Cultural Notes

This document presents a series of snippets which detail various aspects of "the way things work" in Tonot. Hopefully this will be informative not only on the specific topics provided, but help you gain some idea of the typical mindset of the inhabitants of the village.

Note, however, that the information below is mostly based on custom and opinion; as such, it includes various biases. Take these into account.

The Life-Stages and their Baptisms

There are numerous Peonian saints associated with all aspects of human life. Especially important are the baptisms and ceremonies which mark the boundaries of the stages in every person's life. There are, naturally, four such stages: infant, youth, adult, and elder.

The saint of the actual birth is St. Melise; in her name the baby is annointed with pure water; one drop is placed above the infant's genitals (to protect it from sinful and base appetites), one upon its belly (to bless and provide for its physical needs), one above its ear (to enliven the strength of its character), and one upon its brow (to grant it enlightenment and peace). This first baptism is called Melisaech.

The second baptism is called Neleaech, in honour of St. Nele, who is patron saint of infants. This ritual takes place on the fifth day of the baby's life, and includes the naming ceremony.

The third baptism is known as Frinaech, after the saint Frin, the patron saint of childhood. It occurs when the child is roughly six or seven years old - when it has become able to properly help adults with their work.

The fourth baptism marks the change from youth to full adult, when the person has reached full physical maturity. The ceremony, called the Oedolynaech, varies for men and women, and a different saint is associated with each. For men, it is St. Ranal; for women, St. Elsbit.

The change to the final life-stage, elder, is not marked by a baptism, but by a different ceremony. It falls under the auspices of Tera the Crone, who is said to accompany the old through their last years, until at last they depart for Valon.

Burial Customs

Burial is the most common form of body disposal. The graveyard at Tonot is situated some way to the south, near the river. It is customary for commoners to receive their "last rites" from a Peonian priest, who often also physically buries the body (though the graves are generally dug by someone more used to physical labour). These rites include cleaning and preparing the corpse for burial. There is no concept of preserving corpses among Peonians. Coffins are not generally used, although the body is typically wrapped in cloth, and grave markers are simple affairs, more often an unmarked stone than anything else.

Those who live in a community are buried in that community's graveyard; those passing through who die there are also buried there. Outsiders who do not die on village lands, but within the lord's demesne, are generally buried near where they died, if that is possible. They are not buried with the village dead.

Gargun

Gargun are virtually unknown by the inhabitants of Tonot. Most have had no contact with even a single member of the race. There are, however, stories about them. These range from depicting them as demon spirits to savage beasts (with a worse reputation than wolves have on Terra); they are sometimes made into a boogey-monster to scare children with.

Some people in Tonot have come across Gargun. This has generally been the result of expeditions by the baron and his men out into the wilderness, often on explicit hunts of the creatures. For some of these men, the terror of the unknown creatures has disappeared. However, their ignorance hasn't been replaced by knowledge. They all believe Gargun to be unintelligent creatures, albeit ones capable of holding weapons and rudimentary tactics. They are not believed to have a language. Gargun swarms have never been experienced, and are a completely unknown phenomenon.

Songs

Here are a number of songs sung by people in the village. The first two are lullabies. All are sung mostly by women.

Lullaby
Look at the rushes,
Here by your bed,
Hear what they're saying,
And see what they've said.
They're here to protect you,
And in comfort keep,
They'll stay here all night,
And watch over your sleep.
Lullaby
The Old Father's coming
Over the hills
Coming to take you away...
He'll give you a land
Of trees and of streams
When He comes to take you away...
Under dark oaks you'll dwell
With the beasts you will sleep
When He comes to take you away...
But the choice is yours
Whether to go or to stay
When He comes to take you away...
Longships
Up in the clouds it's finding there
East winds blowing us away.
Leaving all behind,
The gulls are crying near.
Silver waters rise in pale dawn,
The sun sails to meet the sea.
Where now are the golden ships?
All buried in the halls of kings.
Out to sea! Out to sea!
Over the waves in longships.
Eobhain's daughters are waiting there
Beyond the farthest shore.
From the north to the south
The sailor makes his way
Finding his home and another land,
Guiding stars lead on.
Out to sea! Out to sea!
Over the waves in longships.
Eobhain's daughters are waiting there
Beyond the farthest shore.
Song
I found me a baby
Down there by the stream
I suckled it awhile
And now it is mine.
It came to this world
And was then left behind
I took it along with me
And now it is mine.
Before I was lonely
Never been blessed
I found me a baby
And now it is mine.