Kudian Human
Ebonys skinned humans of the central plains and hills. Their history is fragmented by time and their lineage was broken by the loss of their kingdom, but there is almost no other culture as resilient as the Kudian people.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Tending to be less harsh than masculine names the line is very blurry between the name of a man and a woman at times. Since ancient times the distinction wasn't important, simply one's traits and characteristics, your name was a way to pick you out from a crowd and most didn't hold any deeper meaning until the cultural clash of the Five Kingdoms Era.
Names like Lanas, Kalipin, Meinshas, and Naijin all find their endings to be often soft in nature, this is one of the few distinctions, it can also be noted many feminine names hold the 'a' vowel, a commonality adopted for centuries.
Masculine names
Masculine names are often to the point and harsh, few dodge around hard sounds. Not overly important still, the separation between names is often overlooked. So, while you are unlikely to meet a man with a feminine name however it is far from impossible and sometimes accepted in some communities since the distinction has never been important.
Unisex names
With the blurred lines most names are unisex, most names hold no true meaning so when naming children Central Humans only do it out of necessity.
Family names
It would be atypical for a Central Human to have a family name as they held no value in ancient times. As time ushed in a new era cultures from other areas bled into the central area and surnames became much more common yet not everyone has one. Many commoners go their whole life with one name, and many artisans adopt a name related to their craft as a brand name in a sense.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The main language of modern Kudias is "Vontian Common". A tongue built on the ancient Kothiycan languages converging into one as eras changed.
Culture and cultural heritage
Kudian culture is almost tribal, and while their beliefs have almost fallen to time one is well retained to the present era. The belief is that those who harness "Vis" are communicators of their god, Nyep.
History to Kudians is passed by book or scripture. The passage of stories isn't uncommon by they discovered early on the uses of dried plant fibers and charcoal.
Shared customary codes and values
Centrally, one's family is the strongest and most important bond. It is also customary to treat one's people like an extended family in the sense you all protect each other.
This is especially true with orphans, diseased, and weak. The care of one individual is the responsibility of anyone who belongs to the same community.
In big cities, it'll be a common sight for two central humans to help each other out simply because they live in the same city. Blood is an unbreakable bond. It isn't strange however for other ethnicities and species to be shunned by Kudians, they are wary of outsiders.
Being weak isn't automatic contempt. More often than not there are underlying issues with the person's health, and protection is more important to Kudians than strength
Battle is respected and sacred. Setting one's weapon straight up after death is a Kudian's prayer for their soul to reach the afterlife.
In Kudian culture the only people who may die and go to the afterlife are warriors, this is a belief that copes with the death of a loved one who never got the chance to prove themselves. It is said the soul only carries on when it has known battle, when a non-warrior dies their soul returns to the body of a newborn at any point in time, allowing them to live a fuller life, and pass on successfully.
Average technological level
Kudian people are within the top technologically advanced cultures. Architecturally they have pushed the development of forts and castles, mechanically siege weapons were made when said architecture was copied. When it came to warfare they always sought new ways to improve. Until recent history, they were at the top of the food chain, until recent history not even magic rivaled their technologies.
Common Etiquette rules
One must hold themselves humbly yet with confidence at all times, signs of weakness are taken advantage of in battle so showing such things in your everyday life can lead to bad habits.
In higher society Kudian aim to protect the image of culture, as such they act with modesty and humble attitudes to avoid unwanted malice. Still, the worst disrespect to their people isn't bad-mouthing or rumors. The most discourteous thing to the lineage is a Kudian hearing such things and allowing themselves to be walked all over. More than respectful people they are warriors and have battled for their right to rule and be respected.
Common Dress code
Breathable clothing and tempered bodies are staples of the Kudian people. Open and loose clothing to both contrast their often toned bodies and combat the hotter temperatures majority of the year, Kudian fashion choice requires quite commonly found linens. As they were also the first to use silk to create clothing, when given the chance they do so diligently.
Art & Architecture
Dance and folk songs are strong within the culture. As one originating from the ancient civilizations, present Kudian culture artistically astounds many. Their dances make use of traditionally flowing clothing, and their songs rely mostly on animal drums and vocals, they are some of the most entertaining musicians and dancers the kingdoms have to offer.
Foods & Cuisine
With a high ratio of protein-rich foods to carbs and fibers, Kudian food is sometimes lacking in taste.
Being a warrior culture their food is easily preserved and when a meal is served warm it's the hope it can be made quickly and in high portions.
The only widely known dish from Kudian culture is, "Svùk Paw Rice". A meat and rice bowl-style dish it is prepared in very large batches often for feasts, inn patrons, or soldiers.
While the only tasteful dish in their recipe book that other cultures have picked up, it isn't the only one, and a lot of Kudian cuisines come from a necessity to eat. Personal touches to every dish can turn barracks chow into inn food easily. The techniques Kudians practice mesh well with other cultures and have led to some royal dishes serving nobility in many places. Of course, however, they are underrepresented in this manner and they themselves often don't know as a people their culture's impact on food.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The Ceremony of Twilight is a custom that has lost its origin.
Kudians pay respects to every enemy they kill, by setting their weapon straight up and taking off their helmets so they may be recognized by the god of death, Zaunbyu.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Immidiately after being born all Kudian children are given a name and "marked", through a tradition called Birth Marking.
Coming of Age Rites
When a man or woman reaches the age of fifteen they are taken to a Kudian elder who remarks them through the traditional process. Differently, however, the ink is infused with the blood of a dead creature the man or woman kill before their marking. If the ink is not infused it can be used and as such to be an adult in a community of Kudian people you must get your "Kill Mark". Often times urban dwellers kill criminals or monsters that snuck into the city, in the outskirts of civilization, and in the wilderness the stronger the creature, the "stronger" the mark.
Funerary and Memorial customs
When a warrior dies their weapon is put behind their grave, there is no ceremony, there is no gathering. However anyone that knew the fallen warrior may leave a tribute to their life, may it be food, flowers, or other gifts, it is said if they appreciate it in life they may appreciate it in death as well.
When anyone else dies, including children, their body is buried adjacent to a family member, they get no weapon or gravestone. This is to support the belief that children, the ill, and the weak get a second chance, reborn to become a warrior in the next life. Children especially are treated very carefully, they are buried as close to said family member as possible with the hopes the ancestor's spirit will protect them in the next life.
Common Taboos
Selfishness, is the greatest taboo to any Kudian anywhere. May it be in one's home, in battle, or in life, being selfish amongst your sworn family and blood family is a sin worthy of death. Your life has no worth without anyone to share it with, as such living selfishly at the cost of those you should protect and hold dear is beyond sin.
Historical figures
Thausiusis the only ancient figure known to the modern Kudians. He to them was the first king, and until Reiners's life is given meaning he remains that way.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
One of the main points in central beauty is muscles. As odd as it may be, strength was once a necessity and extremely important. As such the cultural mindset and ethnic customs have pushed the ideal man or woman to be one with well-kept and toned muscles. Size doesn't typically matter, just the degree they seem to be worked.
The second would be hair. While more so based on the belief that well-kept hair signifies a well-kept mind, the hair itself tends to be inherently attractive in the central region. Women and men alike grow and maintain their hair with generational practices, even those in the middle of a war. It is in a way one of their most important values.
Gender Ideals
Women and Men alike have fought side by side since ancient times. The dynamic born of Kalipin and Thausius, woman and men are symbiotic, at least in central culture. While there are a lot of contexts between how every person is treated, typically the only "weak" perceived is to be children.
Within the culture however men are expected to be colder than women. Not in such a way that they are perceived as emotionless, but with the tender care women have exhibited toward children the warmth is left in their hands and the chill and more rigid guidance comes from fathers. This creates a divide within families, boy or girl, you are taught young to go to your mother when you are upset and your father when you are scared. Your father will teach you how to knock a bow your mother will be sure you remember to do so safely. Your mother will be a sort of therapist, your father a teach pragmatist.
Courtship Ideals
Not too uncommonly you meet someone you find attractive and you get to know them, while simple at a glance both men and women are searching for different traits. When one or the other believes they have found this it is not uncommon or them to get married right away.
Relationship Ideals
As mentioned Men are looking for kind and warm women, and almost vice versa. Women are seeking an intelligent and stoic man. Both seek someone that suits the general norms they were grown to realize as a child.
Still, there is comfortable breathing room, everyone has preferences and in most standard relationships the man and woman work together to provide for first themselves, and then when they are certain what they are doing works, they have children.
Children are to them both their prodiges and family. They wish to impart their knowledge to them and find another love in their life to focus their attention on. It would be easy to say a common goal is to have a rather large and strong family.
Major organizations
The Southern kingdom was once Kudian by nature, the peopel migrated south, but after it fell to ruins by the cataclysm Kudian people becmae a splintered faction. With few in high political standing and many staying in the central kingdom there aren't many poeple in recent history one might say is in a major position. That however falls to the appearance of Eír, the mother to the current empress canidate.
Comments