Endinsian

Endinsian, which is the combined name of the End'orian and Vininsian countries and their cultures, is a culture born over millennia ago, molded into what it is today by the harsh climate and friends from other lands such as Hoseki. Although both countries have their differences, their shared roots keep them bonded like siblings.

Naming Traditions

Unisex names

Since Endinsians do not necessarily believe in gender the way other cultures do, most names given are not gendered. Even so, if someone doesn't like their name, they are allowed, by law, to change their name to one that suits them better. Many don't change their name, but the option is there.

Inarora

Name of the Goddess of Kindness

Shared with Hoseki, which has a flower of the same name meaning 'sunset-blooming flower'

Rinya

Zakiya

Drald

Nerji

Kaedan

Valiant

Damyien

Rudhain

T'kal

Xarlen

Aymeria

Priwen

Studious

Elwene

Emallah

Xolani

Family names

Beservera

Dh'ôrian for "crop field"

Veanont

Honorable

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The language of Endinisans is called Dh'ôrian, and it consists of vertically written letters. Dh'ôrian, like Endinsian, emcompasses both End'orian and Vininsian languages, though they have their own dialects. There's the Torobi dialect—encompassing the middle part of the continent, is the main dialect—, the Ilmerian dialect (which almost is more of an accent than a dialect but they have their own ways of saying things), and there's the Thafnirian dialect.

Common Etiquette rules

Typically "Stay safe, my friend (dear, child, etc)" is used when bidding farewell.

Loved ones are more likely to tell each other "I love you", even if parting for a very short period of time as seen in chapter 2 of Inarora's Excursion, when Inarora and Kaedan did this when he was stepping away to make a call.

Never go past the entranceway in an Endinsian's home with shoes on. Germs and bad spirits can attach to shoes, that's a no-go!

If you do, expect a bit of grumbling from your Endinsian host as they clean up their house. They still love you, but ridding the floor of germs and the house of tiny bad spirits is not the most fun task.

Common Dress code

Traditional Endinsian wear is a robe called a kímnho, a belt around the waist called a shên, and an apron called a muhwne. Some people wore pants underneath called khamas. Shoes were especially important in the cold weather, and those are gherens.

Foods & Cuisine

Endinsian cuisine has been around for milennia. Animal products have dominated Endinsian cuisine since the early ages, although regions closer to the coast also favor of seafood at bit more heavily. Typically, Endinsian cuisine involves soups, breads, and hot cereals. Non-soup meals involve pepatas and small sides of fruits or vegetables.

In Inarora's Excursion, a combination of Endinsian and Hoseki cuisine is eaten throughout the series, due to her living in a mixed cultural household. With her great-grandpa, Seruzen Mihata, being a native Hosekian, her grandpa Byron learned to cook from him as much as he learned to cook from his other father, Lysander Beservera. Occasionally, miso and udons are incorporated into the Endinsian diet as well.

Coffee, herbal tea, and milk are common drinks with meals.

Dishes

Gryowan

a bread baked with cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom with just a hint of honey

Ahwe

A thinner waffle made in Vininsia/End'oria

Kwedhian Soup

A soup made from kwe, odeon, a tiny amount of miso paste. Made with a six spice mix and noodles.

The closest Earthen equivalent is chicken noodle soup

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Holidays

Mela Sule: Winter Solstice

Molthía Larénge: Summer Solstice

Marriage Customs

End'orian Ch'oidhè: The wedding ritual of forging swords together to symbolize unity.

Housing Customs

It's common to live in multi-generational households. Although, with the introduction of semi-immortal dracids, multi-generational households are starting to get a bit tricky!

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Kinhayō: a birth ritual

Coming of Age Rites

When an Endinsian reaches the age of 20, they are considered full-fledged adults, being able to drink alcohol, smoke, vote, and join the military if desired. This day is celebrated like any other birthday, with the adult being taken to City Hall to get their registration for voting. This is one of the rare times an Endinsian person will wear traditional garb. If someone sees an Endinsian in traditional garb and they look around the age of 20, they know it's the special day they are recognized as a full-fledged adult!

Funerary and Memorial customs

Lylrodh Kinaeh si Alaeng

Common Taboos

Endinsians commonly believe mirrors are portals for evil at nighttime, and mirrors are not permitted in any bedrooms.

Having a mirror in your room invites unfriendly entities into one's room and could possess a person.

Rooms with a bathroom attached keep the door to the bathroom closed at nighttime.

When visiting other countries with different views on mirrors, Endinsians will cover the mirrors in their rooms and/or bathrooms if the bathroom door cannot be closed at night. Kaedan does this when visiting Xinghong in the second book.

Ideals

Gender Ideals

Endinisan culture typically is neither matriarchal nor patriarchal, and instead is more egalitarian. People of all genders have always had equal opportunities within the society. Fathers are expected to have as much role in rearing children as mothers.

With there being less attachment to 'gender', children do not get assigned a gender at birth. Instead, babies are given temporary pronouns (ve/ver/vers/verself) until they grow older and figure out who they are. Though, some like keeping their baby pronouns (as seen in Inarora's Excursion with Drald, who goes by the baby pronouns). Dh'ôrian has their own sets of pronouns but do not translate very well into English, thus are translated loosely.

Relationship Ideals

Relationships in End'oria and Vininsia are as varied as there are colors in the rainbow. Many take up polyamorous relationships. Many typically have two or three partners, though some remain with a singular partner. Some Dracid Endinsians have multiple partners throughout their lives if they have not ended up with another dracid.

Domestic abuse is quite rare in the Endinsian culture, although not non-existent. Depending on where a partner may hail from initially, as well as many other factors, abuse can happen. A more recent case of it was Minister Beservera and his ex-fiancée, Iris Morozov. Either way, domestic (and child) abuse is taken seriously in every case. No matter age, species, or gender.

When Iris was brought up on domestic and child abuse charges, she was interrogated, Kaedan and his family questioned, and Iris was found guilty and sentenced to rehabilitation services for abusive behavior.

Related Myths