Emporian

A race of proud and heroic people. Strong in will, Strong in body. Emporians refer to themselves as the beacon of civilization, their cities the centers of culture and economics. Details Provided by the Emporian Ministry of Historical Records

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Vel Helvetia Caetronia Verecundia Hirtia Carvilia Trebatia Cordia Sergia Rutilia Bruttia

Masculine names

Secundus Hosidius Numerius Calidius Sextus Ceionius Placus Publicius Augustus Salonius Marcellus Seius Lars Amatius Tullus Nasennius Cassius Mucius Vel Asinius

Family names

Fulvianus, Licinius, Minicianus, Speratus, Pudentius, Gluvias, Aratus, Melissus, Vitoricus, Siricus, Asinius, Prima, Superstes, Bonifatia, Agatopa, Canisia, Trebia, Sidonia, Laetiniana, Naucratia, Polliena

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Prior to the first Emporian Dominion, Emporians were known as Jungle men or Jungle Dwellers and they were divided up into several clans similar to that of the Norsemen. Due to this, each clan utilized some variation of the old Yungel Tongue, a now dead language, with only a couple of words and meanings changing between each group of Jungle Dwellers. Yungel tongue was the predecessor to modern "Common" tongue and despite it becoming a dead language, much of it is still translatable. The only problem now is the inability to pronounce or read it.

Shared customary codes and values

During the First Emporian Dominion, slaves were a very prominent feature in Emporian life. Slaves often served as the backbone of the economy performing many if not nearly all of the manual labor for the Dominion. Slaves worked in the mines, plantations, lumber yards and mills. After the fall of the dominion in 2E2020 and its resurrection in 2E2280, Slavery was abolished and replaced with minimal wage service and over the course of the next few dominions, living standards improved and slavery fell to the wayside.

Common Dress code

Depending on the event, much like Aldail (High Elf) society, Emporians dress according to the occasion. common work clothes, nice robes for formal parties and weddings, black for funerals. Cross dressing, by outside observation, is wholly natural in Emporian society due to the clothes available which feature mostly robes, loose clothing and sometimes skimpy wear. Dress code changes entirely in the army and navy featuring slim wear, compact armor and other "manly" type garments.

Art & Architecture

From the earliest days of Emporian life, nude art was always a prominent feature. With the fully functional anatomy painting by Gaius Fabius in 2E1167, the ability to create not only nude human art but as well as nude Tasaki, Fummau and on the occasion, Gnollish too. There is one recorded instance of a nude Hopper sculpture however, any details about it are sketchy and conflicting.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Emporians adopted and assimilated many foreign traditions like the Hunt from Tasaki (Fox Folk) and Fummau cultures.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Unlike nearly every other race out there, Emporians are the only ones to utilize circumcision, removal of the foreskin from the male appendage (one in a million will die from infection). Under the religious law of the Eight Celestials, all children are submerged in a small pool of water during their infancy for roughly ten seconds to symbolize a rebirth under religious law.

Coming of Age Rites

Over the Eons, coming of age has changed and still continues to change. In the days of the first Dominion, life expectancy was very low and therefore the legal adult age was also low, showing as early as eight to twelve. By the fifth Eon, with many Emporians reaching their early hundreds, the age of legality shifted towards twenty. For men, the age of twenty marks the start of either a four year or a lifetime commitment to the Emporian military. This is to train them for battle when called upon, to discipline them to retain a civilized society and to create a loyal populace. Women undergo a different experience. Education has only recently taken an active role in the lives of common Emporians. Since it was introduced in 3E490, Nursing and maternal education became a core piece of the curriculum for women. This class is taken when they become of legal age, 20.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Emporians are known for their massive graveyards. The largest graveyard is in southern Emporia boasting a ten by ten mile chunk of land dedicated to the dead. it houses roughly two hundred crypts dedicated to two hundred different bloodlines that sat in the Emperor's chair over the course of five Eons. It is also home to roughly several million tombstones, over half of which are no longer readable as well as many others being replaced by more recently deceased.

Common Taboos

Before bloodlines became a recognized thing in early Emporian society, inbreeding was a commonplace, whether it was intended to be or not. Since 2E129, inbreeding up to second cousins is illegal. The penalty for that law has continuously changed, starting with death of the newborn to life in prison for the parents while the child is abducted into service, to out-casting that immediate family. By the fourth Eon, the concept of incest has been demonized and damned

Common Myths and Legends

Emporians dismissed most of their old myths and legends following the rise of the Church of the Eight during the First Dominion.

Historical figures

Conquer Reman Fidelis, 1E 1880 - 2E 30 Death by Swamp Blood Virus Emperor Titus Lennigold, 3E 1202 - 3E 1235 Found dead hanging from the Pantheon by his ankle, missing fingers and his genitalia (Widely recognized as failed Emperor due to economic failure and excessive loss in the Emporian-Khundait War)

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Emporians highly value the natural appearance of their bodies, as evident by their fondness of nude art. While clothing is a necessity for public appearance, nudity at home or in less public locations is a commonality. Emporians rarely utilize makeup, face paint, piercings or other bodily modifiers

Gender Ideals

Emporian society has typically been a male lead society with men handling most of the jobs leaving women at home to raise the children and tend to the home.

Courtship Ideals

Typically, Nobles marry other nobles, commoners marry commoners. There are several circumstances, which can be counted on five hands, of commoners marrying into nobility. For the most part, the amount of wealth determines who you marry and more often than not, the marriage is arranged by the parents.