OLD Chaelian (SHAY-lee-an)
Thia's Day, 40 Leaqu 932 CE
Often considered a myth, the Chaelian culture is very much real. They are, in fact, quite common within Chaelia's borders. Native to the mountainous steppes of the Shelcier Mountains, this people is unique among cultures in their isolation. The mountain passes crossing the Shelciers are trecherous, and are often quoted as the reason behind their isolation.
Culture
Average Technology Level
Chaelians have attained a technology level far lower than their knowledge level. The rarity of magic ability in their society and the plentiful contact with dragons are the largest contributors to this. They have simple explosive recipes made with quicklime and water, but no gunpowder.
Common Etiquette Rules
Hygiene
In Chaelia, hygiene and cleanliness are of utmost importance. Messes left untended are a grave offense to the spirit of the home, and only the irresponsible or foolish would do such a thing. Similarly, being of dirty dress is considered rude and shows a disrespect to the gods.
Chaelians do their laundry every other week, and outfits are not worn if they become exceptionally dirty. They use soaproot to wash their bodies and faces should they come in contact with any excess of dirt, mud, feces, or other “unclean” materials.
To wear shoes inside a Chaelian’s home is disrespectful, as it implies a dirty home and thus the foolishness of the host.
Food
It is considered rude to accept more food than one could reasonably eat before the food spoils. It is wasteful to make more food than needed or to make more food when food is already available. Chaelians often eat from a communal pot. The serving spoon must not come into contact with a Chaelian’s mouth under any circumstance. It is considered rude and unhygienic for this to occur.
Illness
Should one become sick or afflicted, they distance themself from society to not curse others with the illness. The community cares for its sick, but the caretakers do not enter the quarantine house. They only leave food, water, clothing, etc. outside the door. The sick live in a quarantine house at the edge of town until they are no longer ill or until symptoms dissipate.
When quarantine houses are not in use, they are left alone. Certain citizens will clean the house after being in disuse for several weeks. Repairs are permitted.
Dress Code
Clothes and shoes are necessities thanks to Chaelia’s rocky terrain and frequent storms. Woolen cloaks are common outerwear. Chaelians wear shoes with wooden soles and leather bodies. Despite the need for clothing, nudity is not taboo. It is, however, deemed idiotic to go outside the home wearing nothing. Many Chaelians will wear a simple shift or a pair of loose trousers while in the comfort of their own home. They reserve any other clothing for errands outside the house.
Art and Architecture
The Chaelian view on architecture prioritizes functionality over aesthetics. Despite this functionality-first mindset, the homes of Chaelians are quite individualistic and beautiful. Most modern Chaelians prefer L-shaped homes.
Chaelian fiber arts are exquisite in quality and beauty. They use complex patterns in their weaving and incorporate many colors. The native plants lend themselves to producing vibrant green, yellow, and red dyes which are employed extensively in their clothing, blankets, and other textiles.
Rites and Customs
Birth Rites
After the birth of a child, there is a small, intimate celebration with family and close friends. These celebrations usually involve the guests cooking a communal meal. The guests themselves may drink strong wine, but the parents can only have watered wine. The guests take shifts of vigil at the mother’s bedside throughout the first three nights. This is to help with the childcare needed and to allow the parents to rest after a strenuous event.
Coming of Age Rites
Chaelians become adults on their nineteenth birthday. On the birthday, the celebrants — usually friends and extended family — bring casks of mead to the household of the new adult’s parents.
The new adult, if a man, has usually moved in to a house built by them over the previous year. Despite this, they still hold the celebration at the house of their parents.
If the new adult is a woman, she still lives in the house of her parents or of an extended family member. Women must craft their first loom in the year before their nineteenth birthday.
New adults are not an adult until their house or loom is complete, although they can ask for help during the construction.
No matter the circumstances, marriage contracts may not be entered until both parties have reached the age of majority and have completed their coming of age projects.
Funerary and Memorial Customs
Chaelians burn the corpses of the deceased in a large and fragrant funeral pyre. They build the pyre with cedar and camphor woods and adorn the body with sprigs of sage, thyme, and lavender. There is a communal meal shared by the community during which they celebrate the life of the deceased. The public period of mourning is short, as it is disrespectful to the dead to hold on to grief for too long.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Chaelian women believe that long, shiny, healthy hair is the epitome of beauty. They spend thousands of Sakra on hair oils, brushes, and combs annually. This belief is rare in men who hold themselves to the standard of practicality.
Both Chaelian men and women wear makeup, jewelry, and bodily adornments such as earrings and other piercings. Women wear far heavier makeup than men do on average. Where some men might only wear a lip pigment and kohl, others will use face powders, eye pigments, and rouges as well.
The piercing of the ears, nose, or — with women — eyebrows is a common practice. Small hoops placed in piercings are a fashionable choice for those with piercings.
Gender Ideals
Chaelians believe that women and men should have separate, but complimentary, roles. They typically see women as financial advisors, child educators, household managers, growers, and creators. Men are seen as the “breadwinners”, the workers, the cooks, the animal caretakers, and the hunters. Most men take to a pastoral lifestyle, becoming shepherds, swineherds, cattleherds, and goatherds.
Courtship Ideals
Men woo women with gifts of food and flowers. They often gave dowry gifts of livestock, and occasionally working pets. Gifts of clothing are an insult to a woman’s creative abilities, as the women sew the clothing of the household.
In the event of same-sex couples, they designate one as the wooer and one as the wooed. A notable difference, though, is dowry, which is given by both parties. Often, those couples who wish to stick to the gender norms will “partner” with another same-sex couple of a different sex to manage both households.
Relationship Ideals
Chaelians prioritize strong family bonds. Marriage contracts are serious commitments for Chaelians, and are not entered lightly. At least six months must pass between a contract and a divorce. At least one year must pass between a divorce and a new marriage contract. There are no societal rules dictating how long the couple should know each other or how long a betrothal period must last.
After the betrothal period, the couple holds a small contract ceremony. The newly weds commission a bracelet of metal and stones soon after the ceremony. Chaelians are married as soon as they enter the contract, even if they do not complete the bracelet for years. They wear this bracelet until death or divorce.
Contracts are rarely broken, even with infidelity, but infidelity is a valid reasoning behind a divorce. Household belongings are split evenly in the case of an amiable divorce. If a spouse has wronged their partner, the wronged party keeps all the household belongings. Parents share the custody of children by default.
Chaelian Man by HeroForge
Pronunciations
In-World Stuff
Chaelia = SHAY-lee-uh Chaelian = SHAY-lee-an Chaelians = SHAY-lee-uns Sakra = SAHK-ruh Jindal = JEEN-dal Cael = "kale" Rossé = roh-SHEE Namarie = nah-MUH-ree Uncommon Words
Kohl = "coal" Rouge = ROOJ (or ROOZH) Dowry = DOW-ree Duchy = duh-CHEE
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Related Locations
Marisa Rossé
Alexander Namarie
Helena Namarie
Alaric Rossé
Emma Rossé
This is a unique and interesting culture. It really helps me figure out the way I wanna make my own Adrausii article. This is well written! Well done!