Vatian

Empires never fade

If there ever was a people who thought their culture was the greatest in the world, the Vatians would be on top of that list. For they only care for theirs and theirs alone and would rather die than give it up all. Their culture has since spread across the lands on men over the centuries, replacing many cultures with their own and bring what true civilization looks like with them.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Gaia, Lavinia, Albia, Argentina, Aurelia, Livia

Masculine names

Atticus, Lucius, Julius, Crasis, Markus, Cato

Family names

Aquillius Armenius Arrius Betilienus Betucius Blandius Blossius Bruttius Bucculeius Burbuleius Burrienus Caecilius Caepasius Caerellius Calvisius Camilius Cantilius Cantius Canuleius Canutius Carfulenus Carisius Carius Caristanius Carpinatius Carteius Carvilius Cassius Castricius Castrinius Cicereius Cilnius Cincius Considius Coponius Cordius Corfidius Cornelius Cornificius Coruncanius Cosconius Cossinius Cossutius Cotius Cupiennius Curiatius Curius Curtilia Curtius Cuspius Decimius Decius Dellius Desticius Egnatuleius Ennius Epidius Eppius Equitius Erucius Fabius Favonius Festinius Fidiculanius Flaminius Flavius Flavinius Flavonius Floridius Florius Floronius Gessius Granius Gratius Gratidius Haterius Herminius Hirrius Hirtius Hirtuleius Lucius Lucretius Lurius Luscius Lusius Lutatius Macrinius Maecilius Maecius Maelius Maenius Maevius Magius Mallius Mamilius Mussidius Mustius Naevius Nasennius Nasidienus Nasidius Nautius Neratius Nerius Nymphidius

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Vasili : One of the largest used languages in the world as it is used by other cultures as Vatian influence rose in power and is used in many parts of the world.

Culture and cultural heritage

Legacy of Greatness: Vatains have had a long history of advancement in culture and dating back to when they were but a small city-state to a kingdom and then become one of the greatest empires to ever exist. This has led to their people being one of the most dominant powers in the lands of men and wish to keep it that way as they are inspired by their past achievements and seen to become greater than the last generation. This has also lead to a xenophobic society as well seeing those that they conquered beneath them considering they lost to them in war and brought civilization to their backwater lands.
Glory of the Past: War is something that no Vatian can ignore, but they have improved upon it to create one of the greatest militaries that the world has ever seen. They have conquered vast territories and their military exploits are often looked at by previous generations. In doing so there considered great pride in the military as it had added to expand their wealth and culture to many parts of the world.
Builders of Wonders: For thousands of years Vatians have been renowned for their skill in masonry and building techniques across the world. Their designs are considered more advanced and have been improved upon with time and many famous buildings and monuments across the empire were built with their skill. Along with highly suffocated roadways that are easy to travel and span thousands of miles for easier travel and many have yet to be repaired due to how well designed they are as they uses a mixture of concrete and stone to strengthen it. This is also used in much of their build process as it is strong and reliable.
Green Eyes: Vatians are distinguishable from their green eyes which are a common trait that is found within their bloodlines more than in any other cultures in the west.

Average technological level

Vatain society is highly sophisticated and more advanced than most other cultures with the construction of settlements and items being built with ease and are highly organized making daily life much easier live. This is due to their skills at engineering and how to improve upon it to create buildings and such things as plumbing to create sewers and aqueducts. Along with using it to create advance roads to make travel easier even in the most roughest of terrain. But with the rise of factories in recent decades they have managed to improve old designs to create stronger material and at a faster rate. Their military is also highly skilled and organized, making them a force to be reckoned with if met in the field. As their efficient supply lines and siege engines have allowed to conquer many lands for them.

Common Etiquette rules

Greeting : When men greet one another they clasp their hands on one another forearms as a sign of respect. Women are not allowed to touch the man unless they are their spouses and must curtsey instead. Women are allowed to hug one another as a sign of love for each other.

Common Dress code

Men: Men are allowed to wear loose clothing often being that of a tunic and wear a symbol of faith to show their devotion.
Women: Women are only allowed to wear dresses that only reveal their arms, cover their dress, and length is up supposed to end at their ankles. Most women tend to at least wear one piece of jewelry to show the wealth of their family.
Status: The wealthy and the nobility are meant to wear at least one piece of jewelry with a sigil that identifies which house they are in. Along with wearing finer clothing than that of the lower classes.
Festivities : During celebrations and festivals, both genders are allowed to wear more revealing outfits along with masks to keep their identity hidden.

Art & Architecture

Much of Vatian architecture is made of stone and marble, clay is used for roofs. Houses in cities for the lower classes tend to be connected to create more space for other buildings. They are also as tall as five to six stories to organize living space. Wealthier families and nobles usually live in large single-story estates that have a courtyard, bathhouse, kitchen, bathrooms, and living quarters for many people. Most government and public builds tend to have marble columns to make them much easier to find. Buildings outside of cities tend to be a much smaller and only house, small families. Paintings and sculptures are made to show historical events and honor historical figures. Poetry and builds often depict images as well. Along with some sculptures and buildings sculpted with religious decorations. Poetry and plays are often created with artists' flair for entertainment.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Baths: Considering how important bathing is to a Vatian, bathhouses have been created to allow anyone to bath after a long day and ensure that they can relax and socialize. Bathhouses have plumbing systems to allow for heated water to create hot baths to bathe in.
Social Parties: Parties are common in Vatian cultures ranging from weddings to homecomings that allow neighbors and friends to socialize with one another with food and drink to enjoy themselves.
Gladiatorial Games : If this one things that is enjoyable is clash of steel between fighters for the appeasement of the crowd.
Chariot Races: Races are a thrilling way to pass the time as riders race their chariots and clash with one another to achieve victory.
Triumph : A military parade that celebrates that achievements of legions and their leaders from their victories from battle and the spoils of war.
Day of Fools : A day of humor that help everyone laugh and cheer up from all the gloom in the world.
Festival of Jenna : A festival that is dedicated to those who are in love and to show their devtion to one another.
Festival of Summer's Rise : A festival to celebrate the beginning of summer with food and merriment in the warm weather.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When a child is born they are taken away from the mother and given to a priest to be covered in the ashes of a fire to signify their acceptance of their faith, that of the Exalted, the only god the follow. They are then washed in water to clean them and returned to the mother to purify them into the faith. Then they conduct their own ritual after several days after birth if they survived. The ritual differs for males and females. Boys are bathed in oils for masculine traits later in life, such as strength and independence and the father names them. Girls are bathed in milk for feminine traits later in life, such as compassion and patience, and are named by the mother. Both are raised in the air by their respected gender and shown to family members who were attending.

Coming of Age Rites

When a child reaches the age of sixteen a party is thrown to welcome them into adulthood. Gifts are given to them to help them with their new responsibilities. Men are given tools depending on what occupation they want to go into and women are given jewelry and clothing to attract a suitor as soon as possible. A feast is given to them in their honor and they receive the blessings of parents to live successful lives. The day after they are expected to do the tasks that any adult would have

Funerary and Memorial customs

The dead are wrapped in cloth from head to toe and the body is laid on an altar in front of friends and loved ones. If it is a male, the women of the family weep as a sign of love for the departed and the men leave an offering as a sign of respect. If it is a woman, the men remain emotionless to show no sign of weakness to the crowd and the women wear yellow to represent their women's devotion. After a priest says the required rites to the dead the body is then cremated so they may pass to the afterlife and the ashes are collected in a jar. For lower-class families a painting of the deceased is made, higher-class families have a death mask molded from the deceased. If it was a child, the body would just receive the rites and then the body burned with the ashes collected. The ashes would then be scattered to the wind so that their soul would ascend to the heavens where they would find peace.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Vatian believes that hygiene is the most important part of society. They use oil and scented soaps to look and smell clean. Bathing is done once a day and flower petals are placed in the bath that is said to keep skin nice and smooth. Young men are required to shave periodically and keep their hair short as much as possible to look more civilized. Men usually tend to wear loose clothing to show masculinity. Women are meant to wear tight long dresses and wear makeup to look even more beautiful. Some women even wear wigs and as much jewelry as they can to show beauty.

Gender Ideals

Men control most of the occupations of everyday society, along with military and government offices. They are also required to find a decent jobs to feed their family. The heads of a household are taught to show discipline if any of their family members are out of line. A women's duty is that of the household and is sworn to keep everything in order, along with taking of the financial situations that come with running a house. They are in charge of the house while the husband is away on business and away. The raising and nurturing of children are also given to the wife while the husband does his duties. In higher classes, men and women both have a hand in politics to gain praise and raise their status in society. Women are able to gain positions that men generally hold if they are allowed to do so.

Courtship Ideals

When a man seeks a wife, they tend to shower women they fancy with jewelry, clothing, and other items to show that they can support a family. Those who are not able to do so are often rejected by the women. Higher classes and the nobility tend to arrange marriages to increase their status and wealth. Sexual contact is forbidden until the marriage is completed, due to superstition that sexual desire will bring misfortune to both families if the man no longer wishes to marry the woman because he only wanted to just sleep with them.

Relationship Ideals

The husband is mostly in full control of the marriage and the wife must obey. When the husband is in a difficult situation that he has trouble with, the wife tends to give him advice, and council to help resolve the problem much easier. Most relationships are to be highly sexual to show love for one another. Other than that they both do what is best for their family and ensure that they do what they can to live a good life.

Major organizations

Vatian Empire : A massive empire that spans over half of an entire continent and outlining territories. Along with having one of the greatest militaries the world has ever seen to crush all who oppose them.
Imperial Senate : The ruling body of the empire that makes everyday decisions that effect the way of life of the local citizenry.
House Aurelius : The ruling house of the emperor himself and his family whose influence has shaped much of the history of the Vatian people.

Diverged ethnicities

• Veritas

Encompassed species

• Humans
• Vampires

Related Organizations

• 10th Legion, Lords of the Hunt
• 43rd Legion, Blood of the Exiled
• 52nd Legion, Iron Forged
• 9th Legion
• Alrunus Mining Guild
• Citizen’s Alliance
• Custodes
• House Aurelius
• Imperial Legions
• Imperial Royalists
• Imperial Senate
• Imperious Oculus
• Obumbratio Ortis
• Province of Ardania
• Vatian Empire

Related Items

• Crumb Chicken
• Imperial Crowns
• Imperial Standards
• Propter Iusiurandum

Related Myths

• The Red Court Murders

Languages spoken

• Cipher Code
• Vasili

Related Locations

• Vatia

Values

Militaristic: Vatian history is that of war and conquest throughout their existence and it has become etched into every part of society. This has led to those being in the military often having the highest honor to have with at least one member of every family having at least one family member being a part of the military to gain honor for themselves.
Industrial: Vatian engineering has always been highly advanced in many parts of society allowing them to create great cities and mighty weapons of war. But in recent memory, they have begun to greatly industrialize and create great factories to produce more materials and have slowly begun to look into other ventures to advance s themselves even further.
Strict Hierarchy: In their society, every person has their place in society from the lowest slave to the wealthy noble. While there are ways to change one occupation or position in life it is greatly accepted that a person should accept their place in society. Those that try to go against this will often be looked down upon and punished.
Superiority : Vatians consider themselves superior to other cultures and races because they have more power over most of them and are looked down up. This has caused them to crate mistreatment of those outside of their culture and turn many of those they have conquered into slaves or servants to carry out their will. Along with settling in many regions of the lands they have conquered and displacing its native peoples.
Family: The idea of family in Vatian culture is that of love and devotion to one another, creating strong bonds with one another. This creates a great sense of loyalty and duty to one family with everyone doing their part to ensure that it is protected and to elevate its position in society.
Tradition: Traditions are greatly honored in Vatian society as they value their history and customs that it has barely changed in centuries. This has caused them to develop strong resentment to change when the world around them is changing and distancing themselves from outdated ways and customs.
Status: Vatian culture is very competitive when it comes to what position they have in society. If they have a way to ascend the social ladder they will often take it for the betterment of themselves and their family. This can be done in a variety of ways through marriages, military service, and wealth are some of the most common ways to change their current status even at the expense of others if they must.

Taboos

Cowardice: Those who flee in the face of danger rather than facing certain death are highly looked down upon and resulting in shame and dishonor to one's family and can lead to punishment or even disownment. For only courage should be found in the hearts of every Vatian and their willingness to die for the greater is something to value.
Sexuality: Sexual relations with the same sex are down upon as they are seen as unnatural which should not happen. This leads to those who are caught doing so being punished with death or forced to renounce their sexuality and marry the opposite sex to prove that they have changed. This can be said the same with people wearing clothing of the opposite sex due to how their culture is built as men should never wear a dress nor a woman with men's clothing unless for theatrical humor and other exceptions.
Pagan Faiths: The Vatian have long since abandoned their old gods and have embraced the Exalted as their one true god. But with the rise of this faith so has their intolerance to other faith that sees them only as false gods. This has led to these faiths being outlawed and the destruction of their followers to see them convert or die doing so.
Adultery: Once a Vatian is married they are to be loyal to their spouse and refrain from sexual relations outside of their marriage. Doing so brings shame to the family-like marriage vows are held very seriously and should never be broken. Those who are caught doing such an act will be severely punished depending on the escalation of the adulters reached. These can lead to public humiliation to even death in some cases if the right conditions are met.
Tattoos: Tattoos are seen as barbaric as corrupting one's skin is impure as it is often seen as branding. Only those who are criminals and are slaves are given a tattoo to identify them and reveal to those around them what they are. It also considered some things that non Vatian cultures do and are considered barbarians by them.