Athvrean Culture

Athvrean culture is defined by the amalgamation of the two cultures as well as its focus on magic and civic participation.

Citizenship in the country is restricted to men who descended from either of the above cultures. Many citizens who trace their lineage back to the nomadic clans are proud of their heritage and will defend the honor of their clan, although spilling blood over the topic is a rare occurrence.

Athvrean folklore places a strong emphasis on sacred weapons and individual ancestors committing impossible acts of physical prowess. It is rare to encounter an Athvrean who does not name their weapon and treat as a companion instead of a tool. Ceremonial sabers, the preferred weapon of the horseman nomads, figure heavily in the worship of Cyridia. Many a young man has also lost his life searching the remote corners of the island for fabled lost weapons said to hold magical properties.

Horsemanship is venerated on the archipelago, but the limited flatland and cost prevent most from participating. Horses are considered a hobby of the upper class and a necessity by farmers. Horse races, cavalry drills, and horseback archery figure heavily into Athvrean festivals.

Fire is also a major motif of Athvrean culture. All temples to Cyridia feature a magic powered eternal flame. This flame is colored with metal salts for specific festivals and rituals and many followers wave their hand over it when entering and exiting the temple, purifying themselves in the process. The hearth is also deeply sacred with offerings at the home being burnt in the fireplace. It is considered a omen of terrible fortune if the hearth of a home is allowed to die. Temples also sell oil lamps covered in sacred symbols and constructed specifically for use on ships. No Athvrean sailor would consider going to sea without this lamp onboard. Fires destroying structures or ships are seen as divine providence. Rival nations attribute this fire focus to an ancient practice of human sacrifice by fire. Athvrean officials deny the veracity of these claims but rumors persist. Still, the preferred method of execution in Athvrea is burning at the stake.

Temples are present in every community on the island with larger settlements possess on every few blocks. Even more numerous shrines and grottoes to Cyridia dot the landscape. Athvrean temples are known for their intricate stonework from the black and white diorite of the archipelago.

Theater, stonework, and string instruments define the artistic culture of the island. An Athvrean festival without theater and musical performances is considered a sad affair. Outside of these events in which all may freely participate, the better off members of society use patronage of these arts as a form of conspicuous consumption and virtue signaling. As such, although the population outside of men in urban centers is illiterate, the majority of Athvreans have exposure to the arts and culture.

Athvrean art is often political or religious in nature. Political art walks a fine line in the society, with many artists coming dangerously close to earning the ire of the Clergy. As such, many pieces are allegorical in nature to give the artist plausible deniability. Still, permitting for the public display of art is required and more than one piece has been burnt or smashed in the 'interest of public order'. In terms of style, Athvrean art movements are much more transgressive with classical and bohemian artists constantly antagonizing one another until the bohemian becomes dated and the cycle begins again.

Athvrean philosophy is multifaceted with objectivist views dominating. While such debate is not only allowed but encouraged, all philosophers must pay lip service to and respect the Clergy. Debates range from the nature of matter to the nature of consciousness. While ethics and civic duties are popular subjects, discussion of ideal forms of governance is conspicuously absent. Being educated in philosophy and rhetoric is seen as desirable among the upper classes and many academies professing to teach these skills exist in urban centers. They are open to citizens who have the tuition money.

Common instruments in Athvrea include clay fipple flutes similar to ocarinas. Lyres are used for accompaniment and are traditionally 14 strings and tuned in an A phyrigian scale. The chain drum is another common instrument, consisting of an 18 inch diameter hide drum with a strip of chainmail across it. Lutes and ouds of various tunings and courses are present throughout Athvrea and tend to be used alongside percussion in folk music as well as religious gatherings. A five string lute tuned in fourths is considered standard for academies and professional musicians. The hurdy gurdy and viol are present but associated with urban centers.

Athvrean last names tend to fall into two categories, those descended from the nomadic peoples and those descended from the natives.

Nomadic names follow a verb-noun pattern such as:

Native last names

Athvrean makeup is associated with heavy black cat eye eyeliner. This worn by everyone as a protective measure against the subtropical and tropical sun. The wealthy may use malachite for eyeshadow. Red ochre and red clays are used for eyeshadows, and the cheeks and lips. A pale complexion, a sign one is wealthy enough to spend their time indoors, is popular and a number of products are used to achieve this. These range from lotions that lighten the skin to pearlescent shimmers to what verges on white body paint. The eyebrows are often thickened and darkened using similar compounds to eyeliners. Patches of dyed silk of various shapes stuck to the face have become in vogue with the wealthy and powerful. The shape and position of these patches often communicate messages or so the gossip says.

Common dress includes dresses for women and tunics and pants for men. These are often accented with sashes and belts. These are dyed a range of colors including deep and light red, olive green, yellow, brown, teal, and blue. Beadwork accents around collars, hems, and sleeves are common. These may be replaced with semi-precious stones by the wealthy. Most women wear a chemise. Bodices have caught on with upper and middle class women who often complement it with a sash tied around the waist. Straw hats are common as well. Waterproofed linen cloaks are often used by travelers. Footwear ranges from sandals to high boots. Simple leather slip-ons and sandals made with woven tops are common among the poor. Wealthy women may sport dyed velvet flats and wealthy men currently favor jackboots. Women tend to wear high buns or updos that are decorated with jewelry, side-parted pixie cuts, or long braids down the back. Girls often wear bobcuts. Men may wear buns, cut their hair short, or wear it tied back and close to the head. Boys tend to have short cuts.

Courtship and marriage in Athvrea are arranged at the highest levels of society while farmers and laborers tend to freely choose their partner. The middle classes fall between this, with arranged marriages being the majority but choosing one's partner catching on. Divorce in Athvrea must be with cause (at the discretion of the preist overseeing where the couple resides), requires several permits and fees, and is considered a communal tragedy.

Dating and courtship run for six to twelve months, usually starting with meetings surpervised by family before moving to dates at public venues. It is not uncommon for nosy family members to spy on these as well. Theatrical and music performances and restaurants are popular choices. At some point, the couple dons matching glass pendants to signal that they are engaged. The pendants sold on Glowsnight are said to be especially lucky for newlyweds.

Weddings take place in temples and are usually a community affair, whether this be a fisherman celebrating with his friends or a wealthy mine owner showing off how many people he can feed. Black clothing is worn by both bride and groom as they take their place on the dias in the temple. They recite their vows to one another before Cyridia, dash their necklaces on the ground, and place a new one around each other's necks. This flame pendant ranges from simple pewter for the poor to gem-encrusted gold. Afterwards, the couple is carried out of the temple by relatives. A bonfire is lit and folk music and dances take place while alcohol is freely poured. Sticky rice dishs with fruit and spices, multiple layer rice flour pasteries, and roast Anklyosaurus are served. Traditionally, this celebration goes until either bride or groom loses consciousness. However, it is not uncommon to show mercy and allow the newlyweds to leave and consummate their marriage.

Same-sex relationships do happen in Athvrea but are kept quiet. The line of the clergy is that marriage as an institution exists for reproduction. This means that such relationships are technically heretical and same-sex marriage is not legal. However, such relationships not prosecuted unless the couple makes their activities impossible to ignore. The punishments tend to be short stints of hard labor. Families often isolate, disinherit, and pressure the parties involved into arranged marriages. Specific colors and shapes of silk face patches are used to communicate these attractions.