Forardi

The Forardi people are well known as the members of the Kingdom of Forard. They are well known to be a civilized type, but less than trustworthy. Forardis are schemers and plotters, and during the height of the Jakonian Empire, they helped form the base of the imperial intelligence network across Emicara. These traits serve Forardis well in the business world, although most foreigners know perfectly well not to trust a Forardi as far as you can throw them. Schemes and plots are part of the day to day life in Forard communities, integrated closely into the social fabric. That said, your average Forardi is just a regular person like any other, at least until you have something they want.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Annica, Amina, Aurora, Fabiola, Concetta, Morena, Donna, Bibiana, Egle, Serena

Masculine names

Siro, Girardo, Querano, Spano, Attilio, Saffiro, Clodoveo, Lucio, Rino, Baldo

Family names

Jacobo, Valenza, Macri, Brizzi, Riva, Mazzoli, De Pascale, Di Pilato, Lanese, Savo

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The Forardis, like the rest of the humans of the Circle Sea, predominantly speak Common as their primary tongue. Their own dialect is a bit more lyrical than others in the region, speaking faster than others, and occasionally slurring words together. To someone from Jakonian, the Forardis sound drunk nearly all of the time, unless slowly enunciating their words.

Art & Architecture

Forardi architecture is mostly stone and cement based, having dealt with harsh storms for decades. Most buildings are angular in construction and appearance, and usually dark gray with only a few splashes of pain to add color. Very few buildings have been constructed here with wood as the sole construction material, although towns and villages on the borderland with the Kingdom of Bamard usually have a smattering of wooden construction. The Forardis are well known for their impressive fortifications which are usually stone and iron construction, but they are best known for the inclusion of secret passages and other subterfuge based elements of their design. Popular consensus is that the artistry of the Forardi comes in the form of traps and tricks, while rumors abound that Forardi architects always hide a secret that only they know about in their constructions.

Ideals

Gender Ideals

On the surface of Forardi society, the structure seems to be similar to that of the Jakonians and the other cultures on the peninsula to the southeast. Men are the usual leaders and dominate both households and societies, as well as being the warriors and primary money makers for houses. Meanwhile, women raise the children and otherwise take care of mundane housework, while rarely being allowed out of the home. Unlike the Jakonian way of life, however, the truth of the matter is that when it comes to household decisions, traditionally the woman takes charge, and the man is rarely involved with finances or staffing choices. Even in the halls of leadership, women play a prominent, if unofficial, role, acting as a back door for diplomatic negotiations between wives, while the men carry on the appearances of negotiation.

Relationship Ideals

For the middle and upper classes of Forardi society, a marriage is a matter of strategy, not love. Familial ties are important, as in a society where trust is low and intrigue is high, it is important to have a group that you can rely upon completely. Marriage is a way of cementing alliances between family groups, and is highly important among Forardis. Friendships are rarer and more special than mere love, however, as a good friend who you can rely on is worth his or her weight in gold among the Forardi people. They are slow to trust and make friends, but when they do, there is no more trustworthy or loyal person than a Forardi friend.

Encompassed species

• Formless
• Half-Orc
• Human

Related Organizations

• Department of Law
• Department of the Army
• Department of Urban Infrastructure
• Forard

Languages spoken

• Common

Related Locations

• Alfredstown
• Bagdid
• Bayguard Keep
• Belltown
• Bellwheat Keep
• Beta
• Clayhatchee
• Crawford
• Crestview
• Dalkheath
• Eastbay
• Epsilo
• Lanark
• Linkton
• Mariana
• Miramar
• Mulat Keep
• Opevie Keep
• Oriole
• Panama
• Pensalca
• Pickens Keep
• Quincy
• San George
• Silver Keep
• Silver Lake
• Tanner
• Thedor
• Tricorner Keep
• Walmor
• Westbay
• Westpath