Gvinlind

* Coat of Arms
* Flag

Map of Gvinlind

**Gwynlynd** (*Full name: Serene Kingdom of Gwynlynd, Anerian: Gvinlind)* is the largest nation located on the planet Lana and it's the only nation where the Anerian culture and language are still prevalent today. It's separated into seven regions, each one with their own distinct culture, but many things are also largely the same in all of the regions. Though the nation has a history of cultural exchange and exploration, it has completely cut off contact with the outside world since the foundation of the kingdom in 1198.

## Demonym

There are several terms used to refer to the people of Gwynlynd, including:

* Gwynlyndians (*Gvinlindas*)
* Anerians *(Aneresas)*
* Crystallines *(Melenas)*

The most common is *Gvinlindas*, while *Melenas* has largely fallen out of use and is now mostly used to refer to people in a historic context, specifically when talking about the reign of House Chamilina. When talking about the culture and biology etc. of the people, the term Anerians is generally used.

## Geography

### Regions

The six official regions of Gwynlynd are each further separated into smaller provinces governed by different noble families. Types of provinces include duchy, margravate, county, viscounty and barony. The only region that isn’t governed by any nobles is Exiled Abyss, which is instead separated into five different councils, governed by elected councilors.

#### Aenasel

Aenasel *(English: Pearlsprings)* is the third largest of the seven regions and also the richest of them, as it’s home to the Royal Castle and the Ministry, as well as various of Gwynlynd's richest noble families. It’s especially known for their architecture, including many beautiful castles and towns, but there are also several gorgeous landscapes and a multitude of different resources, most notably pearls.

#### Carayan

Where Thelcinos is the ancestral home of the draconic species, Carayan *(English: Faeborough)* is where the first magical humanoid creatures resided before slowly moving and adapting to other regions. To this day the people of Carayan are the ones most connected to their magic. Carayan is also home to some of Gwynlynd's most beautiful and talented people as well as some of the lands’ most breathtaking landscapes, flora and fauna.

#### Doranim

Doranim *(English: Exiled Abyss)*, formerly named the Fractured Abyss, is separated from the rest of Gwynlynd by the Sesilmontes (“Blind Mountains”). Any rebels or state criminals are sent to exile here but nobody else actually knows what's behind the Sesilmontes. Different to the other regions, Doranim is not separated into smaller noble territories, but simply into different councils instead, which are governed by different appointed councilors. The region is mostly arid and mountainous, but due to being surrounded by the ocean on all sides, they have enough water and the region is home to many beautiful rivers and waterfalls.

#### Evilrhin

Evilrhin *(English: Ivory Isles)* are Gwynlynd's cultural center where all the scholars, musicians, artists, philosophers etc. live and love. It’s separated into a larger island that houses the Snowrose Academy, its lodges and conjoining institutions and settlements for scholars and teachers as well as another island that is the actual cultural center of the kingdom.

#### Lerisaon

Lerisaon *(English: Embershire)* is the second smallest region of Gwynlynd and out of all regions, it has the hottest temperatures and is often very dry. Though Embershire is the poorest of the regions because it largely consists of unfertile land and deserts, it also features some beautiful oases with exotic fruits and plants. In recent years, there have also been many earth treasures and resources discovered in the area, allowing the region to prosper and recover from their economic situation.

#### Roslasha

Roslasha *(English: Moondew Forest)* is a large forest that separates Gwynlynd from the rest of the contiennt and is rich with herbs, plants and animals. It may seem gloomy at first sight, but the farther you go, the more beautiful the forest becomes. Due to its large size, it’s also the most diverse region in Gwynlynd, with the northern parts being drier, then slowly going over into a rainforest and in the south, ending as a snow-covered forest.

#### Thelcinos

Thelcinos *(English: Cinder Hallow)* is located in the south-east of the kingdom and is the oldest region of Gwynlynd. Its location in the south of the planet would usually be perfect for colder, icier climates but due to the presence of draconic species the region is on the hotter side, with the exceptions being the mountainous areas.

## Economy

### Agriculture

The most common crops are different fruits and herbs, followed by sugarcane, sugar beet, wheat and rice, as well as tomatoes, potatoes and other grains. In some areas, especially the northern regions, grapes are also commonly found. Despite farms being present, lots of people still like to gather resources, especially as a form of socializing.

Animals may be held at farms, though only in very specific government-controlled farms that make sure that the animals live in the best possible conditions until they die. Otherwise, people usually hunt for meat, though the killing of animals for any other reason except nutritious ones are strictly forbidden. Fur, leather and other resources may only be taken from animals that are already dead.

### Domestication

The most important domesticated animals are different breeds of horses, since they are not only used for transportation, but are also a symbol of glory and nobility. Different types of birds are also often domesticated, particularly those that can be used for sending letters. Most other animals aren’t considered domesticated and owning pets just for the sake of it is unheard of, but many people take on strays and care for them.

### Industry

Overall, many different industries exist within the lands of Gwynlynd and it’s hard to pinpoint one that’s particularly important over the others, especially since this greatly varies from region to region.

#### Occupations

One occupation unique to the Kingdom of Gwynlynd are the Solitary Ones or Solitaries (*Anerian: Nhilones*). They are rather rare and to become a solitary one, you need to show great promise with magic during your years at an academy. If your knowledge and abilities become well-known, you will be invited by the Queens to show your abilities. If they think you capable enough, you may swear an oath to the Queens to spend their years in solitary confinement, researching magic and finding new ways to practice it for as long as your services are needed. Of course, not everybody is cut out for the life of a solitary one and it’s not uncommon for them to break their oaths, which is usually accepted and even supported by the Queens, though they often mysteriously go missing afterwards, which in truth is because the Ministry throws them into the Exiled Abyss, scared that they will use their prowess to overthrow the Ministry.

Another unique occupation are the Soulseekers, who as their name suggests, aim to find lost souls, whether those of the deceased or still living people who suffer from mental illnesses, trauma etc.

Other unique occupations are largely those related to magic.

### Trade

Between the different regions, there’s lots of trade going on. Many merchants from the different regions undertake long journeys to get wares and produce from their region to other people, using preservation artifacts to avoid the products going to waste due to the long journeys. The trade and merchant industry is especially important in the Moondew Forest, as its inhabitants are known to rarely leave the forest, so they often rely on merchants to deliver products from outside to them and their own products to other regions.

## Politics

Gwynlynd is separated into two different governing bodies: the monarchy and the ministry.

The monarchy specifically refers to the system of Gwynlynd’s elective monarchy where every thirty-or-so years, two new queens and kings are chosen, one governing over magic and the other governing over treasures. Usually, the ministry chooses two of the most promising students when it comes to academics but they also make sure to pick someone who seems charismatic, competent and innovative enough to rule a kingdom. Every minister as well as the nobility get a say and the two students with the most potential, in the ministry's eyes, become the new queens.

The ministry act as advisors to the crown, govern over their own respective fields and are appointed by whoever was in the position prior to a new minister being chosen. Besides the fifteen official representatives who are appointed, anybody within the age range of 20-50 can join the ministry.

### Monarchy

The Monarchy are the most powerful people in the kingdom and are responsible for making decisions and taking care of the people of Gwynlynd. They are supported by the ministry and the nobility as well as the common folk. The Monarchy is an elective one and every thirty or so years two new Queens are chosen, who then at some point during their reign marry the new kings. Their children are considered princes and princesses and all of them keep their titles even after leaving the throne. Princes and Princesses often join the ministry after their parents' reign ends.

### Ministry

A full list of all ministry titles available in Gwynlynd:

### Nobility

Many years ago, especially during the time of the Crystalline Empire, anybody who couldn't fit in with the upper class was basically ignored and cast aside. They didn't make it a goal to get rid of commoners or anything, they simply pretended like they didn't exist at all, which is very much what some people are still trying to do today.

Another thing that sets especially the nobles apart from the peasants is that the nobles are the ones who can record their families back to Imperial times or even way before that, and they have a lot of pride in the fact that their families have had power for such a long time.

The nobility mostly consists of rich people that have been around for such a long time that the ministry and the monarchy sort-of honored them by giving them noble titles, also ensuring that the generations after them will get money and be able to live comfortably without technically having to work, though most nobles still choose to work one way or another. The nobles also get more of a say in the election of the ministry and generally speaking, most members of the ministry are actually nobles themselves since you are more likely to get accepted into the ministry if you have a title.

## Cultural appearance

The feminine version of traditional Gwynlyndian clothing consists of a long wide dress with a tight bodice, wide sleeves, a long flowing skirt and many decorations and detailed jewelry.

The male version also consists of a tight white top, a high collar and a pair of white pants, also with many decorations, ornaments and jewelry.

Notable is also that every noble family has their own version of the traditional clothing, usually featuring some of their personal symbols and every region has their own variations of the clothing as well.

### Adornments

Gwynlyndians have a long tradition of using specific kinds of adornments in different situations and even without special occasions, they are known to wear lots of jewelry.

#### Earcuffs

One common type of adornment are different variations of matching earcuffs that are usually worn by bound couples. They symbolize that the couple will always be ready to listen to each other without judgement.

#### Blindfolds

When a couple finishes their binding, they often wear different blindfolds with floral decorations, because the eyes are said to be the windows of the soul and during the ceremony, the couple takes off each other's blindfolds to symbolize that they are opening their souls to each other and then their hands are bound together to show unity and the connection between them.

### Cosmetics

Gwynlyndians rarely wear cosmetics on a regular basis, but during special occasions such as balls, bindings, funerals etc. people are encouraged to decorate their faces however they would like, especially the eyes. It's quite common to paint decorative designs around your eyes or even to wear gemstones or flowers to accentuate your eyes.

### Hair

Gwynlyndians love to experiment with hairstyles and can often be seen wearing various kinds of braids and hair accessories. Each region has their own unique styles and hair trends.

### Beauty standards

#### Anerian

Traditionally, Anerians believe that there are eleven different types of beauty, two per element and one truly neutral type of beauty. They believe that every person somehow fits into at least one of these beauty types:

* **Narīna**, subtle aether: Delicate beauty
* **Rillana**, dominant aether: Ethereal beauty
* **Ioliæ**, subtle air: Emotional beauty
* **Anmāliæ**, dominant air: Graceful beauty
* **Yeanze**, subtle earth: Youthful beauty
* **Thabine**, dominant Earth: natural beauty
* **Mirallo**, subtle fire: Sensual beauty
* **Virelio**, dominant fire: Passionate beauty
* **Dollony**, subtle water: Artistic beauty
* **Sofiny**, dominant water: Intellectual beauty
* **Finhia**, true neutral: Wordly beauty

#### Serenian

In recent years, many people have started to believe in the Serenian beauty standard: To be perceived as truly beautiful by the vast majority, you need to have a pretty, delicate and gentle appearance, though you are also expected to be able to look enchanting or alluring. People who are either too masculine or too feminine are generally perceived to be less attractive, though feminine is still preferable over masculine. There are also four ancient standards anybody should fit into:

**Look like a Loverose:** Loveroses are a type of rose known for their delicate beauty. One should always aim to have skin as pure as the air it produces, hair as soft as its leaves and eyes as vibrant as its petals.

**Smell like an Ocean Flower:** One should always aim to have a fresh, gentle and pleasant smell like the flowers growing in the ocean.

**Taste like a Sugarbloom:** One should always bath in honey, flowers and clean water, to smell as sweet as Sugarblooms.

**Be like a Moon Pearl;** One should be pretty, graceful and elegant yet strong, durable and unique like a Moon Pearl.

## Cultural views

### Ancestry

While ancestors are honoured and usually respected for their experiences and lifes lived, the current generation is seen as the most important as they are the present and the future of Gwynlynd.

### Astronomy

Stargazing is seen as a romantic, meaningful thing that should only be shared between you and your closest people.

### Equality

Same-sex marriage has always been legal in the kingdom as love is very important to the people of Gwynlynd, expressing your gender and yourself freely is encouraged, people of all genders are treated as equally as possible, there are no prejudices against others based on their skin color or features and due to magic, the government do what they can to support anybody who may need help. While there is some discrimination based on social class and wealth, there are also many projects to ensure that the lower class can still live comfortably. There is also the well-known problem of noble families placing too high expectations on their children which often causes depression, but most people discourage this and society looks down on parents who treat their children as accessories.

### Health

Gwynlyndians think that it’s very important to take care of one’s physical and mental health and everyone is encouraged to seek out any help that they may need to overcome health issues. Healthcare is seen as a universal right which is why it’s completely funded by the government, just like education. Because of their access to passive magic, most health issues can be dealt with by using natural medicine such as potions, crystals or different herbs.

#### Mental health

Just like with physical health, mental health is seen as very important and any mental health issues are usually paid for by the government. They are most commonly treated by going to therapy or using natural medicine such as potions, different herbs and most often different crystals, though both methods are usually used in combination with each other.

### Heroes

There are many different heroes in the history of Gwynlynd and they are all greatly respected for their past deeds. Most of them live on today in the form of legends and their noble descendants.

### History

History is seen as important, as it shapes the present. People often talk about their history, as it’s seen as important to learn from their mistakes. Their introduction to history is often as a child, in form of the many different legends and stories about Gwynlynd’s heroines and heroes.

### Intelligence

Gwynlyndians recognize 10 different types of intelligence and like most things on Gwynlynd, each one corresponds to one of the five elements. They also play a role in choosing which Lodge a student is sorted into when starting to attend an academy and even later in life, when they choose an occupation to intern in. The 10 types of intelligence are:

### Leisure

Since Gwynlyndian culture has been largely influenced by many legendary figures, popular pastimes are also related to those stories and include storytelling, reading and the analysis of literary works.

From the five lodges and elements, there are also stereotypical hobbies for each one:

* **Aether/Everglow:** Stargazing, astrology, astronomy, tarot, poetry, reading, recreational divination
* **Air/Evergrace:** Crystal collecting, jewellery making, art, cosmetic making, art analysis
* **Earth/Everbloom:** Gardening, flower language, flower pressing, being outdoors, going on walks
* **Fire/Everflame:** Fencing, sword fighting, bird watching, animal watching, archery, hiking
* **Water/Evermist:** Studying, learning, research, inventing, mixology, potion creation, reading

### Magic

Magic and occultism is deeply ingrained in Gwynlyndian society and can be found in all corners of the kingdom. Everybody uses it to some extent and many people keep relying on magic even after they graduated from different academies.

### Nature

To the people of Gwynlynd, nature is seen as a gift from the gods and the souls beyond. They think that as long as they worship the gods and act with compassion and love and as long as they honour the souls beyond, nature will keep existing and providing life for Gwynlynd.

### Sleep

Gwynlyndians see sleep as something very important, a time where you can connect with yourself and the divine beings of Gwynlynd. It is very common to sleep with colorful satchels (called Dream Satchel or Mīæhaese'Iraya), filled with herbs, under one’s bed. The herbs usually have protective properties, promotes restful sleep and also commonly repel bugs and insects.

### Time

Most people try to live their life to the fullest in harmony with themselves, the people around them and nature. They work to earn money to live out their hobbies and dreams, they build the families and friendships they desire to have and simply try to enjoy their life for as long as they can, without hurting anybody. For people from the upper class, there is often more pressure to fulfil their duties.

## Cultural creations

### Art

Art is considered an important form of both expression and information in Gwynlynd. The most notable and sought after paintings are usually of the gods, while the most common type of paintings are realistic plants and animals.

The arts are seen as way more important than science, mainly because Gwynlyndians work to live rather than living to work. Science is seen as something that can make everyday life easier or more understandable, but the arts are what makes people unique and a life worth living, which is why they are valued more than science, with the exception of sciences relating to magic.

### Artifacts

Common artifacts are decorative weapons adorned with pearls and gemstones, jewellery, lots of books and there are many people with a fable for fancily decorated pottery, vases and cutlery. There are also many obscure magical artifacts such as mirrors, hourglasses, crowns etc.

### Calendar

In the Gwynlyndian calendar a year lasts 360 days, ten months lasting 30 days with six five-day weeks each. A day consists of 25 hours that last 60 minutes.

### Concepts

#### Five Elements

Everything in Gwynlynd somehow fits into the five elements recognized by Gwynlyndians: Fire, Water, Air, Earth and Aether. When the five elements come together, they create a soul.

 **Aether** | Mystery, divinity, purity, perfection, eternity, infinity, energy, unlimited potential, spirituality, creation, innocence, unknown

### Language

The main language spoken by the Anerians living in Gwynlynd is a language with the same name, Anerian. Its derived from a Proto-Anerian language called Melerian, which was only a written language whose writing system is still sometimes used today. Other languages can mostly be found in the other nations but there are also some other languages represented in the kingdom of Gwynlynd, most notably Thavaenian (the language of the dragons) and Selenian (the language of the merfolk).

#### Root languages

Besides Melerian/Proto-Anerian, there’s also some other root languages that some Anerian words are derived from:

#### Idioms

* **One instrument can play a ten thousand songs.**
	+ *On Shoverthæ zhet-shōdhit Sonelia-s limb-oa zhēn-ær.*
	+ *One instrument  ten-thousand.times song-PL can-3SG.PRS perform-INF.*
	+ A small thing/choice/etc. opens thousands of opportunities and possibilities

* **To cook with poison.**
	+ *Nam    Gifethe      balhenn-or.*
	+ *With     poison       cook-INF.*
	+ A plan that’s doomed from the start

* **Don’t make a lizard out of a dragon.**
	+ Don’t pretend to be less talented/wealthy/intelligent/etc. than you truly are

* **To lose your white glove.**
	+ To lose your virginity

* **To sit on a throne of thorns.**
	+ A high position earned through hard work; A high position with difficulties and pain

* **Even the darkest night is interrupted by Aelio’s eyes.**
	+ Dark is always followed by light; Justice; Revenge

### Literature

The preferred forms of literature are poetry (especially romantic poetry, introspective poetry or poetry discussing issues of society) and especially novels with romantic elements. Gwynlyndians are hopeless romantics and reading about the love between other people, whether the novel has a happy ending or not is one of the best activities they can imagine.

### Music

There are three especially popular types of music. They evolved almost simultaneously and are each based on another type of divine species, each one known for their beauty and musical talent:

* **Serhenlia** is based on the haunting echoes of the merfolk, which often calls people to the oceans. This type of music is almost entirely based on melodies and rarely has any lyrics, and if there are any it’s often only singular words with hidden meanings. These songs are also often sung in high, dark and mysterious voices and it’s the hardest kind to master.
* **Ilænlia** is based on the ethereal sounds and light voices of the elves. It has significantly more lyrics than Serhenlia, each song portraying a certain emotion or telling a specific story. The sound of this genre is very airy and melodic and often features harmonies between multiple singers as well as whispers in between.
* **Redaelia** is based on the nature spirits of Gwynlynd and their mischevous, nature-bound personalities. This type of music is significantly more cheerful than the previous two. It’s often performed in larger groups and is accompanied by dances. The sound often includes hums and sounds that resemble the warbling of birds.

### Food

The cuisine of Gwynlynd is mainly characterized by lots of sweet dishes made of fruits and nuts as well as sweet and savoury pastries. The people of Gwynlynd are also very big on the preparation of produce like cheese or sausages and delicacies like caviar. When it comes to meat, people generally prefer all kinds of fish and marine creatures as well as chicken over red meats, which are usually only eaten in their cold form. Herbs are generally preferred over spices, but both are seen as necessary additions depending on the meal. The Gwynlyndian Cuisine is heavily reliant on each of the regions, as each of the regions offers different produce and wildlife.

#### Common components

These are some of the most common components in cooking:

* Fruit (Eg. Various berries, cherries, pomegranates)
* Nuts (Eg. Cashews, hazelnuts, almonds)
* Cheese (Eg. Soft cheese, hard cheese, semi-hard cheese)
* Fish (Eg. (Smoked) Salmon, trout, tuna)
* Seafood (Eg. Octopus, oysters, shrimps)
* Sausages and cold meat (Eg. Salami, bacon, ham)
* Dairy products (Eg. Milk, yoghurt, butter)
* Baked goods (Eg. Bread, pastries, cakes)
* Flowers (Eg. Dandelions, roses, violets)
* Herbs (Eg. Rosemary, bay leaves, marjoram)
* Spices (Eg. Paprika, cinnamon, saffron)

#### Food culture

A typical Gwynlyndian day would consist of the following meals:

* **Breakfast:** Most people prefer to start the day with something light but nutritious, such as various fruit and floral salads, different yoghurts, buns and cereals with honey or different kinds of floral or fruit jellies. Most people also enjoy starting the day with a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
* **Appetizers:** Usually, before lunch is served, people will come together to socialize and eat some small appetizers. These are also usually offered to people at work by their employers. Appetizers often come in the forms of small pieces of bread with various toppings but sometimes also in the form of little soups, skewers etc.
* **Lunch:** Lunch is usually the only warm meal of the day and depending on your profession and work hours, it might either be eaten at home with whoever family members are currently home or it might be provided by the employer. The meal usually consists of a savory main course (eg. fish, meat, vegetables, carbohydrates...) with various side dishes.
* **Dessert:** The savoury lunch is usually followed a while later by some kind of dessert, usually some kind of cake or pastry. Children often eat them right after lunch, while adults usually wait until it’s time for the High Tea.
* **High Tea:** High Tea is usually around the time when most of the working family members return home. They take their time to drink some tea, eat some biscuits and exchange anecdotes and stories about their days.
* **Dinner:** Dinner is the most important meal of the day and is usually eaten with the whole family sitting around a table filled with a cold platter. Depending on the taste of the family, the food on the platter could be either savoury or sweet, though savoury is more popular.

#### Traditional food

**Amber Drops** are probably the most popular Gwynlyndian sweet and are homemade in most households, although for less talented chefs and bakers there are also many famous and regional producers of the sweet. The shape and colour of the candy depends entirely on which ingredients were used and by whom they are made, but all contain sugar and water and resemble typical sweets. There is a separate list of accepted ingredients, each of which has a specific property or strength and almost every person has their own recipe for the candy with properties and strengths that are important to them. In addition, each ingredient corresponds to an element (fire, water, earth, air, aether), an ideal Amber Drop should contain at least one ingredient of each element.

**Lavender Honey** is a sweet floral honey made from lavender and sometimes other flowers/herbs, which is often eaten with yoghurt or buns as breakfast. Children also like to eat it just on its own as a healthy candy alternative.

**Dandelion Jelly** is a jelly made from the petals of dandelion blossoms, often eaten like a yoghurt or as condiment.

**Floral Honey-Roast** is usually a chicken that is roasted in a mixture of honey and different flower petals.

**Smoked Salmon Symphony** is a delicately prepared smoked salmon with different sweet or spicy side dishes.

**Blossom Bites** are a classic addition to a cold platter, consisting of different smoked fish and cut meat that are marinated in blossoms. Also refer to a kind of white chocolate which was melted down, mixed with flowers and then hardened again.

#### Traditional drinks

Most Gwynlyndians prefer non-alcoholic beverages over alcohol. The two most popular beverages are different kinds of tea and a traditional drink called Lustre. Lustre is a non-alcoholic beverage made of sparkling water and various kinds of fruits. Like most things in Gwynlynd, there’s an official correspondence table with different fruits that can be added to Lustre and what they symbolize. Popular Lustre flavours:

* Raspberry-Lime Lustre
* Pomegranate-Cherry Lustre
* Citrus Lustre
* Cherry-Berry Lustre
* Cherry-Plum Lustre

The Exiled Abyss is the only region of Gwynlynd where alcoholic beverages are regularly drunk and are often even preferred over traditional drinks like Lustre or tea.

## Cultural events

### Entertainment

It is customary in most areas of Gwynlynd to go out weekly for some kind of entertainment, whether with your family or friends. For the wealthy, the most popular forms of entertainment are different theatre or dance performances along with concerts, while the poorer population prefer smaller celebrations organized in every village, where free food is provided, people can sing and dance with each other, there are often campfires etc. This gives them a chance to socialize with other people.

### Holidays

#### Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox celebrates the arrival of spring. It also serves as the main fertility and nature festival and is seen as a time of abundance, balance, harmony and new life. It also symbolizes fertility, growth, rebirth and renewal.

**Symbols:** Butterflies, rabbits, robins, flowers

**Colours:** Green, yellow, white, light pink

**Plants:** Alder, daffodil, clover, peony, primrose, tulip, violet, honeysuckle, strawberry

**Crystals:** Rose quartz, amethyst, aquamarine, clear quartz

**Traditional Lustres:** Berry-Cherry, Strawberry-Lime, Raspberry-Lime, Citrus-Berry

#### Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice celebrates the arrival of summer. It also honours the sun and is filled with happiness, life and energy. Additionally, it symbolizes light, abundance, protection, fertility, prosperity, transformation and youth.

**Symbols:** Bee, sun, flowers, flame

**Colours:** Gold, green, yellow, red, white

**Plants:** Daisy, yarrow, marigolds, chamomile, peony, sunflower, fennel, larkspur, rowan

**Crystals:** Jade, tiger’s eye, citrine, amber, carnelian, agate

**Traditional Lustres:** Watermelon, Raspberry-Peach, Berry

#### Autumn Equinox

The Autumn Equinox celebrates the arrival of autumn. It welcomes the harvest season and begins a time of reflection and generosity as well as thankfulness. It also symbolizes abundance, appreciation, balance, prosperity, protection, thankfulness and wealth.

**Symbols:** Dried leaves, grains, horse, owl, grapes

**Colours:** Brown, gold, dark red, orange, purple, red, yellow

**Plants:** Hazel, marigolds, oak, pine, apple, cinnamon, myrrh, patchouli

**Crystals:** Carnelian, amethyst, yellow agate, yellow topaz

**Traditional Lustres:** Apple-Grape, Blackberry-Grape, Mulberry-Grape

#### Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice takes place on the 1st of December and celebrates the arrival of winter. It also celebrates the past year and acts as a goodbye to the current year. The holiday also symbolizes hope after darkness, death and rebirth.

**Symbols:** Bear, deer, stag, mistletoe, stars

**Colours:** Gold, green, blue, red, white, silver

**Plants:** Bay laurel, cinnamon, holly, iyv, juniper, mistletoe, rosemary, sage, cloves, orange

**Crystals:** Bloodstone, clear quartz, diamond, emerald, garnet, ruby

**Traditional Lustres:** Cherry-Plum, Citrus, Citrus-Plum, Persimmon-Cherry

## Folklore

*See also:* Anerian Religion

Gwynlyndian folklore is mostly based on the myths and legends of different deities, creatures and heroes as well as the worship of the deities, cultivation of the soul and respecting nature.

### Death

The most common belief when it comes to life after death has been around since before the Chamilina Empire was first created and was eventually recorded in a poem by Lilhamæ, the mother of the first queens of Gwynlynd.

The poem suggests that after you die, your soul is transferred into a flower. The rest of the poem is interpreted in different ways. Some think that you only live as a human once and from then on you will become one flower until that flower dies, then live on in another flower. Others think that when the flower dies that the soul finally dies with them. Some however think that this is only a temporary state and that your soul literally takes a rest with the flowers until the soul can be transferred to a new child.

The truth is that it varies on the soul. A tortured soul who doesn't want to exist any longer usually only transfers to one flower and then completely dies with it. A young soul who may still want to explore or a soul who wants to reunite with their soulmate in their next life, may choose to jump from flower to flower or rest with the flowers until a new child is ready to be born. While somebody who doesn't want to live again right now but who also isn't ready to die yet, may choose to jump from flower to flower until they make a decision. Whichever way you may believe in or may choose to do after death, this poem/belief is what caused the emerging of Soul Flowers, which is a popular trend among young people, where they identify themselves by the type of flower they think their soul would transfer to after death, it is used similarly to how astrology is in real life.

### Heretics

The number one rule of Gwynlyndian folklore is that as long as you don’t hurt anybody, you can do whatever you want. So anybody who uses magic to defy that rule is automatically seen as a heretic. Besides the people defying this rule, there is another major heretic group that call themselves the “Chosen Souls of Volaria”, though to everyone else they are only known as the “Cult of Delusion”.

#### Cult of Delusion

The Cult of Delusion was founded shortly after House Chamilina was forcibly removed from the throne. They were five of the corrupt ministry members during Emperor Emris’s reign and they continued to openly support him and defy the new order, which resulted in them being removed from the Ministry. They then created their own counter-movement to the new order and started calling themselves “Chosen Souls of Volaria”, claiming that they had been chosen by supposed gods from another culture to return Gwynlynd to its former glory. Though they didn’t really gain supporters or believers in their new cause, they continued to develop delusional ideas, including a myth about a supposed ten elements instead of the five recognized ones. They spent the rest of their lives trying to prove their existence and eventually turned mad, just like most followers of the cult tend to do, though this may also have to do with their constant inbreeding in at attempt to keep the cult going despite not gaining new followers

## Societal structure

### Naming system

#### Aelisennas

("Beauty name") The name people primarily use in everyday life, usually short or medium-length and often has a similar english equivalent. Previously, these names were directly derived from one's Lanisenna which is still done sometimes, but the tradition has shifted so now the Lanisenna is often already a shortened version of the original name while the Aelisenna is now often just a combination of syllables from one to three words that convey some traits they want to have for their child, similar to how Lanisennas are chosen.

#### Lanisennas

("Wisdom name") A person's full personal name that is usually either medium-length or quite long and is supposed to have a deep meaning that the parents choose for their child. In more recent years, parents have started using shorted versions of the name as the Lanisenna, which was previously done to choose a child's Aelisenna instead.

#### Enoniasennas

("Birth name") The surname given to them at birth that is a combination of their parents' Aelisennas (if possible) and simultaneously serves as their parents' Marælasennas, unless the parents aren't together/separate/have another partner etc. However, the child's Enoniasenna always stays the same and can never be completely changed though there might be syllables added in case of adoption, step-parents etc. It usually takes one syllable from each parent.

#### Marælasennas

("Bound name") The second surname you take on after binding yourself to someone. If you have kids at some point, your children will take on either this name as their Enoniasenna or a combination of the names belonging to their legal guardians. This name is separated from the Enoniasenna with a hyphen.

#### Nohalhasennas

("Family name") The ancestral name of either your family or house, though this is only common for noble houses and few other families who are either wealthy or can trace their line back to a long time ago. If available, this is marked by a 'of...' followed by the name of the family/house. In some cases, families may not have an ancestral name but an ancestral home, which can also be used but it's not uncommon for families to just not use a Nohalhasenna at all. You may also have multiple Nohalhasennas, if your parents are both from noble houses.

### Education

No matter your social class, education is completely government-funded and free and you are guaranteed to be able to attend as far as a secondary school. The most prestigious secondary school is the Snowrose Academy which is only open to the higher class and chosen peasants/lower class members, but there are tons of other secondary schools that teach almost the same lessons as the Snowrose Academy. And after finishing school, you can freely look for a paid internship to learn about the job you want to do directly from people who are already experienced. Should you be unable to find one, the government is legally required to provide you with an internship in the job of your choice. You then have that internship until your superior thinks you know everything there is to know, in which case you either get full employment where you had your internship, find another job in the same field or even become self-employed, though you do need to pass a special exam for that.

There are three different types of schools: elementaries, intermediaries and academies. Elementaries are the first school you ever attend, where you learn general knowledge. Intermediaries are the second school you attend and act as preparation for academies. Academies are the highest form of school where you are sorted into a Lodge based on your interests and skills and truly learn everything you need to know later in life.

While elementaries and intermediaries are usually located in the same building and distributed evenly in all of Gwynlynd, there are significantly less academies and only in the more well-off parts of the kingdom.

You are allowed to start attending an elementary when you’re six years old. Because the school year starts on the 1st day of Spring, most of the students in a year were born in the same year. Students born in the early months of the year are allowed to petition to start early so they don’t have to wait a whole year until they’re almost seven to enter. However, not many people do this.

### Workforce

After a young adult graduates from an academy, they are often encouraged to travel all over Gwynlynd or to stay at home, taking a break before officially starting the rest of their life. If they take a break, it usually lasts between 1-2 years, so around the ages of 20-23 people usually start having their paid internships in an occupation of their choosing. Their internship lasts until their master thinks they know everything they need to officially start working, after which they either continue working there full-time or look for another job in the same field of work.

### Inheritance

Every year during the last few months of the year, anybody who is considered a full member of society has to make a full list of all their assets and who they would want it to go to in case something happened to them. Any assets they lose during that time are compensated by the government.

### Classes

Though Gwynlyndians don’t care too much about different classes, there is a clear difference between them. However, there have been many quite successful attempts to decrease the difference between the classes and now the only advantages of the upper classes are mostly political and sometimes societal with upper classes looking down on lower classes, though this has gotten less over the years as well.

#### Monarchy

The Monarchy always consists of the two chosen Queens, along with their partners and any children they may have as well as any past members of the previous monarchy, as they are allowed to keep their titles even though they may not be active anymore.

#### Ministry

The Ministry consists of fifteen people that can come from any social class, though they are usually nobles or past monarchs. When they lose their job or retire they technically go back to the social class they originally came from, unless they earned enough in the ministry that they can go up in rank. Besides the fifteen official ministers, there are also many lower officials part of the ministry, though they never officially leave whatever social class they were originally from.

#### Nobility

The Nobility is made up of the members of noble houses. The older noble houses have sometimes been around for many hundreds of years and are often but not always descendants of people involved with Gwynlyndian legends or also former monarchs. New noble houses are usually made to honour people for their deeds or are also granted to the children of former monarchs so that their noble house will still be remembered and around in many years. Depending on the importance of the person being honoured, the house either becomes a duchy, a margravate, a county, a viscounty, a barony or for the least influential of them, simply a ladyship/lordship.

#### Gentry

The Gentry consists of all the people and houses that are rich and wealthy, whether they’re considered old money or new money doesn’t matter, but who have never been members of the nobility or are currently not considered a noble house.

#### Commoners

Commoners are the regular middle class, made up of people in many different work fields who are living mostly comfortably but not very wealthy and without any benefits the upper class may get.

#### Peasants

Peasants are on the poorer spectrum of the middle class, people who may not have well-earning jobs or even stable jobs and who get by but not as comfortably as the commoners.

#### Poor

The poor are at the bottom of the Gwynlyndian class system and either barely get by or are already living on the streets or as beggars. This is often the case with people who have sick family members. There are several government-funded projects to help these people out.

### Land ownership

Land that hasn’t been previously used for anything technically doesn’t belong to anybody and can be used freely, though if you want to use it you do have to pay a fee to the government, how large it is depends on what you want to use it for and how long you plan to use it. You can however buy land officially, either in one or by making a plan where you pay the land off in sums and after you, your ancestors in case they want to keep it but they can also simply break the contract without any kind of punishment.

### Pariahs

The most notable pariahs of Gwynlynd are still the Dragonbornes. Their situation has gotten way better over the years and they technically have regained all of their rights, but many people still look down on them for their history. There is however also the other end of the spectrum where they are obsessively idolized and fetishized, to the point that there are people who more or less “collect” Dragonbornes by seeking them out and either grooming them from a young age or even kidnapping them as children.

### Charity

Both the government and any members of the upper class and to some extent commoners are legally required to provide help to anybody less fortunate than them who may need it, whether it’s offering them a temporary place to stay, occasionally providing them food or water or helping them find a job. The extent to which you are supposed to contribute to charity largely depends on the wealth and status of your own family. Punishment for not providing help varies from large fees to losing your own title and status, though this happens rarely as Gwynlyndians are usually known to be quite compassionate.

### Gender structures

Generally, all genders are considered equal, though there are some structures that have been around for many years now. One such structure is that women are better problem-solvers and always know what to do, which is why they are usually made the heads of houses. This has however led to an unhealthy expectation for women to be highly intelligent and competent and the few houses that decide to make the man the head of house are usually looked down on or the woman is looked down on, as it implies that the woman is not capable enough to provide for the family. Men are there mainly for entertainment and recreational purposes, and also to support the women in their lives.

### Gender identity

Gwynlyndians generally accept that while most people are born with a feminine or masculine body, that might not always match with their personal gender identity. It’s not at all uncommon for children to play around with how they present their gender to discover themselves. It is however seen as bad luck to change your birth name, though this is usually not necessary since most Gwynlyndian names are unisex anyway.

### Sexual identity

Different sexual identities and orientations are very normalized in Gwynlynd and they are even legally allowed to marry and adopt children. However, in the prestigious noble families as well as members of the monarchy and ministry it is usually looked down upon by the matriarchs especially to be anything other than heterosexual and especially to marry anybody of the same gender as it directly interferes with the creation of biological heirs. Even though both biological and adopted heirs are seen as equal before the law, many people of the upper class want their blood to remain pure.

Gwynlyndians do not define themselves with terms like “homosexual” or “bisexual”, which would put their own gender in relation to which gender they feel attracted to. Instead they differentiate different types of love and attraction and then put it into relation with what gender they feel attracted to in that regard. This strictly refers to physical sex.

The five types of attraction are:

* **Aesthetic (“Dalmina”):** An appreciation for somebody’s looks and overall aesthetic
* **Emotional (“Iliamina”):** A desire to have a deep, emotional connection and understanding
* **Physical (“Tamina”):** A desire to have physical contact (also platonic) with someone
* **Romantic (“Finismina”):** A wish for a long-term committed relationship with someone
* **Sexual (“Venemina”):** A want to have sexual intimacy or intercourse with someone

Based on these five types of attraction, you can label yourself individually based on type of attraction and which gender you desire these things with, though you aren’t looked down upon if you haven’t quite figured it out yet or simply do not want to label yourself like this.

### Personal identity

The things that contribute the most to personal identity are all aspects of magic, especially one’s soul, aura and the ‘Magic of Ten’ system coined by Queen Vinerhia. For younger people, a new trend emerged called the ‘Soul Flowers’. Soul Flowers are similar to how earth views zodiac signs. People can answer a multitude of questions and after a professional evaluation, they are assigned a flower which is the flower they would likely become after their death.

### Courtesy

Gwynlyndians are usually taught to be courteous to everybody, including family, friends, mere acquaintances and even strangers, but to set boundaries as well so that both their comfort and your own is ensured and guaranteed.

### Modesty

Modesty is seen as an important value to all Gwynlyndians. It is commonly accepted that to be truly modest, you should never brag about your possessions and abilities but you should also never pretend to have less or be less than you truly have/are, as it could be considered mockery towards the less fortunate. A popular Gwynlyndian saying is ”Don’t make a lizard out of a dragon” which refers to the same thing.

### Taboos

It is seen as a huge taboo to disrespect all aspects of magic, including both the “Magic of Ten” system coined by Queen Vinerhia but also more ancient aspects of magic such as souls and auras or the five elements. For example, it is a well known fact that all five elements need to act in harmony at all times, so a meal needs to contain components of all five elements.

### Laws

The law is highly dependent on the respect and tolerance of all people and generally, one can go by the simple rule that as long as you don’t hurt anybody (whether physically, mentally, socially etc.) you can do whatever you want, though there are of course some restrictions.

#### Law enforcement

The Gwynlyndian Guard (sometimes just called the GG) are rarely seen, as they are usually undercover and stationed in random places in Gwynlynd. Only rarely are they called to a crime scene, in which case they investigate the scene and try to find out what exactly happened/who the culprit was. Because they are usually in the background, people rarely think about them.

#### Punishments

It depends largely on the crime committed, but the focus is generally on two factors: rehabilitation and protection. The criminals should get the chance to change their behaviour and re-join society, but never at the cost of the innocent people. Depending on the crime, the punishments usually vary between fines (both to the government and any possible victims), imprisonment and for heavy crimes a life sentence.

Here are some examples for usual punishments of common crimes, note that fine always includes payment towards both the government and any involved victims and the punishments may vary from case to case.

### Drugs

Generally, any plants with medicinal properties can legally be used by anybody, though people are usually advised to speak to a herbalist before starting the usage to speak about possible side-effects or if the plant is safe to be used. Not allowed under any circumstances, however, is the smoking of plants in a public space and in spaces where children or other vulnerable people may be exposed to it, as people are aware of the higher risk for diseases caused by smoking.

## Life history

### Courtship

Gwynlyndians are known to be hopeless romantics, so arranged marriages are highly frowned upon. Young people often fantasize about finding their soulmates or at least someone whose aura is compatible with their own, because otherwise the marriage is destined to fail, or at least that's what's commonly believed. Within recent years, Soul Flowers have gained a lot of popularity and have become another way to identify compatible partners, besides the usual factors of souls and auras.

### Bindings

Bindings are what brings couples together and unites them as one family under the eyes of the law. The ceremony comes with many different traditions and customs.

One tradition is the blindfold removal, wherein all partners wear blindfolds for the first part of the ceremony, until their partner takes it off to symbolize them opening their souls to each other and then bind their hands together too show unity and connection.

Another common tradition is the cultivation of Loveroses, which is a flower born of the souls of all partners that blooms all year, representing the current state of the couple's relationship.

Gwynlyndians are hopeless romantics and believe in true love and soulmates, so arranged marriages are highly looked down upon. However, it is not a rarity for families to pimp out their children from a young age to different families they would like them to marry into, hoping that their child will connect with one of the children from that household.

### Pregnancy

Pregnancy is seen as something powerful that creates new life and anybody who’s pregnant is to be respected and aided should they need it. However, it is also seen as optional. Not everybody needs to have children or needs to have biological children, so even if somebody never gets pregnant or has biological kids, they are treated with respect and as an equal.

### Birth

Birth is seen as a difficult process and anybody who goes through birth is highly respected for handling the pain and stress of the situation. Present during a birth are usually healers, any loved ones of the person giving birth that they want to be there and usually an astrologist to oversee the birth and be present at the exact moment of birth to calculate the newborn’s astrology chart.

### Guardians

Besides the parents, children can have more guardians. If either or both of their parents are connected to a soul sibling, their soul siblings are automatically recognized as their guardians as well by the law. Grandparents and other relatives of the parents usually also take on a minor guardian role but are not seen as legal guardians by the law.

### Children

Gwynlyndians know that children are the future of the kingdom and they should be treated with respect, kindness and equal to any other person. They should be encouraged but never forced to learn and one should always do the best one can to make them happy, as happy children means happy adults for a positive future. The raising and education of children is seen as a cooperation between all involved parents and all of them should do their part.

Children are encouraged to be innocent and spend their time playing, while simultaneously learning about the world and things that personally interest them. A common pastime for children is playing together with other children while pretending to be different legends and heroes, sometimes they do so while dressing up. For the more introverted children it’s a common hobby to read, draw or write stories, often times also about Gwynlyndian legends.

### Adulthood

Children are usually considered adults by the time they graduate from an academy around the age of twenty, as it means that they have learned all that is necessary to go out into the real world and explore on their own. Some of the wealthier families may throw parties for their graduating children to introduce them to society as official adults.

### Elders

Elders are treated equal to other adults. Though they may have lived longer than others, they are still just people and during the time they have lived things may have changed greatly so their experience may not be trustworthy.

### Death

Though death is usually seen as something sad, it also means that a soul can either be reborn or move on, which is something to be celebrated. The dead should also never be disturbed as it may stop a soul from continuing its natural cycle, so the dead are usually burned and then during a burial ceremony their ashes are discarded in a place of their choosing, for example in the ocean, a forest or a desert.

## Magic

Modern magic relies largely on two systems: the Five Elements and the Magic of Ten. The Five Elements have been around since ancient times and are present at all times in all of Gwynlynd and in everybody’s soul. They are also very important to the Magic of Ten system, which was coined by Queen Vinerhia, who spent her time grieving for Queen Reveria exploring the possibilities of magic and writing down her discoveries, eventually opening the first academy where the Magic of Ten system was part of the curriculum, the Snowrose Academy.

### Five Elements

The five elements recognized in Gwynlynd are Aether, Air, Earth, Fire and Water and they not only make up the universe, but also everybody’s soul and aura. They are a vital part of Gwynlyndian culture, religion and magic.

### Magic of Ten

The Magic of Ten refers to ten different areas of magic that are still accessible to Gwynlyndians even though they are only able to practice passive magic. The ten areas of magic are additionally sorted into five pairs, each pair corresponding to one of the five elements.

#### Alchemy

Alchemy corresponds to the element of water and involves the transfiguration of one material into another through magical means. It’s tied to potions, but instead of creating liquids, digestible and topical treatments through alchemy, it usually involves materials like metals as well as other solids or gases.

#### Artifice

Artifice corresponds to the element of air and refers to the creation of objects with any kind of magical properties. Often this involves the enchantment of already existing objects through willpower and intent, but in some cases the actual creation of the object may also be involved in the process. However, artifacts is also about the correct usage of any pre-existing magical artifacts.

#### Astrology

Astrology corresponds to the element of aether and is connected to the universe, especially the sky and the study of celestial bodies such as stars, planets, natural satellites etc. and how they influence the people of Gwynlynd. Horoscopes and star seasons are also connected to this area of magic.

#### Beastology

Beastology corresponds to the element of fire and teaches all about different animals and their role in nature and magic. Another big part of this magical area is the study of different magical creatures, their abilities and history as well as their relationship between each other and Gwynlyndians.

#### Botany

Botany corresponds to the element of earth and is all about different plants eg. herbs, flowers or trees but also spices etc. as well as their physical, medicinal and magical properties and usage. Special emphasis is put on how to care for the plants properly.

#### Corporeality

Corporeality corresponds to the element of fire and involves all kinds of physical activity such as sword fighting, fencing or archery, especially on how to use them to create balance in one’s soul and aura. It also involves the general study of the body and the soul.

#### Crystollogy

Crystollogy corresponds to the element of air and teaches all about different minerals, especially crystals. Focus is on how to recognize different crystals as well as their magical and healing properties as well as different ways to use crystals.

#### Divination

Divination corresponds to the element of aether and covers topics like the second sight, fortune telling, predictions, prophecies and clairvoyance. An integral part of divination is also the recognition of different symbols and trusting your intuition.

#### Floriography

Floriography corresponds to the element of earth and refers to the language of flowers. Instead of learning about their physical, medicinal or magical properties, floriography is all about the messages one can send through the choice of the right flowers.

#### Potionry

Potionry corresponds to the element of water and is all about the creation of different potions and similar tinctures by using different ingredients such as herbs, flowers or spices but also crystals or ingredients that come from deceased animals. The focus is however, on what effects you can achieve using what instead of learning properties of every single plant and ingredient.

### Everyday magic

The Five Elements are considered omnipresent and influence almost all aspects of daily life, such as cooking, time usage at different times of the day etc.

The Magic of Ten is also used in everyday life for different purposes:

* **Astrology:** Horoscopes, psychology, personality-finding
* **Divination:** Predictions, understanding, awareness
* **Artifice:** Techno-magical inventions, recreational activities
* **Crystollogy:** Mental and physical health, protection
* **Botany:** Mental and physical health, recreational activities, cooking
* **Floriography:** Communication, health, recreational activities
* **Beastology:** Protection, preservation, creature care, recreational activities
* **Corporeality:** Protection, physical health, recreational activities
* **Alchemy:** Techno-magical inventions, recreational activities
* **Potionry:** Mental and physical health, protection, help, miscellaneous

### Limitations

Most Gwynlyndians are unable to practice active magic, meaning that they are unable to produce physical effects of magic themselves.