Yuran
Yuran culture evolved in relative isolation for much of its early history, due to Yura's secluded geography as a island. Their culture was further deeply influenced by The Fall {The Triumph}, which gave rise to many new customs and altered many others. As such, many of their cultural ideals and customs are unique on Pronis. Many Yuran customs (detailed below) are viewed as taboo by other societies, but in Yura they are seen as merely part of their rather libertine culture. Despite the secluded evolution and often odd customs of Yuran society, their pervasive trading empire and cosmopolitan markets have allowed the infusion of new ideas and ideals into the continent, some of which have blended with preexisting customs. The main core ideals of Yuran society are independence, social status/class, and the pursuit of wealth.
(For game rules see Yuran)
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Wangi, Atarah, Budiono, Wiryono, Dian, Adina
Masculine names
Winata, Tanaya, Ira, Suryadi, Surya, Raharjo
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Yuran: The most common language among average Yurans.
High Yuran: The language of the nobility and royalty, it bears a stark similarly to basic Yuran. Most of the changes are linguistically cosmetic and causes High Yuran to sound more airy and lilting.
Old Yuran/Vulgar Yuan-ti: The root language of both Yuran and High Yuran, it is a dead language, commonly only used by scholars and in academic study.
Shared customary codes and values
All Yurans share a deep code of polite conduct. Societal status is among the most important of Yuran values and thus those who maintain a higher social strata in Yura are treated with deference in correlation to their status. (This rule is not always applied to foreign nobles.) Yurans all also believe that the pursuit of wealth is not only a noble pursuit but a duty, to protect themselves, their families, and their satrapy. This goal leads into a final value shared by Yurans, independence. Yurans do not believe in liberty (indeed a large portion of their continent is enslaved) but they value autonomy and freedom from pure autocracy, which they view as oppressive and capricious.
Common Etiquette rules
Etiquette is very important to Yurans, especially in the upper echelons of society. Due to the hierarchical nature of class within Yura societal status is valued, as is politeness, and deference to those whose status is higher than your own. Inclining one's head to someone of a higher status is a common habit, as is avoiding one's gaze. Yurans generally are uncomfortable with extended direct eye contact. Finally, Yurans, on balance, are proud of their language, culture and history, and any foreigner who engages them in these subjects is treated with the utmost respect. Yurans know their language is complex to learn, so those who attempt to do so are respected for their devotion. Disrespect directed towards Yurans or their culture is seen as the highest breach of etiquette and civility possible.
Common Dress code
Social status and wealth are everything to Yurans who do their best to dress well:
Men: Men tend to dress in vibrant colors with red, blue, green and gold being the most common colors. Jewelry in the form of rings, bracelets and necklaces are popular. Due the heat Yuran men tend to dress in light fabrics, silk being the most coveted and expensive. Sandals are the most common footwear.
Women: Yuran women, as with men, tend to dress in vibrant colors with red, blue, green, and gold being the most common colors. Most women flaunt their jewelry with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, necklaces, and even small diadems being popular.
Art & Architecture
Yuran art and architecture is unique and often eclectic:
Architecture: Yuran architecture blends old and new styles, and even occasionally incorporates foreign aesthetics (primarily Eriran or Athumoran). Traditional and typical features of Yuran architecture include: the use of sandstone in most construction, tiered pyramids, stone facades, tiled domes, and pillars/minarets. Stone is by and far the most common material, even among middle-class Yurans, along with stone facades. These facades are usually fantastically carved, even among less affluent Yurans, and the expert masons who do the carvings are highly respected members of Yuran society. Due to Yura's long history and the large amount of ruins it is common for these ancient structures to play a role in Yura architecture, in one of two forms. Either the ruins will be torn down and used for materials or, more commonly, the ruins themselves will be refurbished and repaired. Yuran architecture is often built with the intent to inspire awe and many of the most important buildings in Yura are huge stone pyramids or multi-tiers palaces that rise high above the rest of the buildings around them.
Art: Yuran art, in its many forms, reflects Yuran history. Sculpture is the most highly valued art form in Yura, so stonemasons and similar artisans are greatly respected. Second only to sculpture is metalworking, and the crafting of gold and silver is also a very lucrative and prominent art and business form in Yura. Yura art as a whole is characterized by geometric patterns, calligraphy, and, when it come to painting, landscapes. Musical ability is a deeply coveted and admired talent throughout Yura, and most nobles learn at least one instrument. Yuran music is often deep, slow, and somber, though Yuran music is also known to have been described by those unfamiliar with it as "depressing brothel melodies."
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Naming: Yurans do not change their surname upon marriage. The only exception to this case happens when an individual (usually a noble) marries into a Liberated Line of a Satrap. In this instance the individual marrying into the Liberated Line changes their last name. In cases where both the individuals being wed are members of Liberated Lines then the surname correlated with the Satrapy ruled. (e.g. If a member if the Liberated Line of Tiri married a member of the Liberated Line of Kosal, and were ruling Western Lilira the Kosal's name would change to Tiri. If the aforementioned couple was ruling Arismat the Tiri's name would change to Kosal.)
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Births, for Yurans of all social groups, are considered important events. Though the pageantry associated with a birth does vary based on status all births follow the same rituals. Shortly after the baby is born it is handed to all members of the family (who are expected to attend if possible) one after another, and each places a gold coin (silver if the family is less affluent) into the newborn's crib. The child is then laid to rest on this bed of coins and the party breaks into two groups, the men go outside and the women stay inside. The married woman and women with children share advice with the new mother while outside the married men and men with children share advice with the new father. The group then merge and celebrate the new birth (this celebration varies based on family).
Coming of Age Rites
Female: Upon reaching puberty Yuran girls undergo a ceremony known as the Asiya (The Blood Proof).
Male: Upon reaching puberty Yuran males undergo a ceremony known as the Iqoshi (The Circle).
Both of these customs are common across all religions, creed, and other distinguishing features between Yurans, with the exception of race (non-humans generally do not observe the above rites). Though both rites contain a sexual component, Yurans both view and perform these rites without attaching any intimacy to the rites. This indifference is in many ways related to the Yurans rather liberal view of sex in general. Both rites are viewed as extremely taboo by most non-Yurans.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Yuran burial practices tend to vary slightly based on social status but all of them share a number of unique characteristics. Yurans do not believe in burying the dead in soil, as it is believed that a body entombed in the earth will trap the soul of the deceased. Instead most Yurans are buried in the sea. Commonly the body is wrapped in a blue shroud and weighted down with stones. The body is then left on the coast to be pulled into the ocean when the tide comes. Yurans tend to decorate their deceased with jewelry and fine clothes and thus it is customary that two family members (commonly the deceased's children or siblings) will wait with the corpse until it is swept up in the sea to prevent theft.
Common Taboos
Cannibalism: Cannibalism is considered by Yurans to be the highest form of treachery that a human can commit and, especially due to the relationship between cannibalism and snake worship, is a capital offense.
Profanity: Yurans are by nature an overly polite people and the use of profanity in polite conversation is seen as inappropriate and low-class. Due to the large emphasis placed on class most Yurans do all they can to appear upper-class.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Yuran beauty ideals place a heavy emphasis on social status and wealth:
Men: Beauty ideals for men focus primarily on the way they carry themselves and act, rather than physical features. Yuran men are excepted to be well-dressed, have excellent posture and speak fluidly.
Women: Beauty ideals for women focus primarily on the way they carry themselves and act, rather than physical features. Yuran women are excepted to be well-dressed, have excellent posture and speak fluidly. Typically women that are slightly heavier than the norm are also viewed as more attractive, though not in all cases.
Gender Ideals
Yuran gender ideals are not rigidly defined but their are a few expected roles:
Men: Men are expected to be honest, polite, and forthright. Having a calm demeanor and wit are especially highly valued ideals among men.
Women: Women are generally expected to be honest, polite and forthright. Demurity is seen as passivity and viewed negatively in general.
Courtship Ideals
Courtship ideals in Yura are shared between men and women and are quite fluid. As a libertine culture is is not at all uncommon and is often expected that couples will engage in sex during their first meeting, as a way of assessing physical and emotional compatibility. Common "dating" locations include bathhouses, restaurants, museums, and fighting arenas (the venue will strongly depend on the couple's preferences). Wealthier couples may also attend auctions or other exclusive events.
Relationship Ideals
Men: Men are expected to treat their spouse with the upmost respect. Yurans place a high emphasis on sexual intercourse and, while no means a necessity in relationships, Yurans expect men's sexual desires to be secondary to their spouses. Men are also expected to help raise the families children and help provide for the family.
Women: Women, as with men, are expected to treat heir spouse with respect. As was mentioned above, however, Yuran women's desires are elevated above that of men's in a relationship, but as a result women are expected to take the initiative (though men are by no means forbidden to do the same). Women are also expected to spend a plurality of their time with the children but are also expected to find a source of income for the family to augment that of the husbands.
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Related Myths
Languages spoken
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