Kaldr Malelan
Kaldr Malelan is a specialized dialect and subculture of the Malelan ethnicity. The language differs to the point where it takes a few months of study for a Malelan speaker to learn to speak Kaldr Malelan, and the same goes for a Kaldr Malelan speaker trying to speak Malelan.
The ethnicity is apparent mostly in the country of Tauth's northern coastal towns. The largest center of Kaldr Malelan culture is the northernmost city of Borharad. Common races in Kaldr Malelan towns include Dragonborn, Minotaur, Humans, and Goliaths.
While the Malelan ethnicity originated from followers of the warrior starshaper Malela, Kaldr Malelan religion is much more polytheistic, worshiping a whole pantheon of starshapers active during the rebellion; including favorites such as Thor, Odin, Balder, Aegir, Frigg, and Loki. Kaldr Malelans refer to this pantheon as "The Traditions".1
Two unofficial "types" of Kaldr Malelan towns are hunting settlements and raiding settlements. Hunting towns usually hunt inland, taking down all manner of beasts on Tauth's expansive tundra. Raiding settlements are much more sea-centric, using special Kaldr Longships to go on long trips at sea either fishing or, more rarely, raiding. While there are certain towns that condone the looting and pillaging of coastal towns, many Kaldr Malelan settlements expressly forbid this type of behavior and will label an outlaw anyone who may partake.
Culture
Shared customary codes and values
The loose class system of Kaldr Malelan is as follows:
- Jarls are an upper-class of induviduals who usually have extensive land and wealth at their disposal. Jarls are seen as trustworthy leader figures in Kaldr towns and are awarded the appropriate amount of respect.
- Karls are the middle class in Kaldr society. They work as blacksmiths, tanners, merchants, and healers. Karls and thralls will often leave their work for weeks at a time to go on hunting or fishing expeditions with a Jarl of the town. This leaves older children to carry on business as usual at home.
- Thralls are a class found almost exclusively in larger cities. They are a servant class, and usually prisoners of war that were either captured or defeated in battle. Thralls work for Jarls as squires, cooks, maids, and secretaries until they can save enough money to move up in the social ladder and become a Karl.
Average technological level
Kaldr Longships are by far the most recognizable aspect of Kaldrian culture. They are built for extended travel on Syrioc's northern coast, as well as functional battleships during times of war. While Kaldr towns do not often hold strong alliances for long periods of time, a Kaldrian fleet closing in on the horizon is bad news for anyone not on their side.
Common Dress code
In the cold climate of Northern Syrioc, fashion usually presents itself as layers and layers of animal skins to provide maximum warmth and maximum protection. Put on too many layers, however, and it will weigh you down if you fall overboard off of a ship. Kaldr dress code involves finding one's preferred balance between protection and dexterity.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
A common way to settle disputes or quarrels within a Kaldr town is by staging a Holmgang. Anyone offended can challenge the other party to holmgang regardless of their differences in social status. This can be a matter of honor, ownership of property, demand for restitution or debt, legal disagreement, or intention to help a relative or avenge a friend.
A holmgang is resolved either privately or on public display. Public holmgangs end when one party draws first blood, but private holmgangs can end with the death of one of the offended parties. Death by holmgang is not considered murder in Kaldrian law, and therefore does not lead to outlawry. Both members of the duel must agree as to whether it will be a public or private holmgang before the fight begins. Participants are not allowed to receive any aid during the fight or they are considered dishonorable and threatened with outlawry.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Ships are very important in Kaldr Malelan culture. It is customary for fallen heroes to be buried in their ship alongside all their treasure, believing that the ship would sail the deceased to the afterlife. Regular people are often be buried in a simple grave, where it is expected that family members leave offerings and gifts on or near the gravesite. After the burial, loved ones will often host a great feast to celebrate the life of the fallen.
Common Taboos
Outlaws and outlawry in Kaldr Malelan custom is the main way of distributing justice. An individual convicted of a crime is discussed in a village Alþing and convicted of outlawry for an amount of time that fits the crime they committed. The minimum sentence for murder is one year, and thievery usually constitutes a two to five month sentence. The effects of being labeled an outlaw means that 1. The outlaw cannot receive any help from law-abiding citizens of Kaldrian society, and 2. Anyone has the rights to kill the outlaw and it does not count against them as a murder charge.
Because of the last stipulation, most people convicted of outlawry flee areas where Kaldr Malelan justice is upheld until the time condition has expired.
Major organizations
The Government of Alþings
Kaldr Malelan government is run on a local scale. Villages hold meetings called alþings where all adults in the village meet and discuss any concerns they may have. Everyone is allowed one vote, and the meeting is ruled democratically with Jarls taking charge as order-keepers. Because of this inclusive and democratic way of government, Kaldr Malelans who travel to distant lands are often resistant when granting respect to hereditary systems of government. They believe that power should be put into the hands of those that earned it, rather than those who inherited it.
Parent ethnicities
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Comments
Author's Notes
1. The Kaldr Malelan religious pantheon is the equivalent of Norse Mythology.