Fenian Society and Culture

All cultures except those on Mondias and Yttria place great importance on family matters.  In bygone days families, clans and tribes tended to be more nomadic and combative in nature, but in more recent times, many of them have settled and learned to live together in a more harmonious way.

Mondias and Yttria

Physical Appearance: Mondians and Yttrians typically have pale skins but their other characteristics such as hair and eye colour, height and build tend to vary.  Mondians have distinctive ridges above their eyebrows but Yttrians lack this feature.  Hair is mostly worn short on both worlds.  Anything below collar-length is unusual.  Men tend to be clean-shaven but a few have small moustaches and/or beards.  Clothing is of a practical and utilitarian nature.  There is very little distinction between work-wear and leisure-wear.

Society: Mondias enforces Cyad Law throughout the entire planet but on Yttria, there is a melding of the original pre-Cyad Yttrian regime with the more austere Cyad standards. 

Lifestyle: The prevailing philosophy on both worlds is that hard work and ambition are the mainstays of society.  Mondias is more socialist in its leanings, whereas Yttria does encourage capitalism to a degree.  On Mondias, the traditional family structure is rare.  Procreation is highly regulated and usually only permitted according to need.  Children are born and raised in specialist institutions where every aspect of their lives is regulated.  On Yttria, couples usually marry by choice and have children by choice, although in some regions, they have to obtain permission to procreate.

Beliefs: Neither planet has any formal religious or spiritual beliefs, nor do the citizens strive towards any form of esoteric enlightenment or enrichment.

 

Art and Culture: These planets do not have such a rich cultural heritage as the other Fenian worlds.  This is mostly due to the influence of the Cyad Confederacy.  Cyad policy tends more towards what is practical and anything artistic, decorative, recreational or speculative in nature is considered to be frivolous, counter-productive and in some cases, illegal.

As a result of Cyad policy, there are relatively few artistic types on Mondias and the entertainment industry serves only as a vehicle for Cyad propaganda.  Some bolder artists and entertainers try to push the boundaries by trying to inject their own ideas into the approved formats, but they are rarely successful, except where they manage to export their works to non-Cyad planets.

Yttrian artists and entertainers have more creative freedom and their work is not as heavily censored as on Mondias.  However, they rarely experiment and tend to stick to traditional themes and moral standards.

Viria

Physical Appearance: Most Virians are short and have a stocky build.  Skin tone is usually pale although some Southerners may have slightly darker skin.  There is no typical hair or eye colour.  Hair is usually worn long by both genders and men have a preference for facial hair.  Traditional clothing consists of tunics and trousers for the men and long dresses and headscarves for the women.  Women in farming and industrial professions will dress in tunics and trousers for the sake of practicality.  Heavy boots of leather and rubber are commonplace in the North but footwear tends to be lighter and more stylish in the South.  Also in the South, clothing tends to be more variable and follows fashion trends. 

Society: Any form of law enforcement is difficult due to the fragmented nature of Virian society.  There are various regional Law Enforcement Agencies but these are largely ineffective.  Communities will take the law into their own hands and deal with offenders as they deem necessary.

Lifestyle: Northern Virians tend to stick to a traditional lifestyle in which many marriages are arranged.  They often marry young and have large families.  Also, there are many travelling families who stick to the ways of the ancient clans.  In the South, people tend to be settled in one place and their lifestyle is far more flexible.

Beliefs:  All Virians tend to be very spiritual people and most of them worship at least one deity.  They also have a strong connection with their planet and often refer to it as the Holy Ground.  When they travel to other worlds, they can become very homesick and yearn to be back on Viria.

Art and Culture: Virians are great storytellers.  There is a long tradition of stories being handed down through the generations.  In earlier times, this was mainly done by word of mouth, including singing and acting, but when more people learned to write, books became equally popular.  Traditional Virian stories tend to be formularised with “good” and “bad” characters fighting for supremacy.  There are often variations of the same story told from a different point of view, thus the villain in one version becomes the hero in another version.  The early improvised acting sessions have evolved into more complex theatrical productions and there is even a growing movie industry, although Virian movies tend to be little different from stage plays in terms of presentation.

Music is extremely important in Virian culture and many of the old songs are poetic versions of folk tales.  Virians favour stringed instruments and wind instruments, with the addition of small hand-drums.  In more recent times, musicians have started using electronic instruments and the content of the songs has also changed to reflect the times.  There are more songs with abstract themes based around feelings rather than the old storytelling mode of the more traditional composers.

Sartoria

Physical Appearance: Sartorians tend to be slim in build although there is a great deal of variation in height.  Their skin tones range from medium brown through to black.  Their hair tends to be dark brown or black and very wiry in texture.  Hair is often worn long in braids or snakelocks.  Most Sartorians have brown eyes.  Tribal Sartorians rarely wear clothing, especially in the desert.  They are fond of tattoos, jewellery and body paint.  Those who do not live the tribal life prefer to wear bright colours and a variety of styles. 

Society: There is no formal law enforcement system in place on Sartoria. There are moral guidelines as to what is acceptable behaviour and each community enforces these, albeit on a case by case basis.  Sartorians are very accepting of a wide range of behaviours and will be flexible in their interpretations of the guidelines.

Lifestyle: Tribal Sartorians have a community-based lifestyle.  Most aspects of their lives are shared by the whole tribe, including childcare, domestic tasks, agriculture and hunting, food preparation, cooking and eating.  Sartorians are very open about sexual matters and tend to be very accepting of all sexual orientations and acts.  Children are not sheltered from the harsher realities of life.  They get to see procreation, illness, injury and death from an early age.  Also each child belongs to the entire tribe.  Although children usually live with their birth parents, they are happy to be cared for by any member of the tribe.  Relationships are fluid and flexible.  Marriages are always by choice and take the form of a martial arts fight in order to demonstrate their strength.  One partner surrenders to end the wedding fight, and the other partner ceases fighting as a show of gentleness.  In non-tribal society, some marriages are arranged and all marriage ceremonies are long and elaborate in nature.  While still strongly connected to the local community, non-tribal families take care of their own children and do not share domestic tasks with other family units.  Non-tribal Sartorians tend to be more materialistic in their ways.

Beliefs: Most Sartorians worship the elemental deities and have a strong connection with their planet.  Worship involves devotional ceremonies and dances as well as prayer and meditation.  In addition, tribal Sartorians worship the sacred Hasta tree and the Hastamages (shamans) learn from an early age how to communicate with the tree.  Each tribe has one Hasta tree which lives for centuries.  Hasta trees rarely shed their leaves but on special occasions, the leaves are eaten by members of the tribe.  The seeds remain dormant until the old trees reach the end of their lives, then a special planting ceremony takes place, whereby several seeds are planted.  If more than one germinates, the saplings are donated to other tribes who need a new tree. 

Art and Culture: Sartorian culture evolved along similar lines to Virian culture, but the main difference is that it is less about the distinction between good and evil and more about the moral and psychological consequences of a character’s decisions.  There is a strong element of interpretive dance involved in Sartorian storytelling, along with many sexual references and acts.  Freedom of expression is of paramount importance to Sartorians, particularly of a physical nature.  Some stories are conveyed purely through body movements, hand gestures and facial expressions, relying on the audience to make their own interpretations and arrive at their own conclusions.

Music tends to be more for dancing than passive listening and the emphasis is on rhythm rather than melody and instrumentals rather than songs. 

While there are many works of literature in Sartorian society, acting and dancing tend to be more popular.  Most fictional writers write plays or poems rather than novels.  As with the live performances, much of it is open to how the individual reader chooses to interpret the material.  The same goes for movies, which are mostly recordings of live performances.

Varathusia

Physical Appearance: There is a great deal of variation in height and build, but most Varathusians have tanned complexions, dark hair and dark eyes.  Varagans tend to be much taller and heavier in build and they are fond of piercings, especially on the face.  They also go in for elaborate tattoos.  Carpathians place a great deal of emphasis on wearing the correct attire for every occasion and failure to do so is considered a faux pas at best and an insult at worst.  They also love to display their wealth and status by wearing expensive jewellery.  Carpathian men tend to grow their hair to collar-length or shoulder-length and keep it bound in a tail at the base of their neck.  Carpathian women usually have long hair, but how they style it depends on personal preference and current fashion trends.  Varahs and Varagans are less concerned with clothes and fashions.  Varahs do not stick to any specific hairstyles or types of clothing.  They tend to be more utilitarian and practical in their appearance.  Varagans of both genders prefer very long hair in a variety of styles such as tails, braids or snakelocks.  Most males have some facial hair.  Long sweeping moustaches are very popular.  Men tend to go around bare-chested or only wear light vests or waistcoats, while women wear vests or blouses.  Both genders favour baggy trousers and sandals. 

Society: In Carpathian society, the Inner Circle, which comprises of the ten most powerful families, dictates the law.  Interpretation of the law can be fluid and is often subject to bribes.  Knowing the right people can make all the difference when it comes to crime and punishment.  Varahs have their own law enforcement system which is more consistent than the Carpathian one.  They disapprove of bribes and the use of Truth-testers.  They also view Carpathian families and alliances as being organised crime syndicates.  Varagans are libertarian by nature and have very few rules.  Most behaviour is tolerated as long as it is consensual. 

Lifestyle: Carpathians are very ostentatious in their ways and love to show off.  They are also very protective of their extended families and can be extremely generous.  Political manoeuvring is very common amongst the higher Echelons. Many marriages are by arrangement and usually to cement important family alliances.  Children are usually educated at home by relatives or friends of the family instead of being sent to school. They are groomed from an early age in how to run businesses and play advantages.  Varahs are more restrained in their behaviour and their lifestyle is dictated by their disposable income.  Some Varahs are employed by Carpathian and Varagan families in various capacities.  This is considered a rare privilege and such positions are highly sought after.  Most Varagans are openly bisexual and promiscuous by nature.  Their society is male-dominated and they do not marry.  Although they keep slaves, they make no distinction between their family, their employees and their slaves.  Likewise, family and business interests are intermingled.  Men own every person in their household.  Daughters are expected to entertain guests, including sexual favours.  It is an honour for a Varagan daughter to be sold by her father.  Varagans are extremely loving and generous and it is rare for an employee or slave to be treated badly. 

Beliefs: Carpathians almost exclusively worship Iraevesh, the Goddess of Justice.  There are also some atheists in Carpathian society, although these are very much in the minority.  All Carpathians have a strong belief in enlightenment through ambition and self-advancement. Knowledge is of primary importance and most Carpathians rely on their extensive spy networks to provide them with information on their allies and rivals alike.  Varahs do not have one specific belief system and they tend to place less emphasis on spiritual matters than their Carpathian and Varagan counterparts.  Varagans worship Varagord, the God of Wisdom, and Minestria, the Goddess of Sorcery.  They also value the acquisition of knowledge but they are less politically motivated than the Carpathians.

Art and Culture: Because there are three distinct civilisations on Varathusia, it is more difficult to quantify and categorise their culture.  In bygone times, each civilisation kept to its own cultural traditions but as time went on, the differences became less obvious.

Carpathians tend to be ambitious, materialistic and acquisitive in nature.  Thus their art and entertainment reflects this.  The wealthier families invest heavily in arts and entertainments.  It is quite commonplace for a Carpathian family (or an alliance of families) to own theatres, movie palaces, dance-clubs, music venues, brothels, sporting venues, bars and taverns, as well as being patrons for specific artists, entertainers and sports stars.  They have a sophisticated and highly developed theatre and movie industry which caters to all tastes.  Similarly, the written word is as diverse as the more visual forms of entertainment.

Varahs are less materialistic than Carpathians, but still place high value on entertainment.  Their movies and theatrical productions are not as lavish as the Carpathian ones, but again, there is a broad spectrum of material available.  There is little distinction between Carpathian and Varah literature, except for the language in which it is written.

Varagans are more like Sartorians in their enjoyment of everything physical.  Even a basic conversation is conducted with many hand-gestures and Varagans frequently touch each other on the arm when speaking.  Again, freedom of expression is vitally important.  Their sense of humour is very crude and earthy.  This is reflected in all their forms of art and entertainment.  Like Carpathians, they are extremely materialistic.  Competitive sports such as martial arts contests, weight-lifting, swimming and team games are very popular. 

Malvania

Physical Appearance: Most Malvanians are tall and slender in build.  They all have pale skins and their eye colour tends to be pale blue, pale green or grey.  Like the Mondians, they have ridges above their eyebrows.  Their hair is either white or blue-black and is traditionally worn long, either loose or bound back in a tail, depending on personal preference.  Their facial features are very delicate and to a non-Malvanian, they do not appear to have much variation in their facial expressions. There is little variation in Malvanian clothing.  Mostly it consists of tunics and leggings in pastel colours for both genders.  Priests and academics prefer to wear long robes over their tunics and leggings.  Heavy coats are a necessity for going outdoors, particularly in the extremely cold Northern region.  The coats are usually made of wool or fur and in neutral shades. 

Society: Malvanians have strict and rigid standards of behaviour in public, although they can be surprisingly libertarian in their private lives.  There are relatively few cities and larger towns.  Priests and academics live in enclaves while most other citizens live in small villages.  Many of these villages do not even have names.  Marriage is usually by choice and Malvanian marriage ceremonies last for many hours, including several complex and uncomfortable rituals before the joining ceremony takes place.

Lifestyle: In bygone days, Malvanians were isolationist and abstemious by nature, however they are gradually becoming more tolerant of other races and cultures.  The acquisition of knowledge is still valued above everything else but in more recent times, they have become more willing to share and exchange that knowledge with other worlds.  They consider any outward displays of wealth to be in bad taste and do not like to adorn themselves with jewellery or cosmetics. 

Beliefs: Most Malvanians worship Malvanis, the God of Knowledge.  The prevailing belief is that enlightenment and personal growth can only come from the acquisition of knowledge.  Priests and sorcerers also worship Minestria.  In some remote communities, the elemental deities are worshipped in addition to Malvanis.

Art and Culture: Although Malvanians tend to be more reticent and reserved in their ways, they still have a rich cultural life encompassing everything from spoken folk-tales to works of art and literature to plays and movies.  They place more emphasis on the type of language used rather than physical expressions.  Thus Malvanians are wrongly thought to be lacking in emotion and humour.  Their literature and drama place a great deal of emphasis on spiritual and moral issues.  Most of their humour is based around morals and can be difficult for non-Malvanians to understand.  They excel at the graphic arts and skills such as sculpting, tailoring and dressmaking. 

Malvanian music is all about creating moods and atmospheres rather than energetic rhythms or telling stories.  Much of their music is minimalist and subtle.  It is more geared towards listening rather than dancing.