Vakra
With hammer and anvil, we strengthen our will. Bound to a purpose that is unyielding like tampered steel. With every blow that our hammer makes the stronger we become no matter how long it takes. - Chant of the Forge
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Kema, Tesani, Kedisa, Rona, Fina, Sidoni
Masculine names
Ledos, Tem, Algrom, Jordok, Ti, Regon,
Family names
Hegon, Jorroc, Karlok, Genavo, Dartanos, Lugrok, Oser, Wekador, Verseres, Dongal, Wrathra, Lestron, Uruged, Hikmon
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Vakrama
Culture and cultural heritage
For thousands of years the Vakra have believed that through the power of their will they can achieve if they put their mind to it. They managed to survive in their harsh lands believing that you must me as strong as iron and endure all hardship that are set before you. Strength and resilience are everything for every trial that is set before you will make you stronger. This the will of their gods as they test all who can withstand their struggles and decide which path they must take through the will of the forge.
Shared customary codes and values
The Vakra only accepted those who are strong and determined to get things done. For action are always louder then words since words are empty when they do not remain true. That one must believe in themself and have the will to follow the path they have made and boldly set forth on it. But to accept a helping hand when other give it to them as the bond that are formed in life are like chains, each one holding one another together and remain strong.
Average technological level
Living in their stone homes in the Vakra Hill, the Vakra may not seem to have much, but their skills in metalsmithing is vastly more advanced then any other place in the Western Lands. Creating weapons and armor that much strong then anything anyone could imagine. Along with being great engineers and builders to better improve their lives with infrastructure and machinery.
Common Etiquette rules
Vakra are always blunt and care little for flattery. Often being physical about everything from punching to crushing hugs. Everything they do is to show how they feel about you and if they don’t like you they will just ignore as you are not worth the time.
Common Dress code
Men and women often wear a mix of cloth and leather clothing to protect themselves while crafting their work. the only thing they don't cover is their arms as it is restrains their movements. The only thing that is between both of them is that women wear a headband, pants up to their knees and wears a longer forge apron.
Art & Architecture
Much of the architecture is made of stone as it is abundant resource. Often crafted into bricks and stack together in order to build large family houses. Stone carvings are a major part in their culture as they are used to record stories and documents. Along with building shrine and statues. Even craving etched in the sides of large boulders and hills can be found tell where someone is or where events that have transpired long ago. Metal is also used but most in what they make as creating something to them is leaving a piece of yourself with it and designs are common amongst smiths.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Tattoos: Tattoos are in important part of Vakra society as it both necessary and expressive to an individual. As the it helps identify what class of smith they are and a test of endurance of how many tattoos one person can with stand though pain as a sign of their willpower. Much of this is takes many long hours as the craftsmen of the trade like to take their time and making their designs customary and detailed.
Forge Bout: Competitions are a way settling disputes among rivals and feuds that often happen inside of clans and with other clans. These often are test of a smith as each contestant must create and item to see who is the better smith under certain conditions or time limits. Who has the greater item is the winner and they win the argument and must given to any demands that created by them.
The Three Path: The foundation of their society is the Three Paths, which are the occupations that smiths are often chosen to do for the rest of their life. Each one separates an individual based on their skill with a certain item that they can craft better then others types. Theses are the Paths of the Warrior, Builder and Craftsmen. With each one being an important part of society to maintain.
Draga Tur: Translated roughly to the Day of Honorable Remembrance, it is a day to honor the dead of their ancestor through a series of ceremonies so that there ancestors can watch over their descendants and ensure that they remain on the right path. This often lasts all day long as the sound of anvils and drums can be heard of miles away.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
All children must be tested when they are born. Rather then feeling the warm embrace of their mother they are first brought to a forge to hear the its tone. Here they are bathed in soot to make them attuned to the forge and their hair is bathed in oil so that they can be able to absorb its knowledge when they are older. Then they are bath in natural spring water that is cold from the surrounding hills. If they survive they are considered strong and are returned to their mother. Then the family gathers and conducts the chants and call upon their ancestors to ensure that the child is guided with their knowledge and that they will become a great Smith when they come of age as their name is shout out by one of the parents high up on a hill so that all will know their name.
Coming of Age Rites
When a child is strong enough to hold a forge hammer properly then it is the time to for them to enter adulthood. They must forge three items to decide which path in life they must live for the rest of the rest of their lives. These items are a weapon, a piece of armor and a piece of jewelry. Each one of these items be done day and night in order show the will and endurance of the smith that forges their items. Along with maintaining their skill along the way in their conditions. Once they are done three judges are brought forth with each one test one of the items made. Once they are done they will declare which path that the smith must set out on. If the weapon is chosen they go on the Path of the Warrior and will hunt and fight for the clan. If the armor is chosen, they will go on the Path of the Builder and be apart of the building project of the clan. If the jewelry is chosen, they will go on the Path of the Craftsman and build the tools and other items that need skilled hands for the clan. Once the trial is done the Smith is given Vacnog, a drink that will put them to sleep and enjoy their well earned rest. Some will only sleep for a few hour and some a few days as regain their strength. With some of the saying that they speak to their ancestors or even their gods to congratulate them.
Once they are awake they are brought before the clan leaders to accept them an adult in the clan and they given their first tattoo the signify their path and given their first drink of alcohol as it is only allowed for adults. Then a gathering of close friends and family will celebrate with then with music and games. Will a small feast with the new adult eating the most as they have not eaten since their trial began. Along with being given their own set of tools that are past down through the family from one generation to the next as a spiritual connection to their ancestors. Afterwards they spend the day preparing for their future tasks of the path they have chosen.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Death is final no matter how strong you were in life. But your will live on after death to guide future generations. That is what the Vakra believe when they lay their dead to rest. Only close kin and friends are allowed to visit the funeral. With each one wearing an iron mask to show no emotion to the dead as it is shameful. Everything they had in life is given to their family for future use and their bodies are burned it the fires of a forge to strengthen it to create better crafts from it for their will make it so. The ashes are the collected and scattered across their ancestral home so that they may watch over their kin in the afterlife. Afterwards prepare to work on their first real task as an adult the day after.
Common Taboos
Weakness: To be weak is to give into struggle and never achieve anything. It is something that is not taken lightly as those considered this are not worth caring about and are often ostracized or banished until they can prove themselves. These can be from a physical problem or a mental one that holds them back.
Abuse of Power: Though they value strength and willpower, they despise those who abuse these traits for their own personal agendas rather their own community. As it often leads to pain and suffering on those around them.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The Vakra admire strength above beauty more then anything else. That is why they often look a person body the see how much muscle they have and the tattoos that they is what they are attracted to. It show that they are hard working and they know how that they can endure pain depending on how many tattoos they have. But men usually prefer women with longer hair to bring their feminine side and women prefer men with short hair as longer hair makes them consider women.
Gender Ideals
There are very few customs that separate gender in the Vakra as they believe that as long as someone has the will to do something it does not matter what gender they are. The only real difference between them is that women that women must stay at home to raise their children until they reach adulthood while men work twice as hard when their wife is at home to make up for two people.
Courtship Ideals
Those seeking to be married always seek out three things in their partner, strength, willpower and skill at a forge. The greater the individual is the more likely many suitors will seek them out. This can be done by both men and women to chose a worthy spouse. It is not uncommon for suitors to fight each other either as the compete with one another to decide who is the strongest of them all. This can be just from tests of strength and endurance to to combat until on is left standing. Once that is over with the suitor gives a gift to their spouse as a token of marriage, often something that is based on the path they have chosen. If the craft is acceptable then they will accept the gift and take them as their spouse. It is also not uncommon for individuals to take on multiple suitors to be their spouses if there are very few people that are considered strong in their community be acceptable to giving birth to their children.
Relationship Ideals
The Varka considered a strong spouse as a great honor to have as the stronger they are together the greater their will is. Together they become one being and connected together like a chain. Both of them working hard to prove each other worthy of their union and will keep pushing themselves to prove it. It a relationship based on respect and duty to one another when they can prove it to one another. Allowing for their children to follow their example and strive for it. It also allows for both of them to have a say in matters affecting them and deciding what is best for them.
Major organizations
Vakra Clans
Languages spoken
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