Culture of the Greater Imperium of Eleria

[DrMedic]

Elerian Culture

Elerian culture is a very unique blend derived from many different human ethnic groups, with much of the culture derived from Eonia and the United Kingdom of Ulster-Gaelia. Many of the traditions, while being spawned from these ancestor cultures, have been shaped and molded over time to be compatible with the typical Elerian world view, appearing almost unrecognizable from their original state. Of course, with the fall of slavery, the disavowed customs of the Elerians were finally able to take root upon already fertile soil, blossoming into something of their own as the people faced their hardships with renewed vigor.

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Fashion

The Fashion of the Greater Imperium ranges through all different forms and functions, though a vast majority of it can be traced back to occupational clothing and uniforms. Within the country, it is common to see men and women of all walks of life walking back and forth in clothing that wouldn't seem out of place within some of the world's militaries, with common shades for outerwear consisting of olive drab greens, navy blues, charcoal grays, black, and white. With the heavy emphasis the nation has on military service and professionalism, a vast majority wear what we would consider to be business casual dress, with less being considered almost taboo. The service dress uniforms of the branches of the Elerian military take place of business dress, expected to be worn complete with ribbons and insignias just as one would in a proper military function. Those residents within the country who have not served typically wear work uniforms, with suits, ties, skirts, and dresses taking over in place of the service uniforms seen among the business sphere. 

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Sports

Many different sports are enjoyed within Eleria, with many having being derived from enjoyment found in the armed forces, with few played as simple recreational games. The three most popular sports are listed, though there are plenty more with smaller followings that exist within the country.


Motorsport
The Elerian motorsport scene holds many different disciplines under its belt, with the most popular being rally, often held on courses and paths charted in the newly developing portions of continental Eleria. Supported by the NECRA, or National Elerian Competitive Rally Association, rally holds two divisions, one for cars and one for motorcycles. The two divisions each have four classes, ranging from A to D, with A being the most intense and competitive, and D class considered a sort of 'proving ground' for newcomers to the sport. Races support a very wide variety of types, with the two common ones being circuit groups and solo sprints. Circuit groups involve a maximum of eight drivers on a single circuit course, competing to complete a certain number of laps as swiftly as possible without deviating from the course. Circuit groups held for tournaments with more than eight participants will divide their competition into heats, with the top rankings of each heat progressing on to the next round until a single winner is decided in a final race. Solo sprints are as simple as they sound, with a series of drivers taking a sprint course alone in an attempt to set the fastest completion time. To aid them as they travel through the unfamiliar terrain, drivers are allotted a navigator, responsible for keeping record of track conditions and providing course callouts to the driver. Navigators are forbidden from using maps or altering the course in any way, in an effort to raise the skill ceiling and protect the competitive integrity of the sport respectively.


Another racing discipline that has begun rising in popularity is Cross-Country Enduro, with teams of four participating in the races. Each team is allotted one vehicle of their choice and as many supplies as they would like to bring with them. The objective is simple, get from point A to point B in the fastest way possible, while obeying traffic rules. Off-road driving is permitted, and has become the most effective tactic available, with many teams choosing to take modified utility trucks into the race. Cross-country endure races often last multiple days, though with each race the drivers perfect their routes and take more risks in a desperate bid to reach the finish point first.


Highland Games

The Highland Games within Eleria stem from many different simple games and activities that began during Eonia's rule over Eleria. Many of the games are simple tests of strength and endurance, things that the slave-owners saw as a way for the slaves to better themselves, and thus never cared to put a stop to, despite never really starting the practice themselves. The Highland Games are yearly competitions run on the national level, with thousands of competitors all reaching for a spot in the finals. The Highland Games are part of a national festival, lasting a full week in late spring as a sort of welcoming to the summer. Festivities typically involve a great bounty of food, music, dancing, drinks, and plenty of entertainment to go around.


Slat-Tomhais Blàr
Slat-Tomhais Blàr is a combat sport, easily the most popular sport in the nation. It consists of two teams of five, armed with rifles and sidearms. Each team runs through a varying combat scenario against the other for a set number of rounds, typically going first to thirteen, with the caveat that one team must have a two round advantage to be deemed victorious. The teams are armed with 'sim-munitions', essentially wax bullets filled with a marking powder, propelled by a primer and a much smaller powder load to render the munitions safe. Teams from all over the country and from all walks of life participate in the sport, many recreationally, but those who are more serious about it often choose to try their hand at local or regional tournaments in hopes of making it into the big leagues. The national championship is held in the home province of the previous year's victors, with great national fanfare, rivalling even the Highland Games. Slat-Tomhais Blàr is considered the national sport of the Greater Imperium of Eleria, having been created within the borders of the fledgling state.