Honour in Weremark
The traditional culture of Weremark and its surrounding region has been called a "culture of honour", that is, a culture where people avoid intentionally offending others, and maintain a reputation for not accepting improper conduct by others. The concept of Werman honour was codified by the government in 1398, as the third clause of the Kuningsjesazen, and continues to factor in heavily into politics, everyday interactions, and Weremark's international policies.
Background
The concepts of honour and chivalry have existed in Weremark for millennia, likely rooted in the general culture and Wotanist religion of those settling the area. As far back as 290 CE, the Nibelungenlied notes Hagen von Tronje's actions as disastrous to Siegfried and the Goths, and as avoidable actions of great shame. The wording of the saga's text on this matter has led social scientists to hypothesise that the concept of honour was either relatively new or had recently received a new emphasis at the time, perhaps an earlier codification by a contemporary ruler. Another hypothesis states that prehistoric Weremark's cattle-based economy may have contributed to the culture. Herds, unlike crops, are vulnerable to theft because they are mobile and there is typically no enforcement of property rights. The theory is that developing a reputation for violent retribution against those who stole herd animals was one way to discourage theft. The honour culture has also been linked to poverty and weather patterns forcing strangers together.
Role of Government
According to the 1398 Kuningsjesazen, signed into law by King Athalaric Altberg, honour, in a governmental context, consists of
"...magnanimity, to do good and well by your Family, by the Gods, and by all Peoples. It is to have an aversion to Evil and a nobleness of Mind and Soul. Honourable actions of any Estatesman are to be rewarded as one sees fit. Dishonour is to be punished with the shame of society, or as a Lord sees fit; Great Dishonour is to be punished with a swift and painless death."
The Werman governmental structure, for the most part, still follows the guidelines set by King Athalaric. This governmental endorsement of honour culture has had the effect of granting Weremark laws not typically seen in most modern nations. For example, duelling is a common form of settling disputes, and scuffles that do not disturb the peace are not typically interrupted by the city guard. There exists a societal expectation that a dishonourable person either join the clergy as penance or otherwise leave the country. Weremark deports about four thousand of its own citizens annually due to serious breaches of honour. Despite this fact, it is an expectation that most disputes be resolved at a personal level.
Status of Women
The honour culture also typically includes a notion that ladies should not be insulted by gentlemen. Men are also expected to be chivalrous towards women, in words and deeds. The honour culture also precludes that a woman desiring to conform to traditionally male gender roles, such as a Shieldmaiden, be treated as a man in terms of her honour, therefore eliminating reservations about their lady status. This clause, not included in the Kuningsjesazen but written about in detail by King Athalaric, has likely led to Weremark's progressive stance on women and has increased its historical stability. Though most families follow Agnatic systems of succession, many have decided to include women. To include a woman in a familial line of succession is an honourable gesture for her parent, but a dishonourable gesture for her grandparents, as the woman's inclusion implies a failure to produce enough male heirs.
