Orlanthi national character

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From: Argrath@aol.com
Date: Tue 05 Jul 1994 - 00:51:58 EEST


Here are some of my notes on Orlanthi regional differences in character, typical activities, and clothing styles. They're all just my opinion, but they're the kind of thing that I think helps a campaign become realistic. The Peloria/Maniria differences in character are based in large part on the North/South differences in various countries (including the U.S., Italy, France, Germany, China, and Vietnam). Even if you don't buy into stereotypes, they do provide roleplaying possibilities, especially in places like Riskland where the two groups rub shoulders.

Peloria (Aggar, Holay, Imther, Sylila, Talastar, Tarsh, Vanch; also the North Sartar Tribes):

     Pelorian Orlanthi are known for being closed-mouthed. This reputation followed the tribes who settled what later came to be North Sartar, in Maniria. Their idea of wit is a short, snappy comeback, especially if it silences a long-winded person. They are masters of understatement. The men are more closed-mouthed than the women.

     Skanthi and Brolian men often go days at a time without saying more than a couple words. On hunting trips, their belief is "word too many, one too few," meaning "if you say one word too many, you will kill one animal too few to feed the family." This terseness makes them seem evasive to others, because it means a person has to ask several questions to get a complete answer. For each question after the first, the answers get shorter, until finally a question gets only silence and a fierce stare in reply.

     Among the Skanthi, people still talk about Babbling Bjorni, who never spoke except to mumble the ritual words required on the Orlanth High Holy Day. Every nation of Pelorian Orlanthi has folk tales about how talkative people, usually women, say too much and cause trouble.

     Pelorian Orlanthi have a reputation for being hard workers and stoic. They must work hard to scratch a living from the poor soil or catch the lean and wary deer of the hills. They often face disaster, when a flash flood carries away their crops or herds, or if no game can be found. This makes them value the ability to cope with a crisis without much fuss.

     On the other hand, this bottled-up frustration and rage sometimes spills over in berserker fury. Before the Lunar conquest, Pelorian Orlanthi were special devotees of Urox, the Storm Bull. Even now, Uroxi are common in Talastar--a land close to chaotic Dorastor.

     The national dress of Pelorian Orlanthi men is an armless tunic over baggy pantaloons, tied around the ankles. Buttons are unknown; people fasten their clothes with thongs or strings. The arms are kept warm with sleeves wrapped tight around the upper arm and wrist. Those who can afford it wear brightly colored clothes. Women wear long dresses, usually of darker hue than men's clothing. Foot wear includes sandals and fur boots.  In cold
weather, both men and women throw a woolen cloak over their other clothes.  Men wear their hair, mustaches, and beard long. Young unmarried women wear their hair loose. Married women and widows wear their hair bound up.

     A strong Lunar influence now affects all Pelorian Orlanthi. This manifests itself in a greater tolerance for foreign ideas, and a willingness to imitate Lunar and Dara Happan styles. Only rustics and fanatics have tattoos, and city men even shave their beards and wear Lunar clothes (tunic and skirt, or a toga for nobles). Wine has replaced beer as the drink of choice in the lands under direct Lunar control. In Sylila, Dara Happan architecture is in the process of replacing Orlanthi styles. One sometimes sees odd combinations of styles in the countryside, such as a new columned portico on an old longhouse.

Heortland & Sartar (Except North Sartar)

     The kingdom of Heortland has a reputation among its neighbors for being a relaxed place, where people love to talk. The settlers of Sartar brought this national character with them. The relaxation and talkativeness are greatest in the south and at the coast, away from the trolls and chaos. Heortlander towns tend to be in river valleys or on the coast of the bay, where the living is relatively easy. Trade routes pass through Heortland, and trade makes up a significant portion of their economy.

     In the Heortlander style of trade, the merchant offers a prospect a mug of hard cider, beer, or wine. The two then discuss politics, their families, and items of local interest, such as crops, horse races, and, in the cities, the relative quality of the ale in the many taverns. After a while, the pros- pect brings up the subject of buying whatever it is he wants. Long haggling is the rule, but is always polite. Really good hagglers can attract a crowd when they get going, as they make witty verbal jabs and tease the other party. With two good hag- glers, the negotiations may last hours.

     Besides talking, a Heortlander's favorite activity is partying. Heortlander cities have almost as many taverns per 100 inhabitants as Pavis does. (In fact, Heortlanders feel right at home pub-crawling in Pavis, except that Pavis taverns lack the big dance floors of Heortlander taverns.) They have many festivals, and Carnival, their harvest festival, traditionally lasts "as long as the kegs do." Carnival starts with the sacred harvest dance on Windsday, Movement Week, Earth Season. The Heortlander legal code recognizes Carnival Freedom as an excuse for much behavior that would otherwise be unacceptable, such as adultery. City people also go to taverns during the day, to socialize.

     Public baths also provide places to socialize. They are found in every city and many towns and villages. Men and women bathe together with no salacious overtones, except among the Hendreiki. That tribe tried to close the baths, but now they allow separate baths for the sexes.

     The Hendreiki tribe differs from the other Heortlander tribes in having a strong Malkioni component. This makes them prudish, compared to other Heortlanders, and strongly hierarchical. Their warriors, called knights, are cavalry, like western knights. The cult of Black Arkat is an important social and religious institution among them. The king is chosen from among a small royal family of Western descent, and convenes the folkmoot only when he musters for war or needs to raise money. The Hendreiki Lightbringers' Circle is not very important, and the king has western-style advisors and servants, such as seneschal, constable, butler, and marshall. All this western influence makes the Hendreiki seem like foreigners to other Orlanthi, but normal Malkioni think they are pagans or, even worse, backsliders.

     Nobles of all the tribes serve mead and wine at their tables, although their servants still drink beer and cider, of course. Other than that, their style of life differs little from the lower classes. There are few slaves in Heortland.

     Heortlander men wear brightly colored sleeved shirts, bound with belts, and pantaloons. They like to wear flashy hats, decorated with feathers, jewels, or trophies. The most common footwear is the leather boot, a style borrowed from Prax. Women wear blouses and skirts, in plainer styles than the men's. Most men cut their hair short and trim their beards, but let their mustaches grow. A long well-twirled mustache is a sign of great virility. Women bind their hair in kerchiefs, though eligible maidens often wear their hair loose.


Hope you like it.
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