Post by KyferLegs (Diria) on Apr 26, 2022 22:05:04 GMT -5
Diversity
Ohmyidans
Sabir
Zarou
Shawistani
Mednusai
Dirian
Sohili
Dirian-Nardras Tribes
Veraki
Nevarran
Galran
Koian
The Dirian Federation is an incredibly diverse nation culturally, and customs and traditions can wildly change between regions and states influenced by centuries of exposure to the surroundings, environment, and situations Diria has faced. Diria has dozens of cultures native to the nation, yet about ten are considered the most significant. Furthermore, other groups, such as the Veraki, Neverrans, Galrans, and some Koians, are borrowed from bordering nations. Finally, countless foreigners, including Gaelians, Amalians, Marrlans, and Lusatians, moved and stayed within the nation's borders. Furthermore, Diria has eleven broad, native, and foreign languages, with dozens of subdialects in the country. Finally, Diria is full of dozens of worldwide religions, local religions, nomadic beliefs, and other minor beliefs.
Ohmyidans
One of the largest cultural groups, the Ohmyidans, are native to Shrand, Etaroh, and Miriyad and natively speak Ohmyidan.
The Ohmyidans are humans with white or tan complexions and darker hair colors and are relatively diverse considering the east or western places they populate. Most are also average height to similar humanistic groups. However, one trait shared among many of the Ohmyidans, at least those considered proximately Ohmyidan in origin, is their bright blue eyes. The cause of Ohmyidan's bright blue eyes is relatively unknown, but genetics and genes have proven essentially the primary cause. Furthermore, Ohmyidans from the East or West vary in cultural norms due to previous Verak rule over East Diria.
Ohmyidan family structure varies between east and west regions, but most families and groups follow patrilineality and congregate between family groups. However, the openness of these groups varies between areas. Ohmyidans closer to the East tend to be flexible with marital norms and relationships diverting from tradition. Furthermore, East Ohmyidan neighborhoods and towns comprise varied family groups who interact, divide and welcome outsiders. However, West Ohmyidans tend to be bound heavily by tradition, where parents choose spouses and relationships similar to family beliefs. Neighborhoods and towns tend to be dominated by relatives and ancestry, whereas outsiders are usually unwelcome.
Religion among the Ohmyidans differs from East to West, where groups practice separate religions, subreligions, and local nomadic beliefs. West Ohmyidans tend to practice Isaism or local nomadic beliefs and are heavily devoted to such theology, where breaking practices or the requirements is disavowed. East Ohmyidans practice Ohirinism Thessassidi or are atheists. East Ohmyidans who are religious also tend to have independent values tied without the overall Ohirinism structure
A photograph of Orhan Pamuk, a notable Ohmyidan poet.
Sabir
One of the largest cultural groups, the Sabir, are native to Burin, Burisava, and parts of Sandalun and Eastern Nardras. They also natively speak Sabiri.
The Sabir are humans with darker complexions like tan or black. Very rarely is hair color anything but black. Most are also average height to similar humanistic groups. Sabirans appear comparable culturally, but hundreds of creeds and clans associate differences with colorful facial markings or tattoos.
Sabiran family structure entirely depends on a person's creed or clan. However, what separates the majority of Sabir families is allegiance to the belief of Tanlangan Qirol, a nobility title from the ancient Dalidan Khanate of an all-powerful leading spirit. This spirit chooses a 'divine leader' through a previous leader's reincarnation or a heavenly choice if a previous divine leader loses the favor of the leading spirit. The state of Burin is primarily opposed to the Tanlangan Qirol due to the Verak rule and the ensuing spiritual and cultural differences. The state of Burisava escaped the restrictions of Verak cause of its once-desolate location, thus keeping a lot of its spiritual beliefs. Nonetheless, Sabiran culture has seen a massive revival and growth since independence. Both states tend to be cautious and neutral about outsiders but don't actively see them as different.
Finally, religion amongst the Sabir is drastically different between clans or creeds. However, most opinions stem from Mosiran values and the history of the Dalidan Khanate.
A photograph of a Sabir woman in public during Ouendra rush hour.
Zarou
One of the largest cultural groups, the Zarou, are native to Oban, Egris, Etaroh, and Fasai and natively speak Zarou.
The Zarou are anthropomorphic sables with either brown or white fur with light tan and orange shades. Patterns and shades of their hair vary among location and altitude, family genetics, and coats grow in and out of warm and cold seasons depending on said location. Another defining feature is their shorter stature, with average heights ranging between 142cm and 152cm depending on the locale.
Zarou culture is unique in that it maintains a commonality. In this, they are remarkably communal, with cases where dozens of families tolerate and live with each other in large households. Nonetheless, the Zarou are also incredibly ambitious and strive for individual success. It is often encouraged at a young age to practice personal desires with realism in mind. The Zarou are often stereotyped as masters in the craft of their choosing. Many notable Zarou individuals have run businesses or were a part of higher government duties and military positions. Furthermore, Zarou families have flexible marital norms focusing on matrilineality. However, the Zarou also tolerate same-sex marriages or even unions larger than two. Neighborhoods dominated by the Zarou tend to be open, lively, and trusting. One can expect to see one leave their doors ajar or families engage in large gatherings.
Religion to the Zarou is often an open and philosophical topic, as the Zarou don't align themselves with religion like most of their fellow citizens. Most believe in Bado values, a broad term for wide-spanning individual beliefs that could be from other religions, and how one can achieve zen if one acts with kindness and compassion.
A sketch of a tired Zarou man on public transport by Karimeh Abbud.
Shawistani
The Shawistani are a typical cultural group, but their impact on the Dirian Federation has been noticeable. The Shawistani are native to Shawistan and Sohili, formerly Nardrac, and natively speak Shawi.
The Shawistani are humans with white or tan complexions and darker hair colors and are relatively common to each other. Most are also average height to similar humanistic groups. Furthermore, Shawistanis' are often considered the most traditional, and culturally alive due to their proximity away from Verak rule, mainly comprised of East Diria.
Shawistani family structure usually follows patrilineality and congregates between genetic family groups. Openness toward others and outsiders is generally ordinary and formal, especially since Shawistan, where most Shawistanis' live, is bound by societal norms and the influence of urbanization due to its expansion as a trading hub. Yet, family groups remain focused on tradition, emphasizing protecting and bettering one's family, parents, and ancestors rather than oneself. These beliefs also extend into private life, such as marital norms and relationships, where parents choose spouses and relationships that relatives find tolerable. Neighborhoods and towns tend to be dominated by relatives and ancestry, whereas outsiders are usually tolerated but are treated with suspicion or as economic opportunities.
Religion among the Shawistani is usually universal, with some variety in more urban areas of Shawistan or extreme stretches of where one would consider the root of Shawistani culture. Nonetheless, Shawistanis' tend to practice Isaism and are heavily devoted to such theology, where breaking practices or the requirements is disavowed.
A photograph of Mujahid al-Rahaman, a notable actor and singer from Shawistan.
Mednusai
Once one of the most significant cultural groups hundreds of years ago, the Mednusai are native to Fasai and natively speak Mednusi.
The Mednusai are anthropomorphic fireflies that are either brown, gold, or green. Most are also average height to the Ohymidian and Sabir ethnicities. The Mednusai tail and wings are one of the most striking features of their complexion, as when an emotion reaches a maximum level, their tail often illuminates.
The Mednusai consist of many fractured cultures and beliefs, dividing themselves into the southern Fasai cities. Depending on the Mednusai culture, the Mednusai can be considered incredibly intelligent, and many find themselves in positions of education or counsel. Other Mednusai, aligned with different desperate beliefs, are often seen as evil madmen, outcasted, and antisocial. Medunsai nonetheless seek higher understanding and attempts to explore significant problems to prove themselves, sometimes through drastic means. Medunsai individuals often remain soloists, except when raising a child. Most Medunsai don't dwell in love, and most have children for cultural obligations rather than a desire. Once a child reaches independence, usually, a family begins to split. The Medunsai produce offspring slowly as females cannot conceive more than one child, and males can only help within the short period of their midlife. Unfortunately, this biological trait has led to the increasingly shrinking Mednusai population, combined with the genetic consequences of an ancient historical epidemic, leaving Mednusai with pervasive issues with congenital disorders and females susceptible to failed pregnancies.
Religion is a divided topic among the Mednusai, where most believe in atheism, and some Mednusai practice similar beliefs to Bado, with a minority group of the Mednusai following Isohlwayo. Isohlwayo is the belief that gods punished them for their impurity and condemned the Mednusai to die slowly or live through redeeming themselves. Therefore, to the few believers, it is up to the Mednusai to pass this final test, where believers of Isohlwayo take drastic and cruel methods to attempt to raise the Mednusai population and engage in cultish behaviors. These small trends have led to many national scandals or stories about serial criminals, and all celebrated reporters have spent time interviewing Isohlwayo circles.
A sketch of a Mednusai man by Efrat Itzik, a famous Mednusai artist and painter.
Dirian
One of the most significant cultural identities, Dirians are native to mostly East Diria and some of West Diria. A Dirian can speak any regional dialect, such as Ohmyidan or Sabri, or the simplified language of Dirian, also controversially known as Deraki.
A person identifying as a Dirian reasonably can be anyone from Diria, such as the Ohmyidans, Sabirans, Zarou, Mednusai, or Shawistani. Not to be mistaken for nationality from the Dirian Federation, the ethnic term Dirian has a unique identity as an artificial product and a widely used language.
The culture, terminology, and beliefs associated with being Dirian have grown popular since independence. The continuing cultural melting pot within Diria has allowed the term to become a manufactured fusion of united local identity and freedom, highlighting mixes between the previous influence of Verak or the culture of respective groups that still attempt to revive themselves. Furthermore, it has become a sizeable cultural ideal built on personal beliefs of self, family, culture, and religion, allowing one considered native or outsider to diffuse into the Dirian identity quickly. Its unique position has let groups push the term as a blanket term that cannot be declared offensive or derogatory as it would've done before.
Dirian, the language, used to be that of controversy, originally called Deraki, a term previously given to those of Veraki descent mixed with the native origin and the protolanguage forming from such. Nonetheless, Dirian uses the most common alphabet and borrows many words from the Zarou and Veraki languages. Hence, language learning is more straightforward than complex regional dialects with different or complicated alphabets and words. Cause of that, it has seen widespread use in the twentieth century for daily life, overtures with foreigners, engaging diplomatic endeavors, and becoming an introductory course in the education sector.
"Equality For Those Who Walk Beneath the Moons and Walk Upon the Ground."
Sohili
The Sohili are some of the smaller native cultural groups of Diria, yet their population has steadily grown in recent decades. Regardless, they mainly inhabit the western stretches of Dirias, such as the state of Sohil, formally Nardrac, and parts of Nardras or Shawistan. Furthermore, many have begun to settle within urbanized Diria. Moreover, the Sohili natively speak Sohilish.
The Sohili are anthropomorphic fennecs, usually with light tan or desert-colored fur and occasional patterns and shades of white, black, or brown varying among location, altitude, and family genetics. Their coats usually remain fixed in length, but some are longer than others due to climate. However, their two defining features are their large ears, usually longer than their actual heads, and their shorter stature, with average heights ranging between 132cm and 147cm, depending on the locale and gender.
Sohili culture is unique. Like that of the Zarou, is that it maintains a commonality. They are remarkably communal, with cases where dozens of families tolerate and live with each other in yurt villages and dug-out communal shelters. However, in Urban settings, they typically do the same with houselands in similar neighborhoods as the Zarou. The Sohili are also incredibly ambitious and strive for individual success. Yet, unlike the Zarou, many Sohili are poorer due to their historical locale and cannot progress financially. Still, it is usually encouraged at a young age to practice personal desires with realism in mind. The Sohili are often called hyper and loud but still outgoing and hardworking, with many who have moved east or south being youths trying to escape their home state of Sohil. Many Sohili have begun to leave Sohil to escape its malicious and hidden inequality along the Nardrac and Sohili, often leading to retaliation and violence. To continue, Sohili families often have flexible marital norms focusing on matrilineality. However, the Sohili, primarily those in urban areas, have begun to tolerate same-sex marriages or even unions larger than two. Neighborhoods dominated by the Sohili, outside of the influence of the Nardrac in Sohil, often tend to be open, lively, and trusting. One can expect to see one leave their doors ajar or families engage in large gatherings.
Religion to the Sohili is often an open and philosophical topic, as the Sohili don't align themselves with religion like most other Dirians, except for the Zaroi. Most believe in values similar to those of the Zarou Bado views, often called Mutamai, and is a broad term for wide-spanning individual or group beliefs from communities that could be from other faiths, but in the Sohili case, often from those of nomadic traditions and stories. Generally, these values summarize that one can achieve happiness and satisfaction if one acts with kindness, compassion, and emphasis on supporting the group one is a part of. In doing so, one's soul can take on many journies, either staying in Ouhiri or departing to another.
A portrait of a Sohili woman done by Omer Taha, courtesy of the Dirian-Nardras History Museum of the Nardras Natives. (DIIIN)
Dirian-Nardras Tribes
The Darasae, Piuymo, and Nardrac are some of the smaller native cultural groups of Diria, mainly inhabiting both the vast stretches of desert comprising the center and northern states of Diria or, depending on the group, settled within the frontiers of urbanized Diria. All three natively speak their numerous dialects, called the Nardras Tongues.
The Darasae are anthropomorphic Borzoi (Darasae), Saluki (Piuymo / Piuyma, depending on Gender), or Nardrac (Tazy), often confused for one another but fervently opposed to each other. Nonetheless, each subgroup has brown, tan, grey, white, or even black fur with occasionally lighter contrasting colors. Patterns, shades, or lengths of their hair vary among location, family genetics, and family creed, and coats typically remain fixed in their size. The Darasae, Piuymo, and Nardrac are also uniquely tall, usually 180cm to 203cm or even higher, but also thin in their physiques.
The Nomad Tribes of Diria remain infamous and even controversial ethnicity and origin among the inhabitants of settled and urbanized Diria. Furthermore, the title of being a Nomadic Tribe is often contentious to many groups of the Piyumo and Nardrac themselves. Similarly, every subgroup is dozens. For example, the Darasae can be drastically different from one another if looked at closely enough. The most significant outliers are the Piuymo or Piuyma, depending on Gender, and the Nardrac, both historical members of the larger Darasae ethnicities. The Piyumo are broadly distinguished by feather-like fur and the culture itself having primarily been incorporated and settled into modern Dirian society. The Piuymo and Darasae often deeply oppose each other due to the more significant Darasae belief that the Piuymo are race traitors, having abandoned the Darasae norm and not worthy of life. In contrast, the Nardrac retained much of their nomadic faith and slowly expanded on the western coast until they settled. The Nardrac groups have also begun to distinguish themselves as more approachable and less hostile than their Darasae ancestors but still act cautiously toward outsiders. Yet, the still more extensive and traditionalist Darasae groups often refer to the Nardrac as race traitors like the Piuymo. Consequently, this mindset often paints the stereotypical view of the Darasae group proper. Besides those sympathetic, most individuals will often describe the Darasae as brash, rude, unmannerly, or uncivilized. These views often stem from history or modern analogs that the Darasae are raiders or marauding nomads and are often viewed with suspicion due to such.
Darasae, Piuymo, and Nardrac cultures are complex and are divided by following numerous smaller groups or sub-groups, and can have different ways of life or beliefs depending on which one refers to. Most Darasae groups share rigid family structures, where one has to revere one's ancestors. Similarly, despite being wildly different, depending on the group, the Darasae often have views and religions based on how they manage their survival and the surrounding lands they roam or inhabit. However, the Darasae, even if similar to another Darasae clan by chance, will often isolate or fight against each other depending on the group belief, with the same going for different Dirian cultures that have begun to inhabit historically Darasae homelands. On the other hand, the Piuymo and Nardrac are comparable to the Mednusai and hold onto the most integral parts of their beliefs and customs of their historical locations. Most are also Usually viewed as soloists and do not want to draw unwanted attention. However, this isolation can also be due to discrimination rather than cultural norms, yet those associating with both often describe Piuymo and Nardrac as intelligent and savvy
A sketch of a bothered Darasae nomad done by Fakhri Eshtiaq.
Veraki
Link to learn about Veraki. (Primarily in Eastern Diria.)
Nevarran
Link to learn about Nevarrans. (Primarily in Sandalun.)
Galran
Link to learn about Galrans. (Primarily in North Sohil and Nardras.)
Koian
Link to learn about Koians. (Primarily in Eastern Fasai)