#╰ * it aint easy growing up in world war iii : the boltons ⧽

[northernglorie]

House Bolton: History & Current Culture

House: Bolton

Hold: The Dreadfort

Sworn to: House Stark of Winterfell

Houses sworn: Oak and Scots

Ruling Noble: Lady Glorie Stark (nee Bolton)

Original Name: The Camintierra, or Camin (kah-MEEN-tee-AIR-uh, or kah-MEEN)

Societal Structure: Tribe, formal House

Religion: Old Gods of the Forest; Tierra Madre, the belief that departed ancestors make up the world around them and act as servants of Mother Earth's will. Heavy themes of reincarnation are present and honored.

*ooc note: longer details can be found under the cut ♡

Brief History

Long before the creation of House Bolton and their stronghold, even before the invasion of the first men, stood a proud tribe of people who lived harmoniously with the Children of the Forest. The Camintierra, or Camin, believe their origins to lie under the earth and tales passed down by generations of their ancestors emerging from their cavernous tunnels after volcanic devastation are an integral part of their culture. So much so that said caverns are considered sacred ground, and offerings are left by members of the tribe in exchange for guidance, wisdom, and blessings.They are located on either side of the location now known as the Dreadfort, one facing northwest in the heart of the Lonely Hills, and the other sits southeast about a mile walk after crossing Weeping Waters. Extent of the land they settled stretched from the current Sheepshead Hills, Last River and down to White Knife.

For thousands of years, the tribe endured invasion, war and constant assimilation and a detailed timeline can be found within scrolls tucked away in the dungeons of the Dreadfort. Transition from tribe to House Bolton gave way to the rise of a great chief, who was the driving force behind the formation of the Red Kings. Conquest was ultimately unsuccessful, seeing the loss of not only they’re lives, but those of their supporters in Wolf’s Den. They were forced to bend the knee twice and abandon their occupations outside of the Lonely Hills and surrounding, having only the center of their ancestral lands to keep for their own. They were also made to abandon some cultural practices, such as the flaying of their enemies, though it was said to have been practiced once in public by Belthasar Bolton and then in secret within the confines of their hold.

Some traditions have been kept and modernized, including the speaking of their native tongue alongside the common, Oracion de la Noche, and their wedding ceremonies. Lords hold unofficial titles of Chiefs in the community and have varied participation in kept traditions.

Customs

Birth: The coming of life into the tribe is considered the most sacred of events. When expectant mothers began to show, they were carried by the men in her family to the Chief, who blessed the growing stomach with oil anointed by the shamans and then carried back to rest for the duration of her pregnancy. She was doted on by female members of her family and was not expected to contribute to Oracion offerings or wedding precession journeys by foot. When time for the birth came, her mother or closest maternal figure is the one to deliver and the men of both families wait outside of their home with gifts until the first cry is heard. Father is then ushered in to bond with wife and babe and are allowed a week to spend without obligation for contribution. Close families will hunt and provide for them. Once the bonding time has expired, the communities come the heart of town for a naming celebration, where the child is anointed outside of the womb, given a name and officially welcomed to the tribe.

House Bolton keeps few of these traditions alive today. The mother is no longer carried to the Chief, but visited in home by Ruling Lord or Lady for anointing of the womb. She’s also exempt from contribution, but allowed to attend ceremonies if accompanied. Births are overseen by shamans, but can still be performed by a maternal figure. Parents and child are allotted the same week of bonding time, though its usually much shorter and the child is still anointed by a shaman when named. The initial celebration is limited to the ruling family, and townsfolk still hold small feasts of their own in honor of the new addition when they receive word.

Marriages: In the days of the old land, power was not measured by title. It was proven by physical strength and wedding customs highlighted this way of life. Father of the bride-to-be would chop a large tree down to the stump and cut a section off in preparation. The entire community would then begin the journey to the wooded area now known as Karhold. Once they reached a marked off point, the groom-to-be would attempt to carry this log the rest of the way in a show of strength. If he succeeded, he was fit to be her husband. The bride also had to participate by simply lifting the log from the ground when their destination was reached. If she did, then she was meant to be his wife. If either failed, the community had to offer their own single children until a match was made so that the ceremony would not end in vain. This wasn’t the conclusion to the precessions. Bride and groom were left in the woods for a singular journey home, as opposed to joining the rest of the community as they traveled home. This was meant to show their willingness to provide for each other in the riskiest of situations, and when they arrived together they were meant with a home built by their families and a feast in their honor. Marriages were initiated at the age of 14, usually by a partner close in age.

Wedding ceremonies are the most evolved tradition of them all, with the ruling family hardly having any participation in that of lowborn townsfolk. Couple is still expected to have a precession, but it’s limited to their inner circle of family and friends. The location has changed to the ancestors' cavern within the Lonely Hills with the shrinking of their borders, a much shorter journey which is allowed to be made by horse or foot. Tradition of lifting the log is simplified to simple, handmade totems which are carried along the journey and presented to bride and groom upon arrival to the sacred cavern. Once favor is shown, they’re blessed by an accompanying shaman and given the choice to leave with the precession or participate in the journey of survival that their ancestors did. Families can either build the home prior to their marriage, since there’s less chance of a failed ceremony or house the newlywed couple is until their own home can be built. A celebration is thrown by the grooms family and all are welcomed to give well wishes.

Death is a solemn time for most, but the Camin saw it as the beginning of a new life. Heavy believers in reincarnation, the body of the deceased was anointed by a shaman before the adorning began. Those closest to them would gather all things of importance, along with effigies of what they wished to come back as in the next life and place them on a pyre. Once completed, the pyre was carried to the cavern located by the Weeping Waters by mourners, who sang songs to gods begging for their loved ones' wish to be granted. If the pyre burned a deep red, the gods have heard their plea. If it burned bright blue, the deceased has wrongdoings left that never saw justice and they were.reincarnated into a tool of learning associated with whatever indiscretion they left unchecked. The mourning family was then guided back home, with the Chief and his family behind them in support and exempt from contribution for a week of mourning.

Death is still held in this regard today. The ritual is carried out, with the exception of the ruling lord or ladies presence and the same signifiers are used to know where the deceased spirits lie with the gods. They are also exempt from contribution or tax at this time.

Traditional Festivals & Practices

Oracion de la Noche- The Night Prayer, when translated to the common tongue. During the Long Night the Chief would collect offerings from the members whether it be food, drink, totem, or warm clothing in the center of their main settlement. After all has been collected, it’s walked by the entire tribe to the outskirts of their lands for non-members in goodwill. Acts of service are smiled upon by their gods, according to retellings, and they often end their journey back with a community meal and song. All Oracion offerings act as either a ticket to the tribe or to keep the impending threat of the Others at bay. Should a Child or man show up with a familiar offering in hand, they’re taken in by the family who contributed it.

Current observations limit the journey they take and the offerings they give. Offerings after their Rebellion were taken to the caverns instead and twice a year, during both Summer and Winter Solstice they carry their gifts of personal, hand-carved totems to a place of the shamans choosing. Ruling Lord or Lady leads the people in favor of a Chief and participates in the community gathering afterwards.

Camintierra Games- In an effort to preserve what little culture they were allowed after the Rebellion of the Red Knights, son of former lord Inacio Bolton put into place a tournament to bring morale back to a beatdown people. Men would gather into teams of varying sizes and train for a week leading up the the tourney. Categories of hunting and fighting amongst others were the most highly regarded and when time came, the men would travel to the Lonely Hills to compete with each other while women stayed behind to pass their knowledge of cooking and preparation of cachaca (a drink made from potatoes and fruits similar to vodka). When the men arrived, the Chief would bless the winners' families with gifts and join everyone in a celebratory feast.

The games are still a highlight of the holds summer. It’s one of the few traditions the ruling family has heavy participation in, but the games have been moved to surround the Dreadfort in light of the realms ongoing struggles. They are also opened to non-natives and people of different cultures are encouraged to join if they so happen to visit in the duration of the games.

Despellado- Flaying, when translated to common tongue. It was believed that skinning enemies at the heart of the settlement and making the journey to sacrifice it to the ancestors' caverns would bring luck in war to the tribe. The practice continued long after their assimilation to the First Men and gave birth to the later legends of Boltons flaying their enemies. The last known flaying to occur publicly was by Belthasar Bolton. Soon after they were unsuccessful in yet another rebellion and bent the knee to the Starks, abandoning the practice as a condition of their fealty. It’s whispered that flaying is done in secret to this day, but has not been confirmed.