Ropers

Living high up in the fringes of the eastern mountainsides, the ropers are little known and do not travel much. They subsist on a living of growing vegetables and herding sheep. Disguised machinery from ancient times quietly keeps them safe and comfortable. They occupy natural and many artificially dug caves and mostly build with cut stone, carving out with small mysterious hand tools that seem to melt away small cuts of stone with a flash of purple light, spilling a fine dust that is carried away by the wind. Favorite designs of these folk include gentle geometric sloping figures, sunflower and animal motifs, and patterns or grids of dots with an underlying pattern of missing dots that is only seen from a distance. They wear grey woolen suits with a thick bushy collar and frequently tight shorts or loose woven pantaloons and skirts. Hat styles appear like a brimless cap with a woven ropelike fringe and earflaps, a large-brimmed cornstraw hat worn with a lanyard, and a thick woolen hood that covers the shoulders. To their West lie the seemingly fruitless dunes, and to the East the mountain ranges stretch beyond sight, making travel unattractive. The communities they form hold responsibility and duty highly as well as prizing humility and empathy. They enjoy eating many small meals together throughout the day and night and many keep odd work schedules due to the nature of working in the dark.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Tylamulet, Vossine, Dyuret, Galarnin, Ayo, Strade, Hylie, Nari, Berly, Iuwannis, Poppy, Wygan, Silvette

Masculine names

Dyret, Voss, Oreet, Sorban, Gommit, Buckis, Frem, Nod, Pilanis, Severt, Cline, Hillin, Shoar

Unisex names

Floss, Brim, Nomar, Felis, Illan, Swomi

Other names

Crust, Breamer, Vendis, Tuckwith, Laundis

Culture

Average technological level

They scavenge powerful tech from underground ruins, but care little to examine their workings, keeping them well hidden or disguised from outsiders.

Art & Architecture

They occupy many round chambers dug with a special handtool artifact they secretly supply from underground ruins. They prefer gentle sloping curves, sitting on tuffets, pillows, or stools low to the ground, sleeping on mats and blankets.

Common Taboos

It is considered taboo to leave the community without consultation and a parting ritual.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Only men wear makeup, as a sign of mourning after a loss of a clansman. They smear ashes on their cheeks and mark their forehead with a single vertical line of white chalk. Women prefer to keep their hair short, in a compact bun, or rolled braids, and many whose hair is very kinky pick it out and keep a small afro. They are mostly fair hair colored and have very clear greyish eyes, and pale skin that blushes easily. Men and women both dress comfortably and no particularly popluar fashion trends ever got popular. Men are considered more attractive who shave their faces. Women slowly develop a grey stain on their teeth from drinking a kind of mushroom herbal tea and it is considered attractive.

Gender Ideals

Men are expected to maintain the outer defenses, deal with outsiders, inspect new shaft diggings, lead funerals and birthright ceremonies, and most cleaning. Women are expected to educate children, plan new constructions, delegate farming duties, lead feasts and partnership rituals, and mediate disputes. Children are expected to help the farmers and chefs during the day, and study with their matriarch, then are free during the evening hours. The elderly, infirm, and visitors have no particular expectations except to participate in meals and rituals whenever possible.