People of Eldenmark: Eldenmarkers / Eldenfolk
Eldenmark Man: Eldenmann (Plural: Eldenmennar)
Eldenmark Woman: Eldenmaid (Plural: Eldenmaiden)
Land area: 3.4 million km²
Population: 18.7 million
Ethnicities:
77% Forest People (some consider themselves Elves),
13% Elves (including Light Elves, etc.),
6% Fairies, and
4% Others.
Hierarchy:
Noble Family (King as head of the realm)
Heartkeepers (Priests)
Heart Warriors (Soldiers)
Heart Healers (Medics)
Religion: Forest Religion (Related to the religion of Ardenfalls, namely the Earth Religion)
Artifact:
Sacred stag (with widely fanned antlers) of Eldenmark.
Divine silver shield, which can also be used as a weapon. It can be thrown like a boomerang at the enemies of Eldenmark to decapitate or sever their bodies.
Protection symbol: Stag antler splinter – protection from darkness and hardship.
Currency: 1 Eld (= 1 gold-bone coin with a diameter of approximately 2.5 cm – obverse (bone): stag's head with antlers & reverse (gold): burning hearth fire)
Love ethics: Monogamy.
Landscape and climate: Many forests and lakes / mild to hot weather
Mythical creatures: including dryads, but also wendigos in the cold north
Capital: Braeheim
Meaning of the word: Braeheim = "The warm home / homeland on the hill"
Characteristics / overall image of the capital: Cozy country houses, cobblestone streets, warm hearth fires, windmills on hills.
Coat of arms:
Shield shape: angular, rough, very "mark"-like
Central symbol: an upright stag with widely spread antlers
Meaning: Indomitable strength of nature, border protection, connection to the earth, and the proud wildness of a people who live in harmony with forest and rock.
Details:
behind the stag, a silver shield (shield within a shield – "Mark" = border protection)
at the bottom, three small oak roots (symbolizing origin, steadfastness, and old, deeply anchored roots)
subtle stone textures in the background (symbolizing a rocky path to the goal)
Holidays and Rituals:
Heartfire Evening – February 19
Ritual: Couples light a small hearth fire and share a sweet bread, thus sharing a meal together.
Love Phrase:
Common Speech: "You warm my heart like a fire."
Eldic: "Du bist min Hertfeuer."
Love Vow:
Common Speech: "As long as my fire burns, you are my home."
Eldic: "Solang min Fyr brennet, bist du min Heim."
Root Festival – April 17
Ritual: Planting old oak saplings to honor nature and connection to the earth.
Silver Shield Night – July 29
Ritual: The reflected light and vibrations of the shield illuminate and resonate in the mountains to show humility towards nature (the sacred stag).
Stag Moon – December 2nd
Ritual: Hunters thank the forest spirit (the sacred stag) for sustenance through offerings.
The rituals usually also include folk songs, folk dances, prayers, and oaths of the local realm, which are sung, danced, or recited.
Love and Birth Ceremony:
Love Ritual: The couple goes into the forest to an old hearthstone,
where generations before them have lingered.
A small fire is lit – not large, just warm.
There, protected by trees and embers,
for in Eldenmark, love is not hidden, but cherished.
Love Prayer:
Common Language: "You are my home."
Eldic: "Du bist min Heim."
Birth Ritual: The child is born in the same place, at the same hearthstone, in the forest.
After birth, it is briefly held close to the fire,
so that it experiences warmth before feeling the coolness of the forest.
Birth Blessing:
Common Speech: "The forest carries you."
Eldic: "Wald trägt di."
Marriage Ceremony:
Marriage Ritual: The couple returns to the same spot.
Each places a piece of wood in the hearth fire,
as a sign that they will tend a fire in the future.
Then they exchange their vows—without a priest, without jewelry.
Marriage Blessing:
Common Speech: "A fire, a home."
Eldic: "Ein fyr, ein heim."
Funeral Ceremony:
Mourning Ritual: The coffin is carried to the same spot in the forest, to the same hearthstone,
where love began and life was born.
There, the body is cremated.
The ashes remain in the forest—nothing is carried away.
Mourning Blessing:
Common Speech: "The forest takes you back."
Eldic: "Wald nimm di."
Folk song of the Eld people: please see later to my TikTok.
Folk dance of the Eld people:
"The Deer Path" (Forest Dance):
Style: Nature-connected, warm, archaic Germanic.
Form: Large circle with "antler arms."
Movements: Powerful steps, hands as antlers.
The circle gets smaller (= closes) and the circle gets larger (= opens) (just as the forest opens – the forest protects = closes).
At the end, the circle closes (= the circle gets smaller) and the hands hold the hands of the person dancing next to them on the respective side (left/right) = round dance.
Common oak root prayer at the end (see below).
Symbolism: The deer, community, hearth fire.
Eld people fashion:
Wool tunic with a low neckline
Fur cloaks
Earth tones
All handwoven and cozy
Stag antler symbols
Silver shield pendant
Stag brooch
Language: Eldish / Eldenmarkish
Hello = Grimmark!
Welcome = Woldar kumen
Thank you = Dankar
Please = Gern
Yes = Ja
No = Neh
Farewell (Go farewell, friend) = Farr'wald
Eldenmark insults are nature-based and brutally honest:
"Root rotten" = Rotfoul
"Deerless" = Hirsch'nar
"Stone softie" = Steinwekh
Daily prayer:
Morning prayer: "Fire, awaken my heart." = "Fyr, wekk min hert."
Evening prayer: "Roots, hold me." = " Rót'n, haltet mi."
Table Prayer: "Thanks for hearth and home." = "Dank fyr herd un' heim."
Prayer (Oak Root Prayer):
Common Speech: "Roots deep, spirit hard, earth stand by me."
Eldic: "Rót'n tief, geist hart, erd' stand mir bei."
Oath (Stag Oath):
Common Speech: "By stag, stone, and marrow, I swear loyalty."
Eldic: " Bei hirsch, stein un' mark schwör' ich truw."
Hand Signs for Prayers, Oaths, etc. ("The Hearth Hand"):
The right hand is made into a fist (= hearth, core) and held in front of the stomach (= home), the left hand is placed flat over it,
like a shield over a flame (or home).
Mini-Laws:
Home comes first.
A hearth fire must never go out.
The stag is never mocked.
Guests are cared for and protected.
Minor offenses: Breaking hospitality / Disrespecting the hearth
Penalties:
Public apology to the guest / hearth
Fire or game service
Exclusion from feasts (temporary – the highest punishment, as feasts are sacred)
Major offenses: Harming the home or deer
Penalties:
The guilty person must sleep naked on the icy ground at night
Up to and including whippings
War cry:
Common language: "For forest and common land!"
Eldic: "Wald'marr! Zu mark'n!"