Doelmess
Doelms revere and respect their women, but overly shelter them, resulting in a patriarchal society with one of the harshest forms of polygamy and maltreatment. Given the sheer monstrous ferocity of the Doelm warrior society, most foreigners assume Doelmesses to be warped, twisted and misshapen with raw ugliness. Doelm women are also forced to completely conceal their bodies in cloaks and head coverings. To even allow a foreigner to lay eyes on the face of a Doelmess soils her and brings dishonor to their people. This often drives Doelm warriors to the point of rage and bloodshed towards the foreigner who saw the Doelmess as well.
A Doelmess is generally regulated to household duties, gathering and childrearing in Doelm clans. Doelms are never trained as warriors and rarely allowed on hunts or taught trade crafts. Chieftesses have the awe and respect of the tribe, but their voices are never held in high regard at the council fires due to the deep-seated sexism in their culture. The strongest Doelms often taken many wives. Any Doelm warrior may challenge another in a duel to the death. Tribes can also be won by a rival by challenging the clan's chieftain to a duel to the death as well.
The duel is known as the Blood Right, meaning the winner takes the wives and children of the loser as spoils. Often called Trophy Wives and Prize Children, they are often treated more harshly than actual blood relatives. The winner may also do anything he sees fit to the loser's family, even have them slain. This puts many Doelmesses in horrible abusive marriages, where they are robbed of the right to swear vows and are treated more like property. Doelms believe this keeps their bloodlines strong. It also breeds deep resentment in children who are often passed between multiple homes as the males feud over dominance in the clans. Worse, a Chieftain losing a blood duel loses the entire tribe to the victory, who may take care of the tribe as his own or even have the entire tribe butchered.
Contrary to popular belief Doelm women are shockingly beautiful. This adds to Doelmesses being treated as prizes to be won in their culture but also a heavily guarded secret to protect them from other violent cultures. Doelm women are exceptionally tough, resourceful and skillful when given the chance. Living centuries in poverty and under oppression has also made them exceptional survivors and scavengers. Doelmesses often outlive the older more reckless males who die young and often in the constant bloodshed. Doelmess who reached old age are often considered Old Wise Ones among female circles and also start practicing some herbal craft, alchemy and witchcraft to increase their usefulness to the tribe.
Some Doelm women attempt to escape their black country to escape oppression and flee to the West, but this is one of the most dangerous journeys in all Covent. Heading all the way westward without being spotted by guards, scouts, nosy male Doelms or tracking dogs is a nearly impossible task. Worse the eastern half of Sylvane is fraught with dangerous wilds and many dark hostile lands. Dragons, giants and other night races present a constant danger to fleeing Doelm women. And even if a Doelmess manages to reach a western civilization they are killed on sight, sold into slavery or worse.
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Art by Thom Scott
