Útel caste system
Aned-naa
The funerary caste, chiefly concerned with proper handling and funeral rites for the dead. Though all the castes are technically equal in status, members of aned-naa enjoy great respect among the Útels due to the emphasis on ancestor veneration, as performing the correct rituals is necessary for the souls of the dead to enjoy a pleasant afterlife beneath the sea. Failure to do so is believed could lead to unhappy ancestors at the very least, and in worst cases wandering shades who cause misfortune to the living.
Along with the actual funeral rites, members of aned-naa sometimes give advice to grieving families, acting as therapists of sorts.
Their founder is Ókanas the elder, often depicted carrying a torch or an urn.
Útels born into aned-naa are identified by a grey cloak with white edges.
Ankú-naa The beekeepers' caste, concerned with keeping bees and extracting their honey and, to lesser extend, larvae. The latter are steamed or roasted and served with acorn meal. Honey is an important part of Útel cuisine and medicine, and beeswax is used for everything from candles to wax tablets to casting bronze statues. Actual beekeeping was invented by the ancient Móerkels, before which members of the caste ventured into the woods to collect honey from wild hives. The latter is still a part of the caste's rites of passage, using smoke to calm the bees and wearing a protective gear of straw and hides, along with a basket headgear and special wooden googles with narrow slits to protect the face.
Its founder is Neþrais, often depicted holding some honey cakes or wearing protective clothing.
Útels born into ankú-naa are identified by a yellow cloak with green edges.
Arv-naa The mages' caste, concerned with observing and studying the flow of magic and its effects on people and the environment. Most members learn to predict the weather by a combination of observing the positions of the sun and stars via star charts, shape of clouds and by sensing the element of Air around them. They can advice members of other castes when its best to sow and harvest various crops, and also when to pick the ingredients for their brew which is used to initiate mages, or arvels1. Relatively few choose to undergo the process of becoming a full-fledged mage, as it leaves one infertile and more prone to disease, assuming the potion doesn't prove fatal. Those who survive gain deep respect for their ability to sense the subtle currents of the magic flow, and the right to wear special earrings to show their rank.
Its founder is Ynþelais, often depicted with the earrings of a full-fledged mage.
Útels born into arv-naa are identified by a yellow cloak with double borders in black.
Baþú-naa The poultry farmers' caste, concerned with raising poultry and crafting feather cloaks. The eggs and, more rarely, meat of Ykan Birds and other domesticated birds are eaten throughout Ela'k Forest, and the feathers are woven into ceremonial cloaks or used to adorn the hair.
Its founder is Kelakai, often depicted holding a basket full of eggs or surrounded by ykan chicks.
Útels born into baþú-naa are identified by a grey cloak with a blue border, the border has a jagged design meant to imitate feather cloaks.
Ben-naa The farmers' caste, concerned with growing various crops, while raising livestock is the domain of other castes. Cereals have never been as important part of the Útel diet as among the Mörkels or the ancient Móerkels, partly because the local nal-grain gives relatively meager harvests, partly because acorns are the staple foodstuff instead. Wheat bread is a seasonal delicacy and especially popular at weddings, though many Útels consider it something of an acquired taste. Vegetables, fruits, tubers and spices are grown by this caste as well, most of which is sold on the market square and used in a variety of recipes.
Its founder is Zahinais, often depicted holding a sickle or an adze.
Útels born into ben-naa are identified by a brown cloak with green borders, and an unusually long loincloth which is used to carry sheaves of nal-grain and other things when there aren't any baskets around.
Eilar-naa The jewelers' caste, concerned with the making of jewelry and talismans. Each country, tribe and even individual towns in Ela'k Forest has its own traditions and themes when it comes to jewelry. Many of these designs predate Útel culture, but more recent Ameder and even Mörkel styles can be found in the northern cities. Rings, bracelets and anklets of gold, silver and bronze are worn by both genders, while necklaces are only worn by married individuals and earrings are generally reserved for elders or mages. Stones, wood and feathers of all kinds are also common materials. Many of these act as talismans against mischievous spirits and souls of the dead who didn't receive proper funeral. Children within eilar-naa learn their craft early, fetching and carrying things for their parents and watching them work, but it's not until they've made their own pieces from scratch that they're considered adults. The pieces themselves are decided by the elders and then presented to them for close examination as a rite of passage.
Its founder is Ókanas the younger, statuettes depicting him are often adorned with tiny bracelets and necklaces.
Útels born into ben-naa are identified by a yellow cloak with grey circular designs along the border, imitating the gold and silver so commonly used for their craft.
Fólap-naa The basket-weavers' caste, concerned with making baskets and other things out of reeds and straw, including the protective outfit used by ankú-naa, the beekeepers' caste. Útels have woven baskets, mats, hats and ropes from reeds and straw for millennia, and more recently, papyrus and reed pens. Each tribe has its own unique patterns and decorations, using dyed straw, painted beads and imported shells and amber. Being able to successfully weave a watertight basket is a rite of passage within this caste, while weaving extraordinarily large and colourful baskets is common among the elders as a sign of dedication, as those might take years to complete.
Its founder is Neþahúl, often depicted holding a bundle of reeds.
Útels born into fólap-naa are identified by orange cloaks with white diamond pattern along the edges.
Húal-naa The northern merchants' caste, concerned with trading with transporting goods between the Ela'k Forest and the Ameder colonies in the north and trading with the latter. Originally known as yþrú-naa, members of this caste were responsible for performing the various rituals related to nature spirits, using oak branches, wreaths and masks among other things. The caste gradually lost its prestige as ancestor worship began supplanting the these age old traditions, the spirits became the symbol of a distant era before the dawn of civilization, until the ceremonies had to be performed during nighttime or deep in the woods to avoid scorn.
Eventually, the caste's purpose had become so obscure that the Yt-Þarizen (the highest elder council) of Malónat decided to change it's role to a merchants' caste, specializing in trading with the Ameders to the north, reflecting zira-naa, the caste that trades with the Jaarels to the south. The Útels of Kanot have done the same, but Kaiqonon remains undecided.
While the sacrifices and chants of old are now gone, the members of húal-naa still carry oaken walking sticks, their cloaks still bear the traditional colour scheme and many songs, used to pass the time while travelling between Ela'k Forest and the Ameder colonies along the coast of Klalaþan Sea, contain spells to drive away mischievous spirits along the way.
Its founder is Anedais; once depicted with a ceremonial staff or oak branch, he's now often shown laden with goods or wearing a scarf like an Ameder.
Útels born into húal-naa are identified by a green cloak with orange borders.
Kagú-naa The stonemasons' caste, chiefly concerned with constructing things out of stone. A relatively small caste, masonry is nonetheless essential for paving roads and streets, laying foundations for buildings and making wells among the Útels. Stone is hewn in local quarries using wedges, water and hammers and then brought to nearby towns and cities for further refinement. Aches and injuries are quite common, and few members of one caste show as deep respect for another as they do to those belonging to leh-naa, the healers' caste.
Its founder is Úleþar, often depicted with hammer and chisel in hand.
Útels born into kagú-naa are identified by a grey cloak with red triangular designs along the edges.
Ker-naa The acorn gatherers' caste, concerned with planting and maintaining oak trees and gathering acorns. Acorns are the staple foodstuff of Útel cuisine, and oak groves are found near every one of their major settlements. The acorn meal is usually mixed with water and baked into small cakes, sometimes with added honey or raisins, or loaves of bread for celebrations. Other nut-bearing trees and bushes are grown to some extent as well to subsidize poor harvests, with different varieties depending on the region.
Members of this caste are also responsible for planting and tending the trees in between harvests, and clearing the area to make the foraging easier, sometimes by the use of fire. Oaks are also associated with the worship of spirits and funeral rites among the Útels; oak branches and wreaths are traditionally used by shamans when making offerings to the spirits, and Útels used to bury urns under oaks or plant acorns on the graves, believing that the souls of the dead would travel up the tree on their way to the afterlife. Even today, urns are made to resemble acorns even though the original meaning has fallen into obscurity. Children and teenagers are generally the ones who do the harvesting, as they're generally quicker and better able to spot acorns on the ground than adults.
Its founder is Eilóar, often depicted with a basket full of acorns.
Útels born into ker-naa are identified by a light green cloak with yellow circular designs along the edges.
Leh-naa The healers' caste, concerned with treating wounds, making and giving medicine. Útel healers know cures for various ailments, much of their medicine is based on ancient recipes from Alalarían times and is often accompanied by protective amulets and prayers to the ancestors. When at work, healers often wear a special headgear adorned with branches of trees that give a pleasant aroma, intended to calm down the patients. It's not uncommon for each family to specialize in certain fields, such as dentistry, skin diseases and mending broken bones, but all learn how to treat more common illnesses with potions, poultices and salves. Útel medicine, though advanced in comparison to many other Dragonían cultures, is still not without it's faults; while excellent at treating ailments, the healers know little of the causes of infections and are often overwhelmed when plagues strike. Serious wounds are often washed with vinegar and occasionally smeared with tar, the latter practice originated among the Ameders to the north.
Its founder is Harþólais, often depicted wearing the headgear used by healers at work.
Útels born into leh-naa are identified by a orange cloak with red edges.
Lynóp-naa The potters' caste, concerned with making pottery and other things out of clay. Clay pots were invented by the Alalaríans long before the advent of agriculture, originally to strengthen baskets and were used in their ceremonial and funeral practices, the dead were buried in large urn, preferably under oak trees. Útel pottery is relatively simple in shape, either with many small handles or none at all and sealed with beeswax or wooden lids. They vary from huge jars to store vine and other liquids, to smaller ones for medicine, spices, acorn meal and wheat, not to mention various pots and pans. Útel potters are also responsible for making urns, roof tiles, oil lamps and bowls to eat and drink with; plates and cubs are unknown to the Útels, their only utensils are knives.
Its founder is Vele, often depicted holding a jar resembling old ceremonial ones used by Alalaríans for offering libations.
Útels born into lynóp-naa are identified by a brown cloak with a yellow diamond pattern along the edges.
Lysar-naa The artists' caste, concerned with creating mosaics, statues and frescoes, as well as painting on pillars and pottery.
Traditionally, Útel art is clearly divided into high and low categories, with mosaic and painting belonging to the former and sculpture of all sorts to the latter. Mosaic is considered especially prestigious, adorning the floors of the Yt-Þarizen (the supreme elder council in each Útel country) and other public buildings, as well as ancestral shrines and the center of town squares. Common motifs on mosaics include plants, animals and creatures from folklore, all of which are made using strict formulas, while painters can depict more varied subjects although they too must adhere to certain styles. Sculptors are allowed more freedom, and works of certain families or even individual artists are often highly sought after despite statues being considered less refined art form.
Their founder is Óhal, whose statuettes are often brightly painted or even gilded, and is often depicted holding a paint brush.
Útels born into lysar-naa are identified by a red cloak with double white edges.
Metú-naa The scribes' caste, concerned with recording and keeping all sorts of information safe. The Útel script is based on square-shaped hieroglyphs, consisting of thousands of symbols that can take years to learn, and even longer to fully master. Letters are written on papyrus scrolls using reed pens and soot, though wax tablets are also used for notes. Scribes are responsible for recording everything from annals to local legends to words of wisdom from the elders, in some cases even entire biographies, the last one being especially important when it comes to ancestral worship. Members of metú-naa is also responsible for meticulously comparing and copying documents, often in gazebo-like structures like depicted here, after which they're distributed to different homes to prevent any information being permanently lost to fires, moisture or vermin.
Its founder is Núrne, often depicted with a headband to keep reed pens in.
Útels born into metú-naa are identified by a yellow cloak with purple edges.
Tanla-naa The tailors' caste, concerned with weaving the cloaks for each caste and other colourful clothes. Útels of other castes also buy cloth from members of tanla-naa to make simple clothes and mend their own.
Its founder is Belúai, statuettes of her are often wrapped in fine cloth.
Útels born into tanla-naa are identified by a light green cloak with red edges.
Tiþin-naa The swineherds' caste, concerned with raising pigs for their meat and skin.
Its founder is Aró, often depicted holding a piglet. Swineherds in Kaiqonon sprinkle pigs' blood on his statuettes as a form of libation.
Útels born into tiþin-naa are identified by a red cloak with yellow edges.
Úlin-naa The hunters' caste, concerned with making leather as well as hunting.
Its founder is Fyhes, often depicted holding a bow and arrows.
Útels born into úlin-naa are identified by a brown cloak with grey edges.
Vareð-naa The warriors' caste, concerned with patrolling roads between settlements and defensive walls. Since Útels have neither been at war with one another or other countries for millennia, vareð-naa's role has mostly revolved around keeping old war dances and songs alive, and members perform elaborate mock battles to reenact ancient conflicts in Útel history.
Its founder is Úvalais, often depicted wearing in full panoply.
Útels born into vareð-naa are identified by a white cloak with black edges.
Vósar-naa The smiths' caste, concerned with making all sorts of tools and weapons out of bronze and copper.
Its founder is Jaró, often depicted holding a hammer.
Útels born into vósar-naa are identified by an orange cloak with two red borders along the edges.
Yl-naa The carpenters' caste.
Its founder is Zyrhelai the elder, often depicted holding an axe.
Útels born into yl-naa are identified by brown cloak with yellow circular designs along the edges.
Þil-naa The vintners' caste.
Its founder is Zyrhelai the younger, often depicted with bunches of grapes in each hand.
Útels born into þil-naa are identified by a purple cloak with red edges.
Þókan-naa The giant salamander farmers' caste.
Its founder is Karynai, often depicted with a salamander by her feet.
Útels born into þókan-naa are identified by a dark green cloak with red triangles along the edges.
Ærú-naa The fishermen' caste.
Its founder is Yndóar, often depicted with holding a gigantic fish.
Útels born into ærú-naa are identified by an orange cloak with a black, jagged line along the edges.
Öðin-naa The guards' caste, serving as a police in Útel society. Unlike the warriors' caste, members of öðin-naa are trained in wrestling their foes to the ground, and elders sometimes use simple staves to trip their feet.
Its founder is Nanþíras, often depicted with a staff in hand.
Útels born into öðin-naa are identified by a purple cloak with blue edges.
Zaþin-naa The rabbit- and rodent farmers' caste.
Its founder is Levónai, often depicted holding a rabbit.
Útels born into zaþin-naa are identified by an orange cloak with green edges.
Zira-naa The southern merchants' caste, concerned with trading with the Jaarels. This caste is limited to southern Malónat. Members are taught a special creole language used when trading with Jaarels, and to be exceptionally polite to make a good impression.
Its founder is Þazais, often depicted holding lightstones found under the Vúrakesen Mountains.
Útels born into zira-naa are identified by a red cloak with purple triangles along the edges.
Along with the actual funeral rites, members of aned-naa sometimes give advice to grieving families, acting as therapists of sorts.
Their founder is Ókanas the elder, often depicted carrying a torch or an urn.
Útels born into aned-naa are identified by a grey cloak with white edges.
Ankú-naa The beekeepers' caste, concerned with keeping bees and extracting their honey and, to lesser extend, larvae. The latter are steamed or roasted and served with acorn meal. Honey is an important part of Útel cuisine and medicine, and beeswax is used for everything from candles to wax tablets to casting bronze statues. Actual beekeeping was invented by the ancient Móerkels, before which members of the caste ventured into the woods to collect honey from wild hives. The latter is still a part of the caste's rites of passage, using smoke to calm the bees and wearing a protective gear of straw and hides, along with a basket headgear and special wooden googles with narrow slits to protect the face.
Its founder is Neþrais, often depicted holding some honey cakes or wearing protective clothing.
Útels born into ankú-naa are identified by a yellow cloak with green edges.
Arv-naa The mages' caste, concerned with observing and studying the flow of magic and its effects on people and the environment. Most members learn to predict the weather by a combination of observing the positions of the sun and stars via star charts, shape of clouds and by sensing the element of Air around them. They can advice members of other castes when its best to sow and harvest various crops, and also when to pick the ingredients for their brew which is used to initiate mages, or arvels1. Relatively few choose to undergo the process of becoming a full-fledged mage, as it leaves one infertile and more prone to disease, assuming the potion doesn't prove fatal. Those who survive gain deep respect for their ability to sense the subtle currents of the magic flow, and the right to wear special earrings to show their rank.
Its founder is Ynþelais, often depicted with the earrings of a full-fledged mage.
Útels born into arv-naa are identified by a yellow cloak with double borders in black.
Baþú-naa The poultry farmers' caste, concerned with raising poultry and crafting feather cloaks. The eggs and, more rarely, meat of Ykan Birds and other domesticated birds are eaten throughout Ela'k Forest, and the feathers are woven into ceremonial cloaks or used to adorn the hair.
Its founder is Kelakai, often depicted holding a basket full of eggs or surrounded by ykan chicks.
Útels born into baþú-naa are identified by a grey cloak with a blue border, the border has a jagged design meant to imitate feather cloaks.
Ben-naa The farmers' caste, concerned with growing various crops, while raising livestock is the domain of other castes. Cereals have never been as important part of the Útel diet as among the Mörkels or the ancient Móerkels, partly because the local nal-grain gives relatively meager harvests, partly because acorns are the staple foodstuff instead. Wheat bread is a seasonal delicacy and especially popular at weddings, though many Útels consider it something of an acquired taste. Vegetables, fruits, tubers and spices are grown by this caste as well, most of which is sold on the market square and used in a variety of recipes.
Its founder is Zahinais, often depicted holding a sickle or an adze.
Útels born into ben-naa are identified by a brown cloak with green borders, and an unusually long loincloth which is used to carry sheaves of nal-grain and other things when there aren't any baskets around.
Eilar-naa The jewelers' caste, concerned with the making of jewelry and talismans. Each country, tribe and even individual towns in Ela'k Forest has its own traditions and themes when it comes to jewelry. Many of these designs predate Útel culture, but more recent Ameder and even Mörkel styles can be found in the northern cities. Rings, bracelets and anklets of gold, silver and bronze are worn by both genders, while necklaces are only worn by married individuals and earrings are generally reserved for elders or mages. Stones, wood and feathers of all kinds are also common materials. Many of these act as talismans against mischievous spirits and souls of the dead who didn't receive proper funeral. Children within eilar-naa learn their craft early, fetching and carrying things for their parents and watching them work, but it's not until they've made their own pieces from scratch that they're considered adults. The pieces themselves are decided by the elders and then presented to them for close examination as a rite of passage.
Its founder is Ókanas the younger, statuettes depicting him are often adorned with tiny bracelets and necklaces.
Útels born into ben-naa are identified by a yellow cloak with grey circular designs along the border, imitating the gold and silver so commonly used for their craft.
Fólap-naa The basket-weavers' caste, concerned with making baskets and other things out of reeds and straw, including the protective outfit used by ankú-naa, the beekeepers' caste. Útels have woven baskets, mats, hats and ropes from reeds and straw for millennia, and more recently, papyrus and reed pens. Each tribe has its own unique patterns and decorations, using dyed straw, painted beads and imported shells and amber. Being able to successfully weave a watertight basket is a rite of passage within this caste, while weaving extraordinarily large and colourful baskets is common among the elders as a sign of dedication, as those might take years to complete.
Its founder is Neþahúl, often depicted holding a bundle of reeds.
Útels born into fólap-naa are identified by orange cloaks with white diamond pattern along the edges.
Húal-naa The northern merchants' caste, concerned with trading with transporting goods between the Ela'k Forest and the Ameder colonies in the north and trading with the latter. Originally known as yþrú-naa, members of this caste were responsible for performing the various rituals related to nature spirits, using oak branches, wreaths and masks among other things. The caste gradually lost its prestige as ancestor worship began supplanting the these age old traditions, the spirits became the symbol of a distant era before the dawn of civilization, until the ceremonies had to be performed during nighttime or deep in the woods to avoid scorn.
Eventually, the caste's purpose had become so obscure that the Yt-Þarizen (the highest elder council) of Malónat decided to change it's role to a merchants' caste, specializing in trading with the Ameders to the north, reflecting zira-naa, the caste that trades with the Jaarels to the south. The Útels of Kanot have done the same, but Kaiqonon remains undecided.
While the sacrifices and chants of old are now gone, the members of húal-naa still carry oaken walking sticks, their cloaks still bear the traditional colour scheme and many songs, used to pass the time while travelling between Ela'k Forest and the Ameder colonies along the coast of Klalaþan Sea, contain spells to drive away mischievous spirits along the way.
Its founder is Anedais; once depicted with a ceremonial staff or oak branch, he's now often shown laden with goods or wearing a scarf like an Ameder.
Útels born into húal-naa are identified by a green cloak with orange borders.
Kagú-naa The stonemasons' caste, chiefly concerned with constructing things out of stone. A relatively small caste, masonry is nonetheless essential for paving roads and streets, laying foundations for buildings and making wells among the Útels. Stone is hewn in local quarries using wedges, water and hammers and then brought to nearby towns and cities for further refinement. Aches and injuries are quite common, and few members of one caste show as deep respect for another as they do to those belonging to leh-naa, the healers' caste.
Its founder is Úleþar, often depicted with hammer and chisel in hand.
Útels born into kagú-naa are identified by a grey cloak with red triangular designs along the edges.
Ker-naa The acorn gatherers' caste, concerned with planting and maintaining oak trees and gathering acorns. Acorns are the staple foodstuff of Útel cuisine, and oak groves are found near every one of their major settlements. The acorn meal is usually mixed with water and baked into small cakes, sometimes with added honey or raisins, or loaves of bread for celebrations. Other nut-bearing trees and bushes are grown to some extent as well to subsidize poor harvests, with different varieties depending on the region.
Members of this caste are also responsible for planting and tending the trees in between harvests, and clearing the area to make the foraging easier, sometimes by the use of fire. Oaks are also associated with the worship of spirits and funeral rites among the Útels; oak branches and wreaths are traditionally used by shamans when making offerings to the spirits, and Útels used to bury urns under oaks or plant acorns on the graves, believing that the souls of the dead would travel up the tree on their way to the afterlife. Even today, urns are made to resemble acorns even though the original meaning has fallen into obscurity. Children and teenagers are generally the ones who do the harvesting, as they're generally quicker and better able to spot acorns on the ground than adults.
Its founder is Eilóar, often depicted with a basket full of acorns.
Útels born into ker-naa are identified by a light green cloak with yellow circular designs along the edges.
Leh-naa The healers' caste, concerned with treating wounds, making and giving medicine. Útel healers know cures for various ailments, much of their medicine is based on ancient recipes from Alalarían times and is often accompanied by protective amulets and prayers to the ancestors. When at work, healers often wear a special headgear adorned with branches of trees that give a pleasant aroma, intended to calm down the patients. It's not uncommon for each family to specialize in certain fields, such as dentistry, skin diseases and mending broken bones, but all learn how to treat more common illnesses with potions, poultices and salves. Útel medicine, though advanced in comparison to many other Dragonían cultures, is still not without it's faults; while excellent at treating ailments, the healers know little of the causes of infections and are often overwhelmed when plagues strike. Serious wounds are often washed with vinegar and occasionally smeared with tar, the latter practice originated among the Ameders to the north.
Its founder is Harþólais, often depicted wearing the headgear used by healers at work.
Útels born into leh-naa are identified by a orange cloak with red edges.
Lynóp-naa The potters' caste, concerned with making pottery and other things out of clay. Clay pots were invented by the Alalaríans long before the advent of agriculture, originally to strengthen baskets and were used in their ceremonial and funeral practices, the dead were buried in large urn, preferably under oak trees. Útel pottery is relatively simple in shape, either with many small handles or none at all and sealed with beeswax or wooden lids. They vary from huge jars to store vine and other liquids, to smaller ones for medicine, spices, acorn meal and wheat, not to mention various pots and pans. Útel potters are also responsible for making urns, roof tiles, oil lamps and bowls to eat and drink with; plates and cubs are unknown to the Útels, their only utensils are knives.
Its founder is Vele, often depicted holding a jar resembling old ceremonial ones used by Alalaríans for offering libations.
Útels born into lynóp-naa are identified by a brown cloak with a yellow diamond pattern along the edges.
Lysar-naa The artists' caste, concerned with creating mosaics, statues and frescoes, as well as painting on pillars and pottery.
Traditionally, Útel art is clearly divided into high and low categories, with mosaic and painting belonging to the former and sculpture of all sorts to the latter. Mosaic is considered especially prestigious, adorning the floors of the Yt-Þarizen (the supreme elder council in each Útel country) and other public buildings, as well as ancestral shrines and the center of town squares. Common motifs on mosaics include plants, animals and creatures from folklore, all of which are made using strict formulas, while painters can depict more varied subjects although they too must adhere to certain styles. Sculptors are allowed more freedom, and works of certain families or even individual artists are often highly sought after despite statues being considered less refined art form.
Their founder is Óhal, whose statuettes are often brightly painted or even gilded, and is often depicted holding a paint brush.
Útels born into lysar-naa are identified by a red cloak with double white edges.
Metú-naa The scribes' caste, concerned with recording and keeping all sorts of information safe. The Útel script is based on square-shaped hieroglyphs, consisting of thousands of symbols that can take years to learn, and even longer to fully master. Letters are written on papyrus scrolls using reed pens and soot, though wax tablets are also used for notes. Scribes are responsible for recording everything from annals to local legends to words of wisdom from the elders, in some cases even entire biographies, the last one being especially important when it comes to ancestral worship. Members of metú-naa is also responsible for meticulously comparing and copying documents, often in gazebo-like structures like depicted here, after which they're distributed to different homes to prevent any information being permanently lost to fires, moisture or vermin.
Its founder is Núrne, often depicted with a headband to keep reed pens in.
Útels born into metú-naa are identified by a yellow cloak with purple edges.
Tanla-naa The tailors' caste, concerned with weaving the cloaks for each caste and other colourful clothes. Útels of other castes also buy cloth from members of tanla-naa to make simple clothes and mend their own.
Its founder is Belúai, statuettes of her are often wrapped in fine cloth.
Útels born into tanla-naa are identified by a light green cloak with red edges.
Tiþin-naa The swineherds' caste, concerned with raising pigs for their meat and skin.
Its founder is Aró, often depicted holding a piglet. Swineherds in Kaiqonon sprinkle pigs' blood on his statuettes as a form of libation.
Útels born into tiþin-naa are identified by a red cloak with yellow edges.
Úlin-naa The hunters' caste, concerned with making leather as well as hunting.
Its founder is Fyhes, often depicted holding a bow and arrows.
Útels born into úlin-naa are identified by a brown cloak with grey edges.
Vareð-naa The warriors' caste, concerned with patrolling roads between settlements and defensive walls. Since Útels have neither been at war with one another or other countries for millennia, vareð-naa's role has mostly revolved around keeping old war dances and songs alive, and members perform elaborate mock battles to reenact ancient conflicts in Útel history.
Its founder is Úvalais, often depicted wearing in full panoply.
Útels born into vareð-naa are identified by a white cloak with black edges.
Vósar-naa The smiths' caste, concerned with making all sorts of tools and weapons out of bronze and copper.
Its founder is Jaró, often depicted holding a hammer.
Útels born into vósar-naa are identified by an orange cloak with two red borders along the edges.
Yl-naa The carpenters' caste.
Its founder is Zyrhelai the elder, often depicted holding an axe.
Útels born into yl-naa are identified by brown cloak with yellow circular designs along the edges.
Þil-naa The vintners' caste.
Its founder is Zyrhelai the younger, often depicted with bunches of grapes in each hand.
Útels born into þil-naa are identified by a purple cloak with red edges.
Þókan-naa The giant salamander farmers' caste.
Its founder is Karynai, often depicted with a salamander by her feet.
Útels born into þókan-naa are identified by a dark green cloak with red triangles along the edges.
Ærú-naa The fishermen' caste.
Its founder is Yndóar, often depicted with holding a gigantic fish.
Útels born into ærú-naa are identified by an orange cloak with a black, jagged line along the edges.
Öðin-naa The guards' caste, serving as a police in Útel society. Unlike the warriors' caste, members of öðin-naa are trained in wrestling their foes to the ground, and elders sometimes use simple staves to trip their feet.
Its founder is Nanþíras, often depicted with a staff in hand.
Útels born into öðin-naa are identified by a purple cloak with blue edges.
Zaþin-naa The rabbit- and rodent farmers' caste.
Its founder is Levónai, often depicted holding a rabbit.
Útels born into zaþin-naa are identified by an orange cloak with green edges.
Zira-naa The southern merchants' caste, concerned with trading with the Jaarels. This caste is limited to southern Malónat. Members are taught a special creole language used when trading with Jaarels, and to be exceptionally polite to make a good impression.
Its founder is Þazais, often depicted holding lightstones found under the Vúrakesen Mountains.
Útels born into zira-naa are identified by a red cloak with purple triangles along the edges.
Structure
All matters within each caste such as marriage or theft are discussed and (hopefully) solved by a council the eldest of each family. They also oversee the coming-of-age ceremony, where children must solve a certain task to show that they're capable of handling the responsibilities expected of adults.
History
The caste system goes back to Ela'k, the culture heroes of the Útels, around 7000 b.Dr. The roles of many castes have changed somewhat since their founding, most drastically yþrú-naa, the shamans' caste, whose role eventually became so obscure that it was transformed into húal-naa, the northern merchants' caste.
1Original icelandic: arvelar, singular: arveli
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