Gallicad

The Gallicads (in 1254 IS the only culture with Gallieni heritage) inhabited much of what are now the Marches prior to the Shewigad migration. Subjugated by the Shewigads, most Gallicads have become assimilated into Chevalien culture, and only a few communities now remain. Gallicad culture is bound up with the Gallicader religion, in which the destinies of individuals are believed to be predetermined by the movement of the stars.

History
Little is known of early Gallicad history, since there was little or no Gallicad tradition of historical writing. Prior to the Shewigad invasion in the early first century, Gallicad culture predominated in large areas within the anti-magic field of what would become the Marches. The Gallicads were relatively lacking in technological sophistication, urbanization and political centralization compared to the surrounding polities.

The Shewigad migration west from the Black Mountains brought that people into conflict with the Gallicads in the early first century IS. Under the leadership of Good King Bastione, the Shewigads defeated the Gallicads militarily and claimed their territory. Gallicad holdouts remained in the west of the region, but these were subjugated over the course of the next decades, a process which was still underway in the late first century.

The exact form of the Shewigad conquest is also poorly understood, and it is uncertain how far the invasion and subsequent rebellions led to the extermination of the Gallicad population and its replacement with Shewigads, and how far Gallicads adopted Shewigad culture so as to assimilate to the new ruling class. The Chevalien culture which emerged in the centuries following the conquest may thus have derived some of its traditions from the indigenous Gallicads. Similarly, the religious philosophy of the Lifepaths may have taken its emphasis on personal destiny from Gallicader religion.

Gallicads in 1254
For more than a millennium the Gallicads have survived as a persecuted minority within Chevalie. The remaining Gallicad communities are restricted to highland regions poorly suited to agriculture and thus of little interest to Chevalien settlers. These communities are all subject to the rule of Chevalien lords – there is no place for Gallicads within the systems of aristocratic vassalage and landholding that structure Chevalien politics. The only areas with sizeable Gallicad populations are now to be found in north-western Chevalie.

The Gallicads of the thirteenth century are those who cling to their ancestral customs and language, limiting their interactions with broader Marcher society. Under pressure from their Chevalien rulers, most Gallicads publicly reject their traditional religion and profess adherence to the Lifepath. Nonetheless, Gallicader religion also survives, sometimes being practiced in secret.

A small number of Gallicads also inhabit the central Isles, but nowhere do they make up a majority of the population.

Gallicader Religion
Gallicader religious belief and practice revolves around the moon and stars, which are believed to control the fates of humanity. Free will, according to this doctrine, is an illusion, and the life of every individual is predetermined. The religion lacks gods as such, although specific stars are venerated for their influence on important aspects of human existence. Gallicader priests are astrologers tasked with observing the movements of the celestial bodies. From these movements, it is believed, both past and future events may be divined.

The influence of this religious tradition on Gallicad society is felt in multiple ways. Gallicader religious morality does not discriminate by gender or sexuality, but does place all individuals within a hierarchical caste system based on the stars which govern each person’s life. The potential life choices and social status of Gallicader adherents are defined by their caste.

Gallicader religion strongly rejects Magi as evil. This opposition is stricter even than in other societies of the Marches.

Gallicad Culture
Heritage: Gallieni

Language: Gallieni

Ethos: Stoic

Traditions: Isolationists, Zealous People, Highland Warriors, Staunch Traditionalists

Gallicader Religion
Group: Gallieni

Head: None

Tenets: Mystical Birthrights, Astrology, False Conversions

Notable Characters
Historical Figures: None

Characters in 1254: None