Larani
Larani is the umbrella term for those ruled by the Empire of Laran. Such a vast empire has a great deal of diversity, both culturally, species-wise, and geographically. The only true constant is an adoration for their Lati masters and society-wide obedience to them. The Larani can be divided into a few major sub-groups. Every single one can be divided further and further, but the major cultural divisions between Larani start at the subgroups.
It is important to note that while Lati are not Larani, they are heavily immersed in their culture. Lati raised directly from peasanthood often maintain much of their previous cultural heritage, adding another element of factionalism to Lati politics. Even Lati raised in purely lati environs, be it a cult, House politics, or by a specific master, take from the culture they are based in. A Lati who rules a city along the Baeaa is an Oshba Lwko, not a foreign ruler. When there is discussion fo a Lati being "raised from a populace" that refers to both Lati being plucked from peasanthood, and a Lati being born into a Lati family of that ethnicity. Lati is a caste, not a completely unique culture, after all.
The Desert of the Saviour has three major ethnic groups, largely defined by where in the Desert they live. These can be divided further of course, right down to the village level, but to be frank, the difference is not worth discussing in an overall description such as this.
It is important to note that while Lati are not Larani, they are heavily immersed in their culture. Lati raised directly from peasanthood often maintain much of their previous cultural heritage, adding another element of factionalism to Lati politics. Even Lati raised in purely lati environs, be it a cult, House politics, or by a specific master, take from the culture they are based in. A Lati who rules a city along the Baeaa is an Oshba Lwko, not a foreign ruler. When there is discussion fo a Lati being "raised from a populace" that refers to both Lati being plucked from peasanthood, and a Lati being born into a Lati family of that ethnicity. Lati is a caste, not a completely unique culture, after all.
The Desert of the Saviour has three major ethnic groups, largely defined by where in the Desert they live. These can be divided further of course, right down to the village level, but to be frank, the difference is not worth discussing in an overall description such as this.
- Oshba Lwko are those Larani in the Desert of the Saviour who live along the Baeaa River and the various oases that dot the desert. Generally sedentary, the Oshab Lwko and the Lati raised in such environments have an attachment to rich reds, blues, and greens. Due to the necessities of the desert, airy loose clothing that covers skin is commonplace, a tradition followed by most Oshab Lwko Lati. Many of their rituals and customs involve particular clothing usage and intertwining them as greetings or embraces. One, in particular, involves tying the loose sleeves of two people together and them clasping hands. This is done to seal pacts, and requires a third person to perform, cementing the pactees as tied together, with the third as a witness to the deal.
- Kodqyr Lwko is the overall term for the various tribes that wander the Desert, going from Oasis to Oasis. Fewer Lati are raised from their number as others, as most Lati prefer stable bases, and their long periods of isolation from other populations make assessing them for potential Lati difficult. The Lati that do come from the Kodqyr Lwko tend to be extremely harsh, not in personality but in endurance and ferocity. One of the main throughlines in the many tribe's beliefs is a respect for the harsh power of the sun and Desert, with many acts of Devotion and penance involving stripping naked and surviving for a period of time without food or water in the Desert wastes. Most die during these, as even a day without water in the heat can be lethal, but those that return are raised to a high status, no matter the circumstances surrounding the start of their journey.
- Orqyr Lwko are the few that make their livings in isolated desert communities, away from areas such as the Baeaa or the Oases. Most are temple communities, a small collection of monasteries surviving via a subterranean spring. These groups tend to have ties to the Sotteran, largely due to communal water sources. Much of Orqyr culture is focused on religion and tests of devotion. Meditating and fasting for days or weeks straight is a common coming-of-age ritual. It is not uncommon for Lati raised from the Orqyr to join archeological houses or cults, and Pyrokinesis is a common practice among them. The Orqyr communities also often act as hosts for various orders of Lati, making them the most intertwined with Lati politics, to the point that some Lati will almost treat these desert dwellers as, while not equals, like subordinate Lati, affording them more respect than the average Larani.
- Shi Bashi is the overall name for the easternmost culture group in the Mesa. Their canyonside Pueblos tend to be placed far lower in the canyons than those out west, due to the far more aggressive nature of the windstorms there. The rivers are closer to tributaries, with some like the Lavbi Osh not even being fully formed yet, making living closer to the water far safer. Due to the closeness to the Desert--namely the deepest, most treacherous parts of it--and the oldest settlements in the Mesa, the culture has very much been one focussed on survival. They are living in one of the most uninhabitable regions in the empire, and anything done in the name of survival is a worthy action. Lati raised among Shi Bashi are often the most resourceful, and most dedicated to sheer pragmatism. Self-flagellation is popular among Shi Bashi, self-inflicting wounds to show their ability to survive. It is a show of prowess.
- Rw Popa are the few insane enough to try and live on the surface of the Mesa plateaus. They are the smallest in number and political influence and are nearly all found in the ancient city of Eridu, among the various Houses jockeying for control of the ruin. They are mentioned here, not because of their importance, but the sheer difference from the rest of their Mesa-dwelling peers. Suicidal is an apt description both of their home and of their cultural fascination, making returning from sudden death a common theme in their traditions. The tests of the devotion of peoples like the Kodgyr Lwko are supposed to be survivable, given enough dedication, but the Rw Popa make death challenges a common act. Such activities include striding into a windstorm without any of the protective enchantments afforded to the Heralds of Lica Lwr. Another cultural fascination of the Rw Popa is enchanted architecture, making use of cursed building materials in unique ways, for both practical and cosmetic effects.
- Qe Maed is a pejorative that stuck. Literally translating to "Mutts of the West", it comes from the Desert dweller's contempt for the extremely diverse societies that formed along the western bank of the Mesa. This is occurred due to trade with Maingye, resulting in many of the peoples there, from Strati to Draki to Goblins being common sights along he western parts of the river. Of course, this being the Empire of Laran most fill the masses of those societies as slaves or peasants. The existence of these people, and the need to reinforce both Laran's caste system and racial hierarchy, elevated the non Lati Larani, specifically to highlight the lower status of the others. Due to the immigrant influence, the communities are wildly diverse, so there will be no more elaboration here. A last important note, while the non-Coatl, Lerin, or Makassi are considered part of the term Qe Maed, they are not considered Larani.
- Qoklash Osh is the last of the major ethnic divisions, referring to those who do not live at the eastern fringe of the rivers, but who are also distance themselves from the western diversity. An important note is that the culture of the Qoklash Osh is basically the same as that of the Larani Qe Maed, at its core at least. The Qoklash Osh are the "essential" Mesa dwellers, with their culture being centered on the rivers and their irregular flooding. Aquakinesis is the most popular form of magic practice by mages and Lati of the Qoklash Osh, with a cultural fascination for architecture built into the cliffside. It started as a necessity for surviving in the Mesa, and has now turned into a form of art, as ornate temples and bridges are constructed across the canyons. Despite their contempt for the Qe Maed and outsiders in general, the Qoklash Osh take a fair amount from the Dawasi of the Sotteran under the MEsa, namely some architectural practices, and practical enchantments to protect irrigation structures from being destroyed during flooding. The average Qoklash Osh, from peasant to Lati, dresses in flowing robes, baggy pants bound at the mid-thigh, and loose hanging silks. Laypeople tend to go barechested as well.
- Huelon Qea, or literally "Newcomers" are the most recent arrivals. Mostly Lerin, they inhabit the northern reaches of the jungle and are about a third of the population of Boqek, the majority population of the other temple cities of the northern stretch. They are the least Coatl in their culture, maintaining the Makassi style of blood sacrifices--enchanted daggers, burning the body afterwards, only conducted under moonlight--and Nahuatl words are few and far between. Surprisingly, they cooperate the most with the Dryads, avoiding their sacred groves and halting blood rituals during certain days and months, to the point where some Dryad Lati have been known to exist, what was once thought a physical and spiritual impossibility.
- Tzinteyo Laba are the group pushed south by the migration of the Huelon Qea in the 400s YS. They themselves originated as the population of the City known as Laba, destroyed during the 200s YS. The survivors, basically all Lerin Humans, fled southward into the jungles. Their name is a mocking nickname that means tree huggers, coming from their affinity for nature magic over Lati and mage practices. Very few Lati from this group maintain that cultural tradition, due to the Lati inability for necromancy and other nature magic, making Wych cults and other magical orders the most prominent mages in the Tzinteyo Laba tradition. They expanded on the practice of making homes in tree cities and introduced large-scale branch farming--growing crops from gaps in treebark--to the cities of the Jungle. The population of the Tzinteyo Laba is about one-half Lerin, one-quarter Coatl, and one-quarter Makassi.
- Lopdun Popa are the exception to the rules above, as they live along the East and West coasts of the Ever-Jungle. Divided into two groups, the eastern and western Lopdun, they ar largely made up of immigrants from Maingye--see the Qe Maed for what types--in the west and humans from the Desert of the First Humans, Dirvan, and the Isles of the Endless Sea on the East coast. Like the Qe Maed they are high diverse and variable, though are viewed with much less disdain by their brethren due to the already present cultural melding in the Jungle. The formation of these communities ranges from 3000 DS to today, with frontier settlements popping up constantly to capitalize on new resources, techniques, or trade routes. The Lopdun Popa cities go the furthest south into the jungles, still along the coasts. Those coasts also contain many abandoned settlements, now infested with bandits, undead, and other unknown creatures.
- Sol Chichinoaa came to the jungles in 5200 DS, violently establishing their civilization there. Whatever they were before their arrival is nearly all gone, as Coatl culture has taken over. Due to some similarities with the peoples north of the High Peaks of Zhattar, there is some speculation that they originated there, explaining the paler skin and lining up with a mass invasion of Drow around that time. This is only speculation, as several other theories have been proposed. Currently, the Sol Chichinoaa are predominantly Coatl, though the more human-looking Coatl tend to have the aforementioned pale skin. Most of their culture is discussed in the Coatl article. An interesting note and deviation from norm is during the migration of the Huelon Qea, the Tzinteyo Laba were pushed south, and their migration pushed another ethnic group south, one that came after the Sol Chichinoaa. Some records name them as the Tzer Knav, but it doesn't matter since instead of being pushed out of their current homes, the Sol Chichinoaa instead killed them all. The Tzer Knav are completely dead as a culture, as they either assimilated into the Tzinteyo Laba, or were genocided by the Sol Chichinoaa in one of the most methodical campaigns to scar the face of the Ever-Jungle.
- Huecahuani Bi are the oldest still surviving Ever Jungle ethnic group within Laran's borders. There are other groups and other peoples in the cities south, either native to the region or pushed south by migration, but as they are part of Larani client states, they are not Larani. The Huecahuani Bi have the most violent relationship with the native Dryad and other Coatl. Being entirely Coatl, speaking basically entirely Nahuatl with a mix of grammar structures, they are thought of as the most "purely" Coatl culture in Laran. On some levels yes, but they inherited the Larani tendency for extreme violence when they were incorporated. Native to the jungles, their "original" homes was in the area currently inhabited by the Tzinteyo Laba and the Sol Chichinoaa, they were pushed south during those migrations. Huecahuani Bi have the largest proportion of Dracaenae in their population, as well as a cultural hatred for Dryads. It reaches the point that living outside of their cities in Huecahuani territory is a death sentence, due to the near-constant roving parties of Dryads attempting to avenge their kin on any Huecahuani. Despite this, they were the original creators of the most common branch arming techniques, as well as tree city creators.
- Baevma Keka are a Larani ethnic group that make a living in the Sotteran under the Low Peaks of Zhatar. Their name is an insult meaning "scum lovers", coming from the tendency for Baevma Keka Lati to ally and intermingle with the various Drow states in the mountains. Much of their culture takes from the Drow, making these Larani basically outcasts anywhere else. While Drow living in their territory are included in the term Baevma Keka, they are not counted as Larani.
- Kuptii are an ethnic group living in the Kuptii Archipelago. They are discussed in detail in the article Kuptii.
- Veran Lwko are the people of the Veran hills. They live a largely noamdic life, shepherding enormous herds of sheep and goats around the hilllands. They are one fo the few providers of cavalry for Larani armies, due to their cultural attachment to archery and Shuko riding. They faced a depopulation during the Long War due to their home being used as a battleground, and many of their herds being taken. Lati from the Veran Lwko are rare, partly due to their noamdic nature, partly due to their isolation, and partly due to their already low population. Those that do exist tend to work as mercenary riders and army commanders, to the point where even the Lati lord of the Veran Hills is from the Akhelan Plain, not a native.
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
All names among the Larani are unisex, even Nahuatl having bent to accommodate this and evolved to lose its gendered aspect. Names are chosen at birth by the parents, and while some sub-groups among the Larani have additional customs about choosing a second name at maturity, they are not common. Names will usually be those of famous Lati, with a slight sound change. The name Bai is common among Larani, taken from the Lati Bia.
Family names
Larani culture is defined by the Lati, so one's family name will be that of the Lati or Dynasty they serve. In the Desert of the Saviour the Lati's name is placed before the person's, for example, the name Xemu An-Gea Mw Bi, meaning An, servant of Xemu, slayer of Bi. The last of these is a title awarded by the Lati for some sort of service, titles and praise from Lati being a core part of Larani culture.
In the Dead Ones Mesa, titles and awards are placed first, with ancestral achievements defining an entire Larani family. As an example, the name Bo Slodh Eda-Rin I Keh would be read as Rin, servant of House Keh, the Cave Sloth Rider. Rin's ancestor would be the cave sloth rider named, but that particular praise got passed down the family. It is likely Rin and all her ancestors since would be Cave Sloth riders as well. The praise chosen is selected by the parents at birth, and it would show which family achievement they valued most.
As with most things, the Everlasting Jungle does things a bit differently. Due to the heavy Coatl influence, family names are associated with the settlement rather than the master Lati. A common name in the jungle is Aketzalli Mw Lw Mwk Cacalotl, meaning Aketzalli of the City of Ravens. Aketzalli itself means Precious Water, likely having some specific meaning to the parents.
The border regions, as always, have unique customs, often taken from both their neighbors and mix fo traditions from Laran's core territories.
In the Dead Ones Mesa, titles and awards are placed first, with ancestral achievements defining an entire Larani family. As an example, the name Bo Slodh Eda-Rin I Keh would be read as Rin, servant of House Keh, the Cave Sloth Rider. Rin's ancestor would be the cave sloth rider named, but that particular praise got passed down the family. It is likely Rin and all her ancestors since would be Cave Sloth riders as well. The praise chosen is selected by the parents at birth, and it would show which family achievement they valued most.
As with most things, the Everlasting Jungle does things a bit differently. Due to the heavy Coatl influence, family names are associated with the settlement rather than the master Lati. A common name in the jungle is Aketzalli Mw Lw Mwk Cacalotl, meaning Aketzalli of the City of Ravens. Aketzalli itself means Precious Water, likely having some specific meaning to the parents.
The border regions, as always, have unique customs, often taken from both their neighbors and mix fo traditions from Laran's core territories.
Other names
Due to each Larani having multiple names, their usage depends on context. Personal names, such as Rin, Bai, An, and the like, are used among close friends and family. The Praise Name, as it's called, will be used among others from the same House, Dynasty, Cult, whatever, and the House name will be used with everyone else.
A woman from the Desert of the Saviour named Ca Elta-Shoaa, meaning Elta, servant of Ca, the cook, will be referred to as Elta by her friends and family, as Shoaa by other members of Ca's power base, and as Ca by those outside of Ca's powerbase who wouldn't refer to her as Elta.
A woman from the Desert of the Saviour named Ca Elta-Shoaa, meaning Elta, servant of Ca, the cook, will be referred to as Elta by her friends and family, as Shoaa by other members of Ca's power base, and as Ca by those outside of Ca's powerbase who wouldn't refer to her as Elta.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
All Larani speak Uurdu Ladi in some form. Larani in the Ever-Jungle usually speak it as a second language to Nahuatl, the likelihood of this being the case increasing the further south one goes. Most areas also have regional dialects affecting words and pronunciations, especially those that used to have unique languages that were molded into Uurdu Ladi.
Shared customary codes and values
Respect for and servitude to Lati is the highest value shared by all. Beyond that, it very much varies with which subgroup of Larani. Basically, everything about Larani culture depends on the Lati, what ethnicity they are, and what region they hail from.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The beauty ideals of the Larani very much depends on the Lati they serve. If the Lati in question has a particular fascination with the Bysh Qyl period of Lati fashion, ornate clothing and concealing every possible bit of skin will be the norm, with those who emulate the Lati the best--without impeding their ability to serve--being seen as the most beautiful.
A Lati who took to the Be Kispenpe period would have Larani servants who strive to show as much skin as possible, leading to open nakedness and admiration of the muscled and refined physical form. A Lati who instead dresses in the Bod Kispenpe fashion will have followers dressing in little but jewelry, as ornate and flashy as they can afford--being peasants and all--with slim and sleekness seen as the ideal. Everything in Larani society depends on the Lati and their opinions.
A Lati who took to the Be Kispenpe period would have Larani servants who strive to show as much skin as possible, leading to open nakedness and admiration of the muscled and refined physical form. A Lati who instead dresses in the Bod Kispenpe fashion will have followers dressing in little but jewelry, as ornate and flashy as they can afford--being peasants and all--with slim and sleekness seen as the ideal. Everything in Larani society depends on the Lati and their opinions.
Gender Ideals
As with Lati, there is no concept of gender.
Relationship Ideals
Unlike with Lati, relationships are built on mutual respect and cooperation, with courtship approached as a way to win the other's affection rather than show power.
Major organizations
Larani is the Demonym for someone ruled by the Empire of Laran and the name for someone who falls into the culture of Laran. Basically synonymous meanings with some exceptions.
Diverged ethnicities
Related Organizations
Languages spoken
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