While other nations of Ragnesis tend to transform in some ways the lands they inhibit, Giltaries seek to live in “harmony with nature” – this popular maxim gets its special meaning when the matter concerns creatures made by a Celestial named Maysville. For them “nature” means Maysville Himself; hence, nature should not be transformed (distorted), it should rather be acknowledged and united with.

This principle governs over the entire life of Giltaries. Many of Maysville’s children are certain that achieving the highest union with nature is possible only if a person disdains secular vanity and completely devotes him/herself to the search of harmony. Of course, not everyone succeeds in this endeavor. That is why Giltaries have so much respect for real recluses who reside outside settlements: people consider their opinions, some become their disciples. Whenever hunters and travelers encounter such recluses they will certainly leave them some donations. It is believed that Maysville communicates with recluses directly, just as once in the First Days He used to communicate with all His children.

Giltaries’ way of life is very much different from that of other nations: these erlanies dwell in forests – they do not often settle in other areas. They believe, in forests they are closer to Maysville.

Because of their tendency to live in harmony with nature, Giltaries’ character has formed into a special and unique disposition among other Ragnesis nations. Giltaries are extremely attentive to themselves and to others as well; however, it is the kind of attention expressed by an observer, by an explorer, oftentimes – by a detached spectator. A stranger may regard their nonchalant behavior as heartlessness, indifference, and even cruelty.
While cognizing the surrounding world and its dwellers, Giltaries have gained much success in insight into psychology, motives, and incentives of other erlanies. They are capable of observing things which another person might fail to realize: his/her ulterior motives which are not causes but rather true reasons of actions...

Giltaries are as well attentive to nature: they are good at accurate predictions of weather changes, they are skillful at handling animals (actually, they are considered to be the best trainers of domestic animals and excellent tamers of wild ones). They are also real masters in hunting and fishing...

And, of course, no other nation has become as advanced in “inserting” harmonically their buildings into landscapes, as Giltaries have. While Faldorts and Bushtargs (each of them – in their own manner) prefer practicality, and Saihens will sometimes sacrifice practicality to beauty (in their own sense of this word), Giltaries seem to be most successful in combining both practicality and beauty in their architecture. Their houses are not overloaded with superfluous decorative elements; at the same time, they are not structures where everything is subjected to pragmatic considerations alone. Actually, decorative elements for Giltaries are some kind of “tuning forks” which help to establish harmony in a house.

However, the fact that Giltaries are so keen about searching internal and external harmony does not necessarily mean they are spineless and cannot stand up for themselves. Not only can they create comfort in their homes and hearts, they can also preserve it, which is much more important!

Their houses are firm and, probably the most unusual in entire Ragnesis. Other nations tell legends that Giltaries’ houses are alive, but only Giltaries know if it is really true.

Besides these houses, there are also small ones in forests where recluses live. Those who agree to receive visitors (there are always a lot of those who want to be introduced to wisdom) leave their doors open on “visiting days”. Others are able to avoid seeing other people for months. Such recluses do not accept donations, do not hold soul-saving talks with visitors, and simply do everything possible to avoid being bothered by them.

Maysville’s priests respect all the recluses. They believe that those who leave the world to look for harmony serve for the welfare of Maysville. But recluses, in their turn, do not regard priests very much: they are indifferent both to the priests’ ostentatious piety and to their excessive love for ceremonies.

Somewhat different are those who tried to become a recluse, but didn’t reach too far on their way to true wisdom. Instead, these Giltaries prefer following mundane ways and playing a role of angry denouncers of “secular vanity”, even though they are far from being innocent. There are a lot of unbalanced and irritable fellows among them who will contend their faith by denying anyone else’s. In their sermons they like to stigmatize priests who “have forgotten about essence of harmony and about Maysville Himself”, and to accuse recluses in being selfish and arrogant.

Still, tranquil and balanced erlanies can also be found among such nomadic preachers. Knowingly they take chances and set off for the lands that are beyond Giltaries’ control: to valleys of Faldorts, to deserts of Bushtargs, to canyons of Saihens – to try and convert people of other nations to their views. Sometimes they succeed. Venomous tongues rumor that such preachers serve to two masters at the same time: to Maysville and to The One Who Talks to Maysville (that is – to the Supreme Priest) and allegedly spy in favor of Giltaries.

We don’t know for certain whether it is true or not, but it is well known that Giltarien merchants do collect information for the Supreme Priest. Giltaries carry on active trade, both within their own territory, and in foreign markets, although they are very reluctant to leave their favorite forests for a long time. (When they find themselves in an open field, some Giltaries, especially young ones happen to suffer heavy attacks of agoraphobia; but it will be over with time). Giltaries are very successful merchants: they know how much a buyer is willing to pay for any particular commodity.

Due to Giltaries’ incredible discernment, other nations attribute them with a skill of reading other people’s minds. Unfortunately, now and again groups of adventurers and lovers of easy stuff would break the boundaries of Giltarian forests. If strangers behave quietly, they will be left alone. Otherwise they will be punished quickly and harshly.

Giltaries are not the best soldiers for battles held in an open field – they are not good at fighting face-to-face. But they are unexcelled as fighters of flying troops that can strike and then immediately retreat.

Causing deep affliction of elderly people, occasionally the youth of Giltaries (“they are flighty” – people say disapprovingly about such guys) gather into small groups and foray into lands of neighbors (both of their own nation, and of other erlanies as well). The purpose of these forays is not shedding blood; it is rather demonstrating their boldness, bravery and other features. Besides, it is still a question to be considered: what is more courageous – fighting with neighbors, overcoming one’s fear of open space, or disobeying patriarchs. Anyway, during those forays, the young people use the principle of flying troops.

Among other fighting skills of Giltaries it is worth noting bowing, ability to steal through the forest without making any noise, and using fighting animals in battles. As a matter of fact, for Giltaries forest nature itself (vegetation, animals, and weather) becomes some kind of weapon, which helps them to finish off militant strangers. Giltaries stick to similar principles in anything which concerns art of magic: the world around becomes a source of energy for their incantations. As one of magician’s treatises says, they do not “conquer” energy waves; they rather “use them skillfully”.

Both for defense and assaulting Giltaries use mainly natural forces: plants and animals, as well as magic of water (rain, dew), and magic of air (wind gust, silence and echo). Giltaries are experts in poisons; they can also send clouds of mephitis or swarms of dangerous insects to their enemies.
By taking energy from the surrounding world to “charge” themselves, Giltarien wizards can revive creatures, heal wounds, and restore their own vital forces and forces of their allies. The same skill to derive energy from the outside enables them to influence their enemies’ nervous system and thus to blind, deafen, and hypnotize victims; when the matter concerns “friends” – this skill enables wizards to anesthetize body parts during complicated surgeries.

Those of wizards who are more inclined to work with spectral energies, can levitate, can be present in both sides of objective reality at the same time; they can see spectral world while being in material world; they can move through the spectral world. They can also summon creatures from the spectral world and use them for their purposes.

Strange though it may seem, Giltaries are quite contradictory concerning politics. They believe that “mundane glory is nothing”, but at the same time they can enthusiastically discuss and debate elections to Toang-an-Tamboh (a council that rules over the country). The most proficient of Giltaries from the most influential clans are elected to Toang-an-Tamboh.

For some Giltaries all these power games are nothing more than fascinating entertainment which they are interested to observe and take part in; however, they do not allow this game prevail over them. In other words, most of the “players” remember that this political game is mere conventionalities. But there are others “devoured” by the game: they consider plots and cabals around commanding offices to be the most important activity in their lives.

Other Ragnesis erlanies treat Giltaries respectfully and carefully. Sometimes even Bushtargs seem to be easier to comprehend than these forest dwellers with their special view of the world and their own place in it. Still, it is not by accident that people of other erlanies would now and again set out to Giltaries’ thickets to join to the wisdom of Maysville’s creatures.