Ta Atoua
People & Places
Capital: Al Qura, the Unconquered City.
Language: Greek, Egyptian, African.
Naming Conventions: Earned Title, Family Name, Given Name.
Ex: Theron (the hunter) Sudani Thabit
Government: Military Dictatorship, formerly representative republic, but a military coup was launched during the Long Dark which overthrew the few representatives present.
Current Ruler: Supreme General.
Politics: Military dictates supported by the clergy.
Exports: Grain and farm animals, rough fabrics, limited trade of weapons and armor.
Imports: Luxury goods for the military elite and priesthood, oil.
Currency: Military scrip, minted coins, mostly for foreign trade.
Geography: Plains.
Climate: Long warm growing season, temperate winters.
Physical Appearance: Dark skinned, dark, curly hair, dark eyes.
Clothing Styles: Functional and rough spun, light armors common attire.
Personal Hygiene: Tightly bound hair, men usually clean shaven, tattoos common.
Diet: Grains, fish and herd animals, beer.
Cultural Taboos: Disrespecting one's superiors. Formerly treating one's servants poorly, though that has become more common since the military coup.
Proper Greeting: Coming to attention when approaching one's superiors, a deep handshake between friends.
Recreational Activities: Music, games of chance and strategy, with or without gambling.
Arts/Architecture: Function over form, little in the way of artwork, mostly military related, some stonework and music, largely horns and drums, though other instruments are gaining in popularity.
Family Structure: All children of citizens trained from a young age in warfare. Indentured servants formerly raised by their families for service, now more tightly controlled as virtual slave labor.
Social Structure: Military hierarchy supported by slave labor. a formerly freedman manufacturing middle class has been largely absorbed into the military structure and driven by re-enslaved labor.
Marriage: Marriages are a matter of convenience, children are largely raised in the military academy.
Sexuality: Sexuality is a matter of personal preference. Prostitution is a matter of course, though it is more an issue of dominance than sex.
Education: Trained by the state for whatever roll is required.
Common Methods of Transport: Mostly on foot, some beast of burden pulled wagons, limited horses, though cavalry is becoming more common.
Legal System and Punishments: Harsh military punishments, either jail, maiming or hard labor, or death.
Military: Virtually every citizen is trained in warfare. Standard armament is a one hand spear and shield, with a short sword as a infighting weapon. Throwing spears and slings are the primary ranged weapons, with bows being a foreigner’s weapon. armor depends on deployment, with most soldiers wearing reinforced leather, chain or scale, line soldiers wearing heavier lamellar.
Religion: Monotheistic god, creator and destroyer. Once the priests threw their support behind the military during the early stages of the coup, it was believed that the Long Dark was a test to weed out the weak. The destruction of the legislature and the ascendance of the military is seen as a sign of God’s favor. Prayers before and after battle are normal, with trophies taken from fallen foes given to the church as an offering to God.
Burial Rituals: Those who die while on active duty are buried in a plot of land with their companions. Many who retire often choose to be buried there as well.
Animals of Significance: The great cats of the Ta Atouan homeland have always been a symbol of strength. An unknown number were brought to the new world, many of which have since escaped and begun to form packs in the fertile grasslands of Nyasia.
Practice of Divination: Haruspex, the reading of entrails, is most commonly practiced in the Unconquered City.
View of Magic: A danger to society unless its wielder shows the proper discipline, in which case it could be a great asset.
View of other cultures:
Skenden: A rough but solid people, they are too far away hiding in their snowy wilderness to come to anything.
Minzoku: A stable people, if lacking in the pragmatism that could bring them to true greatness.
Oami: To be ignored. Nothing useful could come of such a people.
Dascean: They could be useful, though they lack the unity to truly accomplish much of note.
Ash-Sh'b: A clever people, and not to be trifled with, though not serious enough to be a threat.
Free Isles: Criminals, all. No threat, but they should consider themselves lucky we are more focused on the stability of our new nation than plunging them all into the sea.
Language: Greek, Egyptian, African.
Naming Conventions: Earned Title, Family Name, Given Name.
Ex: Theron (the hunter) Sudani Thabit
Government: Military Dictatorship, formerly representative republic, but a military coup was launched during the Long Dark which overthrew the few representatives present.
Current Ruler: Supreme General.
Politics: Military dictates supported by the clergy.
Exports: Grain and farm animals, rough fabrics, limited trade of weapons and armor.
Imports: Luxury goods for the military elite and priesthood, oil.
Currency: Military scrip, minted coins, mostly for foreign trade.
Geography: Plains.
Climate: Long warm growing season, temperate winters.
Physical Appearance: Dark skinned, dark, curly hair, dark eyes.
Clothing Styles: Functional and rough spun, light armors common attire.
Personal Hygiene: Tightly bound hair, men usually clean shaven, tattoos common.
Diet: Grains, fish and herd animals, beer.
Cultural Taboos: Disrespecting one's superiors. Formerly treating one's servants poorly, though that has become more common since the military coup.
Proper Greeting: Coming to attention when approaching one's superiors, a deep handshake between friends.
Recreational Activities: Music, games of chance and strategy, with or without gambling.
Arts/Architecture: Function over form, little in the way of artwork, mostly military related, some stonework and music, largely horns and drums, though other instruments are gaining in popularity.
Family Structure: All children of citizens trained from a young age in warfare. Indentured servants formerly raised by their families for service, now more tightly controlled as virtual slave labor.
Social Structure: Military hierarchy supported by slave labor. a formerly freedman manufacturing middle class has been largely absorbed into the military structure and driven by re-enslaved labor.
Marriage: Marriages are a matter of convenience, children are largely raised in the military academy.
Sexuality: Sexuality is a matter of personal preference. Prostitution is a matter of course, though it is more an issue of dominance than sex.
Education: Trained by the state for whatever roll is required.
Common Methods of Transport: Mostly on foot, some beast of burden pulled wagons, limited horses, though cavalry is becoming more common.
Legal System and Punishments: Harsh military punishments, either jail, maiming or hard labor, or death.
Military: Virtually every citizen is trained in warfare. Standard armament is a one hand spear and shield, with a short sword as a infighting weapon. Throwing spears and slings are the primary ranged weapons, with bows being a foreigner’s weapon. armor depends on deployment, with most soldiers wearing reinforced leather, chain or scale, line soldiers wearing heavier lamellar.
Religion: Monotheistic god, creator and destroyer. Once the priests threw their support behind the military during the early stages of the coup, it was believed that the Long Dark was a test to weed out the weak. The destruction of the legislature and the ascendance of the military is seen as a sign of God’s favor. Prayers before and after battle are normal, with trophies taken from fallen foes given to the church as an offering to God.
Burial Rituals: Those who die while on active duty are buried in a plot of land with their companions. Many who retire often choose to be buried there as well.
Animals of Significance: The great cats of the Ta Atouan homeland have always been a symbol of strength. An unknown number were brought to the new world, many of which have since escaped and begun to form packs in the fertile grasslands of Nyasia.
Practice of Divination: Haruspex, the reading of entrails, is most commonly practiced in the Unconquered City.
View of Magic: A danger to society unless its wielder shows the proper discipline, in which case it could be a great asset.
View of other cultures:
Skenden: A rough but solid people, they are too far away hiding in their snowy wilderness to come to anything.
Minzoku: A stable people, if lacking in the pragmatism that could bring them to true greatness.
Oami: To be ignored. Nothing useful could come of such a people.
Dascean: They could be useful, though they lack the unity to truly accomplish much of note.
Ash-Sh'b: A clever people, and not to be trifled with, though not serious enough to be a threat.
Free Isles: Criminals, all. No threat, but they should consider themselves lucky we are more focused on the stability of our new nation than plunging them all into the sea.