Halfbreed humans will have the cultural background of either Thyatians or Traladarans, depending on who runs the family.
To Thyatians, Karameikos is a land of opportunity. It offers the promise of property, adventure, and glory. There are monsters and savage tribes to be conquered, merchant routes to be won, and strange mysteries to be uncovered. This darkly haunted forest land holds much promise.
The Thyatians have a long and proud military tradition. This is not surprising when you consider that Thyatis has been THE military power of the Known World for nearly 1000 years! If there is one trait that ALL Thyatians admire, it is fighting ability. Even the magicians and scholars must be good at fighting to be respected.
Warfare dominates the culture of Thyatis, and this attitude has been brought to Karameikos. Thyatian art and entertainment is centered around martial themes. There are many songs and marches of a martial nature. Military and combative themes are also present in the operas, plays, and literature.
This does not mean that Thyatians are bloodthirsty. On the contrary, they know well the cost in blood and resources that a war requires. True Thyatians pick their fights carefully.
Thyatians pride themselves on their discipline. Self-control is admired almost as much as fighting ability, and they are often complimentary. All levels of Thyatian society, from the schools and military units to the lowly street gangs, are well organized and disciplined.
The Thyatians recognize that such discipline has its limitations. In fact, the greatest heroes of the Thyatians are those who have gone out on their own and achieved greatness without anyone's help. Thyatians adore those who preserve their traditions and their state, but who also refuse to allow it to rule their lives.
Another significant word in the Thyatian lexicon is efficiency. If there are two ways of doing something a Thyatian will always try to do it in the most efficient way possible. If something is not efficient a Thyatian will attempt to offer a cold, unemotional alternative. This will be done until it is apparent that the idea is going to be rejected, at which point the Thyatian will shut up, not wanting to alienate any allies.
Thyatians love to embrace new cultures and peoples. The Thyatians always study new peoples and their ways as soon as they meet. In this way the Thyatians are not a race, since races and cultures tend to be absorbed into the Empire over a couple of generations.
The martial focus is not meant to imply that Thyatians do not appreciate magic. Magic can help in warfare. Magic is efficient.
Women can also become warriors. There is something of a stigma about them. Once they have proven themselves any bias falls away completely.
One reason that many of the Thyatians decided to come here was the increasing decadence of the Empire and the perceived irresponsibility of the actions of the Empire of Thyatis. It was hoped that this new land and its new opportunities would breed new vigor. This has only been partly successful; there are a few Thyatian nobles who still show the trend towards decadence, mostly by persecuting the Traladarans. This is somewhat tolerated, since the Traladarans attempted to rebel against the Thyatians and those who sided with them twenty years ago, and most Thyatians do not trust them even today.
One Thyatian tradition that has survived completely intact in Karameikos is running away from home as a child. A child will thwart their parents' plans be leaving. Often such runaways will take their belongings and go, adopting a false name and claiming to be an orphan in need of work. This is not considered a crime.
Traditionally, the Thyatians are hospitable. They offer a variety of foods: Apples, asparagus, barley, beef, biscuits, butter, cabbage, celery, cheese, eggs, figs, fish, grapes, fowl, ham, honey, melons, mutton, olives, peas, pork, and wheat.
Thyatian men wear their hair close cut. They sometimes wear finger rings or medallions. Common dress is ankle-length trousers, a belt, and a sleeveless vest (in winter this is worn over a long-sleeved shirt). Those with the money have boots or shoes. Fighter-types often wear leather wrist-bracers. Formal dress consists of dark boots, trousers, and long-sleeved tunics (often embroidered and made with dark colors).
Thyatian women wear their hair long and braided, loose, or up. They wear finger rings, small ear rings, and long necklaces. Common dress is a skirt (calf-length in summer, floor-length in winter) a sleeveless buttoned vest over a long-sleeved V-necked blouse along with sandals or shoes. Formal dress consists of flowing gowns and a full-length skirt with low shoes or slippers. Adornments include narrow leather or cloth belts, jewelry, and animal fur cloaks.
To the Traladaran people Traladara (as they call what is now Karameikos) is their ancestral home. It is the land of Halav, Petra, and Zirchev; ancestral heroes of old who gave their lives to hold the land. As Immortals, these three heroes are seen as being terribly upset by the invasion from Thyatis. While Duke Stephan seems to be a good ruler, not all of his policies are well liked. In fact the Duke's cousin, Baron Ludwig von Hendriks is widely believed to be evil and responsible for dark deeds, even though he has sided with the Duke for the civil war (most likely to recover Halag, what he renamed as Fort Doom)..
The Traladarans have a tradition of folk and liturgical music. This music forms an important part of their lives, since all Traladarans have faith. Traladaran church services are known for the dichotomy of rousing prayers lifted in song, and sad verse to convey tragedy. The Traladarans also have a knack for stone carving. There are few stone carvers in the Known World, other than dwarves, who can rival their skill. There is also a strong tradition of architecture; this is an expression of surprising and outstanding quality and imagination seen most notably in the churches and shrines that dot the countryside.
The Traladarans are a warm and generous people known for their hospitality. A guest of a Traladaran, it is said, will never leave complaining of hunger. Traditional feasts last for hours.
Commoner's fare includes vegetables, dark bread, foul or game birds, pork, and fish. Porridge, oatmeal and potato cakes are common in the rural areas. For those with more refined or expensive tastes there are appetizers, called meza; one is a dried and spiced meat called bashturma, another is cheese-stuffed vegetables and fruits called dolma, there are also meatballs and olives. A favorite main course for the well-to-do is plaki; a stew with fish or potatoes along with onions, tomatoes, and olive oil. Another traditional meal is a pastry filled with meat and cheese or spinach and cheese, this is called a bourek. Another favored main course is a sauté of onions, mushrooms, and wheat kernels called kasha. For special celebrations two similar dishes may be found; potatoes with grated cheese and paprika is called paprika burgoya, and a similar dish substituting chicken for the potatoes is called paprika hendl. A favorite side dish is either cabbage stew or a very hot and spicy sausage called sudjik. The traditional sipping beverage is an anice-flavored brew called raki. There is also beer, cider, and wine.
For the most part Traladarans are members of the Church of Traladara. The tenets of this faith are to live a good life and not to intentionally harm others. Priests of this faith teach lessons based on the legendary Song of Halav (see below). They also preside at worship services and officiate at weddings. They may fight for their followers in the face of evil.
The Traladarans are very open in their tolerance of other religions. There are numerous small sects. The largest are the Cult of Halav, the Church of Karameikos, the Eternal Way of Al-Khalim, and the elven patron Ilsundal. They do not tolerate evil worship. They also do not tolerate those who would question the beliefs of others. Most recently they have come to realize that the religion centered on Karaash is not, in fact, evil; but of the Sphere of Thought; and thus several Traladarans have begun to study this strange religion.
The Traladarans are a romantic people. This is an old-fashioned tradition that emphasizes courtly love. This occurs when a woman becomes an object of adoration, being served by a courtier without thought of recompense. Traladaran men will kiss the woman lightly upon the hand. They enter a place before the woman, so that she should not see something "unworthy of her sight." They walk with their sword arm free so they may defend the woman if the need arises. Indeed, many is the tale told of a man who loves a woman deeply, serving her without question, and having that love unrequited.
Despite this trend to romance there is also a depressed and fatalistic streak to the Traladarans. They tend to believe that the world is unfolding against them. Suicide is a persistent problem among Traladaran youths.
Here are some frequent sayings among the Traladarans (as noted by the scholar Jennifer Favia Guerra):
All Traladarans like to wear bright colors.
Traladaran men wear their hair short or long and tied in a ponytail. They usually are clean-shaven, though if they do have a beard it is close cut. Often finger rings and ear rings will be worn along with flashy brooches for cloaks and pendants or necklaces. Common dress for a Traladaran male is a combination of close fitting trousers and a loose fitting tunic with laces up the front beginning at mid-chest. Either a broad belt or a colorful sash is worn about the midriff. If the person has money high cuffed boots are worn. Often a scarf is worn about the neck or brow. Formal dress consists of dark boots, trousers, and long-sleeved tunics (often embroidered and made with bright colors).
Traladaran women tend to have long hair, either loose or tied in back. They often wear finger rings, large ear rings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, and armlets. Common dress for a Traladaran women is a brightly colored knee-length or calf-length skirt and a loose pullover blouse with a rounded bodice. Women either go bare footed, wear sandals, or soft high boots. Formal dress consists of flowing gowns and a full-length skirt with low shoes or slippers. Adornments include narrow leather or cloth belts, jewelry, and animal fur cloaks.
All Traladarans wear cloaks when it is cold. In winter full-length cloaks bearing hoods are worn.
"Once there were, a long time ago,
a people blessed by the Immortals.
The Traldar were given the Great Forest."
"The Traldar lived simply and were happy,
they fished the sea and hunted the forest,
mostly they were fair and worshipped the
Immortals."
"Unknown to men, a darkness had gathered,
far to the west, the beastmen grew.
They were coming for spoils, for land, and
for slaves."
"The Immortals of the beastmen were
matched
by those of the Traldar, they battled much
but neither side would yield, the battle
was a draw."
"As one, one both sides it became clear,"
to avoid annihilation there was only one
way,
the battle would be decided by mortals!"
"To Lavv, a village of men, now lost,
The Immortals came to find those to lead.
They chose clever youths to teach their secrets."
"Halav, Red-Hair, was the first to be
chosen,
a maker of stone knives he was clever.
To make armor and arms of bronze he was taught."
"Lovely Petra, Halav's lover, was next
in the line,
a maker of pottery and arts was she.
To make bows, to weave, and to heal did she
learn."
"Wild Zirchev was last, the Immortals
to see,
a master hunter and trapper was he.
The secrets of forests and beasts was he
taught."
"The three, gathered by the Immortals,
were told,
of the approach of the beastmen.
The three told their people, who refused
to hear."
"The King of Lavv had the three brought
to him,
he scoffed, and laughed, dishonoring all.
Halav slew him with a stroke of his bronze
sword."
"King Halav, Queen Petra, and Zirchev
the Hunter,
taught the people their secrets.
The villages joined and swelled into cities."
"Halav became a great hero, a just and
kind ruler,
his fairness became widely known.
To him came all cities, a mighty nation was
born."
"The tide of the beastmen then broke
over them,
upon the bronze of their armor it broke.
The numberless horde had arrived, the war
went on."
"As the eternal battle raged on, it
was said,
for every gleaming suit that was rent,
a dozen of their dark foes had gone down."
"Then it happened, as the fates had
required.
King Halav, in his bronze, found his great
foe.
He was wolf-headed and twice the height of
a man."
"The ax of the beast met the bronze
sword of Halav,
the echoes rang out and all stopped to watch.
The two warriors danced, wove, and struck."
"For hours they fought, to the cheers
of their soldiers,
both sides marveled at the stamina shown.
Neither would yield and neither would fall."
"When neither could raise their weapons
or move,
a halt was called and both rested and drank.
Halav spoke well of his foe, who spoke well
of Halav."
"The two rose to fight, the tension
was great,
they battled again, would it end this time?
The battle raged, then one final blow did
they strike!"
"The two armies looked on, both clearly
stunned,
the two leaders were dead, confusion reigned.
The beastmen faltered, the Traldars barely
held."
"As the beastmen retired, Petra met
Zirchev,
together they bore Halav home to Lavv.
In Lavv the pyre burned, the people wept."
"The three were seen no more by men,
Petra and Zirchev joined Halav.
The Immortals bore them away, to return again,
some day..."
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