Mallanë

Clan Mallanë are the remnants of the original clan of the north and are now all but Laurë in the upper castes. The Mallanë had bright hair and pinkish-pale flesh. But they were much taller and wiry than the Laurë and wore well trimmed facial hair. The Mallanë were called the lions of the north though because of their manes of golden hair.

The Mallanë were fierce aristocrat-warriors who followed in the Palatine’s footsteps. The Mallanë were the primary rivals of the Laurë clans. The Mallanë were well established by the time of the Saint-Emperor, dwelling in villages protected by fortresses from the Rona to the north, the Laurë and the Reliné to the south, the Arthadë to the west, and Lenorë to the east. The Mallanë Reya balanced his forces, expanding on these fronts while defending on the others. More often than not, the Reya would end up losing all his territory.

Then came the Saint-Emperor, with his phalanxes and cavalry. The Mallanë fell and became all Laurëan in culture. But over the last two centuries, the Laurë of Mallanë have come to be less and less like the Laurë of the homeland. They have become populists and the Mallanë lower castes have become fiercely loyal to their Reyan, who walk among them and fight in battle with them. Sadly, the Mallanë clan is now shattered among many competing clans. But the last great Mallanë Reya, Amellen, is still talked about with a quiet reverence.

The Mallanë attitudes towards sexuality are very Laurë but their attitude towards gender roles is very different. Women are granted the same inheritance rights as men and rule on their own accord if unmarried. However, once married, women are expected to be submissive and allow their husbands to rule.

The Mallanë wear hip length shirts with vests or tabards, a cloak over their shoulder, and wear linen hose on their legs. This style of clothing is pretty universal, changing only in decoration across social strata. The High Lords wear patterns of gold and silver thread on their tabards and precious gems on their cloak pins. Women wear surcoats over form-fitting long dresses.