Ru-Pani (culture)

Cultural Overview

Flotillas of boat dwelling Tre-Ahni, which follows the seasonal migrations of various marine animals. They are exceptional pilots and fisherfolk. Most coastal cities and towns tacitly disapprove if their nation-less culture, but do like the exotic goods they trade, so they are tolerated in small numbers. The Ru-Pani themselves are very open and welcoming of strangers who embrace their ways.

The term for a flotilla of Ru-Pani is vu s'vin - boat village, which is an accurate description of their collective lifestyle.

Origins

Even the Ru-Pani don't recall their origins, although they seem to have originated from many places at once, much like their continued practice of ethnic mixing suggests.

Some groups of these nomads have been on the Torcastan Sea for as long as the tre-ahni could sail.

Geography

Most Ru-Pani flotillas are found in the Coastal waters of the Western Torcastan Sea. Some traverse the Northern shoreline, and a few have been known to sail out the straight and into the other seas of Entorais.

Language

Each flotilla of Ru-Pani speaks a creole of the languages from where they hailed originally, or areas they frequent. The specific dialect of each vu s'vin is distinct and sometimes seem like completely foreign languages.

Family

Ru-Pani consider their whole flotilla to be one clan regardless of actual blood relations. Each boat, or ship within the flotilla will usually belong to a single family which live on that vessel.

Structure / Size

Ru-Pani families generally consist of a pair of parents, and their unmarried children. some relatives may also live with the immediate family if they lack a spouse and children of their own, or are elders who need care.

Typically a family numbers 4-6 members, although families numbering twice as many are possible.

Roles of Family Members

The parents of the family will practice the family trade (typically fishing or hunting) and teach it to their children.

Children are free to find a different trade once they reach 12 years, as then they are considered adults, and need to consider their own course.

Importance

Family is very important to the Ru-Pani. Not just the immediate parents, siblings or children, but the greater clan as well. Given the negative reactions of outsiders, having a large family that accepts and support one is vital.

Influence

Once one is an adult, they can make important decisions for themselves, but often seek the advice of their parents or other elders of their family.

The Ru-Pani value freedom, and accept that that includes a young adults right to make decisions and own the results of those choices. The family will support their own in such choices even if they fall short of expectations.

Orphans

Children are considered a blessing to the Ru-Pani, and any orphan will find a new home with another family, either blood relatives, or any family which has room on their boat to take in a new mouth to feed. This openness with taking in children has contributed to the salacious stereotype that Ru-Pani will steal stray children from towns and cities they visit; The matter is more complex than a simple truth/falsehood.

Have children been acquired by the Ru-Pani when they visit a port? Yes. Are they absolutely certain the child is an orphan when they join the Ru-Pani and sail away? No. More than one runaway has joined the sea nomads out of spite, or simply to disappear from their former life. The choice to join the flotilla is the child's to make, as the Ru-Pani value personal freedom.

Religion

Ru-Pani who were not born at sea often hold their own religious views from their time before joining. The Ru-Pani also worship, Ytrure, a benevolent sea goddess and mother figure, and many of their cultural practices revolve around her influence and protection.

Primary Beliefs

The sea provides

The Ru-Pani believe that if they respect the sea and take only what they need, that it will continue to provide for them so long as they respect this balance.

The sea takes

The sea can easily become angry and destructive. It can also will take lives even in calm waters. The Ru-Pani respect the deadly nature of the sea and return their dead to the sea.

The tide flows both ways

Ru-Pani understand that life is a cycle, but also a back and forth wash like the tide. They have lean times and times of bounty. They have happiness and sorrow. It is better to experience both, and know that neither state lasts forever, than to fight this balance.

Religious Figures

The Ru-Pani faith is not an organized religion, and therefore lacks any organized hierarchy. However someone in each flotilla will be chosen to perform specific ceremonial roles for particular occasions.

Kesiqao

A gender neutral title given to the most pious amongst a flotilla. This person will be the defacto spiritual leader of the vu s'vin and performs rites for the membership.

List of Religious Observances

Thanksgiving

Ru-Pani return the last mouthful of food from their daily meals to the sea in thanks, knowing that the sea will provide future meals in exchange.

Prayers

Ru-Pani will give prayers at sunrise and sunset asking for protection or guidance, and a giving of thanks for the blessings they have received.

Ceremonial

There are specific life events and community occasions which involve some level of celebration amongst the Ru-Pani.

Birth

The birth of a new child is a considered a happy occasion. After a day of privacy given to the immediate family, the membership of the vu s'vin will gather and greet the newborn and the parents with small gifts, tokens, or charms to welcome the newborn to the clan.

Naming

Children are named by their parents at sunset during the first day of their lives.

Adulthood

The Ru-Pani don't really pay much attention to age, beyond noting the seasons passing.

At 12 years or so, a child becomes an adult, and is gifted with some symbolic article of jewellery to denote the change in status. Usually a bracelet, or necklace.

Marriage

A marriage between two Ru-Pani is a community affair, involving a brief but formal religious ceremony followed by three days and nights of feasting and celebrating.

Divorce

Divorce is a private affair between the couple and their family. In essence a couple simply stops living together splitting the family assets between them such that neither will be destitute afterwards. Children will usually stay in the care of their mother.

Death

Funerals for the Ru-Pani are sombre affairs where the vu s'vin gather together to say goodbye to their departed member before giving the body to the sea.

Inheritance

When a Ru-Pani dies their spouse inherits their possessions. If a single-parent passes, the eldest child who does not have a boat of their own will inherit the property, and is expected to care for their younger siblings until they are old enough to move out.

Boat Launch

The official launching of a new ship or boat is a big deal for the Ru-Pani. The celebration involves the whole community regardless of the size or purpose of the vessel.

Sea Moots

When two or more groups of Ru-Pani meet-up at sea, or in port they will gather together into a larger flotilla. trading, storytelling, and other activities ensue for several days while they are together.

When they part to each sail their own ways, some families, or individual may decide to join the other vu s'vin.