Fen Folk
The most consistently insular and primitive people on the continent, they comprise about 5% of the Wealding population and have only recently and grudgingly opened up a few villages to the occasional scholar. Their practices of blood sacrifice, slavery, and occasional cannibalism have long made them the righteous target of the Wealding clans and anyone else willing to venture into their frozen marshes. Over the centuries, they’ve slowly been retreating deeper and deeper into the fen, and some have adapted to the tundra south of it. Mostly, they wish everyone else would just go away, but some elders among them are arguing that they need to participate among the larger national and international community or they will eventually be eradicated. Their argument is that if they keep giving up land, eventually there will be no land to give. They don’t make decisions quickly though, so it may be another century or so before the fen elders agree on whether or not to change their policy.
Although their use of primal magic is primitive compared to Wealdings, they have a much stronger psionic tradition. Most psions in the Weald have fen folk blood.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Awen, Boudica, Branwen, Brynna, Cariad, Carys, Ceridwen, Conwenna, Eira, Elin, Emma, Eowyn, Glenda, Guinevere, Gwendoline, Heulwen, Jennifer, Lowri, Llyn, Maegan, Meredith, Morgane, Nia, Ninian, Reese, Rhiannon, Seren, Sian, Tegan, Ygerna,
Masculine names
Alwyn, Blevin, Bran, Cadoc, Carwyn, Cynfael, Dafydd, Dylan, Duane, Eliot, Evan, Ffion, Garrath, Gavin, Gawain, Gereint, Griffin, Gwyidion, Harby, Hywel, Kai, Kennan, Kraig, Llewellyn, Lloyd, Llyr, Lugh, Madog, Mael, Marmaduke, Merlyn, Morgan, Owein, Pedr, Pembroke, Perceval, Pryderi, Pwyll, Reece, Rhain, Rhydderch, Rhys, Seith, Taliesin, Tramaine, Tristan, Urien
Family names
Fenfolk don't employ surnames, but instead usually employ either epithets (e.g. "Selyf the Battle-Serpent") or patronyms (e.g. "Rhodri ap Merfyn" which means Rhodri, child of Merfyn).
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The language of the fen folk is called fennish. The language is related to Wealding, but distinct. Most tribes also have at least some people who speak Wealding, especially if they live near the border of the fens.
Culture and cultural heritage
Names and cultural details are very roughly based on ancient Welsh.
Shared customary codes and values
Each tribe has a male and female chief couple, with a fairly strict split of duties between the genders. Men are responsible for fighting and matters related to travel, time, and dealings with outsiders. Women are responsible for belongings and matters related to families, wealth, healing and food.
Funerary and Memorial customs
The practice for which the fen folk are infamous is their ritual cannibalism. For truly honored members of the tribe, their chief organs will be shared and eaten among the tribe. Symbolically, this represents the idea that some part of the deceased will live on in the tribe. Respected vanquished enemies will sometimes be given the same treatment. Knowing how horrifying outsiders find the practice, they sometimes put on a big display to seem extra frighting.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Fen Folk tend toward dark hair and eyes and pale to olive skin. They are usually smaller and wiry.
Major organizations
The tribes of the fen folk are autonomous and fairly small, without any overall hierarchy. Tribes usually have elected tribal chiefs as well as elder mystics.
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Comments