Post by Catie on Oct 8, 2007 19:24:52 GMT -5
On the outskirts of the town, where the businesses thinned and the houses were depreciated with age, the oldest of the families reside. These families had been living here since before the town had sprawled into being. The oldest of the inhabitants, the great-grandmothers and grandfathers, could remember a time when the town was a small fishing village nestled happily between sprawling forests to the north, fields to the south and east, and the bay to the west which would open into the ocean.
Where the village heart used to be (keeping in mind that the heart of a village is where people gathered often and not necessarily in the center) is an old, dilapidated well, which is still in use. The families that live here, those old families, still practice many of the old customs. Tradition and genealogy are still extremely important, as well as Honor and Frith*. Rituals hailing the Gods are still preformed on every holiday in the old fashion. The children still dress in the slightly out-dated garb of their recent ancestors. The girls still learned the crafts of hearth and home with pride and diligence and the men learned to wield a sword amd man a longboat.
Leaning against the well, her wide, pale hazel eyes staring dreamily into the dark depths, was Brynja (roll the R). Brynja was the model of a perfect Norse Viking maiden, as far as the Great-grandmothers and grandfathers were concerned. She was quiet and respectful, but did not fear using force when things started to get out of hand with the men. Women were Frith-keepers* after all. She had a sense of humor and a quick smile, which was always good for keeping up the moral of the men. She could do all the chores expected of a girl at seventeen years old and she did them well and without hesitance.
And she was pretty too. She was tall for a girl, which can be forgiven in light of her other qualities. At 5’6” Brynja was the tallest girl in ‘The Village’, with a long neck and a thin frame. Her skin was pale, despite the time she spent in the sun, and her light brown hair fell in waves down her back. Two thick braids frame either side of her pale, round face. Her cheeks always had a pleasant blush about them and her lips, which were prone to smiling, were full and peachy. She wore the garb that her mother had made for her on her seventeenth birthday. Her long under dress was a pale brown linen with a rounded neck that almost fell off her shoulders and quarter-length sleeves. It was well fitted, designed to show off the curves that she was now old enough to show. She was, after all, now seventeen and must be looking for a husband from good stock. Her overdress, or apron, was of a deep earthy green. It was held in place by two large, ornate, bronze turtle brooches, between which hanged several strands of amber. Around her neck and on her wrists were more strands of Amber, the tears of Freyja.
At the moment, Brynja was thinking about what was expected of her. She was expected to marry soon, probably someone a bit older. Her parents would let her marry into one of the ‘newer’ families who lived in ‘The Town”, but only if he would prove himself worthy. Most likely, however, she would marry someone from ‘The village’ as they liked to call this part of Trellheim. He would be someone that she had known all of her life. Brynja was not bothered in the least about doing what was expected of her. She was raised to believe that the clan was the most important thing, and indeed, it is. Most of the men from ‘The Village’ were gone now, though, on an expedition of some sort. They had been gone for three long years and were expected back soon. Her brothers were gone with them and she missed them dearly. Of the six children in her family, she was the youngest and the only female. She had her mother, her grandparents on her fathers side, and her mothers grandmother at home now. Hers was a happy family, but it was sometimes tiresome to Brynja without her brothers. She even missed some of the troublesome youths who would now be among her eligible suitors. Three years was a long time to be without her old playfellows. With a heavy, sad sort of sigh, Brynja stood straight again and began to turn the crank on the well. It’s not as though it matters much now, she thought a little morosely. I cannot play with them as I did before they left. I am a woman now, and women don’t play.
She sighed again as her full bucket reached the mouth of the well. She unhooked it from the rope and headed back towards her own home, with the thought that she didn’t feel like being a woman if she wasn’t allowed to be playful anymore.
OOC:
Sorry that it is so long. I like really long intros, I guess. Anyway. I tried to keep as many of my facts historical as possible. Obviously there are lots of things that aren't, but in the concept of attire and family upbringing... I tried.
The general concept is that 'The Village' was the original part that the Town grew out of and that the families of the original villagers still live here, on the outskirts of the town. They are far more old-fashioned than the families in 'The Town'. The older people tend to like to keep their little corner to themselves and since it is so old-fashioned, the younger generation tend to keep it that way, though I imagine there will be some who aren't content with the old ways. Hopefully someone will help me turn this into an interesting and drama sodden rp. We shall see.
There was a word that I don't think anyone here is likely to know as it is an old Norse word used in Heathen/ Theodish circles.. Frith. Frith is a very hard concept to describe in just a few words, but as a qucik try, Frith means: natural peace, harmony, the peace enjoyed within a theod. Theod is tribe. In Norse tradition, it is the womans job to keep the peace during Sumbel- a religious ritual- and in all things. The women were protectors and keepers of Frith and they had the right to over-ride a man if that man was stepping out of line. Women had plenty of rights, actually, but I wont get into it. Anyway... This is the best picture I can find presently to represent the type of clothing that I was speaking about... minus the crown and various other modern acutriments (? I'm not spell checking so I know its wrong... ^,^)...
Anyway. Sorry for the longness..
Where the village heart used to be (keeping in mind that the heart of a village is where people gathered often and not necessarily in the center) is an old, dilapidated well, which is still in use. The families that live here, those old families, still practice many of the old customs. Tradition and genealogy are still extremely important, as well as Honor and Frith*. Rituals hailing the Gods are still preformed on every holiday in the old fashion. The children still dress in the slightly out-dated garb of their recent ancestors. The girls still learned the crafts of hearth and home with pride and diligence and the men learned to wield a sword amd man a longboat.
Leaning against the well, her wide, pale hazel eyes staring dreamily into the dark depths, was Brynja (roll the R). Brynja was the model of a perfect Norse Viking maiden, as far as the Great-grandmothers and grandfathers were concerned. She was quiet and respectful, but did not fear using force when things started to get out of hand with the men. Women were Frith-keepers* after all. She had a sense of humor and a quick smile, which was always good for keeping up the moral of the men. She could do all the chores expected of a girl at seventeen years old and she did them well and without hesitance.
And she was pretty too. She was tall for a girl, which can be forgiven in light of her other qualities. At 5’6” Brynja was the tallest girl in ‘The Village’, with a long neck and a thin frame. Her skin was pale, despite the time she spent in the sun, and her light brown hair fell in waves down her back. Two thick braids frame either side of her pale, round face. Her cheeks always had a pleasant blush about them and her lips, which were prone to smiling, were full and peachy. She wore the garb that her mother had made for her on her seventeenth birthday. Her long under dress was a pale brown linen with a rounded neck that almost fell off her shoulders and quarter-length sleeves. It was well fitted, designed to show off the curves that she was now old enough to show. She was, after all, now seventeen and must be looking for a husband from good stock. Her overdress, or apron, was of a deep earthy green. It was held in place by two large, ornate, bronze turtle brooches, between which hanged several strands of amber. Around her neck and on her wrists were more strands of Amber, the tears of Freyja.
At the moment, Brynja was thinking about what was expected of her. She was expected to marry soon, probably someone a bit older. Her parents would let her marry into one of the ‘newer’ families who lived in ‘The Town”, but only if he would prove himself worthy. Most likely, however, she would marry someone from ‘The village’ as they liked to call this part of Trellheim. He would be someone that she had known all of her life. Brynja was not bothered in the least about doing what was expected of her. She was raised to believe that the clan was the most important thing, and indeed, it is. Most of the men from ‘The Village’ were gone now, though, on an expedition of some sort. They had been gone for three long years and were expected back soon. Her brothers were gone with them and she missed them dearly. Of the six children in her family, she was the youngest and the only female. She had her mother, her grandparents on her fathers side, and her mothers grandmother at home now. Hers was a happy family, but it was sometimes tiresome to Brynja without her brothers. She even missed some of the troublesome youths who would now be among her eligible suitors. Three years was a long time to be without her old playfellows. With a heavy, sad sort of sigh, Brynja stood straight again and began to turn the crank on the well. It’s not as though it matters much now, she thought a little morosely. I cannot play with them as I did before they left. I am a woman now, and women don’t play.
She sighed again as her full bucket reached the mouth of the well. She unhooked it from the rope and headed back towards her own home, with the thought that she didn’t feel like being a woman if she wasn’t allowed to be playful anymore.
OOC:
Sorry that it is so long. I like really long intros, I guess. Anyway. I tried to keep as many of my facts historical as possible. Obviously there are lots of things that aren't, but in the concept of attire and family upbringing... I tried.
The general concept is that 'The Village' was the original part that the Town grew out of and that the families of the original villagers still live here, on the outskirts of the town. They are far more old-fashioned than the families in 'The Town'. The older people tend to like to keep their little corner to themselves and since it is so old-fashioned, the younger generation tend to keep it that way, though I imagine there will be some who aren't content with the old ways. Hopefully someone will help me turn this into an interesting and drama sodden rp. We shall see.
There was a word that I don't think anyone here is likely to know as it is an old Norse word used in Heathen/ Theodish circles.. Frith. Frith is a very hard concept to describe in just a few words, but as a qucik try, Frith means: natural peace, harmony, the peace enjoyed within a theod. Theod is tribe. In Norse tradition, it is the womans job to keep the peace during Sumbel- a religious ritual- and in all things. The women were protectors and keepers of Frith and they had the right to over-ride a man if that man was stepping out of line. Women had plenty of rights, actually, but I wont get into it. Anyway... This is the best picture I can find presently to represent the type of clothing that I was speaking about... minus the crown and various other modern acutriments (? I'm not spell checking so I know its wrong... ^,^)...
Anyway. Sorry for the longness..