Aurimont Duchies
The duchies are a group of duchies, consisting primarily of Qhiles, that tore themselves from imperial control, and are now individually lead, with a united council that stands alongside their belief in upholding their honor.
Common people: Given name | Family name
Nobility: Given name | Secondary given name | Family/house name
The name of locations within the Duchies also tend towards some practicality, being typically either named after local significant features, or after myths, legend and religion.
Trade with other duchies, as well as the outside world, tends to happen during the summer months as the winter months are often too dangerous for wagons full of goods to travel through the mountains. During the winter months, it is instead preferred for travellers to go in groups on foot or by flight, and as such they are unable to carry heavy loads with them.
Most of the trade that happens between the duchies and the rest of the world tend to be various ores and medicinal herbs found in the mountains, with the import tending towards exotic goods for the nobility.
Naming
The names in the Aurimont Duchies tend tends towards resembling typical imperial names, with simpler ones for the common people, where the nobility typically have a given name, a secondary to differentiate them due to a fondness for repeating names in long lines and finally their family name, also known as the house name for long lasting dynasties.Common people: Given name | Family name
Nobility: Given name | Secondary given name | Family/house name
The name of locations within the Duchies also tend towards some practicality, being typically either named after local significant features, or after myths, legend and religion.
Economy
The duchies often have thriving internal economies, with most land belong to the nobility and rich, who rents it out to the people in exchange for either a part of what is made, or money. Minor nobility often own land within the duchies, and are expected to pay the duke or duchess in return. As a result, the duke tends to be the richest person within their given duchy, with a heavy say in what goes on within their land, though some prefers the more hand-off approach as long as they are given their dues.Trade with other duchies, as well as the outside world, tends to happen during the summer months as the winter months are often too dangerous for wagons full of goods to travel through the mountains. During the winter months, it is instead preferred for travellers to go in groups on foot or by flight, and as such they are unable to carry heavy loads with them.
Most of the trade that happens between the duchies and the rest of the world tend to be various ores and medicinal herbs found in the mountains, with the import tending towards exotic goods for the nobility.
Law & Order
The duchies are united under a single council that meets every half year, where they address issues both internal and external and go over the individual duchies contributions to the whole nation and in particular debate the handling of the neighboring empire and their stances towards it. A council head is cycled through each meeting, with no formal head of the duchies otherwise. Beyond this, the duchies are autonomous, being in charge of themselves with the exceptions being what is agreed upon with the council, such as shared laws. Likewise, most disputes between the duchies are also handled by the council, if the individuals are unable to come to an agreement. The law is generally enforced by the soldiers belonging to a given duchy, while peace outside of towns and villages are kept by specialized patrols that know how to navigate the treacherous mountains. The law itself can vary between the duchies, with the few exceptions that is imposed by the council, but many of the duchies keep similar laws. One of the more notable laws often being the clipping of the wings of a lawbreaker, if their offense is considered anything more than minor, or they attempted to use flight to escape. A special exception exists to the law, where nobles or certain prestigious individuals may demand a trial by combat. Doing so carries an enormous significance however, as it carries with it the claim that they are not simply innocent, but that the one to accuse them is considered a dishonorable coward of the highest magnitude. These duels tend to be settled between the accused and the accuser, who will inevitably be another noble in such cases and it is thought that the gods will favor the one who is rightful in such duels. These duels tend to be to first blood, with death of either party being considered an automatic loss to the surviving party.Culture
Formerly an imperial territory, the duchies still hold on to remnants of their past even with their current independence. Among these, they have come to the belief that their honor is a virtue and in parts, that has become the truth across the duchies as the mountains are dangerous and the trustworthiness of an individual often lie in their honor and their ability to keep their word.
Art and Aesthetic
Art tends to be seen as an expression of ones soul and a reflection of ones devotion to life and the gods. the duchies tend to be particularly renowned for their mosaics and their festivals, as many citizens are able to fly, making it a unique spectacle.- Mosaics: Using stones, metals and gems from the cliffs, artisans create mosaics and sculptures to depict their history, deities and legends. Many of these can be found decorating their temples and the council chambers for both their lords and the united duchy council chamber.
- Skywriting Festivals: Once a year, during the height of summer, nobles and skilled fliers participate in a grand event held in each duchy, where colored powders and ribbons are using during flight to create intricate patterns and paintings in the sky, with teams competing to create the most impressive displays.
Music and Oral Tradition
The music in the duchies is often intended to be played along the strong winds found in the mountains, with many being inspired by the sounds found within and going along with the echoes throughout the mountains.- Wind Instruments: Flutes, pipes and wind pipes are some of the primary instruments used throughout the duchies, with particularly the wind chimes largely being found throughout their settlements and playing along to the winds.
- Songlines: Despite having writers, a lot of history remains preserved through ballads and epic poems called songlines, which tells the history of the duchies and of great heroes and leaders. This has created the concept of minor songlines, that focuses more on being sung, with it often being intended as duets between two people.
Clothing and Style
Pride is often taking ones appearance, with clothing being designed to both complement plumage and to be lightweight to allow for flight.- Duchy-Specific Styles: Each duchy tends to have distinct patterns and motifs in their clothes, often inspired by the local legends, flora, fauna and coat of arms. This gives a unique impression, and often help people learn where a person might originate from and in turn, help them judge how trustworthy a person might be.
- Practical Clothes: While everyday clothes prioritize the ability to fly, being usually loose and flowing fabrics that don't impede movement, it is quite different for ceremonies. During ceremonies and important events, nobles and officials often don elaborate cloaks, sashes and robes with heavy embroidery, but in turn also makes it hard for them to fly, forcing them to walk along their land which has also become a symbolic inclusion of those unable to fly.
- Seasonal Colors: Fashion changes with the seasons, with icy blues being more common in winter or among those living higher up in the mountains, and vibrant greens and golds during summer and among the lowlands and shielded valleys.
Philosophy and Education
Philosophers are particularly welcome among the nobles, drawing from both their imperial past and the idea that hosting such guests is a show of prestige among them, and even more so the ability to debate them.- The Balance of Sky and Stone: One of the more central teachings is the ability to both discuss and balance ambition (as symbolized by the sky), with ones responsibility (as rooted in the stone).
- Debate as Art: Public debates are common and even celebrated, where people can show their intellect and with and to do so is gracefully is a mark of wisdom.
- Flight Academies: Young, noble men are sent to academies to learn not only aerial combat, dueling and survival, but also history, diplomacy and philosophy as that is thought to give them a rounded education they need. Though some have argued the need for management and leadership to also be a subject to be taught, it is so far majorly seen as the responsibility of the family to teach this.
Cuisine and Gatherings
Living in the mountains has shaped a lot of the culinary practices of the duchies, and often this means that local ingredients are the most common, even among the nobility.- Mountain Cuisine: Meals tend to feature foraged berries, nuts, hardy root vegetables and small game, alongside food from the lowlands and valleys such as grains and spices. he majority of the food in the duchies come from the valleys protected by the mountains, where farming is abundant even as most people otherwise live higher up in the mountains.
- Banquets: Festivals tend to include feasts held on open terraces and cliffside platforms, where communities share their food. On some occasions a noble may participate, which is seen as a sign of favor or good luck by the common people.
- Windbrews: A unique drink made form herbs and flowers unique to the high mountains. Though it is popular, it takes time to make, and tends to be most abundant during the winter months.
Social Customs
Residing in the mostly dangerous mountains, the duchies have fostered a strong sense of community, with the people helping out each other readily when the need for such happens.- Communal Building Projects: The construction of homes, bridges and public buildings are often seen as communal projects, with people of a given town or village working together to construct them.
- Hospitality Codes: Visitors are treated with great respect, as refusing hospitality is considered a grave dishonor. With ills falling to a guest often reflecting badly on their host.
Relations Between Duchies
Though they may be united under a council, the various duchies can have varying amounts of friendliness with each other.- Friendly Rivalries: Competitions in flight, artistry and debate are common with neighbors, especially during the summer months.
- Competitive Duels: Nobles and skilled swordsmen sometimes compete in non-lethal duels, either to first blood or one party surrendering, with it being considered good form to surrender if one realises they are out of their league. The most spectacular of these competitions are those done by flighted individuals, as they fight in the sky above the audience. The most prestigious however, is when a non-flighted individual are capable of winning over a flighted one, showing their skill even when at a disadvantage.
- Gift-Giving Diplomacy: When a noble visits another noble of equal or higher rank, it is considered a common courtesy for them to being a handmade or symbolic gift with them, with it being considered lazy to not put effort or thought into such gifts.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
