Description of Bretony: Part 1 - Introduction and Breton Ideologies (Repost from Reddit)
Part 1: Introduction and Breton Ideologies
by Debentien Massilde-Joulais
3E 406, Evermore, the Illuminated University of King Edrick
Bretons are characterized by outsiders as the result of the intermingling between the local Nedic people and the Direnni Elves. Even the name of Breton derives from the word beratu meaning half and another common word often used is Manmer. Often seen as fickle, flamboyant and prone to bickering, but also as great mages, knights, intellectuals and merchants. Bretic intrigue can put Cyrodiil shame and compete with Morrowind. While this is true, this isn’t the whole picture.
Unlike other people in Tamriel Bretons have always been divided, with language being the only aspect that truly unifies us. A mage in Daggerfall acts differently than one in Northpoint, a knight in Wayrest has different morals than one in Jehanna, a merchant in Evermore is interested in different avenues than one in Camlorn. The main cultural and religious divides among the Bretons lies in 4 distinct ideologies: Merophilic, Alessophilic, Nordophilic and Wilder. Though it should be mentioned that whilst they are divided into 4 ideologies, in reality there are differences inside this ideologies too as each kingdom, fiefdom, village maybe even household and persons take their own interpretation of them how ever they see fit.
The Merophilic Bretons are those who emphasis their Elven and Direnni ancestry, sometimes to the detriment of their human ancestry though that isn’t common. They are the most critical of the Empire believing that no foreigners should rule over them. Historically they have fought for the Direnni against the Alessians and had to be brought in by force in the Empire under Hestra and later Reman and Tiber. They respect knowledge and magic over all aspects of life, some live secluded away in towers scattered around the province, seeking to emulate their Direnni ancestors.
You can find Merophilic Bretons in Ravenia, the eastern shores of Lesser Bretony*, Dellesia up to lake Gellen* in the north and Lacen* and Veregille* rivers in the East, the Bjoulsae basin and most of the Western Reach*. The most important cities are: Daggerfall, Anticlere, Dwynnen, Alcaire, Menevia, Evermore, Dunkarn, Caerdan, Jehanna, Dunlain, Farrun, Karthgran. Though it should be mention that all of these regions are also home to large Alessophilic, Nordophilic and Wilder minorities.
In terms of pantheon structure** they worship Magnus, Phynaster, Auri-el, Jephre, Mara, Reymon Ebonarm, Kynareth, Arkay, Stendarr, Julianos, Zenithar, Dibella and Meridia. The head of the pantheon is Magnus. Along with Magnus the other members of the so called Magical Triad, Phynaster and Julianos, are also important with each being associated with different types of mages Magnus with the great wizards of legends, Phynaster with hedge wizards and great masters of magic and Julianos with novices and apprentices. Though that isn’t their full domain. Magnus also takes a role more similar of Imperial Akatosh than his Altmeri counterpart being associated with the heavens and also with time. Phynaster is also a god of exploration, sailors and the sea a memory of him leading the Direnni to Balfiera. Julianos is very much a good of the masses with him sometimes having a role more similar of Dibella or Zenithar, he is the one that binds contracts, he is the teacher of magic to young ones and he is a keeper of old knowledge. Auri-el is a god of aristocracy and ruling, whilst Meridia is the redeeming knight and patron of questing knights.
The Alessophilic Bretons are those who adopted Imperial cults and care not for for their ancestry, they are perfectly comfortable as a mix of man and mer. Unlike the Nordophilic and Merophilic Bretons they care for the present and the future and not the past. They are the most favorable to the Empire, being the ones who welcomed Hestra, Reman and Tiber. During the Alessian invasion of the Hegemony they were divided either helping the Hegemony or the invaders. They very much respect wealth more than anything, some call them worshipers of money rather than the gods. Alessophilic Bretons also form the majority of the Bretic diaspora.
You can find Alessophilic Bretons in Masconia, Wrothgar*, the western shores of Lesser Bretony*, the Viridian basin, Cambray, the Systres and also as minorities all over the province. The most important cities are: Wayrest, Gauvadon, Northmoor, Daenia, Camlorn, Glenpoint, Farwatch, Kambria, Bangkorai, Ardem.
In terms of pantheon structure Alessophilism is close to a perfect copy of the Imperial pantheon, with some additions from local or elven gods. Just like in the Imperial pantheon Akatosh is the head god. The gods of the pantheon** are Akatosh, Mara, Kynareth, Dibella, Zenithar, Julianos, Stendarr, Arkay, Talos, Auri-el, Magnus, Phynaster, Jephre and Reymon Ebonarm. Unlike their merophilic or nordophilic brothers they have deep ties to the Imperial cults of Akatosh, Zenithar and Talos adopting them without any trouble. This has resulted in a bit of a divide between the Chantry of Akatosh and the Temple of Auri-el over the years as Akatosh in his role as dragon god of time and king of the gods has resulted in the cult of Auri-el loosing all of it’s power over the masses remaining just a cult of the nobility. A similar conflict happened between the Cult of Talos and the Anvil of Ebonarm, but that resulted more in a stalemate between the too and less in a complete victory for the Imperial cult like with Akatosh and Auri-el. Most Alessophilic myths are either complicated due to their syncretism with the Imperial cults or direct copies of Cyrodiilic ones.
The Nordophilic Bretons are those who claim descent from the Nords of the first Nordic Empire and the local Bretons. They are the most anti-elven of all Bretons and emphasis their human ancestry over their Elven one. Historically they founded the Pale Order and whilst they joined against the Alessians due to their loyalty to the Nords they also hated the Hegemony and were the first to break away. They are the best fighters among the Bretons and they respect honor and martial prowess. They are also renowned sailors, fishermen and whalers. In the 2nd era the kings of Western Skyrim even settled some in Haafingar due to a rise in the need of whale blubber.
You can find Nordophilic Bretons in Rivenspire and as minorities in Wrothgar*, Western Reach*, Cambray, Lesser Bretony*, Haafingar, the Eastern Reach and Craglorn. The most important cities are Shornhelm, Northpoint, White Haven, Crestshade, Markwasten, Torrecan, Oldgate, Normar, Helkarth and Raven Spring.
Their pantheon is a mix of the Nordic and local Bretic one, to them the head of the pantheon is Kynareth. The gods of the pantheon** are Kynareth, Arkay, Mara, Dibella, Julianos, Stendarr, Talos, Tsun, Shorn, Phynaster and Jephre. Nordophilic Kynareth is more similar to Nordic Kyne than she is to Imperial Kynareth, she is vengeful, stern, but she is also caring, this is due to her role as both a sea and wind goddess to the them. Shorn is an interesting concept as he represents both the per-corruption version of Sheor and his soul which is kept safe by Kynareth. This is due to them needing to separate Sheor which just like any Bretons they detest from a heroic Shor of the Nords thus resulting in the creation of Shorn. The cult of Akatosh and Zenithar also have little to no impact on them, Zenithar’s role being taken by Dibella and Julianos, while Akatosh’s is taken by Shorn, Arkay or Kynareth. Tsun is a carry over from the Nordic pantheon, he replaced the worship of the Bretic Reymon Ebonarm and unlike the Anvil his temple is quite friendly to the Cult of Talos. Phynaster here is more a sea god rather than mage and he is also seen as mostly human by Nordophilics.
The Wilder Bretons are the Bretons who lived on the outskirts of society be them in rural areas or wilder regions such as the plains of the Bjoulsae or the moorlands of Lesser Bretony*. They are less a cohesive group, but more a collection of smaller groups such as the druids, wyrds, Bjoulsae Horsemen, Selensii of the Alik’r and many smaller ones.
The Druids and the Wyrds are quite similar, they are the inheritors of ancient Nedic traditions, they mostly keep to themselves and are isolated from the rest of Bretic society. They can be friendly, neutral or down right hostile to outsiders depending on the circle. The main difference between the druids and the wyrds are the fact that the Wyrds are made out of only female members, where as the druids are not. They worship Jephre, nature, wind and water spirits, Daedric Princes such as Hircine, local spirits, constellations and many more beings.
Bjoulsae Horsemen or River Horse Bretons live in the Bjoulsae Basin, Bangkorai and some tribes reach far south into Hammerfell. They are nomadic group that diverged from the Druids centuries before the Direnni Hegemony even formed. They are more open to outsiders than some Druidic or Wyrd circles, though they are still distrusting. They hate the Reachfolk and the Nords due to centuries of conflicts. Their whole society is centered around the Bjoulsae river and the Viridian lake. The only permanent settlement of theirs is Ain Kolur which now functions as the meeting place of all clans and home to the high priest of the Bjoulsae. Their pantheon is completely distinct from the Bretic one though some deities are similar. The head of their pantheon is the “Great Swallow who Sings”, he is generally attributed to Arkay.
The Selensii are very unknown even in High Rock and Hammerfell, they are the descendants of the Bretons who lived in northern Hammerfell prior to the Ra Gada invasion. They either live in Redguard cities and adopted either the Yoku pantheon, the Imperial one or a mix of the two and live as second class citizens or in the wilds of the Alik’r isolated from the rest of the world and keeping to old traditions. It should be kept in mind that the Selensii are distinct from the Redgaurd Alik’r nomads, though the two groups are somewhat cordial. The name is thought to have come from Salas En one of the Direnni successor states in Hammerfell. The Redguard word for them is Wekhossi, though its etymology is unknown. Their pantheon** is only made out of 4 gods: Mara, which is the head of the pantheon, Magnus, Reymon Ebonarm and Arkay.
Mentions:
Lesser Bretony* = Glenumbra from ESO
Lake Gellen* = the lake around Alcaire
Lacen River* = the river that flows in the Iliac, it starts from lake Gellen
Veregille River* = river that flows in the Iliac, the city of Menevia lies on it
Western Reach* = Wrothgar from ESO
Wrothgar* = Northern Stormhaven from ESO, the lands south of the Wrothgarian mountains
Pantheon** = the names are standard Imperial, Elven or Nordic ones rather than local Bretic names