Marcanria is a mercantile kingdom located along in the south-eastern part of Eirus, east of the Eirusian Highlands. It is a human-majority nation with noticeable minorities from other races - particularly of halfling and dwarven descent. The marcandrians hold a very materialistic, competitive, and meritocratic view of the world. It is their view that wealth and power is earned by those who prove themselves most deserving off it, and that climbing the social ladder is proof of one's merit and perseverance. However, Marcandrian society is by no means fair.
Marcandria is through and through a nation of commerce and trade - a nation whose people care far more for wealth and luxury than conflict and warfare. They have no nation-wide army — instead relying on levies and mercenaries that are called up when the need arises. Marcandria does however have a powerful navy in order to protect their merchant fleet. The Marcandrians have used their strategic geographic location as a mid-way point along busy trade routes in the Wayfarer's Sea to become a wealthy and well-connected nation.
Marcandria is at the surface a flourishing nation of commerce and trade — a mercantile kingdom who would rather spread its influence subtly through partnerships in trade rather than through direct confrontations. Marcandrians are often described as a meritocratic and materialistic people who can often appear pragmatic, competitive, and opportunistic; but also as presumptuous, vain, extravagant, and at times entitled. They value competence, perseverance, success, personal progress and enrichment, trade, beauty, joy, revelry, passion, and personal freedom.
Marcandria is in theory a meritocracy — a society that values those who shows competence and who have the perseverance and ingenuity to make use of said competency. The marcandrians believe that those proficient in these traits will rise through the social ranks and achieve the greatest of accomplishments and success; that it is they who'll be able to accumulate great riche; and that its they who'll rise to positions of power within marcandrian society. Reality is less fair. Those who already have wealth and power naturally have more resources, and as such better means to project a sense of competency and success. However, it is nonetheless the belief of Marcandrians that those who have reached the top did so due to their own competence, perseverance, and ingenuity; and that the success they have achieved makes them deserving of being on top. Marcandrians therefore view those at the top with respect, awe, and admiration, but also with jealousy. Marcandrians similarly look down on those at the bottom of Marcandrian society, allocating their ill fortune to them being incompetent and weak willed. They are, in the views of the Marcandrians, people who lacked the skills to get anywhere, and who gave up before they could acquire the skills necessary to get anywhere.
Marcandrians are by nature a very competitive and driven people who constantly seek personal enrichment, and who seek to increase their own prosperity by surpassing what both they and others have achieved before. Marcandrians believe doing so will result in them being rewarded with respect and social standing, and that they'll be able to accumulate wealth if they successfully manage to rise above their peers and competitors. This could be an artisan seeking to surpass all their peers in terms of quality, a merchant seeking to outcompete their peers, or a noble seeking to politically out-maneuver his or her peers.
Climbing the social ladder is in actuality seen as paramount to large portions of the population. Many believe that they'll be able to live more carefree, joyous, happy, and fulfilling lives if only they manage to increase their social standing just a bit more. It is not uncommon for, for instance, an artisan to believe that if only he could improve his standing comparatively with his competitors by just a bit more, then the customers will start pouring in and all of his financial problems will become but a distant memory. Many similarly believe that joining those at the top would allow them to exult in a perfectly carefree life filled with nothing but revelry and enjoyment. These beliefs result in many pursuing a higher social standing for most of their years, although most will not actually manage to rise up to anything. Those who have gone at this for a long time, yet gone nowhere, can sometimes develop a sense of entitlement — believing their skills and perseverance should have yielded them more than they've been given, and thus concluding that the reason they've gone nowhere is due to society having treated them unfairly, with others having unfairly sought to push them down.
This belief is not entirely baseless. Staying on top in Marcandria requires continuous effort, with many mercilessly seeking to crush up-and-comers as a way to limit the number of future competitors. The lower and middle classes — especially the artisans and merchants — have in turn become highly organized in order to better resist being pushed out by those on the top. The most widespread among these organizations are the Fulcrum, the Wayfarer's Union, and the Meranzeum — though the Meranzeum wasn't specifically designed for this purpose.
While a good portion of Marcandria's population think very highly of themselves, and may feel entitled to more than what they currently have, there's a parallel grouping of people whose inability to climb anywhere after years of efforts have caused severe harm to their confidence in their own abilities. Many of these people have given up on ever achieving anything beyond what they already have.
Status in Marcandria is a matter of display. It is not important how successful and wealthy you actually are, but rather how successful and wealthy you are perceived to be. If you project wealth and success, people will naturally assume it's the result of your hard work and competency. Marcandrian society is therefore very materialistic, with marcandrians seeking to display their wealth and success through both possessions and lifestyle. This is why people's homes are as large as they can make them, and why their homes have excessively beautiful and detailed facades compared to what's often hidden inside. This is also why marcandrians hoard both expensive and beautiful items — be it furniture, clothing, art, or jewelry. Many will present themselves in clothes and jewelry that's beyond what their finances can comfortably afford, and are often the result of months if not years of savings.
Those who are wealthy and successful are believed to be able to live extravagant lifestyles. The marcandrians therefore believe that the more extravagant their lives appear to be, the more successful people will believe them to be. Many thus result to portraying a lifestyle that is far beyond their means, hoping that faking success will cause others' perception of them to improve and thus lead to actual success later. The thought process from an artisan's perspective (as an example) would be that if you appear wealthier than your competitors, then you obviously have more customers. If you have more customers than that must obviously mean that people view your goods and services as better than that of your competitors. That fake perception of you being better thus makes more customers choose to do business with you instead of your competitors, thus creating actual success.
Many thus live with an extravagant façade, but meagerly behind the scenes. It is not uncommon for a shopkeeper's actual shop to appear perfectly maintained and luxuriously furnished, just for their back-rooms and actual living quarters to barely hold together. Many similarly save up to buy clothing and jewelry for use in public that are so expensive that they'd have to save for months in order to afford even the basic of repairs for them. This whole façade lifestyle therefore make many Marcandrians appear pretentious, boastful, and vain while in public, while at the same time being paranoid of any of their belongings being damaged (since they cannot easily be replaced). The marcandrians are a people that enjoy both revelry and festivities, and it is common for people to use such social events as a chance to one-up one another in terms of perceived wealth and status. This can create dangerous feedback-loops within communities and groups, with people constantly going ever further to one-up one another until someone goes too far and end up in financial ruins.
Having “one's bubble burst” in such a manner and facing financial ruins tends to at the same time lead to social ruin for the individual. Marcandria is a society of fakes who'll berate and look down upon any who are revealed to be fake. Being revealed to not be as wealthy, accomplished, and successful as one let oneself appear to be is thus seen as a massive disgrace in marcandrian society which is hard to recover from. These people often end up being viewed as incompetent, and to have lacked enough resolve to keep up with the rest. They therefore often end up being socially isolated, as few want to be associated with incompetent failures. Others will often refuse to continue doing business with people in these situations, fearing that people's negative perception will spill over to also apply to them.
Not all members of marcandrian society is equally extreme in their pursuit of appearance. Some go to such an extreme that any slight disruption to their income would lead to financial ruin, as their income would no longer be able to keep up with the lifestyle they're expected to keep. It is sadly not uncommon to hear rumors of this happening in marcandrian settlements. Most common citizens keep it at a level that, while an outsider would not consider it healthy, is restrained enough as to not risk imminent danger to one's survival in Marcandrian society. Lower and middle class Marcandrians tends to be less extreme than higher-class marcandrians, be that because they don't have the means to compete with the higher-ups or because they've given up on ever being able to accomplish anything beyond what they already have. This does not mean lower and middle class Marcandrians lack aspirations. They still actively partake in the fake facades and appearances that define Marcandrian society. They merely tend to more commonly keep it at a more grounded level. The drive for higher societal standings does after all have much to do with seeking enrichment and increased prosperity. Dying of starvation along the way to reaching this is not exactly considered a good strategy.
Those of higher and wealthier ranks equivalently tend to be more extreme. This is in part due to them having the resources to better sustain extreme behavior, but also due to them having more resource-rich rivals that they must compete with. Remember that Marcandrians hold a meritocratic view, so if a high-status individual starts appearing as less than their peers, then people might start questioning whether they still deserve their position.
While the marcandrians' meritocratic and materialistic views permeates their society, their ambitious and competitive nature is by no means the only aspects of their society. The Marcandrians driven and passionate people who enjoys art and revelry alongside their desire for luxury. While they are extremely competitive people, they are also nonetheless a people who ultimately want good, happy, and prosperous lives for themselves and their families. It is simply unfortunate that many believe they require great material wealth, respect and high social standing in order to attain such a life.
The marcandrians are extremely passionate about art in all its forms. Art is seen as a source of beauty and passion, as well as a source from which to draw inspiration. To not just see art but to truly be able to experience art is a trait desired by most Marcandrians, as they believe it will help them understand how to live joyous and carefree lives.
Theatrical and musical performances are extremely popular in Marcandria, and the nation is littered with large and famous theatres that are filled to the brim night after night. Marcandrian plays tend to be romantic tragedies and comedies with elaborate and expressive costumes and sets. It is also not uncommon to see smaller musical or theatrical plays be performed by street artists. Miming, juggling, and poetry are other entertainment that one might see be performed by a street artist.
Physical pieces of art, such as paintings, pottery, sculptures, and literature, are also highly valued in Marcandrian society. Physical art also doubles as status symbols, and owning expensive and sought-after art is therefore paramount for any who wish to project a sense of wealth and success. Being proficient in both literature and other physical types of art is also seen as important characteristics in Marcandrian high society. One is expected to be able to discuss well-known literature intelligently, and be able to discuss both the quality and the meaning between paintings and sculptures. Being unable to do so is looked down upon as one is seen as being unable to understand and truly experience the joys of art, which again is seen as a lack of sophistication and of being out-of-touch with Callera's teachings. Buying and displaying what would be considered "low quality" art is similarly looked on as not being able to understand art, and is therefore also looked down upon. Displaying art as a means to display status also extends to the display of exotic, rare, and ancient items. One is more likely to find an ancient magical sword hanging on someone's wall than in a warrior's hand in Marcandria.
The marcandrians are also a people with deep traditions when it comes to revelry. Balls and masquerades (masked balls) are popular among the upper classes. However, for the general populace, nothing compares to the city-wide festivals that are held multiple times per year in the larger Marcandrian settlements. These festivals (whom are basically carnivals) are whirlwinds of colors, joy, and beauty. They are filled with dancing; singing; theatrical and street performances — like singers, dancers, mimes, poets; festivities; as well as good food and drink. The night-time also tends to include more adult-only frivolity.
These festivals are meant as celebrations during which everyone can let go of their earthly worries and instead truly exult in life's pleasures. They are also meant as an event where especially the lower and middle class can have a period of fun and celebration as an outlet for tensions and ill feelings between the social classes. The festivals a sort of cancellation of the social divisions — accomplished by the wearing special masks and attires that let you hide the differences between people and guarantee total anonymity while at the festival.
These attires tend to be extremely colorful; overloaded with sparkles, jewels, silk, and even feathers. The attires themselves are meant to cover every single spot of skin. The masks are similarly supposed to cover the entire face, though leaving some exposed area around the jaw to allow one to eat with the mask on is allowed. The goal is for you to never know if the person you're talking to is a noble or a peasant, but to instead be able to celebrate in joyous company with anyone. Masks are therefore never to be taken off during these celebrations — unless there are specific scenarios where anonymity is lost regardless (such as if the ruling lord or lady is holding a speech).
In addition to what each festival celebrates individually, they all also represent the end-goal of Marcandrian society — the golden future preached by Meranzi; the living of a truly unconstrained life void of fear and full of exultation as preached by Callera; hope come to fruition for a rosy, prosperous, and fulfilling life as preached by Fiori.
Many people's drive towards the top of Marcandrian society is in part an attempt to reach a lifestyle similar to what one can have during these festivals. The planning and organization of these festivals falls on the Joybringers in collaboration with the local ruling family. Finances are handles by the same ruling family, though the Meranzeum tends to make considerable contributions. In Marcandrian society it is expected of the ruling family to put up good extravagant festivals. A well run festival is seen as a sign that the settlement is doing well, which is again seen as a reflection of the noble house ruling well. The vast expense that goes into these festivals results in them being primarily an urban occurrence, with lower nobility often simply not being able to afford them. Those living in more rural areas thus tend to travel to the larger cities to partake in the festivities.
Festival attires tend to be more flamboyant and colorful versions of what would be considered regular fine attires. While regular fine attire often include embroidery and embedded jewels, festival attires take these to the extreme, with wild designs that can also include sparkles, feathers, or flowers. Masks and accompanying headwear tends to have the part that can have the wildest designs. Most designs are, however wild the interpretation, still based on one of the traditional designs used in Marcandria, and it is acceptable to wear regular fine attire so long as one covers sufficient skin and is wearing a festival mask. Festival mask and attire making are very specialized professions, with the artisans who have the most sought-after variants having quite lucrative businesses. Larger marcandrian cities and regions also tend to have their own distinct variations of the traditional Marcandrian designs, which is often a result of differing sub-cultures forming among the different cities' mask and attire makers.
It is also not uncommon for people to ask for certain modifications when buying a mask or attire, or for them to add their own details to them later. Festival masks and attires also vary in just how flamboyant and extravagant they are — with the wildest designs commonly being worn by performers. Most designs are, however, still at least loosely based on one of the traditional mask and attire designs used in Marcandria, even if one's wearing one of the wilder interpretations of them.
Festival attires nonetheless tend to be rather expensive, and are often one of the most expensive belongings a lower- or middle-class citizen has. Masks can be equally expensive if they have very elaborate design and accompanying headwear. While nobility and wealthy individuals could afford designs far past what a middle-class citizen could afford, one is by tradition not supposed to wear an attire that would reveal one's identity, or that would reveal one to belong to the upper classes of Marcandrian society. Many nobles and wealthy individuals also prefer simpler attire and mask designs during these festivities, as it allows them to blend in with the masses and thus get refuge from the politics of high-society for a little while. The anonymity aspect has resulted in people traditionally referring to one another as "Signora Maschera", a term that literary means "Miss Mask".
The Marcandrian nobility tends to be quite wealthy, and thus have access to a wide variety of activities to enjoy during their spare time. However, with this comes the major downside that the politics that come with being nobility is ever present so long as there is at least one member of another house present. Thus, while many of the nobility's social activities can be considered leisure, they are rarely able to get a complete pause from the intrigues of politics.
Theatre and musical performances are a staple and ever popular leisure activity among the nobility, and one can usually see at least a few groupings of nobles enjoying the performances from their lavish box seats in the larger and more famous Marcandrian theatres. Nobles also often sponsor and employ their own musicians and actors, whom also tend to perform either during private gatherings or in public theatres. It is seen as a symbol of status for a noble to have the best musicians and actors be under their employ. Nobles are also themselves expected to practice at least one kind of art - be that music, singing, theatre, painting, sculpturing, or poetry. These practices are preached by the goddess Callera, whose often seen as being the ideal in how to live a fulfilling luxurious lifestyle. Not being skilled in at least one type of art will result in the noble being seen as uncultured, which will often cause them to be isolated by their peers. Nobility is also similarly expected to be able to discuss each form of art competently, even if they do not practice it themselves. Literature is also an important past-time for nobility. Like art, being well versed and knowledgeable about literature is seen as proof of being cultured. Nobles are therefore also expected to be able to competently discuss famous works of literature. This includes both fictional works, poems and poetry, but also history, legends, and fables.
Nobles also participate in a lot of social events with each other. This is an expectation thrust upon all members of a noble household, with its purpose being to both build and to maintain connections with the other houses. Strong connections in Marcandria equates to increased influence, or at least increased perceived influence. Attending theatre and musical performances with their peers are examples of these social events. Balls and masquerades (masked balls) are also popular social leisure activity for nobility. Masquerades in particular tend to be popular due to the anonymity given by the mask allowing them to relax and step away from most of the political intrigue for a while.
Nobility also enjoy hunting, and often organize hunting parties for a variety of quarry. Horseback riding is also popular, with both one's skill at riding and the family's quality of horses being displays of status. The nobility also enjoy sports like fencing, archery, tennis, and pallone (pseudo-squash); and often invite over members of other noble households for friendly competitions. Peers are similarly invited over to enjoy board and card games - like tarot, backgammon, bridge, whist, checkers, go, and dice games.
Marcandria also offers a variety of night-time frivolities - like those provided by brothels. You would, however, be hard fought to find a noble who'd willingly confess to partaking in such frivolities. These types of services nevertheless remain popular amongst both noblemen and noblewoman. Many brothels offer masked services that guarantee anonymity, with some even having dedicated areas where the wealthy can congregate anonymously to engage in night-time frivolities.
The Marcandrian middle class also enjoy many of the same leisure activities that the nobility does. Theatre and musical performances are also popular among middle class, with the famous Marcandrian theatres usually being filled to the brim night after night. Many of the Marcandrian middle class also practice art - be it a musical instrument, singing, acting in theatre, painting, sculpturing, or poetry. Partitioning art is, after all, preached by their goddess Callera, and is thus deeply embedded in all of Marcandrian society. Literature is similarly also a popular activity for those who can afford buying or lending books - or who spend time reading at the Meranzeum's archives.
The middle-class also enjoy a number of sports and games. Horseback riding, tennis, and pallone tend to be too expensive for most middle-class citizens, though sports like fencing and archery are ever popular. Board and card games - the same as those enjoyed by the nobility - also tend to be both affordable and popular past-time activities. Lower-class citizens who are unable to afford professionally made game board often end up collaborating with their friends and family to make their own pieces, so that they too can enjoy these types of leisure. Middle- and lower-class citizens also have their own social gatherings and parties, similar to those held by the upper classes. Lower-class parties tend to be more jovial and festive than the more cultured and sophisticated focus that upper-class social gatherings often have.
Lower-class citizens also often enjoy playing bowls, as well as simply variants of football and handball. These are popular due to not needing expensive equipment, and due to being able to use pretty much any open space as an improvised court. Gambling is also popular, and is often done in combination with dice or card games. The marcandrian festivals are also important leisure events for the lower class, as they provide a release for potential social tensions, free food, and a way for people to enjoy life similar to what they imagine the nobility does.
Both lower- and middle-class citizens tend to like the same night-time frivolities that the wealthy does, though they are of course limited by what they can afford. It is also not too rare for relatively poor citizens to blow all of their money on services provided by night-time establishments. Many of these establishments provide services designed to provide a level of catering and luxury as to make the customer feel like a king, a feeling that can be addicting to those who feel less fortunate in life.
One can unfortunately also not go through leisure activities in Marcandria without mentioning the use of drugs. Marcandria has a problem with the use multiple illicit feel-good drugs. These are enjoyed by poor and rich alike, though the rich tend to enjoy safer yet much more expensive variants. Seeing a dangerously thin individual suffering withdrawal in a back-alley is often just a night-time stroll away in the larger Marcandrian settlements. While these substances are deemed illegal under Marcandrian law, these are often ignored when it comes to nobility and wealthier citizens. At least, they tend to be ignored so long as their use does not become public. Poor people suffering withdrawal on the streets also tend to be ignored - so long as they remain in back-alleys that are out of sight for the middle and upper classes.
One common theme in Marcandrian society is that each social class tends to try mimicking the activities the social class above them. This has much to do with seeking social status and upward mobility. Many believe that if they start participating in leisure activities enjoyed by those above, then one will eventually manage to get into their social circles. The hope is that this will create the perception of them being part of said social rank, and that said perception will cause an actual boost to their finances.
Marcandrian nobility follow hierarchy of liege lords and vassals that can in general be categorized into 4 tiers:
Each noble house, regardless of rank, directly govern at least one settlement along with its surrounding farmland and wildland. Land far from any settlements, like mountains and forests, tend to be under the control of upper noble houses (regional), ducal houses, or the royal family itself. Each noble house holds court as part of governing their assigned domain, with each noble house having family members act as representatives in the court in each tier above them in the hierarchy. A lower noble house will thus have representatives both at the court of their regional lord/lady, who governs the region their domain is in; the court of the ducal family, who governs the province their domain is in; and at the royal court located in the capitol Vessina.
Laws are determined by the ruling lord or lady, though laws tend to go through discussions and mediations at court before a decree is made. Any lord or lady has the power to enact laws within their domain. Laws enacted by the monarch applies nationwide; laws enacted by a ducal house applies to the entire province; and laws laws enacted by upper nobility applies to the region they govern. However, one cannot enact a law that contradicts a law made by a superior higher up in the hierarchy, and a noble house can cancel any law decreed by one of their vassals. Each of the 6 provinces tend to enjoy quite a bit of autonomy from the crown itself. Vassals below the ducal houses tend to be kept on a tighter leach, though their level of autonomy varies from province to province and from region to region. It is also not uncommon for a noble house to play favorites among their vassals, allowing some greater autonomy than others.
Marcandria holds very strong meritocratic tendencies, and these tendencies also apply to the holding of noble titles. In principle, according to the Marcandrian worldview, a noble title should be held by the family who has the most wealth, the most influence, the most popularity/favor with the populace, the most skill in governance/leadership, and the most skill in politics. Said differently — the holder of a noble title should be the one most suitable and deserving of the role. This means wealthy non-nobles who gain enough wealth and influence, alongside sufficient government/leadership skills and skills in politics, can be a threat to the lower (local) noble house that they're subjects of. Similarly, a lower house who accumulates enough influence and wealth may end up toppling and replacing the upper house that governed their region. Noble houses thus go to great lengths to make sure no-one in their domain get into a position where they may be a threat - for while the principle is based on meritocracy, there's no notion of the playing field having to be fair.
Noble titles in Marcandria are in theory not hereditary — as in, there's no law that dictates who gets the title after the previous holder either dies or otherwise looses it. This means a liege lord can in theory pick anyone to take over as title holder. What is practiced is on the other hand very much a hereditary system, where the noble family themselves pick which of their children will inherit the title. This is so commonplace that the transfer is just assumed automatically, even before the liege has a chance to officially confirm it.
Lower (local) noble titles are transferred (to another family) only occasionally; upper (regional) titles are transferred very seldom, usually less than once per generation; and the transfer of a ducal or royal title is unheard of. The nobles' efforts into keeping potential challengers at bay plays a big role in this, though there are other factors that play into why titles are moves so seldom. Firstly, only the noble houses that are direct liege lord in the noble hierarchy hold the power to transfer a title. This means the monarch may transfer any title; the ducal families may transfer any title within their province; and an upper (regional) family may transfer any title within their region. One is therefore somewhat safe from being replaced so long as one stays in the good grace of one's liege. Secondly, titles are rarely transferred unless there's a clear difference in ability or popularity. Transferring a title when the difference is minuscule is simply not worth the hassle. Recklessly taking away people's titles can cause other vassals to question their support and loyalty, which can create a scenario where the liege's own position gets challenged. The monarch, a ducal house, or an upper noble house may also face severe backlash from the local populace if they try replacing a noble house whose seen as competent and that is popular among his/her subjects. Still, most noble houses are quite paranoid about potential threats that could challenge their position or title. Popularity among one's subject is therefore generally seen as paramount for any noble house, both because it directly relates to how well you're perceived to govern, and because it helps protect you from being replaced even if other competent alternatives should appear. As it stands, the only way to transfer the title of monarch is if the royal house is forced to give up the title through pressure the rest of the Marcandrian society.
One of the consequences of the Marcandrians' meritocratic views is that very few aspects of a Marcandrian family is based on gender. There's no notion of the man or the woman necessarily being the leader of a family or household, and the “position" is instead simply an informal notion given to whoever seems to be the most dominating. Said in another manner: whoever's the best at getting the other family members to do as they want is seen as the de-facto head of the family. Now an exception here is of course noble titles, where the title bearer is publicly seen as head of the family. Though, this does not mean that that individual necessarily has the dominating persona privately within the family.
This does not mean that there are no examples of gender roles. The mother is for instance expected to be the caretaker for a child during the first couple of years, though this is also for practical reasons. Among lower-class households, such as farming families, it is also typically the men who do the physically heavier work. Though again, this is mostly for practical reasons, with the family assigning responsibilities based on who's best for each job. There's nothing stopping one from swapping jobs around if that would yield a better result.
Inheritance in Marcandria also have no fixed rules.
If parents die without having named an heir/who to inherit, then there's no notion of knowing who the inheritance should go to. Can also cause issues if their choice was not public knowledge, as the children may accuse one another of trying to falsely take the inheritance for themselves, even thoug hthey were not chosen.
Sibling rivalries common. Can get violent or even deadly from time to time. Has been instances where, if the inheritance is in a field that requires you to be very precise with your hands, then a sibling may arrange for an accident that damages the initial heir's hands. Note that it's not like this gets violent in every family. In most cases the rivalries do not turn violent, though enough cases do turn violent that it's a noticeable aspect of Marcandrian society.
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Most marcandrians, even clerics, tend to pay homage to all 3 deities, though most have one they favor most.
Marcandrians put a big emphasis on how they are perceived, and thus places great importance in the quality and aesthetics of their attires. Clothing in Marcandria is therefore as much a matter of fashion as it is a matter of practicality. The type of garment worn by the different social classes tend to be quite similar, with all clothes in Marcandria tending to be quite colorful. Where the clothes differ is mostly in the quality of materials used, how much embroidery the clothes have, how many adornments and embellishments is included, and how much jewelry one wears. How well one dresses is seen an immediate and important indicator to determine the person's wealth and social status. Marcandrians therefore tend to dress as well and elaborately as they can afford. Marcandrian clothes tend to be made of linen or wool, with upper-class citizens also opting for more expensive fabrics such as silk, velvet, or damask. Leather is also being used — particularly in shoes and gloves — but also for garments such as jerkins and breeches when more durability is desired. How well one's dressed is one of the most immediate indicators people use to judge your perceived wealth and status in Marcandria. Marcandrians thus tend to be very covered up — as more fabric allows more area for the clothes to display wealth.
A typical man's attire starts with a shirt and doublet. A vest and/or cloak may also be added in more formal settings, with the combination of all four being the most formal version — appropriate for events such as weddings and court gatherings. A vest and/or cloak may also be added for extra warmth and protection. A well embroidered cloak made of high quality materials is a particular strong status symbol. A jerkin may be for situations that include more durable clothing, such as manual labor. Jerkins are worm either together with just a shirt, or above a doublet and shirt combo. Men's typical legwear consists of a hose together with either breeches or trunk hoses. Hoses are also sometimes worn by themselves, though this would be considered a less-formal attire. Tight-fitting leather trousers are also in use, though these are primarily used by soldiers, hunters, and people — particularly in rural areas — whose work makes more durable leather trousers practical. Leather trousers are also used for horse riding. Men's legwear — like their cloaks, jerkins, doublets, and vests — tend to be quite colorful, and often include beautiful embroidery or other embellishments. Men's attire often include a sash or girdle, which allows them to attach pouches, daggers, and the likes.
Women's typical attire is the dress, consisting of a stiffened bodice, ankle-length skirt, and sleeves of varying lengths. Marcandrian dresses are usually worn over a chemise, and it's typical to wear multiple layers of dresses. The innermost layers tend to be quite covering, with Marcandrian fashion typically showing very little skin. Each layer outwards tend to be less covering, in order to allow each layer to be visible. Dresses down by lower- and middle-class women tend to have front-laced bodices, potentially with a stomacher. The upper class tends to wear corset-bodices that either are pull-over or fastened by laces or hooks at the back to create a seamless appearance. This difference makes upper and middle/lower class dresses look like two distinct styles, even though many of the remaining details are similar. Upper-class dresses also tend to vary more in appearance than those worn by lower or middle class citizens, simply due to the upper class having funds that allow them to experiment or incorporate elements of fashions abroad. The outer bodice-garments (for dresses worn by all social classes) can often have very deep neck-cuts — with potentially the two sides of the bodice never joining — while the lower layers tend to cover at least everything below the upper chest area. The skirt tends to cover everything but the shoes, though outer layers may be shorter, asymmetrical, and/or most commonly slashed, to allow the lower layers to be more visible. Skirts can also be draped and/or ruffled; and are most commonly A- or bell-shaped. The outer sleeve layers also tend to be slashed, and are often also puffed or bell-shaped. The innermost sleeve layer tends to be more tight-fitting, and is potentially replaced with long sleevelets. Marcandrian dresses tend to be exceptionally intricate, especially among the upper classes, with fine embroidery, adornment, embellishments, laces, ribbons, jewels, and the likes. They are also commonly worn with a sash or girdle, which also allows women to attach items such as pouches. Overcoats, cloaks, and capes may also be worn outside a dress, either for added warmth or for fashion. Women's legwear is generally not visible while they're wearing a dress, though it typically consists of hoses or other types of stocking.
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Women may also wear combinations more closely associated with men, such as the shirt, doublet, and breeches combination. This is generally worn by women in urban environments, particularly among minstrels and street performers. Some upper-class women also prefer this type of clothing, as it's easier to get in and out off without assistance. Women also choose similar leather-based clothes to men for activities such as hunting and riding, where dresses are simply too impractical.
The typical formal and informal footwear for men and women in Marcandria are the pomps. Men may also choose to wear mules around their own house. This is also the case for women, though some of their dresses are also designed to go alongside well adorned mules. Ankle boots are the typical choice when one needs better protection of the foot, or when in wet or muddy environments. Ankle boots are the typical choice for farmers, forest workers, sailors, and soldiers. There are also special knee-high boots called riding boots, that are used to protect the legs while riding a horse. Like the rest of the garments that make up Marcandrian attires, these types of footwear all tend to be embroidered or beautifully embellished, to the extent the wearer can afford.
Marcandrians also tend to wear both gloves, hats, and jewelry. Gloves of leather or velvet are most common, with musicians and workers often opting for finger-less mittens to keep their hands warm while allowing them to continue their work. Women may also choose to wear sleevelets as part of their formal attires.
Hats are a big deal in Marcandria, and are part of most attires for both men and women. The run-of-the-mill headwear for peasants, farmers, and general hard and/or sweaty work is the coif cap. Men typically tie the coif around throat, while women tend to tie it around their hair and at the back of their neck. Women also may choose to wear an additional (juliet) cap, and a well embroidered and embellished visor is popular for fine attires. The quintessential Marcandrian headwear is, however, the berretone, a soft capped hat with a round shape and a brim that goes all across its circumference. The berretone is a popular hat choice for everyone from peasant to noble, both as every-day wear and as part of formal attires. It is particularly popular amongst artisans, minstrels, and middle-class citizens in urban environments.
Other typical headwear include the toque, bonnet, barchetta, and the wide-brimmed hemisphere-crowned hat. The wide-brimmed hat in particular is seen as an expensive piece of clothing that projects high status. This is both due to the high cost of making it, as well as because it is often decorated with numerous pieces embroidery, ribbons, and/or other embellishments. It is particularly often adorned with feathers.
Jewelry is also worn both by men and women in Marcandria, both as a means to display wealth and to complement their clothing and other accessories. Upper class citizens often wear extravagant gold chains, jewel encrusted rings, bracelets, and brooches. A particularly important piece of jewelry among the nobility and upper class are their signet rings, which have unique engravings used to make impressions on wax to seal letters or documents. These signet rings are used to authenticate a document as having been written or approved by them, and are thus heavily guarded when not worn. Signet rings are usually worn on the pinky-finger. Middle class citizens tend to wear simpler yet similar jewelry made out of gold or silver, while lower class citizens tend to wear jewelry made out of pewter or brass. Both men and women wear both rings earrings; brooches; bracelets; and both necklaces and chains with and without pendants, lockets, amulets, and medallions. Women do however tend to wear more pieces of jewelry than men. Marcandrians in general are not a fan of piercings — with ear-piercings being and exceptions.
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Wealth dynamics
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While the marcandrians' meritocratic and materialistic views permeates their society, their ambitious and competitive nature is by no means the only aspects of their society. The Marcandrians are also a people of passion, a people who enjoys art, a people who enjoys revelry, and a people who enjoys luxury. While they are extremely competitive people, they are also nonetheless a people who ultimately want a good and prosperous life for themselves and their families. It is simply unfortunate that many believe they require great material wealth, respect and high social standing in order to attain such a life.
The noble lifestyle
The middle-class lifestyle
Lower class lifestyle
>> Seek to display success/accomplishments through posessions and extravagant lifestyles.
CULTURE CHAPTERS TEMPORARILY PLACED HERE:
VIEW ON OTHER CULTURES, AND VIEW ON MAGIC
Generally tolerant of other cultures and races, though many look with skepticism if meeting creatures they are unfamiliar with. Inhabitants of the larger coastal settlements tend to be the most tolerant, due to being used to seeing a myriad of people and races who come to trade. People in these settlements are also more accustomed to seeing magic. Lower class inhabitants from especially inlands and more isolated small villages rarely encounter magic, and may react with skepticism or fear when encountering it.
Regarding magic: Magic is not unheard of, but is not particularly wide spread. The Meranzeum tends to try claiming all arcane users who show some promise. Nobility and Meranzeum try to monopolize as much arcane knowledge as possible, seeing it as dangerous in the wrong hands. For most common people along the coastal settlements, magic is something one encounters at special events or as a result of a powerful or influential person. Meeting a spellcaster randomly on the street is extremely rare, thus many will be confused if encountering magic “randomly”. Magic is also used for entertainment in Marcandria - bards capable of magic are sought after by the larger theatres to make “special effects” for their plays. Not all theatres have such bards, as again, magic is somewhat uncommon.
How nobles behave - what they do and what they enjoy. Theatre, masquerades, festivities and revelry, etc.
How middle class, merchants and wealthy non-nobles, shop owners, skilled artisans behave.
How lower class, laborers, servants, simple artisans, , farmers, etc behave.
Combination of Callera and Meranzi's dogma has resulted in the bastardization of both, causing many marcandrians to become vain, and with the need to prove themselves better than everyone else. Fiori is also involved here, though to a lesser extend, as her point of “always keep growing - and that in doing so, you'll one day be able to reap the rewards for your efforts” along with both Callera and Meranzi's dogma just further emphasizes many Marcandrians' belief that their efforts make them deserving of more than they've been given in life.
Combination of all 3 goddesses' dogma creates a dangerous situation that have caused Marcandrians to have a very competitive nature, constantly seeking to rise above the rest and thus gain status. The richer you appear, the more beautiful assets you own, and the more indulgent and extravagant your lifestyle seems to be, the more status you're given.
Also makes many vain and entitled, believing their efforts and skills makes them more deserving than everyone else, often being blind to the efforts put in by others. Those already on top are also deathly afraid of allowing anyone the opportunity to challenge them, and often seeks out to crush upstarts at the earliest moment possible.
Hedonistic, vain, entitled
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