Ásaterran Society

## **Gender**

There is no dominant gender in any of the lands, and there are very few established gender roles. It is just as common to see a woman swinging a sword on the battlefield or debating in a council meeting as it is to see a man cooking or raising children. All roles are considered valid and integral to a healthy balanced society. Whilst some aristocrats from Treth or Northern Ásaterra may consider field or housework beneath them, they will never discriminate based on gender. Gender identity is generally something respected throughout the lands, and there is no stigma against those identifying as a gender different from their biological sex, identifying as more than one gender or not identifying with any gender at all. Gender identity is regarded as a person's private business, and if asked to use different pronouns, most will immediately do so.

Just as gender identity is regarded as a person's private business, so is sexuality. The gender of the couple has no influence on whether or not they can marry, and the adopted children of a same sex couple are regarded as just as legitimate as any natural child. There is no social stigma against any sexuality, and homosexuals, bisexuals, asexuals and so forth are regarded as perfectly healthy and natural.

Clothing is not seen to have a set gender, and individuals may wear whatever style of clothing they wish, be it a dress, breeches, chainmail or a fine set of robes.

## **Language**

There is a common tongue which everyone in Ásaterra, and most people in Treth and Skovva speak fluently, however, there are many old regional dialects which are still taken into account when naming places or children. There are also different types of scripts which were traditionally used by Elves and Dwarves, which are now mainly used for ceremonial or magical purposes. Rune magic has become extremely widespread, and can be extremely powerful when used correctly.

## **Religion**

Ásaterra has one main religion, but there are many different interpretations and variations of it. Many religions have merged together over time to form a giant mishmash of stories and cultures. Now most gods are regarded as real and worthy of respect, but a worshipper may only choose a select few to focus on, especially if they are related to their craft, and some may even devote their life to only one deity. Religion and deities are regarded, again, as a person's personal business, and there is no judgement or stigma for worshipping a different god, or even a different religion. Attempting to convert someone to your own religion is regarded as highly rude and disrespectful, and any individual who repeatedly does so is usually shunned by their community.

See The Four Pillars Pantheon for the full list of Gods and Goddesses.

## **Race & Discrimination**

Ásaterra has become a melting pot of cultures over the years, and they have integrated well together. Whilst different areas have different traditions, there are few who discriminate on the basis of origins alone. There is no discrimination between humans based on skin colour or ethnicity, although foreigners from Treth and Skovva have been regarded with suspicion in the past in times of war. However it is common to judge a person by their deeds, rather than appearance, and racism between humans is practically unheard of. Trolls and Elves have been part of the Ásaterran Empire since it was founded, and live everywhere and anywhere in the lands of Ásaterra. Dwarves made themselves known to their human neighbours thousands of years ago, and are a common sight on the streets of Ásaterra. Goblins met the humans for the first time when the Laisanen Delta was colonised by humans in the 240BA. Although the different races were initially suspicious of each other, they eventually became friendly, bonding over their love of humour and good ale. Goblins, like the other races of the land, are now a common sight, although is often bad blood between them and Dwarves due to a historic feud. The less common races include the Beast-Kin, shy creatures who have the features of both animals and humans. They are regarded with a bit more suspicion, simple because they have a habit of keeping to themselves and staying away from other races. They are more welcome in the southern regions, where many of them originate from, and where they've lived in harmony with their neighbours for centuries. Other races such as vampires also find themselves victims of suspicion, and in some cases outright hostility. Although bound vampires can legally live in society alongside humans, many in more rural areas dislike them, possibly as they are the ones who suffer most when an unbound vampire goes on a rampage.

## **Lineage & Inheritance**

In Ásaterra, it is common for children of a marriage to take the mother's family name. If a parent has a title, it will be passed down to the oldest child of the marriage, regardless of gender and blood relation. An adopted child older than a birthchild will generally receive the title and the lands which come with it. However, an  Ásaterran can, in their will, specify which other property, money and lands will go who which child, and do have the power to disinherit an older child in extreme circumstances, with the approval of the council.

## **Wards**

Wards are children placed into the legal custody of someone other than their parents. The reasons for this practise greatly vary. In war, a defeated party is sometimes forced to comply with the demands of the victors by one of their children being taken hostage. Often, this child becomes a ward of the victorious family, and is under their guardianship. If a child's parents die before they reach eighteen, the legal age of adulthood, then they are often placed under the guardianship of a relative as a ward. If they have no relatives, then they become a ward of the crown, and the High Council assigns a person to take care of their estates until they reach adulthood. Sometimes a family will send their child away to be a ward if they are struggling financially, or if they will be out of the country for a long time. They will often send this child to a family member or trusted ally to be looked after until such time as they are able to take care of them again. Close, almost familial, bonds have been known to form between wards and their guardians, and if a guardian dies without an heir, they will often leave their estate to their ward.

## Ásaterran Calender System

The Ásaterran calender system is based around the foundation of Ásaterra and the lunar cycle.

### **Years**

The terms used to label years in the Ásaterran calender are B.A and B.U. B.A is used to label years after the foundation of Ásaterra, and is the shortened form of 'Year of Blessed Ása', or 'Blessed Ása'. 'B.U' is used to refer to years before the foundation of Ásaterra, and is the shortened form of 'Years Before Unification', or 'Before Unification'.

### **Months**

The months of Ásaterra are measured by the cycle of the moon. Each month, or 'Moon' as it is called lasts for approximately 30 days. The days of the moons are numbers as so: 'First Day of the Wolf Moon', or 'First of the Wolf'.