Goerthan Customs

Dressing Habits

Goertha has fairly well-defined seasons, and the costume reflects this primarily in the choice of long-sleeved or short-sleeved tunics. In the worst weather, add a hooded cloak of coarse muegran to any given individual's costume.

Typical attire for a male of the Order of Rule:

• A fancy long-sleeved tunic reaching to the knees, made of imported fabric and adorned with jewels.
• An undershirt of muegran.
• Loose trousers, also of imported fabric.
• Gardell-skin boots.
• An appropriate crown or coronet, and other jewelry, especially medallions and rings.

Typical attire for a male of the Order of War:

• A tunic adorned according to rank, long- or short-sleeved, reaching to the knees, usually made of coarsely-woven muegran.
• During times of war, a quilted gambeson instead of the tunic.
• An undershirt of muegran.
• Loose trousers of muegran.
• Orghide leather belt, with a pouch and knife.
• Orghide leather boots.
• Rings and pins to signify leadership positions, society membership, etc.

Typical attire for a male of the Order of Law:

• Flowing muegran robes, adorned according to rank, but always dyed a hue of green.
• A muegran undershirt.
• Muegran trousers.
• Orghide leather shoes or boots.
• Religious emblems, rings to signify positions of authority, etc.

Typical attire for a male of the Order of Aid:

• Either a long-sleeved muegran coat, or a short vest, depending on season. Usually dyed a favorite color, but otherwise unadorned.
• Muegran trousers, tied with an orghide leather belt.
• Orghide leather shoes or boots, depending on occupational requirements.
• Rings to signify positions of authority or sphere of influence.

Typical attire for a woman of the upper classes:

• Long flowing dress of muegran or imported fabric, adorned according to status.
• Occasionally a muegran underdress is also worn, particularly during the colder months.
• Trousers, usually muegran, worn under the dress.
• Shoes or slippers of imported fabric, or coarse muegran.
• Jewelry, especially necklaces.

Typical attire for a man of the lower classes:

• A simple muegran tunic, long- or short-sleeved. Not usually dyed but may be bleached an off-white or yellowish color.
• Trousers for those who can afford them, also of muegran, tied around the waist with cloth or cord; otherwise legs are bare.
• Barefoot, or coarse muegran boots, tied around the ankles with cord or cloth.

Typical attire for a woman of the lower classes:

• A simple muegran dress, long-sleeved and reaching to the ankles. Legs and feet typically bare.
• Better-off women also wear trousers and boots as per men, above.

Funerals and Burial Customs

Goerthans bury their dead, dedicating the flesh to Drune but the soul to the keeper of Welgonell (who used to be Malladun). Villages and manors typically have a few acres dedicated to the burying of the dead, often in a walled or fenced enclosure. The dead are wrapped in a brown shroud (the color of Drune) until the day of the burial, when a reversal occurs. On the day of the burial, the dead person is dressed as they were in life, whilst the living dress themselves in brown.

The ceremony is typically performed by the current head of the household, usually with the assistance of a second who can be a member of any religious Order, typically the Order of Aid.

The wealthy are able to afford fancy casks to store the dead in. Poorer folk simply bury the corpse as is. Gravemarkers are almost always simple stone blocks, carved with the symbols of the occupant's profession, clan, and religious affiliation.