Bog Butter

In north eastern Taleirm, where bogs are incredibly common there exists many a tradition, but one in particular is considered particularly intrguing by passersby. Who are often left with a bark wrap full of butter for their journey home.
This tradition is in fact a right of pasage for local youths. Living in such a rural area emphasis is often put on community and agriculture. To provide for a healthy community it helps to be self sufficient, and to get the most out of your livestock you need a community to care for them.
So to be able to emulate the necessary qualities and strive for these ideals is considered the epitome of maturity. What could be more evident of these qualities than a piece of produce?

Why Bury Butter In The First Place?

In this very rural region of Taleirm, before it even became Taleirm. A lot of emphasis was put on food production, and livestock in particular since the bogs were not very useful for arable farming. Products such as milk, cheese, and even butter were the main focus, as well as cuts of meat, hide and bone.
When challenged with the fact their produce perished so quickly the locals began searching for ways to preserve them. They tried a few things, but rather quickly settled on storing their produce in the nearby bogs. Burying it in the bogs meant it would remain edible for days, weeks, months and even years.
But why would anyone want to leave their butter in a bog for years? Simple, as a gift for the future generations.

The Rite Itself

It all begins at the birth of a new family member. When the labour commences those in the family who have already completed their rite of passage gather together. They sit and sing songs as they use their personal churns to turn fresh milk into butter. They speak hopefully of the future inbetween songs, if someone says something negative of the future while churning it is considered a sabotage of the tradition. The butter that person was churning is immediately thrown out and they are prohibited from rejoining the circle.
Once it is all churned they will lump it all together and depending on the size they will wrap it in bark. It is then taken to the nearest bog and buried. The location is remembered, written down and carefully minded for the years to come.
At any point between the ages of 18 and 22 years old, the young person's family will gather again and decide whether they have met the criteria of maturity. This differs slightly in each community as different parts are prioritised over others.
Here is an example of one of the communities criteria:

Once a young person shows all of the following, they may begin their rite of passage.

• Shows empathy and respect to their community and everyone outside of it.
• Competence in at least one field of expertise.
• Shows maturity in all of the above categories.

If it is decided that the young person has met the criteria then they will be provided with the location of the bog butter. They must then dig up the butter, which can take a while depending on how specific their family is with their directions.
Once it is removed from the ground the young person must use it to prepare a meal for their family and wider community. It does not matter what they prepare so long as they use the butter! They could be serving it on bread and using it like a cheese, or they could melt it on meat as it cooks. So long as it is used in some way the rite is considered complete!

Uhh... There's Still Butter Left... A LOT of it...

Often there is more butter than is humanly digestable in one sitting. When everyone in the family took part in making it, there's sure to be a lot left over.
The young person must continue to cook with what's left for the next 3 days. In the event there is still butter left, they must gift what it to the next passing travelers or merchant they meet.

Bréafír

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The current map of Bréafír. It was made by an unknown scholar who enjoyed taking liberty in translating the place names. Oddly enough 'The Place' was the only one left untranslated. The debate as to why, is ongoing.

Boggy Buttery Facts

The butter thankfully stays edible for an incredibly long time! Although eventually it ends up tasting more like cheese!