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Men and Women of the Pasture “The Dencynn? Their artisanal prowess has left a permanent imprint on me since my visit took place. As I delve deeper into their incredulous storytelling and poetic expressions, I am captivated by their ability to transcend time through the means of word.” -Unknown ‘Saxon King’ by Crimson Clover https://www.artstation.com/artwork/BmOqB6 The Dencynn (pronounced Den-Kin, translating to ‘Men of the Pasture’) are a cultural group that make up the vast majority of the populace upon the island of Hurstcombe, far away from any typical descendant-occupied lands. They litter the cliff-struck land with small villages, surrounded by acres upon acres of endless fields for crops, making use of what valleys exist in-between extreme peaks. Not many Dencynn choose to leave Hurstcombe, and those that do require skills well-versed in sailing, due to the rocks and rough waters that surround the landmass, and with limited entrances and exits to port and disembark from, mainly consisting of tucked-away coves. The Dencynn possess an innate understanding of agriculture, skillfully cultivating crops in the fertile valleys, nourished by pure mountain streams. Their connection to the land runs deep, and they have developed a profound respect for nature's cycles, fostering a sustainable way of life that respects the island's delicate, but formidable ecosystem. Due to the attention they give toward their way of life, this leaves them severely lacking in other areas. This includes fields such as magic, (known as Galdorcræft,) which is not awfully commonplace within the people themselves upon Hurstcombe. A Dencynn man or woman who would find themselves as a student of such would surely struggle compared to a regular descendant. ‘landscape_01’ by Sergei Borisenko https://www.artstation.com/artwork/rzwY6 Artisanry is something that the culture is renowned for, a skill they have mastered throughout the aeons they have been isolated on the island. It is present in all walks and aspects of Dencynn life, from door frames to boats, engravings and statuettes are not an uncommon sight. They have a profound affinity for the forests of Hurstcombe, and their woodworkers harness the form of the trees into artistic creations. From intricately carved furniture to finely crafted bows and arrows, their woodwork reflects a seamless blend of aesthetic visual appeal and function. Pottery and jewellery are secondary to woodwork. Earthly-toned pots are commonly crafted and strewn about homes, moulded from clay found in the many mountainous streams into vessels for water and plants, or sometimes just exquisite decorative pieces, painted with unique patterns telling smaller tales. Mining is seen, but not as commonplace as usual descendant civilisations. This results in precious gemstones and rarer metals like aurum to be sought after but uncommonly found in the form of jewellery; various bangles, necklaces and rings. Among their most remarkable traits is their utter mastery of animal husbandry. The vast pastures that stretch out between their settlements are not just for crops but also serve as ideal grazing grounds for their herds of hardy livestock. Their flocks of plump sheep, large rams and herds of robust cattle are an integral part of Dencynn life, providing not only sustenance but also wool and leather for their skilled artisans to craft into fine garments and sturdy goods. Some tales suggest that the reason for their mastery is that men and women of the villages who spend the most time with animals in their youth can whisper into the animal’s ears, influencing their actions. The Dencynn lay themselves deep within their own rich tapestry of cultural heritage, and take heed of stories passed down by oral tradition. These time-honoured customs serve as the very pillars and foundations to Denncynn society, and guide them well through the passage of time, whilst building a strong sense of communal identity within their villages and provinces. “The Festival of Fyrst Leoht, ye say? Aye, me pappy used tae take me and Bane when we was just kids. I'd always like goin' tae see the local goodies, ye know, little trinkets and jams. One year, Wigbert 'ad grown a pumpkin the size of me head! Beats me 'ow he didn't end up winnin' the big show at the end.” -Boon, Dencynn Merchant of ‘Boon & Bane’s’ The Festival of Fyrst Leoht is a cherished season-long celebration that marks the arrival of Spring and the triumphant return of light after the long Winter. As the first rays of sunshine break through the clouds, the Dencynn people rejoice, celebrating the end of the cold season and the promise of fertile soil and abundant crops. During this occasion, the villagers come together, their spirits lifted by the warmth of the sun and the prospect of new beginnings and future harvests. At the festival's culmination toward the end of Spring, they open bustling markets, proudly showcasing their first bountiful harvest and exquisitely crafted goods of the first season to their fellow villagers, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and shared prosperity. Oftentimes, a singular tapestry is woven throughout the holiday as a representative to each family, and brought to the markets, they typically depict events that the family has been through, their ancestors or in recent times, such as a bountiful harvest, or slaying of a monster. Funerals are a delicate ritual in Dencynn culture, offering two main ways of goodbyes to the departed. The first, and most common, taking place as the vast, vast majority of funerals is burial at sea. The corpse of the lost is placed on a small boat, adorned with various symbols such as personal possessions, weapons of choice, and comforts meant to be taken to the afterlife. As the vessel gently sails away on the tranquil waters, a solemn ritual unfolds - a flaming arrow is gracefully launched, by the Arrowbearer, typically the closest family member to the dead, such as a partner or child, if possible, igniting the boat in a mesmerising blaze. ‘The Funeral of a Viking’ by Frank Dicksee The second option for burial is not often, and in present day, is often seen as something archaic is to be buried in a tomb. Typically tombs are dug into the side of mountains or downwards below villages, filled to the brim with thick stone caskets, requiring numerous men to move or position. One tomb is usually kept for one bloodline. Typical graves are not utilised within Dencynn society, keeping a body in such a cramped hole is seen as shoddy and disrespectful to the deceased. Heargs, also known as harrows, hold a deep significance within the Dencynn people. These piles of stones are meticulously constructed upon elevated lands, often overlooking villages or important sites. They are strategically positioned to ward off evil forces from these places which they overlook. Believed to serve as powerful protectors, heargs require regular maintenance and care to ensure their efficiency. If left unattended for too long, the malevolence that they guard against will attempt to disrupt the site, and knock the stones over, dismantling the hearg. This results in the local people of the area diligently tending to their heargs. The Dencynn do not adhere to a centralised or conglomerated religion; they do not necessarily follow a singular or pantheon of gods. Their belief system is moreso made up of a rich assortment of superstitions, myths and tales that have been passed down from generation to generation. This also means some families or villages may believe in one, and other groups of Dencynn do not. There are dozens of tales that are known, unable to be listed in full without a dedicated paper towards it, but some are common themes and are widely believed. The Barghest is a mythical creature, believed to be a demon, that commonly is depicted as a large, fearsome black dog with fiery eyes and razor-sharp teeth, carrying an air of terror about it. If one was to find themselves unfortunate enough to come face to face with this being, they ought to avoid becoming scratched, bitten or otherwise wounded by the Barghest. If one was indeed injured in some capacity, the wound would not heal, no matter the amount of herbal remedies or medicines. The skin surrounding the impacted site will bubble with a black mange. Often these inflicted are shunned by Dencynn society, deemed as harbingers of bad luck. ‘Hellhound' by João Florencio https://www.artstation.com/artwork/L3lJrP The Green Man is said to be a forest giant with a body woven from twisting trunks and a crown of leaves that cascade like flowing hair. He is revered as a symbol of rebirth and renewal, and sightings are for sure to be good fortune to one’s family. His presence ensures the flourishing of the local animal population, preventing species from being over-hunted into dangerous levels. Though generally amiable toward descendants, this mystical being prefers to maintain a respectful distance. Despite its wisdom and benevolence, the Green Man cannot communicate in any common tongue, existing as a silent sentinel, forever watching over the woodlands. Depictions of him are usually woven into the woodwork of family homes, perhaps as a guardian, or as a guide to watch over and aid the family’s newer generations. ‘Forest Troll’ by NotBySight1109 https://www.deviantart.com/notbysight1109/art/Forest-Troll-524815424 Chime hours are a strange phenomenon that supposedly takes place at an exact hour in the morning, although which hour has been up for great debate throughout the culture’s existence, or whether it even occurs every morning. Magical occurrences are more prone to being experienced in chime hours, and children which are born during chime hours, named chime children, are said to be inherently magical themselves. Vampyrs are the same as their regular descendant-lands counterparts. However, they are not awfully common upon Hurstcombe. With their presence, various beliefs are held within the Dencynn people, same with other darkspawn types. It is believed if you bury a vampyr upside down after ‘death’ (or bury their ashes upside down in a container in the case of burning), that when they resurrect once more they will dig downwards, assuming that they are looking up to the surface, never to be seen again. The Adldóc (diseased-hybrid) are extremely rare, cursed creatures. They are previously mere mortal men - turned to monster under certain conditions, namely emotions and state of the moon. It is unknown what causes this wicked phenomenon, but is theorised by Dencynn to be a kind of natural punishment, for those dealing in the most evil deeds, such as disturbing nature. A wide variety of forms have been reported, the most common being lizard-men of a sort, spotted in, and around, the southern swamp of Hurstcombe. Adldóc taking on a more wolf-like form, or a visage of a bear, have been spotted in the more normal, mountainous regions of the island. All are reported to be hostile, aggressive, and for anyone unfortunate enough to fall in their clutches, not much in terms of remains is said to be left either. The curse is widely believed to be curable, someone who is truly loved by the Adldóc, and someone who truly loves the beast, even in such a form, needs to state the true name of the monster audibly. This is said to return them to mortal form, but is likely impossible in most scenarios, due to the unrecognisability of the Adldóc. ‘Lizard lycanthrope’ by Timi Honkanen https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Nyy4YD Petrifying wells are uncommon, but exist in little numbers upon their homeland. They hold a curious and awe-inspiring secret. The waters softly lapse down the rocks of the mountains, landing in natural basins smoothed by the liquid. If an object is hung in this steady stream for some time, over the course of a few months, it would slowly turn to stone, once ordinary items becoming timeless sculptures. Located in the basin of these wells, hagstones can be found. These small stones bear a mysterious circular hole through the centre and are believed to possess mystical properties, able to lift many-a-curse and ward off malevolent influences. Most Dencynn who possess a hagstone hold it close and dear, sometimes threading string through the hole to wear it as a necklace in the hopes of keeping themselves safe from that which is unseen. Nailing a horseshoe to the back of a door is a simple yet potent act of protection. The horseshoe begins to behave as a mini hearg, essentially safeguarding a singular home and driving away evils that dare to approach the front door. This ward is one of the strongest traditions due to its simplicity, and the comfort and peace of mind it provides for children especially. Jinny One Leg is an elderly-looking woman, with bald patches in between whatever small patches of hair she has on top of her head. Wrinkles trickle down her forehead, topping her harrowing eyeline of two solid, dimly glowing, yellow-white eyeballs. It is said she lives in bodies of water, and if she is present, and a child is too close to the edge, they will be dragged under the surface of the water by Jinny, never to be seen again. Some believe that her namesake comes from the fact that records supposedly state she has one leg missing, which also prevents her from leaving the water. Dencynn society is a decentralised hierarchical system, with an acting king or queen as a figurehead, a symbol for the realm of Hurstcombe. Beneath the monarch is a group of earls, of which the king or queen was before being elected. Each earl, including the monarch, governs their own autonomous realm with relative freedom. The role of king or queen is purely ceremonial, merely being an acting force to unify the people and prevent infighting and all out civil wars. The position is not inherited, but rather elected from the earls, by earls, based on wisdom, valour and ability to lead. The title of earl is earned in a handful of ways, upon which way a piece of land grants the title depends on the local customs. The most commonplace tradition is purely through the earl’s bloodline, inheriting the title like a more traditional monarchy. Although, this is not the case for all lands. Other realms utilise elections, similar to earls voting for a monarch, to elect an earl out of diligent members of the local community. Perhaps the rarest form of claiming the moniker of earl is a duel to the death, the aspirant challenges the earl to such a duel, and upon the next morning, it would take place. The winner would either claim the title, or remain with it. ‘The Gleaners’ by Jean-François Millet Thegns (or thanes) are the bridge between earls and the wider people of Hurstcombe. They act as advisors, servants, and undying supporters of their leader. They typically hold their own sphere of influence, although restricted to one of a specific earl’s domains, overseeing tasks such as tributes, taxes or law enforcement if applicable to the community of which he or she is a thegn of. Peasants are the foundation of Dencynn society, the very backbone who allow function. They work the lands, tend to livestock and engage in various trades and crafts. Despite their lower position in the hierarchy, they are still valued as intrinsic members of the community, typically with equal say as thegns or sometimes even earls in local matters. The Dencynn people exhibit a distinct set of common physical traits that distinguish them from other cultural descendant groups. Their facial features, both male and female, tend to be soft, yet a unique angular shape. Their jawlines are typically strong, and oftentimes wide, allowing them to chew through thick cuts of meat with relative ease. “The most handsome lad in all o’ this village, aye? I’ll bloody tell ye who it ain’t! Godric! Bastard has two eyes goin’ tae differin’ directions, cannae tell if he’s lookin’ at ye or at the lass behind me. Don’t get me started on his teeth either, could plough a field with ‘em!” -Hereward, A Dencynn Leatherworker ‘Anglo-Saxon Peasants’ by Unknown In regards to hair, platinum blonde and fiery red tones are the most common, and are often and not uncommon from men and women to be left to grow long in various styles, braids and loose being among those. Accessories such as bangles and bands are common in hair and facial hair, especially in older men and women as a sign of age and experience, as if they were mementos collected from their life. The darker one’s hair is, the more rare it is, with a very small percentage of the population possessing the deeper tones, black being the rarest colour. Skin colour has no effect on this phenomenon. The Dencynn are renowned for their sturdy builds, displaying a balance between muscular strength and agility. The physical demands of their agricultural lifestyle and skilled craftsmanship contribute to their stature. Extremely stocky builds are not unheard of, but the strongest tend to be more on the lean side, still allowing for flexible movement whilst retaining strength. Both sexes tend to be on the taller side, with heights upwards of six feet not being impossible for some women. Tunics and chainmail are standard issues within communities. The simplicity and effectiveness of such makes them widespread and popular amongst the people, finding comfort and protection in both. The tunics are thicker than most, designed to withstand the temperamental weather of Hurstcombe. Garments are often crafted from locally sourced materials, such as wool from their sheep, or local reeds and plants woven lovingly into near-perfect linen. Examples of Dencynn peasantry skins by Myochii ( @Myochii) Names of Dencynn people and places are often tied to the local area, to nature, to familial lineage or personal characteristics, usually of the mother or father. Given names are chosen with great care and consideration, intention placed behind the word upon which the child would be known. “Cyneburg” (Royal Castle), “Aethelstan” (Noble Stone), “Uhtred” (Advice), “Maerwine” (Famous Friend), are all good examples of Dencynn names. Place names follow a similar pattern, with locations normally named based on geographical features, natural nearby identifying landmarks, or the names of prominent families or historical figures. Typically this is a descriptive word followed by a noun. “Highpeak” would be a perfect example of a village incorporated into a mountainside, or “Hymnriver”, a village known for a stream that produces peaceful sounds. On the contrary, as previously mentioned, it could be named after landmarks. “Giant’s Hearth” is an example of a name of a village located by a peculiar rock formation, believed by locals to be a long dead giant’s fireplace. Surnames typically do not exist in Dencynn culture, due to the small and enclosed communities which they hold. To differentiate two people, their job title or their place of origin is typically appended to their name. An example of this is “Hereward of Verdantholt” or “Hereward Smith”. To foreigners, there are few ways to tell relations through the basis of names alone. The Dencynn People Men and Women of the Pasture