Medieval names of any origin (but more commonly English, Irish, Welsh or Scottish) are extremely common throughout the entire kingdom and throughout all classes. It is also common to reuse the names of friends, family and famous individuals, even if they're still alive at the time.
Some examples are:
Some examples are:
- Henry, Thomas, William, Maddox, Jane, Mary, Agnes, and Eva
Xocrian bodies are burned when they die and are placed in colorful urns made with stained glass. These urns are kept by the house of the deceased for a brief period of time where they mourn the loss of the loved one. After this time, these urns are usually given to the Order of the Phoenix where they are taken to Sunkeep and placed in The Light of the Phoenix where the urns are placed in an open building filled with reflective glass. It is said that when the sun rises, the entire building shines with light. This is believed to be where the spirits of the deceased are ‘blessed by the phoenix and filled with its light’ and are able to pass into the afterlife so that when the time comes, they may be reborn. After they are blessed with the light and pass through, the urns are given back to the families so that they may bury the urns where they see fit.
For nobility however, this process is somewhat different. Bodies are not burned but are simply buried within the crypt of the House’s province after being placed in Sunkeep. Usually funerals take place during the same day and at the funeral of the deceased, a priest from the order prays over the body and prays that they pass through the afterlife with success and faith in their hearts.
For nobility however, this process is somewhat different. Bodies are not burned but are simply buried within the crypt of the House’s province after being placed in Sunkeep. Usually funerals take place during the same day and at the funeral of the deceased, a priest from the order prays over the body and prays that they pass through the afterlife with success and faith in their hearts.
Buildings in Xocrium are quite the beauty.
In more upscale cities such as The Citadel, middle-class buildings are made from mostly stone with a few wooden aspects to add to their decor. Some characteristics of these buildings are their large domed or sloped roofs, stained-glass windows, and decorative arcading. In the interior of houses, rooms are aesthetically decorated with a mix of light and dull colors.
For those who are of nobility, large and elaborate castles are built from stone, marble, metal, and stained-glass. Though their characteristics are similar to those of normal buildings, these castles are planned and carefully drawn out before they are to be built so that they accommodate the likes of the nobility.
Notable buildings of this category are The Citadel and the castle of Sunkeep, which are said to be the best above the standard of all castles in Xocrium. Even in small villages and in the lower provinces, the architectural theme throughout Xocrium stays closely the same.
In more upscale cities such as The Citadel, middle-class buildings are made from mostly stone with a few wooden aspects to add to their decor. Some characteristics of these buildings are their large domed or sloped roofs, stained-glass windows, and decorative arcading. In the interior of houses, rooms are aesthetically decorated with a mix of light and dull colors.
For those who are of nobility, large and elaborate castles are built from stone, marble, metal, and stained-glass. Though their characteristics are similar to those of normal buildings, these castles are planned and carefully drawn out before they are to be built so that they accommodate the likes of the nobility.
Notable buildings of this category are The Citadel and the castle of Sunkeep, which are said to be the best above the standard of all castles in Xocrium. Even in small villages and in the lower provinces, the architectural theme throughout Xocrium stays closely the same.
Visual arts is the most common and widespread of the arts in Xocrium. There are many museums throughout Xocrium filled with sculptures of honored knights, paintings depicting historical figures and notable historical battles throughout history, and there is even a refined version of Queen Aurora Valor’s original sword which was used during the War of the Twelve Crowns. Aside from famous paintings, there are many freelance artists who do a lot of commission work throughout the kingdom. Painters are usually hired as designers for buildings while sculptors are usually employed for making exterior and interior home decor.
Literature is also big in Xocrium. There are many libraries, especially in Everguard, filled with works by famous authors, poets, and storytellers that are widely known in Xocrium.
Literature is also big in Xocrium. There are many libraries, especially in Everguard, filled with works by famous authors, poets, and storytellers that are widely known in Xocrium.
The Lightbringer
Written by a lone writer named Elias de Grey; A very popular children’s book series tells the fictional life story of a young lady named Bellissima de Grey. The story first opens with the death of Bellissima’s father and her crowning as the new lady of their province. Her father had left their lands and their people in ruins but Bellissima would soon come to change this. Throughout the entire series, the books tell of all the good deeds and sacrifices Bellissima made for her people. The series ended with Bellissima being crowned “The Lightbringer'' by her people and given recognition by the other lords and ladies of Xocrium; for her ambitions were not always seen during the time the series is set in. There are three books in total in the series and sometimes this series is even taught in schools.
Rise of a Sun
Written by widely known writer former Lord Vitalis Sol also known as Grandfather Sol; A very lengthy but widely known memoir that talks about most of Grandfather sol’s life, including a section that talks about his time working in the Division. While there are not many names listed, most likely for security reasons, it does speak on what it is usually like for those serving the Division. Whether it be eliminating known criminals, working on classified cases, or just what it was like to work with others of the Division - Grandfather Sol touches on it all. While the books are mostly popular for the tales of the Division, people also note that Grandfather sol never did shy away from talking about the hardships and tragedies he has faced in his life such as the death of most of his family - the most touched upon death being his twin brother. Grandfather Sol notes in many pages that the death of his brother hurt him the most but is also the reason he had such a powerful desire for a better life. On the last few pages of the memoir, he notes that after a while he settled down and had only one son, the current Lord Venerio Sol, and is now leaving out the rest of his day in Sunkeep.
Food and diets can vary much depending on where you exactly live in Xocrium:
- In Lightfield and Everguard, wheat fields can be found surrounding just about every city in the province.
- Towards Mosshold or along the southern coast, tropical fruits and some vegetables are grown exclusively due to the favorable climate.
- Herbs and greens! Lettuce and many other types of greens are grown widely in Barepond
- Cattle and other farm animals are kept and raised by Ranchers and Farmers alike.
Xocrian Society is ruled by the large nobility and merited aristocracy. Without any skill, influence, or wealth, one can expect to work as a miner for the rest of their life.
To move up along the classes in Xocrium, one must try to make a name for themselves in whatever profession they are in - especially for knights who are looking to be hired as Wardens or owners of restaurants and banks who require a regular inflow of customers - or obtain a large amount of wealth and influence throughout the provinces.
Many blacksmiths can find moving up in life quite easy, as they have the most demanding job in all of Xocrium. Without them, Xocrium itself would stop working, for its large number of Knights would be without weapons and armour.
To move up along the classes in Xocrium, one must try to make a name for themselves in whatever profession they are in - especially for knights who are looking to be hired as Wardens or owners of restaurants and banks who require a regular inflow of customers - or obtain a large amount of wealth and influence throughout the provinces.
Many blacksmiths can find moving up in life quite easy, as they have the most demanding job in all of Xocrium. Without them, Xocrium itself would stop working, for its large number of Knights would be without weapons and armour.
Emblem of the Phoenix. Art by ColdfrontDrawz
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Many people within Xocrium worship The Phoenix, who is said to be god of rebirth and fire. In old legends, it is said that the realm itself was reborn after the Phoenix was born from another Goddess known as Reyne.
The Order of the Phoenix is the high priesthood of the Phoenix. Their job is said to show the world the blessings of the Phoenix and its principles. Every summer solstice, the Order takes the time out of their day to pray for those who need it, usually the wounded or those who are otherwise misfortuned, and give thanks to the Phoenix. It is said that they also give away free food and medicine everyday in Sunkeep to those who need it. |
The Summer Solstice (June 20th)
The Summer Solstice is a very important day for the priesthood of the Phoenix (the Order of the Phoenix). Every summer solstice, those part of the order take one day out of their usual lives and just do as much as they can to show the teachings of The Phoenix away from their churches and temples. They usually can be seen praying for those in need - whether it be for the misfortune, the wounded, or sometimes for the nobility that are just randomly - and just doing as much as they can to help the people of Xocrium. These actions are not limited to this specific day of course. The Summer Solstice is just a day where they are most active outside of the usual times of years.
The Summer Days (June 20th - June 27th)
A week long nationwide celebration for all the things the Order has done for the people of Xocrium.
Light day (December 25)
Xocrium’s gift-giving day! Xocrians take out this day to give back to those they highly care for and for those they truly respect. As for the Nobility, there is a small different aspect to this day. While their gift-giving is to show off their care and unity with each other, another aspect is showing off how much wealth they have by getting others the grandest gifts. This is a fun tradition started in remembrance to House Noble, House of the Royals.
The Days of Light (December 25 - January 1st)
The long celebration that leads from Light Day all the way to up until the end of The Day of Rebirth.
The Day of Rebirth (January 1st)
A celebration that marks the day The Phoenix was born and the day the realm was reborn anew. This day has always fallen on the first day of the new year and represents as such. A very notable part of this celebration is the one food that is usually the highlight of everyone’s day - Marshmallows. That’s right, throughout the entire day up until midnight there will always be food stands selling or giving out roosted marshmallows through the entire kingdom. Around sunset, a good number of people love to travel to Everguard or Lightfield to watch on the shores of Lake Four-Shore and make cozy bonfires.
The Summer Solstice is a very important day for the priesthood of the Phoenix (the Order of the Phoenix). Every summer solstice, those part of the order take one day out of their usual lives and just do as much as they can to show the teachings of The Phoenix away from their churches and temples. They usually can be seen praying for those in need - whether it be for the misfortune, the wounded, or sometimes for the nobility that are just randomly - and just doing as much as they can to help the people of Xocrium. These actions are not limited to this specific day of course. The Summer Solstice is just a day where they are most active outside of the usual times of years.
The Summer Days (June 20th - June 27th)
A week long nationwide celebration for all the things the Order has done for the people of Xocrium.
Light day (December 25)
Xocrium’s gift-giving day! Xocrians take out this day to give back to those they highly care for and for those they truly respect. As for the Nobility, there is a small different aspect to this day. While their gift-giving is to show off their care and unity with each other, another aspect is showing off how much wealth they have by getting others the grandest gifts. This is a fun tradition started in remembrance to House Noble, House of the Royals.
The Days of Light (December 25 - January 1st)
The long celebration that leads from Light Day all the way to up until the end of The Day of Rebirth.
The Day of Rebirth (January 1st)
A celebration that marks the day The Phoenix was born and the day the realm was reborn anew. This day has always fallen on the first day of the new year and represents as such. A very notable part of this celebration is the one food that is usually the highlight of everyone’s day - Marshmallows. That’s right, throughout the entire day up until midnight there will always be food stands selling or giving out roosted marshmallows through the entire kingdom. Around sunset, a good number of people love to travel to Everguard or Lightfield to watch on the shores of Lake Four-Shore and make cozy bonfires.
Xocrium has a surprisingly excellent education system for its citizens. From the age of 4 to the age of 17, all children in Xocrium attend school learning the key subjects a regular person would have to know to be a fully functioning member of Xocrium Society. While there are regular schools in all cities and towns as well as universities in upper-scale cities, there are also specialty schools known as Knight Schools.
Like all schools in Xocrium, these schools are funded and supplied exclusively by the government and while they do teach their students on the same curriculum as normal public schools, there is a huge difference. Knight schools are schools made specifically to teach and train future Knights and Wardens. They are not easy to get into, as on top of a rather large one-time entrance fee, one must also take an entry test that proves they are eligible to attend the school, meaning that most of the students there are from the upper class. Knight schools only take those who are the age of 13 and ends at the age of 21.
Like all schools in Xocrium, these schools are funded and supplied exclusively by the government and while they do teach their students on the same curriculum as normal public schools, there is a huge difference. Knight schools are schools made specifically to teach and train future Knights and Wardens. They are not easy to get into, as on top of a rather large one-time entrance fee, one must also take an entry test that proves they are eligible to attend the school, meaning that most of the students there are from the upper class. Knight schools only take those who are the age of 13 and ends at the age of 21.
Read more about how Knighthood works in Xocrium here.
Due to Xocrium's position on Theavia, many different kinds of jobs are needed to keep the country running smoothly:
- Knight
- Artist (Umbrella term; can be used for visual artists, musicians, actors, etc.)
- Teacher (Surprisingly pays very well; can be said for regular schools and Knight Schools)
- Blacksmith (Very taxing profession but pays extremely well)
- Metalworker
- Miners (Highest needed profession in the Kingdom currently)
- Craftsmen
- Farmer
- Rancher
- Historian (In a kingdom full of honorable warriors, someone has to keep record of all their deeds and conquests)
- Architect (Pays very well for those hired by the nobility)
- Labourer (Works for just about every other profession in the kingdom)
- Dockworker
Families of Xocrium are more commonly referred to as Houses, at least among the nobility. The strength of one’s house is everything. It is a strong belief that one House united can truly do anything they put their mind to as long as they stay that - united. Without the help of one’s house, a xocrian can find doing things on their own quite difficult. It is expected for an individual to keep their house in mind at all times and take actions that benefit it; going against ones' house is considered to be one of the most extreme possible betrayals in the eyes of Xocrium.
The people of Xocrium use the common tongue of the Realm.
There is an older Xocrian language known as Phoenix Speak, but it is disused in the modern day, aside from religious hymns and texts. Only priests of the Phoenix and some historians tend to be familiar with the language nowadays.
There is an older Xocrian language known as Phoenix Speak, but it is disused in the modern day, aside from religious hymns and texts. Only priests of the Phoenix and some historians tend to be familiar with the language nowadays.
Before the time of the Elder Drakes, Xocrians never paid much mind to dragons, viewing them as little more than scaly beasts. They occasionally hunted dragons during times of scarce food but other than that, they kept their distance from them. After being harshly ruled and enslaved by the Elder Drakes, Xocrium’s views on the dragons have never been the same.
A well-renown enemy of Xocrium. The Sundrakes and the people of Xocrium have never and will never be friends or on good terms with each other. For centuries, the people of Xocrium hunted dragons, mainly being the Sundrakes, with ease. During the war with Padwell, the Sundrake gave their help to the rebels. This only made Xocrians hate Sundrakes more than they already had.
Dutoria is one of Xocrium’s close and powerful allies. Dutoria and Xocrium have always been close, even before they had to aid each other in a war with the distant nation of Hovell. Dutoria regularly trades with Xocrium, usually trading furs and various flora found only in that region for uncommon metals and gems found usually in Xocrium. In times of great surpluses, Dutoria constantly brings their various goods to the people of Xocrium as an example of their peaceful nature.
After Padwell rebelled against Xocrium, Dutoria eagerly agreed to aid Xocrium in their quest to reclaim their lands and enact revenge on the dragons that helped the Padwellans. Dutoria is set to provide them with any resources that the Xocrians may need in their fight with Padwell, although they will not send soldiers of their own to help.
While Meros and Xocrium are not close allies or anything of the sort, Meros and Xocrium have well-established trade agreements with each other.
The Land of Rivers is a well-known enemy of Xocrium. After the fall of the Elder Drakes, the people of Xocrium had always despised the Moonvipers and their humans, and even after the Moonvipers failed in their conquest of Xocrium, they remained enemies, and their close locations have not helped the issue.
Xocrium and Padwell will always be enemies. Xocrium views Padwell as nothing more than weak and worthless traitors who would rather fight for scaly beasts than their own Kingdom.
Many many years ago, if not a century ago, Padwell was once a kingdom of its own. Quite small and offered nothing of importance to any other kingdom in Theavia. But, after some marriages into some nobility in Xocrium and some small skirmishes at the borders, Padwell was joined into Xocrium by the Oath of the founders. The oath was rewritten to include House "Padwell": "May the 13 houses standing here today rule this new kingdom, with peace and grace so that they may prosper in honor and glory.".
After Padwell had joined with Xocrium, the original kingdom of Padwell was split to make for two new provinces. These provinces were made for House Dauntless, House Virtanen, and the newly included House Padwell. One was named "Virtanen" while the other kept the name "Padwell".
Even after some time, Xocrium was quite peaceful within itself. The founding houses welcomed the Padwells with open arms, along with the citizens of Xocrium getting along quite well with the citizens of Padwell. Though this was not lived for long. During the reign of Queen Andreas Phoenine, Lord Maddox Padwell had met with the Queen one night. It is said that during this meeting, Maddox had asked for Padwell’s independence and their original lands. The Queen, who first laughed it off, was quite perplexed by what Maddox had asked from her. She first explained why what he is asking from her is strange and impossible but then the situation began to become violent after the two began to argue over the issues. It is said that Queen Andreas threatened him with execution by her hands if he were ever to bring or mention those issues again. This was the day the rebellion began.
After some years along and many deaths, Padwell emerged victorious. With this, they claimed their original lands back and declared themselves as a ‘new’ kingdom under their Queen, Lord Maddox’s sister, Tuonetar. There were also a few things that happened because of this. Many Xocrian citizens who had made their homes in Padwell, including House Dauntless, were forced to flee to avoid being under 'Queen' Tuonetar's rule.
A well-renown enemy of Xocrium. The Sundrakes and the people of Xocrium have never and will never be friends or on good terms with each other. For centuries, the people of Xocrium hunted dragons, mainly being the Sundrakes, with ease. During the war with Padwell, the Sundrake gave their help to the rebels. This only made Xocrians hate Sundrakes more than they already had.
Dutoria is one of Xocrium’s close and powerful allies. Dutoria and Xocrium have always been close, even before they had to aid each other in a war with the distant nation of Hovell. Dutoria regularly trades with Xocrium, usually trading furs and various flora found only in that region for uncommon metals and gems found usually in Xocrium. In times of great surpluses, Dutoria constantly brings their various goods to the people of Xocrium as an example of their peaceful nature.
After Padwell rebelled against Xocrium, Dutoria eagerly agreed to aid Xocrium in their quest to reclaim their lands and enact revenge on the dragons that helped the Padwellans. Dutoria is set to provide them with any resources that the Xocrians may need in their fight with Padwell, although they will not send soldiers of their own to help.
While Meros and Xocrium are not close allies or anything of the sort, Meros and Xocrium have well-established trade agreements with each other.
The Land of Rivers is a well-known enemy of Xocrium. After the fall of the Elder Drakes, the people of Xocrium had always despised the Moonvipers and their humans, and even after the Moonvipers failed in their conquest of Xocrium, they remained enemies, and their close locations have not helped the issue.
Xocrium and Padwell will always be enemies. Xocrium views Padwell as nothing more than weak and worthless traitors who would rather fight for scaly beasts than their own Kingdom.
Many many years ago, if not a century ago, Padwell was once a kingdom of its own. Quite small and offered nothing of importance to any other kingdom in Theavia. But, after some marriages into some nobility in Xocrium and some small skirmishes at the borders, Padwell was joined into Xocrium by the Oath of the founders. The oath was rewritten to include House "Padwell": "May the 13 houses standing here today rule this new kingdom, with peace and grace so that they may prosper in honor and glory.".
After Padwell had joined with Xocrium, the original kingdom of Padwell was split to make for two new provinces. These provinces were made for House Dauntless, House Virtanen, and the newly included House Padwell. One was named "Virtanen" while the other kept the name "Padwell".
Even after some time, Xocrium was quite peaceful within itself. The founding houses welcomed the Padwells with open arms, along with the citizens of Xocrium getting along quite well with the citizens of Padwell. Though this was not lived for long. During the reign of Queen Andreas Phoenine, Lord Maddox Padwell had met with the Queen one night. It is said that during this meeting, Maddox had asked for Padwell’s independence and their original lands. The Queen, who first laughed it off, was quite perplexed by what Maddox had asked from her. She first explained why what he is asking from her is strange and impossible but then the situation began to become violent after the two began to argue over the issues. It is said that Queen Andreas threatened him with execution by her hands if he were ever to bring or mention those issues again. This was the day the rebellion began.
After some years along and many deaths, Padwell emerged victorious. With this, they claimed their original lands back and declared themselves as a ‘new’ kingdom under their Queen, Lord Maddox’s sister, Tuonetar. There were also a few things that happened because of this. Many Xocrian citizens who had made their homes in Padwell, including House Dauntless, were forced to flee to avoid being under 'Queen' Tuonetar's rule.