Pasnian Culture

[Saarty1 119]

 

“Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna”

 

 

 

God, Honor, Homeland. These are the three words that identify the patriotic, honorable and God-fearing people of Pasnia. Far from their homeland, the last remnants of the once great Pasnian Kingdom continue to uphold the legacy of their ancestors; and like their forefathers they now wander the lands in search for a new homeland where they could prosper and live in peace.

 

 

History:

 

Prosperity and peace:

The history of the Pasnian people is near ancient, and could be traced as far as the days prior to the rise of Prophet Horen and the Canonist Faith. It is said that one of the ancient Harrenic tribes, a small nomad tribe named “Pasn” once wandered the lands in search for a homeland. Eventually, under the leadership of the Chieftain Krakus the Founder the people of Pasn settled in the plainlands north-east to the lands of Oren which they named “Pasnia ” after their tribe. The first settlement of the tribe in the lands of Pasnia was named “Kraków”, after their Chieftain. In Pasnia , the tribe developed a peaceful agricultural society and slowly began to flourish. Two centuries later with the arrival of several Canonist Missionaries, King Staszak the Pious who was then the chieftain of Pasnia , accepted the faith of the Canon and began the conversion process of his people. In addition to his conversion, King Staszak also found the Kingdom of Pasnia with City of Kraków as the Capital City, and established the dynasty of Staszak, which lives on to these very days. Under the successors of King Staszak the Kingdom continued to flourish and grow; new settlements such as Warszawa, Poznań and Gdańsk were established and the Capital of Kraków became a center for art, culture and trade. 

 

“A portrait of the City of Kraków in its prime”

 

"The Bloody Wars":

But the era of peace did not last forever, as the then pagan Raevir neighbors had set their eyes on the wealthy lands of Pasnia for many years, which they strongly desired. Under the period of three different Kings, the soldiers of Pasnia bravely faced the Raevir raiders in battle, until the battle of Poznań in which King Bolesław I the Victor was able to defeat the bulk of the Raevir forces, and then sign a peace treaty with the hostile coalition of tribes. This long and internecine series of conflicts became commonly known as the “Bloody Wars” in which the Kingdom of Pasnia emerged victorious but at a devastating cost. Following the war, the Kingdom was left shattered: generations of young men were erased and buried, villages and farm fields were burnt down and abandoned, and poverty became common amongst nobility and peasantry alike. 

 

“A portrait of King Bolesław I the Victor"

 

Decline and fall:

In the last years in King Bolesław I’s reign the Kingdom began to rebuild the ruins. However, following the death of King Bolesław I the Brave he was succeeded by his firstborn son, King Leszek the Idle. King Leszek the Idle cared little for the affairs of the State, which he left for his uncle, Casimir I to deal with. Due to the King’s indifference, many amongst the nobility in the realm decided to take advantage of the King’s weakness and the poverty caused by the “Bloody Wars”, and began demanding more lands, rights and authority from the Monarch which he was barely able to grant. With the continuous growth of power for the nobility, several pretenders to the throne rose; including Casimir I himself. To restore order in the Realm, Casimir I decided to take on a radical solution - he imprisoned the King and forced him to abdicate to claim the throne for himself. As King, Casimir I was able to issue several reforms which reduced the influence of nobility and restored some stability to the Kingdom. However, near the end of Casimir’s short reign a deadly plague from an unknown origin hit on the Kingdom, and swiftly erased nearly three-quarters of the already contracted realm’s population. After the plague, the Kingdom never managed to recover as pagan invaders began raiding and pillaging Kingdom’s countryside again. The people of Pasnia were now forced to abandon their homeland and flee south to find shelter in the Kingdom of Oren, where they remained to this very day.

 

"A village in Pasnia, left abandoned"

 

Military and Warfare:

 

Levy Militia:

Like most armies the Pasnian Military primarily relied on its feudal levies in times of war. These poorly trained and lightly equipped peasants were mostly drawn from the country-side of the realm and usually served as skirmishers or shock infantry. They were often armed with crossbows, or spears and armored with poor leather and cloth items, and seldom also with mail armor. Due to their lack of discipline and training, these troops are often used in spread formations and are sent to charge at the enemy mainly from the flanks.

 

"Pasnian peasants being levied into war"

 

Heavy Infantry:

The Heavy Infantry were usually drafted from the Nobility class and soldiers of the regular standing army who could afford the expenses of mail/plate armor and heavy weapons. In battle, they are often used in tight formations to hold off the enemy charge and allow the more agile troops to surround the enemy from the flanks.

 

"A Pasnian Knight"

 

Pasnian Winged Hussars:

The most prestigious and fearsome of units in the Pasnian Military were the Winged Hussars. Heavily armored cavalry troops, armed with lances and sabers the Winged Hussars served as the ideal shock troops of the Pasnian Army. The mixture of horse mobility and heavy armor made these Winged Hussars more than able to charge and penetrate through enemy lines, as they cast terror on their opponents.

 

“Pasnian Winged Hussars charging at the enemy”

 

Religion:

Ever since they were converted to the Canonist Faith, the Pasnian people were known as God-fearing people, and held close relations with the Church of the Canon. Perhaps one of the greatest architectural displays in Pasnia was the formidable Cathedral of Kraków, which contained a grand library of books and gave host to hundreds of people who occasionally came to pray. In addition to that, the Pasnian Church has canonized several prominent figures in Pasnian history such as King Bolesław I the Victor for his victories against the pagan invaders, and King Staszak the Pious who converted to the faith of the Canon and found the Kingdom of Pasnia.

 

“The Cathedral of Kraków in its former glory”

 

Cuisine:

Prior to the “Bloody Wars” period, the cuisine for the common people was based on dishes made of agricultural produce and cereal crops (millet, rye, wheat), meats of wild and farm animals, fruits, forest berries and game, honey, herbs and local spices. A high calorific value of dishes and drinking beer or mead as a basic drink was typical of the Pasnian cuisine. In addition to that, there are several traditional foods and beverages that are consumed both daily and in holidays.

 

Bigos:

Bigos is a traditional stew (Hunter's Stew) and is considered to be the national dish of Pasnia. Typically, Bigos includes sauerkraut, various meats and sausages, tomatoes, honey and mushrooms. For meats, you can have bacon, beef, pork, ham or veal. Bigos is considered a "perpetual stew" which means it can be kept in a pot for a week or more. 

 

Pierogi:

Pierogi are boiled dumplings stuffed with varying ingredients. After they are boiled, they are fried with butter and finely chopped onions. They can be filled with potato and cheese, mushrooms, and even fruit.

 

Golabki:
Cabbage rolls wrapped around minced pork or beef meats, chopped onions and rice. They are usually baked with a spicy tomato sauce.

 

Wódka(vodka):

Despite being a common Raevir beverage, the Wódka, or vodka also found its way to the Pasnian Cuisine.

 

"A bigos"

 

Traditions and Customs:

The people of Pasnia have a long and rich history of traditions and customs which have gathered through the years. 

 

Etiquette:

In the Pasnian Society, there is great stress on being polite and courteous, especially amongst nobility. Men are expected to kiss ladies' hands and to behave with decorum. An acceptable gift for women is an odd number of flowers, regardless of whether a woman is the recipient or presenter. Most men consider themselves judges of a fine drink, and for men the standard gift is alcohol. One must always drink from a glass, never directly from a bottle. When encountered with nobility, it is customary to bow and greet them with their title.

 

Attire:

The Peasants usually wear clothes that are akin to the clothing of peasants of other Kingdoms, especially those of the Raevir nation. The attire of peasants is characterized with long robes, and leather boots. The women sometimes wear a scarf, along with a long dress. However, the Noblemen in Pasnian society have a rather unique clothing as described below.

 

"Pasnian peasants in traditional attire"

 

Kontusz:

The Kontsuz is a type of outer garment worn by the Pisnan male nobility(szlachta class). The kontusz was a long robe, usually reaching to below the knees, with a set of decorative buttons down the front. The sleeves were long and loose, on hot days worn untied, thrown on the back. In winter a fur lining could be attached to the kontusz, or a delia worn over it. The kontusz was usually of a vivid colour, and the lining was of a contrasting hue. The kontusz was tied with a long, wide sash called a pas kontuszowy. Throwing kontusz sleeves on one's back and stroking one's moustache was considered to be a signal of readiness for a fight.

 

"A Pasnian Nobleman"

 

Dances and Folk Music:
Local ensembles use string instruments like violins and a cello to play a distinctive scale called the Lydian mode. The distinctive singing style used in this scale is called “lidyzowanie”. The lead violin (prym) are accompanied by several second violins (sekund) and a three-stringed cello (bazy). Duple-time dances like the krzesany, zbójnicki and ozwodna are popular within Pasnian culture. The ozwodna has a five bar melodic structure which is quite unusual. The krzesany is an extremely swift dance, while the zbójnicki is relatively slower. Folk songs typically focus on heroes in Pasnian and Raevir mythology. 

Below there's an example of Pasnian folk music:

 

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgSVmRQ8wGc

 

 

Pasnian Wedding Ceremonial Customs:

 

The customs of a Pasnian wedding is riddled with culture and tradition, with every step necessary to complete in order for the union to be officially recognised by the Pasnite people. The wedding takes course throughout a single day but royal or noble weddings may take place for a longer period, otherwise it takes place from dawn until midnight. The ceremony takes place as follows; When the wedding starts, the first step is to greet the guests warmly, preferably by a hearth or small fire with drinks (Traditionally vodka mixed with Cranberries). Once the guests are greeted any gifts may be given as being a good host is paramount to any gift, as otherwise the couple would go undeserving of any gift. After the guests are greeted by they are then seated, the man is then separated from the woman to sit at opposite tables from the other. During the first feast the man wears traditional Pasnian clothing throughout, but the woman instead wears a simple dress to represent her innocence and maidenhood. The first feast then begins, usually with a speech and the food is served consisting of traditional Pasnian foods and drinks. After some time has passed dancing may commence, the bride may take part in the dancing but the man may not to show his  restraint and trust. During the first feast and dance the bride then leaves to change into new clothing, this being a dress which combines the banners of both Houses/families and represents the unity and sanctity between the respective families. This dress also represents the woman's coming of age and casting of her maiden attire to blossom into that of a full woman, recognized as such in Pasnian culture. After the pair has been wed, the second feast commences and the pair may now share a table together, this to symbolize that they will from that day forth dine together as husband and wife. The feast continues and a bedding is considered optional, the pair deciding on that factor. It then either stops due to everyone falling asleep or due to the families deciding to end it.

 

 

Language:

The first recorded sources of the Pasnian language could be found near the era in which Pasnia converted to the Canonist Faith, probably due to the arrival of Canonist Missionaries who brought the literacy to Pasnia. The Pasnian people borrowed the Floxi alphabet to their language, to which they’ve added their own letters to pronounce certain sounds. 

Below there is a list of common words and phrases in the Pasnian language:

 

 

 

   

"The Pasnian Alphabet"

 

OOC:

If you're interested in role-playing this culture, contact Saarty1 via forums or Skype, or Saarty1#9325 in Discord.

[Lvke 1000]

POLSKA STRONK????????

[ACU20 567]

Kocham cie, kochaine 

[Birdnerdy 1539]

da da niet

[InfamousGerman 1553]

cyka blyat

[LoLzboi 661]

Cheeki Breeki

[Andustar 4143]

"Heh, our Winged-Hussar's are better." A Carnatian remarks

[KeatonUnbeaten 1103]

When the winged hussars arrive, du du du dun dun da

when the winged hussars arrive, dun dun du du da da

[Trenchist 864]

14 hours ago, keaton9011 said:

When the winged hussars arrive, du du du dun dun da

when the winged hussars arrive, dun dun du du da da

coming down the mountain side, du dhu dhu dun dun

 

[Vege 4804]

I like this yes

[Saarty1 119]

The Pasnian nation shall return...

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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