Briane
The Briane are the people of the region of northern Kadagard known as Brainey. They are closely related to the Tuatha, and are believed to have split after the Briane came into contact with the now extinct Anslax, who came up from the southern side of the Allfire Peaks and have been all but subsumed into the modern Briane. The Briane have darker hair colors, generally, ranging from browns to black, though red and blonde also occur. Their eyes can be brown, but green and blue are much more common among them, same with the Tuatha.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Æbbe, Abigæl, Aldith, Ælfswiþ, Anna, Annick, Andria, Bailey, Beverly, Diot, Hild, Kætlin, Kathrine, Kinoborough, Leofflæd, Mildburg, Mildgyð, Morrigan, Sunngifu, Wassa, Wilburg
Masculine names
Alan, Ælfgar, Ælfstan, Andrew, Arthur, Æsc, Badda, Brian, Boric, Caedon, Ceadda, Cynbald, Eadric, Godric, Hama, Kaldric, Lardic, Matthew, Marten, Osgar, Oswald, Ræwald, Robert
Unisex names
Aldus, Stace, Wilmot
Family names
Abbott, Ackerman, Adair, Atwood, Auteberry, Ayton, Barnsley, Barlow, Beckham, Blackbourne, Camlinton, Debenham, Dunn, Falkner, Frye, Halfdain, Jernigan, Lolthbar, Llewellyn, Maddox, Owen, Vaughn
Other names
Beowulf
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Brialic is the language of the Briane, although it has been influenced by several languages throughout the years. The original language was a composite language of the native peoples of Brianey, with some influences from the Tuatha language. While Brianey was under the occupation of Old Remaea , the Remeaen language became a heavy influence on Brialic and the Anslax conquest of Brianey has brought influences from their language as well, which is also Remaen influenced. Several of the Vörðr languages have also influenced the language as well. These invasions also affect the multilingualism of the Briane: most of them are at least mostly fluent in Tuatha, with many of the nobility having at least the ability to speak Remaen, and many of those closest to the eastern coast can speak the Vörðr languages.
Shared customary codes and values
Living in a region of harsh winters and rugged terrain, Braine value hard work, and dedication. This is true regardless of social class, and nobles are expected to adhere to this and pull their weight. This idea most likely comes from original native Briane and has helped them to survive for thousands of winters.
Common Dress code
The common man’s fashion consists of a short, fur-lined or woolen cloak, trousers, a knee/hip length woolen tunic, leggings, and accessories. Sometimes it’s thorn, bone, horns, or wood, but most men fasten their cloaks on with a single, often circular, cloak. Those of less prosperous upbringing have woolen cloaks rather than the animal fur cloaks and nobles wear a linen undertunic and braies, otherwise, men wear similar clothing regardless of social class.
A woman wears gowns, fastened at the shoulders which can be belted or girdled and can be adjusted easily for changes in her physiology, such as pregnancy. An undergown is worn underneath, being made of wool for those who are poor and linen for the rich. Belts and griddles are common, with two belts being worn during pregnancy.
Art & Architecture
Briane hold wood, especially Skywood, very sacred, and as such, it is the primary material for their structures. Generally, buildings are rectangular, with timber posts driven into the ground to form the framework of the walls upon which a thatched roof is constructed.
While small settlements are preferred, when the briane do inhabit large, semi-stone cities, they generally are not massive: a large city in Briana is generally 2,000. Massive cities, such as Camalin, are the exception and generally are built over old Remeaan/Anslax fortifications. Fortified cities weren't originally, and were are a result of the Vörðr-Briane Incursions.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Kinship is very important to the Briane, fueling societal advantages, freedom and the relationships to an elite, which have allowed their culture and language to flourish. While the station of a lord is still important, the ties of loyalty to a lord also apply to the person.
In the past, relatives of a murdered person were obligated to exact vengeance for their deaths, leading to long and bloody feuds. To end this practice, they adopted a system known as wirguld, a monetary value on each person’s life. This is partially based on class and social status, however not in the same way it used to be. As an example, in the past robbing a thane would’ve had a higher penalty than robbing a peasant, but while this still true to a degree, a thane now would still have to pay a much higher fine than the peasant would if he robbed him.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Briane either bury or cremate their dead. Cremation is done via a funeral pier, in were the body is encased in branches and then lit ablaze. One is to be buried or burned with important belongings, so that they may make use of them in the afterlife.
Someone of a higher class would get a barrow dugout for their burial and have all their belongings placed in the chamber with them. Some barrows are for multiple people, such as King’s Grotto, but most are like hills rather than caverns and are meant for a single person.
Another funerary custom is the ship burial, in where a ship is hauled ashore and is reworked into a grave. This usually involves building a structure over top the body and belongings, so as to protect them, and some even build a barrow around the ship itself.
Common Taboos
It is common all across the world that using another's resources without giving back in return is considered rude, if not shameful, but to the Briane this is a serious transgression of etiquette. If someone has a history of mooching off of others, they will not only not be accepted by others for housing, the townsfolk might drive them out: this is not mobbing with pitchforks and torches, but more that the person either becomes invisible or a serious target of bullying, making the village/town undesirable to house up in.
Common Myths and Legends
The Briane beliefs are nothing if not complex. For one thing, many do not believe in the same gods: some adhere to the Anslax pantheon of gods, while others believe in the religions of the native peoples the Briane have subsumed.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
The Briane judge very little between the inherent value of women and men: women and men of the same class have the same wirguld and women have the right to defend themselves on oath against false claims or accusations. To commit an offense against women (sexual or otherwise) is liable for a very serious punishment, but if there are no other witnesses apart from the two involved, the accuser is expected to provide evidence beyond solely a claim. This is true of offenses committed against men as well, as the Briane value love and marriage as something not to be squandered by either party. Very rarely are women expected to take up male roles, such as warriors or blacksmiths: this is not due to written law, however, it's just a cultural norm. In general, men are the more physically capable and headstrong sex, and women prefer to stay with the children and bake.
Courtship Ideals
If a man wishes to marry a woman, he must first make his wishes known to her family, provided she is still living with them. If so, he must then sign a contract between himself and the woman's family and pay a bride price, decided by her wirguld, in advance of the wedding and a morning gift, in the event she should be widowed, after its consummation. If the woman lives on her own, the payment is made to her rather than her family. The husband and wife are free to own property independent of each other and it is not uncommon for them to have both their names on each other's will. Should a woman be widowed, she gains inheritance of the husband's property unless expressed in his will otherwise, custody over their children, and authority over dependents. After a woman becomes widowed, she must remain so a year, so as to prevent her from making any rash decisions leading to an unhealthy marriage or relationship.
Relationship Ideals
Kinship is very important to the Briane, fueling societal advantages, freedom and the relationships to an elite, which have allowed their culture and language to flourish. Local and extended kin groups are the essential unit of production and a key component to the culture. While friends and comrades are seen as important, family members have higher value, in terms of kinship. The level of trust and respect, to varying degrees, increases the more immediate in the family you get; for example, a father is generally more trusted than an uncle, a sister more trusted than a cousin, and a grandparent more trusted than a godfather. This is just the overall view, however, as age, experience, and individuals are variables that influence it from family to family and clan to clan.
Parent ethnicities
Related Organizations
Related Items
Related Myths
Related Locations
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