Tabrani (culture)

Cultural Overview

Origins

Tabrani cultural roots can be traced back to Arkian ancestors.

Geography

The current cultural group is primarily located within the borders of Tabras, a feudal monarchy, located between the Torcastan Sea and the Darlom Mountains in Northwestern Annexea. Some enclaves of Tabrani culture exist in neighbouring foreign cities that trade with Tabras.

Language

Most people of Tabras speak the Tabrani language. Merchants and some scholars will know additional languages as required including Tabral the Tabrani and Aralian trade tongue.

Family

Structure / Size

Typical Tabrani families will include elder generations living in the same family home. A such upwards of a dozen people can be found living under the same roof, spanning as many as four generations in some cases.

Roles of Family Members

Matriarch

The eldest female being respected as a matriarch of the family, even if older males are present. Important decisions are discussed by all adults if they can affecting the entire family's fortunes.

Patriarch

Elder adult males are expected to work to provide for their family. The eldest male child of each generation will remain in possession of the family home, and usually will not move out should he marry. If younger males marry, they will usually move into a new house with their spouse.

Importance

Family, and especially mothers, are very important to Tabrani culture. It is the mothers and grandmothers who keep the history of the family intact, through telling and sharing of stories. This reverence towards mothers is such that the women of a household will always be given the opportunity to eat first from any meal prepared for the group. Insults or threats towards another person's mother are considered particularly grave, and demand a response from the offended party.

Influence

Outside of inheritances, one's family may be their only support in difficult times, and the connections one's family has can assist in finding work, or opportunities to improve one's lot.

Fostering

It can be advantageous for families to foster young children with more well to do relatives. This is often done in cases where the foster parents have few or no children of their own. Such arrangements can even lead to the foster children being declared heirs of their foster parents. Amongst the nobility the practice is a common method of politicking which can even cross outside of familial lines.

Orphans

In towns and cities where the Church of Ryla is present, orphanages are sometimes founded; providing food and shelter to lost children, a dumping ground for unwanted/politically embarrassing babies, etc. These orphans rarely find adoptive parents, but can be fostered with guild members as apprentices. An orphans lot is miserable, but beats scrounging for survival on the streets. One advantage orphans may get from such an upbringing is a church sponsored education, which may include reading and writing.

Religion

Most Tabrani people follow the Twinned Goddess religion, and many favour Ryla over Peolu.

Primary Beliefs

The cultural emphasis on motherhood is also present in the religious beliefs of the Tabrani.

• Milk Wine is an important drink during religious ceremonies, as it represents the nurturing essence of motherhood.
• Expectant mothers are believed to be able to pass on blessings of the goddess simply by touching individuals stricken with misfortune, or ailing from some chronic disease.
• As with familial structures, the church hierarchy in rural Tabras favour female clergy over males. Men are expected to perform more labour based services of faith.
• Sins by and against mothers are treated more harshly than equivalent acts by or towards other classes of people.

Religious Figures

A few important figures historically have been declared saint within the faith, and as such can be beseeched for specific requests appropriate to their sphere of influence:

List of Religious Observances

Divine Right of the Monarchy

Coronations of the monarch are always performed by a senior member of the faith, as the crown and church have strong ties, and the royal line rules at the behest of the Goddess herself.

Thanksgiving

Prayers of thanks are made before meals, no matter how insignificant.

Gris Gris

Most Tabrani wear a small leather pouch about their neck containing tokens of their trade, which includes some items for luck, or other folk charms. For farmers this includes seeds from every plant they know how to cultivate. As the Tabrani bury their dead in graves, some of these seeds may grow and graveyards become gardens. The bounty of such is considered blessed food, and reserved for the clergy of the local church, to consume or dispense as per the will of the Goddess.

Ceremonial

While secular ceremonies are observed in many cultures, for the Tabrani a religious overtone pervades even the common milestones of one's life.

Birth

Whenever practical, a member of the clergy is always present during the birthing process. To keep evil from setting upon the child or mother in their most vulnerable moment. The church of Peolu specifically ordains midwives to perform in this capacity.

Naming

Once born a child will usually be named as soon as possible. Many Tabrani have a second name which is reflective of the faith. Being secondarily named after a saint or other historical religious figure is common.

Age

Noting the passage of time in a person's life is celebrated twice per year, on their birth day and on their twin day, one half year later in the opposite season. This tradition dates back to the early Arkian practice of counting the solstices since a person's birth.

Apprenticeship

When a young person formally begins training in a trade, even if it is that of their parents a ceremony involving gifting of tools blessed for luck and good fortune occurs. This typically occurs around fourteen sols of age.

Adulthood

The age of adulthood varies with social class, but is typically between sixteen and 18 sols of age. Usually one spends most of their day receiving advice and blessings from their mother or a respected female relative, should their mother not be available.

Marriage

A couple wishing to be wed, will seeking the blessing of the spouse to be's parents, and also that of the local clergy. Weddings are seen as important secular unions, and also a commitment to grow and support a bigger family. An attendant priest will formally witness the couples promises to each other, and give prayers for health and good fortune upon the family to be. Expectant grooms, and their families, will give gifts to the family of the bride to secure the marriage. for noble marriages these bride prices can become quite expensive, and a matter of contention if more than one suitor is pursuing the same eligible maiden.

Divorce

Divorce in Tabrani culture is a serious matter, and only permitted if the church approves of the disunion.Reasons for a couple to separate may vary, but include infidelity, infertility, or abuses upon the female spouse. the divorcing male will be expected to part with half of his wealth and holdings or an equivalent price given to the female divorcee.

Death

Tabrani bury their dead after an appropriate day or two to celebrate the departed person's life. These wakes can be quite lively affairs with lots of stories, singing, and dancing. After such jubilant ceremony, the grave side ceremony is quite sombre, with prayers for the Goddess to take the departed soul into her care. Such burials occur in sanctified grounds usually attached to the local church yard, or in a nearby location.

Inheritance

When a person dies their surviving spouse receives ownership of their wealth and property. If no such spouse exists, their eldest son and daughter will split the estate equally. In the case of only sons or daughters, the eldest and second eldest will inherit equal shares. Singular children will inherit the entire estate, and for those with no children some family member will usually be named in the will of the departed instead. Parents, siblings, aunts, or uncles are common choices. Disputes of inheritance are usually resolved by the family head under consultation with the local clergy.

Diet

Food

Cultural Dishes

Gran Biscuits

A lumpy dumpling made from ground grain and legumes. Typically served with a savoury spiced fruit sauce, or herbed butters.

Persons

List of Tabrani Persons

Stories

Brawl (fifty word fantasy)

Breakout (fifty word fantasy)

Fairy Tale (fifty word fantasy)

Flower (fifty word fantasy)

Guilt (fifty word fantasy)

Potion (fifty word fantasy)

Qola and Sargus

Return (fifty word fantasy)

Savior (fifty word fantasy)

Scabbard (fifty word fantasy)

Shifting Worlds (fifty word fantasy)

Shriek (fifty word fantasy)

Spider (fifty word fantasy)

Teacher (fifty word fantasy)

Voice (fifty word fantasy)

Wand (fifty word fantasy)

Wizards (fifty word fantasy)

See Also

Tabral

Tabrani (language)

Tabrani (people)

Tabras