Pura Sanctum

Written by Commando Chipmunk

Beneath the Pura Swampwoods, embedded in the molten rock that forms the land and islands above, is the Sanctuary of the Hood…
Does this Name have any symbolism or significance? “Pura” and “Sanctum” are Latin for “Holy” and “Pure” respectively.
Kingdom Races: These people are very tall. They claim to be directly descended from the eldest children of the first humans created, and have the “purest” human blood. However, their extreme height makes some believe that they are somehow related to giants. The Hood reply that since their founding, their people have controlled the genetics of their offspring perfectly, only to create the most beautiful and talented—and tall—successors. For their people must be tall in order to act as beacons and shine as a warning to the rest of Ashnuw.
Kingdom Government Types/Rulers: The Hood is ruled by a Council of Seven, for Seven is a holy number, and with Seven minds, wisdom and purity is achieved. These Seven individuals are men and women who have dedicated their lives to purity and have displayed the most devotion and diligence in this pursuit. They all live together in the central courtyard, served and worshipped by their close ring of followers—Hood members who may be chosen to take their place someday. These followers have somewhat of an impact on the council’s decisions.
This Kingdom is Most like all these Countries/Books/Movies/Games: Based after classic jester/clown outfits, the creepy alien kingdom in the Guardians of the Galaxy 2, the Gloriadale cult in New Zealand, and following the vein of Puritanism gone super wrong.
Prominent Cities, Villages and Landmarks: The Sanctuary is the sole city of this realm. It is a vast underground chamber, lit with what appears to be white liquid water, channeled through the walls and roofs of the city. The whole chasm seems to glow in starlight. On closer inspection, the inhabitants will tell you that this city exists just beneath the ocean and is home to healing, purifying salt springs filled with a substance called “electrolyght.” The water here is “so pure that it glows.” The waterways have been engineered so that the entire city can partake in its light and healing power. The light feeds vast ground layers of exotic gardens throughout the city. The walls are made of white stone and the beauty and intricacy of the city’s design increases as you move further into the city.
Here is where the Hood abides, their “Pura Sanctum.” The city centers around the citadel, which includes the courtyard and the Council of Seven. Their followers live in a ring around them, and the offspring labs around the ring after that and so on. The newest and most impure of the Hood (called “vessels”) live on the outer rings and tend to the farming and maintenance of the place.
What those few who are allowed to visit do not see is the chasm on the outer end of the city that opens down into great pits of molten fire.
What is their “morality system?" (aka, what do they generally believe about reality, Life, Death, sin, justice, mercy, redemption, higher power, etc.) The Hood of Pura believes that we must escape the evil of this world and become pure so that we can be accepted into the Presence of all Truth and Beauty and Goodness when we die. But everything in this life is tainted by evil. Food, clothing, desires, romance, languages. Even the extravagance of their kingdom some of them question, but the members reply to this that the wealth of their land is a small gift and foretaste of their future glory. They alone, of all the people of Ashnuw, are worthy of such a gift. The Hood of Pura pushes to their highest limits to attain purity, undergoing painful and harsh purifying rites that often incorporate the purifying water and fire from the fire pits below.
They believe any outsiders are inferior, and some races are irredeemable. There are also certain sins that are irredeemable. Once they are committed, members (or outsiders) will be made slaves to toil in the fire pits, as reminders of the future that awaits them because of what they have done.
They also have a very strict dress code. All the Hood paints one side of their face white and the other black as a constant reminder that all of them are still in a state of purification and they can always be “turned entirely dark.” They wear only black and white with simple cut lines, because color is often a form of impurity in metals, and thus a symbol of impurity (besides, color is also considered extravagant and distracting). Most bleach their hair white.
What foods are eaten there? As little food as possible. Extreme fasting is greatly revered and those who can fast the longest are often given positions higher up in the Hood. Instead, they drink great quantities of the water springs—both salty and fresh, along with a few forms of tea, a few vegetables and no meat. Meat contains blood, which is dirty, and also meat was once taken from a living creature and all living creatures commit evil. To eat meat would be to take evil into oneself.
What music do they play? Music is only allowed in very rare occasions. Only those who are allowed to sing can. These people have often have exceptional voices and have been chosen for the task. When they do sing, they sing mostly in pure high notes and monotone. They sing songs about purity, the Council of Seven, and the healing waters.
What language do they speak? An altered form of common speech that only contains pure words. Most try to speak as little as possible. Stutters, stammers and filler words (um, uhh, ah) are never used.
How do they travel? They do not travel except for when they go proselytizing. On these occasions, a few chosen ones will go above ground, proclaiming the impurities of life and seek new members for the Hood (of the redeemable races). They travel by foot and undergo month long purifying rites on their return to the Sanctuary. When they are above ground, they must always wear hoods to protect their faces and they never touch other creatures, enter a dwelling, or eat foreign food.
What type of goods do they produce? They do not produce any goods or trade. Or so they claim.
What types of technology do they have? They claim to not have any technology. Though there are rumors among the lower Hood members that the leaders have great knowledge given to them when the Hood was first created.
What is their fighting style? They do not fight. Fighting is a form of aggression, an outcome of evil. Even self-defense is prohibited. Worse, injuries produce blood and sweat, contaminating substances. The only times blood should be shed is during purity rites, as a symbol of the pain that produces cleanliness and forgiveness.
What is their greatest strength? Their water is truly healthy and healing. Many converts who join, do so because they know the waters will heal their ailments.
What is their greatest weakness? They are generally awful people, and stuff gets really creepy the higher up in the ranks converts get.
Is this kingdom peace-loving or war-loving? Peace-loving, I suppose?
Injust or just? What do you think?
What do they think about the other countries in Ashnuw? The Hood, as a whole, does not know much about the other countries at all. The Seven, however, keep a close watch on news from other kingdoms. The Hood generally distinguishes between races, not kingdoms.
These are the traits of creatures they deem irredeemable. These traits were “revealed” to their founders when they first created the Seven and tasted the healing waters in unison.
Any creature with a mutation or deformity.
All elves and faeirie, because they are a proud and corruptible race with too much power.
All biped animaloids and anthropomorphic animals, because they share a resemblance with creatures who crawl on the ground (the ground is dirty).
For humans, the Hood of Pura believes outward appearance is an indication of a person’s soul. Humans that are especially evil are humans with almond-shaped eyes (they claim this eye shape is evil), dark or easily tanned skin, dark hair (dark is a symbol of evil), skin that freckles easily (freckles blotch and blotching is a sign of unsteadiness and lack of devotion), and humans with hair that cannot be straightened (curls are a symbol of evil and crookedness). These peoples may be allowed in if they show great sincerity, since the facial paint and hair bleaching will obscure “impurities.” However, humans with almond-shaped eyes are never allowed in, since the eyes cannot be obscured by their face markings.
What are some prominent events in their history? The history of the Hood is largely told to their members like this: “During a terrible and bitter war between the good and the evil, seven wise men discovered the Healing Waters of Pura. When they tasted it together, all truth was revealed to them and they created the Hood with this truth. Evil won the war of that day and the entire continent was shifted and twisted and tainted by the effects of that monstrous polluting place called the Borax Uldeck. We are now alone the only people who live in purity, waiting for the next life, when Purity will be restored.”

Traditional Goodbye and Welcome: "May you be cleansed and may you never fall irredeemable."