Ladium Culture

## People and History of Ladium

The Ladium peoples have migrated from the far west, if word is to be believed by the peoples that come from this great migration, a vast empire named Ladium was founded eons ago to the western world, outside the known world of Saizus. Many of these people wander from this land, looking for fertile lands to call their own, to farm, to build, and to settle. Ladiites (lad-EE-ites) are an interesting people, not discerned from any particular ethnic group, they are more a culture than a race or ethnicity. Their characteristics are seen to be preference in wearing loose, flowing clothing, and an affinity to wear brigher colors. The Ladiites are a proud people, holding their morals and gods above those they deem "barbari," barbarians or outsiders. Anyone could be Ladium, as ones inherent race cannot bar someone from adopting their customs and beliefs. If you do this, you could be accepted as one of them.

The story of where these mysterious people came from, and when exactly they came to the lands of Saizus are unknown, but a few like to tie it to the foundation of Magna Aurum (circa 10/10/23-11/26/23) with many of the existing Ladium on this continent occupying and living upon this settlement. There, Ladium gods, customs, legends, and every facet of culture thrives on this coastal city.

The people of Ladium both old and new hold a great pride to their city, art, architecture, and of course like all others, their way of life. They hold several great virtues up to each and every citizen of their kin. Though seldom united, each city tends to be cordial to eachother; being a Ladiite makes opportunities open up, over being another culture.

### The Migration, and the old empire

The origins are unknown, as many people have fragmented events to share of the great migration, and being long enough in Saizus, many of the younger peoples don't have much story to tell at all; they only know where they settled. But one notable individual alive as of writing this document has a plausible story; Herkanilos has shared the reason of the great migration is due to barbarian invasion to the west, and corruption within this great empire regaled.

*"The journey here was almost as hard as escaping, and watching the flames consume my old home. But I knew if I wanted to survive, I would join my people in running to the great eastern unknown. Magna Aurum is only a taste of what the glory was in times of yore, it feels like I have fallen so far, but like the great pillars of Kirimus holds up the sky around us, I must hold up the great pillars of civilization. The cities back home, they were magnificent, standing at least the height of fifteen men tall, and capped with gleaming trims of gold.."* -Herkanilos, in the dialogues with merchants.

### The lifestyle of the Ladiites

These people, as stated before, are proud, industrious, and spiritual to their gods and pantheons. Many believe true the tales of their gods, many pray to at least a portion of who is regailed in the oral traditions (Ladium of old, did not bring books to the lands of Saizus, only surviving members of the great migration have regailed tales of gods and heroes.)

The stories are very construed, due to the nature of having an oral tradition, details shift, and change, until someone writes a complete history of their gods, heroes, and kings (circa 24/12/2023) their history is shifting due to the imperfect memories of man, mer, and other kinds. Stated before race does not take any precedent into ones role in society; an orc could be the consul of a city, just as a dwarf, or elf can. Just as anyone can climb the social ladder, anyone can fall; proud races could be slaves, as can 'lowly' races could rise to the top. If you wear their clothing, pray to their gods, eat their foods, you are one with these people.

### Known factions

As of this writing (24/12/23) there is only one known city dominated by this culture of peoples; Magna Aurum. Magna Aurum occupies the southern-most territory of what was once known as the Empire Of Welster to the south of the great sea of Saizus (Mare Saizum in the Ladium tongue)