[Culture] Franks - Tribes Of The Franktir

[Norgeth 1176]

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FRANKS - TRIBES OF THE FRANKTIR

ᚠᚱᚪᚾᚳᛋ × ᛒᛁ ᛒᛚᚩᚩᛞ ᚻᛖᚱᚩᛖᛋ × ᛒᛁ ᚹᚪᚱ ᛒᚪᚱᛒᚪᚱᛁᚪᚾᛋ

"They were the ones to carve the ancient faces upon the mountains, and they were the ones to erect the Elder Monuments of the Franklands. . ." - A Minitzian Scholar, Early Aevos

 

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Overview & Origin

Tribalistic Highlanders, born of early Jorenic Folk in days-gone-by, the origin of the Frankish people is one shrouded in mystery and myth, and though it is universally agreed by outside scholars that these barbaric and hardy people are somehow connected to the ancient inhabitants of Edel, it is not agreed on when they arose as a distinct cultural group, nor is it known how exactly they arrived upon Aevos somewhere in the distant and far-flung past. Frankish sages and aged wisemen tell a differing story, and though it often changes from tribe to tribe, the general idea of an elder war between brothers, and the splintering of kingdoms there-after is always present.

Franks, physically and culturally, are hardy people, stubborn to the core and unyielding in war, conflict, and ruinous change, they are often unable to change their worldviews, often to their detriment or fault. Strong and tall of body and generally fair of skin and hair, the Frankish tribes had, until recently, lived in the central Aevosian heartlands for untold generations, with their people having a strong inclination to that general landscape, often being skilled forest trackers and mountaineers, in conflict either taking up ranged weapons such as bows, primitive crossbows, and javelins, or heavy melee weaponry such as axes, imposing swords, and large-bladed spears. Both men and women of the Franks are allowed and encouraged to fight when their way of life is threatened, with them being known for their extensive use of blueish woad warpaint, such being applied in swirling, runic patterns before each battle without fail.

Culture & Traits

Franks are a tribal Highlander people “native” to the Aevosian continent whose technological level is typically that of the late-bronze age, though several tribes are known to also use iron tools and weaponry. An agricultural people supported by hunting, gathering, and other sources of food, Franks use what they are given to its utmost efficiency and usefulness. The Frankish tribes are typically considered rather barbaric and uncivilized, though are known for their loyalty and honour to those they respect and swear oaths to, be them fellow Frank or outsider alike. A fierce and warlike grouping of disparate tribes that are occasionally united by common cause, honour or other means, overall, the Franks are not to be messed with without caution less you meet spear and sword, axe and arrow. . .

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Might of Dagodurnos - Franks are a strong people, tall and mighty in stature and formidable upon the battlefield, rarely standing below 6 feet in height, often a few inches taller, able to reach the maximum human limit with general ease and proper nutrition. War and conflict comes naturally to a Frank, them picking up the use of new weapons and military tactics easier than most, for even before the arrival of the primary descendant host, the Frankish peoples practised endemic warfare often, tribes fighting against each other, either alone, or in honour bound coalitions and alliances.

Endurance of Katurix - Those of the Franktir are a hardy kind, able to walk for days on end with little tire and shrug off minor wounds with little pain or discomfort, both traits akin to a trained soldier. Frankish villages and resource encampments were traditionally separated by vast swaths of land, be it mountain, plain or forest, with their inhabitants being used to travelling long and far to complete their goals, whatever they may be, for war, peace, or otherwise.

Blood of Joren - Born of early Jorenic settlers, the Frankish tribes are used to somewhat colder conditions and lack of insulated or more modern shelter, many a Frank only having a fire to warm them during a chilly winter night, and while the Franklands as a whole are warmed during the summer and spring, it’s traditional inhabitants often find trouble when in more arid, dry locals, with Frankish explorers often noting their great discomfort when exploring searing desert or savanna. Franks possess pale skin and lighter hair, often ranging from a simple blond or brown to a more complex rusty reddish hue, with eyes often being blue, green, a mixture of the two, or rarely, a light hazel.

Devastated Population - War and conflict with the primary descendant host, specifically the technologically superior Reinmaren of then Minitz has devastated the population and livelihoods of many if not all Frankish Tribes. Most traditional sages and wisemen died during the early years of the first conquest, and even more perished during the second, the Franks are now a scattered people, either living in half-ruined camps sites still within their dwindling territory inside the homeland, or beside the very people who brought such devastation and destruction upon them, these Franks having to put aside their stubbornness and accept that life will never be the same as before the “Sea People” arrived on that fateful day.

CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

Word is bond - Franks value loyalty and the keeping of oaths and promises above all else, with it being well known that if a Frank promises you something, it surely must be upheld, less the tribesman in question is without sanity, or worse, corrupted and black of heart. To the Frankish tribes, your word is your bond, and you are to stick by your beliefs and values even if they harm you or your family, this often leading to more traditional Franks losing everything because of a prior agreement gone wrong.

Hero Veneration - Traditional to the Frankish way of life is the effective worship of the ancestors alongside the Creator, in particular specific “Hero-Gods”, these being Franks and even well known outsiders who have done great deeds in the eyes of the Frankish tribes. These ancestral deities are often local in scope, only being worshipped by a handful of tribes, perhaps only one if the ancestor in question is of such a small scope. On the inverse, if a Frank, or more typically an outsider deals great pain to the Frankish tribes as a whole, refusing to redeem themselves or atone for their actions, then these deceased men are sometimes thought of as “Villain-Gods”, something that is reviled and whose name is spoken only in hate. In the modern day, many Franks will state their religion as Canonism, either to avoid persecution, or due to honest belief in such due to conversion, even if the True Faith’s tenets and teachings are often half-heartedly adhered to.

Way of the Elder Sages - In those days of yore, Franks are said to have carved great faces upon the very mountains and raised monuments of immense proportion and grandeur, with many failing ruins and structures dotting the traditional homeland of these people in central Aevos. Many Frankish tribesmen attribute these impressive and impossible creations and myths to that of the “Elder Sages”, and certainly, some of their influence and wisdom remains within the Franks as a whole. Individual tribesmen are known to be quick learning, easy to adapt information and their studies into all manner of pursuits, be it alchemy, mundane crafts, or historical research; inversely, whole tribes and their allies have been said to cooperate and complete tasks with surprising speed and efficiency. However despite these positive cultural attributes gifted by those ancient wisemen, Franks as whole are typically very stubborn and blunt in their opinions and words, at times even appearing rude or disrespectful to outsider mindsets.

A Homeland Lost - The traditional territory of the Frankish tribes, often called “The Franklands” is a quickly dwindling area where Franks practise their ways, unchanged by the arrival of the primary population of descendants. This landscape, devastated and ruined by war and the settlement of others, is one set to disappear within the next generation or two. Many Frankish monuments and runestones have been toppled, the history contained within being lost to the winds of time, additionally, most Franks feel a strong sense of both guilt and loss when thinking about their homeland, for if they had changed their mindset during and after the first conquest and arrival of early Aaunic settlers, then perhaps they would have been given allowance to live as they did for generations. Others feel angry and spiteful, filled with wrath to who they view as foreign invaders.

Confirmed Sub-Groups & Known Tribes

 

Due to the near destruction and evacuation of the Frankish tribes out of the Franklands as well as the tribal nature of the culture, there are many groupings of Franks that dot the lands, the following are a list of known tribes and tribal collations that exist in the modern day, known to the Franks as “The Age of The Sea-Peoples” or “The Age of Loss” depending on how hateful the individual is.

 

[THIS LIST WILL BE UPDATED OVERTIME. PLEASE MESSAGE ME ON DISCORD IF YOU SEEK TO HAVE A GROUP OR TRIBE ADDED TO THE LIST.]

 

- Rein-Frankish Tribes [Live as Tributaries in The Principality of Reinmar]

Tribe of Uxelosii [Lead by Mogurix, Son of Garomaros]

Other Followers of the Hawk [Unknown amount of tribes and individuals]

 

- Remnant Franklands Tribes [Illegally Live in the Heartlander Confederacy]

Unknown small amount of  tribes and individuals [Not United, Exist as Disparate Groups]

 

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Credits

I want to greatly thank and credit the following people for helping with this project and culture, if you helped in the original Franklands events and want to be credited, please send me a message on discord and I’ll add you right away, I feel it is very, very important to honour those who made the culture/events in the first place, many thanks. Overall, the inspiration and general vibe/basis for the Franks is the continental Celts of Gaul/Gallic peoples, with the addition of a small set of Brythonic Celtic elements/ideas as part of my own contribution.

 

Madone2k - Original Frankish Lore/Event Writer

MiniGuy - Original Frankish Lore/Event Writer

Norgeth_ - Primary Post Writer

Titanium430 - Proof-reader
The Reinmar Community - Helping out IRP & OOC to allow this to even be written

Aswell as SimplySeo - Trait Formatting Style

 

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[SimplySeo 5350]

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