Maelstrom Culture

[Kender Bard]

An Inside Look at Maelstrom

Temperment and Trending Traits

What do you get when you combine the fierce patriotism of Khelek, the racial superiority of the Old Way clans of Naurorod, the practice of slavery of Reave's ancestors, the gentleman's honor of New Anarlina, and the double-faced politics of Morilanta? Maelstrom.

Maelstrom's history has been fraught with conflict from within and without, starting with their founding through a split between Storms and the Winds caused by racial tensions (sparking an animosity that would last for hundreds of years.) But through it all, its people has kept a stiff upper lip and a strong sense of propriety that distinguishes their culture from everyone else's.

Maelstrom shares many of its cultural traits in common with Naurorod and Talen'sul. Its people, from all classes, subscribe to an idea of honor. But unlike Naurorod, where the definition of a man's honor is flexible and prone to varying interpretations, Maelstrom has bound up in its laws and social norms a very strict code of honor with rules that range from facing an opponent head on rather than making cowardly attacks from the shadows to the idea that a promise made is a promise kept (a sentiment echoed in New Anarlina.)

Social norms dictate more than just an idea of honor; there's a firm idea of what a person's place is in society and people are expected to conform to that idea. Women are quiet, mind the house and children, and serve to their husband's needs. Men are the strong rulers of the household, the movers and shakers of the world, and their sons are expected to pick up the torch once it's passed and carry on just as their fathers have. The poor are meant to serve, the rich are meant to rule. And even with slavery having been banished in the kingdom, these roles remain, even if they've been slightly altered.

Most Maelstrom born Storms ascribe to these beliefs no matter where they go, and so a traveling Storm may experience considerable culture shock when traveling beyond the borders of Maelstrom. How they react to challenges in their beliefs varies--some adapt, some try to teach others the error of their ways, and still more lash out or retreat home, unable to cope at all.

Jobs

The jobs found in Maelstrom are varying and most anyone can find a place for themselves--provided that it's the place that they belong.

Most jobs are held by men and they pass on their positions and skills to their heirs. Apprenticing does happen but primarily in the lower classes where all the jobs require little education and hard physical labor. More middle class professions, especially those held by merchants, tend to be passed on through a family or else sold off once the family line dies out. Noble classes, of course, must continue to produce heirs or else their line dies out. Spare heirs live a life of indulgent luxury at the expense of the family, learning only as much as they and their fathers demand that they do. Particularly ambitious and energetic non-inheriting heirs may try to strike up ventures or take up work amongst the middle class, but this is discouraged as it can create a poor image for the family in question.

The only jobs where there are any sense of equality amongst the classes (but not genders, of course) are the army and the guard. Even then, there's still a divide. Lower classes tend to favor the guards whereas the middle and upper classes tend to favor the more 'honorable' position of soldier.

While women are not lawfully forbidden to own businesses or work, it is highly discouraged and such women often find themselves painted as prostitutes and ridiculed openly.

Education

Education follows the same format as many of the northern nations. The poor are forced to learn what they can from their families and neighbors while children from more influential families are taught by tutors. There are no schoolhouses though poorer families might attempt to beg or barter with Thuothian priests to teach uneducated children. This generally does not work out, however.

Food

Maelstrom enjoys a rich diet combining the best of Ilyamen and Talen'sul with a dash of Naurorod. Though the region is mountainous, Maelstrom enjoys a lower altitude of its mountains that gradually fade into thick, rich forested areas and then open plains. The mountainous region of Maelstrom primarily subsists off of hunting the wild game and fish from the mountain streams. Farther down the slopes into the deep forests, the hunting must compete with farming which eventually gives away to all farms.

Their proximity to Naurorod also means that in times of peace between the nations, there tends to be an influx of Naurite spices to season dishes. Most of Maelstrom's favorite dishes utilize this, such as venison sausages, glazed boar, cinnamon desserts, and spiced wine.

Fashion

Maelstrom style is all about displaying status, though it goes about it in a slightly roundabout and, sadly, uncomfortable way.

For women, the longer a train and the more material of the outfit, the better. These outfits can be dreadfully hard to move around in (especially since the style favors Crystalander imported whale boning in the corsets and sometimes even within the skirt of the dress to help support the weight while keeping a rounded shape.) Long trails in the train of the dress, coupled with sheer, flowing scarves are the highlight of the outfit. Elbow-length gloves usually go with the outfit, including spots where the flowing scarves can be attached (or sewn on) at the wrists. Layered capes are also popular.

For more everyday wear, a slightly less cumbersome version of the outfit is used that eschews the scarves, gloves, and capes. However, long trains are a must; anyone who lives a lifestyle where this is impracticable must wear their dress an appropriate length, thus indicating that they do not live in enough luxury to be able to function with a long train.

Men have it slightly easier, not being forced to wear copious amounts of clothing. Instead, men tend to wear their wealth on their sleeve, so to speak. A typical male outfit includes long pants, overcoat, vest, and undershirt with calf-length boots and wrist-length gloves. The vest material varies but most men prefer silk of it can be afforded, and the undershirt is generally cotton. The overcoat is made of very stiff material, with a high folded collar. The embroidery along the edges of the overcoat tend to be ornate, often requiring many, many hours of meticulous embroidery in pricey gold thread. Gems and jewelry are usually sewn on as well, in intricate patterns if possible otherwise just in regularly spaced intervals. The color of the overcoat is usually a brilliant blue or purple or similarly expensive dye.

A favored accessory is a brooch of silver or gold with a large gem. Some men seek similar embellishments to their pants but most prefer to leave most of the work done to their overcoats only.

Such garments are extremely expensive if done to full extent; few men but the wealthiest own more than one or two. Anyone unable to afford such a pricey garment will generally get a plain, unembellished version (which hopefully they can have redone if their fortune ever improves.) Working men eschew the overcoat entirely, just wearing a plain vest and undershirt.

Leisure

How a Maelstrom relaxes depends on their status and wealth. The nobility are fond of hawking, horse riding, and hunting (especially fox hunting where possible.) Noble women are encouraged to engage in social lunches and tea parties.

Middle class individuals spend much of their free time trying to gain invitation to noble functions. When not ingratiating themselves with their betters, most of the middle class seek entertainment that requires a fair amount of money as a way of showing off to their peers and the upper class. Lavish parties are the most common way to achieve this.

Lower classes are fond of street entertainment and seek it out in any form as a cheap way to spend a few hours. Street performers and amateur theatre are high favorites, but brawling and fighting--whether genuine or only for fun--are popular too. Any major cause for nation-wide celebration often times results in parades that can have the common rabble clogging every street and alleyway to watch the affair.

Family

Few things are more important to a Maelstrom than legacy, and the penultimate expression of that legacy is one's family. Bloodlines are everything in Maelstrom and what divides the nobility from the common man. Most of Maelstrom's history has stressed the need for purity of blood, requiring families to keep their blood free of other elementals and free of 'common' blood. With the marriage of Talen'sul and Maelstrom into one united nation, this has come under scrutiny, but the old sentiment remains; you are remembered by your children just as you remember your ancestors by the name and traditions you carry on.

Even common families believe that leaving heirs is vitally important; for nobility it means the tradition of a bloodline. For commoners, it means insurance that there will be someone to care for you in your old age and to continue family trades. The common Maelstrom saying is, 'An heir and a spare.' Almost every family strives for at least two children, though more is encouraged.

How one treats their family is unimportant. If a man beats his wife or children, most people turn a blind eye to such actions, feeling it is a man's right to treat his family however he sees fit, although of course the head of a household who can keep his family in line, proper, and respectful without ever lifting a finger will garner considerable more respect than one who must resort to violence. Men are encouraged to bond with their inheriting heir in order to make the transition from father to son in the future as smooth as possible while women are encouraged to form bonds with their daughters so that they can manage finding them proper husbands in the future.

The opposite is not true; while a father may dote on his daughter, sons are preferred as inheriting heirs (although King Shadow wrote into law that firstborn children, regardless of gender, are the inheriting offspring so this may see change in the future.) And mothers are encouraged to mind their sons but not grow overly close, as it is believed that their feminine manners will rub off on the boy, making him weak and womanly, unbefitting of an heir. Third, fourth, and further sons aren't held to this standard, however and if lacking sisters, often become mothers' favorites.

Religion

Religion isn't as heavily an important influence on Maelstrom as it is in some other nations. People give devotionals and attend the temples of their choice, but there's no cultural drive to place spirituality and religious fervor on high.

There statues of the Forces are as follows:

Efil is shown as a young woman in the bloom of her youth with a slight swell to her stomach and a small child in her arms. Although young, she is clearly a mother, beaming with radiant pride as she cradles her son closely.

Taed is a man with a longsword in one hand and an unrolled scroll in the other listing the names of some of the most notable Storms in history and some of the oldest bloodlines and lineages recorded. Standing at his feet is an old man writing his own name on the scroll with a look of pride.

Etaf is shown as a man holding a lightning bolt in one hand and pointing west with the other, a group of Storm men gathered just behind hhim and shading their eyes as they peer into the distance he is pointing out to them. They are on a slight slope indicating that the journey is an upwards one.

Thuoth, is a a feminine looking man seated at a table, holding a scroll that is twin to Taed's, transcribing the names listed into a large tome while glancing at a pair of scales.

Worg is depicted as a man, clad in heavy plate armor, a shield strapped to his back and a great sword in his hand. He is balanced precariously on the tip of what is presumed to be a mighty peak, artistic renderings of clouds just below him. He has risen above them.

Soahc is shown as woman dressed in scandalously revealing clothing, painted and clearly modeled after a whore. She is smiling and inviting, leaning low to display her cleavage as she beckons with a finger while the other holds a wicked dagger behind her back, ready to plunge into whoever foolishly accepts her invitation.