Albaen (Culture)
Albaen is the Primary Culture of the Reane. It is very similar to Anglo-Saxon in real terms and follows the same language structure. Albaen as a language in the Empire has since died out and been replaced with Common as the national language, but still exists in many of the location names of the land. Albaen folk tend to be tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or green eyes. Most have raven-black hair, but those who inhabit the borderlands have blond, red, or light brown hair.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Domneva, Ealhhild, Arild, Waerhild
Wealhburh, Wlankild, Wengewe, Engelise, Cyneswith
Britheva, Ailred, Fritheswith, Hildelida, Alfild, Aelfwynn
Masculine names
Sighard, Gaenburh, Snaroc, Beornstan, Eanfrith, Oslafa, Eanfrid, Ricsig, Godfred, Rodney, Hwaetmund,
Heoruweald, Wynsige, Wulfbeald, Norman, Dryhthelm, Eluard, Tondhere, Aldhun, Wihtric
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
- Old Albaen (Dead Language)
- Common
Culture and cultural heritage
Cultural pride is a big deal
Shared customary codes and values
Albaen Culture originates as a Warrior Society built around smaller tribal collectives that were eventually brought together as the Reanian Empire. Because of this, Martial prowess is held in high regard for people of this culture even today. It is common for families to have prized weapons, armour, banners and colours that get passed through the generations as a form of ancestral worship and familial pride.
People of Albaen Culture are honor bound to their families, if they disgrace their families they can be outcast and disinherited from the familial unit losing all rights to family name, protection and inheritance. Someone who has been disgraced loses their familial last name and takes up dócincel name. These names depend on the region of Albae you're from but are usually a martial arm. The region dócincel names are as follows:
- The Cullis Marshlands: Seax
- Copper Coast: Boga (Bowman)
- Sæbeorg: Shield
- Middleshire: Ax (Axeman)
- The King's Seate: Sword
- Supland: Helm
Average technological level
The Albaen culture at one stage were ahead of most Longreech peoples, due to their cultivation and work with Steel Willow trees which gave them a military advantage against most of the surrounding peoples. However, a lack in civil development and a traditional mindset to the culture has meant that technological advancement has been stifled in favor of this traditional and highly religion driven mindset.
Common Etiquette rules
As a very martial society, it is common place for people of Albaen culture to wield weapons wherever they go, however if you were to enter someone's private abode you would be expected to disarm yourself and leave hostility at the door. Dueling is common place and people will often fight disputes with blood instead of taking them to courts. In fact, some courts will even accept trials by combats as a resolution to criminal matters or feuds rather than labor or prison sentences.
Art & Architecture
Much of the Architecture of Albaen culture uses resources naturally found in the area and follows simple design. Originally secular buildings were normally rectangular post built structures, where timber posts were driven into the ground to form the framework of the walls upon which the thatched roofs were constructed. In recent times, many of the post build building have been replaced with stone counterparts but the designs remain simple and thatch remains the dominant construction for roofs.
Albaen art is mainly notable in terms of crafting, They are not world renowned painters or sculptors but the artisanal work performed by its jewelers and carpenters is often sort after globally. A famous brooch known as the "Modgewen Knot" from around 203 P.S was recently sold in an auction house in Gervilleaux for over 10,000 gold due to its stunning craftsmanship.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
In accordance with the The Church of Albae and the religion of the Hero, Children are given their names during a baptismal ceremony where they are bathed in the Holy Nectar - A Blueish Holy Water scented with Rose petals. After they have been bathed the child is draped in a ceremonial cloth called a hwitel. All children, whether they Bastards, Children of Concubines or born in wedlock are expected to be Baptized in the faith of the Hero. Should a child develope devotions to other gods later in life that is their own right, but a family is expected to pledge themselves and their offspring to the Hero that saved them first and foremost.
Coming of Age Rites
At the age of 16, The Patriarch or Matriarch (The Bold) of the family grants the child their first arm - Normally a traditional style Sword or Ax. The Gewintred (The person coming of age) then passes through a tunnel made of connected weapons aloft of the existing adult members of the family and then a final archway adorned with flowers. Once they pass through the final archway they are considered an adult member of the family. This is a very similar action to those of Feonian culture and historians believe this act to be inherited from the protoculture from before the War of the Heavens but have not found any definitive evidence. Unlike in Feonian culture, They are not bound to this weapon by blood, nor does the weapon have any fancy significance other than it being their first tool of war.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Albaen Culture and those who follow the King-That-Never-Was bury their dead. They are also buried with their most valuable worldly possessions - the amount of which and therefore size of the grave is often dictated by wealth and status. For the wealthy social elite: theyre buried in tumuli, which are also known as barrows or burial mounds. Sometimes these mounds include the burnt remains of the deceased's ship if the they were of a seafaring linage.
The Emperors of the Reanian Empire each have their own burial mound to the north of the capital near Fendalmond in an area where a natural grove between the Steel Willows occurs known as The Barrow Grove. Entry to The Barrow Grove is forbidden to those not connected to the Imperial Household by blood.
If someone of disgraced status dies however before they can redeem their honor, their bodies are to be burnt and their ashes mixed with Holy Nectar in an attempt to cleanse their souls of their disgrace before they meet The Hero at The Gates of Ascension.
Common Taboos
Dishonoring the familial name is the biggest Taboo in Albaen society, and it is up to the families Bold to decided if you are being dishonorable. Most families simply define being dishonorable as committing crimes. However some more traditional families may also see getting married without the Bolds permission or not pulling weight in the family unit as acts of Dishonor.
Common Myths and Legends
Many Albaen people believe that the Hero Ascendum was of Albaen culture as it is most commonly rumoured that the Reanian Capital of Seat is the location of their Ascension. Therefore many of their myths and legends revolve around the hero themselves. There are a many short tales and stories of the Hero saving various villages and petty kingdoms from Creatures or Elven armies - none of which have any historical precedent but reaffirm the Albaen cultural dominance of the region.
One set of myths that do however divert from the "Hero Culture" is that of Dragons. In each area of the Reane and other Albaen states there is often a story of Dragons with similar variation. The Dragons often held dominion over the various petty kingdoms long before the Elves ever invaded, and the dragons themselves were often regarded as the areas rulers. Something happened to force them out into hiding or even extinction. In most stories the dragons were eventually driven off to the north towards the frozen wastes and the Dragonspine Isles.
There are often local stories (Especially in deeper wooded areas) of fey creatures such as Brownies, Hobs, dryads etc normally cursing or attacking local populations. Whilst entirely possible, this is widely reported to be mere empire propaganda used to validate the persecution of the Drelt culture and rally people more so against the Eladrin cause.
Historical figures
Emperor Godric XVI - Current Emperor of the Reanian Empire
Emperor Godrick I "Willowwall" - First Reanian Emperor, Savoir of the Albaen People
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
While there is no set beauty ideals as such, Unlike that of Feonian culture, there is a higher regard towards those of fairer skin, with fairer skinned women being seen as more pure. There is also a heavy derogatory viewpoint on those of red or ginger hair as they're likely to have the blood of either Dreltish or Sjøhjemmelander in them - the closest enemy nations bar Elven that exists. Furthermore, those with Elven or part Elven blood are often shunned in communities by some and hailed in high regard by others, depending on how close to the Elven border in the Reanian Empire you live.
Gender Ideals
The is no set distinction between males and females in Albaen culture when it comes to breadwinning or fighting. Both parental figures of the family seen as equally providing for the family as a unit. This focus on a family "unit" is the driving force in decisions and structure of life. Both able bodied men and women are expected to fight in the Fyrds if required (see Military of The Reanian Empire ) and both males and females are expected to provide for their families whether that be through work or work at home. The house is then lead by a House-head or "Bold" who dictates what's best for the family in major decision making. The Bold can be male or female.
However this is often less the case the higher up the social strata you go, with the courtly ideals of Feonian Culture having drifted across the borders as royal marriages and diplomacy has developed over the years. More traditional families will still follow this more equal view of women, but some younger dynasties will dictated a more male focused doctrine of leadership.
Relationship Ideals
In old Albaen, Marriage and Love/Sexual relations were strictly separate things. Marriage was a legal combination of households providing economic or martial security by uniting homes in marriage. The dominant house head or Bold could also enter relationships under the rules of Concubinage or half-marriage. These relationships would be far more sub servant than that of the legal marriage, with a concubine having little to no say in house affairs as long as their living needs are provide for. Children of Concubinage have less power in the family dynamic than children born in wedlock. Bastardry while not illegal also is shunned, with a bastard also having less power. Children of Concubinage and Bastards are very similar in power within the family dynamic.
Major organizations
Diverged ethnicities
Related Organizations
Related Locations
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