People of Ardenfall: Ardenians
Ardenfall Male: Ardenius (Plural: Ardenii)
Ardenfall Female: Ardenia (Plural: Ardeniae)
Land area: 3.7 million km².
Population: 48.4 million.
Ethnic groups:
94% Earthfolk,
4% other humans (including Dragonfolk, etc.),
1% Fae, and
1% others.
Hierarchy:
Noble family (King as head of the realm)
Rootkeepers (Priests)
Root Warriors (Soldiers)
Root Healers (Medics)
Religion: Earth religion
Artifact:
Sacred vines of Ardenfall – "Root Runes".
Sacred little book of wisdom.
Protection symbol: Golden acorn – protection through knowledge and tradition.
Currency: 1 Oak = (1 gold oak coin, approximately 2.5 cm in diameter – obverse (gold): Large oak with deep roots & reverse (oak): Open book over a stone)
Love Ethics:
Love is permitted with same-sex partners because there are no gender differences among the Roots, but only as long as they live together (= everyone is rooted) and have a child together (= they pass on the Roots, meaning they are serious about it). Children are only allowed with unrelated individuals, as this expands the tribe. Everyone lives together.
Landscape and Climate: Many forests, lakes, hills, and mountains / mild to hot weather
Mythical Creatures: including Draugr
Capital: Hartwold
Meaning of the word: Hartwold = "Strong Woodland / Heart of the Forest"
Characteristics / Overall Image of the Capital: A robust, nature-loving capital with deep root gateways and massive wooden halls.
Coat of Arms:
Shield shape: classic aristocratic shield
Central symbol: a falling golden acorn surrounded by three stylized golden leaves
Meaning: Ancient wisdom, the passing down of tradition, and the secret knowledge of bygone ages. The falling acorn symbolizes that all earthly things eventually decay.
Details:
a soft, downward-falling golden shimmer (symbolizing the flow of knowledge)
delicate grapevines on the sides (symbolizing culture, history, and maturity)
a small, antique book symbol at the top (representing knowledge)
Holidays and Rituals:
Guardian of Books – February 18
Ritual: Entire towns read aloud in the streets on this day to honor wisdom.
Root Hearts Day – March 27
Ritual: Couples plant a small root tree together. It is meant to grow like their love.
Love Phrase:
Common Language: "With you, I am grounded." Ardenese: "Tecum radicor."
Love Vow:
Common Language: "As the roots support the tree, so I support you." Ardenese: "Ut radix arbori, ita te sustinebo."
Ripening Day – September 10
Ritual: Wine tastings and readings of ancient wisdom, commemorating the grapevines (which symbolize stability) and ancient knowledge.
Acorn Fall Festival – November 4
Ritual: Acorns are dropped into a river or the earth to demonstrate humility in the face of transience.
The rituals often include folk songs, folk dances, prayers, and oaths of the local realm, which are sung, danced, or recited.
Love and Birth Ceremony:
Love Ritual: The couple enters an acorn-shaped, oval pit lined with fresh green leaves and living roots.
Before surrendering to one another, each places one hand on the earth and the other touches the other's heart. They remain in silence for a few breaths to hear the sounds of the ancient roots and each other's heartbeats.
Only then do they consummate their love—as a transmission of the power of the roots.
Love Prayer:
Common Language: "Like root and earth, we belong together."
Ardenese: "Ut radix et terra, ita nos unum sumus."
Birth Ritual: The child is born in the same place as the place of conception.
After the birth, a fresh leaf is placed on the newborn's chest—a sign that a new shoot has awakened from the old root.
Blessing of Birth:
Common Language: "From ancient roots you were born. May your path be strong and fruitful."
Ardenese: "Ex radicibus vetus natus es. Sit via tua fortis et fructuosa."
Marriage Ceremony:
Marriage Ritual: The couple re-enters the root-shaped acorn socket.
The Root Keepers offer prayers as the living roots slowly close around them.
They spend the night completely entwined by the roots, hidden from the world.
In the morning, they emerge together—as a new trunk.
Wedding Blessing:
Common Speech: "As the root sustains the trunk, so you sustain one another."
Ardenese: "Ut radix truncum sustinet, ita vos invicem sustinet."
Funeral Ceremony:
Mourning Ritual: The body is placed in the same acorn-shaped root-shaped hole.
The roots gently close around the body, earth is poured over it, while old books are read softly.
The deceased is not lost, but returned.
Blessing of Mourning:
Common Speech: "What came from the earth returns to it. The roots do not forget you."
Ardenese: "Quod ex terra venit, ad terram redit. Radices te non obliviscuntur."
Ardenese Folk Song: please see later to my TikTok.
Ardenese Folk Dance:
"The Root Spiral" (Earth Dance):
Style: Grounded, light, rhythmic.
Form: A spiral that winds in and out.
Movements:
Heel stamping – always with one leg (connection to the earth).
The person bends their knees to the ground, their hands touching the earth to feel it.
Hands down, then slowly rising (knowledge, growth).
Couples link arms (= circle dance) (roots intertwine).
Together they stand up and continue moving in a spiral, their arms still "intertwined."
At the end, they recite the Root Prayer together (see below).
Symbolism: Deep roots, tradition, passing on of knowledge.
Ardenian Fashion:
Warm earth tones
Leather combined with the color green
Deep necklines (for both women and men)
Root ornaments
Heavy cloaks, often with rune buttons and subtle leaf symbols
Nobility or other high-ranking Ardenians also wear gold and/or copper colors
Golden acorn and/or golden book symbols (e.g., earrings, necklaces, brooches, etc.)
Language: Ardenian
Hello = Ardena
Welcome = Valenar
Thank you = Sevára
Please = Per favorel
Yes = En
No = Nar
Goodbye = Vale'dan
Ardenfall loves elegant, venerable insults:
"Foul wine spirit" = Vinum-pigrus
"Book burner" = Scriptor mortus
"Immature kernel" = Nux immatura
Daily prayer:
Morning prayer: "Earth, carry me." = "Erdan, hald mi."
Evening Prayer: "Keep me in the bosom of the roots." = "Hüte mi im Wurz'nschoß."
Table Prayer: "Thanks for seed, soil, and fruit." = "Dank Saat, Erd und Frucht."
Prayer (Book Prayer):
Congregational Speech: "Spirit of the ancient roots, strengthen my heart and mind on my path."
Ardenese: "Spiritus radicum vetus, fortis cor meum et mentem in via mea."
Prayer (Root Prayer):
Congregational Speech: "Ancient roots that sustain us, keep our hearts in the soil of truth. Let our actions bear fruit and our knowledge grow deep."
Ardenese: "Radices vetus, quae nos sustinent, custodite cor nostrum in terra veritatis.
Date ut opus nostrum fructum ferat et sapientia nostra alte radicet."
Oath (Acorn Oath):
Common Language: "By leaf and kernel, I pledge loyalty to the people and to knowledge."
Ardenese: "Per folium et nucleum iuro fidem populo et sapientiae."
Hand Signs for Prayers, Oaths, etc. ("The Root Hand"):
Both hands are closed into fists (= earth/power). Then both fists are gently placed together—like a root knot (contact = community & support)—while the feet touch the ground (= branching out to the earth).
Mini-Laws:
Old books must never be burned.
Everyone protects the forests, forest spirits, and vineyards.
Honest speech is mandatory in community councils.
Minor Offenses: Lying
Penalties:
7 days of work in the forest / at archives
Stone of Guilt on the belt
Reparations through planting
Major Offenses: Destroying knowledge / damaging forests, forest spirits, and vineyards
Penalties:
Loss of the Acorn Blessing (including disconnection from the roots, i.e., from the collective consciousness)
Sexual intercourse with root-stemmers (Highest punishment!!)
War Cry:
Common Language: "For heritage and oak!"
Ardenese: "Pro hereditate et quercu!"