Agorian
Under a protective canopy
During the age of the Akharmur Empire, rulers belonged to those who would become Agorians. They had very strong cultural and interpersonal relations with the elves, before they chose to exile themselves behind the Solybor, so that half-elves were not a rarity. During the Great War, these people sought protection in the depths of the Syväden Forest under the guidance of the wisest elders among them. They laid the foundations for the future cult of Dian-Cecht and Ernmas, which still prevails in the region.
The primacy of oligarchy
Unlike other ethnic groups, who believe that power should be exercised by birthright or by census, among the Agorians the concept that power should reside in the hands of the most capable is deeply rooted. This has led to power being organised in an oligarchy in which the Harent elect a prince to represent them and, themselves, can remove him from office if he does not prove up to the task. This is not to say that there are not more powerful or rich households among the Agorians, but they do, through the exercise of educational adoption, seek out capable individuals elsewhere if they do not have natural heirs of suitable calibre. This practice makes it possible for individuals who are considered brilliant but lack financial resources to be entrusted to the best mentors within the adoptive family. Sometimes it is the families of origin themselves who offer them for adoption in order to guarantee them an important future.
Flame hair and freckled skin.
Most Agorian have a white complexion, though less pale than that of Ahrmur people, often speckled on the face with striking freckles. Red hair, ranging from copper to dark mahogany, is also common among them. Straight noses, high cheekbones and forehead, and dimples on the cheeks or chin are characteristics considered pleasing in all genders. In adult males, long and well-groomed beard, sometimes accompanied by pendants or decorated circles, is a respected tradition, especially among those who frequent druidic circles. Those who desire a feminine appearance will mainly wear medium to long hairstyles, often arranged in braids, buns and tails.
Traditional agorian names
Some of the most typical names in the Agorian regions are nearly exclusive of this ethnicity. In the masculine version those include Alain, Brennan, Ernest, Olaf, Patrick, Stefan, Vincent. The feminine versions are Alana, Brenna, Diana, Erina, Ola, Stephanie, Vincentia. The prolonged and still strong relations with Kharmian have mixed the naming traditions of the two ethnic groups, so their names are also quite common.
Treasures of forests and fields
The most renowned dishes of this culture are based on dried fruit or vegetables. Aengus balls, for example, are spherical sweets made of oatmeal, almond oil and a mixture of dried berries. Purpot is made fermenting Purple Cabbage, mixed with bitter honey and salted water, in clay jars, which are then placed underground to rest. The mixture matures, developing a microflora, to which some attribute Agorian's great longevity.
Natural fabric and dyes
Agorian people traditionally tend to wear clothes made from vegetable fibres such as linen, hemp and cotton. Wool from the Skudde sheep, typical of the area, is associated with it. These fabrics are dyed using the dyes produced by various plants in the area, including different varieties of broom, heather, hazel and willow bark. The most frequently used colours are brown, yellow and green. Members of rich households and wealthy merchants may import finer fabrics from abroad. Among jewellery, simple metal rings, decorated brooches and strong bracelets, often with natural or knot-like patterns, are common.
Farseers and the cult of the second family
Among Agorian, religious power rests in the hands of the cult of the second family, namely Dian-Cecht and Ernmas.Their places of worship are very ancient and are represented by megalithic circles, the most famous of which is the circle of Fangagorn, in whose soil, according to legend, lies an ancient ruler. In addition, given the spread of carpentry and the importance of timber in the economy of the area, the cult of Creidhne is also strongly rooted. In the sparsely populated eastern lands, plagued for a large part of the year by frost, the cult of Cliddnha has an importance that is denied it elsewhere. Among the users of arcane magic, the most common and respected are clairvoyants, whose tower stands nearby. Here as elsewhere, if contact with a magician is not absolutely necessary, it is pleasantly avoided.
Touched by Aengus and Creidnhe
The Agorians are famous in western lands for their artistic productions, musical instruments and fine hand-carved furniture. The wide availability of a variety of precious woods is a further incentive for the craftsmen of this people. Perhaps it is their elven ancestors or the marvellous musical instruments at their disposal, but the Agorians manage to create poignant ballads which then travel to the lips of troubadours and bards far and wide. Inspired by legends of the past, their poems and tales are also of rare beauty and spread across the continent in a multiplicity of renditions. Unlike almost all other peoples, who consider a career in art either a pastime for bored nobles or a career of low prestige, the Agorians consider artistic aptitude to be a talent of the highest order and it is not unusual for the most famous artists to have a place in the Harent.
How to strike true!
Agorian light infantry armed with bows was a vital support in countless battles where conditions for Kharmian heavy cavalry were not favourable. It is therefore not surprising that these people are so skilled in archery and passionate about shooting games. Hitting a small hole in a metal star suspended by a ribbon from fifty feet away may seem like an impossible feat, but it is just one of the simpler games of precision that take place during the celebrations of Bonded Shields.
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