Tyorn
The Tyorns make their home in the fjords, valleys, and islands of the northern half of Fustia's western coast. They are ruled by various kings and cheiftains, many of which only rule over a few neighbouring fjords. The power of these rulers are checked by assemblies made up of freemen. These freemen are largely shepherds, farmers, and fishermen that are willing to fight duels to settle disputes. Fueds and wars frequently break out between various clans, kingdoms, and chiefdoms. And raiding parties are frequently launched against their neighbours to the south and east.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Common personal names for women:
- Oltar ("voice blessed by the gods")
- Ludsunt ("loom song")
- Olsit ("beauty blessed by the gods")
Masculine names
Common personal names for men:
- Varsunt ("spear song")
- Vondakar ("sword dance")
- Bain ("bear")
Unisex names
Common unisex names:
- Olarnt ("strength blessed by the gods")
- Shilfhirfr ("shield hearted")
Family names
Names of famous clans:
- Vonbator ("Swordbreaker")
- Bainhirfr ("Bear-hearted")
- Vardakarbir ("Speardance-born")
Traditions
Most Tyorns have two family names, one being a clan name and the other being a patronym. The clan names usually refer to the clan's founder, a physical or personality trait of the clan's founder or other famous ancestor of the clan, or a famous incident involving the clan. The patronyms involves the name of the person's father with either the suffix "-vir" (meaning "son of") or the suffix "-kattir" (meaning "daughter of"). Personal names usually involve a a single element (usually a word that's normally an ordinary noun) or two elements, typically two nouns or a noun and an adjective, regardless of gender.Other names
Many Tyorns receive a nickname as part of their names at some point in their lifes, especially if they are part of a large clan or have a several famous ancestors. Nicknames are usually derived from some physical trait or well-known deed(s).
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The language spoken by Tyorns is known as Tyornian. But due to how their mountainous home fragments them, there are many dialects. The major groupings are known as North Tyornian, Mid-Tyornian, and South Tyornian.
Culture and cultural heritage
The general culture of Tyorns is a maritime warrior culture. A Tyorn that wishes to rise in rank among the Tyorns must take part in warfare, without which the Tyorn in question won't be able to acquire the respect and reputation needed. And due to the rough terrain of Estgart, ships have become central to Tyorn culture and economy, since traveling between valleys by land is much more difficult than travelling by sea. So if the latter option is available, that's usually the option taken.
Shared customary codes and values
Inheritance
Property is generally divided equally between the deceased's sons. If a son became a priest, then he removes himself as heir.Lineage
Children are considered to be part of their father's clan.Familial Duties
As parents enter old age, dutiful sons and daughters-in-law are supposed to take care of them. And if a family member is killed or injured by a person, then the kin of the victim are expected to avenge said victim. This can be done through either direct retaliation against the offending person(s) (via attacking their property or person(s) in a suprise attack or ambush), challenging the offending person to a duel, or petitioning the local Ting (who would judge whether or not the offender is at fault, and if yes, how big of fine they would pay).Average technological level
All (with very few exceptions) of the Tyorns' tools and weapons use iron. Tyorns have also set up some mills (both water and animal powered), most of them used for fulling cloth. The few that are used for other purposes are used to grind grain into flour and are located in more densely populated settlements.
Common Dress code
At least one weapon hang off of the belt of every free person, be it knife, axe, or sword. Almost every person wears clothing made out of wool, dyed in several colours.
Men wear tunics and pants with wraps covering their lower legs.
The women wear ankle length dresses.
They frequently wear armrings, finger rings, and torcs made of precious metals as a convient transport method for trade goods in barter.
Art & Architecture
Most structures have walls built out of logs and have either sod or thatch roofs. Many of the doorframes and pillars are carved with mythologically/religiously important animals and heroes.
Most of Tyorn music is based on lutes, violins, and an instrument known to the Tyorns as nykelfiol (or key violin).
Both men and women are usually adorned with tattoos, generally inspired by mythology, clan crests, symbols of profession, etc.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Feasts in honour of the gods are held at equinoxes and solstices. Oaths sworn at these feasts are thought to be especially important by the superstitious. At the feast for the winter solstice, the king/cheiftain/lord/etc of an area is expected to eat a horse's liver or the next year will be full of bad luck for his reign.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
The only birth/baptismal rite of the Tyorns is that of naming the baby. This is done a week after the baby is born. The baby is presented to the father (or the head of the mother's household if the father is unknown), who places the baby on his knee and then says the baby's chosen name aloud.
Coming of Age Rites
When children come of age, they're generally taken to a nearby shrine (usually that of a major deity or deities) and presented to the icon of the god(s) the shrine is dedicate to. During the ceremony, the child makes a votive offering. At the end of the ceremony, the child's father presents them with a knife that Tyorn warriors usually carry as a back-up weapon to mark their adulthood.
Funerary and Memorial customs
The dead are generally cremated with a few specifically chosen grave goods and the ashes buried. After the ashes are buried, the family has a feast where lots of eating, drinking, and toasts in honour of the recently deceased is held.
Common Taboos
Tyorns generally considers cowardice and oath-breaking worthy of outlawry.
Tyorns have a taboo against people marrying their siblings, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces.
If a Tyorn discovers a necromancer, the usual response is for the Tyorn to hunt down and kill the necromancer, removing the necromancer's head and displaying it in front of the necromancer's hideout. Tyorns believes that the effects of necromancy on the dead to be at least torturous, so
Ideals
Relationship Ideals
Both men and women usually have their first marriage in their late teens or early twenties. Men are generally allowed to have more than one wife, especially if a feud, raiding campaign/voyage, or war had reduced the number of available men in an area. But men who have a unneccessarily large harem of wives are looked down on as greedy.
Tyorns generally consider husband and wife to be equal partners.
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