- Lammergeier/Ossifrage
- Avalanche
- Plateau
- Kaa, Teep, and other sounds that birds make
- Foehn
Windwyrm nobility and commoners with noble blood have surnames. These are usually a combination of a descriptor and a geographical/natural feature found in windwyrm territory. Some examples of surnames are (if you're having trouble thinking of something interesting, try this generator!):
- Bristlepine
- Whitestream
- Bluefir
- Redwillow
- Blackpeak
- Frostmount
Not all dragons, of course, have the resources to build an actual tomb for their dead ancestors. These projects are limited to the nobility or wealthy commoners in many cases, so poor towns and serfs will often work together and convert an older cellar into something that’ll do the job.
It is key for the body to be left on the peak of a mountain until the flesh is gone, as otherwise, it is impossible for the spirit to pass on into the next life—usually as a bird.
Aristocrats like to decorate their homes with hunting trophies and gold.
The poorest commoners, however, live in ramshackle 'nests' made of wood harvested from the lowland regions. These are seen as somewhat unsafe and extremely undesirable to live in.
Music is used for coordination by the wndwyrms, during dances and on the battlefield, and soldiers are trained in the different signals extensively.
Song of the Seven Skies
Most only know of the play through rumours; that it was a musical about the seven sky gods that rule over the winds and weather of the Realm and their petty squabbles (with eachother and the spirits) and growing family, as well as the creation of the Seraphim.
The Song of the Seven Skies was about the constant war between the seven main gods of the skies, their children, and spirit servants, as well as a group of windwyrm heroes trying to interpret their anger and protect the rest of their kin from getting caught up in the battles. Eventually, these heroes were shown a way to ensure their children would be able to read the spirit-signs of approaching battle by the seventh god, a trickster figure, and these eggs hatched into the first Seraphim.
While the battles still raged, the young Seraphim were able to read the signs of coming trouble and guide their people away before disaster could strike.
Banned on account of it undermining the divinity of the Tempest and promoting a belief in false gods… as well as featuring the Seraphim as heroic figures.
The keeping of large and dangerous animals as pets is also another way to intimidate and impress other windwyrms, although the effect is lost if you are unable to keep the creature in good health and discipline.
Still, if you’re outside of Roseglade, to admit that you bought your food at the market is embarrassing, and nobles will often send disguised servants to get what they need to avoid any association with farming.
Social Class |
Description |
---|---|
The Aristocracy |
Making up only around ten percent of the population of the kingdom, the nobility are the social class with the most power and privelege in windwyrm territory, with freedom of mobility and, to an extent, protection from the ruthlessness with which their hierarchy is enforced. In exchange for these boons, nobility are required to raise money for their Baronesses and the Tempest, to keep order in the lands they rule, and train soldiers in preparation for times of war. The nobilty of the windwyrm kingdom is divided into several ranks; the Tempest and their family, the Baronesses, the Dukes, the Marquis, the Countesses, the Viscounts, and lastly the landless knights who serve other nobles as military leaders. You can read about their ranks and responsibilities in more detail on the government page. |
Non-Aristocratic Military Members |
The highest-ranked outside of the nobility are members of the military. While they can’t hold high ranks, soldiers are given more respect than most of the lower classes, and are the most likely to be able to earn a noble rank through their own merits. They form a startling ten percent of the population, and are expected to guard the borders of the windwyrm kingdom and enforce its laws with brutality. |
Commoners |
Firmly in the middle are the general common folk; anyone who is neither a noble, soldier, or serf makes up this population. Their wealth and living conditions tend to vary greatly with individual circumstances. They have some legal protections and can move freely between the Baronies, join the military, and take part in certain discussions with local leaders. They make up about thirty percent of the population. The illegitimate children of nobles are commoners, regardless of the social class of their parents. |
Serfs |
The remaining half of the population are serfs; this is not a desirable position to be in and challenging to rise above. There are two ways to become a serf; if one of your parents was one (unless they were a noble) you will inherit that status, or, if you were a commoner, you can be made a serf as a punishment for a crime or for being unable to pay a debt to a noble. Serfs are tied to a specific noble’s land and, in return for the privilege of residing there, cultivate it on their behalf. It is illegal for them to leave their noble’s holdings and the majority of whatever resource they cultivate is owed to them. They have few legal protections, and harming or stealing from a serf is considered a slight and crime against the noble they’re tied to, not the serf themself. The conditions they live in depend entirely on the noble they serve, though tends to be quite poor. |
This does not prevent them from hunting animals viewed as spiritually important (save for birds), but it does mean that unnecessary cruelty on a hunt is viewed as extremely distasteful.
The Tempest is a part of this belief; they are seen as the embodiment of the natural order and as, essentially, a living goddess. She is the best that a Windwyrm can be. Criticizing her is seen as defying nature itself; while many still do speak poorly of her, it’s always done in private.
Fair of First Blooms [Throughout May]
The longest and most over-the-top of them is the Fair of First Blooms held in the barony’s capital, Valley, and dragons from across Roseglade will travel great distances to attend. The entire city is lavishly decorated with fresh flowers brought in from surrounding farms and the Summer Gardens, most prominently along the main street. Dozens of small booths are set up around the city selling flowers and flower-themed food; shaved ice flavoured with honey and decorated with edible flowers, hardened threads of honey or maple syrup artfully made to resemble flowers, roasted meats seasoned heavily with spices, and small cakes baked in the shape of blossoms or decorated with flowers made from sweet frosting.
Festival-goers will usually wear flower-themed apparel; veils embroidered with roses, cloaks dyed with patterns resembling peonies, necklaces and crowns woven from fresh blooms, etc.
It’s customary during these festivals to gift flowers (usually in the form of crowns/necklaces) to those dear to you. Red flowers for lovers, pink flowers as a confession of love, yellow for family, white for the dead, blue for forgiveness, orange for close friends, and purple for those who you deeply respect.
The Weeping Stars [July 13th - 17th]
Every year, dozens of windwyrms gather in the tops of the tallest redwoods to witness the event, passing the darkest hours of the night with their eyes turned towards the sky. It is a common practice to make wishes during this time.
In Star’s Shadow, Baroness Thunder has hosted a small “party” in the Celestial Tower during the Weeping Stars each year since becoming Baroness. Her family and specially-invited attendees are welcomed to a calm gathering where they may make use of the telescope within the tower to get a closer look at the falling stars than anywhere else in the barony. Over the past twenty years, most of the duties of planning the event and acting as hostess have fallen to Thunder’s heir, Lady Balsa Blackpine, though the Baroness still makes at least one appearance each year to look at the stars.
Maura’s Mantle [Third week of July]
During this time, windwyrms in the Barony of the Crater (and sometimes eastern Bitterpeak and northern Roseglade) host a special “festival” meant to ward off these wild and mischievous spirits. Each town chooses a dragon to play the role of Mother Maura for the week. They are dressed up in elaborate costumes meant to evoke imagery of lightning and storm clouds, and regardless of their social class, they are to be treated as a guest by all. In exchange, they must walk the streets of the city for the whole week, making thunderous noise and being ever-present to scare off coming storms.
It is common for other windwyrms to dress up in fearsome costumes as well, and many towns hold loud, riotous parties throughout the night.
The Royal Bitterpeak Tournament [All of August]
The main event of the Royal Tourney is known as the “Champion’s Trial”, a series of duels fought throughout the month to determine who will become the Champion of the Crown for the coming year. Each year’s Champion is granted a new noble title and the rights to an area of land somewhere in the windwyrm kingdom and has the right to wear the Champion’s Crown (a steel circlet said to be forged from an old helm that once belonged to the First Tempest, shaped like dozens of feathered wings). They also serve as a guest of honour in the Tempest’s court, and in return are expected to act as a defender of their honour, challenging other windwyrms over smaller slights against the crown.
The first week of the Champion’s Trial are the qualifiers: bloody melees fought between large groups of windwyrms to determine who moves on to the one-on-one matches held later in the month. Anyone may enter, provided they are not a noble of landed status. For example, a commoner, the younger child of a Duke, or even a serf could enter, but not a Count or Marquis themself. Despite this, most of the combatants who make it past the qualifiers are of noble birth or longtime military background, as they have had access to formal training.
The winners of these melees may move forward to one-on-one duels that are spread out across the rest of the month. Each Baron, the Tempest, and the Champion from the prior year may also pick a favoured combatant from the qualifiers to go forward, regardless of their performance.
There are also a number of smaller events hosted throughout the Royal Tourney, focusing on other skills held in high esteem by the windwyrms. These range from dancing, trials of agility and flight, and smaller duels. It is customary for each Baron/Baroness in the kingdom to organize a more minor trial of their own and award the winner with a title.
The Hunter’s Feast [December 21rst]
Throughout the day, the attendees disperse throughout the Duke/Duchess’ wild lands to hunt. They must make their way back with their kills, the more impressive the better, before the sun falls below the horizon. Any cheating is punished severely. As each noble arrives back at the Duke/Duchess’ hall, they and their kill are announced. A grand feast is then held, the spoils of the hunt shared between all the attendees, and when the hunters have eaten their fill the remains are placed in the city’s main courtyard for the common folk to share.
These schools are highly regulated by the Tempest to make sure that they are not being taught anything that might threaten her rule, or learning things that promote cowardice or weakness in the population.
Common folk must make do with being taught by their parents or by skilled members of their community. Their only other options for a comparable education would be to join the military and prove themselves exceptional enough to gain the attention of one of the higher-ranking officers.
In such cases, a commoner might be given the chance to go to a proper school so that they might take full advantage of their natural talents, but this is admittedly a rare occurrence. Few upper-class windwyrms pay the common folk much mind, and most would never want to help them achieve ranks they believe more suited to the aristocracy.
- Warriors
- Hunters
- Dancers
- Aristocrats
- Falconers
- Guides
- Architects
- Serfs
- Farmers (in Roseglade)
It is, while not illegal, an insult to promote a child past their parents' ranks while they still live, unless in the case of elevating someone from the common folk. It still happens, but is a deadly insult, and often both must be promoted at once to avoid angering powerful individuals.
One a child is mature, they're expected to marry well and have children to continue the family legacy. Arranged marriages are exceedingly common because of this. It is not uncommon for heirs who fail to do so to loose their inheritance to a younger sibling/cousin who has managed to do so before them. The family is most important, after all, and if an individual has decided to be selfish and not do their part to ensure that it does... well, they don't deserve their parents' rank.
The nobility are famous for their duels; these can be for anything from perceived slights to one’s honour, insults, or as retribution for crime. As the aristocracy of the Windwyrms is largely above the law, dueling forms one of the few ways that they can hold each other accountable. Only members of the nobility can challenge another to a duel, however.
The terms of these can range from first blood or to death, and the consequences are as simple as ‘I win’ to settling disputes of land ownership and inheritance. They always involve fighting. To issue a challenge, one must have a witness to prove the slight or something to back up a claim to the other noble’s title, and then they must receive the approval of the Baron. This is usually a simple matter and takes only a day or to at most, although matters of succession can take weeks to sort out.
Dueling another for their title is usually outlawed unless one has a good claim to it, but in cases where the current holder is extremely old or has crippling injuries, some Barons may approve duels where the claims are clearly fabricated.
Once a duel has been issued and approved, there is no choice but to go through with the fight; one must participate themselves and cannot appoint a champion in their stead. Refusing to take part means you concede that the other dragon is correct, and whatever they wanted is immediately enacted; it is considered more shameful to refuse to fight than to lose a duel.
They have understandably poor relationships with their neighbour, Ironbrook. While they’ve learned better, they used to try to make trade connections and alliances with the Windwyrms, efforts which usually resulted in the visitors being killed.
Similar events occurred with the Stormheralds, although they’re a little more cautious of them due to their dangerous lightning powers. An incident occurred along the border that involved twelve Windwyrms getting fried, and since then they have done their best to ignore eachother.