Malkier

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Malkier
Political information
Capital Seven Towers
Demonym Malkeri
Government type Monarchy
Ruler(s) TBD

Malkier was one of the twenty-four nations formed either during or shortly after the War of the Hundred Years. It was one of five Borderlands until it fell to the Blight in the 950's NE. It was located north of Shienar and Arafel.

Description

Malkier was known both for the seven towers, and for it's "necklace of a thousand lakes". The towers still stand today, broken and jagged, and are circled by the lakes.

Other locations in Malkier include Herot's Crossing and the Stair of Jehaan. Herot's Crossing was where al'Akir and el'Leanna died fighting the Shadow. At the Stair of Jehaan, armies from the other borderlands fought the trollocs and managed to push them back a little before the nation was overrun.

Government and Nobility

The nation of Malkier was a monarchy, ruled by a King and Queen. The first King of Malkier was Shevar Jamelle. The last crowned King of Malkier was al'Akir Mandragoran, and his Queen was el'Leanna. Their son, al'Lan Mandragoran, was named the next king while he was still a baby, but he has yet to take up the crown.

At any given time, there are supposedly five Great Lords of Malkier. In order to name a new King, they must "cast the rods" on what is known as the Crowning Stone and decide who is fit to be king.

In Malkier, unlike in some of the southlands, when a King is married, his wife is crowned as Queen when they exchange rings.

Among the Malkieri, the Kings are denoted by the "al" before their first name, and the Queens by the "el" before their first name.

Most of the Malkieri that remain alive have assimilated themselves into other nations and cultures, trying to forget the memories of Malkier.

Clothing and Appearance

Women in Malkier wear the ki'sain, a coloured dot, on their forehead. It symbolises their willingness to pledge their sons to oppose the Shadow. Unmarried women wear a blue ki'sain, married women wear a red ki'sain, and widows wear a white ki'sain.

Men wear a hadori, a thin, braided leather cord, around their foreheads to hold their hair back. If a warrior dies during battle, it is tradition for someone else to take his hadori, carry it into battle, and then return it to the body for burial after the battle.

One of the customs of Malkier is that of a carneira. The word "carneira" translates to "first", and regards a person's first lover. While young women chose their own carneira, young men do not have a choice; their carneira chooses them. When a young man is chosen by his carneira, she will have him make a daori, a long cord woven of his hair. When the man is holding the daori, his carneira has the advantage over him; the daori must be taken from the person by the carneira in order for this advantage to be laid aside. The daori is presented by the carneira to the man's bride on his wedding day. There is a saying that "a king is not a king, alone with his carneira".


References

See also: Category: Malkieri