Hinterlanders

The Hinterlanders
Pronunciation
Classification
Nicknames	Hitch, Hooghlanders, Highlanders
Languages	Hitch, Common
Average Height
Average Weight
Maximum Age
Stat Bonuses	+1 Strength +1 Defense +1 Agility +0 Intelligence

Introduction

At the heart of every Hinterlander is the strong desire to be free. Having suffered under hundreds of years of foreign oppression, the Hinterlanders’ first and foremost belief is the desire to decide one's fate. This strong independent favor has influenced the more liberal-minded Hinterlanders in pursuing private property and representation in their home rule. This attitude towards the peoples of Eden has gained the Hinterlanders the reputation of being stubborn, although not arrogant, for they have lived very soberly for the greater part of their history and are not easily swayed by lavishness. In short, at the core of their existence, the people of the Hinterlands are their survivability, adaptability, and stubborn independence, for they also rule themselves as a Republic.

Through the centuries, the Hinterlanders have always inhabited the center of Eden, spawning no great empires but great people. They have raised scholars, engineers, theologians, and philosophers. They pride themselves in their stubbornness and bluntness, so they have characterized themselves predominately as merchants, artists, and hagglers. The dominant religion of the Hinterlanders is Makerism, though they aren't connected to the Church of Hadriana.

The strong desire for home rule and freedom has put the Hinterlanders in the crosshairs of greater empires. Therefore in the days of old, the tribes of the Hinterlands could only have survived by banding together in great councils. To truly appreciate the Hitch culture and history, one must understand that the pursuit of freedom has left many scars on the people of the Hinterlands, who now all but concentrate in the Highland Freestate (Hooghlandsche Vrystaet) in the north. This is where they live in exile from their ancestral lands, but they live as free men.

Appearance

Hinterlanders are tall people, standing half a foot taller than the average Attian Humans. The people of the Hinterlands have grown this tall because of the relatively healthy animal protein diet, which sustained them in the often war-torn Hinterlands, where farming offered more risk than cattle harvesting. Even in the new Highland Freestate of Raevendrecht, the main diet of Hinterlanders still consists of meat, sustaining their tall appearance. Hinterlanders often have darker hair and darker eye colors; blonde hair is seen as a rarity, though valued as a sign of beauty. In their attire, the Hinterlanders are more often seen in sober colors. Therefore, the garment is mostly black or dark blue robes with large white collars. They dress this way because Hinterlanders value modestness instead of lavishness. In the past, they were a people of bankers, traders, and merchants, their status preceding them and their black attire as honest and true business folk. A Hitch household owns various hats, as the Hinterlanders express themselves in sober colors. They do experiment with newer styles, including hats and barrettes. The most common is the broadhead, which is a broad, thick black hat with a flat cap and a belt around the headpiece. Women in the Hinterlands usually express themselves with their hairstyles and silver jewelry, as silver is seen as modest. The Hitch's modesty in clothing is subdued to hypocrisy, as the clothes the Hinterlanders wear look Sobre; they are most often made of expensive fabric. The Hinterlanders have recently added furs to their outfits, adapting to the colder climate. In addition, those individuals sympathetic to the Stadtholder family often wear an orange scarf.

Languages

The Hinterlands people speak in their traditional tongue, which is famous for its brutal pronunciation of the ‘g’ that often reminds people of demon sounds. The language known as Hitch does have some poetic phonations as it is often used in rhymes to explain fairy tales and morals. Other than Hitch, the people of the Hinterlands are also fluent in common, and some senior clergy members speak Ancient Attian when translating the Dictus.

(OOC: Hitch as a language closely resembles Dutch, some important words are explained below)

Greetings
Hitch	Common
Gegroet	Greetings
Vaarwel	Farewell
Vrienden	Friend(s)
Races
Elfen	Elf
Witte Elfen	High Elf
Groene Elfen	Wood Elf
Zwarte Elfen	Dark Elf
Dwerg	Denur
Mensen	Human(s)
Vieshuiden	Faulskins(s)
Gehoornden	Tiefling
Titles
Stadhouder	Stadtholder/ Steward
Staten Generaal	Estates General
Raadspensionaris	Prime Ministers
Gedelegeerden	Regents/ Attendees to the Estates General
Graf(in)	Count(ess)
Adel	Noble
Regent	Minister
Tovenaar	Mage
Commonly Used Words
Toveren	To Cast Magic
Handel	Trade
Verkiezingen	Elections
Student	(Older) Student
Leerling	(Young) Student
Vrijheid	Freedom
Dokter	Doctor/Medic
Pastor	Makerist Priest
Hooghland	Highland