While the Xheng are typically accorded the honor of having been the “first” race to appear on Terra, there are some people in the world who claim that the first mortals to walk Terra were, in fact, the Legati. Whether or not this is true, it is a fact that the Legati have one of the oldest cultures in the world—for, as long as humankind has had the desire and the means, there have been those willing to dedicate their lives to travel. Because of their mobile lifestyle, the Legati cannot be said to have any real home and, although they may be more commonly found on the mainland as a general rule, they are widely dispersed across the entire world.The Legati’ actual origins are shrouded in mystery. The Xheng believe that the Legati were born of water, either at the hands of Sister Water or possibly in connection to the water dragon or dragonkin. This myth probably has its roots in records indicating that the very first troupe of Legati to enter the empire’s borders came in boats up the Ikichi River, from the Asagata Sea. Old Ger writings hold that the Legati were a “tribe” of people from the southeast, either an exiled Xheng family or a group of roving Leoden—but these writings date back at least a decade before the Xheng records about the Legati on the Ikichi, which seems to belie the possibility that they came from Xheng to begin with. Ancient steward’s records pulled from the ruins of a castle in the far northernmost tip of what would eventually become Leode document a visit from a “moste clerely and estraungely attyred compaignye, ful of myche chere and grete myrthe”—out of Ger. The steward writes that they stayed a fortnight, during which time they traded goods and stories with the castle’s inhabitants, before vanishing into the night, “bitaking them of al the hom’s kacche of goodliche silvyr inne tow.” And so on and so forth.
Whatever the case may be, the Legati tend to have a somewhat different outlook on life and the world around them than other peoples in Terra. Rather than investing themselves emotionally into a specific place, Legati invest themselves in their troupes—one or more extended families living and traveling together. Their nomadic tendencies only strengthen the bonds within troupes; in spite of their immersion in the world at large, families keep to themselves in significant ways, thereby preserving their self-reliance and preventing their traditions from being overly “diluted” by those of other cultures. Although the specific customs and spirit of each troupe differs, there are a few commonalities within the Legati culture as a whole.
Legati society is almost exclusively ruled and run by women; the matriarch who heads each troupe is chosen for her linguistic talent, knowledge of the road, and ability to adapt well to the constantly changing conditions of a nomadic life. In general, matriarchs rule with a gentle but firm hand, and Legati men tend to exhibit a great deal of respect—compared by some to a specific kind of chivalry—toward the women around them. Non-Legati women have found the insistence on small acts of courtesy strange, if unaccustomed to Legati traditions.
Different troupes travel different, traditional routes, paths established over generations’ worth of time, unaffected by any formal boundaries established by the other nations of Terra. These routes either follow waterways and rivers, for those troupes that travel in boats; or the various roads across Terra, for those troupes that travel by wagon. Their long familiarity with places and landmarks along these roads have, in some instances, allowed troupes to arrange trade agreements or treaties with the owners of the land through which they pass. Such understandings are mutually beneficial, letting the Legati ply their trades and travel without fear of persecution or reprisals from local inhabitants. Indeed, in many places, the arrival of the Legati is anticipated as a kind of seasonal festival, when the colorful and noisy caravans bring merriment, music, dance, and news from the rest of Terra.
As happy as some villages are to welcome troupes, there are those who harbor a fierce dislike for Legati. Viewing them as vagabonds, foreigners, or tramps, such people have been known to chase away or even attack passing Legati families. The Legati’ general fondness for drink and gambling, combined with an almost unnatural streak of luck, have also earned them a reputation as thieves or cheats, who scam honest workers out of their hard-earned money. These kinds of practices are not unheard of; however, to assume that every Legati fits this portrayal would be foolish, just as it would be foolish to assume that every Ger is warlike or every imp is extremely energetic.
Culturally speaking, the Legati society is at once one of the most visible and one of the most obscured in Terra. Troupes are always willing to share a song, a joke, a game, or a tale; yet they keep some aspects of their world to themselves, and will always look after themselves and their own first, should circumstances force them to make such a choice. Their loyalty to their families is made all the stronger for the fact that, if the need arises, a caravan can literally pack up and disappear in the middle of the night. Matriarchs have been known to alter centuries-old routes in order to avoid villages or peoples with whom a family member once quarreled.
Relatedly, of course, is what happens to in-family offenders. Should a Legati betray the family, the matriarch will banish that Legati from the troupe forever. Exile is considered the worst punishment any Legati can ever undergo, worse even than death or a curse; and, once exiled, a Legati may never be accepted back into Legati society again, except under the most extraordinary of circumstances. Exiles often bear some mark—a brand, or a warped imitation of their family’s mark—and some Legati, regardless of troupe or relationship, will refuse on principle to deal with “betrayers.”
Otherwise, Legati are easily identified by their bright clothing and penchant for jewelry, as they tend to wear their wealth on their persons. Because of their nomadic lifestyle, they often choose occupations that allow them to travel, taking work as animal trainers, metal smiths, traders, circuses, bards, potion-makers, and fortune-tellers, among other things. Oftentimes, families’ last names are determined by dialect words for such crafts: Linguari, for instance, means “spoon-maker.” Other common surnames include Rudari (wood-crafter), Ursari (bear-trainer), Argintari (silver-smith), Florari (florist), Ciurari (sieve-maker), and Lautari (musician).