This thread is for articles about Volk government. Descriptions of their weaponry, armor, and fighting style are also stored here.

Jump to a specific article:
 Criminal Justice
 Flags

Selected Flags:
Federated
Rot-Haarig


***
Weaponry and Training

Jump to the article about Volk Armor.

Because the Volk are unwilling to deal with the extreme temperatures required for metal working, they are dependent on other countries for most weaponry. As such, Volk defense and hunting relies on non-metal weapons, primarily bows and slings. Volk of both genders and all statuses are trained in the art of the bow, and they are raised from childhood to know how to improvise a sling on a moment’s notice.

Because of this and other cultural factors, forearm strength and precision are cultivated in men, with women being expected to have a basic aptitude sufficient for self-defense. Volk build up endurance to shoot a bow repeatedly or hurl an object to great lengths, and they train to have high accuracy – and to know where to hit for the most damage. Because arrows and ammo are always limited, the Volk know that one well-aimed shot is worth more than five imprecise shots. The Volk train themselves to think and aim quickly, but they tend to be more defensive rather than offensive, reacting to a situation from a distance if at all possible.

As supplement to their standard bows and slings, the Volk dabble in any weapon that can be thrown or shot. Throwing stars are prized for being both beautiful and practical, and elaborate imported stars are often given to young men to commemorate achievements or coming of age. Harpoons are in the experimental stage and are currently used primarily for hunting. Most Volk know how to build a simple slingshot from available materials. Additionally, the Volk were the first people on Erde to develop a catapult. Because catapults cannot be quickly constructed or easily transported, however, they are considered a tool for organized war only. They were used extensively in the wars that preceded the development of the Federated, but most were destroyed after the pact was formed as a sign of peace.

Swordsmen do exist within the Federated; if a man should be so fortunate as to own an imported sword, he is expected to know how to use it. In general, however, the Volk prefer the more practical and less expensive dagger, which can double as a household tool. The Volk view knives and daggers as butchering implements, both at home and in war; the Volk view the dagger as a “last resort” when a battle has degraded to being one-on-one at close range. Despite their throwing skill, the Volk consider throwing knives to be a crude and brutal tactic.

Because most of their weapons are long-range, the Volk prefer distance attacks. They avoid hand-to-hand open combat, instead attempting to surround, ambush, or attack from the rear. They love the element of surprise and often try to attack without being seen. When shooting fails to take down a target, they run. Volk can sprint rapidly at short distances, weaving to avoid fire if necessary, and they rarely stand still on a battlefield. They do not have endurance and they do not run well over uneven terrain, but in the flat fields of the southwest, sprinting is usually sufficient to evade wild animals or lumbering giants.

In organized war, a Volk army is typically divided into small regiments lead by a captain. A commander often spreads his regiments out across the battle, assigning them to specific tasks. On the battlefield, Volk soldiers are keen on their surroundings, including their comrades, and know how to manipulate them to achieve their goal. The Volk are not easily daunted by changes in the weather or terrain, but their self-centered attitude is their weakness. They do not have a high respect for the lives of their comrades, and they avoid close teamwork, leaving them susceptible to disunity.

Given their policy of “pack light, run fast,” the Volk consider a healthy figure to be lean but strong. They are not obsessed with being slim, nor are the frail necessarily shunned – even a weak man can be deadly with good accuracy. But the Volk view obesity as a sign of excess or laziness, and in their lean work-based culture, laziness is both a sin and an impediment. Even those with stable jobs keep themselves fit, ever wanting to prove to their masters that they are the best for the job. The landlords, who are the only ones who can afford laziness, are too vain to allow themselves to gain weight. Highly muscular builds are not considered particularly attractive, but some workers, particularly guards, will cultivate them to advance their career.

In the early days of Erde’s history, all Volk were raised to be able to defend themselves. Most could wield a weapon decently, but few were trained to fight for a living. As estates began to form and landlords looked for armies to wage war, soldier and guard became established professions. In the race to secure jobs, many serfs abandoned self-defense training in favor of practicing their chosen craft. But the bitter wars that preceded the development of the Federated drove the need to be self-defensive to a new high. It became expected that all Volk have basic training in fighting, and many men were drafted to serve in their landlord’s army while maintaining their regular job. Even after temporary peace was established with the Federated, the Volk kept their weapons close at hand, ready to defend their lives should another estate attack.

Very interesting.

Thank you, Mark.

You're welcome.

Armor
It is not unusual for the Volk to fight without any armor at all. Historically, the Volk’s greatest danger was being attacked unawares while working, so serfs trained to defend themselves even when caught completely unarmed. Even in organized war, the Volk’s preference for distanced attacks and evasive tactics makes heavy armor impractical. Therefore, the Volk use armor that is light and flexible, but they are prepared to fight without it. They are experts at running or hiding to protect themselves instead of relying on armor.

The most common pieces of armor are armguards and breastplates. Armguards are considered a basic accessory for bow shooting; many Volk will wear armguards whenever they’re carrying a bow. Upper-body armor, which can be anything from a simple vest to an elaborate breastplate, is the standard attire for hunters and soldiers. The Volk consider a vest or breastplate to be sufficient protection against projectiles, so most soldiers wear little else. Some Volk will wear gloves out of preference, and others use wrist braces to assist in throwing or shooting. Few other pieces of armor have reached widespread acceptance.

Leather is the most common material for armor. Some pieces are embroidered with complex designs for beauty. The Volk do not use much metal in their armor, because it is bulky and must be imported, with the exception of the lightweight kupfer. The Volk beat kupfer into thin breastplates and braces. Kupfer is lightweight enough to be practical, while its softness allows it to be easily molded to fit.

Criminal Justice
When a Volk is accused of a crime, the prosecutor presents his case to the criminal’s direct authority. For adults, this authority is usually their employer, meaning that employers and supervisors judge the majority of minor cases in Volk culture. If a matter exceeds the jurisdiction of an employer, or involves higher-ranking individuals, it goes to the landlord. While lawyer is not an established profession, most landlords have designated people that serve the function of lawyer in addition to their regular job. Captains of the guard, army generals, and scribes typically fulfill this role.

The employer or designated lawyer judges the case himself by hearing the details and determining a verdict. There is no court or jury system, and the only hope of overturning a verdict is to appeal to someone of a higher rank. There is no standard for how the overseer judges the case, so defendants are responsible for pleading their own case to the judge.

The typical punishment for major offenses is loss of one’s job, and that fear is enough to keep crime low in Volk culture. The average man will not do anything that could endanger his position in life, so petty crimes are rarely an issue. This does not mean that the Volk are kind-hearted towards one another, however. The Volk are primarily concerned with advancing their own job, and they will do so at the expense of others as long as what they are doing is legal. Very few successful cases are fought on the premise of “injustice,” partiality, or unfairness.

In the rare case of a capital crime, the criminal would be banished, put to death, or sold as a slave to another country, if a market was available. The Volk do not keep people in prison long-term because it is an expense to the estate, and they do not keep slaves of their own kind. If a person is wicked enough to lose his freedom, society does not want him. Hanging is the commonly accepted method of capital punishment, but historically the southernmost estates have been known to toss criminals over the edge the earth. In any case, only people involved in the crime can be punished; family members cannot be fined, punished, or sold for a relative’s crime, with the exception of minors. If a minor commits a crime against another, the parents have the option of taking the punishment on behalf of their child or forcing the child to fulfill his own charges.

When the Federated was formed, a constitution of laws was written to regulate the union. However, these laws primarily apply to landlords and do not affect the everyday life of serfs. On a day-to-day basis, most rulings are governed by the landlords, who may or may not write up laws at their discretion. For the most part, laws are unspoken, based on tradition and a standard of decency. Additionally, landlords usually leave small rulings to their high-level employees, putting serfs at the mercy of their superiors. Landlords are prevented from being unusually cruel for fear of losing all their employees to another estate, but generally the landlords are at the advantage. Jobs are scarce, so serfs are obliged to take it or leave it.

Flags
History
In Volk culture, a marked flag – a flag with any design other than a solid color – is used as a symbol of identity and loyalty, like a crest. Historically, every major family had their own flag. As family ties faded and estates began to rise, families lowered their personal flag in favor of flying their landlord’s, joining themselves to the safety of the estate. When the Federated formed, a union flag was adopted, and each landlord designated an official flag for his estate. While the Federated and landlords’ flags are the only official flags in current times, the designs of family flags have survived in textiles and art. Parents passed down their favored colors and motifs to their children, silently honoring the ancestors they have long since forgotten. Tracing the history of a design is sometimes the most accurate – if not the only – way to reconstruct ancestries and ethnicity among the Volk.

Common Designs
All Volk flags are cut in horizontal rectangles, sometimes very long ones. Squares are not recognized as formal flags, and vertical rectangles are despised. There is no standard width or length for flags, although a 1:2 width to length ratio is common. Interestingly, most flags have a design that can be lengthened on either end without obscuring the identity, allowing the flag to be easily resized. Fringing or tapering is considered optional and not part of the official flag design.

Like the rest of their art, most Volk flag designs are simple, focusing on horizontal patterns and bold solid colors. Horizontal stripes are the most common design element; vertical stripes are considered to be unattractive in modern designs, although they appear in some historical motifs. Crosses and diagonal motifs are not unheard of, with a preference being towards right-slanting lines like the punctuation marks for full-stop and exclamation. A left-slanting line, like the punctuation mark for a question, is considered a sign of instability and confusion and therefore not favored for flags, unless crossed with a right-slanting line. Triangles and other multi-pointed polygons are somewhat obscure; squares are rarely used.

While simple geometric designs are more prevalent, elaborate central motifs are occasionally used on flags. Cats, dogs, horses, and local crops are common modern motifs. Images such as mountains, rivers, birds, and dragons occasionally appear in historical designs, especially those brought with settlers from other spheres, but such motifs have fallen out of favor in modern designs because of changing cultural attitudes. The Volk rarely put words and phrases on flags, but the shape of their alphabet lends itself well to incorporating monograms into designs. Some historical flags have characters from the languages of ancestors, or may feature previous versions of the Volk alphabet.

The Volk assign meanings to colors, which affects their choices for flags. Blue is the most familiar color and the most common, being associated with independence and stability. Green is welcome because of its connotations of peace and bounty. Warm colors, especially red and gold, signify strength and are therefore not uncommon. Purple and black are avoided because of their bitter meanings, and white is generally only used for flags representing unions and mixed groups, because white implies absence of loyalty rather than a declaration of one. The Volk do not consider brown to be a “color,” but rather a base organic substance, and therefore attach no specific meaning to it; it is used only as an accent color on flags. Pale colors and obscure shades – such as pink, gray, or turquoise – also have no meaning and are uncommon in flag designs; pale shades are particularly avoided because they often appear to be “faded” and old. (See the “Flag Code” section for a more detailed description of the meaning of some colors.)

Flag Code
Because all Volk flags are rectangles, horizontal is considered the only respectful way to hang a flag. Flagpoles are always erected upright or at a sharp upward angle. Hanging a flag vertically is considered a sign of contempt; hanging one’s own flag vertically is the universal symbol of surrender. Hanging a flag horizontal but upside down or backwards is a sign of distress and a call for help.

The Volk are not very concerned with how their flags are handled. Flags are generally well-maintained to make them last longer, but there are no established practices for folding or storing a flag. It is not disrespectful to let a flag touch the ground, and it can be hung or draped anywhere, in any weather, as long as it is kept horizontal. Flying a damaged flag is not considered disrespectful as long as the design of the flag is still distinguishable; flying a flag whose colors have faded noticeably, however, is unacceptable.

Flags represent pride and power and are primarily used to mark territory. A flying flag indicates the owner’s authority over the area. Buildings and fields are marked with their landlord’s flag, and all estates in the Federated are required to clearly display at least one union flag as a sign of their loyalty. Therefore, changing flags indicates a transfer of ownership or loyalty. Triumphing armies quickly replace the flags in conquered land, and rebelling serfs will replace their landlord’s flag to show their contempt. A similar intent is implied when an estate refuses to fly the Federated flag.

When a plain piece of cloth is flown instead of a marked flag, the color carries special meaning. Red indicates rebellion and war, while orange and yellow are warnings. Green represents bounty and is used to herald good news. Blue symbolizes independence and patriotic pride; it is used in celebrations and as a sign of protest. Purple represents grief and warns of bad news or danger. Black is obscure, representing resigned anger and grief, and is often used as a cry for justice. For example, a conquered people might fly black, as would mistreated serfs; estates sometimes fly black to protest war or unethical rulings made by another entity. Because white is the culmination of all other colors, it is used to indicate hospitality or a lack of territorial boundaries. Houses or estates display white if they are friendly to travelers and foreigners, and shelters and medical buildings are marked with white. All government buildings and establishments sanctioned by the Federated bear white to indicate that they can be used by serfs from any estate. Brown has no special meaning, and neither do pale or mixed colors such as gray, pink, and turquoise.

The meaning of the colored flag changes depending on whether it is flown with or in place of marked flags. For example, if an estate flies a red flag in the absence of the Federated flag, it is signifying rebellion from the union; if the red flag is flown in addition to the regular marked flags, it means serfs are being summoned for battle. If a blue flag is flown by itself, it is a declaration of independence; flown with marked flags, blue is a benign symbol of patriotic pride or peaceful protest. Whether the colored flag is above or below the marked flag has no significance. If there is not room to hang the two flags side-by-side, it is acceptable to hang them back-to-back, or to drape the colored one over the marked one, as long as part of the marked one is left showing.

Flying no flags at all is a symbol of grief and respectful silence. Estates often order all flags to be taken down to mourn the death of a landlord or another tragedy, and armies returning from a lost battle will carry their flagpoles bare. If a family takes down their personal flag, neighbors would know to keep silence and approach the family carefully out of respect for their grief.

Because landlords are astringent about marking territory, most large houses and buildings have a designated place to hang a flag, where they are required to continually display the landlord’s flag. If the house does not have room to hang a flag, the family will either drape cloths in the windowsill or use colored fabric for their curtains or door hangings. If a curtain or door-hanging is a solid color, it is assumed to have meaning. For example, a hospitable house open to travelers will use white window curtains. If a house does not want to send a message with their window curtains, they must use shutters or have curtains made out of a meaningless color such as brown. Like flags, taking down one’s window or door coverings indicates grief. In the absence of plain cloth, serfs will often fly or display other objects made out of fabric in the appropriate color, such as clothes and bed linens.

Federated Flag
The official flag of the Federated union is a simple design of two horizontal stripes. The bottom stripe is white, representing a foundation of unity. The top stripe is a light/robin’s egg blue, indicating pride and independence. Together, the two stripes are meant to indicate that internal peace brings strength, prosperity, and independence from enemies.

Rot-Haarig Flag
The flag of the Rot-Haarig, a tribe of nomadic giants, is made up of three vertical stripes – left to right: black, red, blue. The flag was born during the giants’ fight for independence from the Volk. Prior to the war, the giants began wearing and displaying black, the color representing injustice and bitterness, in silent protest against their treatment. When the rebellion was formed, the color red was chosen as a symbol of ethnicity in reference to the giants’ iconic red hair (“rot-haarig” means “red-haired” in German); giants donned scraps of red fabric to signify their loyalty to the freedom fighters. Black and red then became their battle colors during the war. After victory was achieved, the Rot-Haarig added a blue stripe to signify independence. Vertical stripes were chosen as a sign of opposition to the Volk, who prefer horizontal stripes. After this incident, the Volk began to associate the color red with rebellion and war, and the combination of red and black is still despised.

Those turned out nicely.

Thank you. It's been a lot of fun to design flags with meaning. The Rot-Haarig flag has also gotten me started on Rot-Haarig culture and history, which is what I'll probably be focusing on after I polish the Volk.

Sounds good.