Cymrii

Cymrii

The Cymri (pronounced "kym-ri") are one of the most populous Cultures in all of Britain. Cymric people can be found as far north as Strangorre and Lothian all the way to the southern kingdom of Logres.

Long, long ago, "in the legendary times, before Rome was even founded," refugees from Troy came to this island seeking their destiny. Their leader was Brutus, a grandson of Aeneas, and from his name the island was called Britain. Brutus and his men drove out the savage race of monstrous giants who inhabited it. They established relationships with the ancient gods and goddesses and with the faerie races that live underground and in hidden kingdoms. They settled far and wide, giving every place its proper name. Ever since, the Cymric people have been the dominant British people.

Cymric principles are not based on imperial aggression, like the Romans. They are based on "humility, honor, and unity" and on "recognition of our place in the land." The Cymric peoples, or Cymri, rightfully disdain "Roman greatness," which is based on an arrogant and selective memory. They don’t talk about the fact that the great Julius Caesar was driven off. Yes, Rome came back and "temporarily conquered" the island, settling many cities, but when the empire dissolved into civil war, it was a Briton, Constantine the Great, who took British soldiers and united it again. When Armorica was devastated by barbarians and disease, it was Britons who resettled it. So the Romans came, but the proud Cymri were not assimilated and have subsequently reasserted their national character.

Tribes

Durotriges:

The Durotriges is a confederation of Cymric tribes living in what is now Dorsette and southern Salisbury. Since much of the tribal culture has begun dwindle as the newer feodal systems take place, much of the older tribal ways are lost. But still some of the older triditions still remain, and many still consider themselves Durotriges. As most Cymric tribes, the Durotriges are honorable, loyal and brave. More than many other tribes, they tend to remember the old ways and many of them still stick to the Pagan religion. Like many other tribes, the Durotriges initially tried to fight the Romans. But they quickly realised the overwhelming odds. Many of the smaller clans left the open plains and went deep into the woods, others paid the romans tribute to be left alone. Must Durotriges still remember that family comes first, and you do what you have to to make it work.

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Belgae:

The Belgae is a large confederation of Cymric tribes living in what is now Logres. Since much of the tribal culture has begun dwindle as the newer feodal systems take place, much of the older tribal ways are lost. But still some of the older traditions still remain, and many still consider themselves Belgae. The Belgae pride themselves on honor, loyalty and recognizing their part in the community. They take pride in history, learning from what has happened. They honor the dead, and celebrate the living. The Belgae tried to stand up against the Romans, and put a hard fight against them when they took Britain. But they ultimately lost against the overwhelming armies of Rome. Even though it was som many hundreds of years ago, the loss still sting in the heart of many warriors. The wise of the Belgae, say that this thought them humility.

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	Gewessi:
	The Gewessi were a British tribe based in Hantonne, Glevum and parts of Gentian, who had scattered to the four winds with the rise of Aurelius Ambrosius – for they were the clan of King Vortigern, the corrupt High King who had first brought the Saxons to British shores.

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	Dumnonii:
	The Dumnonii or Dumnones were a British tribe who inhabited Dumnonia, the area now known as Ascalon and Cornwall (and some areas of Dorsette and Summerland) in the further parts of the South West peninsula of Britain, from at least the Iron Age up to the early Saxon period. They were bordered to the east by the Durotriges tribe.

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	Atrebates:
	The Atrebates (singular Atrebas) were a Belgic tribe of Gaul and Britain before the Roman conquests. Most of them were wiped out in the roman invasion, but some has remained and still talk of the old ways. The areas where they formerly lived, mostly current Rydychan and Gentian has long been taken over by other tribes and cultures.

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	Regnenses:
	The Regnenses, Regni or Regini were a British Celtic kingdom and later a civitas of Roman Britain. Their capital was Noviomagus Reginorum, known today as Chichester in modern West Sussex.

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Skills & Traits

Cymric stock tends to produce taller, larger people than other cultures.

Cymric training focuses on spears & lances and all of their menfolk are confident in using such weapons on foot or horseback. Their knights are thusly regarded as the finest mounted warriors in the land whose charge is second to none.

Religions

British Christian

"Ours is the first established Christian Church. Before Saint Peter was in Rome, the most holy Joseph of Arimathea founded his church here. And Joseph brought the Holy Grail, which is the most important relic of Christianity, for it held the blood which He spilled to redeem mankind.”

British Christianity is a local religion with a different infrastructure to the Roman Christian church. Key differences include that local kings, not Rome, appoints men to the rank of bishop, a stronger focus on clerical poverty, less focus on the concept of Original Sin and a different calculation of the date of Easter. (This last one may sound like trivia but, as the most important holy day in the Christian calendar, it is a major source of friction.)

Religious traits for British Christian knights are: Chaste, Energetic, Generous, Modest, Temperate.

British Pagan

"Our religion is based on respect for the land and its resident powers, whom our ancestors have worshipped for uncounted generations. It is natural and local, and we wouldn’t abandon it for an upstart minority creed started by a prophet who lived far away, in a land entirely unlike ours."

Paganism is the native religion of Britain. A mixture of local practices and beliefs, Paganism is often characterized by beliefs and attitudes that differentiate it from Christianity. The most obvious is the worship of many immortal and sometimes deific entities called gods, goddesses, and spirits. These entities inhabit the landscape, the sky, the sun, the moon, and other parts of the world, and also the Other Side (also called the Spirit Realm, the Faerie Realm, or any number of other such titles). They imbue the world with a life force and consciousness. By living in harmony with these natural forces, people live happier, healthier, safer lives. Paganism believes in an afterlife, on the Other Side, and druids also taught that souls reincarnate back onto our side as well.

Religious traits for British Pagan knights are: Lustful, Energetic, Generous, Honest, Proud.

Roman Christian

"Saint Peter was the favorite of Our Lord Jesus, and he founded the only True Church. It has survived intact as our organization of bishops. Of course we obey the Pope."

Roman Christians follow the church founded by Peter, the head of Jesus' apostles and one-time religion of the Roman Empire. They believe in be "One God, One Church, One Bishop," with the Roman Bishop declared to be pre-eminent, invested as Pope. They practice centralization and tight control of all churches, with church fathers standardising the New Testament Bible, sacraments, and holy days. Although most of the fundamentals are superficially identical to British Christianity, there is enough different to create tensions that have on occasions flared into open conflict.

Religious traits for Roman Christian knights are: Chaste, Forgiving, Merciful, Modest, Temperate.