Milesian
The native population of Kiaglatch, most know the Milesians as devil worshiping savages who drink the blood of their newborns. However, this is far from the truth, hysteria created by people who have never actually met them. Despite their militaristic society, the Milesians are much more complex than just bloodthirsty barbarians.
These people are tall, among the tallest of the northern Kadagarian people, pale-skinned, and rufous/dirty or ash-haired. The Milesian face includes a long upper face, sloping forehead, prominent, upturned nose, convex upper lip, and square, often cleft chin. Their eyes are sky blue and emerald green, with hazel eyes being the closest to brown eyes among them.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Aoife, Brighid, Bébinn, Céibhfhionn, Luigsech, Rigantona
Masculine names
Áed, Áedán, Bradán, Caiside, Caomhán, Fáelán
Unisex names
Fedlimid
Family names
Abelló, Balānxart, Ferræro, Coello, Peræra, Rocha, Vilar
Other names
Milesians have been known to adopt Tuatha names. The two cultures are related, with their languages still preserving a few similarities, and with the history of on again, off again interaction between the two groups, one should expect a few names to transition over.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Milesian and Tuatha languages are deeply related.
Shared customary codes and values
Being a militaristic society, Milesians value martial skill and battle prowess. The ability to properly handle a weapon and the knowledge to use it effectively are essential to society and is custom to train for physical strength. To become a warrior is an honorable path, and is one that is an easy way to climb the social ladder: so many rulers were warriors before they rose to power, and continued as such after they did, its almost an unspoken law that one has to be great warriors if they want influence.
Average technological level
Due to extreme isolation, the Milesian advancement in technology has stagnated. The methods of steelmaking they use work but are crude. Their steel is suitable for weapons, but not much else, aside from maybe helmets. Those who can afford it import steel for their weapons, for practical purposes of course, but also prestige.
Common Etiquette rules
Milesians men greet each other with a warrior's shake: they grab the other's hand and push against it in a show of strength. Among close men and women, it is custom to hug each other. It may be at the shoulders or the waist, depending on whether they are lovers or close family. Male relatives also hug each other, usually with a pat on the back.
Common Dress code
Milesian dress consists of a brat (a woolen semi-circular cloak) worn over a léine (a loose-fitting, long-sleeved tunic made of linen). For men, the léine reached to their ankles but was hitched up by means of a crios (pronounced 'kriss') which was a type of woven belt and hitched up to knee level. Women wear the léine at full length. Men sometimes wear tight-fitting trews (Milesian triúbhas) but otherwise went bare-legged. The brat is simply thrown over both shoulders or sometimes over only one. Occasionally the brat is fastened with a dealg (a brooch), with men usually wearing the dealg at their shoulders and women at their chests
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Fighting Styles
To prepare themselves for combat, Milesians practice various fighting styles. These are used for self-defense and on the battlefield, but are also a form of exercise and hold a near-religious importance among them.Bairanocht
Bairanocht is a form of bare-knuckle boxing. The lead hand stays at a greater distance from the body than done in modern boxing. The lead arm's shoulder stays tight against the jaw while the other arm is tucked tightly to the body, using its fist to guard the jaw. This is due to the bare-knuckle nature of the style. The lead hand is used to block the incoming attack while side stepping and back stepping to create an angle or swaying the torso away from or towards the opponent. The more distantly placed lead hand is also used to more easily obtain a single collar clinch.Colairnocht
Colairnocht is the Milesian wrestling style. This is a collar-and-elbow style of wrestling and has many types of trips, mares, takedowns, slams, pins, advancements, submissions, grapevines, and escapes.Horinocht
Horinocht is a kicking technique, that focuses on both kicking the shin and with the shin. Other major targets include the knees and thigh areas, and the techniques are often mixed with wrestling to employ tripping.Dorianocht
Dorianocht is a stick fighting style that uses the Shillelagh, also employed by the Tuatha. Its focus is on blocks, thrust, and strikes, and is used to teach young warriors how to use war clubs or blades.Birth & Baptismal Rites
Upon birth, a baby is inspected for any deformity or major health issues. Should the baby be deformed, the baby is returned to the earth: placed in a river or lake and left to the elements. Should the baby be healthy, or the deformity is minor, the baby is painted with cattle blood, given a proper name, and handed to the mother.
Coming of Age Rites
From a young age, Milesian children are trained and reared to become warriors, in some capacity.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Regardless of gender, physical strength is considered attractive. One is expected to train tirelessly, to ensure they are in health and are capable as warriors. Aside from that, the only other traits considered beautiful, among both sexes, are light eyes and ashen blonde hair.
Men are expected to be broad-shouldered and be hairy: beards and body hair is considered a decidedly manly characteristic. That said, one should still be able to see the lines of the body through a man's hair. If their hair is thicker, he is considered ungroomed and unkempt.
Women keep their hair longer in the back and on top, and shorter on their sides and in the front. They don't have to have a crew cut look, although that isn't uncommon, and most women only grow their hair to the middle of their upper backs, as any longer than that can get in the way. The standard hairstyle is shortened sides with a braided ponytail.
Gender Ideals
Milesian women have quite a few freedoms and responsibilities, particularly if they're married. They may own property, partake in sports, and have little restrictions of being warriors. However, most women, especially wives, don't go off to war, sometimes because of familial reasons, due to injuries, past events, or, incredibly rare, out of disinterest, but the most common reason is due to militaristic, cultural beliefs: to the Milesians men are the soldiers of the front lines while women are protectors of the hearth. This essentially makes the women the reserve troops, guarding the home front should their men fall or they are called to duty. Women with children almost always stay behind, to guard said, children, while the husband is gone.
As such, both genders are expected to be capable fighters and ready for battle. Boys and girls both receive education and military training, but at the same time being taught a few different subjects. Men are taught how to use fight offensively, on a battlefield, and women are trained in defeating siege weaponry and fighting defensively, on the home front. Due to these teachings, it is normal for Milesian women to take up careers as defensive or tactical architects.
Courtship Ideals
The lawful age of marriage is 15 among women and 18 among men, as those are the ages where fosterage ends. If two should desire to marry, the suitor may stay with the prospective wife for some time, or vice versa, to get to know the other. If they find each other to their liking, the bridegroom and his family will generally pay a tribute of sorts to the family (provided the woman is still living with them) and the wife gets a share of it.
Relationship Ideals
As mentioned above, the relationship between man and woman is as follows: man is the protector of the front and the woman is the protector of the hearth. This means that the men of the home, husband, father, etc., protect the family from distant threats, such as an attacking tribe or highwaymen, and the women of the household, wife, mother, etc., are expected to protect their home from threats that are close, such as a landlord or predator attacking livestock. In contribution of the homestead, the husband is the one expected to get a job, when not at battle, and the wife stays at home and takes care of the children and property. However, to think of one as superior or inferior to the other is uncommon: to the Milesians, marriage is meant to be like an army, in that while some roles may seem larger than others, both are required to achieve success.
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