Ushaa
Those who wish to be on their own, die on their ownScattered across Ushal in underground villages and cities are the Ushaa, who Ushal was named after. Everyone is expected to contribute but how they contribute is largely left up to the individual. Those that don't contribute receive no support from Ushaa and are banished from the caves, forcing them to fend for themselves alone in the desert. Ushaans are thought of as individualistic, prepared, and distrusting.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Language is a highly varied language, since groups of names are so spread out language has many different dialects. While it's certainly not impossible to understand one another, people from far apart groups will have significantly different dialects and thus will find it quite difficult to understand what the other is saying beyond broad strokes. Few Ushaa except for those living in the few major settlements know languages other than language.
Common Dress code
Most Ushaa shave their heads and bodies regularly. They wear long robes cut just above the ankle with long sleeves. Informal clothing has sleeves that more closely follow the arm's form while formal clothing have large, billowing sleeves. Formal clothing is decorated with small glass and metal beads and charms sewn onto the clothes. Feathers are another popular clothing decoration. Dull coloured clothing with brightly coloured patterns and jewelry are popular in formal clothing as well. Gemstones are rare accents in jewelry, most jewelry consists solely of patterned metal. Nail polish is popular as is black eyeliner.
Art & Architecture
Ushaans are well known for their metal and glass work. Highly stylized and simplified images of flowers are often found in their work; the general shape and colours of the flower are exaggerated while other details are left out. Other common symbols in artwork include blood, knives, meerkats, and feathers. Blue and green are considered especially important and lucky colours because of their association with life. Dark or bright red is considered a holy, blessed colour and is primarily used for religious items and places. Ushaan architecture primarily consists of underground chambers often in round shapes. Paintings, carvings, and glass and metal objects are common decorations.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Ushaans frequently practice willing blood sacrifice where someone cuts themself and offers up their blood to the deities or quasi-deities. An important aspect of many Ushaan festivals and ceremonies is when a leader or cleric gives a blood sacrifice. Those who haven't given a blood sacrifice are usually considered to be undependable, of dubious character, selfish, and less faithful than those who have.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
How one gives birth is highly individualized, most people do so with their lover(s) and if it's the pregnant person's first time giving birth they often have the help of someone who has given birth before. Throughout pregnancy and after birth it is customary for the pregnant person and those close to them to offer up blood sacrifices to the deities. Children are not allowed outside of the underground village before they can walk properly and can help with chores. They are not given proper names before they are considered adults.
Coming of Age Rites
People are barely acknowledged before they turn 12 and are considered an adult. On their twelfth birthday their parent(s) give them a name and the now adult chooses how they want to help their community. Although they are given a choice this choice is limited by what the community needs and who their parent(s) were. Afterwards it is customary for the new adult to give a blood offering to the deities. It is not forced but those that don't find it difficult to be as respected as those who do even if they give a blood sacrifice later in life.
Marriage is as simple as moving into the same home as your spouse(s) and giving a blood offering to the deities. Divorce is similarly easy, those who want to be divorced move into separate homes from each other.
Marriage is as simple as moving into the same home as your spouse(s) and giving a blood offering to the deities. Divorce is similarly easy, those who want to be divorced move into separate homes from each other.
Funerary and Memorial customs
There are special chambers for the dead in Ushaan settlements. The dead are laid to rest in alcoves carved into the walls. The dead are dressed in their finest clothes, carried to the chambers, and laid to rest. The deceased's name and their accolades are carved over the alcove.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Smooth skin and shorter stature is considered beautiful. So is plumpness as it shows one has access to enough food. aasimar of Zerje are considered especially beautiful and those who aren't aasimar of Zerje often paint their nails, wear clothing with feathers, and shave often to appear more attractive.
Relationship Ideals
The ideal Ushaan relationship is one where all partners think and solve problems similarly and have similar goals to each other. Both marriage and divorce are simple and have little to no ceremony surrounding them although many other cultures see Ushaan marriages as flimsy examples of marriage at best. Even behaviors like engaging in extramarital relations that your spouse(s) are unaware of do not result in societal outcry for Ushaans but it is still likely to result in a divorce.
Really interesting ethnicity. I love that blood sacrifice is not mandatory but people who don't participate are seen as dubious. I also like that people who don't contribute to the society are banished.
Thank you! It was really fun to write especially the blood sacrifice part.