Aedrinarian
For centuries, Aedrinarians have been considered amongst the strongest most martial cultures in all of Prima Terra. A meritocratic warrior society, Aedrinarians give their name to their home region of the Aedrinarian Isles, an archipelago of frozen volcanic islands to the north-west of the mainland. The Aedrinarians secured their reputation of tough nordic warriors during the second age with their mass invasions of the main continent towards the end of the Marcian Empire, impacting the culture and traditions of many western nations.
The most infamous feat of these people was their mythical slaughter of their own gods. Now a forgotten pantheon, their former gods of Bhaal, Bane, Lovitar, Vecna, and others were defeated by a coalition of humans, Ice Elf and Jotun who destroyed their divine oppressors and absorbed their power, becoming the Honoured Gods of Aeisir, Vanir, and high Jotun.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
- Drifa
- Astrid
- Thorgerd
- Matildya
- Ormhild
Masculine names
- Ivar
- Volstaf
- Thorgir
- Hallstein
- Olaf
- Sven
Family names
Aedrinarian culture uses a three name system. An first name - familial name - clan name/title.
The familal name references a person's parents, adoptive or biological, and takes the format of -ssen for a son, -dottir for a daughter, and -kyn for a gender neutral relationship.
The clan name or title name is usually earned. A clan usually gets their title from great deeds or holding an important stature in their local area, with only a few Aedrinarians earning a full clan name. Examples include the Oath-Knees and the Fisks. Titles are similar, but are not passed down through generations. Where an individual performs a deed worthy of respect or song, their peers will often bestow this title onto them.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Aedrinar's scattered and isolated population has led to various sub-groups within the people. Each island will hold its own customs and culture, with a person from Sudureyja being completely different to someone from the main island of Aedrinar. Dialect can vary on the cultures surrounding it, Sudurejya has a more diluted accent with more mainland words, language, and customs due to its status as a trade hub whilst Isbrygge shares a lot of similarities and language with Asrinheim.
Shared customary codes and values
Codes of honour are the hallmark of Aedrinarian culture, the more honourable a warrior is the higher regarded within society they are. Slights upon honour, or acting without it, are looked down upon by most in the society. Adherance to this code is not universal, with more metropolitan cities such as Lastlight holding these practices in less regard in order to attract more trade and travellers, whilst more isolated cities such as Winterharbour take these rules in paramount. The general rule being the more northern or rural you go, the more these codes will be followed.
Another common occurance is that of a blood feud. This is a form of familial war that is started between clans, towns, or individuals that lasts generations. When one group is severely dishonoured a blood feud is often declared, these last until one faction or another is completely extinguished, with the extinction of a bloodline being the ultimate goal of such a feud. The most long-running and relevant blood feud currently occuring is that between the Reidneer and Bear clans in northern aedrinar who have been feuding for three centuries.General codes of honour
- Never deny your enemy's the rite to Valhalla
- Your word is your bound, never break it
- A challenge in good faith should be followed
- Respect those with experience
- The dishonour of a clan is passed on within it
- Respect fallen warriors who fight and die well
Common Etiquette rules
Those not familiar with Aedrinarians often consider them rude, but insults are a test of strength and honour, so long as an insult never extends to ones honour, family, or insecruities then trading verbal blows is a standard practice of first introductions. Aedrinarians will frequently, but not always, verbally spar upon a first introduction in order to size up a potential ally or enemy's strength and wit, with good insults being considered a mark of a keen mind and warrior who is welcome amongst your people. In a similar vane, minor fights are also frequent to settle minor disagreements. It is said that Aedrinar meadhalls and taverns never have windows because too many people are thrown out of them.
It is considered rude to insult someone's honour, and doing so is a direct challenge. To claim an Aedrinarian is acting without honour or breaching the local customs will promptly result in a challenge to the death.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Aedrinarian custom is ancient and traces its origins back to Odin, Thor, and Tyr in the mythic age. Most of these relate to warriors and religious belief, but some can be translaed into whatever 'civilian' life exists within the isles.
Death Scream
During the 40 year war, many on the Commonwealth side were alarmed at this ancient practice that had not been heard on the mainland since the second age. When a warrior of high regard dies in battle, surrounding warriors are expected to hold open the eyes of the recently deceased, raise their axe, weapon, or spell, hold it high above their head and scream loudly until their voice breaks. This is done so the gods and valkyries are aware that a soul of great honour will be entering their realm. It is said the Valkyries will hear these shrieks and quickly carry the soul to Valhalla, where the gods will have also heard this call and prepared a feast of honour for the warrior. This practice is rare, and reserved only for those whose deeds are worthy of a saga, not every warrior will earn this and to receive it is a sign of great respesct, although disconcerting for those around.Shunning
When a community, guild, or clan has deemed someone without honour or of having broke their codes, death is not always the answer. When someone has performed the worst actions to a community, killing them would be seen as a mercy, so rather they are cast out. One by one, the members of that group will cross their arms across their chest, turn their back, and cry out "Uthrag" meaning exiled in old Aedrinarian. Until that person can re-earn their place within that community with deeds of redemption, they will forever be met with this action.Coming of Age Rites
Aedrinarians come of age around their 12th birthday, this is condiered an important birthday and rite within their culture, with a community feast often thrown. After this, an Aedrinarian child is expected to work amongst their community in whatver capacity they are most suited for. Amongst more rural communities, a hunt is often organized for children so they can experience their 'first kill' with those closest to them, with the game they catch serving as the feast when they return.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Aedrinarians traditionally prefer a cremation, as it is beleived the smoke of the body is a sign to the Valkyries a soul is coming. Very rarely will an Aedrinarian actually be buried, this is usually done to warriors who fall far from home or in battle and there is no time for a full pyre. Ashes can be interned in tombs along with personal belongings for the family to visit and pay respect during feasts of the dead. Most Aedrinarians will be burnt with flowers and incense on pyres of pine or spruce, but to the most important members of a community they will be burned on a longship at sea or upon a river.
Die with Honour
Aedrinarians are expected to die with honour, holding their axe, ready to meet the gods. Unlike other cultures, a peaceful death at home in your sleep is considered amongst the worst ways to pass on. As a warrior culture, those who die in battle are held in the highest regards, so long as a warrior's weapon is in their hand and they lived a good life, the Valkyries will carry them to Valhalla, the realm of the gods. The exact custom varies between the isles, but you will often find an Aedrinarian carrying a small weapon of anykind on their person at all times, just in case they start to die. The very elderly often travel into the wilderness to fight powerful beasts, or go on one last raid or battle so they earn their place in Valhalla.Helheim and Valhalla
There are two afterlives in Aedrinarian culture with an intemediatory stage in between. When a soul dies, they are transported to Nilfheim, the realm of mists, where they wander until the Valkyries, angellic beings supposidly birthed by Morrigan, determine whether a soul died with honour or not. If you died with a weapon in hand and lived with honour, the gods will grant you entry to their halls is the realm of Ysgard, where you may fight, drink, and share stories with your ancestors for all eternity and death means nothing to you anymore. Those who died without honour, or those who could not grab their weapon as they died are cast into Helheim where they must 'regain honour' in the legions of Hel, the goddess of the dead, who wages her armies in the endless blood war against devils and demons.Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Aedrinarians value strength in all its forms, scars, wounds, and injuries are seen as marks of a strong warrior and the more wounds a person has the higher regarded amongst society they are. To an Aedrinarian, a fighter with no scars is considered "A showman, not a warrior." Muscularity is also considered conventionally attractive amongst all genders, as is great demonstrations of strength.
Aedrinarians also regularly take tattoos to mark their clan, place of origin, joined guilds, or campaigns fought in. Each tattoo marks a story in a person's life, with some people's entire history catalogued through this practice. Tattoos are also common amongst the clergy of the culture, with the holy symbols of their gods taking pride of place on their bodies to demosntrate their commitment.
Gender Ideals
Aedrinarians have a faily egalitarian gender view, respect, status, and strength is earned through feats of character rather than birth. So long as a person acts with honour, strength, and courage, they can hold any position regardless of gender. Aedrinarian rulers have an equal spread between male and female, unlike other western human nations in Prima Terra which favoured male preference primogeniture.
Diverged ethnicities
Related Organizations
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