Carthland
Culture
Hailing from the warlike Thugen tribe, the rest of the kingdom sees the Carthians as hooligans and rude brutes, and unfortunately they aren't entirely wrong. Hailing from the northern most tribe, they to this day believe that those south of them were always weaker than them, with some scholars suggesting that they may also have some of the blood of the mighty Aldinheimmr people mixed into their already diverse veins. The Carthians are stubborn in the extreme, and are known to have short fuse tempers, giving them the reputation of wild traditionalists and agitators.
So stubborn are they that they have refused to adopt any foreign customs, be they something as simple as a word that most of the rest of the kingdom uses with origins from say Diosia. They are highly protective of their ways and no other better example exists than their faith. While officially all of Ashenfeld falls under the purview of the Church of the Flame, unofficially many local faiths still exist, but none so strongly as the Carthians. The Carthians still hold onto their old gods, with Utarr being the one most worshipped of all. This wolf headed god has his great temple in the capital, which is a mighty city built into a great mountain. This has led to ever high tensions between the Church of the Flame and the Cult of Utarr, with Carthians teaching their children that the rest of the kingdom worship some vile pagan torch god, and the Church teaches others that the Carthians are dirty hooligans worshipping rocks and dead animal skins.
Due to this, Carthians are distrusting of outsiders, but are also distrusting of each other. The ever diverse nature of their origins has led to tribal family lines being drawn, and so it seems every city apparently has sworn blood rivalries with every other city, even the capital is considered a contentious point for some Carthians who believe its a vile den of cowards who bend the knee oh so willingly to outside forces. If an unjust tax is levied against them however, most Carthians will march out in protest with torch and fork, or other such similar causes. This has earned them the title of revolutionaries from time to time, but for the most part they are too busy squabbling amongst one another, though the irony is much of Ashenfeld is already like this.
In war however, Ashenfeld has no tougher warriors at their disposal. Their Thugen blood raised a hardy folk, and so many Carthians are naturally slightly taller than most other Ashfeldians (though not as tall as say the dreaded Vikingir or the Hell Tribesman). They have gone to war with many of their neighbors, from Ashenfeld to Vebastonne, and typically charge into battle with little fear, using heavy hammers and other such bludgeons to sunder armor and bash skulls apart. The one thing they like more than fighting however, is drinking. This has led to them having admittedly some of the best beer in the kingdom, and its a favored drink of theirs to have regularly. They however despise wine for being "the weak man's drink".
History
Carthland's history is one of almost perpetual violence. The ancestors of Carthland came from a large mix of tribes, namely the native Thugen Tribe, the Aligern, and the Vestoni Tribes. This large mixing of tribes led to the ever diverse nature of the tribes, though eventually all called themselves Thugen (though the large majority of the Vestoni tribes would travel north to eventually make the nation of Vebastonne).
The Thugen themselves were an incredibly warlike people who worshipped many old faiths, with the god Utarr being their most favored due to his domain of war. In fact the worship of Utarr was considered the most powerful religous group in the lands of Ashenfeld before the coming of the Flame. In fact, when Heymon went about uniting the tribes of the land under his banner, the Thugen's were the last to bow down, for their stubborn ways saw those around them as weak, and only when Heymon had to personally burn down several of their cities and slay their War Chief did the Thugen's eventually bend the knee and join Ashenfeld as a province. However, after Heymon vanished, the new ruler of Ashenfeld (one Ailred Tyler) annexxed Carthland as land under Aramoor.
This led to a bitter feud that ended up in a local uprising between Carthland and Aramoor. The fighting was fierce but ended with Aramoor simply deciding to cut its losses and grant Carthland its status as its own province under Ashenfeld in the year 1045EC. To this day the Carthians never truly forgave them, or anyone else in that regard.
Foreign Relations
"The Carthians are nothing but a group of hide wearing barbarians pretending to be civilized. Too bad for them they are too stupid and dirty to fool us civilized folk. Don't know why our muppet of a King even allows them to keep their damn province. Though last i said that out loud one of the priests made the bump in my head bigger with dat stick o his." - Jaden Edwards, Haerford Farmer
"The Carthians are a deceptive lot. Even though they seem to be but simple minded brutes, with no knowledge of chivalry or the finer points of life, they are in fact diffrent. They are strong willed, and some of the most fearless warriors in Nilush, well except for us brave knights of resplendent Vebastonne of course." -Augustin de Cobie, Knight Errant of Vebastonne
"As long as the wolf howls from upon the highest peak in Carthland, we shall never be cowed by others ever again!" - Ryan Williamson, Captain within the Carthland Army
"Yes I know that im talking about a town no more than a two hours ride from here, doesn't change the fact that they are bloody traitors! I mean really, allowing that damned priest of that pathetic candle to preach without throiwng even a single rotten fruit at the damn man?!? Who could call themselves a proper child of the Thugens and not hate that pathetic candle loving cult, traitors i tell ya thats what!" -Luke Jordan, drunken local of the town of Rosegarde, on the topic of the village of Eastfront
With the rest of Ashenfeld, it should be obvious that they are seen as agitators, and typically don't like most of everyone else. With Vebastonne, being the Vestoni's closest point of contact with Ashenfeld, it isn't much of a surprise that while the Vestoi respect their warrior prowess, they typically don't share much love for their "antics". Neundorf might be the only nation that Carthland even moderately respects, though they obviously still mostly mistrust them.
Capital
Carthland
Major Exports
Iron, silver, wool, wine
Type
Geopolitical, Province
Demonym
Carthinian, Carthian, or sometimes Carthlander
Ruling Organization
Parent Organization
Location
