Vard
The Vard refers to the peoples of the Scattered Isles and is one of few ethnicities to be automatically applied to multiple species. The primary Vard species are Humans, Orcs and Goblins as well as Half-Orcs, but they welcome other species freely enough. The Vard are best known for the extensive green tattoos the more experienced and accomplished members of their society have, leading to the misunderstanding for centuries by mainlanders that their skin was green, and the related belief that Orcs and Goblins have green skin.
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
The majority names in Vard are actually unisex as many of them are related to trait names, and traits are very rarely assigned to genders, especially for Orcs. The only real exceptions are those to do with Gods, who are gendered, or certain types of magic which are associated in Vard folklore with certain genders.
Family names
Family name traditions can vary widely. For example, both Goblins and Orcs mostly are just known as their mother's children as a family name. Many human Vard have the opposite, where they are known as their father's children, but some have set family names, usually based on an occupation or nickname of someone in their past.
Other names
Orcs have a third component of their names related to where they originate from, which is used whenever talking to people outside their clans. It is essentially their clan name followed by a '-nen'. Goblins use different names when just among their own kind, more as a result of other species finding their very blunt naming practices odd or unwieldy.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Most all speak Vardic, the common language of the isles. Orcs and Goblins tend to have their own dialects (as well as languages), as do different clans, but they are able to understand each other's basic Vardic.
Culture and cultural heritage
Almost all of Vard culture is very carefully orally preserved; there are very strict conventions in place to avoid the drift and divergence of stories found in other cultures, and recently scholars have realised that they have the most complete records of the mainland pre-Sunderings despite their lack of written word. Those things that are written down are usually inscribed into stone, because when they dare to try and make structures they're going to try their hardest to make it last.
Common Dress code
Vard go for quite practical, layered and warm clothing, though that doesn't stop them having their own sense of fashion. While dark green is a very common base colour for clothing, along with simple cream, people will adorn their clothes with the brightest colours they can. The most sought after are colours that aren't available among the Scattered Isles and will either be traded for a lot of money, showing off your wealth, or stolen from the mainland, showing strength. Fashion is also pretty similar between genders, with most all outfits consisting of a tunic or dress over trousers, calf and forearm wrappings, leather boots and belts, and a cloak and gloves in colder or wetter weather. Generally speaking it is very common to have pierced ears and braid-tip beads, and overall signs of wealth and prosperity are unusual colours, intricate detailing, and lots of jewellery. Superfluous fur on clothing and bone adornments and jewellery are similarly desirable as it shows you are an accomplished hunter and use the felled animals to their most.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
After coming of age, Vard will gain their signature green tattoos, known as Lokin, for a variety of accomplishments. This includes simply being a member of a successful raid, extraordinary feats in battle and having travelled far. It can also include less battle-focused achievements for the less battle-focused folk; farmers may get Lokin after a particularly bountiful crop, for instance. Historically in Vard society, though not so much in the modern day, simply surviving was an accomplishment and many clans still give Lokin for reaching certain ages.
They do serve a wider purpose, as some Lokin are the same across all the isles, including those for trained Battleragers, Loremasters, Law-Speakers and Healers. The idea is that in times of crisis when different clans have to come together, it is easy to tell what skills people have and their level of experience and leadership at a glance, making cooperation easier in the heat of the moment.
Coming of Age Rites
Coming of age is when they first get one of their signature green tattoos. It is fairly common to have one of the coming-of-age tattoos to be symbolic of their clan, but it also isn't uncommon for people to change clans for one reason or another so some opt for different ones in case of that future eventuality.
People that join the clan, sometimes from another clan but usually when from outside the Vard altogether, often go through a symbolic 'coming of age' ceremony where they get the coming of age tattoo and go through the celebrations to signify their becoming of an 'adult Vard'. There is no exact level of people in a clan who need to approve of somebody before they can be officially initiated into the Vard, but generally once more than half of a clan is on board the preparations for their induction will begin. It usually doesn't take more than a year to reach that point, because if you've not caused problems for that long then that's all most people care about.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Vard are one of the only cultures who prioritise the burning of their dead.
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