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Linakran

Crusaders Against Magic

History

Linakra has existed in some form or another as long as Nefrale, though little is known about the people outside of the nation. They believe they are the divine tools of The Deathless One. They also subscribe to some form of Astromythology, believing they came from another world to fight the evils of Magic.
 
In the 6th century, Linakrans sailed east to the the Western Islands, settling in Zenxon, where they thought it their moral duty to rid the land of Wizards and Sprites, who they believed were demons. They finally claimed full ownership of the island in 1136 when they used an Alolio infection to barter for the city of Pine. The colony was ultimately considered a failure in the 15th century when the wizards fought back and won the right to practice magic again. The Linakrans attempted similar campaigns in other islands, notably Brek, but none were as successful as Zenxon.
 
From the Western Islands, Linakrans also tried settling in the northern part of the Minor Continent. After several skirmishes with Elves, they got a foothold and founded the Beffing colony. Subsequent conflicts with neighboring countries mostly cut it off from its home nation, but unlike Zenxon, the people of Beffing still hold to Linakran ideals. Though Linakrans are small in number, they are still viewed as threat by those around them, especially as they have created technology such as Keevael's Machine which could potentually destroy magic.
 
In many ways, the Linakrans view many other Nideon cultures as barbaric. Linakrans believe in both gender equality and a gender spectrum, concepts which were given to them by their diety, The Deathless One, along with marriage equality. Linakrans also have many systems in place in their government to help the poor, the disabled, and the elderly. Many of them are shocked at other nations that do not protect their citizens this way and are convinced that magic is the cause. Their striving for equality is one reason the Pelan briefly found a haven among the Linakrans, aside from their strong beliefs on magic. Many of the Pelan who still live in Linakra are part of Kel's Rebellion, helping wizards escape the country. Though Linakrans are horrified by the backward nations surrounding their own, they are outnumbered, and therefore reluctant to start another fight.
 

Rites and Rituals

Birth

Births are simple and quiet affairs. Babies are commonly at home, and after the baby is born, the parents spend a month at home resting and caring for the baby. A few close friends and family will come by to help with extra work and ensure the parents are resting. The mother, especially, is cared for, to ensure that her body recovers. This first month is considered a basic right, and written into all employee contracts, though many employers provive longer periods of maternity and paternity leave as well.
 

Coming of Age

Children come of age at 14. There is usually a ceremony in which the child "battles" someone dressed as a demon. Originally, these fights were probably real, and allowed children to prove that they were ready to be warriors, but today that are usually correographed, symbolizing the child's ability to triumph over evil. Once they are adults, they are allowed to fully participate in society, though many continue to live with their parents and attend school until their late teens or their twenties.
 

Marriage and Divorce

In the month leading up to their wedding, a couple return to their parents' homes and do not see each other for the following 35 days. As they tend to their parents' needs, they have time away from one another to objectively consider any second-thoughts about their marriage and get advice from family and friends. At any point during this month, either partner may choose to call off the wedding without any social stigma. If both decide to continue, they see each other again for the first time at the wedding ceremony, where they make their vows to one another. Divorce is frowned upon, and this practice is considered to help partners think through their decisions before being stuck with them. It also provides partners in abusive situations an opportunity to escape.
 

Death

When a person dies, the family may choose to bury or cremate them. This is done with little ceremony, and attended only by close family and friends, if attended at all. Some families may choose to have a memorial ceremony, but official funerals are typically only held for important figures, such as heads of state. Death is not considered a sad time because loved ones will see the dead again in the afterlife.
when you die
I will not cry
I know that this
is not goodbye
— Linakran saying
 

Food

The one comfort from my time in Linakra was the amount of fish I had the opportunity to eat.
Staples of Linakran food include lentil stew, black tea (usually with milk), and a stiff porridge topped with a butter sauce. Foods are usually cooked with a lot of spices, especially ground Grana root. Stews are served with a communal plate of add-ins available in the center of the table and commonly eaten with a thick, flat bread made of barley. Barley is also fermented into alcohol. Chickpeas are another common ingredient, whether roasted or cooked into the stew directly. Desserts typically consist of fruits with cinnamon.
 
Linakran cuisine is also influenced by geography. Seafood is a staple in coastal areas, as well as along the Mula River. Away from the coasts in Linakra, beef is much more common, whereas the diet in Beffing is usually vegetarian. Pork is rarely eaten anywhere. Pasta is also common in northern Linakra, usually served with a thick red sauce. In Beffing, cornmeal is a staple and is often mixed with milk, butter, and sugar.
 

Clothing


fabric art by Barriesaxxy
Clothing is an important part of Linakran culture because it is a key part of birthday celebration. Clothing is also seen as an important part of self-expression, and there seem to be as many styles of dress as there are Linakrans. Nevertheless, there are some elements that can be seen quite frequently.
 
Traditionally, it was common for clothing to be embellished with flowers, usually made by folding fabric. Such flowers are still common embellishments in Linakran dress, though other types have become popular, including embroidery, laces, and decorative buttons. It is also common for Linakrans to dress in layers. This is likely because rain is frequent in many parts of Linakra, and layers better allow people to prepare for sudden storms. In Beffing, this has continued because the temperature can fluctuate greatly between the summer and the winter, so layering allows more articles of clothing to be worn year-round.

Naming Customs

As part of their commitment to gender equality, most children bear surnames from both parents. To keep this from getting out of hand, parents usually choose one of their surnames to pass on to their children. If they have multiple children, different children might get different surnames, in order to honor both parents.
 

Making Mistakes

Linakrans encourage their children to make mistakes because mistakes are the basis of learning. When children make mistakes, adults talk through these mistakes with them to help them improve their skills and their knowledge about the world. Then the child is rewarded for trying something and learning from it. Even when a child makes a potentially dangerous or life-threatening mistake, an adult will talk through this mistake with them to see what the child has learned from it. In fact, these are considered the most important mistakes to discuss because they require the child to think beyond themselves.
 
Schools do not have a standard grading system in which students "pass" or "fail." Teachers correct mistakes on assignments, and if they are not able to go over these mistakes with students, they are expected to review them on their own, with classmates, or their parents. At the end of the year, students compile a report or other project to showcase what they have learned and make suggestions about what they need to continue to study (younger students have adult help). As a result, classes in Linakra are typically organized by skillset and may have students of many different ages.
 
Linakra does not have traditional universities. For the most part, schools allow students to advance into more complex and specialized classes as long as there is demand for them. Linakran universities are specialized schools that prepare students for professions in specific fields, like medicine. These schools or the programs therein often have requirements that students must show they have reached before being admitted.
 

Music

 
The emphasis on mistakes has carried over into Linakran music. Many Linakrans make their own instruments or experiment with playing instruments in a unique way. As a result, there is a wide variety of genres heard on Linakran radio, and even a single musical group can have an ecclectic repertoire. Minimalist music is especially popular today, but whatever someone chooses to create, there is an audience to be found.
Linakra
Organization | Jun 24, 2020

Linakra's progressive policies make it a welcome home... to any who don't use magic...

 
Beffing
Organization | Jul 8, 2024
 
Zenxon
Organization | Jul 5, 2023


Cover image: by Molly Marjorie

Comments

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Jul 22, 2024 23:41 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

I kind of love them - you've really put a lot of thought into their culture. I really like their emphasis on making mistakes and learning from them. Their cuisine also sounds really good, not going to lie. :)

Emy x
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Jul 25, 2024 18:54 by Marjorie Ariel

Yeah, they're sort of the "bad guys" of my setting, but I wanted their society to have a lot of good points too. That way, there would be reason for them to think that other cultures are backward the same way other cultures think they are. I actually really like their school system.

Jul 25, 2024 19:21 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Yeah. The bad guys never think they are the bad guys, and you can see why they would think they are doing the correct things based on their society.

Emy x
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