Maran (Mare-an)
Humans who dwell in the central realm of Central Matera.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Maran nobles of the Welthrone Empire have three names: Their given name, their personal family name, and their noble family name.
For those not in noble families, they typically only have a given name and a family name. Their names are often decided between the two parents, with one parent deciding the given name, and the child taking the family name of the other parent. This usually leads to the mother deciding the given name, as most fathers are keen to pass down their family legacy through their family name. This also leads to a common practice of siblings having different last names, so that both family names can be passed down.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
A majority of the maran speak Maran Common, often simply refered to just as Common.
Average technological level
The Maran are avid innovators, especially in constructing new lumbering techniques. In the glory days of the Welthrone Empire, these new lumbering techniques led to the overharvesting of the nations wood supply. Now, many have turned to exploring new crafts, such as fishing and mining.
While the Maran are creative and crafty, there is a large amount of technophobia of existing, but alien technology. This stems from the many conflicts between Welthrone and the techno city of Nenu-Lan, and the several devestating losses the Welthrone suffered.
Common Etiquette rules
The Maran place heavy emphasis on their social status, and thus they are expected to offer great respect to the ones above them on the hericiacal ladder.
Common Dress code
Maran nobilities wear expensive leathers and exotic clothes and suits, while the common Maran often wearing simpler cloaks, jackets, and dresses. A majority of the Maran are very sensitive about showing their skin, and attempt to cover as much of it as possible, wearing multiple layers even in the hotter summer months.
Art & Architecture
Maran houses vary greatly by wealth, with many peasants and serfs who toil for richer nobles only being able to craft simple huts out of sticks, straw, mud, and maybe a minimum of wood. For the more middle class, the house is built around a solid timber frame, and with those in the upper bracket, might contain a second floor or even a separate stable for the families animals. For the more wealthy, the houses are incorporated with the addition of brick, stone, and maybe even metal, while the nobilities have their own castles and homes spread out throughout the nation. However, with Welthrones current dearth of lumber, wood prices are on the rise, and many more of the nations poor are slowly being able to afford brick and stone for their estates.
Foods & Cuisine
Maran food primarily involves large amounts of grain product, most notably corn. The more central regions of the nation consume livestock meat, such as pork and beef, but the eastern and western sections mostly rely on fish for their protein, harvesting either from the Fludel River and Loch Loren. The most common river fish dish is Fresh-rapid Bass, while the most common lake fish dish is Swamp Trout. For those who dwell in these regions, there are constant arguments between them about which is the superior dish, while those who dwell inland view the conflict as an unserious waste of time and thought.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Birthing woman are tended to by midwifes, and typically during the birth, the man will remain nearby but out of the way until the process is complete, at which the men enters and the parents grant the child its name. Particularly religious Maran will often splash a bit of holy water on the baby during the naming process if they can afford it, and/or offer prayers to either Bir-Tarha or Eve for blessings of protection.
Coming of Age Rites
Most young Maran begin apprenticeships between 8 and 12 years of age, usually under the care of their parents in the aid of the family business, but sometimes will be sent to live with an expert of the craft. Such work usually lasts four to eight years, although some more intensive apprenticeships can last as long as ten or even twelve years. Male apprenticeships are much more common, with most females studying the ways of the household with their mothers, but some specific industries, such as weaving, baking, and most importantly, midwifery will take on female apprentices more regularly. While frowned upon in practice, most baronies of the Maran don't have specific laws preventing female apprentice in any profession.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Most Maran bury their dead in village graveyards, although barons and nobles often can afford a familial crypt. Public or private funerals are held for the deceased, usually officiaated by a Grey-Robed Seeker.
Common Taboos
Most maran live an orderly life, and thus frown greatly upon criminal activities. They are often also very competitive, and thus when they see those who are down on their luck, can view such folks as lazy or foolish, instead of victims of injustices, but such practices are more common among wealth and nobility than the common man. Many Maran who dwell in Welthrone are disdainful of both elves and beastmen, viewing them as fragile and monsterous in turn, as well as a near systematic hatred of half-orcs. This leads to many who associate heavily with those races to become shunned by their peers. However, with the human-elven alliance in the last Tech-War and the economic decline Welthrone has begun to suffer from, many people are beginning to re-evaluate such thoughts.
Common Myths and Legends
The Maran worship a diverse set of gods, usually with Tathallion, the Knight of Justice, or Eve, the First Light as their main focus, while worshiping others on a more providencial basis. Bir-Tarha, Thanaloc, The Author, Enreic, The Scattered One and Rostrom, are all common deities worshiped by the Maran.
Many religious believe that those who die in battle with honor are granted a place in The Castle of the Round, Tathallions divine realm, while those who lived pure lives not of battle are instead shepherded to the Palace of the First Light, the realm of Eve.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The maran extoll traditional beauty standards; fair skin, beautiful and clean hair. High-class noble woman often set trends of both clothing and perfume. With the Sundering and the destruction of the Rier, demand for the exotic styles of other realms is at an all-time high.
Gender Ideals
Men are the dominant gender in Maran culture, with many more opportunities to succeed, while most women are expected to either tend the household or learn a trade meant solely for women. The ascent of Tathallions religion, the Order of the Shining Riders, have had some strange consequences of the gender roles of the Maran. Cases of domestic abuse plummeted, and many men began to treat women with much more respect. Unfortunately, this onset of chivalry has led men to over-shelter woman, preventing them from taking on what they view as potentially dangerous tasks, instead of freeing them to pursue new avenues.
Courtship Ideals
Most nobility enter arraigned marriages to other noble houses in political maneuvers or to gain land, but such practices are uncommon among the regular folk, Most courtships are simple affairs, with rural folk often spending time in the wilderness or on a family farm together, while urban dwellers will take a partner out for city walks or nice meals. Unexpected pregnancy is the leading cause of marriage in the lower classes, as it is considered uncouth to have a baby out of wedlock, and thus marriage is swiftly undertaken after the pregnancy is discovered.
Official marriage ceremonies themselves usually involve a priest of Church of the First Union officiating, typically in a church, with the betrothed usually standing before an alter, with a raised arch that holds a hanging set of wind chimes. However, as long as an ordained marriage priest could be found, weddings can even take place anywhere, ranging from family farm fields to dingy taverns.
Relationship Ideals
Family is very important to most marans, and most marans strive to uphold the ideals of their family. Those that turn away from their family buisness are often shunned and cast out of the family, but are quick to make new bonds with those in similar situations.
Major organizations
A majority of the Maran are members of the Welthrone Empire, who dominate the southern half of the realm. Especially with the decrease in power and influence of the Empire, many Marans have began to migrate to other nations, particularly that of Gurlen and Ironclade, and the drudic order the Order of Enreic.
Random Maran Homelands
| % Rolled | Homeland | Trait Gained |
|---|---|---|
| 01-10 | City or Metropolis | The City Protects |
| 11-20 | Town or Village | Militia Veteran |
| 21-30 | River or Lake Town | Dealmaker |
| 31-40 | Logging Town | Log Roller |
| 41-50 | Mining Town | Rough and Ready |
| 51-60 | Military Outpost | Tactician |
| 61-70 | Mage Tower | Magical Talent |
| 71-80 | Forest | Devotee of the Green |
| 81-90 | Plains | Savannah Child |
| 91-96 | Swamp Village | Destined Pioneer |
| 97-98 | Technological City | Technical Archeologist |
| 99-00 | Unusual Homeland | (Roll on Unusual Homeland Table) |
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
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