Sanwen
Sanwen were originally children of the Moon goddess Wen, and the descendants of the Wened. Near the beginning (c14,000 years ago), they chose to eschew the noctural lifestyle of the Wenver, and instead walked in the Sun and the Moon equally, becoming the Sanwen. They sleep every 36 hours or so, and are equally as happy in night and day. They choose to worship Sa and Wen as a single entity; they revere twins, especially conjoined twins, in honour of the union of Sa and Wen. The Sanwen are particularly quixotic, believing in valour and honour, but also in the pursuit of enjoyment in life. They have an innocent romanticism about them, spirited and energetic, and have a love of honourable fighting and energetic pursuits. They also poetry, song and excellent wine and food; they are famous for their sense of humour, and make excellent bards. Sanwen are not very tall compared to their Wenver cousins, about 5’ or so. At their physical peak they are compact, lean, muscular, flexible and acrobatic. Their love of the good life and frequent debauchery often leads them to put on weight, and fat, middle aged Sanwen are the most common sight.
The Sanwen are large-eyed and delicate featured, reminiscent of their Wenver cousins. However, Sanwen are shorter than Wenver, have smaller eyes than the Wenver, and cannot see in the dark as well (though better than many other species). They do not have the prehensile toes of the Wenver, and cannot climb trees as well.
The Sanwen are large-eyed and delicate featured, reminiscent of their Wenver cousins. However, Sanwen are shorter than Wenver, have smaller eyes than the Wenver, and cannot see in the dark as well (though better than many other species). They do not have the prehensile toes of the Wenver, and cannot climb trees as well.
Basic Information
Ecology and Habitats
Due to religious persecution, the Sanwen almost entirely left the first island of the Wenver. Sanwen in general prefer temperate or Mediterranean climates, and particularly enjoy subtropical environments. A few Sanwen are also kept as daytime servants by the Wenver, though this is a culturally difficult position considering their poor relations historically. Sanwen are relatively adaptable to different environmental conditions. Their most unusual quirk is that they prefer to function in 36 hour days - taking in both the sun and the moon - which makes them difficult to coexist with. These day-units generally go:
Day 1: 12 hours day; 12 hours night; 12 hours day (during which they sleep)
Day 2: 12 hours night; 12 hours day; 12 hours night (during which they sleep)
Day 1: 12 hours day; 12 hours night; 12 hours day (during which they sleep)
Day 2: 12 hours night; 12 hours day; 12 hours night (during which they sleep)
Dietary Needs and Habits
Sanwen are omnivores and eat anything and everything. Sanwen take a particular enjoyment in food, especially rich or flavoursome food and they deplore flavourless cuisine or "poor doings". Sanwen traditionally enjoy many-coursed meals, which blend sweet and savory together, as well as sour, astringent and spicy flavours. It's not unusual to experience many flavour groups in the same dish.
Not to eat food which is offered by a social superior is a serious insult.
Not to eat food which is offered by a social superior is a serious insult.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
In Sanwen culture, the name defines the object. Thus naming is considered particularly important and Sanwen naming traditions are rather elaborate.
Each Sanwen child has FIVE names, one of which is taken as a favoured name which they choose when they come of age.
The traditional Sanwen naming ceremony occurs at dawn for a boy or at dusk for a girl. The names are announced to the rising sun or moon. Children take:
1) name from their mother or father,
2) from their aunt or uncle (preferably on the other side of the family from their maternal or paternal first name)
3) a name given by a leader of the community, who becomes the child's sponsor
4) a name of one dead relative (generally someone who was honoured, a role model who many consider will guide the child from the Hereafter),
5) one "surname" name with the word ‘os’ in it (to honour the earth god Os, on whom they live and who cares for them) which is generally passed down either from the mother or the father and is unisex.
In terms of name formation,
Boy’s names usually contain a "SS"; typical suffixes are: essd, sset, ssyn, sst. This is in honour of San, the god of the Sun. Examples of male names include:
Marssd, Byrsset, Orssyn, Dasst, Desset, Lanssyn, Finesset, Sansst, Sassyn, Sessyn, Sensset, Senssyn, Dessd, Dessyn, Desst, Bessd, Bessyn, Tenssyn, Tennessd, Tennsset, Tensst, Tasst, Tessd,
Girls names usually contain a "W"; typical suffixes – wyn, wen, wed, wa. This is in honour of Wen, the goddess of the Moon. Examples of female names include:
Arnwyn, Fawen, Morwed, Minwa, Menwyn, Medwa, Maywa Linwyn, Laywed, Leewa, Fathwyn, Feywen, Fanwed, Wyn, Awyn, Awa, Ewa, Ywa, Yffwyn, Yffwed, Yffwa, Teffwyn, Nalwen, Nalwed, Nalwa
Os names are three syllables, contain ‘os’ as the accented syllable. They never contain a w, and rarely contain any other "S" than the "Os" reference requires, making them more gender neutral.
Examples include:
Òsevneh, Òslynten, Òsfany, Lanòslyn, Byósned, Fathnevós, Nyvanòs, Paranvòs, Verednòs, Bidalòs
Example of naming conventions using specific names:
M 1: Marssd Byrsst Tennessd Sanssyn Òsevneh
M2 (his brother): Marssd Orssyn Bessd Sanssyn Òsevneh
In the above two names, the brothers share the father’s name (obviously) and in this case the name of the dead relative, but M2 was named after a different uncle, and a different leader. Both are called after their Mother’s ‘Os’ name, "Òsevneh", but one could instead have been named after his father’s. Different families have different traditions regarding this; some alternate and some stick to one "Òs" name.
Finally, it's important to note that parents think very carefully about naming their children – it takes a good deal of time and effort!
Each Sanwen child has FIVE names, one of which is taken as a favoured name which they choose when they come of age.
The traditional Sanwen naming ceremony occurs at dawn for a boy or at dusk for a girl. The names are announced to the rising sun or moon. Children take:
1) name from their mother or father,
2) from their aunt or uncle (preferably on the other side of the family from their maternal or paternal first name)
3) a name given by a leader of the community, who becomes the child's sponsor
4) a name of one dead relative (generally someone who was honoured, a role model who many consider will guide the child from the Hereafter),
5) one "surname" name with the word ‘os’ in it (to honour the earth god Os, on whom they live and who cares for them) which is generally passed down either from the mother or the father and is unisex.
In terms of name formation,
Marssd, Byrsset, Orssyn, Dasst, Desset, Lanssyn, Finesset, Sansst, Sassyn, Sessyn, Sensset, Senssyn, Dessd, Dessyn, Desst, Bessd, Bessyn, Tenssyn, Tennessd, Tennsset, Tensst, Tasst, Tessd,
Arnwyn, Fawen, Morwed, Minwa, Menwyn, Medwa, Maywa Linwyn, Laywed, Leewa, Fathwyn, Feywen, Fanwed, Wyn, Awyn, Awa, Ewa, Ywa, Yffwyn, Yffwed, Yffwa, Teffwyn, Nalwen, Nalwed, Nalwa
Òsevneh, Òslynten, Òsfany, Lanòslyn, Byósned, Fathnevós, Nyvanòs, Paranvòs, Verednòs, Bidalòs
Example of naming conventions using specific names:
M 1: Marssd Byrsst Tennessd Sanssyn Òsevneh
M2 (his brother): Marssd Orssyn Bessd Sanssyn Òsevneh
In the above two names, the brothers share the father’s name (obviously) and in this case the name of the dead relative, but M2 was named after a different uncle, and a different leader. Both are called after their Mother’s ‘Os’ name, "Òsevneh", but one could instead have been named after his father’s. Different families have different traditions regarding this; some alternate and some stick to one "Òs" name.
Finally, it's important to note that parents think very carefully about naming their children – it takes a good deal of time and effort!
Gender Ideals
Unlike most sapient species on Osnaveena who tend (because of their deity) to have a cultural gender bias, the Sanwen live in a true equality between men and women. Indeed, whilst the genders are observed to be different and may display different aptitudes, these differences are celebrated as an expression of the duality of the god Sa and the goddess Wen, whom they cultural regard as a single entity, two halves of the same whole.
Courtship Ideals
The Sanwen are more promiscuous than other races, especially those Sanwen of the cult which views male-female coupling as a worship of Sa and Wen.
Monogamous relationships are the norm, and though most official couples are M-F – in political places, this is usually a strategic marriage. Gay couples of either gender are seen as a activity of pleasure, something enjoyable to dally with (and orgies are fairly common), and are even considered to be one of the purest forms of love. But they are not considered official relationships.
In Sanwen culture, it is considered immoral to have sex with a slave – they are seen exclusively as property until they have worked off their debt – usually an agreed time of servitude which may be sold to another to be completed. A slave who works well or performs a particular service may be released prematurely. Any slave who has been raped can have his/her contract officially terminated, as long as they can prove it. Unfortunately, the legal system can be bribed by sufficiently powerful people.
Monogamous relationships are the norm, and though most official couples are M-F – in political places, this is usually a strategic marriage. Gay couples of either gender are seen as a activity of pleasure, something enjoyable to dally with (and orgies are fairly common), and are even considered to be one of the purest forms of love. But they are not considered official relationships.
In Sanwen culture, it is considered immoral to have sex with a slave – they are seen exclusively as property until they have worked off their debt – usually an agreed time of servitude which may be sold to another to be completed. A slave who works well or performs a particular service may be released prematurely. Any slave who has been raped can have his/her contract officially terminated, as long as they can prove it. Unfortunately, the legal system can be bribed by sufficiently powerful people.
Common Etiquette Rules
General acquaintances always kiss cheeks when they meet. The number of times, and which side you start, depends entirely on where you come from. It is a point of politeness that the social inferior knows and conforms to his superior. If both considers themselves the superior, woe betide them! Polite equals will often make a subtle hand gesture to defer the ‘superior’ status to the other, to avoid confusion. This still means that each must know the origin and conventions of the other, and bumping noses is very common!
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Art and culture is of massive importane to all Sanwen societies.
They boast more famous bards, poets and epic storytellers than any of sapient species.
Their story telling is legendary for its ability to combine astonishing drama with humour, and their music is equally well known for fine airs and bawdy, catchy tavern songs. Strings predominate their musical sound, and common instruments include string music, guitar and fiddles, whilst simple drums accompany their dance music.
Especially when in combat against other races, the Sanwen rely mainly on their great speed and agility in fighting, because of their small stature and subsequently relatively weak attacks. Sometimes the situation is akin to a mammoth being attacked by a thousand needle pricks. Depending on the opponent this can be either very successful, or very disastrous.
The Sanwen make excellent assassins because of their precision and stealth, and there is a rumour that a significant training academy for elite assassins exists in the City of Assanway in the Kingdom of Ysterneth.
They boast more famous bards, poets and epic storytellers than any of sapient species.
Their story telling is legendary for its ability to combine astonishing drama with humour, and their music is equally well known for fine airs and bawdy, catchy tavern songs. Strings predominate their musical sound, and common instruments include string music, guitar and fiddles, whilst simple drums accompany their dance music.
Fighting style
The Sanwen fighting style tends to be extremely acrobatic, relying on dexterity as much as strength. Favouried weapons include flexible rapiers, short swords, long weighted bows and nimble, easily stashed short bows as well as cunning traps and nets.Especially when in combat against other races, the Sanwen rely mainly on their great speed and agility in fighting, because of their small stature and subsequently relatively weak attacks. Sometimes the situation is akin to a mammoth being attacked by a thousand needle pricks. Depending on the opponent this can be either very successful, or very disastrous.
The Sanwen make excellent assassins because of their precision and stealth, and there is a rumour that a significant training academy for elite assassins exists in the City of Assanway in the Kingdom of Ysterneth.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
On a Sanwen's 12 birthday, they are no longer considered a child. This is the day that they choose, from their five given names, thier own first name, and the identity by which they will be known.
Common Taboos
Using poison on weapons is viewed as dishonourable.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The Sanwen, on the whole, believe that they have life down to a perfect art. They are fun loving and they enjoy good things that the gods gave them, and this too is a part of divine worship. However, they are not lazy and, if honour bound, they will carry out a task tirelessly until their death. When out adventuring, they are actually very hardy, and easily able to do without the finer things in life. However, they like to take long breaks when they return to places of civilisation to enjoy their creature comforts. Sanwen are famous for their hospitality and many dream of one day retiring and opening their own inn, bistro or tavern.
The Sanwen believe that the Gos are excellent mechanics, but a bit dull and rather obsessed with their Empire and its former glory. They trade Gos technology for Sanwen luxuries such as alcohol, spices and tobacco. The reputation of Gos males in the bedroom is well known and always the subject of a hearty joke. Not many Gos travel freely outside the empire, so few Sanwen have met one in person.
The Sanwen think that the Wenver are austere and arrogant. Ironically, Sanwen are the only race which can easily coexist easily with the Wenver , because they are also partially nocturnal. Sanwen males find the Wenver particularly impossible to deal with culturally, because of the difference in gender roles between the two societies.
The Sanwen believe that the Gos are excellent mechanics, but a bit dull and rather obsessed with their Empire and its former glory. They trade Gos technology for Sanwen luxuries such as alcohol, spices and tobacco. The reputation of Gos males in the bedroom is well known and always the subject of a hearty joke. Not many Gos travel freely outside the empire, so few Sanwen have met one in person.
The Sanwen think that the Wenver are austere and arrogant. Ironically, Sanwen are the only race which can easily coexist easily with the Wenver , because they are also partially nocturnal. Sanwen males find the Wenver particularly impossible to deal with culturally, because of the difference in gender roles between the two societies.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
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