Taldan
Taldans (pronounced TAL-dans) are a human ethnicity who are renowned for possessing great skill, intelligence, and sophistication. They are the creators of one of the greatest empires Avistan has ever known and many modern nations owe their existence to the conquests of the empire of Taldor. This period of greatness is now a thing of the past and the Taldan people know they are now just as well renowned for their decadent indulgences as their empire crumbles around them.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Adula, Ionnia, Xemne
Masculine names
Menas, Vors, Xantrian
Other names
Taldans who claim a strong Azlanti bloodline sometimes comb through ancient texts and pick what they believe to be Azlanti names in order to strengthen their connection to their supposed heritage.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Taldane (used as common language throughout Golarion)
Culture and cultural heritage
Taldan culture is obsessed with only one thing: Taldor. It is incredibly insular and Taldans are only interested in events that occur within Taldor, and view all foreign events as inherently dull and uninteresting. They have a similar view of anyone who is not Taldan, seeing them as inescapably provincial and inferior in breeding, education, and interest. This can make it quite difficult for any outsiders living among them. There is a reason for this cultural arrogance: as the oldest existing civilization in Avistan, Taldor has had millennia to perfect its crafts and artistry, making it a desirable place to learn one's trade.
Taldan arrogance manifests in differing ways in men and women. Male Taldans tend toward extreme machismo that borders on misogyny, using terms of conquest and territorial disputes when speaking about women. "Bringing civilization to the barbarians" is a common way of discussing their amorous encounters with women of other ethnicities. Taldan women appear less vulgar, but can be just as biting and caustic as the men. When discussing foreign women, Taldans often become overly critical, eviscerating every aspect of their target's dress, hairstyle, or body features. They can turn this nasty gossip even toward other Taldans, although only in the closed company of their own people, and never with the same venom. These attributes are, naturally, not possessed by all Taldans, but enough of them display varying degrees of these behaviors that the stereotype tends to stick more often than not.
Taldan personality attributes are not all bad, however, especially when they are inspired by their nobler emotions. They tend to be generous to a fault, both in time and money, and it is not unusual to see a beggar with a convincing hard-luck story draw out a large sum from Taldans (especially if the beggar is Taldan himself). This behavior is often shown when Taldans find themselves suddenly impoverished, and needing to rely on the kindness of others.
Common Dress code
Taldans always cloth themselves in only the latest and most fashionable clothes they can afford. The Taldan style is imitated across the Inner Sea region, but few can match the Taldan flair for high fashion. Men normally sport a well-trimmed, nicely groomed beard, while Taldan women who live in their homeland wear large, elaborate wigs passed down the generations as family heirlooms.
Comments