Narlander
The Narlander are a hardy people, possessing both a keen respect for tradition and a
fundamental concept of personal honor. The mountains are a cold, bleak, and
barren land, a place where a warrior is measured by the amount of honor he has
acquired, both for himself and his tribe. The Narlander know strength only through
honor, and their system of bestowing and recognizing such honor is an intricate
one. As a people, the Narlander are oriented toward a kind of equilibrium based
upon mutual respect. The Narlander tend to pay little attention to others.
The Narlander lives are simple, consisting primarily of hunting and herding, and
of the maintenance of the tribe's honor amongst it brothers. Each of the tribes
also has its own home territory through which it roams on a seasonal basis, and
for which it will fight without quarter. Most Narlander traditions are upheld by
the tribes, and these traditions form much of the bases for both the existence
of the Narlander and their unique codes of honor.
The tribes will not attack their neighbors without provocation,
although they will ruthlessly defend their territory if the need arises. This
attitude toward organized conflict stems in part from the Narlander's unique, and
somewhat odd, codes of honor. In Narlander society, a warrior receives more honor
in battle for simply touching an opponent with his weapon than actually killing
him. This ritual practice is call Theyning, and it is responsible for turning
many combat situations into intricate ceremonial dances. A warrior's Theyning
spear, with its small marks of honor, is his most treasured possession.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Narlander speak the common tongue of Narland, Erinic. The accent varies from
region to region, but is still quite understandable. The shaman and
minstrel-skalds use an older, more poetic form of the same language which they
name the Clan Tongue. A written alphabet does not exist, and the Narlander do not
have the ability to write Erinic. However, the shaman and minstrel-skalds do
employ a crude symbolic collection of pictograms to represent important aspects
of life among the tribes.
Culture and cultural heritage
Social status among the Narlander is based primarily on conduct, and rewards of
honorable action and courage. Both shaman and skalds are given status outside of
the normal social framework since these vocations are viewed as unique and
exceptional among the Narlander. Individuals practicing these vocations are also
permitted to travel freely throughout Narland without challenge. Leaders and
elders are accorded more respect than younger members of the society, although
those who have gained large amounts of honor will have higher status regardless
of age. An abstract gauge of a Narlander's Status is the quality of his or her
Theyning spear.
Although Narlander society revolves around the tribal and clan
structures, the family is important as well. Both genders enjoy exactly the same
rights and opportunities in the culture, and lineage passes through both
parents. Inheritance is divided equally among offspring, although the
inheritance of the father's Theyning spear depends on the personal honor
acquired by his children (both male and female).
Common Dress code
The Narlander normally construct their garments from medium to heavyweight wools
and reversed leathers. Long trousers are tucked into knee-high hard leather
boots, and hip-length heavy tunics are belted at the waist. Decoration on
clothing is limited to basic embroidery and stitch patterns, although such
embellishments are rare.
Art & Architecture
A prevalent symbol in Narlander culture is the equilateral triangle. The Narlander
set up their camps in the shape, it is used as the principle decorative motif on
pottery and jewelry, and its spiritual significance is integral to the culture's
strange trinity of Narlander warriors, shaman, and minstrel-skalds. The Ritual of
Ascendance, in which a boy becomes a man, employs each of these three cultural
vocations as guides along the ceremonial Paths of Wisdom which symbolize the
journey into adulthood. The fine arts are not very prevalent in Narlander
culture, although they are practiced. Intricate carvings and jewelry are two of
the most common forms of such artwork and are usually crafted of worked silver.
However, the most beautiful works produced in Narlander society are those of the
Spearcrafters. Theyning is a practice crucial to one's personal and tribal
honor, and most ritual Theyning spears are tipped with ornate and elaborately
worked points. These points are often leafed shaped and chased with exquisite
tracery work in silver and gold. Small silver marks of honor (triangular in
shape) are braided with hair and hung from the top of the spear shaft. Shaman
are forbidden to carry Theyning spears.
Although the practice of fine arts in
Narlander society is limited, the performing arts are alive and well. The
minstrel-skalds are responsible for handing down the culture's history and
tradition, since the Narlander do not use a common script. Tales are told and
songs are sung in the Narlander tongue. The music of the Narlander is simple,
dissonant, and haunting.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The people of Narland are a very religious folk, and religion forms an important
part of their culture's foundation. Because the practice of fine arts is
limited, much emphasis is placed on religious ceremony and observance. The
Narlander pay tribute to a large pantheon of deities, with each tribe adopting a
kind of patron from among the gods. Most of the gods represent elemental or
traditional mythic forms, with gods who's dominions include war and honor being
very prevalent within this culture. Shaman are trained in each community, and
then travel from one tribe to another.
Magic is known as the power islanders wield in Narlander culture. It is thought of
as the gift given by the gods to compensate for their physical stature. Most Narlander fear magic,
and thus award a great deal of honor to those who become Moon Gaurdians.
