Duland

The Duland are keen traders and explorers, and have pushed their culture across Weston and even onto Easton. Where they cannot settle, they will conquer, where they cannot conquer they will trade. The Duland are seen almost like a contagion by the Elves, as there are few unoccupied spaces that the Duland will not attempt to claim. Thankfully, they are split into a dozen smaller nations, all competing, and whilst this prevents them presenting a single front, it does increase their ingenuity.

Naming Traditions

Family names

Duland family names are passed down to their children, generally from their father's side, although exceptions are made where the maternal side of the family is more prominent. The origin of the name varies drastically across Duland sub-cultures and nations, but are mostly related to a prominent occupation within the family if a commoner, or the place a title is associated with, if a noble family. Family is less important than location and nationality, as most Dulenders live under feudal or monarchical systems, where allegiance to one's lord supersedes one's family bonds.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

All Dulanders speak Common, with some small variations of dialect across Weston, particularly where Duland and Schwarz cultures overlap. Common has become the linga fraca of Everland predominantly because of Duland traders spreading across the lands and the use of the language across all of Weston and most of the western parts of Easton.

Culture and cultural heritage

Duland culture varies from nation to nation, but there are a lot of commonalities, particularly in religion. The Dawn War pantheon is worshipped almost exclusively, with temples and priests found in all but the smallest of settlements. Some of the larger cities have many temples dedicated to individual gods, particularly important ones such as Tyr, Torm, Selûne, Helm and, in some parts, Asmodeus. Whilst all the gods are acknowledged and offered some degree of respect for their efforts in creation, worship of some gods is, if not outright banned, then discouraged. This includes Bhaal, Bane and Talos, and it is rare to find priests willing to offer rites to these gods, let alone a temple.
Duland culture is primarily concerned with trade, crafting and human advancement. They firmly believe that now is the time for humans to take their turn as Iodax's most prominent species. Dulanders generally agree that only humans, and Dulanders in particular, have the vigour, knowledge and ability to rule Everland. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for everyone else, Dulanders are also fractious enough that a single Duland empire is highly unlikely, thus keeping their ambitions in check.

Related Organizations

• Kingdom of Newia
• Principality of Redking
• The Dawn War Pantheon

A Dulander Knight