Seelie - Ethnicity

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The ancestral language of the Seelie shares the same name as that of their people. It is a complex language with an odd mixture of both sharp sounds and melodic compositions that has by now become elevated as the language of the aristocracy and elites within the greater Seilurid Empire, of which the Seelie are the first founding people. Nowadays, most Seelie also learn Francien in one form or another, as it is the most common, 'ordinary' language spoken among the peasantry and middle-class, as well as that used with foreigners.

Culture and cultural heritage

There are two primary cords to the Seelie people's culture which have colored everything else about them from their spiritual beliefs to the way they interact with other people, be it internally or externally. These are their inclination for martial endeavors and their close relationship with nature and animals.
Being a largely nomadic people, ancient Seelie relied on hunting and foraging rather than agriculture, which lead to a strong early hunter culture that promoted values of accuracy, speed and stealth. This in turn eventually developed into a more generalized warrior culture that also valorized strength and endurance. For over a thousand year, archery, swordsmanship and horse-riding have been the trifecta of essential Seelie skills, and the emphasis put on these skills made Seelie warriors formidable opponents.
As a result of such a culture, many internal disputes between the Seelie were often resolved via a variety of contests or challenges, which might have ranged from a duel between two champions to a riding competition where two individuals had to race around obstacles or hit targets from horseback. To a larger scope, this martial culture and nomadic bend gave the ancient Seelie an highly aggressive people who frequently came into armed conflict with their neighbors.
The other major aspect of Seelie culture is their relationship with nature. All Seelie tribes were of various interpretations of animistic and shamanistic faiths, which greatly emphasize the importance of the spirit, as well as the existence of animal spirits and even spirits of nature such as the spirits of a stream, forest or mountain. These entities were revered, and as such, the Seelie have always had great respect for the living animals and the beauty and purity of the wilderness around them. Animals with keen hunting prowess were especially respected.
Over the years, the various beliefs of the many tribes - as well as that which had spread in other lands the Seelie had visited - were compiled into an unified system of otherwise decentralized and loosely organized worship known as Unam-Animism, which gave the Seelie's faith more strength against highly structured and organized monotheistic religions of other peoples. Though there is little in the way of central leadership or formalized rites, the Seelie people are highly united in the belief that the specific rituals and trinkets matter not, and that all respect the Spirits in their own way. Ironically, this is a large part of what allows the Seelie to be tolerant of other faiths, as they merely view them as strangely quaint in their ways of paying homage.
It is an interesting contradiction that despite being an highly martial and aggressive people, the Seelie do not take lives lightly. Duels are rarely to the death, messengers and prisoners of enemy armies are generally treated well and rehabilitation is preferred for criminals unless their acts are truly perfidious and unrepentant.

Common Etiquette rules

Hospitality is one of the most important customs and rules of etiquette among the Seelie. A guest, traveler or messenger is always to be treated with respect and provided with shelter and refreshments - often traditional airag - as long as they themselves behave in a respectful manner. If a guest is disruptive or unwanted, they will be politely told to leave. Refusing to do so when prompted is seen as an enormous breech of etiquette, which can result in awkward conflict with the other major rule of etiquette that guests may never be harmed in any serious or permanent manner. Individuals thus caught are often held in contempt by their communities until they can demonstrate they have seen the errors of their ways.
Due to the very close companionship of the Seelie people with animals, the rules of hospitality extend to them to some extent. If a traveler rides a horse, the horse must be provided with water and either some fodder or a patch to graze. Various species of canines and predatory birds are also common Seelie companions and therefore treated with the same amount of care.

Common Dress code

In ancient times, the Seelie's garments were most commonly made of felt, procured from the sheep herds and itself often dyed in various, vibrant colors. Fur was also relatively common and woolen clothes also existed, but were somewhat more rare due to felt being seen as easier and less time-consuming to make compared to spinning thread and knitting. Those garments were often loose and festive, and hats were often decorated with feathers or down. Footwear, by contrast, was firm and binding, with raised fronts as it was believed to help get in and out of stirrups easily.
In more recent times - more precisely, following the integrating of Bourguigon people and culture within the greater Seilurid Empire - linen has quickly grown in popularity. Valued for its lightness, overall durability and ability to keep cool in summer, Bourguignon flax quickly became common in Seelie fields. Though the material might have changed, the general way in which it is handled has not, and Seelie linens remain highly colorful, brightly dyed and generally ample garments.

Art & Architecture

The Seelie evolved as a nomadic people, and many small rural communities preserve that lifestyle to a lesser or greater degree. As such felt yurts of varying sizes and designs made up a large part of its history, with the greatest contemporary users being the Seilurid Military that maintain large number of yurts for mobile camps and shelters. More recently, Ironworks architecture has become the most popular architectural style among most of the Seilurid Empire, and the Seelie are no exception, appreciating the complex aesthetics and sturdiness of iron buildings.
The ancestral yurts were one of the main means of semi-permanent artistic expression among the Seelie. With classical painting or sculpting being largely non-existent, bright and elaborate patterns of colors were often dyed on yurts, creating giant, mobile pieces of art. Otherwise, the Seelie largely preferred non-physical forms of artistic expression, such as music, singing and dance. This preference largely holds true to this day despite contact with other cultures having made it easier to perform other types of artistic expression.

Coming of Age Rites

The adulthood rites of the modern Seelie are closely tied to that of the Unam-Animist faith and are often overseen by their shamans. Most important among these is a type of spiritual journey where youths are given an herbal concoction - usually in the forms of a kind of tea - and made to travel in the wilderness. This is believed to reinforce the youths' connection with the land and the world of the spirits, especially when the journey is taken to a location important to the youth's life or birth. Almost invariably, Shamans will watch over the youths from afar to protect them from any encounter with dangerous animals or unfortunate accidents.
Among more secular coming of age rites, there is a somewhat more diverse selection, but they generally share a common thread: To demonstrate proficiency in ancestral skills. Horse-riding, hound-hunting and falconry are all relatively common themes, while archery has largely been replaced by gunpowder marksmanship for a few centuries now. It is exceedingly rare for a Seelie youth to be accepted as an adult without having demonstrated proficiency with - and responsible use of - a weapon of some sort.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Once again, Seelie attitude towards death is largely tied to the Unam-Animist faith. It is believed that most human beings have individual spirits - souls - which are born from the Great Spirits that are the various facets of nature - such as the sea, skies and mountain - and that they will return to be in communion with the Great Spirits they are most in tune with. It is common belief that each individual's demeanor and personality is influenced to a lesser or greater extent by which of these forces of nature their spirit was originally born from.
There is however one exception to this. Reverence for the ancestors is common among the Seelie - and Unam in general - and it is believed that they can still be sought after for guidance after death. This is especially true of major historical figures who are believed to have had left enough of an impact on the world that their Spirit has grown strong enough to conserve its individuality after being recalled by the Great Spirits. As such, while large graveyards and mausoleum are uncommon, it is not rare for monuments to the Ancestors in general to be built, or alternatively, shrines to great Seelies of the past.

Related Locations

• Achaea