in the hierarchy is determined by one’s role in society.

The Nobility

• The King, whose only superiors are the gods;
• The Dukes, who obey the King and control large portions of the kingdom;
• And the Counts, who obey the Dukes and handle smaller lands.

The People

• The Clergy, who, while they serve the gods directly, are usually also in charge of a city or town;
• The Soldiery, who defend the People;
• The Artisans, who not only create the tools and goods necessary for survival but also uphold Progress and Creation;
• And the Farmers, who keep the People alive.

A member of the People can move between the four ranks depending on their profession, but to become a member of the Nobility, they must be appointed by a Duke or the King (an extremely rare occurrence). A Noble cannot become a member of the People, except in the rare circumstance that they hold no land and cannot regain any.
In times of war or crisis, the Soldiery may answer to a person of lower rank if that person has been appointed a Commander of the Kingdom; for example, a Cleric appointed as Commander by the King holds more authority over the Soldiery than a Count or Duke does. The standing Soldiery is the smallest class of the People, numbering about three thousand men, who most often act as castle guards or man the border forts. During times of war, many Farmers and some Artisans are conscripted into the army, but they are not considered true Soldiery, and they revert to their previous rank when they are dismissed.
Axish culture greatly values Progress and Invention, and thus the Artisans are given greater respect than might be expected. An Artisan who seems to be on the cusp of a discovery might be given a Letter of Authority by his Cleric or Count, which allows him to requisition resources for his research. Great inventors are often rewarded with land, and, in fact, the noble houses of Vyncis (Dukes of Sutwick) and Borne (Counts of Brebury), among others, are the descendants of inventors.

Common Dress code

The typical Axish outfit among the People consists of a plain tunic, trousers, and tall boots for men, or a long dress, stockings, and low shoes for women. In bad weather, a heavy coat with a hood is worn over the tunic. Cloaks are considered a sign of poverty, and are usually worn only by soldiers and the destitute. Among the Nobility, brightly-colored vests and shirts are common among men, usually combined with plain white pants and boots. Noblewomen typically wear long dresses in light blue or green with large frills around the neck and wrists, white stockings, and curled shoes.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Among the Axish, mead is a common drink, though plain water is often drunk in riverside towns where it is clean, fresh, and easily available. Bread, fish, and cabbage are foods available to all, though those who can afford to often eat chicken or beef. Mint is commonly used as a spice, as is ground fennel. Many holiday feasts include a type of sweet bread called “berin,” made with honey and a variety of berries.
The Axish give large amounts of personal space to others, and they often react violently to their own being violated.

Common Taboos

The greatest taboos among the Axish are the Three Vices of Disloyalty, Disrespect, and Dishonor, essentially describing a breach in the Three Virtues. Revealing another person’s secrets, blackmail, spying, overtly seeking reward from one’s superiors, and oath-breaking are all considered manifestations of the Vices, and a person who commits one of these offenses can be heavily fined. A person who commits all three Vices is called “Vicious” and is almost always exiled from the Kingdom, or sometimes executed for particularly egregious Viciousness (usually in the case of treason against the Nobility).

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Beauty ideals among the Axish are traditionally split between males and females. For males, reddish hair, green eyes, and a relatively short stature represent the pinnacle of beauty, while brown hair, blue or brown eyes, and a somewhat round figure are considered the ideals of female beauty. This somewhat strange divide has endured for centuries, long enough that its origin is lost in the past, and while they remain the most common beauty ideals, a great variety of individual views are becoming more common.

Courtship Ideals

Axish courtship is an individual affair; there are few traditions beyond the typical marriage ceremony. Courtship might be initiated by either the man or the woman, and there are no guidelines for how it should proceed.

Encompassed species

• Humans

Related Organizations

• The Seven and their Cults