[Culture] The Hietevias Slavers

[KaiserJacobII 1048]

 

The Hietevias Slavers

A few Hietevs fight a lone horsemen to capture him

 

Overview

Spoiler

The Hietevias people are a Highlander Human culture very similar in many ways to the Norlanders, sharing many characteristics with their more civilized brothers. The key difference between the two is just that, the Norlanders are more civilized, in nearly every way. Hietevs are highly aggressive, living in a tribal clan-based society, with a majority of their culture focused religiously on the practice of slavery. Slavery is incredibly important and sacred to the Hietevias people. It has been a key tradition for centuries, and the Hietevias love their traditions. As an extremely traditionalistic society, a Hietev will view outside influence and outside cultures with suspicion, if not hate.

 

History

Spoiler

The Hietevs have lived in small settlements and nomadic clans for the past hundred of years. Little is known about where they come from, but the most accepted theory is that they branched off from Norlandic culture slowly. Another more radical theory claims Norlandic culture actually formed out of a group of civilized Hietevs. Wherever they came from, they have been quite throughout history, only engaging in small, insignificant skirmishes with Elves or Imperials caused by their continued slavery.

 

There is a legend of a Hietev named Ietierelis. He supposedly formed a prosperous Hietevias slaver kingdom, and was the founder of the Ietierelis clan. Whether this legend is total myth or has some truth to it, it is an inspiration to those Hietevs who wish for more than a nomadic life.

 

 

Language

Spoiler

Hietevs don’t currently have a written language, but it does have a spoken language known as Kalba. Kalba is an interesting language, similar to what is spoken by Norlanders, but also to Raevir and even Waldenian language.

 

Common words and phrases

 

 

Hail, greetings (formal greeting) - sveikinimas

 

Hello, hi (informal greeting) - Sveiki

Goodbye - Atsisveikinimas

How are you? - Kaip jaučiatės?

 

Clan, family - Gentis

 

Mother - Motina

Father - Tėvas

Brother - Brolis

Sister - Sesuo

 

((Kalba is just spoken Lithuanian, so you can get words from that language))

 

 

Appearance and clothing

Spoiler

Physically most Hietevs will look a lot like Norlanders, with lighter hair colours, and powerful physiques. But, this isn’t always the case, as some can have darker skin

tones, and darker hair colours.

A Hietev man

 

The Hietevs wear whatever is available to them, mostly furs, and wool. Heavy tunics to lighter shirts depending on the climate they are in. They also have a common practice of looting and reusing the clothing from their captured slaves, which really diversifies their clothing. They will commonly wear the armour of those they captured, while their clothing is mostly made by their own hand. Some Hietev clans have uniforms or traditional clothing.

The Clans (Clans will be added as more clans are formed)

Spoiler

Clan Ietierelis

(Contact me to play a Ietierelis)

A Hietev in traditional Ietierelis armour

 

Clan colours: Red, black, gold

 

The greatest of the Hietevias clans, and the current head clan. They are slavers and warriors, but also strong leaders. They have been the traditional leaders of settled Hietevs for centuries. The clan claims to be directly descended from King Ietierelis, but whether this is true, or even whether the man existed, is debatable. But what is known is that the Ietierelis clan is the most organized Hietevias clan, and the one that has historically led the settlement of Hietevs.

 

 

Names

Spoiler

Hietevias names follow a simple format:

First name, Father's first name + sūnus for boy or + dukra for girl, and finally iš + clan name (If you have a clan)

 

Examples:

 

Male:

Antanas Leonasūnus iš Ietierelis

 

Female:

Daiva Virgilijusdukra iš Ietierelis

 

((For the first name and father's name use a Lithuanian name that isn't a Christian name))

 

Music

Spoiler

A Hietevias drummer

 

Although a zealous, slaver culture, the Hietevs have a strong connection to music. Most Hietev know how to play a musical instrument, and the most common among them are drums, harps, reed flutes, and horns. Instruments are carved or painted with various symbols and images. A master-crafted instrument can become a clan heirloom just as a weapon can, passed down through the heads of the clan.

 

 

Slavery

Spoiler

Hietevias Slavers haul off some captured slaves

 

The Hietevias culture has always been built around slavery, which they call Vergija. Vergija is sacred to Hietevs, as they consider the capture of a slave as a great honour, and the hunt itself as sacred. The stronger the target, the greater the honour. But slavery isn’t just a ritualistic practice, it is also an economic one. The sale and trade of slaves has been the greatest contribution to Hietevias wealth, thus they often settle near nations that will purchase their slaves, such as Krugmar. This has unfortunately also made them enemies in many nations, but the slavers fight on to preserve their culture.

 

A slaver’s knife, a sacred Hietevias tool

 

Many rituals exist surrounding Vergija, and these rituals are followed with fervour. Before the hunt for a slave, they hunters will meet, and ask the gods for a good and honourable hunt. They will burn herbs, and smoke up a smoke tent, which the hunters enter to be blessed. After the capture of slaves, and before any use of them, a blood sacrifice is done. Each slave will receive a non-lethal cut on their hand by a slaver knife, and the blood will be pooled in a cup. The blood is then sipped by each of the hunters, to honour the gods. Every Dievai month one slave is selected as a sacrifice for the gods, this is considered a great honour for the slave. This is called Vergijdieną, and is a very important celebration, it is also the celebration of Sugauti.

 Vergijdieną shortly before the sacrifice

 

 Slaves must be treated with respect, and gratuitous punishment is not allowed against the captured. To kill a slave outside of Vergijdieną is a grave offense, and must only be done if there is no other option. The sale of slaves is also very ritualistic. Before selling a slave, the salesmen must pray to Sugauti, asking for the life of the slave to no longer be a responsibility of the Hietevs.

 

The Dievai - Gods of the Hietevs

Spoiler

Sugauti - The Great Slaver

God of slaves, slavery, and the slaver

Symbols: Bolas, slaver’s knife

 

Miškas - The Master of The Fields

God of agriculture, farms, and farmers

Symbols: Sickle, wheat

 

Natūra - The Green Lady

Goddess of natural life, nature, and the earth

Symbols: A tree, a green sun, flowers

 

Pagimdyti - The Mother

Goddess of fertility, mothers, childbirth, and maternal love

Symbols: Milk, a child’s sleeping fur, an egg

 

Sutriuškinti - The Red Horseman

God of war, combat, death in combat, soldiers, and offense

Symbols: Any weapon, blood, a red horse

 

Apsaugoti - The Shieldbearer

God of defense, protection, safety, and strategy

Symbols: A shield, a spear, feathers 

 

Mirtis - The Hooded Stranger

God of death, the afterlife, and judgment

Symbols: black rocks, scales, black cloaks

 

((If you wish to play a Hietev contact me! I am trying to put together a group to get a settlement going and we need more members. PM me on discord at Kaiser Jacob II#1965 to get involved.))

[rathat 614]

 

I smell slavery

[Tentoa 1991]

Lithuanian isn't the choice I expected to see for a cultural inspiration on LoTC. I don't mind it. 

[Mannamannaa 1626]

Excellent culture post! Krugmar looks forward to reaching out and making some connections with other slaver societies. =D

[gameingg 603]

based

[Gustando 1457]

based