Greatsword Culture

The Greatsword Culture refers to the culture practiced by Arracharic peoples in the period from about -3800 to -2500, following the Turanin plains culture. It gets its name from the stone swords traditionally made by the ancient Arracharic peoples.

## Culture and Religion

In Greatsword society, people usually lived in farming communities led by an elder. Traditionally, the elder was the one that was the best swordsman. The elder always wielded the biggest sword. If someone owned a bigger sword than the elder, it would be seen as challenging his authority, and they would fight. If the elder was slain, the victor would become the new elder. This is called "the law of the sword". Many graves have found with swords, which implies that people were buried with their sword.

Wine also seemed to have played a large role in Greatsword society. Remains of many Greastsword sites include the ruins of wine distilleries, as well as many homes having had wine in them. Wine was also likely involved in many ceremonies. One of which is burial, in which when the deceased is buried, the body would be soaked in wine.

They followed the Ancient Arracharic religion, and so would often make wooden sculptures, carvings and pottery of lions. However, in the northern regions, due to the lack of lions, this trend appears less frequently, with lions also likely having had less significance in the northern populations.

## Cities and farms

The two most notable cities of the Greatsword Culture were the cities of Axanas and Thachi which grew from farming communities. At their peak, Axanas had a population of about 1900 people in -2900 and Thachi about 1100 around the same time. Both cities had a fairly similar structure, being led by an elder who ruled with almost absolute power over both cities. The population distribution was largely centered around the southern and eastern regions, with the northern portions being more sparse and having smaller settlements. This made it very susceptible to being replaced by Thassian migration south, which quickly assimilated or drove them south.

The cities of this time held a strict hierarchy of the elder at the top, often residing in a palace called a 'charau'. Below him in rank were influential people like landowners and business owners. Warriors had no real political power, yet were typically revered, while the common people whom had little to no power. Notably, the ancient Arracharic did not practice slavery, however, indentured servitude was a common method of debt repayment, which did put one below the common people in many ways. Women usually had a hard time rising in ranks, as women could not be warriors, however forcing a woman into indentured servitude was frowned upon. Female elders were allowed in theory, yet none are recorded in history.

Usually the cities primarily governed the city itself, as well as a few farms and villages in the neighbouring areas. However, at this time the area was not as urbanised, so most people lived in farms unaffiliated with any city. The communities often followed a similar structure of an elder who ruled with absolute power. However, some city states have had efforts to try to expand their reach to farms and villages outside their area. Usually they would collect tribute from them, either by force or with the promise of protection.