Vocanei (culture)

Cultural Overview

Vocanei are considered beneath slaves and slightly above animals in Waejir, as such they mostly adopt the culture of their masters.

Origins

According to legend the Vocanei were given to Waejirans at the fabled city of Vocadun, a ruin lost in the sands of the southern desert. Now they are exclusively bred by the Waejiran Breeders Guild.

Geography

Vocanei originate within the Waejiran empire. Few Vocanei exist beyond the empires borders, and to date no one is breeding them outside of the empire.

Language

Voh-Kah-Wu

Vocanei have their own language, Voh-Kah-Wu, a hybrid verbal and sign language. This language allows for two informational content streams to be conveyed through simultaneously. What is said, and what is signed may differ or inform upon each other to form a much more complex message.

Waejirnimawu

Vocanei are capable of learning treahni languages, and most understand a limited vocabulary of Waejirnimawu. Due to the anatomical differences they cannot form all the same sounds as a treahni speaker, but manage a level of fluency which is intelligible speech, even if limited.

Family

Vocanei are whelped and trained at kennels of the Breeders Guild, they have no contact with their parent figures and do not form such familial bonds outside of the gifted memories from their parents at conception.

Structure / Size

Vocanei do find themselves amongst other vocanei in the employ of their masters and will form loose hierarchies generally mimicking the social hierarchy of their respective masters within the treahni household. The number of vocanei associated with a particular treahni family is usually about one vocanei per treahni although particularilly wealthy masters may have a few additional vocanei serving in bodyguard or messenger roles in addition to their regular companions.

Importance

To vocanei the bond with their treahni master is paramount. They live to serve this single person. Once their needs are met, the Vocanei is free to socialize with their peers amongst the family's other vocanei. Vocanei of the same brood parents may feel some connection to each other if they continue to be in contact. However, it is a weaker connection than the master servant bond which is bred and trained into them.

Religion

Vocanei have no religion of their own, but may adopt the beliefs of their master. Presently they are not considered a people proper, and are not given the same rights as treahni slaves regarding freedom of worship.

A few unusual members of the species have found a religious calling in recent years and have begun formal training at the temples of Silat and Raitha in Jaedur.

Ceremonial

Vocanei do not typically mark events in their lives with any ceremonies. Waejirans have a number of regular patterns to their interactions with Vocanei which serve as stand ins.

Birth

Vocanei are hatched in broods by the Breederss Guild, and the brood will be culled down to about half a dozen. This selection is up to the individual breeder, usually based on physical health, appearance, and emerging personality traits. Such is the first ten-day of their lives.

Naming

Vocanei have personal names which are given to them by their mothers during egg laying. In many cases they are permitted to retain this name out of convenience.

Age

Vocanei will be presented as a gift to noble children on their third birthday (6 sols). The vocanei in this case is usually less than a sol in age themselves. Given the shortened lifespan of a vocanei they will remain the companion of their noble master until adulthood living about ten to fifteen years.

Death

Vocanei who die serving a master will be cremated and remembered in a small ceremony attended by the master and their family.

Inheritance

Living vocanei can and will be inherited when their master dies, as such they become the property of their new master.

Diet

Vocanei are near exclusive carnivores, eating a wide variety of protein rich meats, fish, and poultry.

Food

Vocanei eat their meat raw. They can eat cooked foods, but can suffer health issues if not given fresher uncooked meats.

Cultural Dishes

While not culturally specific, the variety of foods offered to vocanei will vary with the locally available options. Fish where available, small game, or poultry is common, and generally the scraps from butchering larger animals. Organ meats and offal are considered treats given occasionally as available.

Spice / Flavours

Vocanei have little tolerance for spices, and do not require such expensive embellishment.

Drink

Vocanei will drink water, milk, or blood.

Drugs

Vocanei Herb

There is a wild plant known in Waejir to only affect Vocanei as a narcotic and euphoriant. As such this plant is illegal to grow or sell within Waejir.

Fashion

Vocanei do not express themselves through fashion, but will wear utilitarian harnesses or armour as appropriate for their duties.

Textiles

Typically leather, or course woven fibres.

Dyes

Harnesses may be dyed to reflect the house colours of their master or guild.

Embellishments

Badges, or other ornamentation may be included to further define the ownership of an individual vocanei.

Leisure Activities

Vocanei are working companions, and get little down time to themselves.

Sports

Vocanei may engage in boisterous physical play with each other, often taking the form of racing, or wrestling. Such activity seldom seems to have organized rules.

Games

Vocanei may learn games typical of a treahni child, and sometimes play along with their masters.

Social Gatherings

Vocanei will socialize and gossip with each other when they get the opportunity. However they are unlikely to engage in such activity when on duty, or betray their masters with idle gossip amongst strangers.

Arts

Vocanei in general do not express a unique culture through artistic pursuits.

Dance

Vocanei may be trained to dance if their masters are so inclined, such activity is generally considered work, but capable vocanei may practice on their own time, and develop a personal style for their own entertainment.

Gymnastics

Like dancing, trained expertise in agility is up to the individual master, and vocanei so employed will practice their skills in private or before an audience as appropriate.

Music

Vocanei have a limited musical talent, but may be trained on simple instruments.

Singing

Vocanei voices are more suited to rhythmic chanting than melodic singing.

Percussion

Vocanei can and will drum on various instruments as allowed by their masters.

Strings

Vocanei hands and manual dexterity are ill suited to stringed instruments, but it is possible to train them to play some simple lyres or harps and the like.

Wind

Vocanei mouths are ill suited to wind instruments.

Painting

Vocanei can be taught how to paint, but will seldom engage in such activity spontaneously.

Sculpture

Vocanei can sculpt or carve simple forms, however the aesthetic value of such creations is limited.

Time

Vocanei have a odd sense of time, given the racial memories they inherit from their parents, they can experience mild dissociation if not kept busy in the present.

Timekeeping

Vocanei do not keep track of time in any reasonable manner, other than the patterns kept by their masters.

Daily Routine

A companion vocanei's daily routine is focused on their masters routine. They accompany their masters everywhere, and do what is asked or required of them throughout the day.

Timeline

200-150 BWR - The first Vocanei are given to the Waejiran people by the gods at Vocadun.

123 WR - Vocanei Breeders Guild established to control and refine the breeding of Vocanei.

622 WR - Ekia Silveia Dendreius Convoceius starts to advocate for Vocanei to have rights as a people.

Persons

List of Vocanei Persons

Stories

Dog (fifty word fantasy)

Master (fifty word fantasy)

Name (fifty word fantasy)

Sleep (fifty word fantasy)

See Also

Voh-Kah-Wu

Vocanei (people)

Waejiran (culture)