Horn, Hearth & Honor

Gorundian Drinking Customs

“Raise your cup like you raise your sword—with purpose, restraint, and the strength to finish what you start.” – Sir Albin of County Velnyar

1. The First Drink Is for Victory Past The first drink is always taken in silence, in honor of a past victory—either personal or ancestral. Even commoners will quietly murmur the name of a battle, tournament, or campaign before sipping.
2. No Drink Before Dusk (An Honorable Restraint) Among traditionalist Gorundians—particularly older knights, devout followers of Heironeous, and military officers—drinking before sunset is considered undisciplined. The custom stems from the belief that a warrior’s clarity and purpose should not be clouded while the sun still watches.
While younger knights and common folk may raise a pint at midday, especially in celebration or casual company, many still lower their voices or glance around first—aware that to drink before dusk in the wrong company may earn a silent scowl or a quiet rebuke.
Exceptions are made for victory feasts or mourning rites, where tradition demands drink be taken regardless of the hour.
Even in modern Bard’s Gate, the phrase “He waits ‘til dusk” is a quiet compliment, implying discipline, patience, and self-control.
3. Toasts Follow the Chain of Command When drinking in a group that includes soldiers or nobles, the highest-ranking person gives the first toast. To toast before your superior without permission is a breach of etiquette—or a challenge.
4. Three Sips for Heironeous Every proper knight, noble, or devout Gorundian will take three sips in a row before serious drinking begins—representing Honor, Justice, and Valor. Skipping this is seen as either impious or irreverent. Clerics sometimes require this before agreeing to duel-baptisms or trials.
5. No Helm, No Horn A knight never drinks in full helm unless the situation is dire (warcamp, siege, exile). Ceremonially removing one's helmet before drinking is considered a sign of peace and respect—even in tense situations.
6. The Empty Cup Honors the Fallen In military gatherings, one cup is always left filled but untouched, standing for the comrade who didn’t return. If the cup is tipped accidentally, it must be refilled and set again—spilling is a sign that the soul passed in battle.
7. Knights Drink from Horn, Commoners from Tankard Stylized but widely observed: drinking horns are preferred by those of noble blood or knightly order. Tankards and mugs are for guildsfolk and common soldiers. Some exceptions are made for bards, healers, and favored companions.
8. Duels Are Never Fought Drunk—But Are Often Promised While Drinking While Gorundian knights pride themselves on restraint, many duels are *declared* over cups. However, fighting under the influence is considered shameful—such duels are delayed until sobriety and witnessed by clergy or a peer.
9. Bread, Salt, and Ale Seal Brotherhood Sharing a crust of bread, a pinch of salt, and a cup of ale is an ancient Oeridian ritual of fellowship, still used by Gorundians to seal bonds between squires, soldiers, and even former enemies. "To drink salt-bond" is to swear loyalty stronger than coin.
10. The Fourth Cup Is Forbidden to Knights on Duty A knight may take up to three cups while in armor or on formal duty (a nod to the Three Pillars of Heironeous). Taking a fourth is considered reckless and a minor sin. Only kings or priests may give a knight leave to “break the fourth.”

Dominion Drinking Customs

“Drink not for thirst, but to remember who you are—and forget who you’ve lost.” – Old Dominion proverb

1. The First Toast is to the Dead In Dominion culture, the first drink of any shared bottle—whether kvass, vodka, or wine—is offered to the dead. It is customary to spill a drop onto the floor or into the fire while naming one lost soul. Refusing to toast the dead is considered a cold insult, especially among soldiers.
2. The Rule of Threes (Zalpatki) Traditional Dominion vodka (Shedovka) is consumed in three small glasses in a row, without pause, called a "zalpatki."

First glass is for strength.

Second is for memory.

Third is for silence.

A fourth is forbidden unless someone tells a true secret. Bards love testing this limit.
3. You Never Drink Alone (Even If You’re Alone) Even when alone, Dominion drinkers pour a second glass for an “unseen guest.” This could be a spirit, ancestor, or simply a reminder that no one survives life by themselves. Many soldiers keep a second mug beside them out of habit, even in Bard’s Gate.
4. Kvass with Salted Bread is a Contract Offering a stranger kvass and salted rye bread is an ancient symbol of temporary peace. In many frontier towns, accepting this pairing ends a feud until dawn. Breaking that pact is a grave insult—even criminals abide by it (usually).
5. Vodka is Poured by the Young, Drunk by the Old It is tradition that younger members of the group pour for their elders. Pouring your own vodka is a sign of loneliness, dishonor, or exile. Lucent probably violates this daily.
6. Never Refuse a Shared Cup (But You May Sip Lightly) If offered a drink in ceremony or in the field, it must be accepted—but only a sip is required to honor the gesture. Full refusal is considered a personal rejection, unless you’re a priest or in mourning.
7. The “Iron Nightcap” One drink is left out overnight for the household’s guardian spirit. In Bard’s Gate, some Dominion immigrants leave a shot of Shedovka on windowsills to “keep the walls listening.”

Gnomish Drinking Customs

“If it didn’t bubble, fizz, glow, or sing a little—why’d you pour it?” – Tizzlebrass, gnome cidermaster

1. Every Drink Has a Name Gnomes believe that a beverage isn't truly complete until it's been named—often at the moment it's served. This applies even to common drinks; a gnome might say, “Pour me a Whimsy Bomb,” referring to a particularly volatile cider, even if no two batches are alike. Naming a drink is considered a small act of creativity and hospitality.
2. Toasts Must Rhyme (Or Be Funny) Gnomish toasts are traditionally delivered in rhyme, limerick, or pun. Failing to make your toast clever is gently mocked, though forgetting to toast at all is considered rude. Long-winded toasts are also common and may turn into impromptu comedic performances.
3. The First Sip Is a Test Every gnome is expected to raise their drink, sniff it theatrically, swirl it once (even if it's ale), and then take a single cautious sip—followed by a dramatic reaction. This is not only tradition but a survival instinct, especially around experimental brews. “No first sip, no second,” as they say.
4. Mixers Are a Moral Right Unlike many cultures that take offense to tampering with the brewer’s intention, gnomes love personalizing drinks. Mixing mead with cider, adding spice drops, tossing in glowing fruit, or even stirring with a licorice wand is fair game. It’s considered rude to comment on someone’s concoction unless you ask for a taste.
5. The Tinker’s Toast At communal meals or festivals, a group of gnomes will pass around a bottle or jug in a circle, each one adding a dash of something different to the mix. When it’s made a full round, the original owner must drink it and declare what it’s become. The toast ends with a cheer: “By chaos and craft—may we never drink the same thing twice!”
6. Burps Are a Compliment A satisfied belch after a drink, especially a home brew, is considered high praise. Extra points are awarded if you burp a note or a pun. Gnomes may even hold informal contests called “belch duels” during festivals.
7. Alcohol Is Optional, Flavor Is Not Many gnomish drinks are low- or no-alcohol but still complex, fizzy, herbal, enchanted, or mildly magical. The goal is experience and novelty, not necessarily inebriation. Gnomes believe even water should taste like something.
8. The Last Drop Is for the Ground Traditionally, the last drop of a bottle or tankard is tipped out onto the ground “for the roots,” an old superstition claiming it thanks the plants that made the drink. Some gnomes whisper it’s really for the fey—but no one asks too many questions.

Dwarven Drinking Customs

“A dwarf without ale is like a forge without flame—cold, dark, and liable to explode if provoked.” – Barrelmistress Cynda Greybluff

1. Brew Is Blood To a dwarf, sharing drink is an act of kinship. To brew for someone is to accept them into your hearth, if only for the night. Spitting out a dwarf’s brew is tantamount to an insult on their clan.
2. The First Pint Belongs to the Eldest Traditionally, the eldest dwarf present drinks first, even if they didn't pay. It's a mark of respect and also a safety precaution—older dwarves are assumed to survive poisons better.
3. Ale Before Oath Dwarves will not swear a meaningful oath—marriage, vengeance, or alliance—without first sharing a strong drink. The toast seals the words, and breaking such an oath is said to sour every drink thereafter.
4. Beard-Wetting Toast A drop of drink is flicked into the beard (or eyebrows, for the beardless) during the first toast. It's a symbolic offering to Moradin, the Earth Father, and also a reminder not to let the ale get the better of you.
5. The Keg Keeps the Truth In dwarven halls, it's said that a keg “keeps the truth”—meaning confessions, admissions, and secrets shared over drink are sacred. Repeating such words outside the tavern is a grave dishonor.

Elven Drinking Customs

“We do not drink to forget. We drink to remember.” – Elanoriel of House Silverspire

1. Drink Is a Ritual, Not a Pastime Elves rarely drink for the sake of drinking. Each cup has purpose—honoring memory, greeting the moon, sealing a poem. Quick or casual consumption is seen as uncultured.
2. Sip by Starlight Traditional elven wines are consumed slowly, ideally beneath moonlight or open sky. Artificial lighting is frowned upon unless magically generated to simulate stars or moon-glow.
3. Shared Cup, Shared Dream Among close friends or lovers, it is common to pass a single cup back and forth while composing spontaneous verse or recalling old tales. This is considered an intimate act, not to be performed lightly.
4. Memory Vintages Some elven families create “memory vintages”—wines only opened to commemorate specific events: a child's naming, a first love, a final journey. These wines are steeped in meaning and never sold.
5. No Drink Without Music Elves often refuse to drink in silence. Even a single flute or whispered song is enough, but music must accompany the first sip. Some elven drinks even sing faintly when poured, if enchanted properly.

Halfling Drinking Customs

“Drink early, drink often, and always toast your baker.” – Halfling proverb

1. A Toast for Every Bite Halflings pair drinks with food obsessively. Even the simplest meals come with a suggested cider or ale. It’s common to offer a tiny toast before each course—even snacks.
2. Homebrew Is Sacred A halfling’s homebrew is like a child—frequently fussed over, shown off proudly, and never to be insulted. Being offered a bottle to take home is a mark of deep trust.
3. The Bottomless Jug Tradition At large gatherings, halflings pass around an enchanted (or exaggerated) "bottomless jug." Every participant must take a drink, name a joy or regret, and pass it along. The tradition ends only when everyone’s shared.
4. Three-Sip Challenge When a halfling wants to show off a new drink, they’ll offer three sips: one to guess the ingredients, one to rate the flavor, and one to say something clever. Points for creativity. There is no prize—just pride.
5. Don’t Drink Alone Drinking alone is considered an emotional red flag among halflings. If someone is seen drinking solo in public, it’s customary to go sit with them—even if just for a few minutes.

Halfblood Drinking Customs (Gorundian Half-Orcs)

“We drink to remember the pain—and remind them we’re still here.” – Gravel, Dregs doorman

1. Iron Cups, Iron Memories Halfbloods often drink from dented iron mugs passed down through families, some smithed by ancestors in slavery or war. These are not decorative. Each chip or notch is a story.
2. No Toast Without a Scar It’s common for halfbloods to raise their cups and reference a scar—physical or emotional. The act binds suffering with survival. “To the one I buried” or “To the tooth I lost” are typical lines.
3. Spite Sips In some circles, halfbloods perform a “spite sip”—a toast made not to honor someone, but to spite them. It's a way of turning old pain into power. “To the baron who sent my father to die” is both a curse and a release.
4. Mix It Hard, Drink It Hot Many halfbloods drink hard-mixed concoctions—liquor and burnt herbs, sour ales with chilies, or even smoky mash boiled before drinking. Strength and discomfort are part of the experience. There’s pride in not flinching.
5. The Silent Round Once per gathering, all cups are raised in silence. No one speaks. It’s understood this is for the ones who never got to drink free. Afterwards, the next toast is usually for the loudest, rowdiest reason possible—because life goes on.