Law of Hard Country

The kingdom-wide tradition of hard country is a type of guest right that solidified in the Kingdom of Aētheli over the course of the past few centuries. It allows an imperiled traveler to seek shelter at any nearby home or property and receive comfort and safety from those within the dwelling. Although it began as a tradition and is still considered optional, across the kingdom it is most frequently known as the Law of Hard Country.

History

During the chaotic time of the Year of Blood, when beast shifters encountered the divine beasts and each other for the first time while grappling with their suddenly newfound abilities, many disparate groups of beast shifters began to band together for safety and community. The first priority for these groups was erecting more permanent shelters than the dens, caves, and hollow tree logs they had used while they were simple animals. Erecting these shelters naturally attracted more beast shifters looking for safety, and the earliest townships in the kingdom were born.
During this initial period, conflict was frequent and suspicions ran high. Individual species groups tended to group together insularly, and in-fighting within these early townships began rapidly. Latecomers began to be turned away from these established shelters, left to seek another place in the hostile wilderness. It's estimated that perhaps hundreds died after being turned away from the sheltering walls or roofs of an established town.
Legend tells that on one snowy night, a family of prairie mice sought shelter in a small settlement near the Sentinel Peaks. Although they were small and claimed they needed only a place to sleep for the night, the family was turned out, and the next day a wandering shaman came upon the frozen bodies of the family curled against the town's walls. Furious, the shaman entered the town and demanded to know who had refused the family shelter. None would speak, so the shaman laid a curse on the town. It is said that the shaman said to them, "This is a hard country, and woe to those who would not give a roof to those who seek it." It is said that after the shaman left the town, another blizzard swept down from the mountains and buried it whole, leaving no survivors.
The legend spread rapidly through the kingdom, and it became known that the spirits of the land would be angry if any shifter in need was turned away, and would punish those responsible severely. Travelers seeking shelter began to use the shaman's phrase, hard country, which would remind those within of the legend and gain them entry. The tradition of sheltering travelers in inclement weather began to be more of a cultural requirement than an option, and eventually became known as the Law of Hard Country.

Execution

Hard country can only be claimed in the face of natural dangers - storms, snows, fierce winds, tornadoes, hail, or bitter winter cold. A traveler in trouble cannot claim hard country to break into someone's home or property, but to ask permission. In order to initiate, they should find the main door or a window of the home and knock, gaining the attention of those within. When the residents finally open the door, the traveler must say aloud "I cry hard country" or even simply "hard country." At this point, it is traditional for the host to reply, "Our roof is yours for the night." Hosts are expected to give the traveler water and simple fare - the leftover crusts from the bread, the last of the evening stew pot, dried fruit or jerky from the winter stores. The point is not luxury, but ensuring that the traveler has the bare minimum for survival. When the inclement weather clears, the host will eventually tell the traveler, "The country has become kind again." This is a signal that the traveler should move along. If the traveler is capable, it is expected that they leave a small offering at the residential shrine on the way out to thank the spirit of the dwelling for its shelter. Rarely, travelers may be so destitute they have nothing to offer, and will merely pray at the shrine before departing.

Observance

All beast shifters, no matter their location in the kingdom, are aware of the tradition of hard country. Some High Noble territories, particularly those in the borderlands, have incentivized the tradition of hard country. Families who shelter travelers on the road are eligible for certain tax breaks or special dispensation from their overlords as a reward for giving some of their stores and the warmth of their home to a stranger. The Law of Hard Country is viewed favorably by those in power, because they believe it prevents the type of banditry that arises out of desperation. If a traveler knows they can cry hard country and be given shelter in the event of bad weather or dangerous conditions, they will be less likely to try and take the food and shelter by force.