Kyramul

Journal entry, Florianus, imperial scholar, in the 23rd year of the fifth age, on the topic of the beginning of the first age.

The Kyramul culture was a group of people who lived as slaves under the Iormfar Vele'nu . They had a unique and rich culture that combined nature and spirituality, loyalty and honor, adaptation and creativity. They worshipped Iormfar, the god of the ocean, and his family. They also honored their ancestors, who watched over them from the Sea of Souls. They expressed their culture through their art, music, clothing, and body paint. They created pottery, baskets, textiles, jewelry, and sculptures that depicted their gods, spirits, animals, plants, and patterns. They also created rock art and hieroglyphs that told their stories and history. They participated in ceremonies and dances that involved masks, costumes, and music. They wore simple and modest clothing that covered their bodies and hid their horns. They used natural materials and colors to make their clothes and accessories. They also tattooed their bodies with symbols that represented their identity and beliefs.

The Kyramul culture was also marked by their values and customs. They valued order and harmony in their society. They followed a strict hierarchy that was based on their masters’ wishes and their own abilities. They obeyed their masters without question and performed their duties diligently. They also respected their elders and their fellow Kyrfolk who shared their fate and bond. They valued justice and reciprocity in their relations. They believed that they should be treated fairly by their masters and by each other. They valued loyalty and honor in their service. They believed that they owed their lives and allegiance to their masters who had spared them from death or worse. They strived to prove their worth and honor by serving their masters faithfully and courageously. They valued adaptation and creativity in their survival. They had learned to cope with their harsh environment and limited resources by using whatever they could find or make. They were skilled at farming, fishing, hunting, and crafting.

The Kyramul culture had a rich tradition of rites and rituals that marked important events in their lives. They had birth and baptismal rites that welcomed a child into the community and connected them to the earth and the spirits. They had coming of age rites that tested a young person’s abilities and revealed their destiny and guardian animal. They had funerary and memorial customs that honored their dead and ensured their afterlife. They also had common taboos that forbade them from doing or saying certain things that were considered offensive, impure, or dangerous.

The Kyramul culture was a remarkable example of how a people could preserve and develop their culture despite being oppressed and enslaved by another race. Their culture was a source of pride and strength for them, as well as a way of expressing their hopes and dreams for a better future.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

This ethnicity follows a complex and polytheistic religion that reflects their subservient status and their masters’ wishes. They worship Iormfar, God of the Oceans, who is the patron deity of their masters and the ruler of the vast and mysterious seas. They perform rituals and festivals that honor Iormfar and his family and ask for their protection and favor. They also use hieroglyphs to write down their prayers, hymns, myths, and history.

This ethnicity follows a diverse and creative culture that reflects their loyalty and honor to their fellow Kyrfolk and their ancestors. They create pottery, baskets, textiles, jewelry, and sculptures that depict their gods, spirits, animals, plants, geometric patterns, and human figures. They also create rock art that depicts their animals, plants, geometric patterns, and religious symbols. They also participate in ceremonies and dances that involve music, masks, costumes, and body paint.

Shared customary codes and values

This ethnicity values order and harmony in their society. They follow a strict hierarchy that is based on their masters’ wishes and their own abilities. They obey their masters without question and perform their duties diligently. They also respect their elders and their ancestors who have passed on.

They value justice and reciprocity in their relations. They believe that they should be treated fairly by their masters and by each other. They also value loyalty and honor in their service. They believe that they owe their lives and their allegiance to their masters who have spared them from death or worse. They strive to prove their worth and their honor by serving their masters faithfully and courageously. They also respect their fellow Kyrfolk who share their fate and their bond.

Adaptation and creativity in their survival is part of there shared values. They have learned to cope with their harsh environment and limited resources by using whatever they can find or make. They are skilled at farming, fishing, hunting, and crafting. They also express their creativity through their body paint, jewelry, and music.

Common Etiquette rules

This ethnicity follows strict etiquette that reflects their subservient status and their masters’ wishes. They bow or kneel before their masters and address them with honorific titles. They do not speak unless spoken to or given permission. They do not look their masters in the eye or touch them without consent. They wear simple, modest clothing covering their bodies and hiding their horn stumps.

This ethnicity follows a respectful etiquette that reflects their loyalty and honor to their fellow Kyrfolk and ancestors. They greet each other with a handshake or a hug. They use polite and friendly language and avoid insults or sarcasm. They share their food and belongings with those in need. They honor their ancestors by wearing their body paint and performing rituals.

Common Dress code

This ethnicity wears simple and modest clothing that covers their bodies and hides their horns. They use linen or cotton as their main fabrics and dye them with natural colors such as red, blue, yellow, and green. The men wear kilts or loincloths that reach from the waist to the knees, sometimes with a shirt or a cloak. The women wear dresses that fall from the shoulder to the ankle, sometimes with straps or sleeves. They also wear headscarves or wigs to cover their hair.

This ethnicity wears practical and functional clothing that suits their work and environment. They use animal skins or yucca fibers as their main fabrics and decorate them with geometric patterns or animal motifs. The men wear breechcloths or kilts that reach from the waist to the knees, sometimes with a shirt or a poncho. The women wear skirts or dresses that fall from the waist to the ankles, sometimes with a blouse or a shawl. They also wear hats or hoods to protect their heads.

Art & Architecture

This ethnicity creates simple and functional art and architecture that reflects their subservient status and their masters’ wishes. They build pit houses or huts that serve as their dwellings and workshops. They also create pottery, baskets, textiles, and jewelry that serve as their utensils and ornaments. They use materials such as clay, yucca fibers, cotton, shell, and bone that they obtain from their work or trade. They employ techniques such as coiling, weaving, painting, and engraving that they learn from their masters or ancestors.

This ethnicity creates expressive and symbolic art and architecture that reflects their loyalty and honor to their fellow Kyrfolk and their ancestors. They build tombs or shrines that serve as their burial places and sacred sites. They also create sculptures, reliefs, paintings, and hieroglyphs that depict their gods, rulers, and history. They use materials such as stone, wood, metal, papyrus, and linen that they obtain from their masters or trade. They employ techniques such as carving, casting, painting, and writing that they learn from their masters or ancestors.

Foods & Cuisine

This ethnicity eats simple and modest foods that reflect their subservient status and their masters’ wishes. They eat bread made from barley or wheat and drink beer made from fermented grains. They eat fruits such as dates and figs and vegetables such as onions and lettuce. They eat fish such as tilapia or catfish when they can afford it or when they are given it by their masters. They rarely eat meat or poultry but sometimes get scraps of beef or duck from their masters’ tables. They use spices such as cumin or coriander to flavor their food.

This ethnicity eats nutritious and varied foods that reflect their loyalty and honor to their fellow Kyrfolk and their ancestors. They eat corn tortillas or cakes and drink water or herbal tea. They eat beans cooked with herbs and spices or mashed into a paste. They eat squash roasted or boiled and eaten as a vegetable or a dessert. They eat meat such as deer or rabbit when they can hunt it or trade it with other Kyrfolk. They eat fish such as trout or salmon when they can catch it or trade it with other Kyrfolk. They use spices such as salt or chile peppers to flavor their food.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The kyrfolk slaves celebrate the annual arrival of the monsoon rains that bring water and fertility to their lands. They offer sacrifices and prayers to Iormfar, the god of the ocean, who is the patron deity of their masters and the ruler of the vast and mysterious seas. They thank him for his generosity and ask him for protection from the dangers of the ocean, such as storms and pirates.

The kyrfolk slaves have a complex system of social hierarchy based on their roles and responsibilities. The highest rank is the overseer, who is appointed by the master and has authority over the other slaves. The lowest rank is the laborer, who performs the most menial and exhausting tasks. The overseer wears a distinctive headdress made from feathers and shells and carries a staff as symbols of his status.

The kyrfolk slaves practice a form of mummification to preserve their dead and ensure their afterlife. They wrap their bodies in linen and place them in wooden coffins decorated with images of the Ancestors, the spirits of their forefathers who watch over them. They also bury them with personal belongings and offerings of food and drink.

The kyrfolk slaves have a tradition of tattooing their bodies with geometric patterns and symbols that represent their identity, beliefs, and history. They use natural dyes made from plants and minerals to create the tattoos. The tattoos are also a way of expressing their loyalty and honor to their fellow kyrfolk and their ancestors, who have endured the same fate as them. They have their Lineage Crest tattooed on their chest or shoulder, as a sign of pride and belonging.

The kyrfolk slaves observe a ritual of purification before entering their temples or shrines. They wash themselves with water, trim their fur, and rub wet chalk into it, so that they appear white and look the same. This is a way of showing their respect for Iormfar and their equality in his eyes. They also abstain from eating certain foods, such as meat, garlic, and onions, that are considered impure or offensive to Iormfar.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

The Kyrfolk Slaves have a unique culture that combines elements of nature and spirituality. Their birth and baptismal rites reflect this worldview. When a child is born, they are wrapped in a cloth made from the fibers of a sacred plant and given a necklace with a carved stone, symbolizing life and protection. The parents then take the child to the nearest river or spring, where they wash the child with water and recite prayers to the spirits of the land and the sky. The child is then given a name that reflects their personality or destiny. The name is written on a piece of pottery, which is buried under the child’s bed as a way of connecting them to the earth and their ancestors. The child is also marked with a tattoo on their arm, indicating their clan and social status. The tattoo is made with a needle and ink from plants or minerals that have special meanings. The ceremony is followed by a feast with family and friends, where the child is welcomed into the community and blessed with gifts.

Coming of Age Rites

The Kyrfolk Slaves have a challenging and transformative ritual that marks their transition from childhood to adulthood. When a young person reaches the age of 16, they must undergo a series of tests that prove their physical, mental, and spiritual abilities. These tests include hunting a wild animal, solving a riddle, and spending a night alone in the wilderness. During this time, they must also seek a vision from the spirits of the land and the sky, who will guide them to their destiny and reveal their guardian animal. The young person then returns to their village, where they are welcomed by their clan and elders. They are given a new name that reflects their vision and their role in the community. They are also given a new set of clothes and jewelry that signify their adult status. The ceremony is followed by a feast with music and dancing, where the young person is honored and congratulated by their family and friends.

Funerary and Memorial customs

The Kyrfolk Slaves have a solemn and respectful way of honoring their dead. When a person dies, their body is washed and dressed in a white cloth. The family and friends gather around the body and share their memories and condolences. They also place some personal items or gifts in the coffin, such as jewelry, pottery, or food. The coffin is then carried to a burial site, where it is lowered into the ground or placed in a tomb. The mourners sprinkle some dirt or flowers over the coffin and say a final farewell. They then return to their village, where they hold a meal in honor of the deceased. They also light candles and pray to the spirits of the land and the sky for the soul of the departed.

Common Taboos

The Kyrfolk Slaves have a strict code of conduct that forbids them from doing or saying certain things that are considered offensive, impure, or dangerous. Some of these taboos are:

Eating or drinking anything that is spoiled, rotten, or unclean. This includes meat from animals that died of natural causes or disease, fruits that have fallen from the tree, or water that is stagnant or murky. These things are thought to bring bad luck and illness to the person who consumes them.

Speaking ill of the dead or disturbing their graves. The dead are revered and honored by the Kyrfolk Slaves, who believe that their souls return to Htan, the Sea of Souls, where they await rebirth. Disrespecting the dead is seen as a grave sin that angers Anukros and Melodia and invites misfortune.

Showing excessive pride or arrogance within their culture. The Kyrfolk Slaves value humility and modesty, as they believe that they are inferior to their masters and dependent on their mercy. Boasting, bragging, or looking down on others is frowned upon and may result in social ostracism or punishment by the masters.

Breaking an oath or a promise. The Kyrfolk Slaves take their words very seriously, as they believe that they have power and consequences. Lying, cheating, or betraying someone’s trust is considered a major offense that damages one’s reputation and honor.

Common Myths and Legends

The Creation of the World: According to the Kyrfolk Slaves, the world was created by The One, the Celestial God of Creation, who shaped it from the primordial chaos. He then created Enlif, the God of Life, who became his child and helper. Enlif populated the world with plants, animals, and people, each with their own soul. The One also created Htan, the Sea of Souls, where the souls of the dead return to await rebirth.

The Theft of the Golden Apples: According to the Kyrfolk Slaves, there was a time when a mortal hero named Kyrion stole some of the golden apples from the sacred tree, hoping to achieve immortality and glory. He was aided by a cunning snake, who tricked him into believing that Enlif, Anukros and Melodia would not notice or care. However, when the gods discovered the theft, they were furious and cursed Kyrion and his descendants. They turned them into slaves and forced them to serve their masters for eternity. They also turned the snake into a dragon and made it guard the tree forever. The golden apples were lost to mortals, except for a few chosen ones who proved themselves worthy of them.

Historical figures

Nefira: A priestess of Enlif who led a rebellion against the hive invaders. She was a visionary and a healer, who claimed to receive messages from Enlif through her dreams. She rallied the Kyrfolk Slaves and other allies to fight against the hive queen and her minions. She was killed in the final battle, but her sacrifice inspired many others to continue the resistance.

Geran: A warrior and a hunter who was renowned for his bravery and skill. He was a descendant of Kyrion, and inherited his rebellious spirit and his desire for freedom. He escaped from his masters and joined a band of outlaws who raided and plundered the enemy settlements. He was also a master of disguise and stealth, who could infiltrate any place unnoticed. He was eventually captured and executed, but his legend lived on among the Kyrfolk Slaves.

Maria: A potter and a singer who created beautiful and unique pottery and songs. She learned the craft of pottery from her ancestors, who were descendants of the original Kyrfolk. She also learned the art of song from Melodia, who visited her in her dreams. She combined traditional motifs with modern designs, and sang songs that praised the gods and the heroes of her people. She taught her skills to many others, and helped preserve and promote the Kyrfolk culture.