Post by VoxApocrypha on Mar 23, 2022 14:44:09 GMT -5
Roskanan Culture
Roskanan Culture is a amalgamation of various cultural identities and ethnic groups with varied traditions and practices, but it has as well general pillars of which form its foundations or were otherwise made foundational by the various cultural subgroups of Roskana and Marrlan. Wider Roskanan culture is generally a very open, kind and tradition oriented one but it as well has a great deal of focus on concepts such as honor, integrity and loyalty, to which a lot of these are tied to Roskanan Mythology and in many instances they are connected more to the societal tenets that Roskanan and Pre-Roskanan societies promoted, including openness to strangers but rigidity on assimilation, valuing hard work, and as well kindness.
The major cultural pillars of Roskana are laid out in the nation's motto.
"Liberty, Honor, Duty, Diligence, Brotherhood."
Pillar 1. Liberty
Roskana has thrived off of the concept of individual autonomy for almost two thousand years. Individual Liberty in Roskana is attached to the belief in one's actions defining their character, and that any action they take, they are solely responsible for. By its nature, individualism places control of one and responsibility for one, in the hands of the singular One. Whatever they may do, they are doing by their own choice. They have the option to pursue their goals and wants as they would so deem, and to pursue their happiness and path. This was often suppressed by the last Tsar, an attempt at collectivisation that failed and fell into a bloodbath. Similar had been tried throughout history by ancien tyrants and a final few dictators, but all failed to break this spirit. It forms a important part of Roskanan morality.
Pillar 2. Honor
Honor is a fundamental part of Roskanan morals, and a fundamental basis on which Roskanan morality is built. It always emphasis that you should always be 'honorable'. You keep your end of a deal, you don't kick someone when they're done (with some exceptions), you should help your friends and neighbors, and you do the right thing, regardless what you may so wish to do - adhering to the standard of a Honorable Roskanan Individual. Dishonorable conduct is heavily frowned on, though context as always is important. Honorable conduct as well is often defined in a nationalistic sense as being what pushes Roskana forward, particularly doing deeds and working to better the nation.
Pillar 3. Duty
Duty is an important part of Roskanan morality and honor, and it as well ties to the other pillars. It is the Duty of the One, to maintain their honor, and to protect their liberty. As well in terms of Roskanan Nationalism, it is the duty of the citizen to work to protect their nation, their community, and the create a better world for those that come after them to inherit. To disregard one's duty is considered dishonorable.
Pillar 4. Diligence
Diligence is promoted heavily, and has been so for a long time. Working hard is always considered to be a high virtue, though often as well this dilligence extends to diligently participating in the system to which Roskana is bound, to upholding the republic and to protecting it. Being diligent in the pursuit of one's goals and to meeting any obligation is considered to be one of the highest of moral tenets of the pillars.
Pillar 5. Brotherhood
Brotherhood emphasis that Roskanan's are kin. Despite the differences in body, in mind, and often in origin, a Roskanan is a Roskanan - the spirit of Roskana and its identity itself are what matter the most. Roskanans are Kin to each other, and as well Roskanan's view Marrlanians and to a lesser extent, Maizians as kin. To be kin, is to be apart of a wider community, and these communities are apart of the overall greater society that is Roskana - the great Brotherhood. To a point as well Roskana does attribute brotherhood to fellow Republics and freedom loving nations, though it is in a more political sense than cultural and moral.
Roskanan Folklore
1. Razina
Throughout history, Roskana has had a wide variety of mythological figures and creatures of which have influenced popular culture, regional folklore and as well, the national zeitgeist and fiction. However few are as influential as Roskana's greatest mythological figure and creature, the 'Razina'.
The Razina is the central figure of Roskanan mythology, of which is responsible for the creation of the original four tribes of Auran, and their spread and eventual unification. Razina appears as a humanoid with an androgynous figure, and no visible features on their head nor a tail or other defining parts, simply a blank slate wearing a white cloth of which covers their body. They are said to have created the Karrashi, Festria and Kithium, and brought the greatest of a clan of Humans to live besides them, and helped to guide them together. Many great acts of bravery and ingenuity are often attributed to 'Razina's Divine Inspiration' or 'Razina's guidance'.
Razina is said to appear during times of great change, appearing where the event that'll bring forth this create change will happen. It is described as a "Harbinger Event", with Razina being the Harbinger.
Razina creates trials for his people, every trail preceded by a Harbinger Event. But when he brings forth good fortune to Roskana, it is as well often followed by a supposed harbinger event.
When Razina disappers, it leaves a field of roses in its wake, colored green. These green flowers eventually turn red and rapidly spread across an entire field, before decaying away in one generation. Or so it's said, anyway.
2. Roan Wolves
Roan Wolves are a living and real species of Lucrewolf of which reside in the Auranian Highlands, but because of the species prevelance in history they are mythologically considered the first 'Companion' to the peoples of Roskana, the first animals domesticated by the Roskanans to serve as hunting partners, home protectors and as well, herding animals. Modern Roans(dogs) in Roskana are descended of this pack animal, and most Roan Wolves live near to urban centers. The animals rarely attack anything larger than game animals, but they are still considered dangerous. In mythology they are often seen as the vanguard of a great hunting season, and as well of a returning army having successfully completed a conquest. They appear with grey and brown fur, and red eyes, as well as mostly canine features. Most descendant species of domesticated Roan share these features.
3. Ancients, the Rombardans
It is said that before there were Roskanans, there were a race of peoples called the Rombardans, of which Razina hails from. Ruins from across the north from straica, to the coast of Maiz, are considered to be potentially of Rombardan origin, as they share similar aesthetics and styles, as well as a similar langauge found carved into the stone. It is said they had discovered metallurgy and forged spears and the first gladius's for use in their armies. A cataclysm thousands of years ago led to the collapse of the empire, and extinction of the Rombardans as a people, though their culture and ruins remain now, and have been found by the Roskanans and meticulously preserved where possible. Many of their weapons are in muesems across Roskana, though many are being studied, as they appear made from a metal that is resistant to corrison and flexible, sharing many qualities like steal but being as well, stronger.
The Rombardan's had a pantheon, and several of their ancient temples hold a series of statues dedicated to various gods within this pantheon. The highest entity within this pantheon is believed to be Razina, as the statue's fit most interpretations of their appearance. Several ancient communities in Roskana, particular the Festria and Kithium nations of Ald and Lureal had similar temples built by their citizens daying back to almost three thousand years ago, and all interpretations of this seem to maintain Razina, and the Rombardan pantheon, but with a general different interpreation on species, casting the Razina all generally as being androgynous (though with the Kithium they appear as a hermaphrodite like the Kithium are) but lacking many defining features, including hair, colors, fur patterns or markings and so on.
Roskanan Cultures
1. Human/Auranite Culture
Auran has always been the heart of Roskanan civilization in some form or another. It was from Auran that the first conquering armies reached out to unify the kingdoms that would come to form the first great nation of Roskaura, and then later build from that the nation of Roskana. Auran has as well, always been fundamentally a city built by humans first, and added too by all others they incorporated after. Auranite culture is felt in every aspect of Roskanan society, and in every other culture as well, even in Kithium majority regions. Auranian culture has spread the pillars of Roskanan society to all others, and by its infectious influence it has bettered them all in irrevokable, and immense ways. Despite this it remains notably distinct in that Auranite culture is very very open, even more so than the very welcoming Aldenite culture.
It's most notable traditions are the Festival of the Day of Fertility, a fertility festival held every fall, featuring large dance parties and a notable amount of more skimpy clothing, as well as feasts. The Festival of the Day of Unity, for the day that Roskana became one nation incorporating the Kithium Queendoms, Karrashi Kiithids, Festria Empire, and Auranian City-State Alliances. It is a celebration of patriotism that reaches back almost two thousand years, and features feasts, a military march through Auran, and the Ceremony of the Guard's Change, in which the guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will end their yearly rotation and roster off, leaving the thousand year old building to be guarded by a new platoon. Auranite culture overall is heavy on patriotism, loyalty and as well, honor - honor in life, honoring others and the fallen, and honor in death. It has as well changed dramatically from its old form, to suit this new modern age, sanitizing some of its rituals.
2. Kithium/Auroran Culture
Kithium culture is built around a strict moral code of which roughly mirrors that of broader Roskanan culture, centered around a fixation on the family unit and the extended family of which may for some extend out several generations and all the way to the 10th cousin group. These organizations are roughly known as the Kiithid, or in some circles simply just the Tribes. Kithium are known for having a lot of children in many circles, and the Kiith culture heavily influences this as these groups often operated in part like independent nations, and mergers thereof or alliances between them being born out of marriages between two particular Kiithid. When they were integrated into Roskana this system changed but as well remained almost the same.
Kithium began to marry into Festria and Human families and the Kiithid system began to break down, reforming around a generally clan and Kiithid identity that may also be heavily genetically influenced in nature, and as well forming hybrid entities between Festria clans, human Tribes and Kithium Kiithids. Kithium are as well known for their aggression, be it in subtle ways like pursuing a potential partner, trying to close deals or otherwise make some form of gains in an economic manner, or in more direct fashions such as warfare, dueling and sometimes, negotiating. Kithium generally are known for being very communal and they make a habit out of trying to maintain close ties with many people, and often engage in polyamorous relationships.
Kithium are usually separated out into their own units in the military, as they're very well known for their hyper-aggression when engaged in combat - similarly so to Festria they are well suited to acting as rapid response and mobile infantry units, which makes them especially lethal when acting in a offensive capacity, as well as defensive depending on the situation and area of battle. Kithium are most feared for their proficiency in urban fighting.
Most Kithium hail from the region of Aurora and the cities therein, as it is their homeland. It has a strong identity independent of Roskana itself, though remains firmly apart of the nation. They as well inhabit many areas around the base of the mountains that separate Auran from the coastal north.
3. Karrashi/Karshkani Culture
Karrashi Culture and Karshkani Culture are generally considered to be synomous. The Karrashi had a long and brutal war in their early history, seeing the Krashkani subculture eventually subvert and conquer the others, integrating them as vassals into a sort of kingdom. Karshkan itself is a name derived from the territory of the Karshkan valley, of which the Karrashi generally hail from, in the south of the nation. This region hosts a variety of harsh animal life and the Karrashi have become very adept at taming and dealing with animals of such a type, their early history rife with examples of domestication. This as well gave rise to a rancher culture in the region.
Karshkani culture is centered around smaller family units and generally, familial connections are maintained only to about the second cousin group. These groups as well interact with other familial units located within a general area around them, usually being other ranchers or farmers, though it can be as well entire neighborhoods or parts of a city that might generally be considered part of a grouping of Karrashi Karshkans. These groupings may identify often as Karshkani Clans. Karshkan's are as well generally named for their home, Karsh, or Karshkan Valley as many call it.
The Karshkan as well are known for a culture of productivity and placing high importance on education and personal initiative, and such has led to many of Roskana's leaders being Karrashi, including the two current rulers of Roskana - Amelia Karshkan and Dejanus Karshkan in Arema.
4. Festria/Aldenite Culture
Festria culture is a culture built off of the ideals of honor, unity and integrity, particularly because Festria throghout much of their history could both not afford to be loners, and neither could afford to pointlessly kill one another over wars that made little to no difference in their fortunes - especially when cooperation was a inevitably better prospect than fighting. Festria spent much of their history engaged in warfare with nomadic northern peoples rather than one another, even despite the two cultural lineages of the Festria and their few notable ethnic differences. These differences would be reduced to little more than footnotes between the two as eventually the Festria would develop a overarching Aldenite culture, integrating it all into a singular honorable cultural mindset that mirrored its southernly and easterly neighbors.
Hardened by centuries of staving off barbarian invasions and often raiding these same barbarians from the lands of Straica and Grinvel, they would become adept warriors and martial spirit deeply ingrained in their culture and society. Festria as well are deeply connected on a societal and familial basis, and within Aldenite society it is regarded as a inherit duty to be willing to help your neighbor, your family and your friends, and for them to be willing to do the same for you. As well, Festria have a lot of children and their ability to breed with any other mammal allows them to integrate other warm blooded races into their own society relatively easily, shown by their ability to integrate Humans, Kithium and Karrashi into their societal structure, and likewise as well it allows them to integrate with others.
Festria culture is as well adaptive and not hyper-rigid, but it has several strict tenets, including monogamy, adhering to honorable conduct and mutual respect.
Aldenite society is notably more expansionist than all but the Auranite one, with its focus in part being culturally claiming a fairly large swath of land leading down into Straica, which is often a point of contention in the region.
5. Eflusian/Gryphonian Culture
Eflusian culture is centralized around a communal structure to which is centered around the 'nesting group', of which is usually anywhere from 10 to 150 individual Eflusians. Gryphonians in particular usually make up the majority of this society, as Eflusians are a largely single-racial group, but they do include some Humans and Festria. Eflusians, when they integrated into Roskana in the 15th century, had been in part defeated and overthrown by the old Tsardom in a war of conquest, and their culture had to be morphed over the centuries into a more compatible one to that of Roskana, using a slow cultural envelopment of which eventually spawned the modern stable fusion of Eflusian and Roskanan values, and made Eflus into a contributing territory to the nation.
Nesting groups were always however made central to this, and co-opted to be functional parts of the system to which dominates most of Roskana, being that Rosark Style of Family. Nesting groups form the bases of Eflusian Clans, of which are a social unit to which form the basic Fiefdoms of which the original Eflusian Empire had been built on. Their religion was morphed to have Razgrina at the center of it, making it into a functional and widely practiced religion that promoted many of the values that Roskana did. Still however, many of old cultural elements remain.
A system of martial honor and conduct remains, of which requires all individuals to collectively practice a system of honorbinding, to which as well forms the basis for law and order in Eflus. Contracts are maintained by honor, and those of whom sully their honor can and often are shunned or punished accordingly and in a proportional manner, often requiring that they pay fines or perform duties to restore their honor. As well, children are often raised communally, egg clutches usually protected and cared for by the female Gryphons while male ones will hunt, work or otherwise perform duties for the family/nest or their nesting group/clan/etc.
6. Kiralian Culture
Roskana as well has numerous subcultures, particularly a fair number spawned from Elenrian refugees, Kumo immigrants, Amalians, and the largest being the Shazza'k/Marrlanian subculture of which many are primarily centered in the South/South-west. Particularly large immigrant groups as well include some Straicans, Areman Islanders and peoples from Maiz and further south from nations that were once formerly apart of Verak, which cna be considered to a point to be culturally similar to Roskana.
A particularly subculture of Roskana is the Kiralians, though over the past 30 years this subculture has largely been suppressed by the Roskanan public consciousness outside of Kiralia.
Roskanan Culture is a amalgamation of various cultural identities and ethnic groups with varied traditions and practices, but it has as well general pillars of which form its foundations or were otherwise made foundational by the various cultural subgroups of Roskana and Marrlan. Wider Roskanan culture is generally a very open, kind and tradition oriented one but it as well has a great deal of focus on concepts such as honor, integrity and loyalty, to which a lot of these are tied to Roskanan Mythology and in many instances they are connected more to the societal tenets that Roskanan and Pre-Roskanan societies promoted, including openness to strangers but rigidity on assimilation, valuing hard work, and as well kindness.
The major cultural pillars of Roskana are laid out in the nation's motto.
"Liberty, Honor, Duty, Diligence, Brotherhood."
Pillar 1. Liberty
Roskana has thrived off of the concept of individual autonomy for almost two thousand years. Individual Liberty in Roskana is attached to the belief in one's actions defining their character, and that any action they take, they are solely responsible for. By its nature, individualism places control of one and responsibility for one, in the hands of the singular One. Whatever they may do, they are doing by their own choice. They have the option to pursue their goals and wants as they would so deem, and to pursue their happiness and path. This was often suppressed by the last Tsar, an attempt at collectivisation that failed and fell into a bloodbath. Similar had been tried throughout history by ancien tyrants and a final few dictators, but all failed to break this spirit. It forms a important part of Roskanan morality.
Pillar 2. Honor
Honor is a fundamental part of Roskanan morals, and a fundamental basis on which Roskanan morality is built. It always emphasis that you should always be 'honorable'. You keep your end of a deal, you don't kick someone when they're done (with some exceptions), you should help your friends and neighbors, and you do the right thing, regardless what you may so wish to do - adhering to the standard of a Honorable Roskanan Individual. Dishonorable conduct is heavily frowned on, though context as always is important. Honorable conduct as well is often defined in a nationalistic sense as being what pushes Roskana forward, particularly doing deeds and working to better the nation.
Pillar 3. Duty
Duty is an important part of Roskanan morality and honor, and it as well ties to the other pillars. It is the Duty of the One, to maintain their honor, and to protect their liberty. As well in terms of Roskanan Nationalism, it is the duty of the citizen to work to protect their nation, their community, and the create a better world for those that come after them to inherit. To disregard one's duty is considered dishonorable.
Pillar 4. Diligence
Diligence is promoted heavily, and has been so for a long time. Working hard is always considered to be a high virtue, though often as well this dilligence extends to diligently participating in the system to which Roskana is bound, to upholding the republic and to protecting it. Being diligent in the pursuit of one's goals and to meeting any obligation is considered to be one of the highest of moral tenets of the pillars.
Pillar 5. Brotherhood
Brotherhood emphasis that Roskanan's are kin. Despite the differences in body, in mind, and often in origin, a Roskanan is a Roskanan - the spirit of Roskana and its identity itself are what matter the most. Roskanans are Kin to each other, and as well Roskanan's view Marrlanians and to a lesser extent, Maizians as kin. To be kin, is to be apart of a wider community, and these communities are apart of the overall greater society that is Roskana - the great Brotherhood. To a point as well Roskana does attribute brotherhood to fellow Republics and freedom loving nations, though it is in a more political sense than cultural and moral.
Roskanan Folklore
1. Razina
Throughout history, Roskana has had a wide variety of mythological figures and creatures of which have influenced popular culture, regional folklore and as well, the national zeitgeist and fiction. However few are as influential as Roskana's greatest mythological figure and creature, the 'Razina'.
The Razina is the central figure of Roskanan mythology, of which is responsible for the creation of the original four tribes of Auran, and their spread and eventual unification. Razina appears as a humanoid with an androgynous figure, and no visible features on their head nor a tail or other defining parts, simply a blank slate wearing a white cloth of which covers their body. They are said to have created the Karrashi, Festria and Kithium, and brought the greatest of a clan of Humans to live besides them, and helped to guide them together. Many great acts of bravery and ingenuity are often attributed to 'Razina's Divine Inspiration' or 'Razina's guidance'.
Razina is said to appear during times of great change, appearing where the event that'll bring forth this create change will happen. It is described as a "Harbinger Event", with Razina being the Harbinger.
Razina creates trials for his people, every trail preceded by a Harbinger Event. But when he brings forth good fortune to Roskana, it is as well often followed by a supposed harbinger event.
When Razina disappers, it leaves a field of roses in its wake, colored green. These green flowers eventually turn red and rapidly spread across an entire field, before decaying away in one generation. Or so it's said, anyway.
2. Roan Wolves
Roan Wolves are a living and real species of Lucrewolf of which reside in the Auranian Highlands, but because of the species prevelance in history they are mythologically considered the first 'Companion' to the peoples of Roskana, the first animals domesticated by the Roskanans to serve as hunting partners, home protectors and as well, herding animals. Modern Roans(dogs) in Roskana are descended of this pack animal, and most Roan Wolves live near to urban centers. The animals rarely attack anything larger than game animals, but they are still considered dangerous. In mythology they are often seen as the vanguard of a great hunting season, and as well of a returning army having successfully completed a conquest. They appear with grey and brown fur, and red eyes, as well as mostly canine features. Most descendant species of domesticated Roan share these features.
3. Ancients, the Rombardans
It is said that before there were Roskanans, there were a race of peoples called the Rombardans, of which Razina hails from. Ruins from across the north from straica, to the coast of Maiz, are considered to be potentially of Rombardan origin, as they share similar aesthetics and styles, as well as a similar langauge found carved into the stone. It is said they had discovered metallurgy and forged spears and the first gladius's for use in their armies. A cataclysm thousands of years ago led to the collapse of the empire, and extinction of the Rombardans as a people, though their culture and ruins remain now, and have been found by the Roskanans and meticulously preserved where possible. Many of their weapons are in muesems across Roskana, though many are being studied, as they appear made from a metal that is resistant to corrison and flexible, sharing many qualities like steal but being as well, stronger.
The Rombardan's had a pantheon, and several of their ancient temples hold a series of statues dedicated to various gods within this pantheon. The highest entity within this pantheon is believed to be Razina, as the statue's fit most interpretations of their appearance. Several ancient communities in Roskana, particular the Festria and Kithium nations of Ald and Lureal had similar temples built by their citizens daying back to almost three thousand years ago, and all interpretations of this seem to maintain Razina, and the Rombardan pantheon, but with a general different interpreation on species, casting the Razina all generally as being androgynous (though with the Kithium they appear as a hermaphrodite like the Kithium are) but lacking many defining features, including hair, colors, fur patterns or markings and so on.
Roskanan Cultures
1. Human/Auranite Culture
Auran has always been the heart of Roskanan civilization in some form or another. It was from Auran that the first conquering armies reached out to unify the kingdoms that would come to form the first great nation of Roskaura, and then later build from that the nation of Roskana. Auran has as well, always been fundamentally a city built by humans first, and added too by all others they incorporated after. Auranite culture is felt in every aspect of Roskanan society, and in every other culture as well, even in Kithium majority regions. Auranian culture has spread the pillars of Roskanan society to all others, and by its infectious influence it has bettered them all in irrevokable, and immense ways. Despite this it remains notably distinct in that Auranite culture is very very open, even more so than the very welcoming Aldenite culture.
It's most notable traditions are the Festival of the Day of Fertility, a fertility festival held every fall, featuring large dance parties and a notable amount of more skimpy clothing, as well as feasts. The Festival of the Day of Unity, for the day that Roskana became one nation incorporating the Kithium Queendoms, Karrashi Kiithids, Festria Empire, and Auranian City-State Alliances. It is a celebration of patriotism that reaches back almost two thousand years, and features feasts, a military march through Auran, and the Ceremony of the Guard's Change, in which the guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will end their yearly rotation and roster off, leaving the thousand year old building to be guarded by a new platoon. Auranite culture overall is heavy on patriotism, loyalty and as well, honor - honor in life, honoring others and the fallen, and honor in death. It has as well changed dramatically from its old form, to suit this new modern age, sanitizing some of its rituals.
2. Kithium/Auroran Culture
Kithium culture is built around a strict moral code of which roughly mirrors that of broader Roskanan culture, centered around a fixation on the family unit and the extended family of which may for some extend out several generations and all the way to the 10th cousin group. These organizations are roughly known as the Kiithid, or in some circles simply just the Tribes. Kithium are known for having a lot of children in many circles, and the Kiith culture heavily influences this as these groups often operated in part like independent nations, and mergers thereof or alliances between them being born out of marriages between two particular Kiithid. When they were integrated into Roskana this system changed but as well remained almost the same.
Kithium began to marry into Festria and Human families and the Kiithid system began to break down, reforming around a generally clan and Kiithid identity that may also be heavily genetically influenced in nature, and as well forming hybrid entities between Festria clans, human Tribes and Kithium Kiithids. Kithium are as well known for their aggression, be it in subtle ways like pursuing a potential partner, trying to close deals or otherwise make some form of gains in an economic manner, or in more direct fashions such as warfare, dueling and sometimes, negotiating. Kithium generally are known for being very communal and they make a habit out of trying to maintain close ties with many people, and often engage in polyamorous relationships.
Kithium are usually separated out into their own units in the military, as they're very well known for their hyper-aggression when engaged in combat - similarly so to Festria they are well suited to acting as rapid response and mobile infantry units, which makes them especially lethal when acting in a offensive capacity, as well as defensive depending on the situation and area of battle. Kithium are most feared for their proficiency in urban fighting.
Most Kithium hail from the region of Aurora and the cities therein, as it is their homeland. It has a strong identity independent of Roskana itself, though remains firmly apart of the nation. They as well inhabit many areas around the base of the mountains that separate Auran from the coastal north.
3. Karrashi/Karshkani Culture
Karrashi Culture and Karshkani Culture are generally considered to be synomous. The Karrashi had a long and brutal war in their early history, seeing the Krashkani subculture eventually subvert and conquer the others, integrating them as vassals into a sort of kingdom. Karshkan itself is a name derived from the territory of the Karshkan valley, of which the Karrashi generally hail from, in the south of the nation. This region hosts a variety of harsh animal life and the Karrashi have become very adept at taming and dealing with animals of such a type, their early history rife with examples of domestication. This as well gave rise to a rancher culture in the region.
Karshkani culture is centered around smaller family units and generally, familial connections are maintained only to about the second cousin group. These groups as well interact with other familial units located within a general area around them, usually being other ranchers or farmers, though it can be as well entire neighborhoods or parts of a city that might generally be considered part of a grouping of Karrashi Karshkans. These groupings may identify often as Karshkani Clans. Karshkan's are as well generally named for their home, Karsh, or Karshkan Valley as many call it.
The Karshkan as well are known for a culture of productivity and placing high importance on education and personal initiative, and such has led to many of Roskana's leaders being Karrashi, including the two current rulers of Roskana - Amelia Karshkan and Dejanus Karshkan in Arema.
4. Festria/Aldenite Culture
Festria culture is a culture built off of the ideals of honor, unity and integrity, particularly because Festria throghout much of their history could both not afford to be loners, and neither could afford to pointlessly kill one another over wars that made little to no difference in their fortunes - especially when cooperation was a inevitably better prospect than fighting. Festria spent much of their history engaged in warfare with nomadic northern peoples rather than one another, even despite the two cultural lineages of the Festria and their few notable ethnic differences. These differences would be reduced to little more than footnotes between the two as eventually the Festria would develop a overarching Aldenite culture, integrating it all into a singular honorable cultural mindset that mirrored its southernly and easterly neighbors.
Hardened by centuries of staving off barbarian invasions and often raiding these same barbarians from the lands of Straica and Grinvel, they would become adept warriors and martial spirit deeply ingrained in their culture and society. Festria as well are deeply connected on a societal and familial basis, and within Aldenite society it is regarded as a inherit duty to be willing to help your neighbor, your family and your friends, and for them to be willing to do the same for you. As well, Festria have a lot of children and their ability to breed with any other mammal allows them to integrate other warm blooded races into their own society relatively easily, shown by their ability to integrate Humans, Kithium and Karrashi into their societal structure, and likewise as well it allows them to integrate with others.
Festria culture is as well adaptive and not hyper-rigid, but it has several strict tenets, including monogamy, adhering to honorable conduct and mutual respect.
Aldenite society is notably more expansionist than all but the Auranite one, with its focus in part being culturally claiming a fairly large swath of land leading down into Straica, which is often a point of contention in the region.
5. Eflusian/Gryphonian Culture
Eflusian culture is centralized around a communal structure to which is centered around the 'nesting group', of which is usually anywhere from 10 to 150 individual Eflusians. Gryphonians in particular usually make up the majority of this society, as Eflusians are a largely single-racial group, but they do include some Humans and Festria. Eflusians, when they integrated into Roskana in the 15th century, had been in part defeated and overthrown by the old Tsardom in a war of conquest, and their culture had to be morphed over the centuries into a more compatible one to that of Roskana, using a slow cultural envelopment of which eventually spawned the modern stable fusion of Eflusian and Roskanan values, and made Eflus into a contributing territory to the nation.
Nesting groups were always however made central to this, and co-opted to be functional parts of the system to which dominates most of Roskana, being that Rosark Style of Family. Nesting groups form the bases of Eflusian Clans, of which are a social unit to which form the basic Fiefdoms of which the original Eflusian Empire had been built on. Their religion was morphed to have Razgrina at the center of it, making it into a functional and widely practiced religion that promoted many of the values that Roskana did. Still however, many of old cultural elements remain.
A system of martial honor and conduct remains, of which requires all individuals to collectively practice a system of honorbinding, to which as well forms the basis for law and order in Eflus. Contracts are maintained by honor, and those of whom sully their honor can and often are shunned or punished accordingly and in a proportional manner, often requiring that they pay fines or perform duties to restore their honor. As well, children are often raised communally, egg clutches usually protected and cared for by the female Gryphons while male ones will hunt, work or otherwise perform duties for the family/nest or their nesting group/clan/etc.
6. Kiralian Culture
Roskana as well has numerous subcultures, particularly a fair number spawned from Elenrian refugees, Kumo immigrants, Amalians, and the largest being the Shazza'k/Marrlanian subculture of which many are primarily centered in the South/South-west. Particularly large immigrant groups as well include some Straicans, Areman Islanders and peoples from Maiz and further south from nations that were once formerly apart of Verak, which cna be considered to a point to be culturally similar to Roskana.
A particularly subculture of Roskana is the Kiralians, though over the past 30 years this subculture has largely been suppressed by the Roskanan public consciousness outside of Kiralia.
Culturally Important Weapons
The Iron Spear, a fully iron spear with a handle made from leather cord, wrapped firm around the hand that grips the weapon. In ancient times when Verak's empire stretched to Roskana, the weapon was adopted by the native legions of the region, but here this legion would find itself to be soon isolated, and later the new army of a independent nation, one that would encompass the territory of modern Straica, Grinvel, Marrlan, Maiz and Roskana. Even however as this nation gradually dwindled in size, its territories freed or breaking away, the stable body left behind always kept the Iron Spear as a symbol of military might. Even as the spear became less viable in warfare, and was fazed out of the modern battlefield, the weapon remained a cultural icon in Roskana, and as well all adult citizens who serve in the armed forces will receive this spear - of which may be passed down to their children to show the glory of their family's past. Variations of it exist that are meant to be used as Javelins.
Runi, a long pike styled weapon used by Kithium in ancient times, and as well used by modern Kithium units for melee combat, mostly in a ritualized fashion. The weapon is as well usually used to reinforce fortifications with extra spiky edges, as the Kithium would often bury part of it into the ground to stop incoming cavalry. The weapon is lined with razor sharp blades along the areas down the first ten inches of the weapons shaft, down from the spear tip, to shred muscles and cause serious internal damage. Kithium as well use a non-lethal design of the weapon as part of their traditional rituals, and in their mating rituals as well.
The Thymadian, a weapon made by the ancient Festria tribes of the north, carried into the modern era and regarded by Festria families as an important part of their heritage. The weapon is made of a wooden handle and body, lined then with teeth of a Lathrine Reef Shark, or sometimes from Obsidian or Iron. The weapon is simplistic in function, but brutal and effective in close combat. Festria soldiers still carry it in place of other CQC weapons in many units in the modern Roskanan Army and Marines. It can be found among civilians as well, most predominantly among families with heavy native heritage. The weapons became more prevelant among the normal Roskanan population as the barbarian nobility married into the wealthy Roskanan aristocracy.
The Glavian, a short sword made once of bronze, now of iron and now of steel, the standard for CQC weapons among the Roskanan army. It has been this way since the time of Verak occupation, and the tradition has been carried to the modern day, the short sword able to serve as a functional knife, a bayonet, and a effective weapon on war in close combat. Most may simply call it a Glav.
The Warhorn, a foghorn adopted in the early 1800s by the Roskanan Navy and later a more mobile version emplyoed by the army to use as a Fear tactic against warships, pirates and enemy infantry formations. A big part of why the Overthrow of the Tsar in the 1890s was so widely considered one of the most brutal was the psychological effect and PTSD generated by its widespread use, combined with artillery attacks and melee assaults.
The Freiden Gun, one of the first muskets ever developed. While not in service with the mainstream military it is a weapon used more for ceremonial purposes, and because of its cheap but reliable construction a great many of them have been funneled to Arema by the First Republic, and Tsardom of Roskana. Many of these weapons are as well in the hands of veterans of the Overthrow, and some smaller conflicts, and spread out among the nation in families and gun collections.
The Iron Spear, a fully iron spear with a handle made from leather cord, wrapped firm around the hand that grips the weapon. In ancient times when Verak's empire stretched to Roskana, the weapon was adopted by the native legions of the region, but here this legion would find itself to be soon isolated, and later the new army of a independent nation, one that would encompass the territory of modern Straica, Grinvel, Marrlan, Maiz and Roskana. Even however as this nation gradually dwindled in size, its territories freed or breaking away, the stable body left behind always kept the Iron Spear as a symbol of military might. Even as the spear became less viable in warfare, and was fazed out of the modern battlefield, the weapon remained a cultural icon in Roskana, and as well all adult citizens who serve in the armed forces will receive this spear - of which may be passed down to their children to show the glory of their family's past. Variations of it exist that are meant to be used as Javelins.
Runi, a long pike styled weapon used by Kithium in ancient times, and as well used by modern Kithium units for melee combat, mostly in a ritualized fashion. The weapon is as well usually used to reinforce fortifications with extra spiky edges, as the Kithium would often bury part of it into the ground to stop incoming cavalry. The weapon is lined with razor sharp blades along the areas down the first ten inches of the weapons shaft, down from the spear tip, to shred muscles and cause serious internal damage. Kithium as well use a non-lethal design of the weapon as part of their traditional rituals, and in their mating rituals as well.
The Thymadian, a weapon made by the ancient Festria tribes of the north, carried into the modern era and regarded by Festria families as an important part of their heritage. The weapon is made of a wooden handle and body, lined then with teeth of a Lathrine Reef Shark, or sometimes from Obsidian or Iron. The weapon is simplistic in function, but brutal and effective in close combat. Festria soldiers still carry it in place of other CQC weapons in many units in the modern Roskanan Army and Marines. It can be found among civilians as well, most predominantly among families with heavy native heritage. The weapons became more prevelant among the normal Roskanan population as the barbarian nobility married into the wealthy Roskanan aristocracy.
The Glavian, a short sword made once of bronze, now of iron and now of steel, the standard for CQC weapons among the Roskanan army. It has been this way since the time of Verak occupation, and the tradition has been carried to the modern day, the short sword able to serve as a functional knife, a bayonet, and a effective weapon on war in close combat. Most may simply call it a Glav.
The Warhorn, a foghorn adopted in the early 1800s by the Roskanan Navy and later a more mobile version emplyoed by the army to use as a Fear tactic against warships, pirates and enemy infantry formations. A big part of why the Overthrow of the Tsar in the 1890s was so widely considered one of the most brutal was the psychological effect and PTSD generated by its widespread use, combined with artillery attacks and melee assaults.
The Freiden Gun, one of the first muskets ever developed. While not in service with the mainstream military it is a weapon used more for ceremonial purposes, and because of its cheap but reliable construction a great many of them have been funneled to Arema by the First Republic, and Tsardom of Roskana. Many of these weapons are as well in the hands of veterans of the Overthrow, and some smaller conflicts, and spread out among the nation in families and gun collections.