Northern Customs (book) - Revision history

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			{{RTOC}}
	=Northern Customs=		==Northern Customs==
	'''[[Dwov]] Nareg '''		'''[[Dwov]] Nareg '''

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	the month of [[Skullcleaver]] the Dwarven Axe.		the month of [[Skullcleaver]] the Dwarven Axe.

	Though known as the ~~�Day~~ of Penance,' this is actually		Though known as the 'Day of Penance,' this is actually
	a misnomer as it lasts an entire andu (four days).		a misnomer as it lasts an entire andu (four days).
	This holiday first appeared amongst the Teyra, but		This holiday first appeared amongst the Teyra, but
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	When Akroeg died, his successors continued the process		When Akroeg died, his successors continued the process
	he began; his wife, [[Lirum]], his son, [[Verek]], [[Barabalas]],		he began; his wife, [[Lirum]], his son, [[Verek]], [[Baraliban\|Barabalas]],
	and the scholar [[Moliko]]. The proclamation they would		and the scholar [[Moliko]]. The proclamation they would
	soon make shocked the people that had been placed		soon make shocked the people that had been placed

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Langen's Feast: redlink police - Lake Gwenalion

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	On the third day of [[Ka'Len]] the Sea Drake, the people		On the third day of [[Ka'Len]] the Sea Drake, the people
	on the west bank of the [[Gwenalion Lake]] celebrate		on the west bank of the [[Lake Gwenalion\|Gwenalion Lake]] celebrate
	Langen's Feast.		Langen's Feast.

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	villagers, fresh Gwenalion fish , and Langen's Ale.		villagers, fresh Gwenalion fish , and Langen's Ale.
	When the feast is over, though, no Langen's Ale		When the feast is over, though, no Langen's Ale
	remains.		remains.


	===The Gypsy Gathering===		===The Gypsy Gathering===

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	Dwov Nareg <br>		Dwov Nareg <br>
	Scribe to House Theren		Scribe to House Theren

			[[Category:Book]]

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Book:RdnNC moved to Northern Customs (book)

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(No difference)

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	==Northern Customs ==		=Northern Customs=
	'''[[Dwov]] Nareg '''		'''[[Dwov]] Nareg '''


	==Table of Contents ==		==Table of Contents==
	Introduction -- Therengian Culture... Page 2		Introduction -- Therengian Culture... Page 2
	Therengian Holidays... Page 4		Therengian Holidays... Page 4
	*Shosandu... Page 5		*[[Book:RdnNC#Shosandu,_"New-Day"\|Shosandu]]... Page 5
	*Andu of Penance... Page 8		*[[Book:RdnNC#Andu_of_ Penance\|Andu of Penance]]... Page 8
	*Vereklaath... Page 9		*[[Book:RdnNC#Vereklaath,_Founding_Day\|Vereklaath]]... Page 9
	*Langen's Feast... Page 12		*[[Book:RdnNC#Langen's_Feast\|Langen's Feast]]... Page 12
	*The Gypsy Gathering... Page 13		*[[Book:RdnNC#The_Gypsy_Gathering\|The Gypsy Gathering]]... Page 13
	Therengian Customs... Page 14		Therengian Customs... Page 14
	*Marriage... Page 14		*[[Book:RdnNC#Marriage\|Marriage]]... Page 14
	*Age... Page 17		*[[Book:RdnNC#Coming-of-Age\|Age]]... Page 17
	*Death... Page 18		*[[Book:RdnNC#Death\|Death]]... Page 18



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	humility. The line of Theren has been the favored		humility. The line of Theren has been the favored
	of Rutilor, Lord of Kings, since then.		of Rutilor, Lord of Kings, since then.


	==THERENGIAN HOLIDAYS: ==		==THERENGIAN HOLIDAYS: ==
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	~~'''~~Shosandu, "New-Day" ~~'''~~		===Shosandu, "New-Day"===

	Shosandu, or New Day, is the first day of every year.		Shosandu, or New Day, is the first day of every year.
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	~~'''~~Andu of Penance ~~'''~~		===Andu of Penance===

	This somber occasion occurs during the last week of		This somber occasion occurs during the last week of
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	~~'''~~Vereklaath, Founding Day ~~'''~~		===Vereklaath, Founding Day===

	Vereklaath is celebrated on the first day of the month		Vereklaath is celebrated on the first day of the month
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	~~'''~~Langen's Feast ~~'''~~		===Langen's Feast===

	On the third day of [[Ka'Len]] the Sea Drake, the people		On the third day of [[Ka'Len]] the Sea Drake, the people
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	~~'''~~The Gypsy Gathering ~~'''~~		===The Gypsy Gathering===

	There is no set time when the Gypsy Gathering is		There is no set time when the Gypsy Gathering is
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	tribal councils are chosen.		tribal councils are chosen.

⚫	==THERENGIAN CUSTOMS ==

		⚫	==THERENGIAN CUSTOMS ==

	~~'''~~Marriage ~~'''~~		===Marriage===

	There are several different marriage customs		There are several different marriage customs
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	~~'''~~Coming-of-Age ~~'''~~		===Coming-of-Age===

	When a boy reaches the time in his life when he is to		When a boy reaches the time in his life when he is to
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	~~'''~~Death ~~'''~~		===Death===

	From nothing do we all come, and to nothing we must		From nothing do we all come, and to nothing we must

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Maintenance script: New page: ==Northern Customs == '''Dwov Nareg ''' ==Table of Contents == Introduction -- Therengian Culture... Page 2 Therengian Holidays... Page 4 Shosandu... Page 5 Andu of Penance... Page ...

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New page: ==Northern Customs == '''Dwov Nareg ''' ==Table of Contents == Introduction -- Therengian Culture... Page 2 Therengian Holidays... Page 4 *Shosandu... Page 5 *Andu of Penance... Page ...

New page

==Northern Customs ==
'''Dwov Nareg '''

==Table of Contents ==
Introduction -- Therengian Culture... Page 2
Therengian Holidays... Page 4
*Shosandu... Page 5
*Andu of Penance... Page 8
*Vereklaath... Page 9
*Langen's Feast... Page 12
*The Gypsy Gathering... Page 13
Therengian Customs... Page 14
*Marriage... Page 14
*Age... Page 17
*Death... Page 18

==Introduction -- Therengian Culture ==
It is well known amongst all that the southlands are
ruled with disgrace. While the lords of Therengia
serve honor and tradition and duty, the lords of the
south serve greed, ambition. Shady deals made under
tables with shady characters, a southern lord would
abandon any principle, any belief, any ethic for the
sake of profit, political advancement, or some other
materialistic goal. Therengia, however, is different.
Long after the surrounding lands fell into chaos and
anarchy as they discarded the traditions that had
given their civilizations birth, Therengia clung to
the Old Imperial laws and honor, and clings to them
still. It is with these laws that House Theren has
maintained order and dignity. From duty comes honor,
from honor comes strength, and from tradition comes
stability and prosperity.

The old ways shall always live in the north. In these
harsh lands, bordered by barbaric tribes and savage
creatures, devastated by brutal cold in the winter and
bitter heat in the summer... a strong devotion to
honor and fulfillment of duty is important.

Essential to the carrying out of justice, peace, and
prosperity is order. Without order, all is chaos, and
honor is lost. Order, though, cannot exist with a weak
government, or when the lords are more concerned with
their political well-being than the well-being of
their subjects. It is this knowledge that gave birth
to the Imperial nobility. It is House Theren that
provides order and stability in Therengia, and from
this comes justice and peace.

In the Empire, it was the task of the lords to protect
their people and see to their well-being. They were
tasked with leading the people, providing unity,
seeing to the carrying out of justice. There was a
bond between the two groups of noble and subjects,
each side providing their own part.

That is the way of things in Therengia. Each portion
of the land is seen to by the Chosen of Chadatru, the
descendants of Akroeg, the lords. Above all those
lords is the highest of lords, the Baron, the head of
House Theren. The Barons that rule Therengia have
always held more power than many kings, yet it is said
the first Baron Palatine chose to retain a title of
lower ranking after the Great Collapse as a gesture of
humility. The line of Theren has been the favored
of Rutilor, Lord of Kings, since then.

==THERENGIAN HOLIDAYS: ==
Like all realms, Therengia has many holidays all its
own, that are either celebrated only in Therengia, or
that are celebrated elsewhere, but with extremely
different customs here. I will list some of those
holidays, and practices they involve, for the
uneducated. I understand the brutal desert Musparans
have some unique holidays of their own, but I'm
certainly not going to cover those here.

'''Shosandu, "New-Day" '''

Shosandu, or New Day, is the first day of every year.

During the time of the Great Collapse, the cult of the
World Dragon Priest came into existence. It wasn't
long after Provincial rule was established that this
order turned militaristic, and under Dzree they began
a rampage across the newly formed and therefore weak
nations. Her people took advantage of the instability
of the lands following the end of the Empire, and they
cut a bloody path northward, under the Conqueror's
Banner.

The Therengian forces were slowly pushed further and
further back, until they were defeated wholly. The
people were forced to flee the capital in the night
before the Dragon Priest army had arrived, forced to
take refuge in the furthest Therengian border-forts.
The Lord Theren, His Excellency Baron Bamiec himself,
along with his most elite soldiers held Fort Kriota
throughout the length of Dragon Priest rule, keeping
most of the citizenry safe (unlike such disasters as
what occurred in Shard). There was no shame in losing
to the Dragon Priests. There was no loss of honor. The
Priests fought without honor -- they used evil magics
and evil beasts conjured from the womb of Dergati.
Even the Hounds of Rutilor fell to the Priests. No
shame.

The Baron and his people were forced to remain on the
outskirts of civilization, holding an uneasy alliance
with a ragtag group of Dwarven refugees, forced to
wait until the time to strike was right. In time, that
chance presented itself.

The seers of the land knew when that chance had come.
It was an omen from the gods. Just as they had battled
the World Dragon and sealed it away, so to would their
children battle the spawn of that defeated beast. The
Conqueror's Banner lit the sky again, and that night
Dzree died. Revolts broke out across the Dragon Priest
Empire simultaneously. Ferdahl Alec the Phoenix led
the Elotheans and Elves in liberation of Ilithi,
Neithrel and Savrin led the people of Leth Deriel to
fight the Dragon Priests in the nearby regions, and
the young Baron Falstad, descendant of Bamiec, with minor
assistance from the Dwarf Baulsir defeated the Priests
in the north.

On Shosandu, the New Year, we celebrate this victory,
the victory of Baron Falstad who drove the Dragon
Priests from Therengia. We remember the joy of freeing
our cities. But we also stand in remembrance of the
defeat all Five Provinces suffered at their hands, and
stand fast to prevent such tragedies. Shosandu is a
day of cheer, but it is also a day of sadness and grim
determination.

'''Andu of Penance '''

This somber occasion occurs during the last week of
the month of Skullcleaver the Dwarven Axe.

Though known as the �Day of Penance,' this is actually
a misnomer as it lasts an entire andu (four days).
This holiday first appeared amongst the Teyra, but
though Therengians scorned the foolish beliefs and
customs of those misguided individuals, the Andu of
Penance was adopted into mainstream Therengian
society.

During the Andu of Penance, one reflects upon the
wrongs and mistakes they have committed during the
year. Our lives must be lived according to the codes
of honor and duty, and the Andu of Penance is when one
atones for their failures in achieving a pure
lifestyle. During this week, one spends most of their
time in meditation for their failures, and
contemplation upon how better to live their lives in
honor. The remainder of the time is spent working
nonstop. Celebrants are also required to fast.

Also, the Andu of Penance serves to prepare the people
for the coming winter. Therengian winters are
particularly harsh, and the Andu of Penance reminds us
of the hardships to come, and how best to endure them.
It bleeds the weakness out of the heart and spirit,
and reinforces our devotion to honor and the gods.

'''Vereklaath, Founding Day '''

Vereklaath is celebrated on the first day of the month
of Akroeg the Ram. Though the holiday is honored
throughout the entire province, the primary
celebrations occur in Therenborough.

After the time of the Clan Wars and the Elven-Human
War, there came Akroeg, who began the process of
uniting the various clans. Sometimes Akroeg brought
others with him and his Ram Clan by peace and
negotiations, and the weaker clan's willingness to
join something larger, their lack of will to resist
and fight any longer. Sometimes he brought others to
heel with force. His task was to unite the lands and
end the never-ending cycle of warfare by small,
disparate groups. The Elven-Human War had shown that
something needed to change.

Akroeg formed a unique system of governing for the Ram
Clan which he hoped would pacify them and give them a
say in the running of things. But even with this in
place, people still thought as themselves as members
of this or that race, and further as members of this
or that clan. Old clan blood feuds refused to die, and
there was still enmity and a lack of true unity.

When Akroeg died, his successors continued the process
he began; his wife, Lirum, his son, Verek, Barabalas,
and the scholar Moliko. The proclamation they would
soon make shocked the people that had been placed
beneath the Ram's banner -- the old Clans were no more.
Thus the Empire was born. The Empire sought to abolish
the ancient blood feuds and enmities, eliminate the
separateness created many smaller groups having their
own clan name. It sought to make one people, and
thereby bring about a new order of civilization and
peace.

Verek was anointed the first Emperor of the Seven
Pointed Star, and pledged oaths before Chadatru. He
then saw to continuing the uniting of peoples his
father espoused, and brought even more land to the new
Empire. Though there were many areas the Empire never
conquered, and some lands they conquered and couldn't
hold, it brought huge amounts of land under its
benevolent rule, and to those lands it brought
civilization. and law.

On Vereklaath we celebrate the founding of the Empire,
and its descendant Therengia, which still holds the
Imperial way of life. The day is marked by festive
parades, which includes a march of the soldiers in
full armor bedecked with colorful ribbons and flowers.
Citizens will also often share gifts to remember the
Empire's spirit of unity, prosperity, and giving.

'''Langen's Feast '''

On the third day of Ka'Len the Sea Drake, the people
on the west bank of the Gwenalion Lake celebrate
Langen's Feast.

We don't know the precise day when Langen, a Human
monk, first crossed over the lake in the year two
hundred and forty into a small firth, there a tiny
fishing village. Historians have narrowed it down,
though, and that is the date believed. But even if it
is not accurate, that is the day the people of
Langenfirth (later renamed in his honor) celebrate his
coming.

Though at first shunned by the villagers, Langen won
them over with his creation of one of the finest ales
ever brewed, which he crafted from the waters of Lake
Gwenalion. Langen's Ale was soon popular the world
'round. Langen taught his brewing secrets to his son
when he died, and his son in turn passed them on when
his time came.

Travelers come from all over to Langenfirth and the
other villages along Lake Gwenalion's coast to
celebrate Langen's Feast, which is complete with
roasted meats from the forest animals, hunted by the
villagers, fresh Gwenalion fish , and Langen's Ale.
When the feast is over, though, no Langen's Ale
remains.

'''The Gypsy Gathering '''

There is no set time when the Gypsy Gathering is
celebrated, though it almost always occurs in the
heart of spring, when life strikes a tenuous defeat
over death.

During the Gypsy Gathering, each of the nomadic gypsy
tribes from around the entire northlands send a group
of representatives to celebrate the victory of Lanival
and the establishment of their way of life. The event
can last from one day to as many as six or seven,
though it usually lasts three days.

It's a joyous event for the gypsies, which they
celebrate with festivals, feasts, and games. The
tribes bond during this gathering, and communicate
with each other -- sharing stories, songs, their
trials and tributes since the last gathering. Clan
leaders are announced during the gather, and inter-
tribal councils are chosen.

==THERENGIAN CUSTOMS ==

'''Marriage '''

There are several different marriage customs
throughout Therengia. I will attempt to detail some of
the most common ceremonies.

One custom dictates a man asking for the permission of
the woman's hand from her father. The young man will
present the elder with an abuertelo. The two men will
then duel for the honor of the woman. If the father
approves of the man, it is customary for him to allow
himself to lose, to give the honor of the marriage to
the young man. Afterwards, he will give his blessing.
If he does not approve of the wedding, he must fight
with all his heart to defeat the other. If he still
loses then the marriage has been approved by Chadatru,
and must proceed without the father's blessing. It
should be noted though, that if one dies during this
honor duel, there is great shame placed upon the
killer. There is never any honor in killing in that
manner.

With the father's blessing received, the bride and
groom can proceed with wedding plans as they wish. The
ceremony of the wedding itself is more or less the
same as that done in Zoluren, save that every
Therengian couple must take vows for Chadatru,
pledging to live their lives with honor.

The duel of the abuertelo is by far the most prominent
wedding custom, honored everywhere in Therengia. There
is another major one, though, held by people of the
Danduwen Forest or those that live near Lake
Gwenalion.

The family and friends and the man and woman gather
together on the shores of Lake Gwenalion. A raft is
loaded with willow sticks, and then the man and woman
together push it out into the water. If the raft
floats out to the center of the lake, the marriage is
blessed by the gods and should proceed. If it doesn't,
or if it sinks, the time is not yet right, and the
couple must wait another year. Either way, following
the ceremony, the gathered people share a feast.

It brings ill fortune to disregard the warnings of the
lake ceremony. If it is unsuccessful, the couple must
wait. Going against the ceremony is the same as not
doing the ceremony at all, and it is a slight to
tradition, a way to bring dishonor to one's family and
ancestors.

Just so, it is a bad omen to be wed in the winter, for
several reasons. First, in the intense cold of
northern winter, parts of Lake Gwenalion will freeze
over, making a successful ceremony an impossibility.
And second, winter is considered to be the season of
the dead -- no good can come of a union during that
time. Being wed in the winter is a sure way to bring
upon a person and their descendants the attentions of
Dergati, who will curse the family and their line. One
such marriage was that of Tatia and Byron Dunshade.

'''Coming-of-Age '''

When a boy reaches the time in his life when he is to
become a man, he must undertake a coming of age
ceremony. Therengian youths are drilled from a very
early age, required to learn the Codes of Honor. When
he has reached the age where he shall become an adult,
he must recite the Codes perfectly, without the
slightest error.

Once the recitations are complete, he will be gifted
his first true sword from his father, and sent out
into the wilderness. The areas children are sent
varies with the region. Some are sent to Ker'Leor,
others to the Fens, others still to various local
ruins. There the child is expected to remain for two
andaen, eight days. He may take only his gift-sword
and his knowledge and his honor. The boy will be
required to survive those eight days, and then return
to his home, where he is greeted as a man.

'''Death '''

From nothing do we all come, and to nothing we must
return. When a warrior dies an honorable death, he is
placed upon a pyre and turned into ash, releasing the
spirit. Those ashes are then sent free, that the
warrior may join his ancestors. When one who is not a
fighter dies, or if a warrior dies an dishonorable
death, they are buried, though this imprisons the
spirit.

By my hand, <br>
Dwov Nareg <br>
Scribe to House Theren