The Wanderers Culture Q&A’s

1/ Family and Friendships

1.1/ What is a normal family unit?

There is no standard family unit among the Wanderers. Some have large families working a farmstead in the wilderness or living in mountain cabins far from towns and cities. Others travel the country in groups, forming pseudo-families—such as travelling circuses or gangs of outlaws—who look out for each other. Some choose to live apart from others, embodying the 'lone wolf' archetype, preferring solitude over company.

1.2/ Do people marry for love or other reasons? What reasons?

Traditional legal marriages are rare. When marriages occur, they are typically performed by a Wanderer religious practitioner. However, lacking official paperwork—which Wanderers generally care little for—these marriages do not hold legal weight in most states. Some Judges, however, have been known to acknowledge them.

1.3/ Are the genders treated differently?

No, all genders are treated equally, as long as individuals can pull their own weight.

1.4/ Who raises the children?

Both parents typically share child-rearing responsibilities, equally dividing tasks and passing on knowledge. In larger Wanderer families, other members often help out, but it's generally believed that those bringing a life into the world should look after it.

2/ Social Rules

2.1/ What is a gesture of respect (bowing, saluting)?

An upward nod of the head, which also serves as a greeting that shows trust by briefly exposing the neck.

2.2/ What is considered a rude gesture?

'Shredding'—symbolically wishing someone harm. This gesture starts with a balled fist, then quickly extends the fingers to show the back of the hand. Moving the arm forward, as if 'throwing' the gesture at a person, adds extra gravitas. The origin of this gesture is uncertain, but it has become widely recognised among Wanderers.

2.3/ How do they curse? Gods? Body parts?

They reference the Divine and Profane with phrases like: "For Divine's sake," "For the love of the Divine," "Profane take you," etc.

2.4/ What topics of conversation are controversial?

Discussions about the benefits of 'city living' or relinquishing freedoms. Taxes and government are particularly sensitive topics.

2.5/ Which topics of conversation are safe?

Conversations typically revolve around hunting and gathering, as well as gossip from the wider world. Generally, topics are quite varied.

2.6/ What constitutes a social faux pas?

Stealing someone's food or tools. Taking a person's means to feed or protect themselves and their family is considered as severe as causing them harm.

2.7/ Do people live in happiness or fear?

Wanderers lead hard lives but are generally happy, valuing the freedom that comes with their hardships.

2.8/ Does the culture value strength or compassion more highly?

While they do value compassion, if a choice arises between their family's survival or another's, they will choose their own. The strength to make hard choices like this leads Wanderers to value strength over compassion.

2.9/ Does the culture value wealth or generosity more highly?

Wealth is relative; those in the hills of Wheatstan might care little for money but are rich in meat and fur from local wildlife. Carnival folk or bandits might value money above all else. Wanderers can be generous with whatever they consider valuable but will always ensure they are well-situated first, often citing that 'charity starts at home.' However, even though being generous is a way of showing 'wealth,' it is not considered insulting to offer or demeaning to accept.

3/ Food

3.1/ What does a feast look like?

A few dishes of good food with the possibility of eating until one's stomach hurts.

3.2/ What does a basic pauper’s meal look like?

The last of one's supplies or winter stores—food prepared to sustain life rather than for taste.

3.3/ Do people mostly eat meat, fish or vegetables?

They have a varied diet, entirely dependent on their surroundings.

3.4/ Do people eat plain or heavily flavoured food?

Wanderers try to make their food as flavourful as possible, but this depends on available resources.

3.5/ Do people eat together or separately?

This varies among individual Wanderers; each family or group has its own customs.

3.6/ Do people eat in small or large groups?

Typically, meals are 'family' affairs. Community gatherings are rare and usually reserved for special occasions like weddings.

3.7/ What utensils do people use to eat?

Knives, forks, and spoons. Each adult has their own set.

3.8/ Are there many restaurants? Who goes to them?

Wanderers do not have their own restaurants, but some travelling Wanderers might visit one or set up a food stall.

3.9/ Are there street food sellers?

Not within their communities, but they might sell items on the streets of towns and cities they pass through.

3.10/ What do people drink?

Whatever they can obtain or make. 'Moonshine' (also known as 'shine,' 'white lightning,' 'fire water,' 'mountain dew,' 'hooch,' etc.)—distilled alcohol—is a particular favourite among Wanderers (and the settled folk they sell it to). 'Moonshiners' are very secretive about their shine, both the recipe and the production location, to avoid legal entanglements.

3.11/ Is the water generally clean enough to drink?

This depends entirely on location, but Wanderers often seek out fresh water sources.

3.12/ Are some foods poisonous to certain people?

No, but careful attention needs to be paid if foraging.

3.13/ What are the tables like? Shape? High or low?

Simple rectangular tables—nothing fancy, always practical, lacking the finery of city folk.

4/ Art

4.1/ What forms of art are there?

They might value the story accompanying an item, but not necessarily the item itself. Their clothes might have minimal patterning, and while not considered 'art,' these patterns often hold personal or familial significance.

4.2/ Do people value art?

Wanderer art is their stories; 'affording' does not really apply

4.3/ Can everyone afford art, or only the wealthy?

Wanderers art is their stories, ‘affording’ does not really come into it.

4.4/ What subjects does art concern itself with?

Their stories and associated items can cover anything—from fairy tales to the exploits of distant relatives. These narratives can be happy, cautionary, sad, or even scary.

5/ Architecture

5.1/ What are the cities like, if any?

There are none. A few families might live 'close to each other,' but in reality, this could mean miles apart. There are a few notable camps that are quite sizable, but they are far from cities.

5.2/ What are the houses like?

These can vary from tents to caravans and even log cabins.

5.3/ Is architecture indulgent or functional?

Functional first and foremost; no space is wasted.

6/ Clothing & Fashion

6.1/ What do people wear?

Simple, functional clothing. Hats and head coverings are typically worn. Some Wanderer professions (e.g., carnival performers, travelling salespeople) might require flashy or finer clothing, but even then, this would not be their daily attire. Clothing is often durable and suited to the environment, reflecting the practical nature of Wanderer life.

6.2/ What is in fashion this year?

There is no set fashion

6.3/ What was in fashion last year?

There is no set fashion

7/ Entertainment, Celebrations and Festivals

7.1/ Is there theatre? Is it common or reserved for the wealthy?

Wanderers might be part of travelling shows, but generally, theatre is not commonly available to most Wanderers.

7.2/ What’s the most popular form of entertainment?

Sharing stories and music with friends and family, usually accompanied by moonshine and a bit of food.

7.3/ What are the major festivals?

There are no set religious festivals for The Wanderers. More details on religion of The Wanderers can be found here: Religion of The Wanderers

7.4/ Describe a wedding.

Weddings are small affairs, typically involving only close friends and family, performed by a religious practitioner. They are always accompanied by music, stories, food, and the almost obligatory moonshine. Parents of the newlyweds give practical gifts to help set the couple up in their new life together; good cast iron cookware is highly prized and sometimes passed down through generations. Guests often bring food and drinks for the celebration afterwards.

7.5/ Describe a funeral.

A funeral is held only if there is a body or part thereof, with Wanderers holding to the saying, "If there ain't no body, there ain't no death; and if there ain't no death, there ain't no funeral." Religious practitioners perform the necessary rites but ensure the process is not drawn out. Wanderers wish to complete the unpleasant part of funerals as quickly as is respectful, so they can move on to the wake, which shares many similarities with their wedding celebrations—stories, food, music, etc. Wanderers prefer to dwell on happy memories rather than their grief.

7.6/ What are special celebratory foods?

Venison is common to celebrate along with wild mushrooms.

7.7/ What sort of clothes do people wear on special occasions?

They wear their day-to-day clothes but make an effort to clean up a bit.