Qulani (culture)
From World of Entorais Wiki
Cultural Overview
- The Qulani live primarily in sub-subterranean caves and tunnel complexes. The resource scarcity of such an environment has shaped their culture into a close-knit community, where mutualism and community property is the norm..
Origins
- The Qulani were once surface dwelling Treahni, but have shifted away from their earlier roots to adapt to their chosen environment over the millennia spent underground.
Geography
- The Majority population of Qulani live in the Darlom Mountains. A smaller population migrated to the Sildar Mountains after a historical split between to major clans many centuries ago. A single clan of Qulani dwell inside the slopes of the volcano Shar Bol on Ra Hiem in Iskander. Small insular communities can be found in Treahni towns near their respective mountain territories.
Language
Family
Structure / Size
- Qulani families live communally in multi-generational aggregates. Due to low-birthrates there are usually only a few children born to each pair.
Roles of Family Members
- Families participate in communal decision making, with deference to older and more experienced family members.
- Older children assist with the rearing and care for their younger siblings and cousins.
- Parents are the primary providers for their children until they reach the age of maturity.
Importance
- Qulani familial bonds are as strong as many other cultures. Additionally given the communalist lifestyles and the low birth rates, the attachment to family members extends beyond the immediate family and includes extended family out to third cousins or more distant relations. Smaller communities may see themselves as a singular family, with an all for one, one for all attitude.
Influence
- Familial connections will often dictate one's career options, political alliances, and opportunities for growth and prosperity.
Orphans
- Given the extensive family connections of the Qulani, those who are orphaned will be fostered by their aunts and uncles, as though they were their own children. Such fosterlings are treated equally to those born of the union and have the same rights and obligations.
Religion
- The Qulani have no unified religion. However, they might adopt the faith of other Treahni where cultures mix.
- As far as having spiritual beliefs, the Qulani revere the mountains themselves for providing them a home since the times before they became a subterranean species.
Primary Beliefs
- Living a life underground requires a certain level of fortitude and understanding of the dangers such an environment may contain.
- While the Qulani do not hold to the belief that the planet, or the mountains themselves, are entities in their own right, they hold some animistic beliefs regarding elemental spirits which inhabit their world.
Religious Figures
- Stonespeakers
- Some Qulani find themselves capable of sensing and communicating with the spirits of the world around them. Those with such affinity find themselves in the roles of intermediaries between their fellow Qulani and the invisible spirits.
List of Religious Observances
- Departing
- A blessing for safe travels, and success on the journey for any group of Qulani, or visitor upojn there departure from the community for however long they may be absent.
- Homeblessing
- When creating new habitation space, Qulani will beseech the local spirits in the area to keep the new home safe and stable. Clean water, structurally sound rock, comfortable temperatures, and dynamic fresh airflow are common requests.
- Welcoming
- A small ceremony given when strangers arrive at, or family that has been absent for a time returns to the community. The point of this is to let the community know, that these individuals mean no harm, and are to be considered safe.
Structure
- There is not structure or institution to this system of beliefs. Those who can speak with the spirits simply hold an extra role in the community, and may be treated with some additional respect in the community, but hold no secular authority, or power beyond that role.
- Those with more experience will guide and train younger and less experienced stonespeakers.
Ceremonial
- Like other cultures, the Qulani mark milestones of one's life journey with customs and celebrations.
Birth
- Qulani
Naming
Age
Apprenticeship
Adulthood
Marriage
Divorce
Death
Inheritance
Diet
Food
- Qulani diets include both animal and plant based foods.
Cultural Dishes
- Mushrooms and meat are commonly paired in many dishes.
Spice / Flavours
- Qulani food tends to favour a salty and sweet notes.
Drink
Non-Alcoholic
- Fruit juices, nectar, and milk are common, as are various teas.
Alcohol
- Culturally, the Qulani tend to avoid alcohol. Although where they mix with other cultures, wines, cider, mead, or brandies are favoured over beers, or hard spirits.
Fashion
- Qulani wear little clothing in their home environments. What little they do wear is typically form fitting garments crafted of a utilitarian nature, providing protection.
Textiles
- Leather, typically crafted from tanned hides and skins.
- Some woven fabrics, typically wool or luaj, are employed for clothing worn when outside of their subterranean homes.
Dyes
- The Qulani do not use dyes for their clothing as a aesthetic choice, they simply do not see the need for colours beyond the natural colours of the materials themselves.
Embellishments
- Any embellishment of clothing highlights textural qualities over visual. Beads, knots, braiding, and embossing are favoured over other options.
Outfits
- What clothes a Qulani wears will reflect their needs based on activity they are engaged in.
Daily by Class
- Given the apparent lack of social strata beyond the generational, most clothing is a direct reflection of one profession.
Ceremonial
- The Qulani do not dress for ceremonial purposes.
Regalia
- The Qulani do not wear any particular regalia.
Jewellery
- Qulani jewellery is typically low profile trans-dermal, or sub-dermal body piercings which highlight textural elements over the visual.
- Materials used include semi-precious stones, precious metals, bones, glass, and stone.
Scarification
- Given the tactile component of most Qulani art and communication, Instead of adorning themselves with make-up or tattoos, they practice textural scarification. Small bumps, and ridges of raised scar tissue serves as a decorative and personal expression of the individual. Such decoration is often on the face and head, although more intimate markings may adorn the neck, arms, legs, chest and back.
