This chapter reveals the distinct traditions, customs, and lifestyles shaping each kingdom. Delve into unique governance structures, such as the royal families and the Lemurian Council. Explore diverse cultural practices, witness sacred rituals like marriage and rites of passage for the departed. Traverse diverse landscapes and experience the rich flavours of Odirian cuisine, where each dish holds a story. The Odirian culture invites you to explore the essence of each kingdom in a journey through its heart and soul. People in Ravaryn are generally very well-off and have little to worry about in the economic aspect, since it’s the second richest country in Odiria. They wear fine garments and know how to live their rewarding lives. Considering the harsh circumstances in which the kingdom has been thriving for centuries the people of Ravaryn are mostly viewed as cold, distant and mysterious. While those assumptions are likely to be true, the people of Ravaryn have an immense sense of loyalty, both towards their rulers and their patron deity. The black bear, a symbol of their patron deity, can be found hidden within the architecture of many of the kingdom's buildings. Mostly in the form of a black bear's footprint. Beside the black bear being their way of symbolising their patron deity, it is common amongst the other citizens in the realm to refer to Ravaryn as wolves, viewing them as the lone wolves of the realm.

Ruling Family

The Ylindar family is the royal house of the Kingdom of Ravaryn. Ever since the kingdom’s founding the family has ruled over the vast region from their seat in Ishgard. They are the oldest line of Odirian nobility. Faith has always been closely intertwined with the ruling family and they proudly worship the deity Ranaan. The ruling family's symbol, the chalice, comes from their relationship with the High Priests that have stood by their side since the founding of the kingdom. The relationship between the church and the monarchy has always been a close one, with the High Priest often being the most trusted advisor to a ruler. The Ylindar’s history is tainted with an association to dark elves, yet they managed to persevere their rule by exterminating this threat long ago. This gained the family the eternal loyalty of the people, which they gratefully returned. Seen as righteous, just and determined, the Ylindar family is greatly respected throughout the kingdom. The family isn’t as large as others but they are exceptionally tight-knit and fiercely protective of each other, as well as their people. Because of this, they are often referred to as ‘the wolves of Ishgard’. After all, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.

Appearance

Ravaryn’s people tend to have a fair skin tone due to the absence of strong sunlight. Both their eyes and hair often have darker colours. Their hair texture varies in length, but mostly has a wavy texture. Braids in the hair range from delicate little ones to all of the hair braided. Ravaryn’s colours are black and white gold. Clothing is mostly in darker shades, aside from black, one will find people wear shades of dark red, purple and blue. Known for its trade in gemstones and precious metal, the upper class often wear fine jewellery decorated with these gemstones to display their wealth. The royal court of Ravaryn is known for its abundant fashion. The clothing of Ravaryn’s inhabitants is suited for the cold temperatures. They wear a lot of fur on their cloaks and coats to keep them warm. The only exception is Ishgard, the region surrounding it and the southern part of the country, where temperatures are much more forgiving and one doesn’t need to take them into account as much.

Cultural Practices

DOG SLEDDING
Another practice that is more common within the northern parts of the kingdom is dog-sledding. Breeders from across the kingdom sell their wolf-like dogs to all kinds of citizens throughout Ravaryn for quite the price. While dog sledding is often a hobby of the richer families, some people within the most northern parts of the kingdom actually use their sledding dogs to get to their destination. Because these dogs can be pretty expensive, many of the citizens that use the sled as their primary way of travelling breed their dogs themselves. Among richer families, dog sledding competitions are not uncommon. Sometimes even bets are placed, ranging from currency to sledding dogs themselves.

ICE FISHING
Many Ravaryn citizens, especially within the northern part of the kingdom, spend a fair amount of their time above a hole within the ice. Whether it's a merchant selling its catch, or a father hoping to get a special meal on top of the dinner table for his family. Norwyn is the most advanced city when it comes to ice fishing. Advanced to the point where families often train their children within the ice fishing arts from a young age. The practice can be done either with a rod or spear, depending on the fishermen's preference.

Food & Cuisine

Ravaryn’s cuisine is quite varied. In the warmer parts of the country, people feast on wine, meat and fresh fruits. Especially at court. In the northern part of the country, due to its harsher temperatures, food and cuisine within the kingdom is all about keeping warm. Whether it is smoked meat you're feasting upon, or a warm glass of heated wine. Heated stew or meat and lingonberry jam are popular dishes as well, along with strong alcoholic drinks to help against the cold.

Marriage

Marriage in Ravaryn, like the other kingdoms, is quite the big deal, as is engagement. Before a man may ask the hand of a father’s daughter, he must successfully hunt a reindeer and bring it towards the family’s table for dinner, after which he is allowed to ask for a daughter’s hand. The bigger the reindeer, the greater the honour and the greater the chance for the father to approve. Male reindeer score higher than female ones. When the reindeer is served, the reindeer’s hunter may dine with the family to show himself from his best side.

In Ravaryn brides get married in a gown of a glittering jewel-tone colour, this could be emerald, sapphire, ruby, amethyst, you name it. Grooms often wear a decorated pin made of the same jewel. The higher the standing of the bride, the more abundant the gown. Clotheswise, the colours white and gold are reserved solely for a bridal couple belonging to the royal Ylindar family. Anyone else is not allowed to be dressed in those colours on their wedding day. Brides within the royal family often wear a shimmering crown or tiara. Grooms are decked out in a stunning suit that is often completed with a white or golden cloak. Royals will get married at a Royal Wedding, which is a feast enjoyed by the entirety of Ravaryn. The family bear hide plays a huge part in Ravaryn marriage tradition. It is common for families within Ravaryn to own a black bear hide to show their respect towards their patron.

At the start of the ceremony, the couple cloaks each other with the family hide. After the High Priest asks for Ranaan’s guidance and blessings for the marriage, the couple dressed in hides say their personal vows to each other. Promising to be there for one another for the rest of this life’s cycle, before walking down the church’s aisle. The marriage is sealed with a ring of white hold, often decorated with a gemstone like garnet, amethyst or onyx stone. It is common for the richer families to host a ball or a dinner afterwards.

Death

Within Ravaryn's cold environment, a fire's comforting warmth is associated with one's home. At the end of the day, everyone goes to their own home where they will be greeted with warmth provided by the hearth. This association of home and fire translates into their way of dealing with death. Once passed away, family and loved ones will sit with the deceased until any unfinished business, secret or confession to the deceased is spoken out loud, as this is their last chance to clear the air. It is said to bring great misfortune to those who do not pour out their last confessions or true feelings to their deceased family member, hence why this is heavily frowned upon. After making sure there is no unfinished business left between the living and the dead, they carry their family member out of their home and prepare them for burning. It is common for jewellery, smaller weapons or other trinkets important to the deceased to be burned with them, as they will be taking these with them to their temporary 'home'. This is where they will remain until it is time to be reincarnated and set foot upon this world once again. Some even believe that they take their items with them to their next life, hoping that they could reunite with their loved ones recognising them. It is uncommon for the Ravaryn High Priest to attend funerals, unless specifically requested by the family or when someone of great importance for the kingdom has passed away. Lemuria is the most progressive kingdom in terms of social equality. While in most kingdoms, elves and sorcerers are viewed as the better and more powerful race, Lemuria tries hard not to conform to any prejudice. Especially since the fall of the monarchy. Therefore, the other kingdoms often see them as the softest or weakest link of the Odirian kingdoms, but nothing could be less true, as Lemuria finds its strength in union. Architecture within Lemuria consists mostly of white and ivory coloured structures. Often decorated with elegant and ornamental carvings, hiding several depictions of luna moths in its decoration.

Ruling Council

Like the other three kingdoms, Lemuria once bore the name of the Kingdom of Lemuria and was ruled by the royal Elaéydar bloodline, a bloodline consisting mostly of moon elves. Over the years, the concept of a pure-blood moon elf bloodline began to vanish, as Lemuria became a kingdom seeking more and more equality between elves and the other races inhabiting it. Some members of the royal bloodline began marrying mages or humans, eventually leaving less and less moon elves within their line. Opinions varied when it came to this matter.

After the death of crown prince Ezriel's father, the newly crowned King made a decision that no other kingdom has made before. Lemuria would bid its monarchy farewell, and would rule as a council from now on. He sent word to the three governing families, who were also closest to the Elaéydar line, and requested that each of the families would send a trustworthy member to Moonbright, the new capital, to take place within the Lemurian Council. These families were the following three: The Aerendyl family, the Emoira family and the Vylasar family. The other two council positions would be filled by worthy members of rotating families. Before the council was established the Emoira family ruled Moonbright as governors, yet they were gracious enough to give up their city and their seat in favour of always being guaranteed a seat on the Council.

The Lemurian Council was created in 1450. Opinions on this method of reign are divided, but it doesn't seem like Ezriel regrets his decision. To him, this was a step needed to give the citizens of Lemuria the certainty of a brighter future. A future he wouldn't be able to create on his own.

Appearance

While the appearance of Lemurians widely differs, most of the natives are known for their blue or green eyes, lighter hair colours and often wavy hair textures. Lemurians are often dressed within colours of teal and blue, topped off with shining, silver adornments. These are also the colours that have represented their kingdom since the founding. White hair is common amongst high-standing moon elf families, and is associated with wealth and status. Moon elves wear free-flowing fabrics and, depending on their status, elven tiaras. The same line of rulers still remains within the Lemurian Council to this day, so the symbol of status has not faded away with the abandonment of the monarchy.

Cultural Practices

ASTRONOMY & MAPMAKING
Like the Kingdom of Xaila, Lemuria also prides itself in their astronomy skill. Instead of finding their way through the desert, Lemurians used the skill to find their way through the sea and draw hugely accurate maps for their travels, documenting every isle they found along the way. Most of the maps that display regions outside of Odiria were made by Lemurians.

WAYFINDERS
Lemuria prides itself in its wayfinders history. They even discovered the Lemurian Isles ages ago. While it is uncommon for Lemurians to go explore the ocean for new land in this day and age, the art of sailing across the seas still makes many Lemurian hearts beat a little faster. They have the most advanced boats in all of Odiria, which makes them popular trading partners. They also make excellent mapmakers, as they followed in Xaila's footsteps in terms of astronomy.

Food & Cuisine

Lemuria feeds itself mostly with their blessing that is their fertile land and the sea. Beside the meat from hunters who travel to the forests in the Kingdom there are also the vast fields used for harvest. The specialties of Lemuria lie within everything sea related. One of their specialties is crab and with it comes a little game that is common amongst Lemurian special occasions. Those ready to feast upon the crab gather around the dish, each choosing one of the legs to pull out. The longest leg wins, the shortest leg loses. The winner may appoint the loser an often, slightly humiliating task. A little bit like truth or dare. Other popular dishes include mooncakes, squid rings, oysters, raw fish like salmon and tuna, and many uses of seaweed.

Marriage

Betrothals within Lemuria are sealed with a necklace of pearls (rather than an engagement ring). Women wearing a pearl necklace are easily spotted within the kingdom, making it clear to men that they are taken. After the engagement, the man must travel towards the Lemurian shore to pick out a conch shell he is drawn to. This is the shell the high priest will present during the wedding ceremony.

Brides and grooms at Lemurian weddings are always dressed in hues of blue or silver. Upper crust families often have elaborate gowns made for the daughter that is about to be wed. Materials are made of free-flowing fabric to represent water, while sparkles are installed to mirror the moon and the stars. Moon elves are always dressed in white or silver, to represent their association to the heavens above. They wear gowns made of light fabric and accommodate those with cloaks that variate in sheerness. They often wear an elven tiara.

Marriage ceremonies in Lemuria are always held at night. Like funerals, the phase of the moon on the night of the marriage is said to depict information about the future of the marriage. About happiness, about how many children, etc. Wedding ceremonies are held within the main temple of the city in which the marriage takes place, where the local priest travels to in order to bless the marriage. The High Priest blesses a marriage in case of richer or more important families. Marriages in Lemuria are often sealed with rings of silver and decorations of lapis lazuli stones. After the priest speaks out their blessings and the couple has said their vows to each other, a special kind of sea shell is brought out by the priest. The priest will blow on the conch shell, revealing a sound. The clearer and cleaner the sound, the more blessed the marriage will be. It is strictly forbidden for the man to test out the shell he’s picking before the marriage, and is strictly believed to result in bad luck and even infertility. After revealing the conch shell’s sound, the couple walks past the crowd of people who have gathered themselves for their marriage, off to the location of where they’ll have a big, seafood themed dinner and a party.

Death

Death within Lemuria is heavily associated with rebirth, and often depicted by pupae. They believe that one's death could be seen as a pupae being reborn as a beautifully grown luna moth ready to spread out its wings. However, for someone to be able to do so, a worthy farewell is needed. When someone has passed away, the burning ritual has to be performed during the following moon high at midnight. The family has until then to say goodbye to their loved one and start with the preparations. The deceased is laid down within a small, wooden boat, in which several items belonging to the deceased are placed carefully around them. It is tradition for family members to also give them a trinket of their own, so their memory of them will never truly fade. Lastly, the boat is decorated with loads of white flowers. At midnight, the boat is pushed away from the shore, floating across the Sanguine Sea while the High Priest says their prayers for a safe crossing. Either the High Priest or the family member closest to the deceased fires a burning arrow, setting the boat on fire. The phase of the moon that night is said to tell something about the next life of the deceased, which the High Priest will depict for the family on the spot. In Lemuria there are several graveyards. As the bodies are burned, these graves do not contain the actual body of the deceased. Instead, most families choose to create a small altar within these graveyards, decorated with personal items related to or from the deceased family member. At these graves, they often talk to their lost family members or sit with them when grieving. While Avalon culture has not been entirely lost, it sure has changed. The tribes, mostly the White Stag tribe, have been trying to keep their stories and culture alive through oral transferring. However, each tribe has slowly but surely changed into a culture of their own.

Ruling Tribes

Since the fall of Avalon, three tribes have established themselves within the region. During many years, the Avalon tribes have evolved into functioning communities. Communities of descendants whose ancestors have shared the same, terrifying fate. Some tribes have other ideas about how to rule within the wilderness that is Avalon today than others. While one shelters their kind away from any kind of further danger, the other tribe tries to satisfy their bloodlust and hunger for revenge, capturing and killing every trespasser crossing their paths. While all three of them are different, there is one thing they have in common. All of them work together to guard and protect Avalon's sacred treasures. It is the last task they can honour their grieving patron with.

THE BLUE MOON TRIBE
The Blue Moon tribe, named after the rare event of a thirteenth full moon, is a tribe that consists mostly of druids living life within animal forms. Most of them shapeshift into leopards or panthers: predators that thrive in the rainforest. Beside these types of druids, lycanthropes from all over the realm that have fled from society are accepted into this pack, that is, if they pledge to protect Avalon and its ruins. Another must is that they're banished from the tribe's territory each full moon, to prevent accidents from happening. The Blue Moon tribe lives sheltered away from the other tribes, travelling through all of Avalon. The only forms of contact they have with the other tribes is switching the guards within Falerien and the occasional emergency meetings between Chiefs.

THE LOST SERPENT TRIBE
The Lost Serpent tribe is a name feared by many. It welcomes all of those who have Avalon blood in their veins, and resents everyone that does not. Their hunger for revenge over their fallen kingdom is what leads them. Living within a settlement hidden within the treetops, they have created a community of murder machines. The only ones they'll reason with are the other Avalon tribes, and those with Avalon blood who live solitarily. They've mastered the art of anything poisonous. Poison arrows, darts and potions. They capture any intruder on sight, forcing them into a often not so friendly, rather violent interrogation back at their settlement, which is almost certain to have death as an end result.

THE WHITE STAG TRIBE
The White Stag tribe is a tribe that consists purely of wood elves. They are the descendants of important wood elf families of which some members miraculously survived the fall of the kingdom. They are the most sophisticated of tribes. As of now, they've reclaimed the ruins of Wealdstone and restored it, turning it into their own, small village. Their village is the last snippet of what Avalon used to look like. Beautiful, overgrown buildings and classic chapels built out of white stone. While coming across as peaceful, the White Stag tribe has some of the fiercest warriors, which have mastered the art of the bow and arrow and are not afraid to use it on intruders. Killing is never their intent, but they won't hesitate if an opponent puts their life in danger.

Appearance

Appearance within Avalon vastly differs, but one thing they have in common is often an earthly colour scheme. Whether it's an earthly skin tone, hair colour or eye colour. Each Avalon descendant has at least one of those traits. Most citizens of Avalon dress in a practical manner, in garments that are made to travel and withstand the wilderness that Avalon offers. The only exception are wood elves, who still harbour their ancient culture. Because of their protected village, wood elves are able to forgo some of the practicality and craft beautiful garments in earthy tones such as brown, green and orange. They often braid and decorate their hair with tiny golden pendants or flowers.

Cultural Practices

Each tribe has their own cultural practices, rituals and ideals. For more information on the tribe's cultures you can take a look at their own threads within the "Shops & Organisations" subboard, which will be posted by the Chief of the tribe.

Food & Cuisine

Those within Avalon live on anything they can find. Most tribes have a set party of hunters which brings meat to the table everyday. Others hunt for themselves, or have mastered the art of berry picking and growing their own fruits and vegetables. In a lush environment like Avalon there's always something to find. Be careful of the poisonous plants and berries, though!

Marriage

THE BLUE MOON TRIBE
Within the Blue Moon Tribe marriage is not as important, since the tribe also accepts druids from outside of the tribe within their ranks so there is less chance of marriage within the same family. Everyone is allowed to marry whoever they want within the tribe. It is even possible to arrange a marriage between druids and lycanthropes, but note that humans born within the tribe will be asked to leave as the tribe is primarily druids.

Before marriage, some arrangements have to take place first and are determined by those who are getting married. If it's a druid couple, they will get the new- and full moon arrangements. Druids will light a fire on the night of a new moon, and they have to keep the fire going until they can get married in the light of the full moon, as at that point their love will be fully illuminated. If lycanthropes want to get married, they get the waning- and waxing moon arrangements. Lycanthropes couples will keep the fire going during the waning moon, and until the next waxing moon, so they don't have to face the full moon alone.

Wedding ceremonies are held in the moonlight: either the full moon for a druid couple or the waxing moon for a lycanthrope couple. The couples will bathe in the moonlight in private before going back to the camp, where they will be presented with a flower crown for the bride and a floral armband for the groom. The couple will present the fire that they had lit on either the new moon or the waxing moon, before the elders will bless the now married couple in the name of Adelia. Even though there is no ceremonial attire necessary, some couples choose to make their own attire for this special moment, they will be clad in this after their bath in the moonlight.

THE LOST SERPENT TRIBE
Coming Soon.

THE WHITE STAG TRIBE
Ceremonial wedding garments consist of white and green clothing, often paired with shining, bronze accessories.. While gowns are not as elaborate as they used to be, some of the richer wood elf families are still able to afford a tailor that can craft a beautiful gown.. Both the man- and woman's ceremonial clothes are decorated with colourful flowers.

Wedding ceremonies are held at sunhigh. The ceremony is hosted by the tribe's priest. After the wedding vows, which are personal to every couple, have been said, the priest speaks out her blessing while sprinkling a circle of flower petals around the newlyweds while whispering her prayers for blessings to Adelia. These prayers include asking to bless the heart,the soul and the womb. After the ceremony, the tribe celebrates in a similar way as when arrangements are announced. The couple has their first dance on a romantic, slow paced lyre song, before everyone else joins them. The celebration ends when the newlyweds announce their wish to leave.

Death

Avalon is the only kingdom within the Odirian Faith that does not burn the deceased. Instead, they say their farewell to those they lost by burying them. The burying is often done by the family. In Avalon, the deceased is buried underneath a tree, bush or flower perk. The tree or plant someone is buried underneath is significant to the life that they lived. People of important positions get buried under big, mighty trees, while a humble gardener might be honoured underneath a patch of their favourite flowers. The place and type of plant or tree is often chosen by the family. After burying their loved one, they often make small grave-like sculptures out of several small rocks to serve as some sort of gravestone. Others may use other materials like crystals or preserved leafs. Underground, Adelia will take care of their journey towards their new life. The architecture within their capital consists of mostly white and sand coloured buildings, beautifully decorated with golden details. The image of the phoenix, the symbol of their patron deity, is hidden within all sorts of buildings and structures. So is the sun, both the symbol of patron and the original ruling line of sun elves that still rule Xaila to this day. When it comes to receiving guests the people of Xalia are polite and heartwarming, but their trust is hard to win. Even in the longest of alliances, they are only truly loyal to their own and won't hesitate to backstab others for the sake of their people.

Ruling Family

The strong and resilient sun elves of the Daetrys bloodline have been ruling over Xaila ever since its founding. As polyamory plays a huge part in Xailan culture, the Daetrys line is the biggest ruling bloodline in all of Odiria. Even though accepting of other races living within their kingdom, it is strictly forbidden for anyone carrying this surname to have children with a non-sun elf, as they believe their race is the rightful ruling race of the kingdom. When this happens and a child comes out as something other than a sun elf, they are denied the royal surname.

Appearance

The people of Xaila tend to have darker hair, paired with darker skin tones and dark eyes to protect them from their patron, the sun's strong rays of sunlight. Often braided in the most beautiful works of art, the people of Xaila tend to grow their hair out for most of their lives for cultural purposes. Both men and women take pride within this tradition. Body modification in the form of piercings is not unusual within Xaila. They decorate their bodies with gold as a sign of status and wealth.

Xaila's traditional colours are red, yellow and gold, and can be found within most of the kingdom's traditional clothing and armour. Other colours Xailan citizens often tend to wear are brown, beige and white. Their clothing is often suited for either the warm temperatures, or travels through the desert underneath the blazing sun. Sun elves are often clad in traditional clothing: two-piece sets of a top and skirt for women, complete with a veil or shawl that matches their garments. Over the years, sun elves have started to incorporate more modern Xailan fashion, though it is often not the other way around. Sun elves try to completely live up to their name by incorporating jewellery depicting the sun and often have their dark hair braided in intricate ways complete with golden hair jewellery.

Cultural Practices

ASTRONOMY
Xailans have found their way through the desert by reading and mapping the stars for the past ages, thus considering themselves the most advanced region of Odiria in terms of astronomy. Xaila's capital prides itself for its enormous planetary calendar room, which is driven by their magic and used to depict the moon, sun and constellations at any given date. This way they can easily predict the right dates for certain ceremonies that can only be performed under certain astronomical circumstances. This also sparked the interest of the Lemurians, their fellow Astronomers, and caused a steady alliance that has been going strong for the past few decades.

HAIR
Beside making an art out of braiding their hair, Xailans tend to grow out their hair as long as possible without ever cutting it. The length and thickness of their hair is believed to say something about their strength. The thicker their braids, the stronger the person. The longer their braids, the smarter the person. The younger generation, however, sometimes keeps their hair short as a way of rebellion against Xalian ideals, trying to prove that a person's strength has nothing to do with the length and thickness of one's hair.

THE EVER BURNING FLAME
Not really a cultural practice ,but still worth mentioning, is the ever burning flame that rests within Xeion's main temple within Al-Qahil. The flame is believed to come from Xeion himself, proving that as long as the flame is burning, Xaila will be protected by their patron. The stronger the flame burns, the more honoured their patron feels. Xaila's biggest fear is the distinguishing of this flame one day, but their faith within their patron has kept it burning for ages.

THE PROVING
Any Xailan young adult that has reached the age of adulthood (eighteen) must prove themselves within the ring. Before the fight the participant will draw a straw out of a beautifully decorated golden bowl. Each straw has a different colour at the end, unable to be seen when picking one. The colour at the end of the straw will determine your opponent in terms of strength. The Xailans believe that Xeion will only pick opponents suited to the participant, so failing your trial is one of the most shameful things to happen to a Xailan. Those who have failed their trials are either banished, appointed to serve a rich family, or appointed to be miners for the rest of their lives.

During the trial, young adults confront opponents in the form of various animals or beasts, determined by the straw they draw. Participants have no say in choosing their adversary. The 'flora & fauna' section on the Xaila allegiance page serves as a source of inspiration, offering options such as a mountain lion or a lynx, with the age of the animals left to individual discretion, ranging from young to full-grown. Alternatively, particularly unfortunate participants might find themselves facing a baby sandworm, as confronting a fully grown sandworm would be an unbeatable challenge.

THE SUN RING
At the outermost part of Xaila's capital lies an imposing, colossal arena called The Sun Ring. This ancient building is a structure associated with festivities as well as punishment and betrayal. One of the most common festivities held within the ring is The Proving, a tradition that each young adult that has reached the age of eighteen must go through. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for lesser festive events to occur within the ring as well. Both outsiders who mean harm to Xaila and those who have betrayed their patron and its kingdom will meet their end within the ring for all to witness. Beside these rituals, fights between higher ranks like royals, generals or other important citizens of Xaila will be fought out within the ring when talking cannot resolve the issue anymore.

Food & Cuisine

Xaila is known for having the spiciest food in all of Odiria. While the Xailan inhabitants see many of the traditional Xailan foods as regular in terms of spiciness, any traveller from another region would have teary eyes and watering mouths when tasting their delicious food. Some of Xaila's traditional foods are Naan bread, fried bread pouches filled with all kinds of meats and vegetables, spicy curries and several kinds of salsa. As dessert, things like naan bread and fruits are often mixed with agave syrup. While every Xailan knows most of these recipes by heart, every family has their own unique spin on the traditional meals. It is common for families to pass down these personal recipes onto the next generation.

Polyamory & Marriage

The practice of having multiple intimate relationships is not uncommon within Xaila. This is done with fertility in mind, which takes on a big role in the Odirian Faith. Therefore, women can marry multiple men, but men do not have multiple husbands as this would not produce a child. For the royal bloodline, having multiple wives or husbands is almost certain. This increases the chance of keeping their bloodlines safe from extinction. They do not just choose any person, however. It is common for royal wedding suitors to show their strengths and qualities through trials. These trials can range from tailoring their future spouse a dress or gown with specific materials, to fighting mighty beasts, creatures or other warriors within The Sun Ring.

Clothing at a Xailan wedding can be as colourful and extravagant as an attendee wishes, as long as they do not outshine the bride. Bridal gowns in Xaila are usually made in shades of yellow, orange and red, and consist of lighter fabrics. Both the bride and groom are accessorised with golden jewellery, gifted by each other’s families. After the ceremony, bridal pairs change into a new outfit for the celebration. Sun elf brides often choose to wear the traditional Xailan two-piece set, complete with a shawl. Unlike their usual attire, a wedding set is much more decorated and intricately made. Sun elf grooms often wear an outfit that matches their bride in colour scheme, consisting of a jacket and a neutral pair of pants. Clotheswise, the colour gold is reserved solely for a bridal couple belonging to the royal Ylindar family. Anyone else is not allowed to be dressed in those colours on their wedding day. Golden jewellery, however, is free to wear for everyone.

Marriage is hugely celebrated within the Kingdom of Xaila. While each tribe has their own small marriage ritual, every one of them will travel to the capital afterwards to be blessed by the High Priest and therefore Xeion himself. The current high priest will host the ceremony with several of their fellow priests beside them. A Xailan marriage ceremony is held at sunhigh, under the gaze of Xeion himself, and is held just outside the temple in Al-Qahil under the blazing sun. One half of the married couple, often the male half, will light a torch with the ever burning fire within Al-Qahil's main temple, and carry the flame towards his partner waiting at the aisle. The couple will then face each other, both holding on to the torch as they say their vows to each other. The High Priest will then take their torch and place it carefully within a holder behind them, after which the High Priest and priests surrounding the couple will silently say their prayers towards Xeion, asking him to bless the marriage. If the flame of the torch happens to extinguish during this short moment of silence, Xeion does not approve of the wedding. If that is the case, the ceremony will immediately be put to a halt. If all goes well and the flame keeps burning, the official ceremony can begin. Their marriage is sealed by a special, golden bracelet with a garnet stone in the centre. The inside of the bracelet has the date of the marriage and the name of the significant other engraved. Someone who's married to multiple spouses carries multiple wedding bracelets. After the ceremony the couple will walk down the aisle together, while all wedding attendants cheer, congratulate them and shower the newlyweds with multiple coloured powders. Then they will be taken apart for a last time, getting help from their families to clean them up and dress them into new, fresh outfits for the nightly celebration. The rest of the attendants will get everything ready for the celebration. At dusk, the newlyweds return to the now beautifully decorated centre of Al-Qahil, and celebrate until midnight, after which they are expected to leave the celebration together and try for a child for the first time.

Death

Burning the deceased has a more important meaning to Xailans compared to the other kingdoms. Within Xaila, the deceased are burned using the flames created by a sun elf or sun mage. With the gift created by Xeion for those who worship him, his followers are sent back to him. The burning of the body is done by the closest person to the deceased that is able to cast fire magic. Whether that is a close family member or a distant friend. Unlike other kingdoms, Xailans do not have much time to spend with the body of their loved one. Due to the heat, the body will rot much faster. For this reason a body is burned as soon as possible. After the body is burned, the remaining ashes are often stored within an urn. The urn is kept by the family for as long as they wish, to eventually have their ashes scattered out somewhere within the Infernal Wilds. The richest families, like the necromancer and royal families, even have tombs built within the deepest, most hidden parts of the desert where their urn will be placed, together with piles of gold and other family treasure. These tombs are always sealed off with magic, and are only able to be opened by someone who shares the same blood. Ashmoor's architecture varies widely depending on which area you're visiting. The smaller cities and villages are similar to the more advanced cities of the kingdoms in terms of architecture, while Alderrath sticks to its Georgian-esque aesthetic. In the Lower Ring the lower quality houses are found. Most of them only consist of one room, and the citizens of the Lower Ring use bathing houses instead of having the luxury of their own bathroom. The Middle Ring consists of both apartment complexes and the slightly bigger, upper class leaning terraced houses. Each house has their own bathroom and running water. The Upper Ring consists of the bigger houses, estates and even the Winter palace.

Winter Family

The ruling family of Ashmoor has evolved from the strong and influential Winters. Through the years the information of how and why the Winters came into power has gotten lost, but there is no doubt that they are the rightful rulers. That they make sure of. They keep a tight hold on the people of Ashmoor, making sure that things run smoothly and no one steps out of line. They are not cruel, but have a very strong vision for Ashmoor and are certain that theirs is the only way for the district to reach its full potential. The current leader is Edward Winter, who is married to Cassandra. They have only one child, and therefore their daughter Alison is next in line to take over power.

Appearance

Ashmoor is home to a melting pot of people and therefore appearances differ greatly. While the Upper Class flaunts their clothes and accessories, the Lower Class has found a way of self-expression in tattoos and piercings, something that is greatly frowned upon by the Upper Class. Additionally, the Upper Class likes things to be neat and clean and fair skin is considered a beautiful trait as this means that one has the luxury to stay inside instead of work in the sun. Ashmoorian garments are influenced by the Georgian time period: women wear dresses with corsets to accentuate their tiny waist —complete with flowing skirts— while men opt for neatly tailored suits. Elaborate fashion is not available to the Lower Class the way it is to the Upper- and sometimes Middle class, and commoners dress the way most Odirian commoners would.

Cultural Practices

ADVANCED PROSTHESES
One of the inventions that Ashmoor and its people are most proud of, is their ability to create advanced prostheses for those who have lost or were born without some of their limbs. These prostheses are often made out of steel, but each specialised mechanic has its own idea about the best materials. Unlike regular prostheses, these prostheses are linked to one's nervous system, using the electrical pulses sent by the nerves to power the advanced machinery that's inside. This way, one's prosthesis is controlled almost like a regular limb. It does, however, have its drawbacks. The surgery required to install these prostheses require someone specialised in both the medical field and the mechanical field, and is often both extremely painful and expensive. The recovery period of such surgery is an estimated time of two to four years, depending on the individual. This period includes the estimated time of learning how to function properly with this type of limb. Other factors of drawbacks include sudden temperature change (extreme heat or cold), being subjected to various aches and pains and sometimes even drawbacks within physical development, like growth in the case of younger children or teens.

Ashmoor's medical expertise, mirroring the 1700-1799 era, excels in advanced prosthetics, allowing amputations without the perilous practice of bloodletting. Despite a nuanced grasp of the nervous system, their broader medical knowledge aligns with 18th-century limitations. The primitive nature of medical practices persists, with illnesses remaining formidable foes, and medicinal interventions being rudimentary. Ashmoor's surgical advancements, notably in prosthetics, are experimental at best.

PASSPORTS
Each Ashmoorian citizen is the proud owner of an official passport. Upon birth, a child is registered, often by the father, and a passport will be requested by letter. A passport within Ashmoor is crucial. The stamps within your passport determine which rings you're allowed to visit. Each Class has its own stamp. With the Lower Ring stamp, you're only allowed within the Agrarian- and Lower Rings. You're allowed within the Middle Ring if you bring a Middle Ring companion. With the Middle Ring stamp, you're allowed within both the Lower and Middle ring. Middle Class citizens are allowed within the Upper Ring with an Upper Ring companion. Those with the Upper Ring stamp have permission to visit whatever ring they want to, although it is rare to see Upperclassmen within the Lower Ring without good reason. These stamps also determine which wagons you're allowed to travel within Ashmoor's steam powered trains. Except for the trains, these passport's are mostly used within the capital city Alderrath. Citizens of Dawnmire or Glimmerhollow will also receive a passport based on their occupation or family, but within these smaller cities and villages you do not require a passport to visit certain areas other than special cases like the estates of Upper Class families, etc.

In Ashmoor, if you lose your passport, visit an office in your living ring for a replacement. The Middle- and Upper Ring offices keep family records in passports, so when reapplying, Middle- and Upper Ring citizens must bring a family member for identification. Without a family member, you'll face more paperwork and delays, requiring document requests. If you lack a family connection, the office uses records, and you need to bring a birth certificate or property papers for identification. The Lower Ring, lacking extensive records, offers a simpler process, allowing citizens to request a new passport without additional requirements since lower-class citizens can't travel to the Middle- or Upper Ring.

When someone from Alderrath passes away, their official documents such as passports and birth certificates are archived. The archives maintain these records, given that the information is already tracked for passport issuance. The Middle and Upper Ring exhibit an efficient system for record-keeping, ensuring proper management. However, the Lower Ring, facing neglect and lacking a comprehensive system, experiences less meticulous attention to document preservation.

Criminal stamps are implemented on passports. Once released from prison, individuals will lose their status, relegating them to the Lower Ring or potential expulsion from Alderrath. The severity of the crime decides the sentence, with both death and prison options available in Ashmoor, showing how seriously they take criminal offences.

Food & Cuisine

As the technology in Ashmoor is quite advanced, they have an irrigation system that allows them to grow fruits and vegetables even out of season. On top of that, the Ashmoorian diet consists of both fish and meat. Despite the advanced technology there are still certain foods that are rarer than others, which are only available to the very rich; for example truffles, deep sea fish and certain types of grapes. Poor people mostly rely on the abundant production of grain and will eat mostly bread and cheese. An additional benefit to the large amount of grains available is that beer is also cheaply produced.

Marriage

Marriage within Ashmoor is quite the important event, especially within the Middle- or Upper Ring. It is expected from the proper Ashmoorian women to stay pure and protect their innocence until their day of marriage. Having intimate relations, let alone children, before marriage is highly frowned upon. In richer families, like those within the Middle- or Upper Ring, it is expected from the man to ask permission from his desired bride's father. When a father is absent, another male father-like figure, such as an uncle or an eldest brother, is commonly asked. When asking permission, the ring is presented to the father. He has to approve of the ring. The ring is set with a mineral or, in cases of the Upper Ring, a diamond. Diamonds are a must within the important Upper Class families. For a Middle Ring citizen, any pretty looking mineral or crystal is often accepted. Depending on the situation, either the father or the suitor will announce their marriage to their 'claimed' bride. Marriage within the Lower Ring is less extravagant, if existent at all. Some religious Lower Ring families get married on paper only, purely for the sake of Renestrae's laws. Others do not care about the concept of marriage and start their families without it.

The day of marriage itself is one filled with celebration. The richer the family, the longer and more extravagant the wedding will be. Brides get wed in dresses of the whitest material. The higher the Ring, the more decorative the wedding gown. Most wedding gowns are quite conservative, but some fashionistas allow their tailor to create something more modern. The grooms often wear a neatly tailored suit decorated with a white rose. Both of their families help them get ready, especially the bride. The female family members and female in-laws will assist the bride's family in helping her get ready for what is assumed to be the most important day of her life, while the male family members and male in-laws will assist the groom and his family. The bride and groom are not allowed to lay eyes upon each other before meeting at the aisle. Ceremonies are always held within a church, whether it's a small one within the Lower Ring, or the big, main church within the Upper Ring. When the big moment finally arrives, the bride's father will walk her down the aisle, where her husband-to-be will be waiting at the end. The High Priest will start the ceremony, asking the couple for Renestrae's blessing. After the High Priest has had their say, the couple will recite their personal vows to each other, after which the High Priest will ask their confirmation and announce them officially married. What happens after is up to the family. Some will host grand and expensive parties, while others will leave the couple alone after the ceremony.

Death

Death within Ashmoor is something that is feared by many. Unlike the kingdoms, the followers of Renestrae do not believe in life after death. Those who have lived by Renestrae's laws will find eternal peace at her side within the heavens above, while those who do not will forever be lost within limbo, searching for a way to Renestrae's side. The bodies of the deceased are buried within graveyards, with those of the Upper Ring being fancier than those below. Burials are often arranged by the family, paired with lots of flower bouquets being left at their loved ones' graves.