About Aeldirmann
Aeldirmann is a “fat and happy” sort of land populated by farmers, shepherds, and horsemen. Aeldirmann horses are famous throughout the kingdom for their intelligence and endurance. Some of the best racing horses come from Aeldirmann, as do the best calvary horses.
Aeldirmann is in a temperate region with lows rarely going below 50 and highs rarely above 95 (not to say they don’t happen, just not often).
Notable People & Houses
Duke Rickshire the First was one of the last of the dukes in the Old Kingdom, and one of the first in the New Kingdom, the duchy of Aeldirmann being established in year 49 as the humans of the New Kingdom reckon time.
The Earldoms of Blackwall and Martarus were founded at this time as well. The descendants of Ragnir Blackwall and the Volknar were given land along the coast and the earldom of Martarus was formed as a reward for those who followed Duke Xavier the Second north to further explore the lands the humans were granted.
Aeldirmann has a distinct militaristic bent, and places most of its focus on the calvary. All nobles, male and female, are expected to spend at least some of their time with the garrison or a house equivalent. Some go on to make it a career, many do not.
All nobles, male and female, are taught how to ride. Most commoners are taught how to ride.
Each house/region has it’s own symbolic “of age” criteria, but for legal purposes, eighteen is considered to be a legal adult.
The houses of Blackwall and Thornburn contain the only two ports in Aeldirmann.
The current duke is Duke Xavier Rickshire IV. He, like all Rickshires going back to the Old Kingdom, is fiercely loyal to the Van Nestes, the ruling family. He, as is common in Aeldirmann, is a “people’s duke,” perfectly comfortable drinking in the tavern and leading a charge against the orcs as he is sitting in Cyneham and signing paperwork. Actually, he is probably more comfortable in the tavern as his nickname is “Duke Titties and Beer.” He has not yet named an heir.
Lady Adalleah DuVaindis, Seneschal to Duke Xavier Rickshire IV, Matron of Boldridend Bealdras, Shield Maiden, known throughout Aeldirmann as the ‘Mother’ or ‘The Mother of Aeldirmann.” She sees to the day to day running of the Duchy, and hosts the thrice daily meals that Baeldras, the Rickshire family home, is known for. The house is open to all who want to come and eat, and are willing to do so peacefully. Quintessential southern woman. Sweet and caring. Pleasant to look at, curvy. Brown hair and big brown eyes. Always with a smile. YET, cross her and hell hath no fury. She will utterly decimate anyone that crosses the duke (SUPER PROTECTIVE of the Duke) or staff members of the house. Those that are under the protection of the duke are also, in that ‘Family’ (Ie the people that come and eat everyday at Cyneham) But she is not as protective of them.
Aeldirmann is home to the only known newspaper (others have been heard of, but not seen), and presumably, a printing press.
While it is USUALLY the eldest child (regardless of gender) who inherits a title, one can just as easily name a brother, sister, nephew, etc to follow.
Aeldirmann is well represented in the Academe Sorcerous, the Order of the Dragon, and the Blood Eagles.
House Martarus, earldom, known for its horses and ranches.
House Blackwall, earldom, known for its ships.
House Kynaston, earldom, known for its adherence to the old ways.
House Yularen, earldom, known for its weapons and armor.
House Mendenhall.
House Ventris.
Notable Locales
Baeldras is located in Cyneham, the capitol of Aeldirmann. It has few guards, but those are intensely loyal and insanely well trained.
Old Wolf Lake and the towns around it are in the barony of Clan MacCaliesh (this is the area in which Mythic Adventures is held).
Work & Play
Crops grown in Aeldirmann include: corn, hay, cotton, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples. Common trees are oaks and magnolias.
The game of horseshoes is a duchy wide obsession. Each city, town, village, hamlet, grouping of three or more homes in the duchy has it’s own team, and the best players from those local teams are recruited into house teams. The play offs between the house teams occur during the May Horse Fair.
Gambling (especially on the game of horseshoes) is popular throughout all the classes. Board games like Horseshoes and Spears (tic-tac-toe) and skittles are enjoyed by both children and adults alike.
Horse racing competitions, pony racing competitions, and horse shoeing competitions are key events of every festival and harvest faire.
If a party can possibly be thrown for an event, a season, a birth, a death, a wedding, Aeldirmann will try. This is the duchy of “Hey, I didn’t die in my sleep. PARTY!!”
Yellow is used in many celebrations as a symbol of happiness, good luck, fair fortune, and to ward off evil.
Cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens are raised along with horses to provide both food and fertilizer. Fresh fish is considered a delicacy and is served primarily on feast days (unless you live in Blackwall or Thornburn lands, where it is more common. And no one wants to eat the fish out of Old Wolf Lake these days. Too near the ruins and the Scar)). Salted fish is easier to come by, but is still a “special occasion” type meal.
The crops grown include wheat and barley, cotton and corn, potatoes, blueberries, peaches, apples, and in the southernmost parts of the duchy, oranges.
Fish are difficult to come by due to the few coastal areas, but mutton and beef are plentiful. Unfinished wool is shipped to the trade cities of the south to turn into thread and fabric which is then sold to the duchies in the north.
Traditions
All people of Aeldirmann, noble and common, male and female are taught how to defend themselves. And if you don’t think a skillet can do some damage, ask a shireling.
While upper level education is not required or forced among the commoners, all children are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and history. Most enter into some sort of apprenticeship about age sixteen, unless they are following in their parents footsteps, in which case it can be younger, or are entering the garrison, in which case it may be eighteen.
Arranged marriages were recently abolished in Aeldirmann. Divorce can only be granted if abuse, necromancy, or bigamy can be proved. Bigamy is illegal. A marriage requires two witnesses and a third of equal or higher rank to perform the ceremony.
Slavery is illegal throughout the Kingdom.
Most people are cremated at death. The funerary rites themselves are highly individualized between the various houses.
Although there is no traditional color for bride clothes, both bride and groom should have a yellow incorporated into their garments in some way. Usually it is as a sash, often past down through the generations, but can be bit of yellow cloth or embroidery. (Yellow dresses and suits are rare but not unheard of, as yellow favors few complexions.)
Aeldirmann noblilty usually follow the law of primogeniture - the oldest child inherits the title regardless of gender.
Inspirations
Fantasy analogues include the Riders of Rohan, while historical analogues would include the Danish-Saxon-early Norman era.
The People
It is populated mostly by humans and shirelings, and is close enough to Mists Edge and Summer’s Rest that elves are far from an uncommon sight.
Aeldirmann has a closer relationship to the elves than the other duchies do, to the point that one of Aeldirmann can actually go armed in Mist’s Edge (although he or she had better have a very good reason and give that reason quickly. And be prepared to surrender the weapon if the answer does not suffice).
Shirelings and humans can both be from Aeldirmann. There are quite a few houses that have no members and you would have the opportunity to work with staff to build your own traditions within that house or you could join an established house or be “no party affiliation.”
Many in Aeldirmann, especially among the nobility, can trace their family names to the Old Kingdom, as Duke Xavier Rickshire the First had used his ties with the Volknar and the elves to aid in the Evacuation of the Old Kingdom and the Founding of the New Kingdom. His signature is on the Treaty with the Ancients that granted the humans their current lands.
Festival and Events by Month
January - Ratification Day - Gifts are presented to the members of the Elder Races that are in attendance by the heads of the various houses. If a person in attendance is not aligned with a specific house, it is traditional that the individual presents a gift or token on their own behalf. In addition to this being the time that commoners and nobles can mingle without fear of reprisal, and when the various prestige groups seek out new members, and boons can be asked, this is also traditionally when betrothals are announced, births are announced, and heirs are officially declared. (Betrothals, etc can be declared at any time, but it is considered luckiest to do it during Ratification Day.)
February - nothing specific at this time
March - nothing specific at this time
April - Spring Festival, Blessing of the Seeds by the local Fae, a beauty contest both for horses (mostly the equipage) and for women.
May - Horse Fair (held throughout the duchy, but the biggest and most famous is held at Whitehearth, in Martarus) - horse and pony races, horse shows, and contests to do with horses. This is when the Horseshoe Playoffs are held. There is also a parade.
June -
August - Although marriages can occur any time during the year, these months are traditionally seen as the “wedding season.” Vows are created by the bride and groom, and ceremonies are usually held indoors. Each house and land will have customs unique to it.
September - Market and Harvest Fair - crafter and farmer competitions, also when the military likes to show their prowess with archery contests and fight circles. “Mage Battles” are held as well.
October - All Hallows - Candy or some form of sweet is left out by children (and usually eaten by parents) to appease the spirits, bells are frequently tied to trees, posts, or in windows to warn when the ghosts are about (and serve to scare the children), and everyone wears some form of yellow token or favor as protection. Again, local customs will vary depending on whether you worship your ancestors, fear them, or don’t care one way or the other.
November - Aeldirmann Memorial Day - Celebration of the Fallen and Those That Remain. Reading of lists of those that died in battle through out the year, a parade featuring their coat of arms (if they have them) or tabards if they do not. It’s a solemn (as solemn as Aeldirmann gets) occasion.
December - Yule - Celebration of the Lengthening of the Days and Return of the Sun, horsehair gifts are exchanged (bracelets, necklaces, even just lengths of braided horsehair are appropriate), candles glow in every window both day and night, and evergreen boughs are hung everywhere. Yule logs are usually burnt.