Post by galoko on Sept 1, 2014 2:17:20 GMT
Appearance and General Knowledge
The Markandr of the human cultures hail from the Northern home of Stonehearth. Recently evicted within the past few years they were a wayward people, that through strife and uprising of power have found themselves moving across the land. Through hunger, sweat, and steel they have made their way through the ages. Their bodies are well-toned from the constant working and fighting that characterises their lifestyle, and their hair colors range from blonde to brunette, with some tints of silver adorn their features, with rugged beards for the men or rather thick locks for the women, tied back into some sort of style or fashion that is simple and keeps their hair out of their face. Their personalities range from playful to gruff, from quiet and somber to exploding with happiness, but they are a proud people that will fight for their kind and their families. Having lost their home once before, they aim to build upon their grounds a grand place of worship and strength. A true home and a true land that will never be taken from them again, be it by bloodshed or be it by their own destruction. The men and women who came from where the winds would blow a fierce cold find their skin weathered and their stature at least tall or almost towering, with men averaging at least 6'2", with some being able to go to a very even 7'0". While it is not a standard, most Markandr tend to make clothes for their children with full intent to allow them to grow into them, even if they were roomy for them at the time. For women, the average is at least 5'8", with the fortune or misfortune of going up into 6'5". These tall statures do not make any sort of individual male or female rule within the culture itself. Often times, any disputes are settled either by a third party or by a hand to hand brawl, witnessed by someone to make sure it is a fair fight.
Naming Traditions
Names and Surnames go back through tradition though much of why this is so has since been lost to time and turmoil. When the Mother and Father create the name for the child it is within a mind to have some clue or want for the child's future, like noblehood would have a softer sounding name whilst a warrior or a barbarian would have a much softer one, or a crafter would even have something that was far more intricate in mind. The surnames however are often something very direct and made from some sort of nod to what their ancestors might have appeared like, or some aspect of their physique or even their notable personality that was readily apparant at the time. The most common names are currently as follows:
Common female names for the Markandr include but are not at all limited to: Aerie, Asta, Astrid, Auda, Aniaka Asvora, Brenda, Brynja, Dynaheir, Eirna, Elle, Emae, Erica, Fjorgyn, Frieda, Gerda, Gunnhilde, Haldana, Halla, Idna, Igna, Inge, Ingrid, Kelda, Kirsten, Linnea, Liv, Liwenya, Mildri, Nanna, Norma, Olga, Ragnilde, Rana, Rona, Runa, Sigourney, Sigrid, Sonora, Solveiq, Svanelde, Ragna, Rengue, Thora, Thaerdis, Tira, Unne, Valda, Yngvild and Yeul.
Common male names for Markandr include but are not at all limited to: Arkhis, Bodvar, Brian Eric, Verland, Finnus, Freyne, Garreth, Gaurda, Geir, Gunnar, Gunther, Gus, Gustav, Hakan, Haldor, Harold, Hjordis, Holger, Howe, Jorund, Kell, Kerr, Kouke, Latham, Lozmar, Njord, Oddvar, Odell, Olaf, Ormar, Ranulf, Regin, Roscoe, Rothwell, Runolf, Somerled, Sorley, Stig, Swain, Taeit, Tarn, Tate, Terje, Todd, Torvald and Vastrad.
Common Surnames for the Markandr Include but are not at all limited to: Swordscar, Greymane, Wildfist, Fleetfoot, Lionheart, Greycloak, Strong-Voice, Iron-Fur, etc etc etc.
Clothing And/Or Dress-styles
Hair is worn long or short in simple and useful ways. Long hair (or beard, for men) is an asset during the cold seasons. Shorter cropped locks and more colour-treated hairstyles are prevalent to the warmer spring and summer colours, where the spirit is that of relaxation and festivals rather than true and apparent survival. Women wear their long hair either straight or succinctly braided and tied at the tips with silver clasps. Other hairstyles feature locks of hair tied together in sections with thin leather string, and shoulder length worn down. Most often, men's braids are not very ornate, almost always covering a few inches of their neck or even their foreheads. Knots are not at all uncommon given their unkemptness, but combs are a commodity that are often made of platinum or silver, they make excellent gifts and have a high trading value to those who would want to gift their significant other with some form of lavishness. In recent years wool or linens had been the norm for the creation of their clothing, some things like silk or cotton being either impossible to find and grow or too expensive or precious a commodity. In the colder months, it is not uncommon to bundle up and wear bundles, with thick clothing that layer over each other, that can add up in weight and can slow someone down but when removed in one's home they would be drenched in sweat. In the summer months they wear clothing that exposes their skin, wearing things that come up past their elbow or their knees. Most clothes are close-fitted and made to emphasize the body type of the individual, cloaks made to drape over a single shoulder, in some sort of regal fashion.
Some of the warriors make a point of wearing some sort of leg wrap. The wraps consistent of two long, narrow strips of cloth, which are wound rather tightly around the leg and foot. By starting at the knee and wrapping downwards and ending at the toes, no clips or fasteners are needed. The wraps stay firmly in place, even during vigorous activity. Female Markandr tend to wear rather short attire, exposing their legs but their arms are covered, the tips or split ends of the clothing tightly bound and wrapped over themselves at the hem as the shirts and tunics. Over the dresses, they wear long rectangular aprons held by large clasps at the shoulder, if they were more inclined to be farmers. They wear normal armor, if they are fighters, like any man.
Markandr Proverbs
Less good than they say for the fruit of men's loins is the drinking oft of bitter ale: for the more they drink, the less they know about the inlaid nature of themselves. - Vastrad Silvermane
Even three words of quarrelling you shouldn't have with an inferior, unless they have earned your trust on the bloody mess that is battle. - Arkhis Markandr
Stone is a precious thing, yes-yes-yes, a precious thing indeed. But what good is stone when people have need of iron and sharp sticks?! - Jorund Wildbeard
A woman that can drink twice as much as any man is a blessin', but a man that can't hold his ale at all needs a whallop over the head! - Unne Swordscar
Norse Songs
A Giant's Lament
I dwell beneath the mountains,
In hollow caverns,
Which never yet were troubled
By the crack of dawn,
I hate the harmless sheep,
The sons of the mountains,
Who bow the knee at altars
By me detested.
It is my pleasure to wander
On midnight whirlwinds ;
To trample on their farms,
To whelm the cargoes.
I lead the weary woodsman
Far from his home,
Well pleased to see him shudder,
When I am laughing.
Yet I endure the daylight,
Though brightly shining,
To meet waving
Their bloody twigs.
What joy, when twittering arrows
Fly round the battle ;
When human blood is quenching
the fury of my mace!
_
Heart of the Other
O the force of great verses,
O the mighty strength of boisterous song
Cannot baffle all the curses
Which to mortal state do belong.
Slaughter’d chiefs, that buried under
Heaps of marble, long have lain,
Song can rend your tomb asunder,
Give ye life and strength again.
When around his dying capture,
Fierce, the serpent draws his fold,
Song can make him, wild with rapture,
Straight uncoil, and bite the mould.
The Markandr of the human cultures hail from the Northern home of Stonehearth. Recently evicted within the past few years they were a wayward people, that through strife and uprising of power have found themselves moving across the land. Through hunger, sweat, and steel they have made their way through the ages. Their bodies are well-toned from the constant working and fighting that characterises their lifestyle, and their hair colors range from blonde to brunette, with some tints of silver adorn their features, with rugged beards for the men or rather thick locks for the women, tied back into some sort of style or fashion that is simple and keeps their hair out of their face. Their personalities range from playful to gruff, from quiet and somber to exploding with happiness, but they are a proud people that will fight for their kind and their families. Having lost their home once before, they aim to build upon their grounds a grand place of worship and strength. A true home and a true land that will never be taken from them again, be it by bloodshed or be it by their own destruction. The men and women who came from where the winds would blow a fierce cold find their skin weathered and their stature at least tall or almost towering, with men averaging at least 6'2", with some being able to go to a very even 7'0". While it is not a standard, most Markandr tend to make clothes for their children with full intent to allow them to grow into them, even if they were roomy for them at the time. For women, the average is at least 5'8", with the fortune or misfortune of going up into 6'5". These tall statures do not make any sort of individual male or female rule within the culture itself. Often times, any disputes are settled either by a third party or by a hand to hand brawl, witnessed by someone to make sure it is a fair fight.
Naming Traditions
Names and Surnames go back through tradition though much of why this is so has since been lost to time and turmoil. When the Mother and Father create the name for the child it is within a mind to have some clue or want for the child's future, like noblehood would have a softer sounding name whilst a warrior or a barbarian would have a much softer one, or a crafter would even have something that was far more intricate in mind. The surnames however are often something very direct and made from some sort of nod to what their ancestors might have appeared like, or some aspect of their physique or even their notable personality that was readily apparant at the time. The most common names are currently as follows:
Common female names for the Markandr include but are not at all limited to: Aerie, Asta, Astrid, Auda, Aniaka Asvora, Brenda, Brynja, Dynaheir, Eirna, Elle, Emae, Erica, Fjorgyn, Frieda, Gerda, Gunnhilde, Haldana, Halla, Idna, Igna, Inge, Ingrid, Kelda, Kirsten, Linnea, Liv, Liwenya, Mildri, Nanna, Norma, Olga, Ragnilde, Rana, Rona, Runa, Sigourney, Sigrid, Sonora, Solveiq, Svanelde, Ragna, Rengue, Thora, Thaerdis, Tira, Unne, Valda, Yngvild and Yeul.
Common male names for Markandr include but are not at all limited to: Arkhis, Bodvar, Brian Eric, Verland, Finnus, Freyne, Garreth, Gaurda, Geir, Gunnar, Gunther, Gus, Gustav, Hakan, Haldor, Harold, Hjordis, Holger, Howe, Jorund, Kell, Kerr, Kouke, Latham, Lozmar, Njord, Oddvar, Odell, Olaf, Ormar, Ranulf, Regin, Roscoe, Rothwell, Runolf, Somerled, Sorley, Stig, Swain, Taeit, Tarn, Tate, Terje, Todd, Torvald and Vastrad.
Common Surnames for the Markandr Include but are not at all limited to: Swordscar, Greymane, Wildfist, Fleetfoot, Lionheart, Greycloak, Strong-Voice, Iron-Fur, etc etc etc.
Clothing And/Or Dress-styles
Hair is worn long or short in simple and useful ways. Long hair (or beard, for men) is an asset during the cold seasons. Shorter cropped locks and more colour-treated hairstyles are prevalent to the warmer spring and summer colours, where the spirit is that of relaxation and festivals rather than true and apparent survival. Women wear their long hair either straight or succinctly braided and tied at the tips with silver clasps. Other hairstyles feature locks of hair tied together in sections with thin leather string, and shoulder length worn down. Most often, men's braids are not very ornate, almost always covering a few inches of their neck or even their foreheads. Knots are not at all uncommon given their unkemptness, but combs are a commodity that are often made of platinum or silver, they make excellent gifts and have a high trading value to those who would want to gift their significant other with some form of lavishness. In recent years wool or linens had been the norm for the creation of their clothing, some things like silk or cotton being either impossible to find and grow or too expensive or precious a commodity. In the colder months, it is not uncommon to bundle up and wear bundles, with thick clothing that layer over each other, that can add up in weight and can slow someone down but when removed in one's home they would be drenched in sweat. In the summer months they wear clothing that exposes their skin, wearing things that come up past their elbow or their knees. Most clothes are close-fitted and made to emphasize the body type of the individual, cloaks made to drape over a single shoulder, in some sort of regal fashion.
Some of the warriors make a point of wearing some sort of leg wrap. The wraps consistent of two long, narrow strips of cloth, which are wound rather tightly around the leg and foot. By starting at the knee and wrapping downwards and ending at the toes, no clips or fasteners are needed. The wraps stay firmly in place, even during vigorous activity. Female Markandr tend to wear rather short attire, exposing their legs but their arms are covered, the tips or split ends of the clothing tightly bound and wrapped over themselves at the hem as the shirts and tunics. Over the dresses, they wear long rectangular aprons held by large clasps at the shoulder, if they were more inclined to be farmers. They wear normal armor, if they are fighters, like any man.
Markandr Proverbs
Less good than they say for the fruit of men's loins is the drinking oft of bitter ale: for the more they drink, the less they know about the inlaid nature of themselves. - Vastrad Silvermane
Even three words of quarrelling you shouldn't have with an inferior, unless they have earned your trust on the bloody mess that is battle. - Arkhis Markandr
Stone is a precious thing, yes-yes-yes, a precious thing indeed. But what good is stone when people have need of iron and sharp sticks?! - Jorund Wildbeard
A woman that can drink twice as much as any man is a blessin', but a man that can't hold his ale at all needs a whallop over the head! - Unne Swordscar
Norse Songs
A Giant's Lament
I dwell beneath the mountains,
In hollow caverns,
Which never yet were troubled
By the crack of dawn,
I hate the harmless sheep,
The sons of the mountains,
Who bow the knee at altars
By me detested.
It is my pleasure to wander
On midnight whirlwinds ;
To trample on their farms,
To whelm the cargoes.
I lead the weary woodsman
Far from his home,
Well pleased to see him shudder,
When I am laughing.
Yet I endure the daylight,
Though brightly shining,
To meet waving
Their bloody twigs.
What joy, when twittering arrows
Fly round the battle ;
When human blood is quenching
the fury of my mace!
_
Heart of the Other
O the force of great verses,
O the mighty strength of boisterous song
Cannot baffle all the curses
Which to mortal state do belong.
Slaughter’d chiefs, that buried under
Heaps of marble, long have lain,
Song can rend your tomb asunder,
Give ye life and strength again.
When around his dying capture,
Fierce, the serpent draws his fold,
Song can make him, wild with rapture,
Straight uncoil, and bite the mould.