Stormborn
Describe a culture in your world which has particularly warlike traditions.
The Stormborn originate from the North Western corner of Marivar where for many years they refined the techniques of seaborne raiding striking fear into the coastal regions of Marivar. Often without warning their Stormboats would descend on coastal settlements to bring havoc, destruction and loss, though like any good hunter they made sure that they never took so much that future raids would be compromised. Whilst raiding and piracy have a long and noble history in many barbarian areas they tend to spark a reaction from neighbours who believe that they should be the dominant power. With the Marivan Empire expanding from its homelands in the Harren valley, it was inevitable that the Empire and the Stormborn would come into conflict.
For a while this was tolerated as just one of the inconveniences of taking on new lands but as the Stormborn became more organised, with larger raiding parties and more daring targets under the leadership of Njoragh Stormbringer the empire sent a large force to bring them to heel. Though the Stormborn fought valiantly in skirmishes they lacked the numbers to do serious damage to the Imperial forces in open battle. Nevertheless they fought well enough and with enough cunning in their selection of actions that they achieved the respect of the Empire's forces.
By means never entirely clear the Stormborn, or at least their leader, turned out to be highly effective negotiators achieving a negotiated settlement with the empire that left them largely in charge of their own affairs, trading concessions with the empire and a developing mercenary operation providing body guards with a higher reputation for loyalty than any others in the empire as well as ceremonial duties and reconnaissance and raiding forces for the empire in its ongoing warfare with some of the people of the Long Range.
In the following centuries it gradually became the norm for near all Stormborn men (and not a few women) to spend around 3 years in such employ before either making a career of it or taking to the sea, turning their aggression and determination to the arts of trading and whaling.
For a while this was tolerated as just one of the inconveniences of taking on new lands but as the Stormborn became more organised, with larger raiding parties and more daring targets under the leadership of Njoragh Stormbringer the empire sent a large force to bring them to heel. Though the Stormborn fought valiantly in skirmishes they lacked the numbers to do serious damage to the Imperial forces in open battle. Nevertheless they fought well enough and with enough cunning in their selection of actions that they achieved the respect of the Empire's forces.
By means never entirely clear the Stormborn, or at least their leader, turned out to be highly effective negotiators achieving a negotiated settlement with the empire that left them largely in charge of their own affairs, trading concessions with the empire and a developing mercenary operation providing body guards with a higher reputation for loyalty than any others in the empire as well as ceremonial duties and reconnaissance and raiding forces for the empire in its ongoing warfare with some of the people of the Long Range.
In the following centuries it gradually became the norm for near all Stormborn men (and not a few women) to spend around 3 years in such employ before either making a career of it or taking to the sea, turning their aggression and determination to the arts of trading and whaling.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Although writing is known and practiced their culture is primarily oral with histories and fabled deeds set in verse and recited for entertainment and education, public or private, high status or low. These tend to a heroic bent often focusing on the tragic, heroic or comedic aspects of a situation or event but in all cases the event and associated emotions are most definitely not underplayed. These verses are usually recited to the plucking of a lyre or similar instrument, to emphasise the rhythm and indicate progression or changes in the situation, refer to Stormboat for an example of such a verse. The more tragic works tend to use a single drum in this role.
The giving of gifts is a common custom in various circumstances with the traditional gift in most circumstances being a ring. The customs with these rings are varied and often a minefield for the uninitiated - the more senior rings are worn closest to the hand, with less favoured ones closer to the end of the fingers. Each finger has its own significance - gifts from ones betters are worn on the first finger, from family on the second, friends and equals on the third and underlings on the fourth. From this is is clear that offence can easily be given if a ring is put on in the wrong place. Custom and practicality limit the number of rings per finger to at most three; others may be seen woven into hair or worn as pendants. Njoragh Stormbringer's custom of giving socks is commonly followed on the proviso that they are knitted by the giver - so it is not uncommon to see a burly guard with his knitting close to hand in the quiet hours of his duty.
The giving of gifts is a common custom in various circumstances with the traditional gift in most circumstances being a ring. The customs with these rings are varied and often a minefield for the uninitiated - the more senior rings are worn closest to the hand, with less favoured ones closer to the end of the fingers. Each finger has its own significance - gifts from ones betters are worn on the first finger, from family on the second, friends and equals on the third and underlings on the fourth. From this is is clear that offence can easily be given if a ring is put on in the wrong place. Custom and practicality limit the number of rings per finger to at most three; others may be seen woven into hair or worn as pendants. Njoragh Stormbringer's custom of giving socks is commonly followed on the proviso that they are knitted by the giver - so it is not uncommon to see a burly guard with his knitting close to hand in the quiet hours of his duty.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The raiding past remains a touch stone of the Stormborn culture and few of any age or gender will leave their homes unarmed. Elaborate customs have accumulated around this over the years and most homes maintain two racks on either side of the main entrance: one for the family's arms and the other for those of guests and visitors. It is a sign of great friendship for a visitor to leave a weapon when they leave for it shows that they regard their hosts as close, and an even greater honour to have it moved to the family's rack.
They enjoy feasting with the festival of Upskall marking the switch to the new year's Ondraskall (see Food Preservation in the Lands of the Stormborn ) extending over a considerable period and involving much coming and going between different villages and estates.
They enjoy feasting with the festival of Upskall marking the switch to the new year's Ondraskall (see Food Preservation in the Lands of the Stormborn ) extending over a considerable period and involving much coming and going between different villages and estates.
Coming of Age Rites
Before the days of the empire, coming of age was typically at 25. Now that so many take service in the mercenary forces the age for this has been lowered to 21 so that they come of age before setting off on this phase of life. The rites and ceremonies for this vary between clans but are consistent in the presentation or weapons and a demonstration of competence in their use. Depending on the family this may be elaborate and showy or plain and perfunctory.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Their leaders and notables were typically interred in barrows at high points on their lands, overlooking the sea. Most of the remainder were buried at sea reflecting their faith in Idarath, their god of sea and storms. Those with the wealth for it would be cremated in their boats on the open sea; the poorer were wrapped in weighted shrouds and dropped to the deeps to the lamentation of their relatives. Engraved stones in their memory would often be set up on high ground overlooking their homes and though few would be engraved with their names, their memory would be passed down the generations through their use as boundary markers and way points.
Stormborn Names
Family Names
Family names tend to have references to the sea and storms in honour of Idarath - Stormbringer, Waverider, Windcaller and such like.Feminine Names
Njoragh has become the single most frequent, recalling Njoragh Stormbringer , but Eilann, Mariagh, Frith and Clodargh are also frequently encountered.Masculine Names
Cadu, Caddock, Codrin and Cullough are amongst the most common; the reason for their alliteration is unclear for there is no hard and fast gender specificity here. It's just the way it is.A Note on Names and Gender
All names are to some degree unisex - a girl called Codrin would be unusual enough to be remembered but not to be seen as out of the ordinary. Where a parent dies before or around the time of birth (for naming is normally formalised on the second full moon after birth) the child is normally named after the deceased parent regardless of gender.Weapons
The axe is their favoured weapon and when setting out fully armed a 2 handed battle axe will be carried slung on the back and a single handed one used with a shield in more congested situations such as boarding actions. Spears are mainly used in ceremonial and guard duties and swords occasionally carried by leaders. In almost all cases the weapons themselves will be highly decorated - engraved, gilded, jewelled even, but never in a manner that reduces their effectiveness. Weapons that are damaged beyond repair are treated as dead warriors and where a weapon is damaged but still fully functional it is seen as the more valuable for it has proven itself.Missile weapons are frowned upon as cowardly for fighting should be up close and personal.
Fighting Style
Like many similar peoples their preferred fighting style is individual and heroic - you can't really use a 2 handed axe in close formation. Unlike many from the barbarian fringes they have a good grasp of tactics and teamwork but need firm leadership to avoid getting carried away.When well lead their shield walls are formidable - whether lining the side of a stormboat or on land and they will often goad or taunt their enemies by insults.
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