Aerinor

The Rightful Keepers of the Valley

Aerinor is a culture made from the crossing of several cultures. From the first people who lived before the Scorching of Aerin to the survivors who left and returned or stayed as the Valley healed, they have taken influences from the nearby cultures and made it into their own. Aerinor isn't connected to being a Human, a Changeling, or whatever races call the region home. It is connected to the idea that the Aerin Valley is their home and the Aerin gods are their gods. While there are interpretations of what that means, it created an overarching ethnicity in the form of Aerinor.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

In constrast to masculine names, feminine names usually roll off the tongue quite easily, even containing more vowels and soft consonants.

Masculine names

Masculine names typically bear hard consonants more than feminine names. The reason for this is unknown but it has slowly started to fade as influences from other lands constantly shift what names work.

Unisex names

Names that lean toward neither masculine and feminine fall under this category. Unsurprisingly, this has become the largest category of names since it makes it easier to connect to their identity, especially for Changelings or those who don't as strong of a connection to the person they were at birth or in younger years than they do now.

Family names

Family names in Aerinor are related to a number of topics. Those that connect to their language or dialect usually choose names that represent that: Serrano, Vasseron, Hauke, etc. They can also be related to the occupation of the family as there are plenty of Bakers, Smiths, and variations of the name out in the world. Some choose to take their parents' names as their last names such as Coulson. Due to the Aerin connection to nature as well, names can reflect that connection such as Rivers, Steelstream, Coldrin, and more.

Other names

An increasing trend has been titles to represent a person. In Crystalia, this was marked by the Emperors with the first emperor, Eren, choosing to claim a name/title that takes from the other dialects of Aerinor. His son and successor, Edward, and Edward's sons, Wilhelm and William, both kept this trend going. As such, it is becoming increasingly popular amongst the nobility and even lower classes and adventurers have accepted this trend.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Common is the lingua franca of the Aerinor people as it is with most of the world. However, they also have a native language in the form of Arinth, the language of Aerinor. There are different dialects of Arinth:

• Loshill Dialect: Native to the Loshill Lake region on the eastern side of the Aerin Valley. The Crystalian Empire is the major speaker of this dialect as they are the only country left in this region. The dialect was influenced by the Bakoren and Elu languages that came over the mountains with hints of the mountain hold languages in there.
• Black Shore Dialect: This dialect is common along the coastline of the Black Shore Bay. Influenced by the Argon culture throughout the Cican Strait, it is different from its cousin dialects through its clear vowels and light consonants. As a result, many speakers are able to speed up their diction, sometimes causing those not well versed in the dialect to misunderstand them. As people get closer to the Xi'jian desert, it is influenced by the desert speech nearby.
• Central Plains Dialect: Carried from the Elu people who traveled from southern Crystalia to this region, this dialect of Arinth was influenced by that. It tries to sound elegant and roll off the tongue but due to influences from both east and west, that has clearly not been the case. Now, it sounds nasally and haughty when coming from the highborn and gruff and rough from the lower class.

Shared customary codes and values

The Aerin culture has a fundamanetal belief that the people of Aerinor are meant to live in the Aerin Valley. Whether their families supposedly hailed from the first people before the Scorching of Aerin or they recently moved in, it is a common belief that they are an Aerin citizen. For Western Aerinor, they believe in their independence as they are willing to fight and rise up in rebellion against established rulers or outside forces. For Eastern Aerinor, they believe that the Aerin people have been able to survive against threats because of their unified nature in times of danger as shown by the Loshill region fighting off raids from goblinoid legions that march over the mountains. These two ideologies now clash as Crystalia and the Alliance fight against each other.

Common Etiquette rules

It is advised to show gratitude for gifts you are given whether it be a craft or even food. This is often taught to children at a young age since rejecting gifts can be a sign of displeasure at the gift giver from the recipient and be quite hurtful. If your peers and betters professionally or socially give you advice, it is a good idea to view that advice as a gift and take it to heart ideally since this could be seen as disrespect or thinking the advisor didn't obtain their position legitimately. For those of a higher rank, it is also a good idea to show respect through your actions, such as bowing to them or giving a gesture of welcome. To not do so is to say that you view them as not worth your time or attention.

Adventurers in Aerinor should try to avoid haggling for goods as best they can as it is seen that they consider the merchant dishonest or that their craft isn't worth its selling price. This can be seen as disrespect if its a lower price or embarrassing if its a higher price but negotiating for services or barter is acceptable. Also, they are able to negotiate higher rewards from quests but only if they are able to live up to the quality that the quest giver will expect for this higher price. It goes without saying that the adventurer should be respectful during these negotiations.

Common Dress code

Due to it being a bad idea to flaunt and hide money, it is better to buy and wear clothes that fit your station but are is ostentatious or low-quality so neither expensive or cheap. As such, nobles are meant to wear fine clothing and jewelry but if the latter has large gemstones or a large number of gemstones, it is obvious you are flaunting your wealth. This also applies to adventurers as well even if they aren't of Aerinor since if they have the means to look like their status, then they should.

Art & Architecture

Art

Western Aerin art usually focuses on taking geometric patterns and making artwork out of it. Sometimes, this comes through in carvings and ceramics with clear patterns forming plants or symbols important to the region. Other times, this can be using small patterns of shapes to form people whether it be in paintings or the aforementioned types. Vibrant colors are used due to the large amount of access they have to them.

Central Aerin art takes from the west, also focusing on vibrant colors in their artwork. Due to the being the front lines of the war between Crystalia and the rest of the Aerin Valley, artwork usually focuses on the peaceful times, showing them as beautiful and highly detailed while war artwork is shown as brutal with smears to show how the details are lost and eventually everything is ruined. This art style has become even more common in Beru as they were hurt the most by the conflict.

Eastern Aerinor romanticizes war in their artwork but make sure to also show the beautiful and necessity of peace as well. Statues of war heroes are made in intricate detail and artwork of battles shows the valiant heroes on both sides of the conflict, no matter who wins or loses. However, sometimes artists create a chilling reminder of what war costs the region. A popular art piece, The Foundations of Our World shows the people of the Loshill region, enjoying the lives they currently live. In the ground below are detailed drawings of soldiers from Aerinor's past, stacked in piles of bodies and bones that hold up the peaceful world the surface are able to live in today.

Architecture

Eastern Aerin architecture was influenced by the the Mountain holds, the Elu region, and the Jade Coast. In eastern and northern Crystalia, many of the buildings not made of wood or straw are made from stone due to the abandoned stone quarries built by the Orzin and Quaziden holds back when they used to hold greater territories. However, it has slowly been phased out as central Crystalia begins to adopt more brick-based architecture as it is cheaper to make. In the south, Elu and Khazun architecture mix together, creating a combination of the well structured stone cities weaved together with green spaces to give nature a noticeable presence in civilization.

Western Aerinor takes influences from Argorn architecture along with Scerin architecture, using fired brick, wood, and ceramic tiling. Stained glass is also common in the region as imports from central Aerinor. The further south a traveler goes and the closer they get to the Xi'jian Desert, the more arid the climate becomes. As a result, a combination of sun-baked bricks and mortar was used to better withstand the desert storms that sometimes erupt from the south.

Central Aerinor is influenced by both west and east, taking pieces of both with its own unique style. Due to being the crossroads between east and west, plenty of money and materials flowed through the region as well. While conflict has damaged some of them, the most expressive architecture has been cathedrals or buildings with tall spires. Stained glass windows are quite common, especially in local temples where there are stained glass depictions of the Aerin Gods or local heroes of history. Most of the time, the buildings are made by stone but brick-based achitecture has started spreading to the region with Beru's subjugation by Crystalia.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

• New Year's Dawn: With the dawn of the new year, the Aerin people give thanks to the gods for another year that they're been able to survive. They also make offerings for good fortune in the new year.
• Day of Hearts: Aerinor recognizes the friends and loved ones, potentially giving them gifts or spending time with them to celebrate the bonds that tie them together. It is said that if you see a crystal heart near someone you care deeply for, you are fated to be with them whether romantically or platonically.
• Beginning of Seasons/Midseasons: The start of a new season is seen with celebration and events.
• The Sea's Day: Seen as a day to offer thanks to Vinra for keeping the Aerin Valley hydrated, many people take to a local lake or the river to offer her gifts.
• Spirits' Crossing: The day when the barrier between Avestra and Mortis weaken is when people pray to the Raven Queen in earnest. Additionally, people follow traditions to ward off the dead such as carved pumpkins and outfits that denote them as protected by the Raven Queen and even markings.
• Giftmore: Starting from the Winter Solstice and continuing to the New Year, Giftmore is seen as a time to show your appreciation for others by giving them gifts through the 12 days. These gifts are often made by the giver and if not, they acquired them through their own skills.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

To show optimism and hope that the baby will live long enough, a child is given a name at birth instead of waiting for them to survive one year of life as done in the past.

Coming of Age Rites

Once a child reaches adulthood, some groups let the adult pick a new name for themselves to recognize their coming of age ceremony. Others have them craft or do something with their skill alone to symbolize the success of an apprenticeship they've had before adulthood. This is also when they are officially allowed to be adventurers usually since from adulthood to later in life, their unique skills required for that lifestyle can be learned or manifest on their own.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Due to the influence of the Aerin gods, all dead are meant to be buried in the earth so they may return to what gave them life. And as their buried ancestors once gave them life, they too shall gave life to their descendants. Usually, people are buried 6 feet beneath the ground as to prevent farmers from accidentally plowing dead bodies. It is often a custom to bury offerings with the deceased as a gift to L'nor. For the farmers, they bury surplus from their harvests. Merchants bury their craft that they think will degrade along with the body while nobles bury game they've hunted or exotic plants and food. This results in gardens or trees that are marked as the graves of certain families but some bury their family on their plot of land, whether it is underneath a farm or a private garden or nature reserve they own.

Common Taboos

The most common taboo is to forsake the land in Aerin culture. This is mostly seen as dumping bodies to be picked apart from scavengers on the surface rather than let them fade away deep under the earth. Even the armies in the current war take time to bury their dead, even helping to return bodies to the opposite side as needed. It is said that zombies and other undead rise because their bodies were mistreated and left to rot instead of being given a proper burial.

However, this can also include ravaging farmland, burning down forests, or basically destroying nature without planting it somewhere else. It is believed that this is what causes droughts and famines in the local region whether it happened recently or in the far past.

Common Myths and Legends

The Scorching of Aerinor. Though the exact time frame has been subject to change, long ago, the Aerin Valley was scorched by a phoenix, brought to Avestra by ritual magic from tribes that turned from the Xi'jian. These tribes were tempted by local spirits that called for destruction and to appease them, they used magic from an Ifreet or Fire Genasi (the giver of magic changes depending on the region). The phoenix scorched the valley black and would've scorched the entire world had a brave few not stand against the fire elemental.

Historical figures

Eren Draganar III Von Cristal Trono. The king of Crystalia when it conquered the entire Loshill region. Believed that his kingdom had been ordained to bring peace to the region by Kashir the Valiant, he proclaimed the establishment of the Crystalian Empire. He has declared that his family would not rest until the entire Aerin Valley was united under one banner and Aerinor was made whole. While central and western Aerinor describe him as a power-hungry tyrant who started 4 bloody decades of war, the people of eastern Aerinor view him as a hero attempting to bring an end to the chaos that still grips the Valley.
Edward Draganar Von Grand Conquistador. The current Emperor of Crystalia. His legacy will no doubt Beru's capitulation to the Empire and the devastation of the Aerin fleet and army at the Battle of Cadehall Fields no doubt. While he has lost his first heir, Wilhelm, to rebellion, he has found a suitable replacement in his second son, William. His new heir now rules alongside his father and adoptive mother as Edward hopes to impart as much wisdom as he can. However, this will forever be tied to a darker legacy where Edward is the first emperor to have an illegimate child and recognizes that child as his blood, on top of making that child his heir. It feeds into rumors that William killed his older brother, Wilhelm, for this reason.
Prince Elias Wynvar. A prince of the Loshill region. He fled the region when Crystalia conquered his father's kingdom at the dawn of the 13^th century. He fled to the kingdom of Veru where his cousin ruled over. After the mysterious death of his cousin and their heirs, he became the King of Veru and served as a major diplomat in the forming of the Alliance Against Crystalia. Despite nearing the end of his life, he shares a deep hatred for Crystalia for taking his ancestral homeland away and has imparted that hatred to his heir who is soon to take over.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Similar to clothing, an Aerin citizen is expected to look the part of their station. However, Aerin people know that beauty is subjective above all else so what it is may vary. Some consider looks to be beautiful. Others consider a person's charisma or intelligent to beauty.

Gender Ideals

Due to many Changelings being in Aerinor, it is common for the genders ideals to just be true to what you feel you are. Whether the person still relates to the gender they were at their birth or a different one as they grow up, Aerin culture dictates they should be what they are most comfortable with.

Courtship Ideals

Courting someone, regardless of what preference the courter has, usually requires gifts made by them. A smith can craft a weapon they want a warrior they're interested in to wield in battle. A spellcaster can create a spell or magical effects to teach their target of affection or to put on upon them. A bard crafts music and songs for the object of their desire and so on. While cross-class courtship isn't frowned upon, it usually isn't sought out since the lower class will have to try doubly as hard to impress someone of a higher station, especially when they have multiple suitors.

Relationship Ideals

Since a core tenet of the Aerin faith is "Be fruitful and prosper", many take that to meaning having children whether it is bearing children or adopting them. This also creates a stigma against people who don't have children or don't wish to have them. However, for others, the phrase simply means to make the relationship itself prosper. Both parties should be their all into a relationship, doing enough to keep both happy. What "enough" is varies from couple to couple and has led to burnout or feelings of their partner not doing enough, leading to them looking elsewhere. However, the ideal that people look up to is to be in a loving, prosperous relationship at the end of the day.

Parent ethnicities

• Argorn
• Bakoren
• Elu
• Scerin

Encompassed species

• Centaur
• Changeling
• Gnolls
• Halfling
• Hobgoblin
• Humans
• Nezumi
• Yuan-Ti Pureblood

Related Organizations

• Beru: The Fallen Kingdom
• Crystalia: The Unifying Empire
• Grineva: The Black Shore Kingdom
• The Crownguard of Aerinor
• The Gods of Aerinor

Related Locations

• Vesta Plains