DementlieuMordentAt a Glance
Cultural Level -- Renaissance (9)
Population -- 5,500
Major Settlements -- Mordentshire (pop. 2,600), Blackburn's Crossing, Tumbledown
Coinage -- mournepiece (gp), the weepstone (sp), saltpenny (cp).
Resources -- barley, wheat, hops, sheep, cattle, dairy, flounder, sole, sardines, lobsters, oysters, chalk, clay, ships.
The Mordentish are lean, hearty people hardened by generations of fishing and sailing. Their skin tends to be fair and ruddy, though duskier tones are not unknown. Mordentish eyes are usually a faded blue, green, or gray. Hair color varies widely, with flaxen blond and medium brown being most common. Men cut their hair very short or grow it past their shoulders, often keeping it in a neat braid or ponytail. Women grow their hair exceptionally long, though those with curlier locks trim it to halfway down their backs. Clothing is woolen and durable and kept fastidiously neat and clean whenever possible. Men wear loose shirts with breeches and high socks; wealthier men also don waistcoats over their elegant, lacy shirts. Women wear long dresses close fitting on top and flaring below the waist. The Mordentish seem to prefer somber colors, either black and grays or dark hues of blue, green, yellow, and red. Ornamentation is shunned, though patterns such as checks or plaids are sometimes seen. Jewelry is rarely worn, as it is regarded as gaudy even among the nobility.
The Mordentish are simple, practical people who value common sense and established traditions. They do things at their own pace and are prideful of their ways. They are also superstitious folk who believe whole-heartedly in the supernatural, particularly the restless dead. They are not paralyzed by fear, however. The Mordentish have learned to respect and avoid haunted places lest the resident spirits seek out the curious in their homes. This strategy seems to work for them, at least most of the time. The Mordentish are polite and friendly toward strangers but always remain somewhat reserved. They guard their own secrets closely and have a knack for getting others to talk candidly without revealing much of anything themselves.
Mordent is the former home of Rudolph van Richten, the famed monster hunter and scholar of the macabre, now presumed deceased. Gennifer and Laurie Weathermay-Foxgrove, granddaughters of Mordent’s noble lord, currently manage van Richten’s herbalist shop in Mordentshire. The twins are themselves acquiring a reputation as dedicated sages and hunters of the supernatural, much to the distress of their father. They idolize their grim uncle, George Weathermay, renowned as Mordent’s favored prodigal son. A stalwart foe of evil, Weathermay rides a forlorn path across the Core in search of the minions of darkness.
Non-human races are thought to be at least partially of the magical world, and to associate with them is considered to be inviting ill fortune. A few dwarves have found markets for their crafts, and their dour manner fits well with the stern Mordentish. Halflings also share the Mordentish love of home and comfort, but are often looked upon with suspicion because of their wandering ways. This distrust of wanderlust, coupled with a similar distrust of magic, make Mordent an unfriendly place for the Vistani.
Though most of the noble families in Mordent have died out, there is still a distinct difference between the high and low classes. This difference tends to express itself in differences in speech and culture rather than in fashion – the Mordentish like to think of themselves as above such frivolities. Relations between the classes tend to be relatively good, though aristocrats tend to look down on the poor for their uncultured ways, while the poor often think that the rich put on too many airs.
Mordent has always attracted a few immigrants, particularly from the domains of the other Four Towers – Dementlieu, Richemulot, and Borca. The instability of Borca has encouraged a few Borcans to relocate to Mordent, despite the decline of profit caused by such a move. These Borcan immigrants actually fit in reasonably well, their naturally dour and serious natures fitting well with the equally dour and serious natures of the Mordentish.
Attitudes towards Arcane Magic:
The Mordentish do not deny the potential benefits of magic, they tend to hold arcane practitioners at arm’s length, treating them as potentially dangerous. However, this is not because they fear the practitioners (any more than anyone would fear a person with terrible destructive powers) – rather they fear what the magic user might attract. A common Mordentish proverb goes, “don’t visit evil and it won’t visit you” – those who seek to command powerful energies are also the most likely to be corrupted by these same forces.
No magical schools exist in the domain, and most native practitioners are those whose families could afford hiring a tutor, who are often foreign.
Attitudes towards Divine Magic:
Divine magic is widely accepted throughout Mordent, and it factors into the daily lives of most Mordentish. Those practitioners of divine magic are held in high regard, though this is usually tempered by which god they worship.
Ezra In this misty domain, it should come as no surprise that worship of Our Lady of the Mists is quite strong. Almost all Mordentish are members of the Church of Ezra of varying faith. The Mordentish sect is a relatively benevolent one, and it has seemingly little interest in politics. It is still quite powerful, and it serves as Mordent’s first (and best) line of defense against the forces of darkness. With the trickle of Borcans into the domain, a few small churches that practice the Home Faith have been founded in Mordent. The Church is also responsible for maintaining the domain’s large graveyards.
Hala There are a few Halan hospices in Mordent. The witches’ combination of arcane and divine magic is maginally acceptable to the Mordentish people, though most see it as playing with fire, inviting the influence of dark forces.
Martial Characters:
Fighters in Mordent are often members of the local militia who help defend their respective towns from wildlife, brigands and the rare monstrous threat. A few Mordentish make their lives as highwaymen, though they have a short life expectancy, and are often found dead with no visible wounds or poison in their system. Pistols and rapiers are the most popular weapons among those who can afford them.
Mordentish names tend to be English. Male Names: Alfred, Allan, Allistair, Andrew, Arthur, Benjamin, Brian, Charles, Christopher, Cyrus, Daniel, Douglas, Edward, Elias, Elijah, Francis, George, Giles, Henry, Hugh, Ian, Irving, Isaac, James, Jeremiah, Jonathan, Joseph, Lawrence, Martin, Matthew, Matthias, Nathaniel, Neville, Nicholas, Oliver, Owen, Peter, Richard, Robert, Samuel, Silas, Simon, Stephen, Thaddeus, Theodore, Thomas, William
Female Names: Abigail, Alice, Alyson, Anne, Annabeth, Beth, Bridget, Candace, Charity, Chastity, Constance, Deborah, Dorothy, Elizabeth, Emily, Esther, Faith, Gennifer, Grace, Hannah, Helen, Hope, Jane, Judith, Julianne, Katharine, Lacey, Laurie, Lillian, Lucille, Lydia, Margaret, Martha, Mary, Mercy, Meredith, Nell, Patience, Prudence, Rebecca, Ruth, Sarah, Susanna, Tabitha, Virginia.
Mordentish
This language is separated into two distinct dialects with entirely different vocabularies and even different grammar. "High" Mordentish is spoken by the nobility, while "Low" Mordentish is spoken by the common folk. The mingling of these two dialects has created an incredibly flexible language that is widely regarded throughout the world as the language of literature.
In comparison to real world languages, "Low" Mordentish is analagous to Anglo-Saxon or Old English, while "High" Mordentish is comparable to French.
Primary Language in: Borca, Mordent, Dementlieu, Richemulot, Verbrek, Ghastria
Secondary Language in: Darkon, Dominia, Falkovnia, Invidia, Lamordia, Sithicus, Valachan
"Low" Mordentish Sample Vocabulary:
"Low" Mordentish | English |
wes thu hal | greetings, farewell (lit. "be you well") |
giese | yes |
nese | no |
Ia! eala! | ah! alas! |
faran aweg! | go away! |
searo | painting |
bokcrćft | literature |
plegende | performance |
daeg | day |
niht | night |
heathusigel, sôl, sunne | sun |
môna | moon |
tűn | town |
hűs, inn, tôcirhűs | inn |
feorh, gâst, scucca | spirit |
holm, mere | ocean, sea |
brim | seashore |
lyfthelm, mist, nip | mist, fog |
burg | city |
âdelsçath | sewer |
rćt | rat |
werrćt | wererat |
forgćgend | trespasser |
ćtheling | noble (noun) |
bôkere, scôlere | scholar |
lćwend | traitor |
byrde, welig | affluent |
searocrćftig | astute |
begietan dun! | get below! (a common curse) |
carl, mann, rinc | man |
fćmne, wif, ćwe | woman |
bearn | child |
lif | life |
feorhgedal, swylt | death |
cwealm | murder |
lufrćden | love |
ator, lybb | poison (noun) |
reonian | conspire |
mynett, sceatt | money |
weald | forest |
éa | river |
hunta | hunter |
ulph | wolf |
worulph | werewolf |
bealu | dangerous, unwise |
ceasterbuend | fool, outsider, civilized person |
"High" Mordentish Sample Vocabulary:
"High" Mordentish | English |
bonjour | greetings |
adieu | farewell |
oui | yes |
non | no |
oh! hélas! | oh! alas! |
en allez vous! | go away! |
peinture | painting |
littérature | literature |
présentation | performance |
jour | day |
nuit | night |
soleil | sun |
lune | moon |
ville | town |
auberge | inn |
fantôme | ghost |
océan, mer | ocean, sea |
brume, brouillard | mist, fog |
égout | sewer |
salaud | bastard |
intrus | trespasser |
savant | noble (noun), scholar |
traître | traitor |
malin | affluent, astute |
decendre! | get below! (a common curse) |
homme | man |
femme | woman |
enfant | child |
vie | life |
mort | death |
meurte | murder |
amour | love |
poison, toxine, venin | poison (noun) |
comploter | conspire |
argent | money |
NOTE: the two dialects are both spken freely & intermingled in Mordent, often the bias toward one or another depends on locality & to some extent hereditary factors