Independence, cunning, bravado and infamy are not just pretty words. “The only way to fail is to give up” is almost a national motto. Above all, the Hammerstadt are incredibly resourceful people, and they tend to look for opportunities in all things. Government and international relations aside, they are doers and fixers and the majority expend their efforts on turning any situation to their advantage. Style and flair are seen as hugely important to this nation as its where they express their personality and individuality, but if you must be no one, be the very best at it. Making a name for yourself and bringing notoriety to your Coterie and Syndicate is well rewarded.
As part of their cultural identity citizens of Hammerstadt use physical language as well as verbal. This has become a necessity when travelling and trading with Nations whose moral or religious values may come into conflict with their own. There are a few universally recognised signs used throughout Hammerstadt, but each Coterie has their own sign language, usually a few symbols or gestures, to communicate among themselves in times where spoken language may not be appropriate, or may damage a deal. A sign of truly trusting someone and welcoming them into the fold is the sharing of this language.
Located in Corvolis, the Shadow Market operates in an enchanted zone, and is guarded by the city’s “Scrags”, or Citizens Watch. Scrags are volunteers, often young up and coming talent from Coteries who are licensed by the Syndicates to “deal” with any public upsets before they become riots. The Shadow Market is an openly known and respected place of trade, however no coin changes hands here, only barter. It’s seen as an insult to offer something as common as a coin for objects acquired by or made by skilled hands in this place. The strangest novelties from afar and mysterious artefacts dredged up from Westwyk are often bartered here, as well as more nefarious items. The Scrags – with their mixture of loyalties between the Syndica – ensure there is a degree of policing over what in many places would otherwise become a criminal underworld.
OC Note – Nothing in the shadow market is sold that breaks our conduct policy and references to such will be viewed as a breach of that policy.
Riots were once frequent, but as times have changed, a system has been put in place to publicly deal with conflict resolution. Loyalties to Coteries, schools, temples, professions, even popular sporting teams can and have resulted in mass brawls. Healthy rivalry is often seasoned with violence, physical or otherwise. Riots are now handled swiftly and indiscriminately to keep the peace by Scrags, or when the need arises, the Court of Daggers. Its main Guild Hall in Zweiburg is next door to the old Zweiburg Castle barracks which is the centre of training in armed combat, and where the Mercenary Companies lead the city in defence in times of need.
Local Pastimes
Often cunning wordsmiths, nothing brings more joy than some banter and chat. Citizens love a good natter, and most issues are resolved over a drink and a few laughs. If you can talk your way out of a confrontation, you’re seen as resourceful and reliable – a good person to know when dealing with other nations, or during business discussions. For this reason most Coteries are led by their Speaker, who is chosen for their ability to negotiate.
When talking doesn’t solve the problems, the Rispetto Way plays a massive part in the peacekeeping of the Nation. Proxy smaller symbolic areas are often set aside while on campaign or travelling to act as a space for sanctioned conflict resolution.
When at home in Hammerstadt, the Rispetto Way is used as a neutral ground where groups can safely fight it out when talking is no longer an option. The bridge has become a tourist and entertainment attraction, with an almost constant stream of challengers, and those who have allegedly been wronged, duelling it out.
It is very entertaining – so much so that shops and vendors have opened lining both sides of the Rispetto Way to sell all kinds of sweetmeats and souvenirs. Locals and tourists alike can often buy a spot on the roof of various buildings to watch the proceedings.
For wealthy citizens or those not inclined towards violence, freelance fighters can be hired to represent their interests. Their money is just as strong as their sword in many cases.
Alternatively a number of semi-professional athletes known as “Breakers” can be hired to play a symbolic game of the nationally followed sport – Breaker Ball. Some Breaker teams have been around for hundreds of years, their members changing regularly due to age or injury. They are treated like local celebrities. Younger teams can find fame and infamy, but often need to climb the score board before they can get free drinks like their more established rivals. The most famous of these five teams are sponsored by the five syndicates and were originally formed as a way of keeping the five mercenary companies of Zweihanders out of trouble when on campaign, so riots would not break out, outside the confines of the city and its law and order.
Once a conflict has been fought over it can not be fought over again. The outcome is accepted, and both parties must move on. This doesn’t stop people from challenging others over seemingly unrelated issues later in time just to try and get their own back. When there is no brawling to watch, local entertainers and artisans will often put on shows, displays of their work, or hold bardic sing-alongs. A captive audience is often a paying one.
Tattoo Culture
One of the cultural elements of Hammerstadt that is notable to all who visit the city is the sheer variety and quantity of tattoos that adorn the citizens, young and old. At a minimum, these denote Syndicate membership – the Quenchers, Ringelnatters, Wheatsheafs, Magpies and Crossed Keys, their symbols drawn in a hundred different ways. On top of this, Coteries will often have a shared symbol or design, and various other alliances are indicated with the use of Oath Ink. Oathweavers are brought in to oversee these agreements, and tattoo those who swear to the agreement or contract with magically infused ink, which fades once the terms of the agreement are complete. Some Oaths are for life. Some tattoos are cut off as punishment.
Cotery and Syndicate banners are displayed openly. As well as the prominent tattoos, members will sometimes carry a small fabric token on them to indicate their loyalty. Banners and tattoos are used to denote the different areas of trade as well. The Harrow Street Bakers for example have a tattoo and a banner of two multigrain sourdough baguettes crossed under an all butter croissant.
Statements and Symbols
In the event of their death a member will have a pension paid to the relative of their choice, and their token will be sent back to their family. There is a tradition that the token given to a relative can be used as a one-time entry to their deceased relative’s Coterie, provided that person is willing to start out as an apprentice and work for their keep. The bartering of tokens is common, if a relation’s occupation was not one that suits the holder of their token.
Statement Banners are also widely used. Large flags bearing slogans or political statements fly next to Cotery standards. If they believe something, they want the world to know it. People walking past a house should know who they’re voting for, how they feel about the recent tax increase, and why they put the jam first and cream second.
These banners are often also used to advertise specialities or as wanted-ads for jobs or resources. Walking down the streets of Hammerstadt is like walking through a notice board. One enforced rule is that Statement Banner can never be about a specific person. It is considered bad form and distasteful to name and shame individuals. If this happens the Cotery may find voting privileges revoked, Syndicate fines actioned, and their banner swiftly removed and destroyed by the Scrags.
However, there is a certain amount of camaraderie in the friendly challenge of one-upmanship. These people thrive not on tearing each other down but instead rising to the newest challenge for greatness. While citizens may never grow beyond the need to establish themselves as individuals, these people will jealously guard their right to independence from anything that threatens it. It’s the one thing they certainly all agree on, and it makes them a dangerous force to be reckoned with should this ever be challenged.
National Festivals
Charterwright Sweeping Festival
Holidays are held as sacred in Hammerstadt. The downing of tools for a day is not done lightly, but when it is, it’s city-wide, in remembrance of the workers who first did so in defiance of the King of Hammerplatz and the Queen of Zweiburg during the annual Charterwright Sweeping Festival where brooms are wielded to metaphorically “sweep” the ghosts of the past from the streets, usually accompanied by a spring clean of the whole city and followed by street parties.
The Klarasburg Sausage Festival
The Klarasburg Sausage Festival is held at Midsummer in the rolling fields of Klarasburg, with mixed-coterie teams representing each of the districts fighting it out in a variety of games, challenges and competitions. It celebrates the story of Wolfhilda-Wurst, a young scrag who supposedly went door-to-door begging for scraps and receiving nothing but sausages from each Coterie. She ended up with so many sausages that onlookers panicked, thinking there was a dearth of the foodstuff in the city, and causing the price to skyrocket overnight, resulting in city-wide riots by the end of the week. The celebration usually ends with the ceremonial burning of Wolfhilda, tied up with strings of paper sausages, and a communal barbecue of sausages and potatoes of every variety.
Realm Festival
Commonwealth Night
Commonwealth Night is another opportunity for gaiety, with markets in every plaza during the day and performance stages set up anywhere with space for them. Coinciding with the strong autumnal winds that are common in the Commonwealth, many Portavian ships dock in the Corvolis port and Urdrevan bands make use of temporary stables in the Klarasburg city walls, and the whole Realm is brought together to sell curios in the street. Bartering is as common as coin being exchanged here, as all the nations have a keen eye for a bargain and go home with items from all sorts of far-flung places. When the sun sets, stalls are packed away and, with a few extra coins in their pocket, tourists and locals alike flock to see plays, singers, storytellers and entertainers of all kinds from across the Commonwealth perform on street-corner stages and tavern taprooms.