Kalora
culture of the Eastern Vein
demonym: Kaloran
The Kaloran people to the East of the Paban Àskan are a noble people whose major political organization, the Kaloran Àskan, and freely trade with their neighbors in mutually beneficial ways. Their main export is fish and timber to the Raron Kingdom. Despite historical differences that have set the Western and Eastern Veins apart from each other, there is still a mutual respect between the two. Sela originally made and shaped the dominant cultural themes, but as trade with the Raron Kingdom continued, more Rarites began to make their way to the Eastern Veinhouse and settle there, changing some of the dynamics of how their culture operates.Naming Traditions
Unisex names
All Kaloran names are unisex.
Family names
The many families that make up Kaloran communities all have family names that are from a set list of the original founding families. When the line of descent from one family ends, another can take up the same name. Multiple families can also have the same name while there are living members. While there may not be a direct line of inheritance between one family named Lugodi and another, the two still share a form of kinship and family privileges can be extended to both families.
Beside a family name, Kaloran children are also given names from a set list of names. The list of names is much larger than that of the Paba, who also have set name choices for their children. It is rare for two children with the same name to encounter each other during their education and training, although they may meet adults with their same name. Names that have the kinds of epiglottal sounds that the Sela body is best able to produce are becoming increasingly rarer than names that Rarites have an easier time pronouncing.
Other names
Nicknames are abundant. While many people use their given and family names, it is much more common to go by a nickname. These nicknames can be anything but are often bestowed upon a person rather than the person deciding on a nickname themselves. Names can reference physical attributes about a person, personality traits, circumstances, relations, or any other facet of a person's overall being. It is also expected for nicknames to be unique for their generation. If someone with a certain nickname dies, it is available for other use, but instead nicknames are more personalized, and are often rather long, such as Egididesowifo or Neghufibanofo. To convey this nickname, many will wear articles of clothing with their name on them, and it is considered rude to shorten someone's nickname.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Kaloran people speak languages in the Patado language family. Their languages are notorious for having consonants that the Rarites have a hard time pronouncing, so the simplified Forward Patado is used as well, especially in trading and economic capacities. Some Kaloran people who live particularly close to the Raron Kingdom speak Forward Patado fluently and it has become a creole language in some pockets.
Shared customary codes and values
Kaloran people value enjoying the "simple pleasures" in life, authenticity, openness, self-expression, and reputation. Living in authentic life with one's individual expression honored is an achievable goal within Kaloran society, as long as one does not plan on interfering with the lives of others in a negative way. People are encouraged to find their own passions in life and engage with them, and most importantly share with others.
Common Dress code
Unlike other neighboring peoples, Kaloran people wear shoes that cover the entire foot up to the knee. These boots often have the capacity to attach large flat pieces at the bottom in order to make traveling through the snow less strenuous, crampons for navigating tough icy areas, and blades that slide over frozen water. Boots themselves can be decorated with beads, but the chosen attachments for the boots often reflect the wearer's style.
Rolling up one's sleeves is considered a fashion faux pas, as it indicates that the wearer misinterpreted the future weather and failed to prepare accordingly. Rather than rolling up sleeves, Kaloran people take off their top clothes entirely or else deal with the heat.
Foods & Cuisine
Salt is an important part of the Kaloran diet. Salt is used for curing meats, but it is also used by itself as a seasoning. The close relationship that the Kaloran people have with the Raron people to the south, who live by a hypersaline lake, gives them a lot of access to salt. Flavoring salts with herbs or spices before curing fishes and meats results in delicious food.
Sweet food has a big place in Kaloran cuisine as well. While many items are cured with salt, sugar is an equally popular curing ingredient, especially for fish. Sugar-cured food does not last as long as salt-cured food, so it usually commands a slightly higher price.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Before going to bed for the night, Kaloran people say goodnight to every member of their household individually.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
There are two basic genders in Kaloran culture, and they are not associated with reproductive role. It is possible to opt out of the gender system entirely, similar to the Paban tradition, but it is not common.
Khuti (plural khutina) Kalorans are associated with keeping the family happy and fed. The pronouns most often used are they/them. They often pursue occupations in fishing, hunting, farming, or domestic caregiving, but their duties always lie with their family. They are expected to serve as important role models for self-sufficiency for their children.
Ḩagu (plural h̨aguna) Kalorans are associated with maintaining a respectable reputation in the greater community. The most common pronouns are ey/em. Eir domains are government and politics, education, art, and communications, occupations that share with others. Ey serve the family directly by informing others of the good work they do, and children model and appreciate that which is shared with them.
Courtship Ideals
Single Kaloran people gather in large parties called hehuna (sing. hehu) approximately once a month and look for potential partners. People are expected to meet and interact with many people and eventually settle into partners looking to explore their relationship further. Popular date spots are the beach where couples will go on swims (if they are able to swim; many Rarite Kalorans cannot), to local markets to try foods, and into each other's childhood homes to meet family members and play games.
Relationship Ideals
Families are large with many descendants sharing the same name. Within each major family are coupled units who are responsible for each other and raising of their children. The children may not be their own physical offspring: Kaloran children grow up as only children, so any siblings are given to childless couples in the family to raise. If there are no childless couples, the couple with the oldest child will take on the youngest, but it's considered irresponsible to have a child without having an appropriate set of parents available.
Couples may have two members of the same gender or of opposite ones.
Major organizations
The Kaloran Àskan is the organization run by the Veinlord, a powerful figure that commands respect across Kaloran peoples. The Veinlord is responsible for organizing the economic trade conditions for their engagements with the Raron and Paban people. The Kaloran Àskan is also notoriously frustrated by the Paban Àskan, and the two organizations disagree on their exact borders and territories.
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