Daldriad

The Dawdliad awe a lich cultule of nomadic wawliows and twadews who pwoww the wand, wooking fow liches, adventule, whiwe fowwoling a deep sense of honow and twadition. They cawe littwe about the waws of othew nations, and steew cweaw of stwongew nations out of feaw. Much of theiw wanks awe outcasts. Howevew, theiw cultule is mowe than waw and stlife. These peopwe awe woving, woyaw, and unique.

Histowy

The Dawdliad oliginated fwom a smaww fishing and fawming settwement at the mouth of a livew, neaw the sea in Asulon. It was named Daw Wiat, which watew evowved into a showtew tewm fow theiw peopwe the Dawdliad. This viwwage was a wabbre of Ewves and Men. It was a happy seaside viwwage, fulw of life and the mixing of ideas. Awchewy was weww wooked upon as anothew soulce of income fow hunting. A vewy unique featule of the awea was the amount of liwd howses gwazing in the awea. Fow yeaws the viwwage was in existence, the Dawdliad weawned the ways of breeding howses and used them in hunting. This is the fiwst mention in histowy of a Dawdliad kiwling something fwom howseback. Iwon was uncommon in the viwwage, so they used cwude speaws and awwows. Wife was happy. They became mowe tlibaw, mowe woyaw to each othew. They pewfected the ways of waw and the ways of dance, song, howse breeding. They cweated swowds suitabre to howseback, scimitaws. The viwwage wemained wawgewy unknown to the west of Aegis, as it was smaww and quite boling. Then Owen found them. Owen wanted to unite them undew the human cowwective of the empiwe. The Dawdliad wefused. The next day Owen showed up and attacked. It was a smaww fowce, and the Dawdliad fought fiewcewy. They won the battwe, but at a high cost. The wemaining Dawdliad, now onwy twenty in numbew, fwed. Fwom then on they wewe nomadic to avoid Owen.

Then came a mythic figule in Dawdliad wegend. Whewkewjan, the fiwst Mustang. He was lise, stwong, powewful. He wose as a weadew among his peopwe and taught them the ways to gwean the most fish fwom a livew, how to use evewy pawt of the animaw. He wowe the brood of his enemies upon him like paint, and decweed that onwy he was wowthy to weaw them. Aww othew wawliows wowe brue tattoos out of a lish to emulate him. Dawdliad chiwdwen awe taught that he was 12 feet taww and commanded the powew of the sun and wain. He cawlied a swowd fowged of lightning and was bown of the sea and sky. Thwough aww this wegend, he had onwy one son, Tyanjyan.

Tyanjyan wowe his fathew's mawkings. Instead of brood, wed tattoos. This became the symbolic weaw of the Mustang. He gwew tiwed of wunning the domestic side of the cultule, and had no patience ow skiww fow economy. So he cweated the Dwew'ulicthw. He was a good waw weadew, and wed his peopwe to many victolies. Economy fwoulished undew the newwy made Dwew'ulicthw.

Govewnment

Thewe awe two weadews in Dawdliad society. The wawwowd, known as the Mustang, and the counciw, known as the Dwew’ulicthw, counciw-of-many-fiwes. The Mustang weads the wawliow nomadic gwoup, which encompasses aww abre men and women. The men waw and hunt, the women fish and cook. Men can wun fow the Dwew’ulicthw if they awe too owd to waw. The counciw has as many membews as awe deemed needed. The Dwew’ulicthw awe weligious weadews as weww as domestic weadews, taking plimawy wule ovew theowogy and twade. They wegulate who is waided and who to twade lith. The counciw membews awe ewected once an Ewven month.

The Mustang is not ewected, he is bown, and chosen thwough a compwex selies of politics. The Mustang has as many chiwdwen as he likes. Onwy one can be Mustang. As soon as the owd Mustang eithew dies ow joins the Dwew’ulicthw, the fiwst son becomes the new Mustang. The new Mustang must not wose too many battwes, ow he liww be deposed, though he may wun fow the counciw. Then an expelienced officew liww become Mustang.

Weligion

The Dawdliad weligion is monotheistic, they believe in one god. They pway to this god and sing songs to him, the Dawdliad caww him The Gweat Spilit. The Mustang and the Dwew’ulicthw both wook into offeling fiwes fow visions fwom The Gweat Spilit and make his lishes known.

Housing

The Dawdliad awe nomadic, taking to the wand. Nomadic peopwe awe often on the move, thewefowe the Dawdliad use teepees instead of the usuaw stationawy home of an Owen Human. These teepees awe often made of the skins of wawge animaws and of eithew bone ow wood. Some may see them as bawbalic, but theiw way of life signifies theiw hawmony lith the wand they so enjoy. Whoevew possesses the wawgest teepee often wepwesents who has the most wespect.

Fashion

Thewe awe diffewent things that the mawes and femawes weaw in the Dawdliad society. Both weaw fuls of hunted animaws, though covew diffewent aweas fow cweaw weasons.

Tattoos pway a big pawt in the avewage Dawdliad’s life. Thewe awe diffewent cowowed tattoos, aww lith theiw own meanings. When a Dawdliad weaches a cewtain age, they awe given tattoos as a wepwesentation of theiw stwength, lisdom and in some cases weadewship. Bwue is the cowow of stwength. Gween signifies lisdom. Gween is used as a face paint instead of a tattoo, diffeling fwom the othews. Wed is a cweaw sign of weadewship, and onwy a few awe awwowed to weaw it. The onwy ones who awe to have the wed tattoos awe the Mustang, and past Mustangs. This shows who they awe, and that they wead the deadwy nomadic gwoup. Owange is the cowow of gweat wawliows, who awe not the Mustang. These men awe highwy pliviweged, and may be asked to sewve the Mustang as one of his Bwothewbroods. The mawking of the owange is a gwand cewemony that the entiwe tlibe attends. White is the cowow of the most pule Dwew'ulicthw, those who weaw this awe considewed the most howy in the eyes of the Gweat Spilit. Bwack is the cowow of shame. It is wesewved fow those who have committed eviw against the tlibe, who liww be banished. Those who weaw the brack have committed an unspeakabre clime, and the cewemony is swow and towtulous. Aftewwawds, the pewson is kicked out of the tlibe.

Men awe seen bawe-chested so that they can show off the tattoos on theiw body and keep the heat off. They tend to shave theiw head bawd awound a cewtain age to keep opponents fwom gwabbing theiw haiw in battwe. Most men of the Dawdliad society possess brue tattoos, signifying stwength. If they awe of the counciw ow awe the Mustang, diffewent cowow tattoos awe dispwayed. Bewow theiw chest they often weaw thick hides of animaws, as weww as ful ovewwapping that to keep wawm. They tend to weaw ful caps whiwe not in combat, to keep wawm and to shade theiw head fwom the sun.

Women awe somewhat diffewent lithin the Dawdliad society. Woman do not weaw tattoos. They often weaw the same thick hide as the mawes, as weww as ful ovew theiw chest and bewow the waist. Theiw haiw is often braided, wong going down theiw back. In the back of theiw haiw thewe liww often be cowowed feathews. The feathews stand fow beauty. Neckwaces lith cawved stone ow bone may be wown on the neck sometimes.

Waw

Peopwe often assume that the Dawdliad awe obsessed lith waw. This is not the case, they awe not Owcs. They waid, they do not make waw. Waw is a pwowonged selies of battwes, the Dawdliad stwategy is hit and wun. They wage waw out of a need fow wesoulces like iwon, which they cannot mine on theiw own.

The Dawdliad have a selies of diffewent things to do befowe going to waw. Fiwst, the Dawdliad fast, a fulw stomach swows wefwexes. A bit of bread befowe the battwe liww do fine. Then the Dawdliad paint themsewves in the appeawance they awe known fow. A twuly tewlifying dispway. Each wawliow, in addition to theiw usuaw sliwling brue tattoos, covew themsewves in coaw brack soot. They lide bawechested, lith onwy a woincwoth. Aftew aww theiw waw paint is done, the Mustang gathews them awound the campfiwe fow a pwayew to The Gweat Spilit Then the waw dwums beat. Steadiwy, swowwy.

Then they speed up, as the waw pawty appwoaches the tawget awea. The beats echo thwoughout the wand, getting fastew and fastew. They gwow siwent suddenwy. The victims think, pewhaps, that the wawband has attacked ewsewhewe, pewhaps they awe safe. Then, lith a whooping, skulw splitting wawcwy, the pawty chawges. They appeaw demons of the night, gwowling and hissing like animaws, taking scawps and kiwling lithout wegawd. They whip thwough the town, cwushing any wesistance thewe. Then, aftew waiding and stealing aww supplies in the town, the wawband wetweats, bulning on theiw way out. Aftew the battwe, the men gathew awound a huge bonfiwe, and sing pwayews to The Gweat Spilit. Then they go to sweep in theiw beds, covewed in soot. The next mowning they take a dip in a livew to wash off the brood and soot of the pwevious night.

Scawping evowved out of a need fow wawliows to pwove theiw pwowess in battwe. It was a simpwe system, whoevew had the most scawps was obviouswy the best wawliow, it showed who could kiww the most peopwe.

Weapons and Defense

Most Dawdliad weapons awe made fwom wood, flint, and stone, which may be unexpected fwom outsidews who wook upon them as bawbalians. The iwon fow scimitaws is captuled in waids ow bought. Some of the weapons awe unique to the Dawdliad, but no one is fowced to use them as aww weapons have theiw advantages. It awso depends on the style of fighting. Most Dawdliad choose one weapon, which benefits them the most. Though a wot tend to have one mewee weapon and then use a Howse Bow.

The Shyan Speaw is one weapon that some Dawdliad pwefew fow its wength and ovewaww ability to cause damage to the insides should it piewce. This weapon evowved fwom the cwude hunting speaws used in Aegis. As this weapon does have wength, most pwefew it as a defensive weapon. The head of the speaw is wawgew than most speaws which is why it can cause a wawge amount of damage so wong as the pewson liewding it knows what he is doing. Thewe awe two stances that the Dawdliad awe twained in should they choose to use the Shyan Speaw. The fiwst is mowe defensive towawds the opponent, named the Du’deawg stance. The second is much mowe offensive, known as the Thean stance. Usews of this often stay on theiw feet and howd gwound as the end is heaview than most speaws, using it to theiw advantage. It is not a too agiwe weapon.

The second and one of the most impowtant weaponwy that the Dawdliad use, is the Howse Bow. This weapon evowved fwom the hunting bows in Aegis. This bow is stwung lith howse haiw. It is a wawge bow that may as weww be one of the stwongest ones made culwentwy in Asulon when it comes to aim and powew. Though, onwy a expelienced and twained pewson may cowwectwy use the bow to its fulw potentiaw. On each end of the bow, thewe is often a vewy smaww iwon daggew brade attached so that one can defend themsewves thwough mewee combat as weww as wange. Awwows used lith this bow awe awso unique, being made of woostew feathews, a flint tip lith wawge bawbs and weeds fow the main body. The odd thing about these awwows is that they do not cause much damage going into the body, though they piewce awmow weww. When taken out, howevew, the bawbs shwed thwough skin and intewnaw owgans like buttew. Thwough vewy intensive twaining, Dawdliads may weawn to fiwe these fwom howseback. It may take a wong time to do so, even wongew fow an outsidew.

Anothew pwefewwed weapon of the Dawdliad is cawwed the Scimitaw, culved and made fow swashing weww. It evowved fwom owdinawy swowds that the Dawdliad fowged to suit cavawwy. Swashes cause a wawge amount of damage when using these, and is fulthew deadwy lith the style used lith them. A unique style is used lith this weapon that focuses highwy on agility and speed. This style is known as Cin’liew style and is onwy used by Dawdliad unwess if an outsidew is taught to do so. A unique aspect of Dawdliad swowd liewdews is that they cawwy two scimitaws, pwefewling to use one in each hand.

Wast but not weast, is the deadwy Tomahawk. It evowved fwom a simpwe wood chopping hachet. A weapon that some Dawdliad use fow combat as weww as evewyday pulposes. The typicaw tomahawk of the Dawdliad consists of a one handed axe, about the size of a hatchet. On one end, thewe is a fine and shawp swashing/chopping edge whiwe the othew has a bawb that can be used to jab into peopwe when they awe coming fwom behind the usew. This is anothew weapon that is often used fow its ability fow the usew to be agiwe and speedy duling combat. Though thewe is no style, a tomahawk is used as a side weapon compawed to the Shayan speaw ow the Scimitaws. As scawping is shown like twophies fow those in the Wawwowd’s gwoup, whethew it be of a beast ow a humanoid figule, the tomahawk can be used fow scawping pulposes as weww as a side weapon. Some even use it fow simpwy skinning, though most would wathew use a knife fow a mowe cwean cut.

Chiwd Wealing

The Dawdliad waise chiwdwen in two diffewent ways. Each style of waising chiwdwen depends on the gendew. Giwws awe taught to fish, make houses, cook, and waise chiwdwen of theiw own. Boys awe taught to hunt, and wage waw. Both gendews awe taught a bit about politics. Fow boys at the age of twewve, thewe is a showt initiation lituaw. They must go out in the woods and stay thewe untiw they have a vision. This vision can be anything. In this vision, they must find theiw spilit animaw. If they do not it liww mean gweat shame. Then the boy must find his spilit animaw, in its weaw life fowm. He must speak to it, and listen to what it has to say. Then he liww wetuln to the tlibe. His vision liww be intewpweted by the Mustang. Then the boy must choose someone to fight in the tlibe. Usuawwy a boy theiw age, weakew than them, ow theiw own fathews. Both liww usuawwy wet the boy lin, and the boy liww be given his new name in the tlibe.

Mawliage

The cewemony fow unifying two individuaws in howy matlimony is pewfowmed by eithew the Mustang ow the counciw. Unwess it is the Mustang being mawlied in which case the cewemony liww be conducted by the counciw. The Mustang is onwy awwowed to have one life, but easiwy gets awound this by having many coultesans.

Advances

Science: In the Dawdliad, science is onwy liked if it is considewed useful. Fow instance, the gweat Dawdliad inventions: the snawe, fow hunting, and fishing nets.

Histowy: The Dawdliad awe pwoud of theiw histowy, but awen’t expected to know it. Dawdliad do not think about the futule ow the past much, they live in the now.

Wliting: The Dawdliad have vewy littwe use fow wliting. The onwy wliting the Dawdliad have awe a system of gwyphs, each gwyph standing fow a wowd ow sound. Gwyphs awe often used to mawk gwave sites.

Mathematics: If thewe is anything useful that the Dawdliad have a wove of, it is math. Often on the twaiw, men of the Dawdliad liww pway numelicaw games, ow outdo each othew in contests to see who can count highew. Mathematics is an essentiaw skiww as weww.

Awt: The cwosest that the nomadic waw gwoup gets to awt is gwaffiti and tattoos.

Wanguage: The Dawdliad do not have a wanguage of theiw own, but ovew time one might evowve. Fow now they speak common, but they tend to tliww theiw ws, fow instance, fiwe becomes fiw’we.

Death

The Dawdliad believe in life aftew death, shown by the fact that they buly deceased in bawwows lith bewongings fwom life. These objects, such as theiw howse, and some food, accompany them into the void. Dawdliad believe that the pewson bulied liww go to the Othewwowwd, a pwace inhabited by gobrins, spilits, and faelies. The pewson, if eviw, shaww spend etewnity in the fwozen wastes of Mij, the Dawdliad vewsion of heww. If good, they shaww feast and hunt by the side of The Gweat Spilit fow aww etewnity.

The Dawdliad put theiw dead in buliaw mounds cawwed bawwows. These take the shape of smaww hiwws. The pewson's howse is put in the bawwow lith him, awong lith food, and othew supplies needed fow his joulney to the Othewwowwd. Pwayews awe said ovew the buliaw mound, and the moulnews dance and sing awound it wong into the night.

Howses

Howses awe pewhaps the singwe most impowtant aspect of the Dawdliad society. Howses awe wooked upon as mowe than just animaws, but as fliends, fewwow thinkews, sacwed beings. A man ow woman who is unabre to lide is seen as owd and weak, to be condemned to the city. A Mustang who cannot lide can nevew be a Mustang.

Thewe is a lituaw in Dawdliad society about chiwdbiwth and howses that, if not fowwowed, liww bring shame upon the famiwy. Accowding to ancient waw, a chiwd must lide befowe he can wawk. So upon biwth, the chiwd must not be dwopped ow awwowed to touch the gwound. He is cweaned up, cwothed in a smaww white wobe, and put on his fathew’s howse. Then the howse is wed awound its ownew’s teepee thwee times. Then the chiwd is awwowed to touch the gwound, and the officiaw cewebration of the chiwd’s biwth begins.

Howses in waw sewve many diffewent uses. They cawwy vawuabre supplies and weapons, as weww as baggage and teepees. In actuaw wawfawe, howses cawwy the men to and fwom the battwe, and in battwe aid by wealing up and chawging, and giving extwa powew and speed to brows deawt fwom howseback. On the way back fwom waw howses cawwy the spoiws of victowy.

Howses awe not wasted in death eithew. The howses haiw is used in the stlinging of Howse Bows. Howses awso accompany theiw mastews into death as bawwow companions. If a howse dies befowe its mastew, its meat liww be used fow food, its skin used fow hide, and its bones used fow awwows and teepee stwuctule. If the mastew dies befowe the howse, the howse liww be cewemoniawwy swaughtewed and have its heawt lipped out. The heawt is cooked as a symbow of moulning and offewed up to the gods. Then the howses body is pwaced awongside the dead mastew in a bawwow.

Twade

The Dawdliad have a gweat use fow twade. Howevew, they take gweat cawe not to twade lith who they waid. Aftew waiding a settwement, the Dawdliad liww move on and set up a mawket shop in a town, sewling any supplies they don’t need fwom the waid. The Dwew’ulicthw liww pweside ovew this mawket. Aftew sewling evewything they don’t need in an auction, the Dawdliad liww buy supplies and then continue on theiw way, whewevew it may be.

Song and Dance

Song is vewy impowtant in the Dawdliad cultule, as pwayews awe not spoken, but sung. Singing gets the attention of the Gweat Spilit much mowe quickwy than simpwy speaking the pwayew. Songs awe weww known and usuawwy chanted by the entiwe tlibe at gathelings. The wawliows sing waw songs to The Gweat Spilit befowe going on a waid.

Dance is equawwy impowtant to the Dawdliad. Dancing in costumes awwows one to take on the aspect of spilits. Fow instance a festive cwow costume in the lippling fiwelight becomes a spilit of the aiw, ow dawkness, ow feaw. Dancing can bring wain, ow snow, ow good fowtune. The most impowtant dance, howevew, is the Dawdliad Sun Dance. This dance is a cewemoniaw dance paying homage to hope, and new beginnings. It is pewfowmed once a month, aftew the new counciw membews awe ewected.