Lodrin

The Lodrin are a strong, hearty people who make the bulk of the Trel Empire. Their determination and preservation of the old ways is exceptional. Where they lack in martial strength, they make up for in their well-disciplined soldiers and superior tactics. They value their independence above all else, fully embracing difficult and thankless work, and take comfort in their tightly bound family units. The Lodrin are a spiritual people, with the ability to find meaning and hope in places of despair.

Although they are often stereotyped as being disdainful towards their neighbors due to their government, the common folk are often open-minded and accepting of foreigners. For the Lodrin, their lands are large, and filled with exceptional talent from various self-sustained cultures within the Trel. For the Lodrin, there is little need for divisions among the allies.

Naming Traditions

Other names

The Lodrin are given three names during their lives, each representing a major aspect of themselves.

True Names are kept well-guarded for fear of magic that some creatures possess. Carelessness allows the Outsiders to open the doorway to their hearts, allowing them to possess the foolish. Wizards possess the ability to steal a persons name, fully enrapturing their persona, and inflicting wounds to the victims very soul. Despite the dangers that having this name possesses, the True Name is necessary for the Endless Reincarnation. Some, though few, have harnessed their True Names to become fully immersed in raw magical energies, transforming themselves into a state of near-godhood. True Names are associated with the moon, magic, and the progression of the mortal with each life.

Common Names, or Practical Names are found among every person, except the Emperor. These are used to when interacting with people of their social caste, and to reference themselves when stooping to talk to those below their station. This name is commonly used as the 'replacement' for True Names. A noblewoman, such as those that carry spices through the Corrupting Seas, will use this name to address her peers and the unskilled laborers whom she'll encounter. This allows her to appear approachable, and aid in the often-times false modesty the Lodrin project. To address someone in a lower class by their common name is an insult. Common names are associated with the land and wisdom.

Heavenly, or Courtly Names are used during religious ceremonies and events, alongside entreating those who have been deemed more valuable than them as a sign of respect. Each name has three parts, equally divided by hyphens, with bright concepts. These names are chosen after a week of prayer and fasting, signifying the path that the child is meant to strive towards throughout life. Woefully, many cannot decipher what their names mean, and how they are meant to enact it within their lifetime. Barbarians from the lesser kingdoms who have Lodrin influence will give names meaning, 'Strength', or 'Joyful', while Lodrin parents name their children after more vague concepts. The Trel ambassador to the Horse-Lords is called 'The Morning Flow that Blooms in Seas of Tranquility'. The Heavenly Names are associated with the Sun, fortune, and spirituality.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

His voice was unlike anything she had heard before. She understood every word, but the way he used them made no sense.

The lands of Trel are massive, allowing for several distinct language groups to remain in their Empire. Regional dialects reflect the local cultures, and are heavily influenced by their allies and the Elder Races which they interact with on a daily basis. Those of the mountains speak with a strange dialect, filled with Dwarf metaphors, while those closer to the capital have a more refined manner of speech.

Shared customary codes and values

They value honesty above anything else. To lie, or steal, is to dishonor the gods and their families.

Lodrin despises thieves above all else, and those they consider an affront to the natural order of life. Fear and hostility are barely masked with interacting with the necromancers and those that sup with death, and if not for the intervention of the Shadows, the Lodrin would have ended their alliance with several of their neighbors prematurely. They value hard work, and endurance, and will openly confront those that choose to cut corners in their businesses. Rising through social ranks through marriage, or finding newfound fame through the pacts of a Warlock are looked upon with shame, no matter how important they become.

Funerary and Memorial customs

The corpse was carried through the streets, the body protected atop the Funeral Oxen. Hired mourners lined the streets, wailing and pouring ashes over their heads. In their wake, the living relatives had begun their preparations.

Death plays a major role in the Trel Empire. The Lodrin, who have forsaken the offers of the Vampires, hold the funerals of the deceased to be extremely important. This, to no ones surprise, is an act of defiance against their allies. The dead are carried through their villages, a massive procession that visits the entirety of their owned lands for the final time. Extended families are summoned, meeting outside the settlement walls as they proceed towards the burial grounds. Professional wailers are often hired to make the dead appear more generous than they had been in life, mixed among the family members, crying against the cruelty of the gods.

Those of good standing, or with prestigious families have access to their own graveyards. These are massive, each with an ancient family tree planted in the center. Grave Guardians, professional warriors adorned with magic nullifying talisman, are hired both night and day to patrol these grounds, warding out any intruders. Though they are permitted, and expected to strike without warning, these Guardians are especially careful to ensure those they meet in their travels are enemies of the state and ne'er-do-wells, and not some foolish youths.

Those of lesser blood, the impoverished, and those which brought shame to the great houses are cremated, their remains scattered in the winds. This allows the land to be further free from necromancers, ghouls, and the inconsiderate. Without much family, the funeral pyres are surrounded by the next of kin, mourners trying to advertise themselves, and local drunks seeking warmth for the night.

Common Taboos

Four days had passed since the thief was hung. We were awoken every morning by their caws, each day less remained of him.

The Lodrin pride themselves in their unity, and the safety that they're culture provides through the many laws, so they are averse to anything that causes divisions between their people, or harms others no matter how indirectly. Betraying the family is taboo, which often results in social shunning. Thieves, murderers, and those that would take advantage of others based their social standing are reviled. Rebellion, cowardice, and disloyalty are spat upon, and those that would desert their families and relationships for the prospect of temporary wealth and carnal pleasures are worthy only of the whip.

The Lodrin are hypocrites in several areas. While they condemn the sins of others, they profit from many of these evil actions. Many of the Lodrin youth are guilty of many shameful acts, relying on nepotism from their direct and extended families to save them from any consequences. The elders will often sit, complaining about the problems that their allies cause, while their own kin are seven times guiltier.

Common Myths and Legends

Historical figures

There were many heroes when the Trel was formed. I was raised on the tales of the Thirteen Swords, of Shēn who bound the daemons, and the princes who bartered with the Outsiders. What heroes do we have today? What is there to be proud of?

There are thousands of legends in the annals of Trel history, and nearly every family has a small shrine dedicated to one of their ancestors. Every forest has statues of their ancestors set up as protectors of the latter generations. The Valley of Giants is lined with massive statuettes of Trel heroes. Children are taught of the importance of these heroes, and they run through the lands, pretending to be one of these masters.

There have been no one of note for the past few generations.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

"Her dark eyes were big, like a moonless night as she danced among them. Her sword weaved through flesh, painting her pale skin in an act of macabre beauty."

Lodrin considers dark complexions, dark eyes, and brooding exteriors as the epitome of beauty. A high nose and a soft jawline, with a bright complexion, is admirable, though there is a growing subset who admire the 'raw presence' of the outsiders. The people of the Trel strive to be lithe and graceful, both physically and mentally and spend a great deal of time fussing over their hair, attempting to make it like silk.

The further from the capital that one travels, the less this beauty holds true. Southern Trel is filled with square faces, with dark-golden skin, where thick hair and strong jaws are considered beautiful, and the Korsuni are filled with faces like that. Northern Trel praises the hawkish eyes and prudent lips of the Kjurvog, fawning over the steely gazes of the barbarians. To discover the ideal beauty standards of the Lodrin, it is best to look at the ideals of their closest neighbors.

Gender Ideals

The Lodrin are naturally explorers, embracing traditions from other lands. They study poetry, philosophy, and the arts. Generally, the men of Lodrin seek out new information, exploring concepts and ideas found from without Trel, and from within the massive nation. They are generally more liberal when it comes to their values, and accepting of strange customs. Women hold far more conservative, as they are generally closer to their families and more well-versed in the religious teachings. They uphold the traditions of the country, celebrating holidays and ensuring that they maintain what it means to be a part of Trel, through their words and actions.

Courtship Ideals

They rode upon that seamless shore, the cold wind coming from the waters alleviating the burning sun. Shells glistened, cracking under the weight of their horses.

Courtship is a long process, filled with many layers. First, the families of potential partners meet near the waters, standing atop white bridges where the gods of mirth reside beneath. These representatives will greet one another, engaging in a matchmaking service for their relatives. When an appropriate match is found, the two individuals are set to meet one another in the common areas, where they are introduced. It is a time for the parties to be judged by the families, and to determine if the relationship is worth pursuing. For several weeks, the two will routinely meet, walking along the rose-filled courtyards. Poetry is recited, testing the mental wit and knowledge of the partner, and the two discuss a future together. After the fifth meeting, the preparations for their marriage begins.

With those outside the walls, the Trel generally follow the ideals of their neighbors, or follow an uncomfortable first meeting, filled with strange expectations. Northbound, the Lodrin are taken aback by the straightforwardness of their neighbors, awkwardly reciting poetry meant to be performed as a duet, or making analogies that go over their heads. When met with a plain, unadulterated conviction, the Lodrin often balk, and make several attempts to rectify their feelings with what the Kjurvog call 'The words of another's heart'.

Likewise, the Lodrin find difficulties with the extravagant courtship ideals from the Southern lands, especially among the Korsuni, who celebrate their love in vicious, passionate movements. The Lodrin look for a single partner, wishing for a long lasting relationship in relative seclusion, while the others revel in the lives they have, for it is short. The Korsuni are more prone to polyamorous relationships, though there are many who willingly embrace the more traditional aspects of the Trel and their religion. The Lodrin attract partners through more secular poetry, and the Korsuni are often charmed by the reserved Lodrin.

Related Organizations

• Trel