Maturity, Inheritance & Courtship

Maturity In The Westerlands

Among the feudal Westerlands societies, the age of maturity and inheritance is generally considered to be the age of seventeen (17). This is the age when an individual may step up and make claim to any inheritable titles, properties, incomes, and privileges that are granted to them through their family's status. This theme is echoed throughout many of the traditions held by the western feudal societies.

Inheritance In The Westerlands

There are two primary means of inheritance in the Westerland cultures. Both of these methods are used interchangeably regardless of whether the culture is feudal, tribal or something else. Although it can be said that the feudal kingdoms and lands in the Westerlands rely mainly on the Direct Lineage to determine an individual's right to an inheritable title and/or gift.

Primogeniture

The majority of Westerland cultures adhere to the notion of primogeniture or clan accession. Under Primogeniture, the rule amongst Rhone, Midlands kingdoms and many others, the presumptive heir to any lands, income or property passes directly down through the lineage of the Founder or originator of those gifts. It is the Lineage that matters most and not the gender or qualifications of the presumptive heir. The important factor is the continuation of a direct familial line between the original recipient of the gift or obligation and those individuals who seek it.

The reverence paid to the Line of Rhuanon is an extreme example of this tradition. The Kingdom of Rhone is held together by the respect and admiration that the other cultures such as Aenari, Swordsblood, Midlands and more hold for anyone descended from the Blood that triggered the Last Battle and was victorious.

Clan or Family Succession

The term 'clan' is often just another way of describing an extended family. In the Westerlands, the core members of a 'clan' are those who can trace their lineage back to a holder of the title. This is usually confined to those wthin two generations of a title holder even if it is not the most recent one. In a Clan Accession, it is presumed that the oldest offspring of a title-holder will take up the mantle left behind. But the clan, as a whole, has the authority to conduct an investigation into both heredity as well as propriety.

If the members of an extended family, or 'clan', disagree with the rule of Primogeniture and proceed with a Succession Council tradition. This is a democratic process with only the eligible members of the clan being able to voice agreement or opposition to any candidate that meets the criteria. In those times of disagreement, the eligible clan members cast votes for the new heir of the property. Only those within two generations of a title-holder, present or past, are eligible to be nominated or cast votes in the Succession Council.

Delayed Inheritance

While an heir may be legally eligible to inherit at the age of seventeen, this may cause logistical issues with their lives. Specifically, those who are squiring for a chance at knighthood may have their training/squiring interrupted were they to take on the mantle of their responsibilities immediately. As the inheritance must often be approved by a liege-lord, or the family in the absence of such, this is often done to ensure that the chosen title-holder can satisfy the feudal obligations of the title. Therefore, it is very common for an heir to delay their inheritance and appoint a caretaker or steward to watch over their future inheritance while they finish their obligations to the call of knighthood or any other profession that may require the same dedication.

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Courtship In The Westerlands

In conjunction with the age of 'maturity', the rules of courtship and marriage tend to follow predicable patterns until one takes into account the more impactful traditions such as the rules regarding presentation, abduction, and betrothal.

Before The Age Of Sixteen

It is fairly universal, in these days, that it is improper to court an individual who is under the age of sixteen years. While betrothals and arranged marriages are often completed prior to the age of sixteen and are the norm among higher-status families, no individual under the age of sixteen may not be courted by another without widespread disapproval based on the common concept of the age of maturity. The arranged marriages that are determined prior to the age of sixteen are agreeable as they do not consist of any courtship but instead the reasoned debate of adults. An individual who is subject to an arranged marriage before the age of maturity can be held to a higher standard depending on their upbring for the High Church considers the promise of an underage individual's parent/guardian to be binding as if it was a promise made by the subject of the arrangement.

Turning Sixteen

The near-universal threshold age of sixteen (16) for inheritance and courtship makes this time of an individual's life rather dramatic. The approach to these years is often determined by their position in inheritance and their gender. Individuals who do not stand to inherit within reason are allowed far more leeway in this regard. Those females who choose not or are unable to choose a more independent and liberated role as a noblewoman in her own right or as a knight or shield-maiden often approach these years with great anticipation.

At the age of sixteen, and often at a party thrown for their 16th year-day celebration, an individual is 'presented' to society. In the case of young females, this occasion is often used to better a family's chances of gaining a suitable spouse for their child. For young males, it is often more oriented towards martial pursuits.

Appropriate Age For Marriage Consumation

It is also fairly universal that no individual is actually married until the age of seventeen (17). While the age of sixteen is a 'coming-out' of sorts and opens the door to much courtship behavior, in the Westerlands it is very rare for a marriage to take place until both of the individuals are over the age of seventeen. Any breach of this widely-held prohibition is considered rape or hostile abduction in many cultures as the age of sixteen allows courtship under the supervision of guardians; it is widely held that an individual may not come out from under their guardian's responsibilities until seventeen. An individual who seduces a sixteen year old is considered to have usurped the responsibilities and authority of the guardians.

Courtship After Sixteen

Any courtship after the age of sixteen (16) is subject to the restrictions of the culture and the subject's family. In many situations, the subject's faith will play a dominant role with those of the Aenarian beliefs being more open to transient relationships and exploring one's feeling before settling down into marriage. In the High Church, and among the vast majority of noble families, the ideal betrothal is between two individuals that are virginal. The reality, which even the High Church accepts, is that such is rarely the case although this is one area where attitudes differ according to the gender. There remains some distaste amongst the strict constructionists of the High Church that believe the female must be virginal to have any children blessed by their patrons. The Aenari are far more 'fluid' in their approach to unsanctioned romantic activity and its acceptance is generally dependent on the subject's family's feelings towards the suitor more than any faith-based notions.

Abduction Betrothals

The concept and tradition of abducting one's betrothed or intended betrothed is still rooted in a few cultures amongst the Westerlands although, even there, it has been dramatized and watered down into an acceptable tradition in most cases. The tradition harkens back to the days of internecine conflict between the clans and tribes, especially amongst the feud-mad Aenari, and is the subject of many tales. This tradition is almost non-existent in the southern Western Peninsula. It is still practiced occasionaly on the Sword Coast. By far the most common usage of it continues to be from Aenar or families of Aenari heritage.

In contemporary times, the two individuals are usually already promised to each other or, if acting against the wishes of their families, in agreement to the abduction itself. This renders the abduction into either a mostly ceremonial tradition or, in the case of consenting lovers, the feudal equivalent of elopement.

The Abduction Itself

If the individuals have been promised to each other, then the abduction forms a quasi-gauntlet where the abductee's family tests the mettle of their family member's betrothed. These abductions can be carefully arranged between the families and merely a formality or they can be tests of skill, cleverness and other qualities whereby the abductee's family tries to make it as difficult as possible. In some situations, a family may utilize their defense against an abduction, even when involving an arranged betrothal, as a convenient excuse to back out of the agreement. While the more formal abductions are generally safe, the other abduction traditions range in danger from slight to bleeding out before the sun comes up.

Abduction As Elopement

While rarely recognized in the south Western Peninsula and amongst Rhuani families, the use of abduction between two lovers where the families are not approving is still accorded some respect amongst the northern Aenar families and even some families along the Sword Coast. This respect for the tradition comes from the reality that, if two lovers have sought their family's approval and been denied, then their relatives are alerted to such an attempt. In that vein, even when the abductee is entirely willing, a would-be spouse attempting an abduction is risking their life as it is well-established that bodily injury and death are justified in 'protecting one's family'. The level of danger is often dependent on the family's attitude towards the would-be abductor.

The successful completion of an abduction results in several possible scenarios. Between willing individuals, if the abduction is carried out and a wedding can be conducted where the two individuals are properly married, it is usually considered to be the will of the gods or fate. Even if the abductee's family has no desire to seek revenge, which Aenari often do, it is common to observe a year of practiced yet insincere hostility or avoidance. This comes from older times when a family that had a relative abducted would often not forgive the abductor until they were shown a child from the union; indicating that the gods had blessed the union.

There are also, unfortunately, those families which will never forgive an abduction willing subject or not. The reasons vary but straight hatred for the suitor is the most common. These scenarios can result in feuds that span generations.

The strangest scenarios arise from the Unwelcome Abductions.

Unwelcome Abductions

An abduction is not welcome when it flies in the face of the aforementioned willing scenarios such as a pre-arranged betrothal or even an elopement. An Unwelcome Abduction occurs when an individual abducts an unwilling person for the purposes of marriage. While this practice was far more common and violent in antiquity, in contemporary times there are conventions that cover even these scenarios. These conventions generally apply only to nobility or those with honor and genuine respect for the abductee. While commoners respect these conventions, they rarely have the means to implement them. An abductor who succeeds in a successful Unwelcome Abduction is in significant danger from the abductee's family. So following the conventions is likely the only way to survive such an attempt.
An Unwelcome Abduction has one year (4 seasons) to become a success. An abductor, if they follow the traditions, may even be granted an uneventful year in which to court the abducted person. Although, in an Unwelcome scenario, this is quite rare. Even a family that is happy to see the abductee gone would undertake a few attempts to recover their kinfolk if only for the sake of honor and to save face. The less dangerous reprisals include continual challenges at contests and tournaments with the return of their kin as the prize. Wagers, challenges, duels and the like are almost always part of such reprisals. But most Unwelcome abductions result in lethal reprisals as such actions are blameless under the laws in most Western kingdoms.

During this one year, the abductor may seek to gain the affection or even just the agreement of the abductee. It is considered a chance for courtship that the abductor may not have had due to family feuds, war, or anything else. For an Unwelcome Abduction to be successful, an abductor must strictly adhere to the traditions. They may not force acquiescence through any means. They must earn agreement or the abductee's affections honestly.

A person abducted unwillingly must be fed, cared for, and treated well. They must be given their own lodgings and the comforts that they are entitled to by rank. The abductor should provide all of these things. An abductee may make demands of their abductor for entertainment, gifts and the like within reason. The abductor should seek to satisfy these demands. Oftentimes, these demands are tests of the abductee to ascertain the mettle and trueness of heart of their unwelcome suitor. It is through these trials that it is most likely for an Unwelcome Abduction to blossom into genuine affection.

Regardless of the traditions, the laws of any civilized kingdoms and the understanding implicit in less civilized societies, makes an Unwelcome Abduction a dangerous prospect. While the abductor may have the best intentions, the abductee's family clearly does not agree. Any actions taken by the abductee's family is generally considered appropriate up to and including murder. It is, after all, Unwelcome.

Abductions from a hostile culture or foreigners are likely to follow the abhorrent path of quasi-slavery, domestic violence and sexual assault. They are not considered to be "Unwelcome Abductions." There is no legal, cultural or traditional immunity to such a horrible offense. Most families will pursue the malefactors and their kin to the ends of the continent in search of justice and freedom. These tales are the subject of human misery and depravity and are not covered under the western traditions.

Gender Notwithstanding

The prevalence of women in leadership roles, warfare and as knights makes gender irrelevant when it comes to courtship. While old traditionalists may sneer at a female who actively pursues an individual or abducts an individual, the majority of folks in the Western culture are completely unfazed by it. Whether or not the subject of such avid affection is okay with it is, as always, a personal decision.