Radali torc

And on the side of the king there were 2000 Radalis, the best, the bravest and the most noble among their countrymen, dressed in their finest dresses and armour with their bracelets and necklaces of gold shining because of the sun light, and, upon watching them and the spectacle their war chants and the shining of their jewels, they decided to withdraw to the safety of the walls, for they feared more these barbarians than any other men, those whom since they reach sense and maturity live only for war and those who die with an smile because their bravery will be sung for ages.

— Ariston of Evergetia, in his book "Chronicle of the first 5 kings of Steplia"

Description

Being a warrior, a Kingetos in the Radali society is one of the essential steps in the life of a young Radali boy, and the object that marks the transition from youth to adulthood is the placing of the torch around their neck, that they will proudly carry the rest of their lives, whatever long, having fought and survive many battles and taking care of children and grandchildren, or short, falling in a battle after fighting to the last breath, thats the code of a Radali warrior, that makes him one of the most feared warriors in all Yeia.
The torcs are neck rings usually made of gold. They are made either as a single piece or from strands twisted together and are also usually open at the front. The most decorated ones are truly a testimony to the advance skills of Radali goldsmiths.

Religious and social importance

It is a usual custom among the Radali to gift a golden torch to the youths of the tribe who had become warriors and have killed their first enemy. Once they become a warrior, and thus, adult members of the community, these young men have two options, to be part of an army of their tribe and go on raids, fighting neighbouring tribes, or, more commonly, to be hired as a mercenary, usually for 3 or 5 years in the armies of the more powerful states of the continent, such as the Oronai Kingdoms, the Empire of the Blatians or even the Seris Empire across the strait. After their return home, in order to prove their bravery and the fact that they have killed many enemies, the returned warriors usually show the skulls of their victims to the king, chieftain or magistrate of their tribe. And according to their traditions, if a warrior kills more that 5 enemies, he is given a little torc that is placed not in the neck but in the wrist, and if he slains another five, another little torc is given to him and place on the other hand.

— Ariston of Evergetia, in his book "Chronicle of the first 5 kings of Steplia"

Torcs show status inside a tribe or group. Magistrate, chieftain or king torcs (depending on the form of government the radali tribes have) are usually the most elaborate and decorated, thus indicating their status as the highest members of Radali society, while the torcs of the rest of the male population are less elaborate and much thinner. Radali also believed that torcs are some sort of "protective amulets" that protect them during battle or during their daily lives. Before being given to a young warrior, torcs are usually blessed with incense at the sanctuary of the Radali god of war. Once the torc is placed on the warrior's neck Radali believe that he is under the protection of the god for the rest of his live and, in exchange of his protection he must honour the god taking many captives, bringing glory and plunder to his tribe and killing many enemies in battle.

Differences between Radalia proper and Lesser Radalia

Radali peoples live in two regions in the continent of Teria. Radalia (also known as Greater Radalia, their original homeland, today located in the Kingdom of Wesdaland and Lesser or Little Radalia, a region inside the Kingdom of Steplia that was formerly part of the Tushpite lands but the Radalis conquered and occupied after a wave of migrations in the early 6th century AP.
Radalis in Greater Radalia continue to practice their ancestral traditions related to the warrior class and warfare, so it is easier for young members of radali society to become Kingetos raiding neighbouring regions or villages, while in Lesser Radalia, as being part of the Kingdom of Steplia, Radalis living there underwent a progressive adoption of the Oronai culture, mixing some of their traditions with the Oronai ones. Steplian Kings forbid Radalis to raid neighbouring regions inside the kingdom, so, one of the ways young radali men became warriors disappeared, instead, many accepted fighting in the king's armies for gold, spoils and glory, while others sought employment as mercenaries in other realms. These mercenaries were always under the command of a fellow Radali who, in turn, will award the warriors who had slain their first enemy with a torc.