Relki

The Relki people reside in Northern Menestia, where the weather is colder and the forests denser. Once a conglommerate of villages united by a similar culture, their integration within the Republic of Menestia has solidified their sense of identity. Despite their tough appearance and reputation, the Relki tend to be warm and welcoming, with a general disdain for bureaucracy and authority. Deeply connected to their old traditions, they work to conserve their way of life and culture despite what they consider to be Mekiesh occupation upon their lands.
Originally a culture of pastoralist nomads, the Relki have since settled in small villages and towns just south of the Beatus Highlands, though some communities remain past the mountain chain. To this day, they have remained farmers, fishers, and craftsmen, although the discovery of ore mines in the mountains has created a sudden demand in miners, often the poorest individuals amongst them.

Culture

Art & Architecture

Relki dwellings tend to be quite simple, often made of logs and insulated with a paste made of peat, hay and water. Houses are usually longer than they are large and consist of a central hearth in a communal space and private quarters at opposite ends of the house. Stone buildings are generally the ones used by the entire village, or homes of wealthy individuals. Moss and turf is used to insulate the roofs, often leading to Relki villages ressembling a cluster of hills from a distance. Relki decor consists of natural elements, often flower crowns, wooden statues, or canopies. When they can afford to, they color the inside of buildings with white, symbol of peace.

Foods & Cuisine

Considering their partly nomadic lifestyle, the Relkis have 2 meals: dawnmeal and duskmeal. Meat is very rare within their diet; livestock, if there is any, is more useful as sources of dairy, fur, or transportation. Fish, however, is more common, even among poorer people. Staples of their cuisine include rye, barley, beets, potatoes, berries, eggs and dairies. Peat is often used to flavor dishes, or used as a preservation method. Their beverage of choice is mead or ale.

Common Myths and Legends

Before the conquest of the Beatus Highlands by Menestia, Relki communities shaped their lives around cycles, both seasonal and personal. As such, the 7-spoke Wheel has been used as a spiritual symbol for a long time, embodying constant change and renewal. Each spoke represents a step in a person or a community's journey. 7-branched candelabras are also a common symbol, and adorne most houses of Relki families.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

With the harsh climate and conditions Relki people face, they have developped a liking for individuals with a heavy set and plump curves. Braided long hair, dense pilosity, and light-colored eyes are also appreciated.

Courtship Ideals

Above all, Relkis value loyalty and perseverance. Acts of devotion, self-sacrifice, and altruism can often be seen as courtship, since courting is expected to be a social event, allowing the entire community, and especially the family of your beloved, to witness and appreciate the quality of your character. Sharing food and crafting an object as a gift can also be seen as ideals of courtship.

Vajuvla: nomadic herders

According to tradition, part of all Relki people who reside south of the mountains will, when the weather becomes warmer, trek past the mountain chain to allow herds to graze in other pastures, gather berries and wild plants not found south, and reconnect with the few communities that still reside in the harsh environment of the Highlands. These groups are usually the youngest and strongest individuals in communities, as well as those who have the most experience beyond the summits. They are called Vajuvlas by their people, and their role is well-respected within communities, perceived as protectors and keepers of the cycle. Though the tradition has lessened in the past centuries, especially with the annexation of these people within Menestia, the Vajuvla still depart every early spring as soon as the snow starts to melt, only to return around the equinox.

Related Organizations

• Society of the First Wheel

Related Locations

• Beatus Highlands