Aeglyr (Firbolg)
Aeglyr tribes of firbolg inhabit the north-western mountains of Auregalion and the vales of Althanas, having existed there since the time of their forebear, Aevidraumr, in the aftermath of the Titamomachy. Each Aeglyr tribe takes ownership of a particular area, and they live and travel throughout their tribal lands throughout their lives, taking clan names to represent their immediate families.
After dispersing away from the resting place of Aevidraumr, the tribes began to lapse into isolation and passivity, becoming unseen and attentive caretakers of the landscape, caring for animals, plants and making small changes to the environment to foster pockets of life in the cold boreal wilderness. Care, quiet and discipline became the chief motivators of Aeglyr societies, resulting in very stable, happy and peaceful communities, but also in stagnancy in regards to exploration, expansion and discovery.
When the Sylvari split from the Teleri, they brought Mannil tribes with them. Many became confused or frightened by the sudden change in physical and social landscapes and dispersed, the men and women that would become the Orthals making their way into the mountains and then the valleys that the Aeglyr inhabited. At first the humans created underground homes in the mountains and kept to themselves, largely escaping the attention of the Aeglyr, but in time, the cohabitation formed conflicts as the human civilisation developed at the expense of their environment, and the firbolg were forced to intervene with force.
Aeglyr oversight of human activity developed into hostilities quickly and simmered until the Orthals banded together to war upon the tribes with their superior arms and armour, managing to raze vast quantities of the Aeglyr woodlands and driving them out of their tribal lands. Eventually, Aeglyr interventions ceased as they instead focussed on protecting what remained of their people and protectorates, until the events had fallen out of human memory.
Discovery of ancestral magics during this time had given the Aeglyr security within the forests, and through them, a deepened cultural connection to them. When tensions were sparked by Orthal logging activity, the battle was won by the Aeglyr, who continued to stymie industrial advances using their natural magics until the decision to raze a human town. The confusion, ignorance and innocence of the simple folk there stayed Aeglyr spears and fostered a conversation and connection that ultimately, decades later, culminated in the recognition of the firbolg as native inheritors of the woodlands and saw them formally incorporated into the political structure of the humans in an attempt to guard the two groups against open warfare again.
Today, Aeglyr are tolerant and even supportive of human industries, as their stewardship is awarded cultural and legal gravitas, and their people are treated with respect by the leaders and awe by the common folk. They continue to be insular and passive as a generality, and maintain their own cultural identity.
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Aeglyr firbolg do not take personal names within their own communities, but they accept them from humans if they find them to be respectful.
Family names
Llyvuldr, Kennavollr, Grimmrband, Andottr, Elgyrmynd, Aldermynd, Groennvuldr
Other names
Beechen Wood, Alder Stand, Snowheath, Greywatch Pass, Willowmede, Banbrume Stone, Brochen Barlind, Braighen Firfellen.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Elven (Ysylvani), Giant (Lesser Futhark), Mannan (Human).
Shared customary codes and values
- Stewardship
- Patience
- Decisiveness
Common Etiquette rules
If not engaged with a task, or in a situation that requires caution, it is polite to introduce yourself and if you are a visitor, to explain your goal and destination.
Common Dress code
Traditionally both male and female Aeglyr wear fur hides and rudimentary clothing called binda, whereby soft leathers, and both woollen and plant based fabrics are tied or cinched around the body. Ties around the neck, shoulders and waist helped to provide a basic level of protection and allowed an outer layer of furs and draperies to be worn over the top without concern for providing basic warmth or coverage. Today however, they choose to wear the binda or adopt Orthal fashions as their individual tastes dictate.
Plant fibre twine was often pleated with wool or fur and wound tightly around shaped pieces of hardened leather and tree-bark before being tied to the forearms, upper arms, torso and thighs, collectively referred to as herklaedi. A mantle of wood lashed with furs and soft leathers, called the hauberk, was frequently added to protect the shoulders and neck, providing additional protection as well as increasing the size of the wearer's profile. Herklaedi and hauberks were worn anywhere a firbolg could expect to find themselves engaged in combat.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Offering portions of a meal to an animal, or water to a nearby plant is considered polite. Eating or drinking when there is an animal in immediate need nearby is considered almost criminally selfish.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Calmness, protectiveness, strength, patience and discipline are the ideals that shape Aeglyr identities, and these are expressed in a variety of ways throughout the culture.
In the sense of physical attraction, broad and strong features are considered comely, as are broad and sturdy frames.
In fashion, simple but well-made clothing is desirable, and cosmetic alterations and frippery is considered wasteful or foolish. Conversely, details that carry personal significance are considered to be respectful, and are awarded a certain level of consideration in social situations; a firbolg who wears bluebells in his hair is thought to be paying homage to the memory of those gone before, and a travelling firbolg might wear a hem stitched with patterns of oak leaves to remind them of the oak groves of home.
In architecture, natural or roughly-cut stone is used to form high-gabled halls that can support a great deal of weight, which are then partially buried and used for growing herbs and berries to help to integrate the construction into the woodland. A home or building that is not constructed to last and to contribute to the ecosystem in this way is considered crude.
In music, long performances that involve slow-paced melodies and flourishes intended to simulate the sounds of animals are considered especially moving, while loud horns and drums used for more lively pieces are judged based on their ability to impact the listener, with deep, booming sounds played at a resounding staccato considered the height of war-time performances.
In art, motifs are used to represent something with a personal significance to the creator and the viewer, but must be applied to a functional item, with art for arts sake viewed as pointless time-wasting.
Gender Ideals
Firbolg observe male and female genders, with rare cases of nonconformity that are accepted without complaint by their community so long as they conform to other cultural traditions. Male and female sexes are distributed without bias across all firbogl communities.
Courtship Ideals
Two firbolg who are attracted to one another will flirt and interact as frequently as their lives allow, until they discuss and agree on courting one another, at which point they begin to carry some token to represent their lover, such as a wooden icon of an animal, a piece of wood or stone from their lover's home, or some other trinket, bound with undyed twine. This item is considered to be representitive of the fledgeling relationship, and its condition is considered indicative of the relationship between the two - if the twine should be dirty and frayed, the offending firbolg is thought to care little for the relationship.
Once the two agree that they would like to become a longterm relationship, they will go to some private location and share an apple, planting the seeds and tending the seedlings. Either while they are sharing the apple, or as soon afterwards as possible, the undyed twine is removed and replaced with bright green twine, representing the sprouting bond between the two.
After six to twelve years, the apple tree will begin to fruit. A joint celebration is arranged by the immediate families of both firbolgs, called a samnadr, to which much of their tribes are commonly invited. When the apples are ripe, the couple will replace the green twine with red, before taking a bite out of one shared apple before offering one apple each to the parents of both couples, any notable guests, or any other people they would like to celebrate. On each anniversary of their union, marked not by the calendar, but by the fruiting of their tree, the couple will share an apple and re-twine their icons, and every decade or so, provide new icons to replace the old, which are frequently then displayed in the family home.
Relationship Ideals
An ideal relationship among firbolg is one that begins as a carefree and patient dalliance which deepens until it is given the weight and respect such a connection deserves. A true relationship is something that must be given time and slow, careful consideration to grow, and cannot be rushed.
Major organizations
Aeglyr firbolg make up a significant portion of the population of Althanas, a kingdom of Orthals. They are represented in the political structure by the high office of the Er-Thane and the enshrining of their woodland stewardship in law.
- Aevalaun
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