Alcediner

The Alcediner are a people group populating the coastal regions of their namesake region of Alcedina, as well as holding a large population in the colonies of Ifyrial. The majority of their ancestry comes from an indecipherable conglomerate of the various human peoples of the Empire of Oleandron, but there are also traces of both Yuskic and Wesevölk ancestry. These stem from the invasions of the Erleting and the Giriþiudans, leaving a significant trace both ethnically and culturally, especially in the case of the Wesevölk- most Alcediner follow the Blazeologic faith, descended from the ancient Dre'a. Alcediners seem to be the most closely related to the extinct Kalatic peoples due to their olive or tan skin tone and their dark eyes and hair, much of which are inherited from these peoples.

The development of a unique Alcediner culture began only after the fall of Oleandron. Most of Alcedina had been overrun by Erleting tribes starting in 762 SC, but nonetheless was nominally under the control of West Oleandron. Although West Oleandron stationed some garrisons in the cities, their reliance on local levies left the cities all-but independent, and they certainly acted like it. After the independence of Bhur Drizl, the only part of Alcedina to remain under Oleandron would be the capital province of Isileum itself, though by 784 West Oleandron itself was defunct anyways. The only parts of Alcedina to survive this tide would be the walled cities of the coast, including Isileum. The survival of these cities preserved a part of the culture of the Empire despite its failure to leave a lasting presence in other parts of Telgren. These cities became the center of what would later become a new Alcediner culture, with sea travel and fishing becoming defining aspects of the cities early on. Additionally, the lack of nobility led to a rise in republican forms of government, with what is commonly known as the First Republican Era lasting from roughly 800 SC to 917 or 933, depending on the city.

By 933 SC, all the western cities were under the control of the Kingdom of Sunþiruda, while the eastern cities remained independent. During this time, the cultures of the western cities re-converged, though those in the east remained separate. During this period, the Sunþirudans began spreading their faith to the people, who lacked gods and were therefore eager to embrace the new faith. Sunþirudan ownership of the cities in some cases lasted for less than a century, as by 1000 the western cities had already begun slipping from their control. In any case the destruction of the Kingdom in 1040 marked the end of the Sunþirudan period and saw the rise of the Tyranid period, notable for the development of many of the institutions common in Alcediner society today. The occupation of the western cities by a monarchial power had given rise to a class of nobility- having seized power for themselves these merchant princes dominated the republics. Known as Tyrani, these princes gave rise to the modern term from tyranny. The Tyranid Period cities were once more totally dominant on the sea, though some industries declined (during the Sunþirudan period the Erleting were pacified and the Alcediner were able to engage in land-based trade). Although powerful merchant families still held great sway and the cities still lacked a real aristocracy, they had decisively become monarchies, with the justification that a strong hand was needed to repel the (at the time) powerful Erelting. During the late Tyranid period, the various cities also came under the sway of Blazeology as the Tyranid families (Gens Tyrani) often intermarried with Blazennian aristocracy. Even the eastern cities would see this spread, with those cities all becoming Principalities and Blazeologists by 1300, almost 50 years after the formation of the Blazennian Empire.

By this time Blazeology finished its spread, the Alcediner culture had been fully developed, and the populations of their states had begun growing rapidly, leaving them unable to support themselves off of trade or fishing alone. This necessitated expansion into the interior, and around the year 1300 the Alcediner began concerted efforts to drive the Erleting out of what they saw as their rightful lands. Though small gains had been previously made, the establishment of the first League of Florens is often seen as the first truly successful efforts to expand outwards, rather than leading a defensive philosophy. This Expansion Period lasted from 1300-1704 and saw the incorporation of much of the Alcedina Lowlands into the various Alcediner states. Though a time of expansion and prosperity for the Alcediner, it led to huge levels of destruction of the Erleting, with many of their tribes being almost entirely destroyed or displaced. Even so, the majority of Erleting descent can be traced back to this time frame, outpacing even the Sunþirudan period or recent years.

Following the discovery of Ifyrial's mineral resources, the expansion of the Alcediner was routed across the sea instead. Matters on land had become complicated, with the various cities becoming more factionalized and pitting Leagues against Leagues. Additionally, most of the Erleting tribes had been pushed into the hills and mountains, which were less desirable lands and therefore not necessarily economically viable to invade. Large amounts of Alcediner would begin populating the northwestern coast of Ifyrial and the Summer Isles, significantly increasing the wealth of the Tyranid states and contributing to stability at home as new goods became available for export and import. Many of the lands taken from the Erleting had also begun to flourish, leaving the Tyranid states with great wealth and a positive trade balance. Many cities began switching from sustenance fishing and small-scale trade to finished goods such as cloth and glassworks. Still, despite outwards prosperity, rot and corruption had begun seeping into the cities, laying the stage for the Time of Troubles.

Although the Alcediner successfully weathered the beginning of the troubles better than most of South Telgren, by the 1950s things were looking grim. Decreased demand for luxury goods had left many of the cities finances in trouble, and unrest in the colonies disrupted trade and taxes. Things would go from bad to worse with the arrival of Dragan Ivar's Army. Ivar's forces took the cities by surprise and he conquered and pillaged huge swaths of the countryside, especially in the south. Although he failed to conquer any of the Alcediner capitals, the destruction wrought by his forces left the lowlands totally devastated and led to famine and plague, further harming the Alcediner. Things went from bad to worse when the colonies banded together to oppose increased taxes and in some cases colonial conscription, forming the Republic of Novum Alcedina. The Alcediner were now left in poor shape, but they caught a lucky break when Ivar died of disease in 1956. The Alcediner would launch the Little Dennonian War (1960-1965) to reclaim their now-ravaged lands. Accused of incompetance, the various Tyrani were largely removed from power by the mercantile Patrons, who had seen the damage wrought to the economy by the rulers. In most Alcediner states, independent organizations would decide they were better off without a prince, thus beginning the Second Republic Period, which carries on to this day. Although these republican governments have tried to reclaim the colonies, Novum Alcedina has thus far refused, as they have enjoyed their newfound liberty.

Due to the prominence of families in Alcediner upper class, especially for the Patrons and Tyrani, the "Gens" or family unit is a key part of Alcediner life. Each Gens is essentially a noble house, composed of a number of members sharing a last name, though this is fairly loose and may include double-barreled family names. The head of the Gens leads the family and ensures their prosperity and wealth remain with them, making key decisions alongside family elders. Each Gens also has a number of servants, some of whom may be poor relatives who are charity cases or who may be hired help. Occasionally, trusted servants may be adopted into the Gens, which makes them a part of the family. This allows their children to benefit from the good service of their parents, which is seen as encouraging hard work from employees. Though intended to be egalitarian, it is only really used if a Gens urgently needs to increase their family size, because incorporating too many commoners lowers the standing of the Gens (commoners are not a part of Gens). Such expansions are often done in wartime.

The Gens are critical to the functioning of both the Tyranids and the Republics (aside from Novum Alcedina). In Tyranids, the Tyrani depends on his Patrons to support him during wartime, and in exchange the Patrons are exempted from regular taxation and given special rights. Traditionally, the more rights a Patron Gens has, the more influential and powerful the family has historically been. This tradition has carried over to the modern republics, with the Patrons keeping more votes in the complex system of nomination, voting, and sortition which has developed in the Second Republican Period (in the First, Sortition alone was used).

Alcediner Culture by City/Country

Alcediner culture is heavily regional, and is usually defined by which city one's family originates from. Although Novum Alcedina has long developed their own culture, the dialects and traditions of its various regions still reflect the cities which originally colonize them. While each Alcediner country can be defined as having its own unique culture, there are several regional cultures which encompass multiple cities

• Alliogens: Vensian
• Pistallo: Vensian
• Mediolene: Vensian
• Piscodia: Medinian
• Insulana: Medinian
• Floren: Medinian
• Tridunai: Medinian
• Ultarra: Unique Culture
• Pallanium: Urbusi
• Pannilun: Urbusi
• Rovadium: Urbusi
• Salumnia: Unique Culture
• Novum Alcedina: Astadi (Summer Isles) and Siccusi (Mainland)

The Vensian are a people inhabiting the northernmost group of cities. They are known for their expertise in trade and exports, with all three of the principal Vensian cities involved in the cloth and glassware trades in particular. Vensians are known for their shipbuilding tradition as well, and the port of Alliogens is one of the finest in the world. The natural harbor is sheltered from the often-rough waves of western Telgren.

The Medinian are found just to the south of the Venican, and were formerly the most populous of the Alcediner before the Time of Troubles. Despite the decline in their prosperity, the Medinians have a rich tradition of the arts, especially weaving and painting. The Medinian winemaking and banking industries, formerly massive parts of the economy of the four cities, suffered greatly during the troubles but has begun to recover.

Ultarrans hail from the city of Ultarra, the southernmost of the cities. Known primarily for their trade along the coast, Ultarra was formerly one of the poorest city-states but grew in prestige and power during the colonization of Ifyrial. Therefore, its markets are known for their trade in minerals and in slaves. Ultarra's many plantations were taken over by the Erleting during the Time of Troubles and the city has yet to recover, thus returning to poverty. Ultarrans are notable for being more conservative than most of the other Alcediner.

The Urbusi inhabit the southeastern coast of Alcedina, with their population engaged predominantly in trade with Blazennia. The Urbusi are the most devout of the Alcediner, due to their close contacts with the Blazennians. However, they are also strongly republican, being the last to succumb to the Tyrani and the first to overthrow them. This balance between faith and republicanism defines their societies.

Salumnic people are found mostly in Salumnia, the furthest north of the eastern cities. The Salumnics have traditionally been the main trade partners of Aulienall due to the ease of shipping between the two nations, and they have often incorporated elven recipes into their own. giving the city a unique culinary tradition. Owing to the steep mountainous region which is much closer to the coast than the other cities, Salumics have never really expanded on mainland Telgren, so they remain more coastal traditions than the other states.

Astadi is a mix of all the different Alcediner found in the Summer Isles. Its people are truly cosmopolitan and incorporate aspects of all the Alcediner. They are also considered to be more liberal, having pioneered more democratic traditions and incorporating the ideas of there cultures.

Siccusi is a mix of Venican, Medinian, and Urbisi cultures. It is found on the mainland of Novum Alcedina. They are much more rough around the edges than the other Alcediner, since they are used to working on the land and extracting minerals or fighting of orcs. They are known to be tough, and considered hard to control, even by the relatively liberal Novum Alcedina.

Besides these main cultures, there are also a few other peripheral peoples of note. The Sarbarvic are a people of mixed Erleting and Alcediner descent, with their existence dating back to Dragan Ivar's invasion (as noted, previous Erleting were typically integrated). They have become somewhat of a transitory people group between the two cultures, but are welcomed by few except in the Kingdom of Sarbarve due to the distrust the two people groups have for each other. In addition to these mixed people, the Meticcia are a group of Urukai who have arisen mostly in the Ifyrialn lands, but who do have some population in Alcedina proper, especially the former lands of Ultarra. They are treated as servants if not slaves and have a poor lot in life, but are more closely integrated into Alcediner society than the Alcediner would care to admit.