Otwin
Brief History
Otwin culture was formed when remnants of the Altinum mainland fled inland after the disaster. They were met by the central Hilverdoorn tribes that welcomed them with open arms and allowed them to live with them. The Hilverdoorn were mostly unaffected by the disaster as most of the chaos struck on the eastern and western coasts of the mainland. The cultural differences between the groups was quite large. The Altinum immigrants were mostly craftsmen, while the Hilverdoorn were mostly nomadic traders, that traded goods between the northern and southern tribes. The population split was 1:1, Altinum to Hilverdoorn. The central regions had the largest population of Altinum immigration. The Altinum convinced the central tribes to settle down and setup villages and cities. The combination of their cultures created the Otwin.
Arts and Architecture
The styles of architecture and art the Otwin create and utilize are of similar nature to late medieval to early renaissance Germany. Most common buildings are timber framed with clay walls, with internal stone supports. The Otwin are not the most artistic of people in the traditional sense, however they find great enjoyment out of more practical creations and produce goods and service that of the highest quality.Shared Values
Slaves and Indentured Servitude?
Otwin are pragmatic and believe that people naturally want a fulfilling life. To otwin that means three things. That they want work that makes them feel accomplished. That they can use the profits of their work to obtain great comforts. And lastly that they are the masters of their own fate. These three traits mean that they oppose slavery as it takes away a person's right to achieve these goals. However their pragmatic nature acknowledges that sometimes a person's inability to pay their debts requires that they temporarily sign themselves into indentured servitude.Sexuality and Gender Ideals
The Otwin’s pragmatic nature means that sexuality and genders are irrelevant among their culture. If a man is naturally a good dressmaker then that's what they should do. If a woman is an expert negotiator then they should consider looking into becoming a trader.Taboos
Otwin have a variety of taboos revolving most around superstition and urban myths. Usually such supersitions are localized to specifc cities and regions and do not effect the culture as a whole. One superstition that is believed by all Otwin is the belief that it is unlucky to finalize contracts or large trade deals on any day except Last Day.Customs and Traditions
Coming of Age rites
Otwin children typically attend basic primary schools to help teach them how to read and write in a variety of languages as well as expose them to a wide variety of crafts. Much of an Otwins youth is spent learning about trades and crafts and getting hands on experience with brief internships. This allows Otwin children to find a craft that truly suits and their skills. By the age of 15 an Otwin child is expected to have secured an internship, whether it be working in the military to working for a blacksmith. Depending on the type of job the youth chooses, they may end up leaving home, while others may be permitted to commute from their parents home to the apprenticeship. The youth spend 4 years working at their craft before receiving a certificate from their master, showing that they have become skilled enough to work on their own. Many Otwin believe receiving this certificate is where childhood ends and adulthood begins.Funerary Rites
Otwin funerals are quite simplistic and pragmatic. When Otwin pass away their bodies are typically treated with chemicals to avoid deocomposition and left in a coffin in a Sterben Temple. Due to the Otwin disliking the use of city space on large graveyards like the Jouilat, they instead build small crypts known as 'Sterben Temples' that are guarded by several shrine maidens. Otwin allow one week for family members to come and say their goodbyes before the deceased's body is cremated in a large oven inside the temple. Their ashes are then places in a ceremonial urn provided by their family which is then moved down inside the crypt section of the temple. The temples crypts are usually layered underneath the main temple and contain long passages decorated with urns. The passages contain many shelves covered with urns and some leave small drawings of their occupants.Courtship
Otwin are a monogamous and typically look down on taking more then one partner. Early in life Otwin are very promiscuous however, and being with several partners in one night is not considered taboo. Many Otwin even consider the use of sex as a fair bargaining tool. However when by the age of 40 most Otwin have found a life partner to settle down with. Their weddings consist of a large banquet where friends and family gather to congratulate the happy couple and wish them a happy life. Some aristocratic Otwin families who own large trade guilds will setup arranged marriages to help combine family names for the sake of profit. While most Otwin look down on the pracitce, it is still common among many large family run guilds.Religious Customs
Traditionally Otwin built large open temple parks that consisted of a large common area where people could gather and disucss topics, with shrines to each of the gods spread throughout. Whenever an Otwin had trouble in their life, they would go and pray to the gods shrine who has dominion over the problem and leave an offering that would please that god. However Otwin religous customs have begun to change over time as the Communion of Balance influence has spread. Overall religious customs are split, with some following the traditions of old, and others converting to the Communion of Balance.
Naming Traditions
Family Names:
Müller, Schmidt, Schneider, Fischer, Weber, Mayer, Wagner, Becker, Schulz, Hoffmann, Schäfer, Koch, Bauer, Richter, KleinMasculine Names:
Friedrich, Hans, Heinrich, Hermann, Karl, Günter, Otto, Paul, Walter, Wilhelm, Klaus, Manfred, Peter, Uwe, WolfgangFeminine Names:
Anna, Bertha, Frieda , Gertrud, Margarethe, Edith, Elfriede, Erna, Gerda, Christa, Elke, Erika, Gisela, Helga, Ingrid
Parent ethnicities
Related Organizations
Lineage Skill:
Persuasion
Culture Skills:
Languages Known:
Ought, Common, 3 Extra LanguagesPick 1 Artisan's Tool Proficiency
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