Easterlings

Female names tend to end in one of three letters, -a, -e(h), -z.   For example, Aneta, Firšteh, Mahâz.

Male names tend to end in one of four letters, -r, -n, -d, -š. The most common vowels to follow are I, A, or U.   For example, Šandir, Bekhan, Oud, and Beliuš.

Easterling family names often end in "i," for example, the family "Dovi" or "Khšavi." There are exceptions, but they are rare.   Children will take the patrilineal name, but the wife often will hyphen it to her own name, if she takes it at all. If two males wed, or two females, the children take the name of the more prestigious family (unless specifically stated for the parents to be against it.)

They speak the language of Tazer, which has three main dialects. Northern Tazer, Southern Tazer, and Cin Tazer, which is more of a creole language.   Northern Tazer and Southern Tazer are very similar languages, with very minimal linguistical differences, really only being in words and the instance of the habitual verb.

It is a culture of discovery. They believe in teaching and learning, stemming from an old myth that the last thing their leader told the world before his death was, "Teach the world." Ruštun was the father of Easterling culture, he pioneered the warrior and philosopher culture which defines the Easterlings. He taught of the importance of learning, teaching, and defending the livelihoods of those surrounding you. These concepts were cemented by their worship of Valthan. Valthan whom had a great love for the god of knowledge, О̄ddman, and thus the Easterlings attempted to follow the things she loved. Because of these two factors, they look highly upon those who are well learned, honest about their knowledge, who don't make up facts in fear of being wrong, patient with those who may know less, just, or rather, having a good understanding of what is right and wrong, and humble, for there is always more to learn in this world. The Easterlings hate all who willfully live in ignorance. They became more spiritual after learning the customs of the Larčók, and they learned that all things can give you knowledge from the Cin. They pioneer sciences like Biology, Geology (originally Volcanology, but grew and expanded), and Cosmography. They try to discover the meanings of things, and the place things have in the world. Due to their location in the Exech Erfset, they looked to the stars more and more, growing fond of learning and interpreting the stars. They believed that the gods would send messages to them from the stars, and that had them studying the skies more and more, and with new discoveries from the Elven lands, they used telescopes to learn more and more about what stars were. They also believed in the importance of learning to wield the sword, the bow, and the spear. They teach all their children how to fight from a young age, and when the world came into contact with the Larčók, they began to adopt many of the styles in which they had. With the curved sword being revolutionary to the Easterling fighting style.   Easterlings often fight on the back of a horse. They consider horses to be one of the most important animals created, thus they treat them with the utmost respect. They also have their famous cavalrymen, who are the most feared in all of Namiend. An Easterling and a Cin befriend each other. They make oaths to one another that promise complete transparency, and this they cannot break. Once the oath is made, they cannot lie to each other, cannot harm each other, emotionally or physically (unless for the greater good), and they cannot make an oath of transparency with another until one of them are dead. The Easterling and the Cin train together every day and night, until they completely entrust themselves with their comrade. The Cin does not always become a horse, they will either become another rideable creature, or remain in their original bodies. If they remain in their original bodies, they are usually training in combat with their compatriot. These two, the Easterling and Cin, are together widely regarded as some of the best fighters, both together, and as part of the cavalry. They are part of The Three Great Cavalries in Namiend.   The arts are a very large part of their culture, with that encapsulating things like poetry, drawing, music, and even dance. They respect all these things deeply, with most people having been trained in at least one of these arts. They write in many different forms of poetry, with being the most commonly used one. Their drawings are one of the few in the world that include the usage of paint, however there are many who prefer to carve or use tilework (as was the most common form amongst Afespíans and Cin respectively). Music is very special to the Easterlings, as is standard amongst human cultures, there are many different styles for music. Their music consists of much 'ornamentation' and often sung accompanied by dance. Their dance is recognized by the utilization of arms and hands. Often using graceful and flowing movements. Ηowever there is no standard for the dancing.   The Easterlings are a deeply spiritual people.

The Easterling culture holds hospitality to the highest esteem. Treating guests with respect and generosity is considered a sacred duty. This often includes never letting a guest go without a drink or food. The only time this could possibly be okay is if they consistently reject your offer.   Reflecting on the reverence for nature is seen throughout all of Namiend, and the Easterlings are no different. There is a strong emphasis on environmental stewardship. The need to conserve resources, minimize waste, and respecting the natural world is integral to society. And it has been passed down through generations.   Human philosophy dictates a need for autonomy and freedom, thus the respect of another's autonomy and freedom, is a cherished value. Individuals are encouraged to shape their path in life, making their own choices, and pursuing their passions without any constraints. The Easterlings also have adopted a concept common amongst the Cin, and adopted it for the need of personal freedom. If an individual keeps you from having your own freedoms, it is considered virtuous to rebel against them.   The Cin's philosophical ideas of cherishing simplicity and genuine contentment are values deeply ingrained into the Easterling psyche. Finding joy in life's simple pleasures, appreciating the present moment, and fostering a sense of gratitude for what one has are central tenets of the Easterling culture. Another influence into their philosophy was that of the Qekámáden, the philosophy and faith of the Larčók. The Easterlings' trade with the Larčók led to them being heavily influenced by many of their beliefs, particularly their cosmology, adopting the concepts of five realms, choosing good over evil, and adopted a similar stance on beliefs around the virtues and vices. This all became part of their religion in The Cult of Valthan.   A great respect for one's ancestors is always upheld. There are many rituals honoring their ancestors, including visiting ancestral grounds, seeking guidance from the wisdom of the past, and fostering a sense of continuity and connection with previous generations, and many more.   There is a strong sense of pride in cultural identity and tradition. Their preserved cultural heritage, customs, and traditions are highly valued. As well, if someone were to reject your cultural heritage, customs, and traditions, you will likely have little respect amongst most Easterlings.

The Easterlings have produced one of the greatest cavalrymen in Namiend. The Easterling's wear heavy armour and the Cin turn into horses in which to allow the Easterling to ride them. The Easterlings began to out armour on the Cin, to which spawned the first ever Cataphract. The Easterlings and Cin duo are one of the most feared duos in Namiend.

The Easterlings adopted the Cin custom of bowing. It is the common form of greeting, with two different bows denoting the formality of the situation. A ninety-degree bow is used when meeting strangers or showing respect. A smaller, informal bow is used amongst friends and acquaintances, or when passing somebody by in the streets.   Hospitality is paramount to the Easterling culture. Guests are to be welcomed with warmth and offered refreshments upon arrival. Hosts must always make their guest seem as if they have lived there their whole lives. Treating them with utmost honour, respect, and love. Hospitality is one of the greatest virtues mankind can exhibit.   Offering assistance and support to those in need is expected from any individual in Easterling culture. Whether it's with physical tasks or emotional support, helping others is viewed as fundamental to the community life.   Drawing from Cin traditions, the Easterlings adopted wearing shawls in public life as customary, not just as a way of looking good, but also to serve as a symbol of their cultural identity and tradition, of which they hold very dear.   The Easterlings give gifts as common practice. When invited to someone's home, it is customary to bring a small gift for the host, such as flowers or food, as a token of appreciation for their hospitality. This gift is very important, and you can often be seen as disrespectful or out of touch with life if you do not bring a gift of some kind. The gift is not expected to be something fancy, it could just as easily be an old tunic of yours you bring for their children or a single flower you picked from a garden, but you always should have a gift. This is also common whenever you are visiting the temples or even just meeting up somewhere less formal (like at the gardens). You are always expected to bring a gift for whomever invited you, and sometimes for their whole family, depending on the instance. If you are invited to a fancy dinner, you are expected to bring a gift for each individual, but if you are invited only for a little, you do not need a gift for everybody. If you are outside of someone's house and are suddenly invited in, and you do not have a gift, it is customary to provide help with as much as you can whenever you can as a means of making up for the lack of gift.   You should always offer somebody what's yours, especially when you are the host, or if you are at a dinner and you wish to help them clean up, or pay them for something, or whatever the instance may be, even if you do not actually mean it. It's a sign of respect or courtesy. However, there is also an expectation that the other person will not accept easily what that person offers to them, even if they actually would like it. If the person offering truly means it, then they will try again, to which you can either accept or deny.   The Easterlings have a very small amount of personal space. It is common to greet someone with a kiss (after the bow). And when talking to grab them gently on the shoulder or somewhere similar. Touching is a very common thing in Easterling culture.

The basics of their attire consisted of tunics, trousers, shawls, coats, and closed robes. Robes were a rectangular-cut fabric that were tied off at the waist, then covered by a belt, which was often a piece of cloth. This was the common clothing for all Easterlings, whether poor or royalty. They distinguished themselves from others with the wearing of shawls draped over their shoulders. Their clothes often have symbols on them representing something, either their tunics, robes, shawls, or all at once (usually only the wealthy have all at once). Sometimes, it is a town symbol to show where one is from, other times it is with symbols to show their devotion to Valthan, with symbols of her and her cult. They will also include symbols of stars and flowers to represent the kingdom they live in, as they live in the Exech Erfset, where they see the stars all day and night. The flowers are to represent the butterflies living in the forest, as they are symbols of the Empire they live in, the Kingdom of the Cin. The flowers are typically drawn from the side, showing them growing from their root up, and are often irises of some kind. Sometimes individuals will wear clothes that include shields to represent that they were or are in the army.

The art and architecture of the Easterlings include many symbolic motifs and elements from their history/mythology. In their art they utilize brushes and paint to create vibrant and detailed imagery, one of the few peoples to use brushes and paint. Architecturally, their buildings are adorned with carvings, mosaics, and sculptures, all of which are inspired by the creatures of their stories, whether fantastical or historical. The creatures they use include dragons, griffins, and Daiva, elves, dwarves, and goblins, orks, humans, and skeletons. The architecture is to serve as a representation of their beliefs and narratives. They also incorporate elements from Cin culture, such as domes, arches, and tilework.   Art was known for its grandiosity and symbolism, and is particularly famous for its poetry, with poets like Khaldun and Velseh being cultural icons. Calligraphy, landscape painting, and sculpture/architecture also thrived. Poetry is intertwined with official duties in that being able to write poetry well is an important factor in the hiring process. Rock reliefs, metalwork, and the construction of grand palaces are all parts of their artwork. The architectural style was heavily influenced by the Tőyōtkan Empire's traditions, but also heavily by the Kingdom of the Cin's traditions, and innovated those two in terms of design.

Stew:   Ingredients:

• 1 lb wild game meat (such as venison or boar), cubed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 1 cup wild mushrooms, sliced
• 4 cups vegetable or game broth
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

  Instructions:  

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onions and sauté until translucent.
 
2. Add cubed wild game meat to the pot and cook until browned on all sides.
 
3. Stir in sliced carrots, diced potatoes, and wild mushrooms. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
 
4. Pour in vegetable or game broth and red wine. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
 
5. Add dried thyme, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover the pot and let the stew simmer for 1-2 hours, or until the meat is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
 
6. Serve the forest stew hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.

  Walnut and Pomegranate Chicken:   Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup pomegranate molasses
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
• Cooked rice, for serving

  Instructions:  

1. In a bowl, mix together chopped walnuts, pomegranate molasses, minced garlic, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, salt, and pepper to form a thick paste.
2. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and spread the walnut mixture evenly over the top of each chicken breast.
3. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Remove the foil and broil the chicken for an additional 2-3 minutes to brown the top slightly.
5. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve the walnut and pomegranate chicken hot alongside cooked rice.

    Rosewater:   Just make tea, but with roses instead of tea leaves.

On Easter day, in remembrance for those who had not made it in the flee east, they took on a Min tradition to the sun. They take lanterns and draw on them their family crest, then release it into the sky. If they do not have a family crest, then they will draw the symbol of Valthan on the lantern. The lanterns are usually released at the top of the trees. It takes place on the fourteenth day of the second month in the hot year. There is a tradition named Bouj Narah, in the common tongue, sword dance. Typically done during Easter celebrations, however it is also performed during New Year celebrations.

Throughout the pregnancy, every fifth, seventh, and ninth month a prayer is said to the child. The fifth and ninth month prayers are done by the mother, the seventh is done by the father. It is believed that it will allow for a stronger bond to grow between the parents and their child, and greater health in life.   When the child is born, the mother will receive gifts from her community, it is expected for the immediate family to provide two gifts, whereas everyone else may provide just one. After the receiving the gifts, the mother will withdraw from the community for fifty days to tend to the child. Oftentimes the father will join her, the other times he will join her for half of it (usually when he has no other choice but to leave will he leave.)

Easterlings, as is customary for all humans, reject the notion of burial believing it to trap the soul into the earth. Thus, they lay the body out in the forest to allow the person to give back to the world what they had taken from it in life. One part that is specific to them is the crafting of a candle. The Easterlings create a candle for dead one and it is lit the day the body is laid out in the forest. Often they carve the individual's name into the side of the candle. They keep it lit everyday until Easter, where they take the remains of the candle, as well as the melted wax, and create a new candle, which they put into the lantern. (If there were multiple deaths before next Easter, they will get a lantern for each individual person.)   On the first birthday after the passing of the individual, you light a bonfire in remembrance. Then, after five years go by, you light another bonfire. From there, you do not have to do it anymore, although it is not uncommon for some families to light a bonfire on the individual's birthday every five years.

They believed that during the first Easter, when the first Easterlings were traveling east, there was a humanoid creature that held a large mace. It had large wings that resembled that of a dragon. This creature stood at ten feet tall, with a long whip of a tail. It had the face of a demented Drill. The being had ears as long as an elves' and horns the length of a man. The beard of the creature was long and sharp. Fire flew from its head and horns. It was leading a small force of Orks against the Easterlings. They now call this great beast a Daiva. The Orks and Daiva marched towards the Easterlings, but the soldiers of them stood forth, they shot the Orks with arrows, taking each one down until only the Daiva was left. It slew many of the Easterlings, but one soldier named Ruštun stood forth and stabbed the beast between its eyes. It flung its mace frantically trying to hit him off, eventually hitting his spear deeper into itself. Ruštun grabbed his sword and used it to climb up the creature, where he stood upon the shoulder of it and sliced off the it's head. Ruštun grabbed the horn and took it with him, where it now remains as the flame in the temple of Valthan in the Easterling's first settlement in the Kingdom of the Cin.   They have a story of the ancient goddess Valthan, her journey beneath the earth. They believe that their goddess, Valthan, once in a past age, explored a world that was beneath their realm, they labelled this world Zavin-e Čadâni, which means "Land of ignorance."

Ruštun: The man who killed the Daiva and was renowned by the people for it. He was given the title "Father of the Easterlings", and became the first leader of the Easterling Settlements in the Kingdom of the Cin. He is renowned as one of the greatest fighters in Human history, and was one of the key fighters who kept the Exech Erfset free from the Orkish invasions. (The Exech Erfset being where the majority of the Easterlings live.) He was a master of rhetoric, mathematics, cosmography, and medicine. He knew all there was to know about history and navigation, and the only thing he wanted was to learn more. He passed this down upon the diaspora he led. When the Easterlings arrived in the Kingdom of the Cin, he promised them that they would not encroach upon the Cin customs or kingdom any. He promised that they would bring with them the knowledge they had from the west, and he promised that they would do everything in their power to defend the Cin lands from the invading Orks.

The Cin culture heavily influenced the culture of the Easterlings, one of the biggest is their appreciation for natural features and aesthetics. Specifically, a preference for individuals with natural, unaltered appearances, however, stemming from other human traditions, as well as dwarven traditions, they do use makeup to enhance the natural look, especially in regards to eyes. Often people use makeup to help show off their eyes, to mimic larger eyes, or to help the colour be shown more. This is often done by both males, females, and anyone else. There are many other instances of this, using makeup to make eyebrows thinner, or skin more smooth. Whatever it may be.   Symbols of heritage and tradition are deemed very important. Their clothing and accessories are always adorned with their symbols or patterns representing their family or other culturally significant things if their family does not have a specific symbol.   Finally, as is common in Afespían descendants, physical fitness and vitality is admired greatly, as it reflects strength and capability.

Their culture promotes gender equality with both men and women considered equally capable and respected members of society, although as is common in Human culture, there is an expectation for the woman to stay with the children. However, this expectation is far less strong in Easterling society. There is also a strong idea for freedom of choice. Coming from the standard human philosophy, there is an emphasis on personal freedom and autonomy, including in terms of gender roles.

Courtship is a delicate balance of family arrangements and personal choice. The traditional method of courtship is a combination of arranged introductions and romantic love. Families often arrange meetings between eligible young adults, but the couple has the final say in whether they wish to pursue a relationship. If two individuals find love outside of the confines of their arrangement, they can hint to their parents of this and await for them to be arranged together.   When there are two 'adults' (mid-30s) seeking romantic attention are expected to showcase their skills, talents, and virtues through various forms of artistic expression, such as poetry, music, or dance. They are encouraged to demonstrate horsemanship and knowledge of the ancient traditions.   To express initial interest, individuals exchange gifts, such as intricately crafted jewelry, fine silks, or rare spices. They also engage in subtle, flirtatious behaviors, like exchanging poetry or participating in playful, ritualized games of wit and charm.   The gift exchange is when the couple exchanges symbolic gifts to seal their engagement. These gifts are often representative of spiritual significance and are meant to represent the couple's commitment to each other.

In this culture, monogamy is the idealized form of romantic relationship, but polygamy is also practiced among the wealthy and high-ranking families. Polygamy is seen as a way to strengthen alliances, secure power, and increase family influence. However, this practice is not without controversy, and most people view it as a privilege reserved for the elite as well as immoral.   An important aspect of the Easterlings is their concept of "Soul Companions," where two individuals are considered to be bound together on a deeply emotional level. This bond is seen as the standard form of love, often transcending physical relationships and even social expectations. No one can be bound by a double love. If they are a true lover, then they do not desire to embrace in love anyone except their beloved. Only one can love another, if one is loved by another, then a third cannot love the one, nor the other. Which is partly why the practice of polygamy is controversial.   If you have discovered your soul companion, aka, your one true love, than it would be immoral to deprive yourself and the other of it, the confines of marriage are not considered in the case of true love. As well, if you found it and are looking for family arrangement, irregardless of their approval, they must arrange a meeting between you two.

University of the East   Awst-e Shâ