The Heortlings are the majority of the inhabitants of Sartar and Heortland, as well as Pavis County in Prax. They are an Orlanthi culture with the clan, led by a chief, the basic unit of social organization. Clans group together into tribes; tribes, in turn, may form confederations such as the Kingdom of Sartar or the Volsaxi Confederation.
Heortlings are a largely rural and pastoral people; even city folk are familiar with farming and herding. They are independent and proud. Honor is vital to them, and they are notoriously violent when provoked. All Heortlings, male and female, know how to fight with weapons and with fists. All men and many women know how to fight in a shield wall as part of the local militia.
Heortlings are olive-skinned, with brown, black, or reddish hair. Their eyes are typically green, brown, grey, or orange. Men and women typically grow their hair long; men usually grow beards and mustaches, and women often have elaborately braided hair.
The Heortlings worship Orlanth and Ernalda, and initiate themselves into adulthood with rites founded by King Heort the Founder before Time began. They tattoo themselves with the markings of their gods, clan, and other symbols.
The Heortlings speak a language related to Esrolian. Few Heortlings can read; the cult of Lhankor Mhy holds a monopoly over professional scholars.