Talboti
It's easy for the rest of us to forget - forget the fae, forget what the Queen took from us, forget the future they stole. Not for the Talboti. They live in the shadow of the Rebuke. They stare it in the face every day. You wonder why the Talboti are difficult to talk to; that's why. They hold a constant vigil for the rest of us. We get to forget because they never willThe people who hail from the Talbot region are a grim sort, known for their fatalism, superstition, and distrust of outsiders. Few enjoy dealing with the Talboti, and even fewer would ever consider visiting their homeland willingly. Those who do make the trip come to find another side of the Talboti once they have lived among them long enough. They're a people with seemingly limitless courage. They stare into the wound left behind by the The Queen's Rebuke each day. They refuse to let go of a region warped by the touch of the Fae, proudly standing their ground in the face of implacable chaos. Monsters from an age long past still lurk in the Queen's Scar Woods, and regularly these nightmares creep and crawl forth to snatch the wayward. The Talboti lack the industry of the Rylanders, the prowess and survival instincts of the Frostmerites, or the metropolitan ideals of Ghal Pelor... yet they endure. That is the strength of the Talboti: a relentless will to continue on in the face of such unrelenting horror. The Talboti are unbreakable. It's rare to see Talboti outside their homeland. That resolute will to continue is often the cause for many to remain rooted in place, seeing leaving as a sign of surrender. Some do travel abroad for trade. Others, like Dread Hunters, may be under contract to a foreign patron. In any case, their dealings with the outside world are brief and marked by considerable distrust for the perceived softness of foreigners. Talboti see people fighting over the Manacite scraps from the Autumn Queen's table and turn away in disgust. They see weaknesses in outsiders that the monsters of Talboti superstition would view as invitations. Worst of all, Talboti look at a Tairos that's forgotten how it came to this point. Outsiders are ignorant of the real horror of the fae, the war, and the long, bitter centuries that followed. Yet, there are some Talboti who have found reason enough to leave their nation permanently. For some, it's curiosity; for others, it's joining the scarce few merchant caravans that pass through Talbot; and sadly, for many, it's because they have lost everything and everyone that anchored them to home. These Talboti put their skills to use quickly and often find a place for themselves as rangers, nature guides, soldiers, or as bards who travel the continent sharing their horror stories. A new and interesting facet of Talboti culture, particularly among younger people, is the growing interest in artistic pursuits. The Talboti of old, before the Queen's War, were a deeply artistic and passionate people who created many of the great works that still adorn foreign collections today. There are no art schools in Talbot, no museums or galleries, no formal way to fan this new flame, but it hasn't stopped some of the youth from trying. This interest is being secretly encouraged by a rare few among the older generations who keep their search for Talbot's brilliant history a secret. This is also a cause for many young Talboti to leave their homeland: seeking foreign inspiration for their art or hoping to secure lost pieces of artwork that they can bring home and reignite their people's passions.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Adeliz, Aelina, Eva, Laurentia, Sabilla, Millicent, Clea, Malle, Nicola, Elysant, Avicia, Juliana, Gisela, Alis, Catin, Tephane, Petronella,
Masculine names
Climent, Gracien, Perrot, Gyeffroy, Mathieu, Casin, Poncet, Gilbert, Evrart, Moriset, Arnoul, Remy, Pierre, Ambroys, Symon, Jasper
Family names
DeLisle, Seyres, Saunier, Toutain, Marchant, LuCroy, Le Tonnelier, Bozonnet, Gicquel, Clerico, Bain, Legarde
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Talboti, like most human cultures, does have its own language. Uniquely, in this region, you are rather likely to come across large swathes of the population that don't speak The Common Tongue. Talboti is a tongue all its own with no roots in ancient Balmoran, and the people here have little reason to consider learning anything else. This behavior is one of the few things carried over from the pre-Rebuke Talboti culture. Even in that time, Talboti were deeply passionate about their language, seeing it as an intrinsic part of what made their culture so great and beautiful. They would scoff at visitors entering their territory and attempting to conduct business in any language other than Talboti.
Average technological level
Talbot is a very simple place that shuns the likes of Rylander Steamtech, the magical comforts of places like Melanthris, and the blended technologies of Ghal Pelor. Simple is better; complexity invites evil
Common Etiquette rules
Many outsiders viewed the old Talboti as rather prim, proper, and possessing an aura of high society, even among their lower class. That devotion to an elevated way of carrying oneself has evolved (or devolved, depending on one's point of view) into a rigid rubric of manners and social hierarchies. Modesty, cleanliness, and demeanor are essential to them, even if only as a veneer. This can manifest in odd rules like never using more than three fingers while eating, using the correct formal greeting for whatever region of Talbot you're visiting, or that no grooming or handwashing should take place in public
Common Dress code
One must always dress in accordance with one's station. Everyone is expected to present their best self, other than when engaged in physical labor. A trip to the general store should be made in your best garb, pruned of any stains or loose threads. Everyone is in a constant state of trying to appear better off than they are. Much of this is attributed to the value put upon nobility and land ownership. Even the common man wishes to have a sliver of the respect given to such individuals. And, for the actual nobility, dressing in accordance with your station is vital for entry into your social circles. All of this is balanced awkwardly with Talbot's love of modesty. This means wearing fine clothes and exquisite accessories without being garish or attention-seeking.
Art & Architecture
Entire collections of books have been written on the subject of Talbot's art history. No such summary is truly possible on the subject. Today, minimalism and stoicism are valued above all. This includes in modern Talboti art and architecture. While much of Talbot's original architecture does remain (or hover above them), new buildings are built simply and with utility in mind. New art is steeped in their love of fatalism. It should be noted that even the old Talboti cherished deeply sorrowful or agonizing works of art or media. These heartwrenching pieces invoked a sort of cherished despair that most loved. The old Talboti would be deeply soured by what their future generations view as art. This new fatalism is rather extreme, and while it doesn't fully embrace defeatism, it views the current status quo as the new golden standard, by which any amount of blood must be shed to maintain it. Most see their lives as forfeit, knowing they're doomed to a dreadful death and all that remains to be seen is how, not if.
Foods & Cuisine
Food is one area where Talboti indulge if possible. Bakery is a pleasant treat that is within the means of most and of note savory offerings are of equal popularity to their sweet counterparts. Speaking of sweets, one of the rare few boons to having the Autumn Palace so nearby is that many of the Queen's chocolate flowers have spread far and wide, their bulbs offering a creamy chocolate custard substance that Talboti harvest. It should be noted that the Talboti are unable to grow these strange plants, and so teams must get dangerously near to the Queen's Scar Woods to gather it.
Game meat is very popular here as well. The meat brought back by hunters is often added to rich, velvety stews and consumed along with crusty bread by tavern goers.
Along with bakery and meat stews, the Talboti do show passion for one thing - coffee, perhaps as a form of spite for the Autumn Queen and her cloyingly sweet chocolate Tea. They can grow the beans thanks to a cold-weather variety bred from a Frostmerite plant centuries ago. Talbot and its surrounding region have many coffee houses where dozens of variants, concoctions, and adjacent drinks are made. Many gather here to sip their drink and share news. The drink itself is often consumed black, bitter, and scalding hot. However, milk and sweeteners are always present and appreciated by a minority of customers.
Funerary and Memorial customs
The dead are interred in large cemeteries in simple graves. Some cemeteries are reserved for the particularly wealthy, such as property owners, and are located within the cities themselves. For the rest, graveyards are swathes of the open land in the outskirts, often requiring the better part of a day to reach and return from.
The Talboti are deeply superstitious, and this includes with death as well. They believe mourners are necessary for a soul to move on, and a great fear of many dying Talboti is not having enough mourners to help them cross over. They also believe a dead body is a hollow shell ripe for the powers of the Woods to seep into and take control. Coffins are expensive and secure containers, and the dead are buried deep, often nine feet if possible. Nine being a warding number in many of their minds, for one reason or another. Charms, herbs, and holy symbols are given to the dead and even built into the coffin itself as further protection. By circumstance or efficacy, Talbot has yet to have a mass rising of undead from their cemeteries.
Common Taboos
Talbot and its people are constantly discovering or inventing new taboos. Superstition is so rooted into their culture that there are limitless taboos to choose from and they will vary from region to region, sometimes even family to family. Many are born from their experience with the fae. In this regard the Talboti are considered experts in the psychology and culture of the great enemy. They knew all the ways to treat with them and how wickedly capricious they could be. Much of this knowledge has become the basis for many of their current taboos, beliving that ignorance could somehow be a pathway for the fae to return. They warn their young hunters and explorers who must travel into the Queen's Scar to follow the rules should they actually encounter fae. Rules like never accepting their gift (especially their food), tell them little but always tell them the truth, beware their fairy rings and never step within them, always carry with offerings that can be left, and always be gratful to a fae but never under any circumstances thank them.
Outside of fae-related rules and taboos there are many others that guide their lives. Full moons are an auspicious event and travel is to be avoided beneath their pale glow. Mind the screech of owls and the call of crows for they're omens of ill events that are fast approaching. Stop the clocks and cover the mirrors inside the home of recently deceased who perished to supernatural misfortunate lest their shadow rise up to take others with them. Pay attention to dreams, they're glimpses into the future and the past. Snakes and black cats are harbingers of doom, they're not be harmed but given wide berth. Never take an old broom to a new house. A bird using a strand of your hair for its nest is a warning of terrible events to come. Ash and cold iron are useful in the warding off of fae and wicked spirits, so always keep good nails and an pinch of ash handy. Never take the last piece of fruit from the tree, doing so invites evil to follow you home. Never leave from a different door than the one you arrived through.
These are but a fraction of the many superstitious taboos that can be found in Talbot and carried in the hearts of the Talboti people
Common Myths and Legends
Talbot is filled with tales of tragedy, horror, and death. Most of these legends deal with the Queen's Scar Woods, the fae, and wicked spirits all of which are said to infest this land or even the drifting remnants floating above it. The heroes in these works are often powerless figures who have managed to survive by wit or luck. They teach one to abide the rules and taboos of Talboti culture and to stray too far invites disaster.
For the subset of Talboti that cherish the old ways of passion and creativity, the stories of Talbot's great artists are inspiring myths.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Beauty was once at the core of Talboti life and deeply valued by all. Now, under the unnaturally warped sky of their accursed region, beauty seems like a frivolous thing to so many. There are still little acts of aesthetic attention - cosmetics, good clothes, and a well-prepared meal. Beauty exists in only the most basic of forms now, gone are the passions that once drove every Talboti to make each life a splendid one.
Courtship Ideals
Talboti courtships are rather demure affairs now. They are formal, traditional, and often lacking in emotional overture. In many cases, they are arranged by families looking to strengthen each other's houses rather than for romance. In ages past, everything from heartwarming tales of yearning to passionate smut were written about Talboti courtships. Few such books remain, and with each year that passes it becomes increasingly unlikely their ilk will return.
Relationship Ideals
The core principle that Talboti relationships strive towards is reliability and loyalty. While often these are passionless, arranged marriages, it doesn't mean these unions are without dedication. Couples carry a great burden on their shoulders: continuing the bloodlines, strengthening family trades, maintaining a household or farmland, and fending off creatures from the Queen's Scar. With so much danger and responsibility pressing in from all sides, the last thing a family can afford is recklessness or disloyalty. Couples, especially those with children and land, rarely ever separate. They work out whatever problems arise and put aside all animosity for the sake of building a future.
This is not to say that Talboti are incapable of loving their partners, far from it. It's just that love is not the driving force behind most successful couples in Talbot. Love is viewed as a great bonus reward that can come with a stable and unshakable union, but it's far from an expectation.
Talbot is home to a great many brothels, which helps alleviate the stress of home life for these pragmatic partners. Talboti are conservative and traditional in their ways so such dilliances are never flaunted and always concealed but they are nonetheless very common.
Major organizations
Dread Hunter Lodges
Temples to certain gods do exist, and many turn to these for comfort. Some of the most influential are the temple of Sandor in Talbot, the temple of Galidir in Bocuse, and the temple of Neros in Plouffe. Other religious centers do exist, but these three hold particular significance both in their specific region and across Talbot's borders.
Talboti Nobility hold incredible sway over the culture and people of the region. Landowners are the only ones able to vote and thus the only ones with a true voice. Talbot's parliament, made up of the most influential of the region's nobility, represents the most powerful organization the land.
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