Pelonian
The people behind the largest Empire spanning the world today. Pelonians are a hard people, born to life on the steppe where you must earn the right to survive. Pelonia is a meritocracy where strength, courage, wisdom and cunning are rewarded. Through these virtues anyone can progress, even peoples from outside of the Empire. The wide, uninterrupted plains are perfect territory for the herds of Centaurs who settled here after the migration from the Feywild. United by the Pheres herd, the centaurs absorbed the less numerous races of Pelonia into their ranks before expanding outwards under successive generations of Emperor to conquer the surrounding nations.
The Empire has undergone some trials as of late, most notably the Revolution of Grond and its break from the Empire, as well as the defiance of the City States of Eshen. Emperor Jengam con Lanre has come under criticism for his lack of leadership, remaining in the Walled City of Tolui. In response to these criticisms he has ordered his brother, the Warlord Grisfin con Lanre to invade the peaceful nation of Hivokia, subjugate them and to find the dragons legend has it are hidden there.
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Common Prefixes: Agu, Tem, Jung, Khun, Jir, Idugh, Gan, Dokh, Bayar, Naran, Oyun, Cham
Common Suffixes: chu, ggi, bish, kur, gui, dai, kha, mun, rin, rel, qai, galag, bui, ghun
Family names
Most Pelonians don't use surnames on a regular basis until they reach the higher levels of society at which point many choose to use the name of their father as their surname proceeded by the word 'con' which is from the Pelonian dialect meaning, 'Son of.' So the name 'Grisfin con Lanre' becomes 'Grisfin, son of Lanre.'
Culture
Shared customary codes and values
The people of Pelonia value strength and law above all other qualities. It is expected of the people to put the good of the many, within the empire, before their own good. To that end they follow a Code of Conduct called the Iazsu Pelonia:
- It is ordered to believe that is only one God, creator of heaven and earth, who alone gives life and death, riches and poverty, as pleases Him; and who has over everything an absolute power.
- Forbidden, under the death penalty, to pillage the enemy before the general commanding gives permission.
- Every person who does not go to war must work for the empire, without reward, for a certain time.
- The person in whose possession a stolen horse if found must return it to its owner and add nine horses of the same kind.
- Whoever finds a runaway slave or captive and does not return them to the person to whom they belongs is to be put to death.
- An adulterer is to be put to death without any regard as to whether they are married or not.
- Love one another, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false witness, do not be a traitor, respect old people and beggars.
- Whoever intentionally lies, or spies upon the behavior of others, or intervenes between the two parties in a quarrel to help the one against the other is also to be put to death.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Body
With strength so highly valued in Pelonian culture its members hold a strong, well muscled or athletic body in the highest esteem.
Hair
Pelonians have a wide array of hairstyles. Some are known to shave the top of their head while letting the backs, sides and fringe grow long. Long hair is wovenin thin, tight braids that often loop around to connect with each other
Centaurs
Centaurs, particularly those of the Pheres herd tattoo or paint their upper bodies to match the markings on their equine lower halfs
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