First Men

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== Culture ==

=== Personal Honour ===

The First Men are guided by a code of honour, personal strength and traditions that have been developed over the course of thousands of years since first coming to Westeros over the Arm of Dorne. First Men are judged by their adherence to these ancient codes, and to act with honour and integrity in all things. Some of these are in matters of justice - where a Lord or King is expected to swing the sword himself, whether to judge a man innocent, or merely to take his head. Guest Right is deemed sacred, and rituals of hospitality including guest gifts are of great importance in maintaining bonds of fealty and friendship amongst men of status.

Honour is also considered to act with strength, cunning and wisdom. First Men follow those who practice these highest of virtues - and are quick to show contempt for those who do not. While being honest and acting with fidelity is not always necessarily tied strongly to First Man honour - the idea of oath breaking is considered anathema. When word is given, especially before a Heart Tree or in the form of a promise, a man is only worth so much as his keeping of it.

=== Marriage ===

First Man marriage practices stand in stark contrast to that of the Andals, and naturally vary in ritual depending on the location. What is fairly universal amongst First Men is that betrothal is not something that is simply arranged between Lords as might be expected. Women are considered to be great prizes, to be earned - not given. Therefore, a potential husband must prove himself as a suitor, either through some deed, quest - or even in certain parts by stealing her from her father’s holdfast. Whichever is the case - betrothal is something that must be done with the woman’s approval - excepting perhaps in the Iron Islands - where it is said a woman must not even be present at her own wedding ceremony for the ceremony to be valid. Wedding Ceremonies are a short and direct affair - an exchange of vows, either before a heart tree, or in the case of First Men who have not accepted the gods of the weirwoods, in a particular sacred site. The feasts following the wedding however, have all the magnificence that the ceremony itself may lack. First Men value hospitality above all - and a wedding is merely a part of that larger performance of benevolence and guest right.

During a marriage itself, a man is expected to continue to prove himself worthy of a woman. If he should be cuckolded by another man, it is seen less of a shame on the woman for her infidelity, and more a sign of weakness in a man that his wife should seek comfort and pleasure elsewhere - and that his guards would not be able to prevent it or inform him. As partners in marriage - noble women are expected to provide learning - whether in the form of lore, healing - or other forms. Men on the other hand, are expected to lead, provide - protect.

=== Succession ===

First Men succession practices, like many others, vary throughout the various lands and kingdoms of the First Men. What is almost universal however, is the notion that any man who would be a king or rule over his land - cannot hope to do so without winning the support of his fellows. Whether this takes the form of an official Kingsmoot on the Iron Islands, the Choosings that occur on the banks of the Greenblood in Dorne - or merely members of a single dynasty vying for support or even fighting one another for the right to rule - succession amongst the First Men is extremely rarely a mere matter of uncontested father to son succession, whether he were a great king, or a small master of lands.

=== Technology ===

The First Men have some knowledge of iron in certain parts - but predominantly they are still using bronze and leather as weapons and armour. Moreover, they do not have heavy cavalry, or siege weapons more advanced than a ram made from a tree or a basic catapult - not that more is particularly needed to breach the ringforts and wooden gates of the First Men. Nonetheless, stoneworking had advanced to the stage where smaller castles do exist, though with simple walls and square towers, and without many of the luxuries that would be associated with later ages.

The First Men do not use coinage, for unlike the Andals they did not have more complex systems of taxation and donation to religious orders. Instead, they rely on barter and trade - and in certain cases measured weights of precious metals in the form of rings, bars, ingots - or even in more extravagant shapes - the weight makes the worth.

The First Men do not have a written culture. They do leave certain runes on stone when marking the landscape, however they should be understood as primarily an oral culture. This is by no means to say that their culture is lesser - for memory is highly prized, which in many ways leads to some highly skilled individuals within the culture. Leaning is embodied not by books, but by sharing of traditions and word of mouth, a far more social and less restrictive form than that hoarded by the septons of the Andals. Women too have a role in embodying learning amongst the First Men, which gives them prestige and an air of wisdom in First Men society.

== Religion ==

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == Culture ==
+=== Personal Honour ===
+The First Men are guided by a code of honour, personal strength and traditions that have been developed over the course of thousands of years since first coming to Westeros over the Arm of Dorne. First Men are judged by their adherence to these ancient codes, and to act with honour and integrity in all things. Some of these are in matters of justice - where a Lord or King is expected to swing the sword himself, whether to judge a man innocent, or merely to take his head. Guest Right is deemed sacred, and rituals of hospitality including guest gifts are of great importance in maintaining bonds of fealty and friendship amongst men of status.
+Honour is also considered to act with strength, cunning and wisdom. First Men follow those who practice these highest of virtues - and are quick to show contempt for those who do not. While being honest and acting with fidelity is not always necessarily tied strongly to First Man honour - the idea of oath breaking is considered anathema. When word is given, especially before a Heart Tree or in the form of a promise, a man is only worth so much as his keeping of it.
+=== Marriage ===
+First Man marriage practices stand in stark contrast to that of the Andals, and naturally vary in ritual depending on the location. What is fairly universal amongst First Men is that betrothal is not something that is simply arranged between Lords as might be expected. Women are considered to be great prizes, to be earned - not given. Therefore, a potential husband must prove himself as a suitor, either through some deed, quest - or even in certain parts by stealing her from her father’s holdfast. Whichever is the case - betrothal is something that must be done with the woman’s approval - excepting perhaps in the Iron Islands - where it is said a woman must not even be present at her own wedding ceremony for the ceremony to be valid. Wedding Ceremonies are a short and direct affair - an exchange of vows, either before a heart tree, or in the case of First Men who have not accepted the gods of the weirwoods, in a particular sacred site. The feasts following the wedding however, have all the magnificence that the ceremony itself may lack. First Men value hospitality above all - and a wedding is merely a part of that larger performance of benevolence and guest right.
+During a marriage itself, a man is expected to continue to prove himself worthy of a woman. If he should be cuckolded by another man, it is seen less of a shame on the woman for her infidelity, and more a sign of weakness in a man that his wife should seek comfort and pleasure elsewhere - and that his guards would not be able to prevent it or inform him. As partners in marriage - noble women are expected to provide learning - whether in the form of lore, healing - or other forms. Men on the other hand, are expected to lead, provide - protect.
+=== Succession ===
+First Men succession practices, like many others, vary throughout the various lands and kingdoms of the First Men. What is almost universal however, is the notion that any man who would be a king or rule over his land - cannot hope to do so without winning the support of his fellows. Whether this takes the form of an official Kingsmoot on the Iron Islands, the Choosings that occur on the banks of the Greenblood in Dorne - or merely members of a single dynasty vying for support or even fighting one another for the right to rule - succession amongst the First Men is extremely rarely a mere matter of uncontested father to son succession, whether he were a great king, or a small master of lands.
+=== Technology ===
+The First Men have some knowledge of iron in certain parts - but predominantly they are still using bronze and leather as weapons and armour. Moreover, they do not have heavy cavalry, or siege weapons more advanced than a ram made from a tree or a basic catapult - not that more is particularly needed to breach the ringforts and wooden gates of the First Men. Nonetheless, stoneworking had advanced to the stage where smaller castles do exist, though with simple walls and square towers, and without many of the luxuries that would be associated with later ages.
+The First Men do not use coinage, for unlike the Andals they did not have more complex systems of taxation and donation to religious orders. Instead, they rely on barter and trade - and in certain cases measured weights of precious metals in the form of rings, bars, ingots - or even in more extravagant shapes - the weight makes the worth.
+The First Men do not have a written culture. They do leave certain runes on stone when marking the landscape, however they should be understood as primarily an oral culture. This is by no means to say that their culture is lesser - for memory is highly prized, which in many ways leads to some highly skilled individuals within the culture. Leaning is embodied not by books, but by sharing of traditions and word of mouth, a far more social and less restrictive form than that hoarded by the septons of the Andals. Women too have a role in embodying learning amongst the First Men, which gives them prestige and an air of wisdom in First Men society.
 == Religion ==

First Men: Difference between revisions