spk 119 Share Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) The Redclyfians Spoiler An extensive handbook on the history and culture of the Redclyfians ____________________________________________________________ Origins The Red Company’s Coat of Arms Prior to the Redclyfians, there was the renowned Red Company: a band of knights led by the renowned and respectable Captain Friedrich and his uncle Ulrich. The Red Company had fought in many wars and battles under different banners such as the Jackalope Knights, Krugmar, and later Savoy. Throughout their early life, they were given keeps and land to act as their headquarters. Eventually, however, they found themselves backstabbed by the Jackalope Knights when the Knights arrested and tortured one of their men. Rage, fueled by the betrayal of the Jackalopes, led to Friedrich and his men taking up arms against them, launching raids and fighting skirmishes against the Jackalope Knights and Kane Redfist’s town. Sutican Tour of 33 S.A, depicting battle between the Red Company and the PKS within the defeated town of Brynrose Later on, they moved to Krugmar and gained land (which they would go on to call Westfelde) in return for their martial prowess. Soon enough, however, the Red Company found itself back in Sutica, who too recognized their martial abilities and granted them land. This land and keep was to be called Redclyf. Years later, after Friedrich of Redclyf and his uncle Ulrich joined the Mösu family, the collapse of Savoy occurred. This left Redclyf independent and surrounded by former vassals of Savoy, in addition to new factions who threatened the stability of the region. They moved to Myrine alongside their newly gained Rozanian vassal to found the Redclyf-Rozanian duchy, kickstarting the Redclyfian way of life. ____________________________________________________________ Way of Governance The way of governance among the Redclyfians has remained the same since its founding, being a feudal society that is primarily ruled by a Duke. Like many such monarchical governments, a council aids the lord of Greenstone in both administration and decision-making - for what good is a lord who does not listen to the voices of his people? Greenstone’s Council is modeled similarly to the Aesir council of the old Redclyf-Rozania, which was divided into several roles: The Aesir of Aesirs (Chancellor), Aesir of Peace (High Diplomat), Aesir of War (The Marshal), Aesir of Coin (High Steward), Aesir of Whispers (Spymaster), and the Aesir of Protection (captain of the duke’s guard). In the martial culture of Redclyf, generals and knights are often the most celebrated members of the aristocracy, but most do not join the upper class in the usual feudal way - via blood and standing alone. Instead, most Redclyfian nobles gain their titles through merit. Sometimes even commoners rise to gain positions within the noble-led government due to serving well and having the right skills for the job. Whether born to their noble role or appointed as noble due to their abilities, the nobles stand as examples of the prime Redclyfian, serving as an example to all of what one should become and strive for: an honored and chivalrous warrior who is proud and indomitable. ____________________________________________________________ Rhythms of Daily Life Around a Redclyfian town, or perhaps even inside the wooden palisades, one will always find large wheatfields being attended to by farmers under the blazing sun, as they dirty their hands and feet working in the soil. Horses and various other livestock graze in lavish pastures under the watchful eye of a shepherd boy and his trusted canine companion as they keep order and safety among the herd. Suddenly a bell is struck marking the 12th hour of the day, midday, and everyone moves in towards the village. The wheatfields are left for now, and the herds are brought into enclosed pastures with only canines to watch over them. Every Redclyfian enters their homes for an hour to utter a prayer to whatever faith they practice, be it Almarism or canonism, before eating and resting to replenish their strength to continue working till dusk. Their homes are simple, with either flax or wooden roofs keeping them from the cold, while walls are made out of sturdy wood or stone depending on how rich the individual is. In the center of the town, there is a bustling square filled with market stalls, selling various goods and services such as metal works, foods, carpentry, textiles, and foreign goods. The air fills with shouts in both foreign and local accents from merchants eager to draw customers to their wares. A notice board is filled with papers from officials who have nailed up decrees and news, as well as from commoners who have nailed postings about their own services and events. A tavern can be found not too far from the center of the town, where your average citizen finds himself enjoying his spare time after a long and hard day of work via drinking and socializing. Even nobles themselves join in to spend time with the common folk and to form bonds of friendship with them. Not far from the town square lies the Lord’s manor or keep, having been erected on elevated land so as to gain a good view of the lands around, to keep an eye on the commoners below, and to keep an eye open for enemy warbands. The keeps are erected and built with a moat and bailey; the keep itself is a large stone tower with four corners. This structure is typically connected to a wall, which forms a bailey right in front of the keep. Outside these structures is another wooden palisade with its little wooden gatehouse, which forms an outer bailey. Here one finds the town blacksmiths, making weaponry, armory, and tools of the trade in the town as sweat pours down their foreheads due to the immense heat. Within the courtyard, knights and their squires, alongside men-at-arms, train and attend to their duties, such as patrolling the estate and lands to ensure the safety of the people and to hone their skills for future wars. In one of the corners of the wall, there is a large tower, serving as barracks, as well as an armory for the troops stationed there. Spoiler OOC NOTE: This is not a description of an actual place on LOTC, but rather how a Redclyfian town would be built and the average daily life of a redclyfian. ____________________________________________________________ Views on World & Life Redclyfian knight fighting against a Norlander The Red Company and Redclyf were formed and grounded by Highlander Knights, which has led the Redclyfian culture to take on a set of norms and beliefs similar to other Highlander folk groups. However, the warrior lifestyle has taken a firm hold on the culture as well. The most noticeable aspect of this is their proud and chivalry-centered way of life, most people making decisions based on what they find honorable and what is beneficial for the town. Redclyfians are proud of their social standing and the work they put in to provide for themselves, yet they also care deeply for their family and community. They are also known for their indomitable will, refusing to bend to another people or ruler, unless it is a Redclyfian lord guiding them while they are under another state or are working with another state as mercenaries. Redclyfians admire horses as a central part of their culture, seeing them as majestic and powerful creatures which have become an integral part of life, especially for their soldiers - for Redclyfian warriors are usually mounted knights fighting with great prowess. They have a strong belief in the family unit and community, which comes in many shapes and forms. A soldier might see his brothers and sisters in arms as his family, while a worker in the field bonds with his fellow workers as family. Still another citizen might most closely cherish the people who share her flesh and blood: her kin. Whether one’s family is by blood or by bond, remaining faithful to the family unit and protecting it, even if it comes with the cost of one's own life, is sacrosanct to the Redclyfian way of life. At all costs, they must not disgrace or drag the family in the mud for their own selfish vices. It would be honorless for one to abandon their family in their greatest time of need or to abuse it for their gain. There is a belief common among the Redclyfians, one that stems from their militancy and their adherence to honor: “Death before dishonor, and if death, then perish with a sword in hand.” In other words, they would rather die than disgrace themselves by practicing deeds associated with dishonor, and they will always go out fighting for what they find honorable. Why, though? As a result of this martial philosophy, Redclyf seeks to gain as much strength as possible; however, due to their sense of honor, they have no desire to practice cruelty and savagery towards those that are weaker. In their minds, the strong ought to protect the weak. If the weak should struggle and refuse to surrender, then it is the duty of the strong to make their opponents’ deaths quick, for there is no honor in dragging out their struggle. ____________________________________________________________ Traditions & Celebrations Redclyfians celebrate the longest day in the year by lighting fires and dancing Redclyfian culture includes a rich tapestry of celebrations and traditions, some being imported from different nations and cultures and others being native to the Redclyfians. The main example of a non-native celebration is Krugsmas, a festive celebration all about sharing presents and time with your family/kin. Redclyf also revels in being able to celebrate their own culture with celebrations and traditions of various themes and moods throughout the year. One common celebration is known as Midsummer in the common tongue and is celebrated on the longest day of the year. Townspeople erect and light on fire large and small stick piles whilst young men jump over them as a sport. Dancing, eating, music, and drinking are common during these celebrations too, as it is a way for everyone involved to take a break from the hard labor of the summer heat to ensure a healthy harvest, so that they may relax and enjoy life a little. Coming of age is an important part of every Redclyfian’s life, for it marks the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. Unlike most cultures, however, coming of age does not occur at a certain age, but rather after the completion of a few trials, which every boy must go through to become a man. There are three trials that a boy has to complete to be considered a man. First, he must tame a wild horse, breaking its will and asserting his dominance over it to assert himself as its master and rider. This may happen in different forms; sometimes boys are sent into the wild to find a wild horse and tame it, while sometimes it is simply a feisty horse from the village stables. (Why tame a horse? Horses are an important animal, both spiritually and practically, for the Redclyfians. They represent great strength, courage, and beauty, while in practical terms, they are an important part of the way Redclyfians partake in war: relying on mobility and cavalry. Horses are also essential for the life of the Redclyfian farmer, as they are used for plowing and transportation.) Second, he must hunt down a worthy animal upon the newly tamed horse, usually using a spear or a bow and arrow. Some even opt to simply ram the animal with their horse, depending on what they are hunting. A worthy animal can be anything from a deer to a bear, depending on what is available to hunt and what the boy’s testers think he will be able to handle. The last, and perhaps most dangerous, trial of them all is to honorably slay a man in either battle, skirmish, or duel. ____________________________________________________________ Redclyfian Tongue & Phrases Just as every culture and people who have existed and developed independently has gradually formed their own language, and just as the great nations of Almaris each have their own speech and tongue, so have the Redclyfians developed their own way of speech. Their language is based on the Auvergenian language (since the Redclyfians and Red Company originally existed in Savoy lands), yet it has intermingled with Old Norlandic from the influence of the Mösu clan to form the tongue of Redclyfians. Common Phrases Baonjour - Hello À bétôt - See you soon À la s’maine tchi veint - See you next week À peu près - Nearly, about Bouan gniet - Good Night Coume tchi que l’affaire va - How’s it going, How’s business going J’m’en fiche - I don’t care La fîn du temps f’tha tout vaie - Time will tell Ni feu ni feunque - No fire nor smoke Ni feu ni fouôngne - No fire nor baking Quaï heure qu’il est - What time is it Quaï temps qu’i fait - How’s the weather S’i’vous pllait - Please, if you please Tchi qu’est vote naom - What’s your name? Numbers The Redclyfian way of counting and numbers h follows a pattern like many other languages. The tens, for example, usually end with “nte” to signify it is two digits, the only number breaking this pattern being Ten and Twenty. Although sometimes there are variables for the same thing, a good example is Eighty, which would be Quatre-vîngts (literally 4 twenties). As for the hundreds, one simply attaches a “Chents” at the end (e.g. deux-chents, Trais-chents, Quat’-chents, etc). The sample principle applies to 4 digits and 6 digits as well. Iuene - One Deux - Two Trais - Three Quate - Four Chînq - Five Six - Six Saept - Seven Huit - Eight Neuf - Nine Dgix - Ten Vîngt - Twenty Trente - Thirty Quarante - Forty Chînquante - Fifty Sessànte - Sixty Septante - Seventy Quatre-vîngts/Huiptante - Eighty Nénante - Nighty Chents - Hundred Mille - Thousand Millaon - Million Colors Rouoge - Red Vért - Green Juane - Yellow Orange - Orange Bliu Floncé - Dark Blue Bliu Cliai - Light Blue Brun - Brown Pourpre - Purple Blianc - White Rose - Pink Nièr - Black Gris - Gray ____________________________________________________________ The Average Redclyfian The average Redclyfian is one of primarily Highlander descent, sharing many similarities with them when it comes to their physique (Not every Redclyfian resembles a Highlander, however, since the culture and way of life of Redclyf are not exclusive to one group of people. Just as a Highlander can adapt to elven and orc society and culture, so can other races and kinds of humans adapt to the ways of Redclyf). Like Highlanders, the average Redclyfian usually has pale skin, although tans are not uncommon, especially among those working long hours out in the sun on their farm or honing their martial prowess. Due to the people being hard-working, it has left them with tough skin, their hands filled with blisters and scrapes. Eye color ranges from common brown to blue and lilac. Their hair can go from black and brown to vibrant colors such as red. Redclyfian men and women, as with any human race, differ. Men are taller and sport broader builds than women, whilst women are often both shorter and slimmer. Men usually stand at 5’9 to 6’3 (and sometimes above), while women typically stand at 5’4 to 6 feet. ____________________________________________________________ Where Are They Now? Since the fall of Redclyf-Rozania, the Redclyfians have been wandering the plains of Almaris, searching for a place to call home under the leadership of Björn Mösu, the second and last duke of Redclyf-Rozania. During this time of the exodus, they found themselves living in places such as Balian, yet wherever they went, they still did not feel truly at home. Now the people have resettled in Greenstone, the former forest Dwed settlement of the Verdant Glade, where they live and work as a vassal of the Iron Horde. Björn Mösu still leads them. Spoiler Written by Misterblitzkrieg,Edited by JediMaestro and founded by Seansilver12 Created by and for the current and future Redclyfians Edited March 3, 2023 by spk 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterBlitzkrieg 1357 Share Posted March 3, 2023 Hella based 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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