Drayns (dray-ens)
The Drayns people come from hardworking laborers and farmers who make up a significant portion of the city's laboring population. They are known for their strength, resilience, and practicality, which has been honed through generations of working in the fields and tending to livestock. Many Drayns families have lived in the region for centuries, with their ancestors coming to the area to farm the rich, fertile land.
Drayns people are typically physically strong and stocky, with weathered skin from years of working outdoors. They are also known for their practicality and resourcefulness, making do with what they have and finding ways to make the most of their resources.
Their work as laborers and farmers is essential to the city's economy and lords of the region, as they provide the food and raw materials needed to sustain the population. They are often hired for manual labor jobs, such as construction work or loading and unloading goods at the docks.
Despite their humble occupations, the Drayns people are proud of their work and their contributions to the city's well-being. They have a strong sense of community and a deep respect for the land and the animals they work with, often incorporating this reverence into their customs and traditions. They are known throughout the region for their expertise in livestock breeding and farming. The Drayn culture has been deeply influenced by the rhythms of the seasons, and they have developed a sophisticated understanding of the ways in which crops and animals interact with the environment.
Drayn farmers use a variety of techniques to ensure that their livestock thrives. They carefully select breeding stock, and use sophisticated breeding programs to ensure that their animals are healthy, strong, and productive. In addition to their expertise in livestock breeding, the Drayns are also skilled farmers. They grow a wide variety of crops, including grains, fruits, and vegetables. They use a range of techniques to maximize crop yields, including crop rotation, composting, and careful irrigation. The Drayn people take great pride in their work as farmers and livestock breeders, and their hard work and dedication is reflected in the quality of the food they produce.
Drayns are also known for their exceptional archery skills, which they have honed over centuries of hunting in the forests and protecting their fields that surrounding their villages. They are skilled at using both traditional longbows and more modern recurve bows, and their accuracy and precision with a bow is high in demand.
Finally, Drayns are known for their incredible endurance and resilience, which allows them to work long hours in the fields and endure harsh weather conditions without falling ill. They are able to push through physical challenges with ease, and are highly respected for their hard work and dedication with their spirits to match.
Culture
Common Dress code
The Drayns, being a people whose lives revolve around farming and livestock breeding, have developed a dress code that suits their practical needs. They tend to wear simple, comfortable clothing made of natural materials such as cotton and wool. Men typically wear loose-fitting shirts and trousers, while women wear long skirts or dresses and blouses. Both men and women often wear wide-brimmed hats to protect themselves from the sun while working in the fields.
In addition to their practical clothing, the Drayns also wear decorative elements that reflect their connection to the land. For example, they may wear necklaces or bracelets made of hard seeds, treated wood knots, or carved river stones, and they may adorn their clothing with embroidery or woven patterns that incorporate imagery of animals or crops. These decorative elements serve as a reminder of the Drayns' connection to the natural world and their reliance on it for their livelihoods.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The Drayns have a deep respect for the land and the animals they work with, which is reflected in their customs and traditions:
- Communal living: The Drayns place a high value on community and living in harmony with others. As a result, they often live in close-knit, communal villages, where everyone works together for the common good. This helps to foster a sense of belonging and cooperation, which is essential for a successful farming and animal husbandry community.
- Seasonal celebrations: The Drayns have seasonal celebrations that mark the changing of the seasons and the cycles of life. These celebrations often involve music, dancing, and feasting, and they help to bring the community together and strengthen their bonds with each other and with the land.
- Rituals of gratitude: The Drayns have rituals of gratitude that they perform after a successful harvest or animal husbandry season. These rituals typically involve a feast, where the community comes together to share the bounty of the land and offer thanks to the gods for their blessings.
Coming of Age Rites
Among the Drayns, a traditional rite of passage for young people involves crafting and honing a yew bow. This process can take several months and is meant to teach the young person patience, perseverance, and attention to detail.
The first step is for the young person to select a yew tree from the surrounding forest. They must choose a tree that is straight and tall, with no knots or blemishes. Once they have selected the tree, they must ask permission from the forest spirits before cutting it down. This is a solemn ritual that involves making an offering of tobacco and speaking a prayer of thanks.
Once the tree has been cut down, the young person must strip the bark and shape the wood into a bow. This requires a great deal of skill and precision, as the bow must be both strong and flexible. The young person must also craft their own bowstring, using sinew from a deer or elk.
Once the bow is complete, the young person must spend many hours honing their skills with it. They practice shooting arrows at targets, learning to judge distance and aim accurately. They also learn to care for their bow properly, oiling it to keep it supple and storing it in a cool, dry place when not in use.
At the end of this process, the young person is considered an adult and is ready to take on the responsibilities of being a member of the community. The yew bow is a symbol of their skill and perseverance, and is often passed down through the generations as a family heirloom.
Common Taboos
One taboo that Drayns adhere to from superstitious reasons is the prohibition of whistling indoors, especially in the presence of crops. While singing and humming is permitted, it is believed that whistling indoors can drive away good luck and blessings from the crops, causing them to wither and die. Similarly, some Drayns believe that stepping over a plow or hoe that has been left lying on the ground can also bring bad luck to crops, so it is important to avoid doing so. Another taboo is the belief that sweeping the floor after dark can sweep away good fortune Unconquered Sol has gifted through the day, so it is advised to avoid cleaning at night if possible. These taboos are deeply ingrained in Drayn culture and are still practiced by many to this day.
Ideals
Courtship Ideals
The Drayn people place a high value on hard work, dedication, and perseverance. As such, courtship among the Drayn people often involves a demonstration of these values. It is common for young men to offer to help a young woman with her work, whether it be in the fields or tending to livestock. This is seen as a way to demonstrate their work ethic and dedication.
Another common courtship ideal among the Drayns is the exchange of handmade gifts. For example, a young man might carve a wooden figurine for a young woman he is interested in, while a young woman might embroider a handkerchief for a young man. These gifts are seen as a way to show that the giver has put time and effort into creating something for the recipient, and are highly valued.
In addition, the Drayn people place a strong emphasis on family, and it is common for courtship to involve not just the two individuals, but their families as well. Parents and other family members may be involved in the courtship process, offering advice and guidance, and helping to ensure that the match is a good one.
Drayns are known for:
- Farming and Husbandry Techniques
- Prolonged Physical Endurance
- Deadly Accuracy with Missiles
Physical Description: The Drayns are a hardy people, with weathered features from long hours spent working in the sun. They tend to have a tanned complexion, with brown or hazel eyes that seem to gleam with warmth and kindness. Their hair is usually a shade of brown or black, often worn in practical styles such as braids or buns to keep it out of their way while working. Drayns tend to have strong, muscular builds, with broad shoulders and calloused hands from years of tending to the land and animals. They have a certain ruggedness to their appearance, with weathered lines etched into their faces that tell stories of hard work and perseverance. In terms of height, the Drayns are typically of average stature, with men standing around 5'8" to 6'2" and women around 5'4" to 5'8". However, their physical strength often belies their size, as their work has honed their bodies into finely-tuned machines.
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