VII. LIFE AND CULTURE
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Architecture & Housing
âHuman architecture is generally simpler than that of the dwarves, which is understandable since they build their cities completely outside⊠Some modern human architecture is a blend of dwarven and high elven designs, which isnât surprising. This is especially true in Lordaeron, where even the secluded elves of QuelâThalas would often make appearances to trade.â [LoC]
Unique to the Scarlet Crusade is their construction. In the Scarlet Monastery, we see various unique architectural designs for the Scarlet Crusade: a Training Grounds, Huntsmanâs Cloister, Athenaeum, Gallery of Treasures, Hall of Champions, Footmanâs Armory,Honorâs Tomb, Forlorn Cloister, Chapel Gardens, Crusaderâs Chapel, Chamber of Atonement (Vishas), [The Scarlet Basilica](wowpedia.fandom. com/wiki/Scarlet_Basilica) (Tyrâs Hand),
A cloister means âa place, especially a monastery or convent, devoted to religious seclusionâ. An Athenaeum is âa place, such as a library, where printed materials are available for reading.â. For the Chamber of Atonement, atonement means: âAmends or reparation made for an injury or wrong; expiationâ. A Basilica is a Roman Empire building that got adopted by the Catholic Church and it is interesting to note that Praetorians (another Roman derivative name) of Scarlets protect at Tyrâs Hand.
CITIZENS:
The Scarlet Enclave was supposed to be a âScarlet paradiseâ, evidenced by the Citizens of New Avalon saying, "so much for the Scarlet âparadiseâ!" Evidently they were promised âSafetyâ and âsecurityâ for settling at the Scarlet Enclave. [(NPC: Citizen of New Avalon)](wowhead. com/npc=28942/citizen-of-new-avalon) This is further backed up in Lands of Conflict. âSettlers with the skill, boldness and strength of arms to withstand the challenges and dangers of the wild may find that from crude beginnings mighty empires can be born â or reclaimed. In the north, the Scarlet Crusade is always searching for settlers willing to make a stand on the edge of the Plaguelands and reclaim a part of humanityâs ancestral lands.â [LoC]
Unique only to the Scarlet Enclave, there was a type of high class club called the Haute Club that required a Membership Card with âFine Dining for the Finestâ.[ (Item: Haute Club Membership Card)]
(wowhead. com/item=39355/haute-club-membership-card#comments)
[Mind-Soothing Baubles] came with âa tiny maze of engraved lines covers the surface of the gem.â (www.wowhead. com/item=39356/mind-soothing-bauble)
[Moon-Crescent Neckaces] were crafted from one of the townspeople. (wowhead. com/item=39353/moon-crescent-necklace)
They even smoked from [Richly Appointed Pipes].
(wowhead. com/item=39351/richly-appointed-pipe)
Although it is not exactly stated, it could have been some [Fras Siabiâs Premium Tobacco] or some type of Lordaeronian tobacco they were smoking in these pipes.
(wowpedia.fandom. com/wiki/Ezra_Grimm%27s_Premium_Tobacco)
> Architectural Style: Lordaeronian architecture is of the same general design as most of the other human nations. This is true of human farms and more.
Building Materials: Scarlets use timber for constructing most building wooden house floors and frames, with either stone, typically fieldstone, or brick for walling. Fieldstones are also often used for simple country walls and garden borders. Stones are more common building materials in larger constructions, such as in the Scarlet Monastery which are then tiled with red roofing or Tyrâs Hand with the abbey and cathedral. This is noticed as well in New Hearthglen or the Onslaught Harbor in Northrend for the Scarlet Onslaught as well.
Class and Status
Clothing & Fashions: It is interesting to note that while the Lordaeronians wear a plethora of different styles, âHillsbradâs⊠locals dress in white, Lordaeronâs traditional color.â [LoC] ] This is the case for Scarlet Crusaders as well but taken to another level. âAs they wander the blasted wastes, the undead creatures who call the Plaguelands home have learned to scan the horizon continually for the crimson garb of the Scarlet Crusade. Scarlet Crusaders come from many vocations â warrior, priest, wizard, scout â but all have one obsession: the complete and utter destruction of the plagueborn creatures who have conquered and occupied their ancestral homelands. Whether a red robe, a red tabard or red lacquered armor, a Scarlet Crusader wears the bright color as a brazen declaration that the red blood of the living still flows in her veins and as a beacon calling her undead foes to battle.â [LoC]
Cuisine
The people of Lordaeron have simple cuisine that suits their simple tastes.
Food: WIP.
Drinks: WIP, Lordaeron Lambic,
Education
Lordaeron may have placed an emphasis on the education of its citizens. Books are commonly found in most Lordaeron households, and many Lordaeronians are presumed to possess literacy. Schools are known to exist among the Seven Kingdoms. Miss Danna of Stormwind, for example, is a schoolmistress. Crillian was the headmaster of âthe Academyâ? at Stormwind (The Legend of Stalvan). One of the most infamous school scenarios is that Beve Perenolde âwas sent to Lordaeron City to study magic as a young woman, but left the school voluntarilyâ [LoC] which could mean that Lordaeron City had its own magical school separate from Dalaran. Furthermore, specifically for Scarlets, it is interesting to note when they received the lashings at the Scarlet Enclave Death Knight starting zone, some of the Scarlets being tortured for information would say, âArgh⊠The pain⊠The pain is almost as unbearable as the lashings I received in grammar school when I was but a childâ which lends itself to suggest that Scarlet Crusaders could have went to a grammar school at child but presumably when Lordaeron was not yet Scarlet.
Language
Lordaeronians primarily speak Common, which is a shared trade language that unites the Seven Kingdoms. Lordaeron may have its own respective Lordaeronian language while Common acts as the primary language for the Seven Kingdoms. Early humans shared a language that included a writing system, as they âwould occasionally take to gathering around a fire whilst trying to read from scrolls telling of ancient heroes and leadersâ? (Ask CDev Round #1). It is unknown what ancient tongue the Common language and script is derived, though it likely traces its origins to the vrykul and titan languages.
Alphabet: Lordaeronians also uses the Common alphabet. Some of the symbols used in the Lordaeron crest, such as the âLâ that the Lordaeronians and Scarlets use, are the best example.
Dialects: Although the people of the Eastern Kingdoms talk of a Lordearonian dialect, there are probably numerous variant regional dialects within any given human kingdom.
Secondary Languages: Many Lordaeronians may have learned Dwarven as a popular secondary language for purposes of trade. The Thalassian language of the high elves was likely a close second. It is known that Forsaken speak Gutterspeak, but rather this is a Lordaeronian dialect spoke or not is not known. âWhen I clawed my way out of the grave, I thought my family would welcome me with open arms. Instead, they drove me out of the village, screaming in a language I could no longer understand.â [(NPC: Dan Golthas, a Forsaken)](wowpedia.fandom. com/wiki/Dan_Golthas) This would lend itself to appear that in death, the Forsaken or Scourge lose their language they knew before such as Common.
Family Life: It is interesting that Dansel Adams, a simple âhunter by tradeâ said that he was a âScarlet Crusader by bloodâ indicating a family bond to Scarlet Crusade families. [[Item: News From the North]](wowpedia.fandom. com/wiki/News_From_The_North) This is emphasized again with the Brazier of Invocation: Userâs Manual, in which, âand it was suspected that their family had ties to the [Scarlet Crusade].â
(wowpedia.fandom. com/wiki/Brazier_of_Invocation:_User%27s_Manual)
Literary Arts
There is not much information on the literature and poetry of Lordaeron or much of the Eastern Kingdoms. Human literature likely grew out of epic poetry and oral storytelling dedicated to battle and valor. The vrykul bard Helgus composed three epic sagas: Saga of the Twins, Saga of the Valâkyr, and Saga of the Winter Curse (Quest: The Enemyâs Legacy). On what would become the Eastern Kingdoms, early humans retold many epic stories passed down on scrolls from the vrykul legends, including those pertaining to the greatly admired Watcher Tyr (Ask CDev Round #1) whoâs hand and story were venerated for thousands of years before the Silver Hand were formed in the Second War [CoA]. Since that time, humanity has probably developed much of its own literature and published stories. Numerous Lordaeronian households contain bookshelves filled with books, which are likely not all works of non-fiction.
There is a Lordaeornian Lullaby:
âLu, la lu, my dearest child,
Lu, la lu, lu la lay,
Lordaeron says, âGo to sleep.â
Azeroth says, âDream you deep.â
Lu, la lu, la lu, la lay,
Safe in my arms youâll stay.â (Before the Storm)
This is a Lordaeron Nursery Rhyme:
Be wary, child, of Plaguelands plainâŠ
Be mindful, child, of the infected grainâŠ
For if throat is parched and of infected water sipâŠ
Forever your soul will be in cursed Scourge grip.
So heed this warning, child, and if far from mother strayâŠ
Let light from homeâs hearth guide you back your way.
âHuman nursery rhyme, already in use six years after the Third War (Warcraft: Legends Volume 1, The Journey)
Poetry: Humans, such as the child Alicia of Stormwind, are known to compose poetry (Quest: Aliciaâs Poem). The miner Jitters of Duskwood also compares himself to a âpipe-mad poetâ? (Jittersâ Completed Journal). There were likely Lordaeronian poets who wrote romantic poetry of the time before industrialization or of the untamed Lordaeronian wilds still remaining. Some Lordaeronian poets may have also held romantic views of the nationâs great spiritualism or sacrifice. One example for Uther is:
âHis name brought Light to darkest Azeroth.
His valor tore the walls of misâry down.
The Silver Hand would neâer do better more
than give the world the knight whoâd give himself.
His fame was not that which he sought to grow,
nor was the lordship over his own kind.
Instead he chose to fight for Lordaeron
to hope his kin would have to fight no more.
The tragic tale of this most holy knight
will never end with his unholy death.
We honor him, and we shall give him thanks!
Uther always shall know glory and Light!â [(Item: For the Light!)](wowpedia.fandom. com/wiki/For_the_Light!)
Media/Propaganda
Up until the point of the Scarlet Brotherhood, it is unknown what level of media there is. With the Battle for Azeroth, though, and the Battle for Tirisfal Glades, the self-penned âScarlet Brotherhoodâ wrote various propaganda pieces and distributed them across the Tirisfal Glades. (Item: The Cursed Old Wolf) (Item: The Last Menethil) (Item: The Traitor King)(Item: The Would-Be Queen)
Names
Most humans of the Eastern Kingdoms have two names, a given first name, by which they are informally called, and a surname.
Given Names:
Female Names: WIP.
Male Names: WIP.
Surnames: WIP.
Attested Noble Surnames: WIP.
Commoner Surnames: WIP.
National Symbols
Scarlets have a number of symbolic motifs that recur throughout their society: the double-sided eagle which was on their Old Alliance tabards, the more modern Scarlet Flame, the âLâ of Lordaeron that is red, and their Church flag which is a red background with the Church of the Holy Lightâs cross-shaped symbol that is gold.
Eagles: The eagle may have been the chief heraldic animal for Lordaeron.
Scarlet Flame: With the red of the Scarlet Flame, this is one of the most iconic icons of the Scarlets.
Crest of Lordaeron: In the shape of an âLâ, this flag icon that was once blue with a white background is now the red of the Scarlet Crusade.
Performing Arts
Sparse evidence exists for the widespread presence of theatre, opera, and musical performance among the Seven Kingdoms. The performing arts culture of the Eastern Kingdoms is unknown. There is evidence for the presence of musical and dramatic performers among the Seven Kingdoms. The status of the performing arts among Lordaeronian culture cannot be fully ascertained.
Theatre: A theatrical scene of some variety probably exists in the Eastern Kingdoms, though it cannot be certain how widespread it is. Karazhan features an opera house with three separate opera plays and haunted by spectral performers. Other opera houses likely exist in larger urban centers such as Stormwind City, Lordaeron City, Stratholme, and so on. It is unknown as to what language or dialect of high culture most operas were traditionally composed. Lordaeronâs strong nationalism probably led to plays and operas being performed in the Lordaeronian dialect or language. Lordaeronian plays would probably feature legendary figures and events of Lordaeronian myth and history.
Music: Musicians commonly played background music to liven up the atmosphere at many banquets of the Seven Kingdoms (TLG, ch.1). Known instruments include flutes, piccolos, lutes, harps, lyres, horns, pipe organ, and drums. Minstrels were relatively common in the Eastern Kingdoms. Camerick Jongleur is a wandering minstrel presiding at Menethil Harbor although it is not known if he is a Lordaeronian or not. A hearthsinger was likely another name for a professional wandering bard or minstrel among the Seven Kingdoms. Hearthsinger Forresten now haunts the burning ruins of Stratholme as a ghost. The Elves also have lutes that are in Silvermoon so this could have been another form of music.
Recreation
There is little in the way of direct reference to sport and leisurely pastimes commonly taken up by Lordaeronians. Many of these recreational activities must be inferred from the material evidence of Scarlets or speculated based on broader cultural patterns. While some pastimes may be more particular to the Lordaeron, the nation likely shared many of its popular recreational activities with its fellow Seven Kingdoms.
Fireworks: In the Crusaderâs Armory in Vanilla Scarlet Monastery there are variants of fireworks of all colors of which a red firework you can stack. Since they are nonviolent and harmless, they are presumably therefore toys that would have distracted Scarlet Crusaders from the ravages of war.
Dancing: Dancing was likely a popular pastime for Lordaeronians of all social classes. Attending banquets, balls, and parties made for opportune occasions for social dancing. In a vision of old Kharazhan, for example, â[Khadgar] passed through a banquet hall, at one end a group of musicians playing soundlessly, dancers twirling in a gavotteâ? (TLG, ch.1). Likewise, Gilnean wedding parties likely also included festive dancing (CotW, Vol.1). Such social dances may have provided men and women an opportunity to meet suitable spouses. Obviously as well, any race can /dance and therefore there were likely dances unique to Lordaeron as all the City-States from Arathor had their own distinct customs [Book: The Seven Human Kingdoms].
Gladiatorial Combatants: Specifically in the case of Thrall, he was a gladiator at Durnholde Keep and there might have been bets going on while fighting in battles that could have been to the death for the Orcish combatants.
Fishing: In addition to being a livelihood, fishing may have been a leisurely pastime for many Lordaeronians. A number of locations in Lordaeron have docks such as Caer Darrow or Southshore and Aretain Naris and his bandit squadron referred to the Southshore people as âsmelly fishheadsâ [Alliance Playerâs Guide].
Fortune Telling: The consultation of fortune-tellers was a pastime that likely existed on the fringe for Lordaeronians. While not directly the same practice as a gypsy and fortune-telling, we know that there are Scarlet Augurs in the Scarlet Monastery and the definition of an augur is using signs to do divination or essentially to use good or ill omens to predict if something is going to happen. The Scarlet Oracle also supposedly had âother-wordlyâ senses and made predictions that assisted Saidan Dathrohan in various Scarlet victories. [Quest: The Scarlet Oracle]
Gambling: Gambling is a known practice in Azeroth. Gambling occurred at Aedelas Blackmooreâs gladiator matches at his internment camps (LotC, ch.4; A:RotLK, ch.4). Gambling was particularly beloved by pirates (Quest: Gambling Debt). Lordaeronian drinking taverns, inns, and pubs would have served as opportune establishments for gambling in a game of cards or bones.
Note: Simple card games could be made using simply the [Mysterious Fortune Card].
Gardening: Gardening may have become a leisurely pursuit for some Lordaeronians. Several homes grow flowers in their gardens such as the Culling of Stratholme, and roses are grown around arbors. Alexandros Mograine of Lordaeron was known to have tended a garden around his house [ASH]. Some houses also contain potted plants (CotW, Vol.2). Gardening is a form of natural art in which gardeners âsculptâ? nature around them. The Scarlet Monastery is home to the Whispering Gardens. In the Culling of Stratholme, there was also a boutique shop full of flowers. Lastly at the Scarlet Monastery there is the Chapel Gardens.
Hunting: Hunting may have been a popular sport for Lordaeronians, particularly among the male nobility. Boar skulls, mounted stag heads, bear and wolf furs, along with foothold traps and blunderbuss rifles, commonly adorn the interior of Old Hillsbrad and Culling of Stratholme buildings. Fox hunting may have also been popular, especially among the nobility. Scarlets in particular also breed Scarlet Tracking Hounds as hunting dogs. Darrowshire also had its own hunting grounds. New Avalon citizens used Scarlet Hunting Hounds at the Scarlet Enclave. The reason being for Scarlet Hounds is that they help hunt the living and the dead: âthe quickest and surest way to detect the undead is by the scent of rot they carry, and even the most veteran soldier cannot match the olfactory sense of a hound. Houndmaster Braun has bred and trained a savage pack of canies to aid the crusaders in hunting down their foesâliving and undead." - Adventure Guide
Music: Learning music may have served as a polite accomplishment for some Lordaeronians. Flutes, harps, and lutes were probably common musical instruments among all the Seven Kingdoms (A:RotLK, ch.6). Attending music halls may have also been a popular form of entertainment.
Natural History: The study of natural history may have become a popular amateur hobby in Lordaeron. This hobby may have taken the form of collecting wildlife or rocks, watching animals, uncovering ancient civilizations, or it may have been a more formal scientific study. There are signs that natural history may have already been in vogue among Lordaeronians. This would make sense as in the Cataclysm there started being Archeology and there are plenty of sites across lordaeron.
Parks & Hiking: Scarlets may have also visited parks as a form of recreation. They reason they could have had such great portraits of landscapes is if they were visited themselves. There is also the Terrace of Repose and at the Scarlet Cathedral of the Scarlet Monastery in Vanilla Scarlet Monastery, there is a garden-like scenery where one could get quiet time to read a book or enjoy the scenic view of a fountain spewing water with statues.
Playing: âYou donât see as many children pretending to be Knights of the Silver Hand these days, but itâs still not uncommon.â [LoC] Perhaps the children would be pretending to be Silver Hand Knights or even future Scarlet Crusaders. Taelan Fordring had his own wooden sword that he played with that was his fatherâs, Tirionâs before him.
Reading: Most Scarlet homes and locations contain bookshelves filled with numerous books, which may point to leisure reading as a pastime. Literacy may have been important for career and social advancement.
Sewing: Sewing and embroidery may have been a leisurely activity, as well as an expected life skill, for Lordaeronian women. Many houses across Lordaeron include weaving looms along with spools and balls of yarn such as at the Culling of Stratholme including a tailor shop.
Smoking: Tobacco was likely a pastime for people to bond together in both Lordaeron and as Scarlets. In the Scarlet Enclave, the Citizens drop Richly Appointed Pipes so they must have been smoking something in those pipes. It could have been Fras Siabiâs Premium Tobacco from Stratholme or another source.
Toys: The leisure activity for young children likely consisted of playing with various toys. One home of a child during the Culling of Stratholme had dolls and in the Darrowshire questline, the child ghost Pamela asks you to retrieve her doll [[Quest: Pamelaâs Doll]](wowpedia.fandom. com/wiki/Pamela%27s_Doll_(quest)). Several homes also contain stuffed dolls. After a certain age, children may have joined in on the recreational pursuits of their parents.
Visual Arts
Scarlets have a flourishing visual art scene, though it is limited in a few key areas. The large abundance of the arts, particularly paintings, may have occurred as a result of the tremendous amount of spendable wealth accrued through the Scarlet Church receiving essentially tithes or funding [Item: Give to the Church and the Light Will Provide]. Or perhaps they were salvaged from Lordaeron when there were better times. The Scarlets at the Monastery have a Gallery of Treasures which might be treasures from their Silver Hand days as well as the Crusadeâs.
Painting: There is no other kingdom with the sheer amount of unique paintings that the Scarlet Monastery alone has to its name. Scarlets shares three landscape paintings with the other human kingdoms. Portraits of Silver Hand Knights to children and various Scarlet females abound in the Scarlet Monastery halls.
Sculpture: Sculpture is another point of distinction for Scarlets. Statues are common among many other human cultures as monuments to their heroes. Stormwindâs Valley of Heroes is a memorial of five statues for the leaders of the Alliance Expedition. Stormwind also has statues of King Varian Wrynn. The Scarlet Crusade dedicated statues to their fallen heroes in the Scarlet Monastery in the Halls of Champions.
Textiles: Lordaeronians also frequently adorn their homes and public buildings with woven tapestries. These tapestries are all slight variations of a single design: a bouquet of red and white roses surrounded by a frame of vines and gnarled wood. This design most commonly is set on a pale green background. Culling of Stratholme buildings also commonly have large patterned rugs. It also mentioned that âanother weaves roughspun cloth,â [LoC] and that through a barter system would trade with other villagers who had excesses of their own resources like chickens.
Busts: Busts are seen all over Old Lordaeron such as in the top of the keep of Durnholde at Old Hillsbrad. There are also many busts in the Scarlet Monastery presumably dedicated to its Silver Hand owners before or Scarlets in the past time or present.
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