Tanzel

Culture runs quite deep amongst the entire Tanzel Kruig, so those who where on the flatlands and those who live in the more sheltered areas differ in the practical aspects of their lives they all share the same cultural touchstones.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

All can speak Hobgoblin and Viandes Common. Regional dialects exist but do not create major issues in understanding.

Common Etiquette rules

Handshakes are not common, though they are aware of the custom and do not take offence. The Tanzel greetings depend on context quite heavily. Friends and Family are drawn into a hug, to display closeness and trust. Neutral greeting is to raise both arms to shoulder height with hands clenched in fists. This derived from showing no weapon , but the fists are to show that you are not weak either. Military greeting between opposing war lords was to stab your weapon into the ground in front of you. This has been retained as the official military greeting for the Tanzel army.

Common Dress code

They cover themselves like most sapient species, however they often wear a piece of steel clothing in addition to their tunics or trousers. Most common is at least one steel bracer, but pauldrons or greaves are also common. Wearing a full set of steel armour for those who are not military or political is often considered to be strange and overly formal like someone who wears a full 3 piece suit in all situations.

Art & Architecture

Those who live on the Flatlands live in wooden structures or permanent tents with large amounts of excessive fabric. These are not designed to catch the wind like a sail but rather protect the buildings from the wind due to the lack of geographical cover. Messing up the construction of these can cause them to act as a kite and fly off ripping the attached abode away. Those who live on the less flat areas with more geographical cover favour large conventional stone buildings, often carved into the local mountains or hills.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Newborns are dipped whole into a water trough, this is to imitate a newly forged sword being quenched. A baby that does not have this performed is said to grow up to be impulsive and ill tempered.

Coming of Age Rites

On their 16th birthday they must forge an item from steel. This can be done later or earlier but those who do it earlier are still not considered adults until they turn 16. However if a Tanzel does not forge an item at all they will never be considered culturally an adult.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Cremation, their armour and any steel possessions are passed to the next of kin. However they are cremated with a Blacksmiths hammer so they may continue to forge in the beyond.

Common Taboos

Mentioning the strength of the wind, it was believed that discussing the wind gives it more power. The belief has mostly subsided but other peoples will likely notice a reticence in discussing the weather in the Tanzel, particularly the wind.