Balane

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Originally, Belani names followed a rule of respect based on compound names, meaning the more prominent your bloodline the more likely the child has a first name like, "Mandykate," as opposed to only "Mandy." Because this has carried on for so many years in this fashion with the Belani in Shambala being mostly isolated from other cultures, many Belani people have these compound names. This rule applies to all genders. Below are a few examples of common female names.

Feminine Names
Mandykate, Annasandra, Marylynn, Sarajean, Emmijem, Samsarah, Kaylakara

Masculine names

Like the feminine names, thoughout history most male Belani names have compounded. Below are a few examples of common masculine names.

Masculine Names
Jeffjim, Joejoe, Howardrew, Johnsam, Robertom

Unisex names

Erinawry, Alexaken, Glendonna

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Common, Belani, and the Risers learn Elemat when surfacing to Eden in order to combat/negotiate with the Elematiis.

Shared customary codes and values

The Balane all seem to follow a code of discretion and status, meaning an individuals social status is their overall rank in the governing council and it impacts what their opinions are worth to the rest of the Runemancers. They are not opposed to turning a blind eye to all sorts of shenanigans be they good or bad, as they believe that the act of getting involved in others affairs is immoral unless asked or obligated. The only exceptions are politicians, and The Branded, a group of enforcers appointed by the council who've learned to use runes to their darkest extremes.

Average technological level

Slipscrolls -
Runes - Permeancy Runes - Conditional Runes - Tari Inkwell - Dial of Rune Detection - Endless scroll - Cards of Power - Sondial of Dispel -

Art & Architecture

Both their art and architecture resembles an archaic throwback to ancient Eden, before the war of gods. The buildings utilise three dimensional symmetrical shapes capable of acting as conduits for protective runes and spells, if it isn't rune ready then it isn't up to code.
The Balani refined the technique of painting murals and mosaics as well as sculpting. They liked to emphasise natural themes such as landscapes and narrative themes inspired by literature and mythology. The wide variety of art Balane produce includes sculptures (metal and reble statuary), fine art painting (murals, portraiture, vase/pottery painting), decorative art (including metalwork, jewelry, mosaics, reble carving), and Runing.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Heirlooms, artifacts, and items of great sentimental importance are marked by a binding rune into a book. This book seems to allow the Runemancer to track the item if it should go missing. This rune is different then the parental rune and reacts only to the original writer of the tracking journal or their bloodline, as it's written in a runic encryption that is unique and differs from family to family.
They appear to show much less restraint when it comes down to inflicting personal damage/harm to themselves in comparison to other races, this is largely speculated to be due to the nature of Runemancy & the sacrifices required to activate their runes. A result of this mentality has increased not only their tolerance to pain over time, but it's also allowed them to push through levels of shock that should normally be considered fatal to humans.
Balane are occasionally seen traveling in small groups toward the border of Sanctuary to leave offerings at the door to the The Library. These offerings are always gone by dawn, yet for some reason no one so far has been capable of remaining awake through the night to see them off.
Balane will not sleep unless they have practiced the closing rule, Close your Quarters for safety's sake.
All Balane carry a small scroll which they use to practice the art of Runemancy. This is a very dignified skill among their people, and only the most talented and precise can achieve the status of Rune writer.
Many Shambalan scholars hoping to be talented Rune Writers travel in masses to a place they call the "Temple of Tomes," better known by it's international title as, The Library, all in hopes of studying the runes that time hasn't stripped from the weathered reble stone. Unfortunately, there aren't many people that have learned of ways to gain access to the anomalous building

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When a child is born they are marked lightly with a binding rune that fades after 15 years, when the rune has stretched past its true form.
The rune is placed by a Rune reader. First on each parent, and then the infant. This is done as an incredibly small burn instead of the traditional scarring method of runing in order to minimize the impact on the child and, partially improve the permeance of the rune.
The use of the rune is that it alerts the parents to sudden spikes of fear, danger, and/or anxiety experienced by their child so they may intervein in times of peril.

Coming of Age Rites

Upon reaching the tender age of 15 each Balane is gifted their family's first rune. This is an honorary ritual event only requiring the sacrifice of blood. Each rune differs based on the family, but its essentially an heirloom of the first rune historically used by their lineage. This is a very important ritual to most Balane, as not only was their naming rune based off their heirloom rune, but documenting everything is a large part of their culture.
Unfortunately, orphans are excluded from this event. To the Balane society your bloodline is everything, both closing, and opening doors for them depending on their family reputation.

Funerary and Memorial customs

A large gathering is held in memory of each life lost in Myscoin. Each person is allotted a maximum of 5 hours of remembrance to mourn, and then celebrate the freeing of their energy.
The next morning the body is carried by those burdened by the loss in life to the east section of the Dark waters (never the west, or the tide will push the bodies right back up the coast). This is where the current carries the bodies down all of Shambala and over Final falls to send them back to Eden, where the Balane believe a new life cycle will begin for them.
Balane of great importance are allotted more time of remembrance but this varies on rank and social status. The reason the general mourning period is so short for their people is due to their belief that those they have lost live on through the runes they left behind.

Common Taboos

Entering the Temple of Tomes for any reason (this is actually punishable by death).
Opening any Ingress Obelisk leading to Eden's surface (this taboo was only avoided until the return of the Damned scholar, Magnus. Once he walked back through, the gate jammed open).
It is forbidden to attempt to use another Runemancer as your sacrifice.
It is forbidden to read, write, or activate divine, or elder runes without the consent of a god.
Touching the Scattered Stones stones is against Shambalan law, and punishible by imprisonment.
It's not recommended to swim by the Myscoin falls.
Never invoke the anger of the Librarian.
Murder, and not just for the obvious reasons. Its also because killing raises the concern of magical souls trapped haunting the locals of Shambala from the The Fayde.
Comparing your, or another mortal beings power to that of Hecate.
You are not by any circumstances to gift another Runemancer your own limb, appendage, or organs (the exception to organs being donors in surgeries essential to survival). You may also not exceed the recommended blood donor dosage of 1 pint of blood every 60 days.

Common Myths and Legends

The Red Rump

The most popular myth among all of humanity was the tale of Red Rumped Robert (or Rob). The tale spoke of an Odeapessan slave who was flogged to near death and hung naked by Spirrahna silk wires weaved so tightly around his hands that the silk tore into his flesh. He was left in the middle of town square in Miden, on display so his fellow slaves could see what happens when you disobey your master. Robert had been known for his crafty hands, so as a result of his reputation and offence, that is what the nobles chose to take from him. The guards would walk up to him each day and ask,
"You have enough yet?" And every day he would spit in their face and smile. Unfortunately, by the ninth day Rob had no saliva left to spit. He tried and tried, but dehydration had taken its toll. The guards laughed in spite of his suffering, however, that night when they went to check on Robert they were shocked to find nothing. No Robert, no Spirranha silk wires, no blood, no flog hung neatly on standby, and no footprints in the dirt surrounding the area. Robert had disappeared as if he had never been there in the first place, and all that was left as proof of that night was a strange engravement above the door of every slaves quarters in Odeasus, reading;

"Live the calm before the cavalry".

He was reported dead soon after by the Golden Guard, but rumor has it that Red Rumped Robert is still out there somewhere roaming Birtham a free man because he just so happened to be crafty with more than just his hands.

Hecate & the Witch Trials

The story of an Odeapessan girl born on Eden who was accused of witchcraft and sentenced to burn at the steak. She escaped with a team of revolutionaries and ascended to the heavens on a sentient Quetzalcoatl. She breeched the Omni Gate and entered Taegate in her mortal form. The realm is said to have tried to warp her frail mortal form, but she concentrated all her magic into one large blast which she used to erupt into a massive cloud of tari magic that rained down upon Eden's inhabitants. This is why the Balane believe that Odeapessan humans can also use Runemancy, they only need to be taught how so the tari pools clogged within them can begin to flow. This feat triggered Hecate's ascension trial and she became the goddess of sorcery shortly afterwards. The tale of this deity strikes hope into the hearts of Odeapessans everywhere.

The Librarian and the Song

The tale of Valensandra "Cursed Cadaver" and her entry to the Temple of Tomes after battling a deity head to head and proving to the mortals of Eden that the goddess of mercy was a lie. She was the first ever documented to enter, and Is it said that upon entry she was confronted by the Librarian. The sphinx challenged her by asking three riddles that no man or woman could have ever known the answer to and Valensandra answered one wrong, losing the right to ever leave the library again. Days after her entry the sounds of a violin being played and songs being sung just loud enough to reach the ears of those outside began to breach the door cracks. For nearly 170 some years, every so often her songs could be heard being played quietly through the door, even after a well renowned necromancer gained entry and then left 200 years later. No Balane citizen dared enter the Library again in fear of never being able to leave, thus condemning any Balane already caught inside the Temple of Tomes...
It wasn't until 30 years ago that Val's songs suddenly stopped. This event actually terrified the entire Balane populace of Myscoin for two years straight due to the mass assumption that this was a bad omen.
Exactly 10 years after her songs stopped they started once again, but this time they were hear on the topside of Eden, at the Temple of The Damned. She was spotted roaming the temples halls as an eternally cursed cadaver, still singing softly in the afterlife...

The Damned scholar

A human man by the name of Magnus Malekye walked through the Ingress Obelisk and into Myscoin without alerting any authorities. He walked to the city square and intentionally announced himself with a friendly introduction during a festival. He told the high councilmen and the Branded guard that he intended to enter the Temple of Tomes and that he would learn its secrets. This immediately got him apprehended by the Branded Guard. As they reached his new cell, hordes of old dead rose from the Dark Waters, and began attacking the dungeon to free the strange man. Once the dead had liberated their master they proceeded to escort him through the city's most talented Runemancers and members of the Branded Guard with little to no effort.
He entered the library and a permanent guard was placed on the doors at all times for nearly a full year before the high council wrote him off as dead. His name was added to the list of D.U.E humans, which had been recorded since humanity first entered Shambala.
Nearly 200 years later he simply strolled back out of the Temple of Tomes looking the same age he had when he entered. His first action was to strike his name from the D.U.E memorial on the Ingress Obelisk before walking back through it into Eden. The citizens of Myscoin were left in shock, and forced to consider the possibility that the lost Balane citizens still inside may not be deceased after all.

Annasandra, the Shadow

Anna was a mystical Balane infant who was found just outside the Library's doors and assumed to have been born inside the anomalous Temple of Tomes. She was taken by the Branded Guard and claimed by the high council. For 5 years she lived like royalty until she ran away and organized a ragtag group of orphans that the high council labeled "Strays," which would later grow into a huge organization dedicated to taking down Shambala's high council from within and replacing them with common citizens.
Anna and her group did well for themselves until the first wave of Handlers learned of the Ingress Obelisk and entered Shambala in hopes of collecting unique human specimens. Put in a desperate situation, Anna was forced to sell her soul to the dark god Absolum. She became a member of The Abyssal Order and using her newfound power she singlehandedly pushed the intruders back into Eden.
She lived as an Abyssal Advocate for several years before becoming the next Librarian in the The Librarys line, and using it's magic she worked loophole through her deal with the abyssal god and bound herself instead to the timeless building where he could no longer claim her soul. She also wrote a brand new rune that allowed her to turn her entire body into nothing but a shadow, a blessing ability given only by Absolum before he claims the souls he's owed. The god was infuriated as he was already trying to get inside the Temple of Tomes, so not only did she escape him, but she had also gained entry to one of the most difficult buildings in existence instead of him. These are the reasons Absolums saints still hunt her to this day.
A hundred years passed before Anna decided to leave the building after realizing that her naming rune was based on an unbinding rune. When she returned to Myscoin with the knowledge of the Library the high council had her captured and intended to sentence her to death for entering the anomaly despite her progress. Fortunately for Anna, a renowned necromancer walked through the Ingress Obelisk and called 666 undead to his aid before turning around and taking his leave. Dead dragged from the Dark waters rose and stumbled through the city toward the obelisk. Anna had each one shot with an arrow that was marked with a rune she wrote from scratch which she'd called "mortally blind" in Belani. These runes made all undead that were marked blind to the mortals they were approaching. After the dead had gone Anna was voted onto a chair of the high council with the condition that she serves from her home on house arrest so the council can keep a close eye on her.

Historical figures

King Midas Tiyrn I - The first historical king of Odeasus, he's known for founding Miden and holding a 12 year war against The Empire of Menra. He is one of the reasons Odeasus could never be absorbed into another kingdom or empire had they fallen, due to a curse he had placed as a gift from his god, Vekade. If any neighboring kingdom/empire attempted to conform the kingdom of Odeasus to their customs, the citizens of the opposing country would become psychologically passive until the attempted merge happened. This doesn't sound like it'd be that much of an issue, however, the only 3 times Odeasus lost and was overrun it was taken back, but not by its military. It was taken back by its citizens. The humans of Odeasus would take advantage of the passive curse and use it to strategically push the opposing force who had already assumed they were the victors back out of Odeasus, cutting their numbers by thousands due to the aggressive nature of the Odessan people's push.

King Midas Tiyrn II - The kindest king of Odessan lineage, Midas II was able to make his people feel safer than ever after making a deal with the Guardians of old to protect the kingdom and its people from potential wars in exchange for the Odessan ally status with the "Four Armed Alliance." Unfortunately, Midas struggled with the financial aspect of governing a throne, and though the people felt safe they had been struck by poverty. In a desperate attempt to save his people, Midas made a deal with a Forsaken in order to gain the funds needed to support his people. Midas told the Forsaken that he needed the funds for his people. So he could bring them salvation and food to line their tables. What Midas didn't know was that this Forsaken had cleverly worded the contract in a way that twisted his wish. He gave Midas a way to acquire the funds for his people, but it was for his people.
By the time Midas awoke the next day he could turn anything he touched to gold, however, he had unintentionally sold every person within his kingdom to the Menra Empire... Within the next 3 years his life spiraled downward. His wife was turned to gold by accident and then stolen, his son despised the very thought of him and fled the Odeassa Ranges seeking his mother, and everything Midas touched turned to gold except for his own body (this means he can eat, but only with his mouth. He can't touch his food first or it turns to gold).
Eventually the entire kingdom of Odeasus had been turned to gold through years of Midas struggling his way through his curse. People from all over Birtham began to travel there and settle in the city of gold, however, shortly after the kingdoms lands were repopulated Midas disappeared and any who dared sit upon his throne were turned to gold. The citizens assumed this to mean that they were unworthy of the throne. Each person who attempted this trial and failed would turn to solid gold in the position they were last in. These "failed kings" now decoratively line the walkway leading up to the throne. To this day no one knows the truth of Midas II fate, only that he's been gone for centuries and his cursed throne somehow still remains in the Golden palace.

Miden Tiyrn - Son of Midas II, Miden was named after the city he was born in. He lived a fairly poor, but relatively normal life up until the age of 13, when his father was cursed with the touch of gold. Less than a year later, Miden had lost his mother to his fathers curse. It was an accident, and he knew this, but for some reason it didn't stop the burning pain in Miden's heart. His people were sold to the Menra empire and after the loss of his mother he couldn't bear to stay in the kingdom of gold any longer, so he disguised himself and fled to Menra, where he gained information of his mothers whereabouts and helped to plot the fall of an empire.

Magnus Malekye - Rumored to be an incredibly dangerous necromancer who appears to be untouched by time. He is capable of raising more dead than the amount of people inhabiting a village or city in a single wave of his hand. They say he cannot be killed, but that statement is flawed. He has been killed. Many times in fact. Magnus can switch from body to body at will, however, his energy is so powerful that it rots the body he is currently wearing. The only two exceptions to the previous statement are his own body, and the body of his lost love. Though despite the fact her corpse can contain his power, he can't bring himself to wear her as he has so many others.

Hecate Grimorie - The human girl who ascended to divinity. Ironically enough, when Hecate was accused of witch craft she wasn't actually a witch... Yet. She was dragged from her home and tied to a steak to burn when a dark organization called Mercys Lie arrived and liberated all slaves. Though Hecate herself wasn't a slave, she was still whisked away by the dangerous group of extremists.
It was during her time with Mercy's Lie that Hecate ascended, when entering the real of divines, Taegate. Hecate's mortal body began to struggle and break down, causing her allies to rush their job. In the confusion, Hecate was forced to touch the spark of sorcery, which triggered her ascension. Her ascension trial wasn't to spread tari throughout Eden, it was actually to alert each and every Faeling to any humans with terminal illnesses. This was to ensure more humans became Fae blessed and unlocked the ability to access their Tari pools.

Valensandra "Cursed Cadaver" - A girl who rose to Eden from Shambala with her dying sister and traveled across Eden to Fyorah in order to find her a cure. Before they reached the Faewilds it appeared one night as if Seranna might not survive the night so Val prayed to any who would hear her. Unfortunately for the girls, the goddess of Mercy is who answererd her call. The goddess told Val that the only mercy she was willing to spare such a dirty little mortal was death. Despite the obvious power difference, young Val fought the goddess off enough to flee with her unconscious sister. She ran all the way through Fyorahs borders before collapsing. The Fae took them in and helped heal Seranna. Eventually, Val left, yet Seranna remained with the Fae.
After her encounter with the goddess of mercy, Val couldn't help but feel a well of anger growing within her. So she dedicated her life to proving that the goddess of Mercy was a lie. There was no mercy to be had from her, or any god in Val's opinion... She publicly humiliated the goddess and proved her point after creating a secret society dedicated to exposing the lies. Shortly after her victory she killed a god who was undeserving of such a death and vowed to learn the truth, so she headed back to Shambala and found a way to enter the Library
Seranna Whit - Seranna was born with a brain tumor which lead to blindness and fainting spells throughout her childhood. It was killing her. Seranna and her sister Val travelled to the Faewilds and found Fyorah, appealing to the Fae people there. One took mercy on Seranna and chose her as her changeling ritual, removing the tumor, but not in time to save Seranna's eyes. To remedy this, the Fae created a special pair of glasses which made the wearer see what they believed, and then they told her that they would help her see, so they did. She sees through them with powerful illusory magic.

Oma

The Fayde

Annasandra Whit - A mystery child who was born inside the Temple of Tomes. Annasandra is the first and only person known to escape from Absolums service, and the 10th Librarian in a line decided only by mystical selection. Annasandra helped to organize the Strays and keeps the council from harming them while also providing Shambala with the knowledge it needs to protect its natives, but only when they truly need it. She is increeasingly selective with what information she share and who she shares it to, however, her intel has been used to prevent wars and seal unknown entry points to Shambala. She is now known as one of the most capable and respected Rune Writers of Myscoin. Many travel from far reaches of Eden to request a Rune from such a living legend.
Johnathan Whit -
Marylynn Comry -
Robertren Beautet -

Ideals

Courtship Ideals

The Balane humans court each other with a shock and awe factor, trying to put on a magical display more breathtaking than any other suitor (this can be anything from pulling a bouquet out of your sleeve, to catching the northern lights in a jar to present as a gift).
A notable bonus to the one trying to woo the other would be if their Naming Runes were similar, this is considered to bring incredibly good luck into the relationship.
The courtship can be initiated by either gender without scrutiny, though in most cases it's the men initiating due to their desire to breed with a powerful Belani woman in order to potentially sire a child gifted enough with Runemancy to take a seat on the Shambalan high council.

Encompassed species

Humanity

Related Locations