Dawn people

Life in Dawn is a quest, a great contest in which the goal is to achieve glory at any cost.

The people of the Dawn are divided by the Test of Mettle. Those who have passed the Test are granted the status of nobility, the right to call themselves lord or lady, and entry into one of the noble houses that rule Dawn. Those who have never taken the test are yeomen, farming their land, fighting as rank and file in the Dawn armies, or serving as retainers to Dawnish nobility.

At the heart of each house is a powerful noble family, but the tradition of adoption means that many members of a house are only nominally related to each other. Membership is determined not by birthright but by passing the Test of Mettle set by the house. Each house is led by an Earl, selected by the nobility that make up the house. A member of a noble family who has not passed their Test of Mettle is technically a yeoman, although one that may enjoy significant comfort depending on their family.

Nobility and its trappings are widely and lavishly celebrated. Tourneys are held to mark religious celebrations, weddings, births - almost any public occasion will be used as an excuse for nobility to display their feats at arms. Not only knights take part - musicians, magi and craftsman are all encouraged to participate in public demonstrations of (generally friendly) rivalry, with prizes awarded to those judged best by their peers.

Romance is a vital part of life in Dawn. The Dawnish pride themselves on their charm and good manners and they enjoy courting and flattery. Flirtation is commonplace and accepted even among married Dawnish, provided it does not go beyond words. But if an inhabitant of Dawn seeks more, then they must woo a man or woman to convince them to accept a marriage proposal. Marriage in Dawn, especially for the nobility, brings its own complications and challenges.

Apprenticeship, and the relationship between master and apprentice, is a common tradition for Dawnish yeoman. The children of nobility are more likely to be instructed by tutors, skilled professionals hired to teach them hunting, singing and the arts of war. Most tutelage include a series of ever more difficult, and sometimes dangerous, challenges.

Money is largely seen as something as the business of the yeomanry in Dawn. A noble enjoys the comforts and opportunities wealth affords, but few care where it comes from. A noble house usually employs a professional yeoman called a seneschal to manage their estates while a noble will keep a retainer to deal with the ignoble activities of counting coins, working out budgets and paying for things. When an earl decides to throw a tourney, they tell their seneschal to see that it happens. A noble who worries about money risks forgetting that what matters in Dawn is glory.

Costumes by Jude Reid

Names

Names in Dawn are inspired by chivalric French and Arthurian romance. Given names in Dawn are full of romance and meaning. Parents might name their children after great heroes, after beloved relatives or virtues to which they wish the child to aspire. A name should have a story, which the child should be ready to tell if asked – “I was named for my uncle, who fell defending the Barrens at the battle of the Seven Fords the year I was born.”

Formally, all nobles append the name of the noble house to which they belong. However, a noble may also be known for the manner in which they passed their test of mettle, for a distinguishing feature or for their heraldry. Geoffrey of House Rousillon, for example, might be known as Geoffrey the Brave, Geoffrey Wyrmsbane, Geoffrey the Short or simply Geoffrey Rousillon. An unpopular noble might find themselves mocked by the common use of an unflattering nickname.

Several noble houses retain the archaic prefix ‘de’ before the House’s name. The more traditional see this as mark of distinction and ancient lineage - other, newer houses have dismissed it as outmoded.

Sample names

• Male: Ancelyn, Balian, Bohemond, Eddard, Gawaine, Geoffrey, Guy, Hugh, Kay, Phillip, Rodric, Roland, Stephen, Tristan
• Female: Alys, Alienor, Annice, Circe, Elaine, Honour, Igraine, Isolde, Marguerite, Marthe, Mathilde, Melusine, Morgaine, Sibylla

Titles

Members of a noble house are addressed by their given name, prefaced with Lord or Lady (e.g. Lord Raynard de Courville). The head of the house may use only the house’s name (e.g. Lady Elaine de Courville, on rising to be the head of the household, is now addressed simply as Lady de Courville), but all other members must also use their given name.

A witch who is the head of a House usually adds the epithet of ‘Enchanter' or enchantress to their name. (e.g. Earl Raynard the Enchanter de Courville or often just Raynard the Enchanter.)

Yeomen usually take their trade as their surname (e.g. Fletcher, Steward etc.)