Aiolionians
The Aiolionians are historically several related ethnic groups that traditionally inhabited the parts of Emberfall and Sunspire, with a small enclave in Ebonreach. They are named after the Aiolionian Empire, which existed until the Shattering.
The Aiolionians claim to be the descendants of an ancient seafaring people, their homeland being known as Aiolionia, which is the namesake of their Empire. A landmass existing in the otherworld, it is believed to have been wiped out shortly before or after their migration to Aethera, warring with an Empire.
They are the second oldest group known to settle in Aethera, and the oldest group extant. They are believed to arrived to Aethera around 2500-2300 years before present.
Some believe that the ancient Aiolionians are believed to given the land of Aethera its name, meaning "Land of the Heavens/Void".
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Many people have compound names, oftentimes ending with suffixes or prefixes like kleivos "glory", or nika "victory". Men oftentimes have names that end in an -s, and women with -a.
Family names
Names are generally patronymic, and oftentimes end with the suffix -ida(s), -ada(s), and -ion meaning "son/child of".
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Aiolionians speak various topolects that descend from Classical Aiolionian, though the Common toungue is spoken by all as a koine.
The Danaian languages can linguistically divided into a several geographical groups: The Emberfall-Sunspire dialect continuum, Northern, Eastern, Southern, and the Ebonreach varieties. The language spoken in Pyrehold is identical to it's Classical Form, a result of strict education, being a remnant of the Aiolionian Empire.
The linguistic division of the Danaian languages is believed to have greatly diversified as a result of the Shattering.
Shared customary codes and values
Is it customary to be hospitable to even strangers as a divine right of the guest and a divine duty of the host. Neither the guest can harm his host nor the host harm his guest for the length of the guest's stay. This likewise applies to their attendees, family, and pets.
It is also customary for a guest not to take or eat anything without the host's agreement.
Failing to do so is believed to invoke the wrath of the gods, and is heavily looked down upon.
Foods & Cuisine
The Aiolionians have a rather simple diet, subsiting off of unleavened bread, alongside chickpeas and lentils. They also subsist on varied vegetables and fruits, most particular olives and grapes, in which they would make oil and wine.
Goats, Chickens, Pigs, and Sheep are the most abundant of livestock, and Cow and Geese are for the upper classes. Goat milk is often used to make milk and cheese. In the coastal regions, fish is consumed heavily, as well as their byproducts.
Honey, Cheese, and Fish sauces are the best used condiments, and Cumin, Cilantro, and Celery seeds are most often used in cooking.
The Aiolionians are most famous for their Spiced White Wine, in which they flavor it with honey and various additives, of which is said to be used in medicinal to culinary purposes. Likewise, a non-alcoholic variation known as Kukyon exists, substituting wine with milk. It is said to be popular with children. A popular steetfood is sweet cream cheese-filled pastry called Enkrides, often topped with additional sugar and almonds.
Funerary and Memorial customs
The dead are cremated, with their ashes blown by the wind to the sea, in hopes they can reach Makaria, a distant land of paradise, or in Emberfall's case, scattered into a volcano.
Common Taboos
Incest is heavily frowned upon.
An ancient legend once stated that a King once begat children with his own mother, and they all went mad and killed each other. Another legend stated that a King sacrificed his own son to appease the gods, only for him to be smited. This King would be the ancestor of the Aiolionian royalty.
Likewise, in Aiolionian society, there are two protected classes, the licensed Jesters, and the Historians.
Licensed Jesters, by law, have one of the greatest freedoms in what they can be able to say, allowing them to mock individuals without any repercussions.
Likewise, Historians have much of the similar freedoms from prosecution, with an added protection, granting them full legal protection and editorial independence from the King and nobility. They, likewise, are expected to remain as neutral and unbiased as possible, and altering or disclosing the contents of the great record are punished by heavy torture.
Common Myths and Legends
The Aiolionians are a polytheistic people, their main religious text known as The Wilion Chronicles which is a compilation of seven works that records the long ancient conflict between the ancient Aiolionians and the Asiwa Confederacy, specifically people of Wilion, which ultimately caused the destructive end of the Era of Gods and the lands that inhabited it.
Due to their long history, they have many gods, with each city revering their own god and many worshipping various local deities.
Their main gods include:
- Sabbazdios: The King of the Gods. God of Storms, Horses, and the Sky.
- Kubēliā: The Great Mother of the Gods. Goddess of the Earth, Harvest, Childbirth, and Agriculture.
- Ennosidaos: God of the Depths, Earthquakes, Floods, and the Waters.
- Einnodiā: Goddess of Purification, Sacrifice, Hunting, and midwifery.
- Vistia: Goddess of Fire and Shrines. Patron Goddess of Pyrehold.
- Dievōnnūsos: God of Entropy, Decay, Rebirth, Intoxication, Drugs, Liberation, Agriculture, and Madness.
- Astraiā: Goddess of Divine Justice, Order, Law, Innocence, Purity, Prescion, and Ordanance.
- Atana: Goddess of Logic, Weaponry, and Strategy.
- Aprodita: Goddess of Battle, Logic, Passion, Sensuality, Diplomacy, and Political Power.
- Ennualios: God of Conquest, Bravery, and Victory.
- Āpaistios: God of Artisans, Forging, and Volcanos. Patron God of Emberfall.
- Panos: God of Nature, Fertility, Abundance, Pastoralism, Fear, Roads, Journeys, Boundaries, and guide of the dead.
- Avelios: God of the Sun. Patron God of Sunspire.
- Selānnā: Goddess of the Moon, with a major cult in Ebonreach.
- Aplōnas: God of Lightning, Destruction, Hunting, Trapping, Healing, Medicine, Fortune, and Prophecy.
- Artamitas: Goddess of Rain, Disease, Wilderness, Mauling, Wildlife, and Spearing.
- Ekadia: Goddess of Protection, Spirits, Ghosts, and the Gate.
- Aidās: God of the Dead.
- Karis: Three-headed Goddess of creativity/complexity, leadership/charisma, and growth/life
- Aivonos: God of time, cycles, and eternity.
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