Hospitality in the Valley is about community and history.
The people of the Valley have been meeting, celebrating, and living in the same places for thousands of years. The history of a thousand feasts, rituals, and funerals is written into the land, its people, and its traditions. As such entering an Iron Valley gathering can feel in some ways arcane and mystical, with throngs of people reciting strange rhymes, odd hand gestures and dances. But in all ways an Iron Valley gathering is communal. To stand in a borough hall, camp or festival is to be one of them for that night. It is to share in their bounty, to share in their history, and to share in their love for each other.
It is worth noting that the exact specifics of hospitality vary from borough to borough but there are some traditions that are common across the Valley or at least between the High and Low Valley. These traditions also vary depending on the scale of the gathering. A warband of twelve resting at night might have different levels of complexity compared to a village fair that draws in thousands.
Put simply, Iron Valley hospitality has four main traditions;
- Honouring history
- Making history
- People with tasks
- Pride in your borough
And all of this is wrapped up in an almost ‘cult-like’ focus on including people. If you’re looking to attend an Iron Valley camp as a fly on the wall, you may be surprised when you’re left holding a ceremonial drinking bowl and reciting the oath of the host's ancestors.
Honouring history is about keeping the names of your ancestors close to hand. Hosts will dedicate meals, firelightings or winning a game to ancestors or those they have lost. Drinks or meals may have a serving (sometimes a faux meal carved of wood) set aside for the memory of those who come before them (particularly distant or heretical Valleyfolk may exchange memory for ‘spirit’ of those who have gone before). It is also very important to pay honour to those who control the land you’re on, often by bringing them a serving of food or a mug of ale. If those who own the lands you’re on can’t be found it is seen as honourable to care for the land as you pass through it, stacking firewood, clearing rubble or tending to livestock. In all of this, you are honouring history.
Making History is about living big, living loud, and living known. Iron Valley hospitality is replete with games, competitions, music and activity. All of these things tend to be lively and fast, preferring an axe-throwing competition over a game of cards that takes an hour. Food is eaten with hunger and engorgement rather than polite restraint. Music is a bawdy group affair with as many voices as possible. Every night could be a gathering written about in a saga, so make sure every gathering is worthy of it. Wear your emotions on your sleeve and make them bright. Live big, and make history.
People with tasks refers to a series of traditional Iron Valley roles at any social gathering. Seen most clearly at the traditional feast of Old Hearth Night, each role is styled after a beast of the Valley and provides a series of responsibilities on that person, or perhaps people. Any gathering will have a Bear and it's the bears job to make sure that everyone present is fed, watered, rested, and included. Good bears are gregarious, warm, and encouraging. It is the duty of the Bear t oversee food, fire and fun. Larger or more important gatherings will have an Owl (sometimes called a Hawk in the Low Valley). It is the duty of the Owl to keep a record of the event, tracking the names and providence of attendees, winners of competitions and arguments, and any other notable events. Sagites are very often Owls. Larger gatherings or gatherings attended by foreigners or distant Valleyfolk may have a Hound (older parts of the Valley may still use the older term of ‘Wolf’). It is the duty of the Hound to shepherd the young, the old, the sick, and the foreign. To watch over them, to keep them included and safe. Hounds make foreign friends try their hand at wrestling, stop children from playing with fire and speak up when elders' soft voices are spoken over. Particularly important gatherings (perhaps attended by visiting dignitaries, Reeves, or religious figures) may name a Stag. It is the duty of the Stag to ensure that important individuals are cared for, protected, and respected. A rare role, given the Valley's strong sense of communal importance, Stags are treated with considerable respect as they often have to protect visitors who may not always be liked. It is common to name a stag for each visiting party or individual to ensure proper respect is paid. Finally, particularly dangerous or onerous events may name a Viper, whose duty it is to enforce fair play, safety, and honour within the space. Vipers watch against poison, cheaters, thieves, and ambushers and are thankfully, the least common of the roles needed. In all many of these roles are rarely needed, it being most common to have a Bear and perhaps an owl or hound. Although a large and important gathering without all roles fill is a social misstep.
Pride in your borough is about showing what you’re good at. If you’re hosting it means making sure everyone tries your taverns prize winning mead, it means sharing that massive steer raised from a calf, it means showing off the banner that you’ve passed down through the generations. If you’re visiting, it means bringing a small piece of what your people are known for as a gift for your hosts. A small sugar cake for the Bear who invited you to their band's fire, a new set of shields for the married couple, or a song written for the fair. Bring your pride to your gathering either as a gift if you’re visiting or as a centerpiece if you’re hosting.
Welcoming Newcomers
Valleyfolk welcoming practices can seem odd, domineering, and even rude, particularly to the wrong visitor, but all serve important roles in making them feel like part of the borough.
It is the duty of the Bear to make an introduction, to make themselves known, and any other information. If there is a Hound present it is also their duty to put themselves at the disposal of any newcomers, often leading them to a seat, grabbing them food and drink, or showing them around.
Common Iron Valley understanding is that to feel a part of a group is to work with it, such is the nature of the work-oriented boroughs. As such it is traditional to immediately ask a newcomer to perform some sort of chore or task. These are always something that assists the gathering such as organising a new round of drinks, gathering some firewood or helping someone with a tent. These tasks are never onerous or embarrassing and serve to grant the newcomer some ownership over the gathering since they are now part of what made it happen. Although this can often come across as rude, it is simply how the Valleyfolk are.
It is also important to get the measure of newcomer,s particularly in regard to their history. Newcomers are often asked who their ancestors or parents are and may find themselves quickly festooned with an odd nickname (‘Ashad Gwedimsdaughter’ or ‘Son of Earl’ are examples). These nicknames help the gathering to understand the newcomer's personage but at the same time can seem dismissive. They are often short-lived, particularly if they can earn some other nickname.
Finally, newcomers are often brought to the forefront of things partially to see what they’re made of but also to make them feel seen. It is common to have newcomers take the first meal, cut the cake, or make the first toast. It is tradition to have newcomers go first in any game or competition and for newcomers to be applauded regardless of performance.
Common Passtimes
The Valleyfolk are direct in their pastimes as much as they are in their lives. Because of this, they favour games, music, and superstitions that are loud, proud, and clear. This has the side effect of making them appear as simple people, but often these pastimes carry deeper understandings and the way you carry yourself is as important as your performance.
Iron Valley games are often short, sweet, and explosive. Common are activities of physical prowess, such as wrestling, eating competitions, weapon testing, and strange running races (three-legged, blindfolded, and crawling to name a few). These tasks are often completed in good humour and are designed to be peppered throughout drinking and conversation rather than dominate a whole evening. Games should be group-oriented, allowing drop-in and drop-out players. The Valleyfolk favour dice and bones games particularly as their pieces are hardy and rounds are often over quickly. Low Valleyfolk are particularly well known for their massive games of dice, with the fortunes of many often resting on a single cast of the bones.
Music and dance are a communal affair of foot-stomping energy and exuberance. Any song with singing should be better sung by all in chorus with little allowance for skill or sobriety. That is not to say that Iron Valley Bards are without skill and form and those few funeral dirges that sound through the mountain peaks could silence a blizzard out of respect. Instruments are commonly drums, small hand harps, flutes, and whatever object is nearby to bang a fist, tankard or hilt against. Dance is equally communal often involving the swift changing of partners, stomping, hopping, and jumping. It is not uncommon to have local law enforcement attempt to break up a brawl of Valleyfolk only to discover confusion as they disrupt a group dancing in merriment.
Superstition in the Valley predominantly draws from the natural world and history rather than any particular action or trick. The presence of wild animals at a gathering, the prominence of the stars in the night sky or a fine afternoon breeze are all seen as good omens, whereas their absence is seen as foreboding. Strange occurrences such as a heirloom banner toppling over, an old pan rusting through or a runic stone being broken are also seen as important omens, with the coincidental actions of important objects often being a point of great superstition of the Valleyfolk.
Meals and Drinks
Iron Valley food and drink is the same as their hospitality; local, communal, and hearty.
Each borough has some meal or some concoction that is their known creation. Sometimes because it is the best, because it is a challenge, or because it is rare. These can be as varied as the Valleyfolk themselves but commonly take the form of particular pastries, beverages, or sauces, and gravies. Such things are commonly used as gifts or as centerpieces. Beyond this, the Valley is generally a place of strong agriculture and means. As such most western foods are present in some way, providing a wide opportunity for expression. A greater focus on local cuisine and pride is more important than any quintessential ‘Dish of the Valley’.
Any meal is worth sharing and drink is worth pouring for another. With this in mind, Iron Valley servings are suitably large and their tankards suitably deep. You are far more likely to see a Valleyfolk bring a sweet honey cake that is made to be broken up, or a side of meat ready to be carved or barrel to be tapped, rather than a small meal for one person. The borough cares for each other and when you are at a borough gathering.
Valleyfolk food is also big in heart. After any Valleyfolk meal you should be left unbuckling your belt, leaning back in your chair, and ignoring the splatter on your tunic. Strong sauces, rich flavours, and slow cooking are the skills of the day. A good drink should be the size of your head, not a thimble glass. A good meal should sate you well into the next day, not be made up of course after course of tiny portions.
Faux Pas
Common mistakes visitors make to the Valley is being unwilling to assist, to assuming derision where perhaps it does not dwell and to being distant.
The boroughs of the Valley are communal living arrangements and when you join a Valleyfolk gathering you join the borough for that night. With that in mind, you need to be willing to help and be a part of the gathering. This can cause issues for characters who are of higher stature, are on edge or come from cultures with important social hierarchies between groups.
The roles of the Valleyfolk are important to their history and treating them with flippancy is seen as poor form. The Bear spends their time making sure all are in high spirits and are cared for, but treating them like a servant is not proper. The Owl keeps histories that may be very important someday, and so lying to them draws everyone present into disrepute. It is important to treat these roles with respect rather than presumption.
As with Sokn Duels, speaking your mind and being present are of immense importance to the smooth living of Valleyfolk life. This is why so many of their traditions bring newcomers to the forefront. But remaining distant, standoffish, or secretive may very well be interpreted as being treacherous. It is important to note that this must be balanced against making all welcome around the fire, so those that are naturally skittish or quiet just need to find their place and their voice, a common riddle for the Hound to unpick.
Iron Valley Hospitality in your Game
Understand your local pride. Establish favoured foods, games, songs, and drinks for your burough and celebrate them. Particularly good are things that involve sharing, group participation or good-natured competition.
Use the roles of hospitality and embrace them. At the simplest having a Bear each night for the gathering around the fire keeps this tradition alive. Don’t presume on their constant service but also embrace the role to raise spirits and make a good time for all.
Work communally and do nothing alone. Bring someone with you to gather firewood, get a round for all not a refill for yourself and eat as a group. The Valleyfolk are very rarely ever alone and their hospitality should reflect this.
Embrace a certain amount of local weirdness. A borough handshake, a strange call, and response greeting, or a traditional toast not only helps solidify an inside and an outside group but also gives a chance for characterisation of your people beyond long fireside tales.
Do everything big. Your reactions, your songs, your dancing, your food, and your life should be visible from the stars. The Valleyfolk live loud so that their deeds will be known by all in history. Remember that even the quietest night around the fire might be the start of your saga, so make sure its a tale worth telling.