Teran

Terans have no distinct color or feature that sets them apart from Khyloans or Douirans, mostly thanks to Tera being formed of people from all over Cantalan. Tera is something of a melting pot of human cultures and religions. But Terans are distinct in that they all are, and act like, soldiers.
It's in the way a person holds him or herself that gives a Teran away, they can't help but be militant. Rigid and upright from years of training and berating, these people walk with purpose, sit up straight, and speak properly, in even tones. They are an honorable people, the law held above all other things.
If a person is caught in criminal activity they are not put in a cell as the law in Khylo would do. No, there is a far worse fate for Terans who disobey orders or break the law. They are armed with basic equipment, given a weapon of their choice, placed in chains along with other lawbreakers, and sent to the frontlines. If they die, they died well; if they live, they are placed under barrack arrest for a 3 month stint, afterwhich, if the person has remorse for their actions and the commanding officer signs off on their paperwork, the criminal is placed back into active duty, going through 6 months of hard labor and training before being placed back into a unit.
In Tera, whether you are a street sweeper, a fry cook, or a tradesman, you are first and foremost a soldier and are expected to act as such. Due to this mentality regarding the duty of the average citizen, they hold adventurers in silent contempt. Terans see adventurers as low lifes, delusional, or even criminals. Within Tera, adventurers beware the law, for it may not be on your side should you choose to act on your impulses.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Angelina, Annina, Elsha, Genoveva, Gisela, Kirsten, Lea, Louise, Samantha, Stefanie, Tanja Alissa, Amy, Eva, Isabel, Lana, Maja, Matilda, Mina, Olivia, Selina, Theresa, Vanessa, Viktoria Amanda, Anita, Anniken, Elin, Hanna, Hilda, Ida, Katrine, Lotte, Margaret, Oddny, Veronika

Masculine names

Aayden, Hildebrandt, Isaak, Kaleb, Leon, Markus, Matthias, Phillipp, Siegmund, Wendelin, Wolfhard Aaron, Benedikt, Christoph, Fabian, Jonathan, Josef, Julian, Lenny, Martin, Samuel, Simon, Tobias Arnt, Benjamin, Eskil, Frank, Gunnar, Gustav, Henrik, Michael, Mikkel, Oliver, Reidar, Steffen, Torfinn

Family names

Teran family names are loosely based in germanic, austrian, and norwegian origins, germanic names being most prevalent.
Bernbaum, Böhnisch, Edelmann, Eich, Haas, Katzen, Schlüter, Stahlecker, Taschner, Weisz Askin, Baumgartner, Dorn, Eder, Gruber, Huber, Kaplan, Kuhn, Mosele, Ransmayr, Spielmann Borja, Frandsen, Fretheim, Kise, Magnus, Olsen, Ramsland, Sanden, Strommen, Teig, Wangen

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Terans speak all forms of the human language, as well as the common language of the jotun. Common, as its name indicates, is the most commonly spoken language in Tera, due to the higher ups wanting to make the communication of orders between ranks, units, and soldiers, as simple as possible.

Shared customary codes and values

Teran's have a code of honor which goes as follows,

Strength in Unity Glory in Battle Honor above Order Order above Rank Rank means Nothing Without Honor Honor in Tera Tera above All

Each line can be broken down into its separate ideals or values. Strength in Unity: A pretty simply notion, it simply means that strength is not found in numbers alone, but in the bonds between soldiers. Glory in Battle: Again, a simple notion, but for those who have seen the worst war has to offer, possibly still a bitter root to chew. Many will say there is not glory in battle, but if that were so, why would we build monuments to fallen soldiers and remember the great deeds of those who fought and died for king and country? There is some glory in battle, you may just not live to see it. Honor Above Order: This is an interesting notion, as it is considered a crime to disobey a direct order. But, Terans in ages past set a precedent for the individual; that your honor is more important than your orders. This means that if an order you receive would go against your personal values and dishonor you, you as an individual have the right to reject the order given to you. How you go about rejecting that order is up to you. Order Above Rank: This line tells a person that their rank should always be kept in perspective. If you receive an order from a higher up, you best follow that order, no matter where you are on the chain of command. This, however, does not overrule the previous idea, that your honor is above orders, but if your disobey an order, it should be on the basis of honor, not rank. Rank Means Nothing: This line should always be viewed in conjunction with the next line, Without Honor. However, in days past, Terans would look at this line by itself and surmise that the original meaning, and the point of having this line by itself, is that your rank can be stripped from you at a moments notice. In this frame of mind, rank really doesn't mean a thing because someone else is always waiting for that promotion. If you are at all negligent, rebellious, or inept in your position, you can be demoted. Without Honor: Once again, this line should be viewed in conjunction with the previous line, Rank Means Nothing. But by itself it stands as a reminder of the fate which befalls the criminal, the disobedient, and the idle. Honor on Tera: This line is the cornerstone on which the rest of the values of Tera stand. If you are doing your job right, you bring honor on Tera, your family, and yourself. Honor on Tera is what keeps us strong, because without honor the people lose heart, and in discouragement the human resolve falters. Tera Above All: This line is a new addendum to the whole. It was inserted at the end after commander Dorn lost contact with general Anjirok in Khylo. Believing Khylo has fallen into anarchy due to the ineffectual king, Tera has declared itself independent from the kingdom, with A'Douir following suit. It stands to reason that commander Dorn added the line for the sake of prioritizing Tera over Khylo.

Common Etiquette rules

It is common etiquette to salute a higher ranking officer, as well as but not necessary, others of the same rank. Also to stand at attention when higher ranking officers are passing by, but to stand at ease when simply talking or waiting. While sitting, you sit with your back straight and shoulders back. It is also a common courtesy that you address higher ranking officers as 'sir' regardless of gender or station.

Common Dress code

Everyone dresses in uniforms fitting of the job they possess. Workers are dressed in one piece uniforms that button up in the front, with sleeves that can be untied. The average soldier moving about Tera freely tend to wear simple shirts and pants meant for household chores, shopping in the market, and working in the dirt. Though soldiers also have what are called 'dress uniforms' or 'honor suits' which are meant to be worn on special occasions or at meetings and dinners with higher ranking officers. Higher ranking officers, those being sargents, generals, commanders, and marshals, tend to wear their honor suits at all times, being that they are rarely the ones working in hard labor and more often find themselves at desks doing mountains of paperwork. Finally, if you are being sent out on mission, deployed to the frontlines, backlines, trenches, or otherwise going to be in or near battle, you wear your armor, weapons, and extra gear at all times, even while sleeping.

Art & Architecture

The Terans don't value art as much as Douirans do and their architecture is purly funtional, not formal. Terans don't care for luxuries, and their buildings reflect as much.

Coming of Age Rites

A Teran comes of age at 16 and is placed in units with others of the same age and enters more formal training. At 18 a Teran finishes formal training and is sent to the registrars to be placed into an existing unit or form a new unit. Lastly, at the age of 20 a Teran has the ability to petition to become a member of another unit. The soldier has to perform certain tasks in order for the petition to be written and sent to the unit's sergeant. If the sergeant signs off on the petition the soldier is placed in the unit of their choice. If the sergeant sends the petition back without a signature the soldier is placed back in its former unit and must remain there unless the unit is lost or for formal reasons disbanded, then a soldier can petition again.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Terans cremate their dead and scatter their ashes in the sea. The next of kin is informed of their passing and receives a plaque with the soldiers name, rank, unit name, commanding officers name, the date of birth and death, the cause of death, the soldiers chosen words of will, and a list of their deeds and accomplishments. If the body of the dead soldier is not retrieved or is lost, then the plaque is the only thing they can give to the family of the deceased.

Common Taboos

Other than speaking ill of a higher up? It is taboo to bury the dead. After the grim era most humans began cremating their dead. It is taboo to salute a criminal being sent to the frontlines. It is taboo to petition to leave a unit outside of allowable circumstances. It is taboo to enter the house of a higher ranking officer without first saluting them in the doorway. It is taboo to invite yourself to another's home without proper forewarning. It is taboo to refer to someone by their middle name.

Common Myths and Legends

Terans have plenty of legends regarding their own people; soldiers, commanders, and generals who have done tremendous good in the war efforts of old. Within the fortress of Tera is a large hall dedicated to these heroes and legends called  the Hall of Heroes.
Then there's the legends and myths regarding the enemy. There are many myths and legends about orcs who kidnap children and eat them if they don't behave. then there are the other myths, the more believable, yet still more strange legends. For example, the legend of Grimruk the Strange. Said to be an orc who was so hideous that his own people threw him out of their society for his appearance alone. Now apparently he roams the mountainsides, bashing his head and body into rocks to try and shape his body to look more normal.
Plenty of myths regarding the jotun standing stones and old strongholds as well. But those are mostly shared by all humans, not just Terans.

Historical figures

Julian Khylo, second king of Khylo and the first king to battle the orcs for land. Julian Khylo II, the second king of Khylo, who continued the campaign against the orcs. Commander Catarina Tera, the first commander of the Teran military during the reign of Julian II. General Hans Weinmann, second in command of the Teran military during the reign of Julian II. Bishop Johannes Loken, the man responsible for retrieving the body of Catarina Tera in the midst of battle. Sergeant Larissa Kasper, lead an assault on the orc chief Gerdul the Huge and won, slaying Gerdul with his own broadsword. General Elias Berg, held off hundreds of orc warriors with his unit in defence of Khylo. He lost his life, but gave Khylo time to prepare. Theo Schell, a simple soldier who died in defence of a small village being attacked by goblins. He survived long enough to know that reinforcements had arrived. Commander Anni Edelmann, defender of Tera's gates during the Grim King's hostile takeover. Though she did not save Tera, she is remembered for her bravery in the face of true evil. General Jaqueline Stäbler, founder of New Tera, and leader in the renewed border defence after the Grim King's defeat.
Other notable names: Joachim Lande, Petter Bjelland, Sigrun Tangen, Lillian Bortnem, Lisa Kollek, Jan Diemberger, Filip Hofer, Patrick Loos, Valerie Harrer, Waltraut Sack, Lina Honigman, Sybille Kepler, Mathias Schöner, Andre Heinecke, Xaver Scharf, Niklas Nowitzki, Gregor Reichwein, Alicia Weinberger, Larissa Aust, Oddny Strom, Oddlaug Aabel, Ester Meas, and Vincent Amstutz.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

For a Teran, physical beauty is not as important. No matter if you're male or female you are still a soldier, and soldiers collect scars and injuries. Teran beauty comes from your physical fitness. Are you strong? Are you capable? Are you good in a fight? These things make a person beautiful.

Gender Ideals

As a Teran, there is no gender separation, everyone is on equal footing so long as your rank is the same. There is, however, no safeguard in place against gender discrimination. Terans believe that if you are truly strong, you should hold neither gender higher than the other, and likewise, a strong person would not allow such an issue to offend them. Even if offense is taken, the expectation is that you will deal with it on your own in a proper way.

Courtship Ideals

Courtship in Tera lasts about 6 months before a man and woman decide to marry. It's not a lengthy process, nor is it complicated. Everyone in Tera knows that life is short and can be cut shorter without notice.

Relationship Ideals

For many in Tera, relationship building is impulsive. Courtship is often skipped over by the younger generations, and marriage is a funny joke. Men and women alike just help themselves to as much sex as they desire, knowing that death could arrive in the middle of the night, and the next generation of soldiers have to be born and trained quickly.

Major organizations

Tera is a territory within the kingdom of Cantalan, being the second major city in the kingdom and currently stands as the military center of the region.

Languages spoken

• Cantan