The Battlebound are the ancient residents of Sekisvamp, which they themselves named after their chosen deity, Sekheimos.
History[]
Pre-Calamity[]
A long time ago, just as the Lineage era began, Boonville became quite prosperous due to extended wealth of the resident folk. The town became a center for Sekheimos worship, and the primitive tribes of Sekheimos that fed off the wilderness began to conglomerate themselves closer to the town. However, finding no interest in the actual town or it's affairs proper, they somehow joined togethered and settled in the Sekisvamp (which they themselves named).
These people were the first unified Battlebound, and their culture began to develop by unifying many ancient tribal beliefs of Sekheimos and tribal culture into something more coherent. The various tongues spread throughout also eventually unified into one tongue as well, which was almost the same as the common tongue, though much harsher in it's enunciations and word structure.
As their culture grew, a settlement of huts and cottages grew within the swamplands, and in the center of that swamp was the great meadhall Heimholl, which was the Battlebound's cultural center and place of worship. This hall lasted so very long, that it is said it may have existed before the Lineage era itself, and met it's original end just before the Calamity.
After some time, the unified Battlebound had their first crowned Battlechief by divine right, Ornolf the Mighty. His rule lasted much longer than any other Battlechief after him, and the laws and customs he set forth were what essentially defined the Battlebound culture from their on out.
During the great holy wars that defined the Calamity, the Battlebound were considered some of the, if not the, most effective and ferocious warriors on the battlefield, led at that time by Gretae the Battlemaiden and her son, Greth. The Battlebound, however, felt betrayal and great loss by their neighbors from Boonville in a surprise attack. The outcome of the actual fight has long since been lost, but regardless, it marked the end of Battlebound culture in this time.
Post-Calamity[]
During the new era of redemption and the war for the Artefact, the only Battlebound to be reborn was the son of Gretae, Greth. Not long after his arrival he made it his mission to revive his culture and customs, and set out by first rebuilding Heimholl, and now looks for brothers in arms to join the Battlebound once more.
Culture[]
Code of Honor[]
Battlebound culture defines a very strict code of honor, though not all Battlebound have been known to adhere to it (such as Yol the Menace). Though most of the ways can be simply summed up into acting with honor on the battlefield, there are specific views which are outlined below.
Warbrothers[]
If two warriors engage in combat, one is a Battlebound, and the other is not, then this is considered a contest, regardless of the situation at hand. If the Battlebound loses, but is spared by his foe, then the two become warbrothers, who are bound by the honor of battle. When a warbrother is named, the Battlebound usually gives him a secondary Battlebound name, and this person is considered as kin. There is little a Battlebound would not do for a warbrother.
It should be noted though, that because of the excessive increase of large scale warfare in times before the Calamity, this facet changed, as assigning warbrothers was only done if a Battlebound felt fondness for the one who defeated them, instead of a mandatory honor.
Magic and the Aether[]
Battlebound have no problem with magic in it's principal, but they are not fond of magic on the battlefield. It is battlebound belief that Sekheimos is the only one allowed to directly manipulate the Aether for use of battle, and that no man should be able to manipulate the foundations of creation into destructive forces, for this is corrupting the fabrics of reality, which is dishonorable.
Battlebound strictly believe that men should fight each other with steel and arms, and nothing more. Magic used for other purposes is considered fine.
Laying Siege[]
Battlebound never lay siege to another encampment unless it is of the most vital strategic requirements, and never simply for hedonistic gain. Battlebound, after all, prefer to live simple lives outside of battle, so plundering was simply not done. During a siege, the best course of action to spare as many lives of the enemy as possible was the one usually first taken into consideration and acted out.
However, the Battlebound were NOT opposed to surprise assaults, for the belief was laid that siege could be laid at any time, and that one should always be prepared. Laxing on this mindset proved to be their undoing near the end of the Calamity.
Prisoners of War[]
When fellow warriors were defeated in battle, but their lives spared, they were usually set free. However, if they had to be taken hostage for strategic purposes or for personal safety, Battlebound would treat their captives with the utmost respect and decency. Captives were never slain unless deemed absolutely necessary, and when in captivity, they were treated as honored guests, rather than foes.
Legend has it that one set of prisoners during the Calamity campaign enjoyed the hospitality of their Battlebound captors so well that they actually complained when released back into custody of their lord.
Way of Life[]
Most Battlebound preferred a simple lifestyle, though it was not deemed mandatory by any means. Houses were simple huts or cottages, mostly wood and stonework. Outside of battle, Battlebound would be farmers, woodsmen, carpenters, and things such as this. They would often even extend their services to the people of Boonville, usually for little pay, as Battlebound were not very interested in monetary gain outside of necessity. Battlebound were also notoriously polite to strangers, noted by many for their willingness to share drinks and laugh heartily.
In battle, the Battlebound found their true calling. They were ferocious, skilled and fearful warriors to behold. There was little they could not lay waste to without effort. To die in battle was the greatest honor one could achieve, and if you were a great hero in life who died in battle, you were awarded passage to Holmgard.
Holmgard and the Afterlife[]
Holmdgard was the Battlebound version of heaven, in a way. Holmgard was said to be a great extension of Heimholl in the heavens, where Sekheimos himself spent his leisure, thus only the greatest warriors who died in battle were permitted entrance. These great warriors spent the rest of eternity in the meadhall fighting, drinking, and living comfortably.
If you died in battle, but did not achieve the status necessary to enter Holmgard, you were returned to the Aether, and then reborn as another Battlebound in life.
If you died of causes that did not relate to battle, then you returned to the Aether and reborn as a wolf. (See Warwolves below)
Those who acted dishonorably in life were cursed to live the rest of their existence, reborn as something mundane, like a rock or a tree. The belief that trees themselves were mundane was probably an ancient Battlebound jab at Vix.
Warwolves[]
The Battlebound were very respectful of nature, but did not particularly revere it by any means. The exception to this were wolves, or 'wulfen', pronounced with a hard Vee sound. Wolves were considered sacred, especially after the tale of Hrolf. When adopted as companions, they were referred to as Warwolves (Warwulfen), or sometimes alternatively, Wardogs (this is a more modern title).
When adopted, warwolves are not considered pets by any means, but in fact brothers. They are revered just as much as any human, and are considered full-fledged Battlebound in their own right. In fact, all wolves are believed to be reborn Battlebound brethren, and thus treated with the same amount of respect.
If a warwolf dies courageously in battle, it is believed he is reborn in the Aether as a human Battlebound once again. Sometimes though, if a warwolf is particularly honorable and great in his life, and dies heroically, it is believed they are permitted directly into Holmgard in their current state as the wolves of the hall alongside Sekheimos, to which their is little greater honor.