Gonnarchians
The Gonnarchians (or the Men of Gonnarch) are among the major groups of Men living in the west of Mirydain.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Gwenithir, Emera, Marisca, Brithane, Leothre, Frida, etc.
Masculine names
Baldarin, Valimar, Dorathon, Dorin, Halgrim, Octirisan, Theogard, Armos, Ederon, Rhonmund, Artur, Monach, etc.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Gonach is the language of the people in Gonnarch.
Shared customary codes and values
The people of Gonnarch value liberty, justice, truth, valor, and faith above all else. They consider men deserving of power and respect if they are able to earn it, and consider women deserving of respect if not power, and consider their human and magical neighbors valuable by virtue of being part of Jeger Almáttugur's creation. A code of chivalry detailing these values and more is taught to children at an early age. Refusal to follow the code of chivalry is considered cowardice and is punishable with short-term or lifelong exile and justice is freely granted. To invite a stranger into one's house as a guest is considered a show of kindness and to turn a poor sufferer away is to disregard that person as being unworthy of love and comforts.
Common Etiquette rules
It is customary in Gonnarch for a man to bow and a woman to curtsy when greeting one another. Kissing a woman's hand is a sign of affection and also courtesy. Common eating etiquette is found throughout the West, and in Gonnarch, only fruit, bread, and poultry can be eaten with the hands.
Common Dress code
Men wear cloth tunics and long pants and typically wear boots. Women wear ankle-length dresses and shoes, and both men and women of nobility wear capes. The peasantry can wear most any color, but violet is meant explicitly for royalty as violet is a symbol of kingly power.
Art & Architecture
The castles of Gonnarch are built from strong stone and typically have high towers as signs of the realm's prosperity. Tapestries are common through the homes of nobility and wood shingles are used on top of towers. Villages feature homes and businesses close together along earthen streets. Most buildings in the villages of Gonnarch are built with stone, while the poorer folk use wood, straw, and clay to build their homes.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Juldag (or the Day of the Blessed Birth) is observed from December 25th to January 6th. On Juldag, families celebrate the coming of Jesu Eilsar (Jesus, the Eternal Savior) into the world as a man and exchange gifts amongst each other as a reminder of how Jeger Almáttugur sent His son to save the race of Men from their sins and to bring all to the Eternal Father's kingdom one day. The time between Juldag and the New Year is seen with feasting and sport, as well as the days up to the sixth of January.
The Day of Mourning is the equivalent in Mirydain to Good Friday. In Gonnarch, the people mourn the day when Jesu Eilsar suffered for the sin of Men and died to pay the price for the salvation of humanity. The people remain indoors for most of the day and reflect on their sins, thanking Jeger Almáttugur for sending Jesu to save humanity.
The Day of Life is the equivalent in Mirydain of Easter. In Gonnarch, the people celebrate with music, dancing, and feasting. For the next four weeks, the people of Gonnarch sing and pray to Jeger to thank him for saving them from their sins.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
When a baby is born, the mother nurses it for seven days after giving birth to signify her bond as a mother. When the infant is a week old, he or she is christened either by their mother, father, or a fellow relative. If a baby is orphaned, a family may take him or her in and raise the child as a member of their family for a year, at the end of which they will adopt the child.
Coming of Age Rites
When a youth is ready to become a knight, he spends a month in the southeast tower of Dinas Caradorn, where squires take their vows of knighthood. He prays to the High King-Above-the-Heavens and takes vows to defend the helpless, to respect women, to be bold in all things, and to be terrible to none but those who do evil in the world. When the month is finished, the squire pledges his loyalty to his lord, and then is dubbed a knight.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Funeral customs in Gonnarch come in various forms. When someone from the peasantry or laboring classes dies, the friends and neighbors of the dead person's family mourn with them. This is followed by the people of the village or city holding the person's funeral, in which prayers for rest of the departed soul are offered to Jeger Almistjar. The body is given a procession and buried under a marked stone. When a knight or nobleman dies, the nobility and royal families attend the departed noble's funeral. The noble's body is given a procession, then laid to rest in a stone coffin bearing his image on the lid and buried in a tomb of stone. When the King or Queen of Gonnarch dies, all the people of Gonnarch who can travel make the journey to witness the royal's funerary procession. The Kings and Queens of Gonnarch are buried in a tomb one hundred yards from Dinas Caradorn, where their bodies are laid in stone coffins bearing their images.
Common Taboos
Stealing is a crime punishable by short-term imprisonment in Gonnarch. Harming friends, family, or guests is punished with imprisonment or flogging. Fraud is punished with exile for a short period, a long period, or lifelong. Murder is considered an effrontery to the people and to Jeger Almáttugur and is punished with lifelong imprisonent, exile, or death. Treason to the realm of Gonnarch is considered to be as reprehensible as murder, and is punished with exile or death. However, pardons can be offered to those who are sincerely repentant of their crime.
Historical figures
Isandor the Great, Pryder the Peaceful, Éodrinn the Bold, The Rolfinids, Hendrish the Wise, and Idileig I
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The Gonnarchian bathe three times a week and shave only as needed, but they are fond of having beards. Fine hair and healthy skin are the basic qualities for physical beauty as well as being fit to a degree.
Gender Ideals
Men handle business, war, lawmaking, and trade. Women work in the home, but are also able to assist their families in some other aspects. Women are in charge of the home when their husbands are away.
Courtship Ideals
When a man is courting a woman, he meets with her four times in a month. Usually when affection is displayed, a man will bring his lady a bouquet of flowers and brush her face with them. Typically, a couple will display their bond by drinking from the same goblet or sharing a kiss. When a man asks a woman if she will marry him, he will typically offer her a gift: a rose, a kiss, a gown, etc. If the woman agrees, their marriage is held after seven days.
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Related Locations
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