Rexiot
The people of the Rex Kingdom
Initially, a joke that Maffeo Rex would often make about the people he ruled over after his death many of the surviving humans on Pacem took a liking to the moniker and began to call themselves Rexiots as well. Soon the remaining members of The Rex Kingdom who had been alive during the days on Original Earth began to die off and those born into the kingdom assumed the culture of the throne as their own. The traditions established by the Rex royal family became countrywide traditions and their preferences were cemented as the kingdom's preferences. Now the people of The Rex Kingdom are proud to call themselves Rexiots.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Maffeo Rex took the inspiration for his families name from the Renaissance cultures that he so adored studying back on when he was a community college professor. Thus most of his families names are also inspired by the patriarch's will and have done their best to follow his example. Before her death Queen Cristina Rex made a list of every family and person name she could think of. This list is a closely guarded document and the kings always consult this before naming any of their sons or daughters.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
When they arrived on the planet of Pacem communication was a major obstacle to humans successfully surviving in this new world. As languages died off wholesale with the whithering of the population it soon became obvious that enough people spoke English for it to become the unofficial language of trade and cooperation. With Maffeo Rex's ascension to king he officially made English the language of his kingdom. After a few decades of living on this new planet, Rexiots began calling it human common as English no longer had a historical precedent for it to be named after. Regional dialects developed in the southern corners of the kingdom and those from the city of Earth speak the language slightly differently than the rest of the kingdom. Various slang phrases from dead or dying languages will pop up in the language but for the most part, the entire kingdom now speaks a largely unchanged version of Human Common.
Culture and cultural heritage
Every cultural touchstone for the Rexiots is inspired by something from original Earth or by something that was initiated by the royal family. Those who only know of the world of Pacem assume that every tradition comes from the wise king Maffeo Rex while those who have been able to find history of the time on the other planet have remarked how much of the traditions have been changed to empower the noble classes of The Rex Kingdom. The birthdays, deaths, marriages, and other royal ceremonies have come to dominate the holidays that are celebrated by The Rex Kingdom.
Shared customary codes and values
An unshakeable belief that humanity deserves a spot at the top drives every action that is performed by the Rexiots. This is inspired both from the savage losses sustained at the beginning of their time on Pacem and a holdover from their time back on the original Earth. A standard fear of the alien empires also has instilled a healthy dose of xenophobia in the average citizen of The Rex Kingdom. Only those who routinely work in diplomacy or in trade are comfortable interacting with other sentient races that exist on Pacem.
As a whole many of the traditions that individual cultures had back on original Earth exist in some form amongst the scattered villages and towns of The Rex Kingdom. Though they now serve different purposes and no living human could tell you why they practice certain traditions many still exist. The royal family is prone to creating new traditions simply through existing and births, deaths, anniversaries, and important dates have all translated themselves into holidays or important events for the whole kingdom.
As a whole many of the traditions that individual cultures had back on original Earth exist in some form amongst the scattered villages and towns of The Rex Kingdom. Though they now serve different purposes and no living human could tell you why they practice certain traditions many still exist. The royal family is prone to creating new traditions simply through existing and births, deaths, anniversaries, and important dates have all translated themselves into holidays or important events for the whole kingdom.
Average technological level
Losing so much technological knowledge so quickly devasted the scientists of The Rex Kingdom. Repeated attempts to replicate technological devices from original Earth were met with maddening failure after failure. It is though the laws of the world of Pacem refuse to allow advanced technology to function. Recently basic gunfire weapons have been developed but they are still a far cry from what humanity used to wield in war. The discovery of Magyk has also completely pushed the sciences in a different direction than it had progressed on original Earth. For now, the scholars of The Rex Kingdom are delving into every mystery the world of Pacem holds for them and doing their best to get a grip on the world that doesn't make sense to them most of the time. The best approximation of current technological achievements is late medieval period technology in the capitol of Earth and slightly behind that in the various villages of the kingdom.
Common Etiquette rules
Among the Upper and Noble Class
Many of the manners that were expected of western cultures have been revived here by the Rex Royal family. Each noble family has adopted or created their own individual expectations of class but they adhere to the standards set by the royal family. It is considered most important that the young members of each family are well mannered and display the appropriate social decorum when interacting with their peers.Middle class and Barons
With fewer prying eyes observing them, those who exist just below the upper crust of Rexiot society do their best to replicate the obvious details of the nobility. The barons of the countryside delight in creating their own little kingdoms and will take aspects of the current king's style and warp it to suit their own temperaments or needs. Their desire to create something unique funds quite a few struggling artists in Earth. The middle class will take the most obtainable objects from the nobility and proudly display it within their own homes. The manners they take are expected to replicate the ones displayed by the royal family but there is far less emphasis on them executing those manners to perfection.Lower class and peasantry
Those who make up the bulk of the kingdom are more concerned with surviving from day to day than how they look to the outside world. Celebrating holidays, royal events, and being productive parts of their communities is considered far more vital than the appearance of how they look or speak. There are basic elements of cleanliness and politeness to elders but at the end of the day, those who are ensuring that the village can eat, survive and grow are the most respected members of the community regardless of age, temperament, or disposition.Common Dress code
Nobility and the Royal family
The finery that each member wears and exhibits has an outsized effect on how others perceive them. Owning and wearing the most expensive outfit is a constant competition between the young leaders of the noble houses. Each outfit must match their family colors and proudly display their families symbol. These battles rage in the ballrooms and the tailors of each house have quickly become quite wealthy. Losing a tailor to a rival family is tantamount to losing a general to the enemy army. All families have taken inspiration from original Earth cultures but the accuracy of their looks are quite warped due to very little information existing about what these cultures looked and dressed like. To look good is to inspire reverence and every member of the upper crust of The Rex Kingdom society is desperate to earn this awe from their subjects.All other members of Rexiot society
The massive corporations that ensured clothes were plentiful back on Earth can't even be imagined by the people living in Pacem. Making clothes is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. People will occasionally splurge some of their gold on higher quality clothing but for the most part, the basic clothes that can be purchased are what everyone wears. There is specialized equipment that some professions do require but most humans are happy to be protected from the elements and from peeping eyes.Art & Architecture
Architecture
The city of Earth was discovered built as is and those who live there are content to do their best to replicate the style of buildings that already exist within its walls. For the humans who have had to try and piece together an existence outside of the capitol, their building style has been radically more function over form. If near trees then wood is the primary building source, likewise for stone, mud brick, or grass woven buildings. Humanity lost much of the knowledge gained over centuries when they were transported to Pacem and for much of the population, the change has been quite tough to adapt to.Art
The artist class is thriving in The Rex Kingdom due mainly to the internal competition that exists between the noble houses and the royal family for prestige. The art that isn't deemed worthy for these nobles is instead sold to barons who are willing to overpay to achieve the same level of prestige as the noble houses that decorate the capitol of Earth. Artists are hired to craft sculptures of important members of the family, paintings of the heirs to the throne or estate, or gifts to present to the royal family to curry favor with them. There is a thriving art class within the capitol and some of the more talented artists have even been able to climb their way into becoming a noble family.Funerary and Memorial customs
For those living in Earth
With the capital of Earth being located above an impressive waterfall it became an easy and effective way of disposing of bodies to send them down the river that runs through the center of the city to a mourning procession near the mouth of the waterfall. For those with enough money to do so, they will build elaborate ships to transport their remains down the river. This has become the normal custom and daily there will be a gathered crowd to wish the dead a farewell from this world.
For those outside of the capitol
Burning bodies is the preferred method of ensuring that the body does not attract the predators of Pacem. It is often a community-wide event with villages being small enough for everyone to know everyone else. Here prayers are often offered to whatever local diety the community deifies.Historical figures
The three most influential members of The Rex Kingdom are currently: King Maffeo Rex, Queen Cristina Rex, and King Pippo Rex.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
A lot of the beauty standards carried over from Earth and through the absence of abundant food and recreation has altered the most desirable look to be a look that is equipped to survive the world of Pacem. Tanned skin, toned muscles, and conventionally attractive beauty standards have come to define the most sought after mates. The look of the current king or queen also dominate what the standard of what attractive is with substantial deference still paid to King Pippo Rex and Queen Cristina Rex for their fashion and style choices.
Gender Ideals
With the exponentially more difficult standard of life in Pacem compared to Earth, it is now assumed that all genders contribute to the good of their village, town, or to the capital of Earth. It is the duty of the community to raise the children and those who cannot assist with the tasks required to keep the settlement functioning contribute by rearing the children. With many of the elders having been raised on Earth or by parents who were inhabitants of that previous world they have more knowledge that can better prepare the future generations to survive in this hostile new world.
Men and women both lost assumed gender identities from previous Earth with the mass extinction event that humanity went through. Those who profited off of the established gender identities were mostly older inhabitants of the previous planet and they were some of the first to be eliminated when humanity was transpositioned to Pacem. The younger generation was much more pliable in their thinking as they watched many of their loved ones perish in the three years before Humanity discovered the Citadel. As humanity rebuilds the fluid gender relations that developed in the late 21st century have translated into this new world and as long as the person is useful to their community it doesn't matter how they identify or choose to refer to themselves.
Men and women both lost assumed gender identities from previous Earth with the mass extinction event that humanity went through. Those who profited off of the established gender identities were mostly older inhabitants of the previous planet and they were some of the first to be eliminated when humanity was transpositioned to Pacem. The younger generation was much more pliable in their thinking as they watched many of their loved ones perish in the three years before Humanity discovered the Citadel. As humanity rebuilds the fluid gender relations that developed in the late 21st century have translated into this new world and as long as the person is useful to their community it doesn't matter how they identify or choose to refer to themselves.
Courtship Ideals
As humanity quickly learned during their first few years in Pacem life can be quite fleeting when everything on the planet wants to and is capable of eating you. Marriages became about the best fit for the moment instead of true love and people learned that without engines to allow you to travel quickly venturing across long distances can be a life-threatening journey. This has led the inhabitants of The Rex Kingdom to learn to love what is close to them and to accept that sometimes it won't be a fairy tale story but it can be a source of happiness. Men and women still struggle to know who should make the first move but at the end of the day being with someone is better than being alone.
Of course with the noble and royal families, these rules are at best irrelevant at worse ignored altogether. Each noble family arranges marriages to further extend their power, cement their ties to the throne, or empower their heir to become a force within The Rex Kingdom political scene. For the Rex family, they expect to have the pick of the population to choose from and their courtships are often are rapid affairs with the trappings of power proving too persuasive for any individual to resist. it doesn't hurt that so far the vast majority of Rex family members have been exceedingly attractive by conventional standards.
Of course with the noble and royal families, these rules are at best irrelevant at worse ignored altogether. Each noble family arranges marriages to further extend their power, cement their ties to the throne, or empower their heir to become a force within The Rex Kingdom political scene. For the Rex family, they expect to have the pick of the population to choose from and their courtships are often are rapid affairs with the trappings of power proving too persuasive for any individual to resist. it doesn't hurt that so far the vast majority of Rex family members have been exceedingly attractive by conventional standards.
Relationship Ideals
The end goal of any relationship is for both parties to be happy with each other. the community expects that there will be babies to ensure that humanity can continue to compete on the global stage of Pacem. It is expected that each member will be loyal to the other if they enter into a marriage union but of course, these contracts can be broken. Marriage no longer exists to satisfy a biblical requirement but instead to clearly denote those humans who are no longer seeking a partner. The traditional institution of marriage was done away with when the sheer number of humans dying rendered the pageantry of a marriage ostentatious and a drain on the communities resources. The religious symbolism of marriage also fell away due to two events. One, the churches of old were ill-equipped to function in this new world and without much guidance from any religious texts or strong personalities eventually lost what little influence they had on the people. Two, King Maffeo Rex obviously married Queen Cristina Rex while she was pregnant with his child and he made it quite clear that he was not one who was beholden to any religion. Without recognizing any church or religious movement for the kingdom the last of the churches from the previous world shriveled up and died.
Major organizations
The Rex Kingdom is the predominant influence for those who identify as Rexiots.
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