Inustani Cultural Notes

[PriamNevhausten]

I recently decided to make a new character for Gaeran rp's, and figured an Inustani would be as good an angle to work from as any, but I found that while there was a good bit of history on the countries page, there was little in the way of cultural notes. After being informed that there were very few Inujin characters, and that Nekogami would probably be open to submissions in this regard, I took it upon myself to write up some cultural bits for Inustan. Read, and comment.

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Inustani Culture

The people of Inustan--known as Inustani, collectively--are comprised primarily of inujin, who refer to themselves as 'gente,' or 'people' in their language. The inujin have long, powerful legs built for running, long snouts with forward-pointing nostrils, smooth fur all over their entire body (of varying colors by descent), and tails--otherwise, they are very similar in body construction to a human.

In the beginnings of what would become Inustani civilization, the inujin would form tightly-knit hunting packs, travelling across their territories swiftly on their powerful legs, bursting up to 35 miles per hour on an approach of their prey. The tails were used to communicate messages silently among the pack, or 'acuerdo' (literally meaning 'pact' or 'contract'), and their forward-facing ears and sensitive olfactory functions made for effecient hunting. Unfortunately, this has left most inujin with fairly bad eyesight, when compared to humans. Towards the beginning of their civilizations, the inujin would collect teeth or small bones of their kills, as proof of valor. The teeth would be distributed among the members of the acuerdo, or, if there were only one 'trophy,' it would be given to the leader, known as the 'Lupus,' a term which has endured within the Inustani to this day.

Within the acuerdo, loyalty was the order of things. The Lupus did what was best for the acuerdo, and the rest of the acuerdo (called 'followers' in Doman, lacking a descriptor in inujin) acted on behalf of the Lupus, out of trust for his judgment. On very rare occasions, the Lupus's judgment would fall into question, and the acuerdo might call a new Lupus into power, believing the newer to have better judgment with regard to the acuerdo's welfare. In these cases, the Lupus would generally step down peacefully, in serving the will of the acuerdo. On even rarer occasions, the questioned Lupus would believe his methods to be superior regardless of the opinions of his acuerdo--in these cases--which are rarely spoken-of, out of shame--the Lupus was removed by merciless lethal force, and left to rot in the wilds, without even a Death Ceremony, or 'Usanza de Muerte.'

In this regard, females and males had fairly distinct roles. The males would do the scouting for the prey in harder times, and indicate, usually by tail motion, the location of the prey. The females would then move to surround the prey, and bring it down. Females were elected as Lupus as often as males, given a reprieve in times of pregnancy, called 'the birth period,' or 'hora de nacimiento.' In these cases, the pregnant female, though expected to keep up with the pack, was allowed to simply partake of the bounty of hunts, not necessarily needing to be part of the hunt itself (though, especially early in the pregnancy, the female would still contribute). Young were treated similarly--though expected to keep up fairly well, the acuerdo would usually slow a bit to compensate; the young usually simply watched the hunt and ate of it, not participating until their second or third year.

As the years passed, most of these ideals remained, and were adapted to advancing civilization. Small, seven-to-ten-member acuerdos banded together to form clans, presiding over larger territories, or Marks. The Lupi of the acuerdos decided a Lupus for the clan, though the acuerdo-Lupi were still allowed some influence over the proceedings of the clan. A great many clans were formed over the territory later to be called Inustan this way, and ruled for many years. Each clan eventually developed their own fur coloration, mannerisms, and, to a lesser extent, body structure. For example, the Collie clan, residing near the mountains on the west side of present-day Inustan, developed long, straight hair and strong jumping legs for survival in the mountainous terrain, whereas the Bichon clan, which ruled over the Bichon Frise river valley during this period, would develop shorter legs and fluffier fur, as a survival mechanism for their rather unique environment. This clan structure functioned for several hundred years, until circa 600, with Rastafa's conquest and the creation of Fidalupa.


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Present Day culture
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The values that the inujin held in ages past have not seen any downturn in recent times. Loyalty is still the best virtue to an Inustani, and as such, Inustani are prone to deep thought about their relations with others, especially with relevance to their own goals.

Trading is often done by credit, with the buyer's reputation prompting the seller that he is trustworthy, and will pay off the bill, monetarily or with favors, at a later date. Hard currency does exist and is acceptable for those who do not have a sufficient reputation, or when one wishes to pay one's dues, but an Inustani who abuses his capacity for credit will soon find that his reputation will precede him in a significantly less beneficial sense.

Though Inustani are a great deal more sexually free than most other races (in older times, this was a mechanism for maintaining a strong bond with one's acuerdo), marriage is indeed a well-established institution, a recognition of love as the ultimate loyalty between two citizens (regardless of gender), or, in more recent times, a citizen and an outsider. Marriage rarely causes any serious problems within society, with the Inustani's intense scrutinization of a lover before marriage, but those few who do divorce are seen with a degree of conempt and consternation for the remainder of their days, for having broken a sacred bond of trust and loyalty. Most divorcees shortly leave the country.

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More to come later:
Inugami, and the church (need some info here)
Governmental system
Crime and Punishment
Relations with other countries
Naturalization of outsiders
Daily life
Death <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"Before I ever learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch, and kick was just a kick. And then I learned about front kicks, side kicks, backfists, hammer fists...and I devoted much time to learning each kind of strike. But when I became skilled enough, I realized that a punch is just a punch, and a kick is just a kick."
--Bruce Lee (paraphrased)</span></p>Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=priamnevhausten>PriamNevhausten</A] at: 3/21/03 1:36:23 am

[Nick Shogun]

*clap*

Glad someone finally dealt with this.

[Uncle Pervy]

It should be noted that the Inustani are generally portrayed as having a good deal of Spanish in them. Thier language is Spanish, as well.

You captured the latter, not too sure about the former.

Just a Cautionary note, Our Priam, not saying you did anything wrong. ^^;

I like this stuff, by the by. <p><div style="text-align:center"> </div></p>

[LadyDragonClawsEDW]

Nice! I believe Amanda will be able to help with the religion thing also, though I'm not sure.

You planning on making a character out of all of this too?
<p>

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One hat to rule them all.</p>

[PriamNevhausten]

Eventually, yes.

And really, I based a lot of this from the information on AD&D Thri-Kreen, oddly enough, since their concepts of 'packs' and 'loyalty' seemed wonderfully parallel. I'll probably add more spanishy things once I get to a more general daily-life type bit, we'll see. <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"Before I ever learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch, and kick was just a kick. And then I learned about front kicks, side kicks, backfists, hammer fists...and I devoted much time to learning each kind of strike. But when I became skilled enough, I realized that a punch is just a punch, and a kick is just a kick."
--Bruce Lee (paraphrased)</span></p>Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=priamnevhausten>PriamNevhausten</A] at: 3/20/03 11:25:49 pm

[bunnygirle78]

wow. That was realy informative. I didn't know about them. <p>"Seek out a Kingdom worthy of your soul."

Reign the conquer.</p>

[PriamNevhausten]

Neither did I! :D! <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"Before I ever learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch, and kick was just a kick. And then I learned about front kicks, side kicks, backfists, hammer fists...and I devoted much time to learning each kind of strike. But when I became skilled enough, I realized that a punch is just a punch, and a kick is just a kick."
--Bruce Lee (paraphrased)</span></p>

[pd Rydia]

*read about half, makes mental note to read the rest later*

Yay for fleshing out! ^_^ <p>

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<span style="font-size:xx-small;">-=- "I lurk because I care." -- SuperRube
-=- "9 out of 10 lurkers agree.... this is a good place to be." -- Nakibe
-=- "Hey! No cow sex! Bad bad Pervy!" -- Taiar
-=- "And then the pixies of doom ate her brain. It was very tragic." -- White Knight
-=- "*really isn't dia and stuff* o__o;" -- WaiSenshiYuffie/Argus Devilman</span></p>

[Nick Shogun]

Yep, and I'm making an Inustani too, so this is VERY useful.

[Nekogami]

As they Inustani would say, Muy excellente.

As far as the religion goes, Inustani are very devout. You can work in some Spanish catholicism here but singing is very important sense Inustani tend be very vocal. Dancing is also important but is a apart of daily religious ritual. Religious dancing only takes place on holidays or happy events like births and marriages.

Fideleo is seen as the highest creator that embodies the purest of Inustani's best qualities: strength, intelligence, benevolence, loyalty, love, and leadership. He protects the Inustani people fiercely and bestows upon them bounty.

It is believed to do right by Fideleo, that is to be faithful and to recognize his position as the celestial creator, is to after death be joined at his side. To do ill by him, to not believe in his ability and turn away from him, is to die and have your soul wander the planes and never reach any rest.

Feel free to tweak any of the information. I feel that the work that you've put forth is ace and I don't mind you taking, ignoring, etc any of these ideas I've put down.

Priam gets: 1x dog bone <p>

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Words to live by:
OMG PRIAM: ninja sex would be neither felt nor seen by either partner
OMG PRIAM: each would just suddenly need a smoke
Choark: Good luck there. You'll have to shit out darkness and send people into oblivion.</p>

[Idran1701]

This is a really minor question, but Dia recommended I post it here. I was working on my background, and wanted to make sure: Does Inustan in general, and Hydrante specifically, have regular sea-based trade with Doma? <p>

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"Never let your morals get in the way of doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin</p>

[Nekogami]

Inustan trades regularly with Doma, Riva, Therney, and Valth. <p>

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Words to live by:
OMG PRIAM: ninja sex would be neither felt nor seen by either partner
OMG PRIAM: each would just suddenly need a smoke
Choark: Good luck there. You'll have to shit out darkness and send people into oblivion.</p>

[PriamNevhausten]

Wait. Fideleo, or Inugami? <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"Before I ever learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch, and kick was just a kick. And then I learned about front kicks, side kicks, backfists, hammer fists...and I devoted much time to learning each kind of strike. But when I became skilled enough, I realized that a punch is just a punch, and a kick is just a kick."
--Bruce Lee (paraphrased)</span></p>

[Nekogami]

Either/or but most call him Fideleo unless you're a foreigner and you don't know any better. :P <p>

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Words to live by:
OMG PRIAM: ninja sex would be neither felt nor seen by either partner
OMG PRIAM: each would just suddenly need a smoke
Choark: Good luck there. You'll have to shit out darkness and send people into oblivion.</p>

[PriamNevhausten]

So Fideleo = Inugami? <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"Before I ever learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch, and kick was just a kick. And then I learned about front kicks, side kicks, backfists, hammer fists...and I devoted much time to learning each kind of strike. But when I became skilled enough, I realized that a punch is just a punch, and a kick is just a kick."
--Bruce Lee (paraphrased)</span></p>

[PriamNevhausten]

Everything suddenly makes approximately eight point five times more sense now. *gets back to work*

edit: *resurrection!* <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"Before I ever learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch, and kick was just a kick. And then I learned about front kicks, side kicks, backfists, hammer fists...and I devoted much time to learning each kind of strike. But when I became skilled enough, I realized that a punch is just a punch, and a kick is just a kick."
--Bruce Lee (paraphrased)</span></p>Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=priamnevhausten>PriamNevhausten</A] at: 1/21/04 12:50 am

[Nekogami]

(Necromancy, this is a good thread)
<p>

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<div style="text-align:center">
Nekogami Character Pantheon--Deviant Art Gallery--LiveJournal</div>
<span style="font-size:xx-small;">Words to live by:
OMG PRIAM: ninja sex would be neither felt nor seen by either partner
OMG PRIAM: each would just suddenly need a smoke
Choark: Good luck there. You'll have to shit out darkness and send people into oblivion.</span></p>

[PriamNevhausten]

Adding a bit from the Burial Habits thread, to keep things centralized.

The Inustani gente hold a ceremony for their dead, which can last anywhere from one day to five days, depending on the number of mourners and the importance of the deceased. Magic may be used to ensure that the corpse remains intact throughout the ceremony period. Certain hymns are always sung at a Death Ceremony. More often than not, it rains during some point in the Ceremony--this unusual phenomenon is said to be Fideleo showing his approval for the ritual, and respect for the deceased. Priests have been known to cast Control Weather-type spells for this purpose, believing that if Fideleo does indeed approve of the ritual, that he will grant the spell proper functioning.

The deceased is placed into a silver coffin during this period, and at the end of the ceremony, magical adepts (at least one of which is either a city or national official, or a priest of Fideleo) surround the coffin and set it ablaze from within with a rudimentary fire spell (priests have a specialized version for the purposes of the Death Rite). This is usually performed late in the evening, and hymns are sung to the smoking coffin into the night. At the end of the lengthy ceremony period, the coffin is uprighted and opened, and the ashes are scattered to the wind (air-based spells sometimes used to assist this). The priests will clean the casket shortly thereafter, and the coffin will be reused when it is needed again.

In ages past, a clan member who was killed due to serious dishonor was denied a Death Ceremony for their transgressions. In recent history (within the past few centuries), however, this practice has been abolished--all gente are watched over by Fideleo, and though one may have committed dishonor, one still is a part of the nation--and loyalty to the nation and all its kind demands that all receive a ceremonial burial.

If an Inustani citizen dies while away, the ceremony may be performed outside of Inustan. If, however, the appropriate materials are unavailable there, it is considered acceptable to sever the left hand (as it is closest to the heart) from the deceased and burn the rest with or without a coffin, and present the hand to a priest of Fideleo at the earliest opportunity. The hand is then blessed, the town is notified of the death, and a Death Ceremony, though shorter in duration, is held to honor the deceased properly.

Outsiders who die while in Inustan may have a Death Ceremony requested for them by their next of kin, and the gente will comply most often, treating the deceased as one of their own. Should the next of kin decide against an Inustani Death Ceremony, however, they may request an alternate method of burial, and, presuming it is not disruptive, it will also be carried out by officials (though rarely will a Fidelean priest do this).

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*STAMP* Ready for induction into the Gaera Guide. <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"It's in the air, in the headlines in the newspapers, in the blurry images on television. It is a secret you have yet to grasp, although the first syllable has been spoken in a dream you cannot quite recall." --Unknown Armies</span></p>Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=priamnevhausten>PriamNevhausten</A] at: 3/23/04 4:43 pm

[Unknown]

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