Gothic

The Gothic people and culture emerged some time during the Elder Days, in the central part of the Continent. They thrived in the forested woodlands of their original homeland, forming many different tribes based on familial ties and bonds. They existed along the Thaloran Empire's southern border, having mixed relations with their elven neighbors. Some tribes traded and good relations with the elven empire, while other tribes raided and came into conflict with them. Records tell of the Gothic people being tall, muscular, and broad shouldered. Their hair tended to be between shades of brown and blond, with lightly colored eyes. 
As the Thaloran Empire fell apart, many Gothic peoples took advantage of the instability, and began moving northward. They did this to evade forces that were encroaching from the south, along with increasing natural disasters. Due to the elves' instability, and their empire crumbling apart, the Gothic tribes burst through their defenses, carving up and taking land for themselves. This seizure of land gave the Gothic tribes a new place to call home, and as a result, many of the Gothic kingdoms today are a result of this.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Adelhayt, Adelhelma, Affra, Agatha, Barbara, Berthild, Brida, Brigita, Clara, Cristina, Dietline, Dorothea, Druetta, Ellenor, Elke, Elsa, Elsbeth, Enndlin, Engla, Gennefe, Geras, Gertrudt, Gunda, Helena, Hermina, Hildburg, Irmel, Ishilde, Jonata, Katerina, Kuen, Lia, Lucia, Magdalen, Margaretha, Martha, Miltrud, Nadin, Otilia, Reusin, Roswitha, Runhild, Saskia, Sibilla, Thea, Yosefine, Yessica

Masculine names

Albrecht, Adelgis, Adelhard, Baltasar, Bastian, Bertholdt, Christoph, Clas, Conrad, Dieterich, Erhart, Frantz, Fritz, Gerhart, Gotleib, Guntram, Hans, Herwig, Humbert, Ingo, Ingolf, Jeremias, Joachim, Johann, Jorg, Karl, Levi, Lorentz, Ludwig, Luther, Maximilian, Matz, Mortiz, Ortwin, Osswald, Peter, Reiner, Rudolff, Ruprecht, Sieghard, Sigmund, Timo, Thoman, Vallentin, Wilhelm, Wolfgang

Family names

Bernbaum, Blocher, Bluhm, Degen, Dreyfus, Ehrmann, Eichler, Fersen, Fischart, Fleischmann, Gebhardt, Hahn, Hahnel, Halter, Havenstein, Heinsohn, Hoffstetter, Holler, Holthasen, Kesselring, Kiesling, Kruckenberg, Madelung, Mortiz, Nagelberg, Niedentahl, Ochs, Pohl, Rohm, Rosenblum, Sanner, Schrotter, Spanner, Stern, Sundermann, Sulzer, Unterberger, Wagner, Weiss, Wexler

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The Gothic people speak both the Common Tongue, and their native Gothic language. At one point in time, the Gothic people all spoke the same language, but as they spread throughout the Continent, many began to develop their own dialects. There is a standard Gothic language that they all speak to communicate with each other, but sometimes it isn't necessary as the dialects are very similar. Gothic Dialects & Languages:

• High Gothic--Speakers: All Gothic People
• Northern Gothic--Speakers: Rewen
• Central Gothic--Speakers: Benroda, Freiburg, Hamor, Konigbach, Lotharingia, Ostenfurt, Ostral, Tathune
• Southern Gothic--Speakers: Allenwald, Gelderland, Kronbeck, Lotharingia, Mehrklav, Sweland, Traeburg

Culture and cultural heritage

Gothic culture was heavily based--and still is to some degree--based on the warrior ideals. The ancient Gothic people and tribes highly emphasized the role of the warrior, and they were seen as prominent leaders within their society. Military training started from an early age, and many believed that achieving a heroic death was the most honorable way into the afterlife. As the Gothic peoples began migrating northward in-masse, their entire population became geared towards war. 
Men in early Gothic culture had full political rights while women did not. Women were highly influential within society, which led them to gain political rights in the Second Era. Early Gothic governments were organized at Assemblies. These were gatherings of those who could legally participate in government. At the assemblies, participants would settle disputes and discuss laws. Kingship and leadership is still seen as something that is highly sacred. Early Gothic kings were elected, and were only eligible if they could trace their family's ancestry to the founder of their specific tribe. As the Gothic Migrations began, kingship began being passed down within a family, as stable and strong leadership was needed. When women gained political rights, there was an emergence of female monarchs as well. Many Gothic realms are now known for their gender equality. Gothic monarchs are meant to uphold ancestral laws, which they are bound to by strong precedent. In determining someone's guilt, one has to provide a certain number of witnesses (depending on the crime). If they cannot provide said witnesses then they're automatically seen as guilty. These trials are usually overseen by elders, priests, judges, or local rulers, with the sentence determined by a vote. Trial by combat can serve as another form of trial. Some of these customs resonate throughout Gothic culture today. If someone is murdered, their family must be compensated by the killer through the form of Blutgeld (blood money in the Common Tongue). If the blutgeld isn't paid, then the accused is either banished or executed. They do have the option to uphold their innocence in a trial by combat, which is a practice that has continued into the Fifth Era through the form of duels. 
In terms of religion, the Gothic people worshipped ancient gods that are either no longer venerated, or belong the Old Ones. Many scholars believe that the early Gothic people practiced human sacrifice, which eventually graduated to one dying in combat as this blood sacrifice. In early Gothic history, there was no real form of an organized priesthood. A leading religious figure may have been a local wise woman, elder, or community leader. Now, with many Gothic people worshiping gods from either the Canonical or Old One Pantheons, this practice has drastically changed. 
Families are a huge part of Gothic society. They are seen as the core unit that lays the foundation for Gothic society. Father's were seen as figures of high authority, while mothers played an important and respectful role of being influencers, and mediators. Even when women gained their political rights, their role within the family was still maintained. Children owe an equal amount of allegiance to both their mother & father's side of the family. This often results in large extended families that work together. This formed the basis of many tribes, which became strong political, economic, and military units within society.

Common Dress code

Among the ancient Gothic people, men typically wore a long sleeved jacket with a skin or woolen mantle held at the neck by a brooch or safety pin. Men in Gothic society also adopted the wearing of trousers. Short knee trousers were adopted later, and are typically worn by farmers and laborers. Women tended to wear sleeveless shirts with high waisted skirts or dresses. They also tended to wear a small cloak or mantle that covered their shoulders. This style of dress continues to be emulated throughout the different Eras. Now, instead of jackets, men tend to wear long sleeved shirts and trousers, while women continue the style of sleeveless shirts, accompanied by a skirt or dress.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Cremation remains a common practice among the Gothic people. People were usually burned along with their possessions, or their possessions were placed in an urn that would later be put in the ground, or buried within a burial mound. Burial mounds were typically familial, and many generations of one family would have their ashes and belongings within the urn placed inside the burial mound. Burial mounds weren't visited until another family member died, as Gothic people didn't wish to disturb the dead. Even though cremation remains a common custom, modern day Gothic people follow many different gods and religions, so funerary rights tend to vary.

Common Taboos

Relationships within the core family are highly important in Gothic culture. Thus, this makes infidelity highly taboo, and can be severely punished. Also, going behind a family member's back, or betraying them in some way is also frowned upon, and can result in someone being ostracized by their family. Visiting gravesites is only permitted when someone has passed away. If someone visits a burial place before or after someone has died it is seen as disturbing the dead, and there is the fear that the one disturbing may end up being cursed or haunted. Being late is seen as highly disrespectful, and making small talk is observed as being meaningless, and unnecessary. Attacking or going after someone's family is also seen as highly disgraceful and dishonorable, as families are part of the main core of Gothic culture.

Historical figures

• Brotherhood of Tyr Grandmaster Heinrich Pasche
• Gewis the Conqueror
• King Markus I of Mehrklav
• Emperor Leonhard VI of Ostral
• Herwig Luther II of Ostral
• Emperor Leonhard VII of Ostral
• King Hartmut I of Rewen
• Queen Charlotte Henriette of Rewen
• King Siegfried Gotthard Leopold III of Rewen
• General Erwin Kurt von Oresmond of Rewen
• Lord Hildemar Bertholdt von Gruseldorf IV
• Prince Lothar I of Lotharingia
• Emperor Volkmar I
• Zacharias Zugspitz

Ideals

Gender Ideals

For the ancient Gothic peoples, women had no formal political rights. This meant that she was not allowed to participate in political gatherings or assemblies. She could only be represented through a male relative, but behind the scenes and at home she was highly influential. Even though they had no direct influence politically, they had a lot of influence within society. In ancient Gothic society, there were many women who practiced magic, and were feared as such. Due to their growing influence within society, women among the Gothic people gained political rights well into the Second Era. Now they were allowed to do more than just work, or take care of their families. 
In ancient Gothic society, men were looked to as the strong warriors and leaders. They were seen as figures of authority, as well as being leaders of their families. Gothic men were expected to participate as warriors, a tradition that continues well into the Fifth Era--examples of such are the militaristic societies of Rewen & Gelderland. Men were not only warriors, but had full political rights which allowed them to participate in local government. In modern Gothic society they are still expected to retain many of these roles. The emphasis of the warrior aspect depends on the Gothic kingdom.

Courtship Ideals

Relationships are taken seriously within Gothic society. Official courtship for marriage doesn't usually begin until both involved are either 17 or 18 years old. Marriage isn't permitted until the age of 20. Partners in a relationship tend to be either the same age or around the same age, but no more than two years. Any age gap above that is viewed as unseemly. Sex before marriage does happen, but usually not until people turn 20. This is because the ancient Gothic people believe that sexual abstinence before adulthood increases growth and physical fitness. If a man or woman has sex before the age of 20 it was seen as disgraceful for both parties. This belief hasn't carried on too much into the Fifth Era. 
Marriage tends to take place in one of two ways: with the involvement of parents, or without. In the involvement with parents, the woman's parents try to find an eligible suitor for her, but she also has a say in the process, and can turn down a suitor if he isn't to her fancy. Nowadays, finding a relationship or marriage doesn't involve the influence of parents. It still happens to some degree among noble circles, but it isn't that common. As for dowry and wedding gifts, it is expected of the husband to bring those to the wife.

Relationship Ideals

A long lasting aspect of Gothic culture is that both partners are seen as equals in their relationship with one another. This includes the period of courtship, and well onto marriage. Even though Gothic women had little to no rights in their ancient society, their opinion was highly valued and sought after by their partner. In the home, the male is still seen as head of the family while the woman runs and maintains it. These may be the roles society has placed on them, but both partners split their roles in the house equally.

Major organizations

• The Palatinate
• Allenwald
• Benroda
• Freiburg
• Hamor
• Gelderland
• Kronbeck
• Lotharingia
• Mehrklav
• Ostral
• Ostenfurt
• Rewen
• Sweland
• Tathune
• Traeburg

Viking Freedman Art by N/A

Diverged ethnicities

• Utgardic

Encompassed species

• Human

Related Organizations

• Gelderland
• Hamor
• Lotharingia
• Mehrklav
• Ostral
• Rewen
• Sweland
• The Palatinate
• Von Gruseldorf