Taking the Mark

“Better a pauper counted, than a Prince among the Uncounted.”

The first Mark of the Lanari was given involuntarily to men, women and children who were counted the family and followers of Lan Ferona. In latter generations, the Mark was taken voluntarily by their descendants who disavowed land and titles, and who took up the peculiar lifestyle of that people bearing Lan's name. 

The Mark is now only taken after coming of age. Lanari youth are encouraged to spend at least a year outside of their community sometime after reaching age 16. Only those who go out into the world and find themselves tempted by it, and yet return to their people are permitted to take the Mark. This period of voluntary exile is called the Kasata and those who leave the community are Kastanir.

Upon returning, they are greeted in the traditional manner, "You are seen upon the road."

Instead of answering, "And I will be counted," as with different clans meeting upon the road, their response is: “And I would be counted.”

At which point a Wayspeaker is called for and the three questions are asked. One, “What did the uncounted (necontato) offer you?” The expected answer is, “Everything—and none of it was mine.” Two, “What did you become among them?” The expected answer is, “I was as they were—but I was not as they are.” Three, “Why have you come?” The expected answer is, "I choose to be counted.”

At which point a tattoo is given upon the face, and the Kasato (or convert) is accepted among the Lanari.

One of those who has taken the mark and who is faithful to his community is prophesied to one day rule all of the Provinces as the Lion of Ferona. He will then restore that proud people to lands that are their own. Their sons will be princes and their daughters will be sought as prizes. Only then will the Lanari settle down and hold to lands and titles among the people.

The ultimate disgrace is for a Lanari to have been put to death and to undergo the skarna -- where the mark is flayed or abraded from his skin. This particular judgement is reserved for those who have committed irredeemable crimes. And for those who commit truly abominable acts, skarna can occur while they are still alive.

Parade of Lanari

"Parade of Lanari" was painted by Sylvio Firena and is a famous work of art. 

It depicts the fall of the house of Lan after the death of the would be emperor of Vyruma Serpentis.

Its subject and style have been imitated many times over and the value of its reproductions is based on how true they are to the original. It hangs in the Hall of Art at the Heralapix of Ald Ciula. 

The Salt Lanari

The Salt Lanari are thought to be the descendants of the exiles of the proud noble House of Ferona and its one-time patriarch, Lan. In 3413ey, after the Desolation of Lanaria, some of those that survived the anguish became nomads across the Principalities. According to legend, others fled to the sea and became sailors and sea dogs who live without borders. 

Centuries passed and the Free Provinces came to think of all the Sea Jacks as itinerants -- the "Salt Lanari." Whether there is any direct connection between the Lanari and the multi-cultural Sea Jacks is not relevant. The appellation remains in wide use.

The Mark of the Lanari

Originally intended as a mark of shame, the facial tattoos of the Lanari people were crudely and hastily made. Their purpose was to let other provincials know which of their neighbors had sided with the aspirations of Lan, the would-be emperor. Over the years, the politics around that particular practice have faded from all memory, but the tattoos still serve to identify the Lanari as a people apart from the rest of Provincial society.

The tattoos themselves were never imposed after that first generation of the Lanari. They were given to men and women, alike. And given to children as young as newborns, but they were adopted voluntarily by every succeeding generation. First perhaps, as a sign of stubborn solidarity to a dying political cause; but eventually as a mark of in-group membership.

Ironically, Provincial law still forbids the ownership of land to anyone with the mark upon their face. So this stubborn custom does more to perpetuate the lifestyle of the Lanari as travelers living on the cusp of poverty than any other. 

Still "taking the mark" has risen to the level of an artform among these people. From a simple initial L, the mark has risen to loops and sworls and geometric shapes of incredible complexity. Some marks cover the entire face, others are merely patches around a single eye, or design upon the temple. It is considered a point of shame for the Lanari to hide their mark.

The Lanari

The Lanari can be seen traveling between the Free Provinces in brightly-colored wagons, or encamped at a cross-roads. Wherever they stop, they sell hand-made (and sometimes stolen) wares; put on nightly entertainments by oil lamp (not all of which are seemly); delight young children with their pageantry; and tempt young men and women with the romance of their itinerate lifestyle. But this strange people with their own language and customs have a history that is more tragic than their brightly-colored clothes and loud revelry would first indicate.

Centuries ago, the proud House of Ferona sat atop several of what was then called the Principalities of Vyruma Serpentis. About a a third of the region's population was under its control, and the sages of history believe that almost half of the wealth of the time was concentrated in Ald Casera -- the city from which the scions of Ferona ruled. Powerful Houses will draw rivals, and Ferona was no exception.

In 3409 Prince Lan of House Ferona grew strong enough that he declared himself the Emperor of a new land -- a wide swath of the principalities that he named Lanaria. Lan sent envoys to the other principalities demanding tribute from their princes. In so doing, his rivals became his enemies and rose as one against him. Under that coalition, the Emperor was eventually thrown down. His head was chained to the walls of his own Ald, and his bones were parceled out to each of his rivals as a trophy. His lands were given to the sons of lesser houses. His daughters were pledged to the Sacred Sisters. But, the dream of the Empire did not die easy. Many thousands of the people still remained loyal to the former Emperor. The princes soon found that the Lanari were difficult to control.

In 3413ey, three hundreds of the loyalists who still longed for the Emperor's rule were slaughtered in a single afternoon. Across the Principalities the scene was repeated, time and again. This series of events came to be called the Desolation of Lanaria. Those that survived the anguish were forced to take the mark of Lan -- a tattoo upon their face. They were forbidden from owning property and thus became pirates upon the sea (Salt Lanari) and nomads across the land.

The Principalities of Vyruma Serpentis eventually gave way to the Free Provinces. But centuries later, the descendants of the Lanari still wander, "taking the mark" voluntarily, even proudly, and making their way as itinerates and laborers across the world. Their reputation still suffers, for most Provincials see them as thieves and swindlers and treat them as an underclass to this day.