Monday, February 4, 2013

Love and Marriage Part III

For human nobles, marriages are a very complicated affair.  Depending on the level of nobility these affairs can last days.  For lesser nobles several days of balls and dinners are the normal, while for House Leaders' children there will be tournaments as well.  So here a fairly average noble marriage.

1) First, there will be tournaments of strength, if there are any.  This can include foot and horse races, sword fighting and jousting.  The Knights of the area get to show off their skills with the possibility of winning prizes put up by the couples' families.  These tournaments can last days depending on the couple being married.

2)Balls.  There will be at least one ball, if not several, when a noble couple is married.  Sometimes there is a ball before the wedding, some after.  Sometimes there is a ball before and after a wedding.  These are social events, places to maneuver politically and arrange other, beneficial marriages.

3) The wedding itself.  This can last several hours, with elaborate dress and the head of the biggest church of the House city presiding, (in the case of House nobles this will be Lady Catiana's priests or Lord Sarjon's priests).  Everyone dresses in their finest.  After the wedding itself many Knights will declare a mission they will go on for the couple or other nobles may declare their engagements.

4)Feasting.  This is something which can last for days.  Food is brought in from all over Tridon, and some times from more exotic places.  Depending on the House, sometimes even the peasants are invited.  (This happens most often in the Northern Houses.)  Even local heroes are sometimes invited.

Tomorrow: Dwarven Weddings.

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