Albanni

Appearance

Pale-skinned, their hair can range from dark tones to blonde, even ginger. Their eyes, while often brown, can also be blue or green. Albanni people are average in height and prefer to wear simple tunics suitable for their professions, with men wearing trousers and women usually wearing skirts, unless unsuitable for their profession.

170-190cm in height.

Lifespan

60-80 years

Religion & Beliefs

Many Albanni still follow the beliefs of their old ways, with priests of Bahl being the main soothsayers of the land. Druidic ceremonies are the most common of religious displays in Albann, and it is the blessing of Bahl that the people unite under when marrying. There are still many sacred groves even within the largest of the cities, which usually consist of wooded areas and parks, usually overgrown but also well maintained.

Geography

Albann is a mostly temperate forest region with flowing hills and meadows and few mountains, making it an idyllic landscape for large cities to thrive. The shore facing the Endless Ocean is a steep cliff that reaches down into the water, acting as a bulwark against the ocean and its storms.

Society

The Albanni people take great pride in their associated guilds, entire families are even able to trace their family legacy within a singular guild over hundreds of years. While there is much pressure on children to take on the family legacy of joining the family’s guild, it is not unheard of for family members to join other professions. Reactions to this can be somewhat different, depending on how much the family status is entrenched in that identity; some have been disowned by their family, while others find encouragement and support.

Architecture

Albann prefer simple buildings made of stone and wood. While the designs lack in beauty, they make up for it in function, as all Albann buildings are designed to be both home and shop, or a place of production. The styling is often that of their families guild associations; a stonemason might have ornate stonework, for example. The expectation of massive guild halls and grand castles is set aside for the ruling caste, and only the nobility and guildmasters tend to have lavish homes.

Wealth & Trade

While Albann has a large amount of wood and iron ore, its main export is its guilds and guild craftsmen. With the various guilds opening houses and charging dues in other lands, it is often encouraged for journeymen to travel to these guilds and learn from them as part of their training. As such, Albann is the world’s renowned exporter of adventurers, mages, and knights.

The Albanni have also laid claim to the Isle of Ghosts, a small isle between Albann and Iberu, and while both nations have laid claim to this place, it is something of a somewhat friendly rivalry. The Isle of Ghosts is a ruined remnant of the Ancients, though those ruins are dangerous to enter and no venture is taken lightly. As such, those that dare step foot on the Isle to search for artifacts have developed a respect for their Shaiya counterparts due to this danger.

Slavery

Albann does not see a need for slavery, as the guilds handle most of the manpower of the nation; for this reason, most Albanni are against slavery of any type.

Other Notes/Trivia

• The Albanni are based on the British Isles, with inspiration coming from Medieval, Renaissance, and even some Pre-industrial era touches.

• Albann is an alternative name for Albion (Also known as Great Britan).