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This '''Ethnographic Outline''' gives a brief overview of all major ethnicities and societies of [[Elondor]] designed as a point of entry to those not familiar with its landscape of nations. The article is organized by primary [[Languages|ethnolinguistic]] groups, giving general information before proceeding to a listing of subgroups. Not that this is not an exhaustive list, but merely meant to introduce the reader to the most important ethnic groups and their characteristics. More detailed accounts can be found the respective main articles, which are linked throughout. | This '''Ethnographic Outline''' gives a brief overview of all major ethnicities and societies of [[Elondor]] designed as a point of entry to those not familiar with its landscape of nations. The article is organized by primary [[Languages|ethnolinguistic]] groups, giving general information before proceeding to a listing of subgroups. Not that this is not an exhaustive list, but merely meant to introduce the reader to the most important ethnic groups and their characteristics. More detailed accounts can be found the respective main articles, which are linked throughout. | ||
==Ortûlékians== | ==Ortûlékians== | ||
''Main Article: [[Ortûlékian peoples]]'' | |||
The Ortûlékians have their origin in the cold and rainy plains of Belkondíl, but they do not easily remain in one place and can now be found in nearly every corner of Elondor; and that, upon their tendency towards conquests and massacres, mostly in powerful positions. Initially living in a clan-based and largely genderless society, their different ethnicities’ cultures and languages have diverted wide over the millennia, adopting many of the traditions of their host countries as well as conceiving of their own innovations. They are typically tall, light-skinned, and light-haired. | The Ortûlékians have their origin in the cold and rainy plains of [[Belkondíl]], but they do not easily remain in one place and can now be found in nearly every corner of Elondor; and that, upon their tendency towards conquests and massacres, mostly in powerful positions. Initially living in a clan-based and largely genderless society, their different ethnicities’ cultures and languages have diverted wide over the millennia, adopting many of the traditions of their host countries as well as conceiving of their own innovations. They are typically tall, light-skinned, and light-haired. | ||
Traditionally, the Ortûlékians are split into three subgroups, the Genians (Aribelians and Celsondach), the Olgs, and the Auls (one of the groups ancestral to the Iiles). | Traditionally, the Ortûlékians are split into three subgroups, the [[Géni|Genians]] ([[Aribelians]] and [[Celdic peoples|Celsondach]]), the [[Olgish peoples|Olgs]], and the [[Auls]] (one of the groups ancestral to the [[Iiles]]). | ||
===Olgs=== | ===Olgs=== | ||
''Main Article: [[Olgish peoples]]'' | |||
The Olgs might be the most famous of all Elondorian peoples. Their name originally meant ‘the crafty ones’, but this reading has long passed into the obsolete. The first to practice metallurgy, they were initially simple craftspeople under the rule of their Genian and [[Soskish peoples|Soskish]] neighbours before reaching for power and gaining it by violent means. They bring not only Belkondíl under their control but also nearly every other corner of Elondor, eventually drawing together all of their dominions in the [[Lécaronian Empire]]. | |||
Their traditional culture was built on three pillars, the horse (a borrowing from the Sosks), cattle, and warfare, and their society organized in clans, each living in an assigned county. A [[King of Belkondíl|High King or Queen]] could rule over all Olgs, but many claims are made to this title and few are successful. Gender plays almost no role in their society, and men and women are considered equals. [[Olgish religion|Their religion]] has a strong disposition for eschatology, seeing an asymmetric and imperfect world. They know seven deities, which they believe were the servants of Titans who only survived the great cataclysm that ended the [[Last Age|previous incarnation of the world]] because they had been banished for treason. They are known to have the palest skin and the reddest hair of all nations in Elondor. | |||
Many of these things change as the Olgs disperse into the world; what remains common to almost all of them is a warlike unsteadiness and a tendency towards bloodshed. The Olgs of Belkondíl, who mostly live by their old traditions (many of which have, however, been altered significantly under the influence of [[Seligonian Fashions]]), can be divided into two groups, the [[Cëlacian Olgs|Cëlacians]], or Olgs proper, who live on the heaths and in the highlands of the continent and, along with the rest of the world, have adopted the [[Soskish language]] (the language of the Empire), and the [[Brethanian Olgs|Brethanians]], who remain on the remote western coasts and the [[Marin|Mairn archipelago]]. Fierce mariners and fishermen, they speak their own language, [[Brethanian Olgish language|Brethanian Olgish]]. | |||
The Olgs of the mountains are not unlike those of Belkondíl, but many have traded cattle for pickaxe, and their steel is renowned far beyond their borders. So are their superstitions, and their choral music. Seligon, much like colonies, is a place of great diversity, and no true ‘Seligonian Olgish’ group exists. Most identify merely as Olgs, or as Creoles if they descend from both Olgish and Seligonian ancestors, as is the case for most. They are closest to the Sosks of all Olgish groups, adopting their language long before mandated by the Empire. Known for their high arts and culture (a borrowing from the Seligonians), they wield great social respect in the later days of the Empire. | The [[Wertians]] live to the north of Belkondíl, in the [[Ilathw Valley]] and the [[Geranian Heath]]. They are known as particularly fearless riders, and their language, [[Wertian language|Wertian]], for its pleasing sound. The second Olgish group of [[Geran]], the [[Hajan Olgs]], live in the [[Hajalad]], the rich strip of coast between [[Dárinsford]] and [[Antarea]], and on the [[Norides|Norides island chain]]. They are renowned for their commercial prowess and their obscure dialect (which they have mostly given up in favour of Soskish). The Olgs of the [[Northwestern Colonies|colonies]] are a group only in geographical terms. A region of great diversity between Olgs, [[Kalparians]], and [[Aribelians]], culture and society vary greatly from one place to another, merely sharing the fact that the rest of Elondor unanimously considers them uncultured. | ||
The Olgs of the [[Reknaya|mountains]] are not unlike those of Belkondíl, but many have traded cattle for pickaxe, and their steel is renowned far beyond their borders. So are their superstitions, and their choral music. [[Seligon]], much like colonies, is a place of great diversity, and no true ‘Seligonian Olgish’ group exists. Most identify merely as Olgs, or as [[Seligonian Creoles|Creoles]] if they descend from both Olgish and [[Seligonian peoples|Seligonian]] ancestors, as is the case for most. They are closest to the Sosks of all Olgish groups, adopting their language long before [[Ésôrin the Wise#Soskish Edict|mandated by the Empire]]. Known for their high arts and culture (a borrowing from the Seligonians), they wield great social respect in the later days of the Empire. | |||
===Aribelians=== | ===Aribelians=== | ||
The Aribelians are, to most, among the more enigmatic nations. Descended from the Genians, they settled in the northwestern corner of Elondor, now named after them, and decided to dedicate their identity to the pursuit of knowledge and reason. Discarding they gods and founding the great | ''Main Article: [[Aribelians]]'' | ||
The Aribelians are, to most, among the more enigmatic nations. Descended from the Genians, they settled in the northwestern corner of Elondor, [[Aribel|now named after them]], and decided to dedicate their identity to the pursuit of knowledge and reason. Discarding they gods and founding the great [[Academy of Berán]], they became known as curious and wise, great scientists, merchants, [[On the Aribelian Philosphers|and particularly philosophers]], self-centred chauvinists, elitists and unrepentant racists. With all their curiosity, they are said to have little respect for things they do not understand, and they are naturally contentious even about those they do understand. | |||
Their state goes through multiple incarnations from kingdom to republic back to kingdom, and so forth, before their critical engagement against the Olgs in the Aribelian Wars, after which most of their lands are lost and turned into the colonies. Their society is stratified into the working and the academic classes, although a certain social mobility is given. <!--Gender roles are strict, expecting philosophy and physical work from men and poetry and music from women; disconformity is met with scorn (which did not stop certain historical figures such as Márir the Younger from attaining fame). | Their state goes through multiple incarnations from kingdom to republic back to kingdom, and so forth, before their critical engagement against the Olgs in the [[Aribelian Wars]], after which most of their lands are lost and turned into the colonies. Their society is stratified into the working and the academic classes, although a certain social mobility is given. <!--Gender roles are strict, expecting philosophy and physical work from men and poetry and music from women; disconformity is met with scorn (which did not stop certain historical figures such as Márir the Younger from attaining fame). | ||
-->Aribelians are known to dress in long light-coloured robes; blond hair is particularly common among them. The higher classes in Aribel speak High Aribelian (a language notoriously hard to learn), while the lower classes as well as most merchants use a more progressive variant of the Aribelian language, Vulgar Aribelian. | -->Aribelians are known to dress in long light-coloured robes; blond hair is particularly common among them. The higher classes in Aribel speak [[High Aribelian language|High Aribelian]] (a language notoriously hard to learn), while the lower classes as well as most merchants use a more progressive variant of the Aribelian language, [[Vulgar Aribelian]]. | ||
===Celdic Tribes=== | ===Celdic Tribes=== | ||
The Celdic Tribes, or Celsondach, as they are (somewhat pejoratively) known to many, are distant cousins of the Aribelians (both are said to descend from the Genians), but they bear little resembles to each other. The Celdic peoples inhabit the plains and forests of southern Celsond, a cold and unforgiving land north of the Reknayan mountains, and one of a few areas never under the sway of Lécaron. They vaguely fall into two groups: The Western Celsondach, proud riders occupying the Celdic Steppes and the direct neighbours (and archenemies) of the Aribelians, living lives centred on warfare, honour, and trade; and the Eastern Celsondach, who dwell in the more fertile and forested east of Celsond, living in harmony with nature and rarely engaging with the matters of the world beyond their borders, except for their easternmost tribes, who gained great wealth in the trade with Seligon and became allies of Lécaron. | The Celdic Tribes, or Celsondach, as they are (somewhat pejoratively) known to many, are distant cousins of the Aribelians (both are said to descend from the Genians), but they bear little resembles to each other. The Celdic peoples inhabit the plains and forests of southern Celsond, a cold and unforgiving land north of the Reknayan mountains, and one of a few areas never under the sway of Lécaron. They vaguely fall into two groups: The Western Celsondach, proud riders occupying the Celdic Steppes and the direct neighbours (and archenemies) of the Aribelians, living lives centred on warfare, honour, and trade; and the Eastern Celsondach, who dwell in the more fertile and forested east of Celsond, living in harmony with nature and rarely engaging with the matters of the world beyond their borders, except for their easternmost tribes, who gained great wealth in the trade with Seligon and became allies of Lécaron. | ||