Weaver Folk

The Weaver Folk

"The Weaver Folk" is a term given for a widely spread culture of river-dwelling people who live in small, close-knit communities and are linked by tribes and culture rather than any political affiliation.  The Weavers are a peaceful, easy-going people who live in communes of two to a dozen families, with no regimented ruling structure but judgement and trading terms generally deferred to the wisest and most experienced of their number.  Frustratingly for travellers, the Weavers do not have names for their settlements, generally knowing them by either where they're located, or who's currently the de facto head of the settlement.

As well as living off the land - the Weavers are principally farmers and fishers - they are renowned for, and take their name from, the intricate tapestries they weave.  In a Weaver settlement, these tapestries are typically woven into blankets, bags, or travelling cloaks.  Outside, however, they are a much sought-after commodity and it is by trading their craft that the Weavers are able to buy anything they cannot get for themselves.  The Weavers have little interest in money, seeing it merely as a bartering tool when their traders make infrequent trips to cities.  Within the settlements, all foods are harvested communally, and distributed likewise, with the elderly, the sick, and the young getting the best of each crop, and the rest divided equally.

Besides their skill as farmers and weavers, the Weaver Folk are also known for their dialect.  Though technically Common Tongue, the combination of a somewhat unusual and colourful vernacular, a tendency to drop the first or last letter of most words (as well as several in the middle, on longer words), and a habit of talking at great speed and with no clear direction, generally results in Weaver Talk being considered a language in its own right.

Though Weavers are peaceful by nature, they seldom have problems with bandits.  With no monetary wealth to speak of, there's little purpose in attacking a Weaver settlement (unless you're particularly hungry or just really like their fabrics) and given their understanding of the land, and their skill as fishers and hunters, they are far from defenceless.

Tribal Make-Up

Though the most well-known Weaver Folk are otters, this is more to do with the gregarious and adventurous nature of those tribes rather than any numerical superiority.  Beavers, coypu, capybara, and muskrats can all be found in large numbers in Weaver societies, as well as the otters, and it is not unheard of members of less naturally river-loving species to end up living with the Weavers, drawn by the peaceful life and the security in being surrounded by other species of a similar disposition to them.  Generally, these migrants into Weaver life are smaller rodents such as mice, squirrels and chipmunks.

Almost synonymous with the term “Weaver Folk”, otters of all species are common amongst these river-dwellers but not in such numbers as most people assume.  Their presumed proliferation is mostly due to their size, outgoing nature and love of fun, socialising and playing, as well as being the only tribal group within Weaver Folk society that’s comfortable entering cities.  It’s easy to overlook a muskrat but hard to miss an otter, especially if they’ve been drinking.


Weaver Talk

Word	Meaning	Example
Barker	n. A madman; see also Barking
Barking	adj. To be crazy or mad; to take leave of one's senses.	'Ave you gone barkin', squire?  No way I'm doin' that!
Basher	n. A person of good physical standing but debateable mental capabilities; opposite of a cutter.	Oi, basher!  Get yer dunderin' great arse out the way!
Baste	v. To beat, physically.	Back off if'n ya don't wanna get a basting!
Biddy	n. An older woman.  Often derogatory.	Interfering old biddy...
Blind (one's) eyes	1) v. prof. Excl. A strong curse directed at another; 2) v. prof. Excl. A statement of astonishment or surprise.	Blind your eyes, you swindling bastard! // Well blind my eyes, I never thought I'd live to see the day!
Bluff	adj. One who holds oneself in high esteem, deservedly or otherwise	That Squill's certainly a bluff bugger!
Brother/Sister of the Blade	n. A soldier or warrior.
Brother/Sister of the String	n. One who plays a stringed musical instrument.
Cack-handed	adj. Or adv. Awkward or lacking in skill	Useless, cack-handed bastard. / Sorry luv, I'm doing this a bit cack-handed.
Clod-hopper	n. A farmer; often derogatory.
Cock-sure	adj. To be very confident in one's abilities	E's a bit bloody cock-sure, that Squill!
Cove	n. A fellow	E's a good old cove.
Cully	n. A fool	I won't warn ya again, cully!
Cutter	n. A fellow who gets through life by his wits rather than his brawn; opposite of a basher.	Ho there, cutter, you look like a man who'd appreciate a good set of dubs... Yours for only three copper!
Darkmans	n. The night or nighttime.	Ere, you bloody pups get indoors now, it's near darkmans out there!
Diddle	n. Cheap spirits.  Not to be confused with the slang verb common in other vernaculars.	Ere, fancy a diddle, luv?  Ow!  Whaddya hit me for??
Dive	v. To pickpocket	Cor mate, did ya see the duds on that cully?  Gotta be worth a dive on a rich ol' cove like that!
Diver	n. One who pickpockets	Ere now squire, I dunno what yer chatting about!  I ain't no diver!  This 'ere fob watch, wot you says looks remarkably like yours, 'appens to 'ave been in my fam'ly for generations!
Dubber	n. One who is in the habit of picking locks	Y'ever need someone else's door opened for ya, that Riss fella is yer dubber.
Dubs	n. Lockpicks	Pass us the dubs, squire, an' I'll have us inside in just a minim.
Duddering	Adj. To excel at something non-positive.	He's a duddering great cully, so he is!
Dudds	n. Clothing. Tends to imply clothing of a reasonably high standard.  Also spelled duds.	Cor blimey, squire!  Them's some fancy news dudds ya got on!
Dust	v. To kill someone	Dust the cully!
Duster	n. Someone who is close to death, through age, injury or a general lack of self-preservation instincts.	Leave the duster alone, he'll get his soon 'nuff.
Fair do	n. A deal that suits all, or a situation that is appropriate or just.	Aye I did lose the race but fair do, he's a bloody good swimmer.
Feggit	prof. Excl. A middling curse or exclamation of surprise.  Similar in meaning to "Fuck yes!" or "Fuck it!" but considerably milder.	Ah, feggit but this is some strong ol' diddle!
Goody	n. Hon.A married woman who has children (of any age).	I bumped into Goody Merewether the other day.
Guzzle	n. Throat	Ere, get this food down ya guzzle!
Holt	n. A home; see also Lodge.
Jink	n. Money; AKA coin	Ullo squire, jink for an ol' war vet'ran?
Lodge	n. A home; see also Holt.
Minim	n. A moment in time.  Also spelled minnim	'Ere now, 'ang on a minim, squire!
Noggin	n. Head	Mind ya noggin on that low beam.
Rattle (one's) bone-box	v. To talk excessively and without purpose; to prattle	Stop rattlin' ya bone-box!
Rattle (one's) bones	v. To wind up or irritate.	Who rattled your bones?
Squire	1) n. Hon. A mated male, with or without pups.  2) n. Informal term for another person, usually but not exclusively refers to males.	'Ello there, squire. // 'Ere, isn't that Squire Merewether?
Wotcha	Informal greeting	Wotcha squire.  'Ow do?