Alluran Culture

• Membership: Denizens of Allura Region, Selaphae.
• Language: Illaren, Sirraph, and other related languages common.
• Lifestyle:
  • Home/Family Unit: Families, often single generational + offspring.
  • Social Structure: Magicians and religious figures given status. No separation of church & government.
  • Religion: Psilinism
• Culture:
  • Art: Carvings and engravings, particularly in marble and other stones.
  • Themes: Birds, magic, theology. Decorative glyphs or feathered patterns common.
  • Fashion: Dramatic, thick jackets and robes, frequent embellishments. Gloves and gauntlets of high importance.
  • Cuisine: Meads, smoked meats [expansion needed]

• Quirks:

  • Mummification: Members are mummified on death. Those of status mummified in amber or alchemical resins.
  • Necromancy: Socially acceptable, often used for preservation. Some extension of life.

  Defined most by their long-lived inhabits, the Selaphae, the boreal Allure Forests and surrounding regions have been home to cultures and communities that are forever in a pursuit of perfection. Societies are built on the premise of finding one thing to excel at, and to devote decades to its craft; and for those magically gifted, find themselves blessed to perfect the divine arts.

Most Alluran societies are theocratic, as much of their culture is tied tightly to their religious beliefs that associate magic with the divine - and as such those that can use magic are immediately of status, particularly those that combine their studies with religious practices. Every individual, magical or otherwise, is expected to discover and built a sense of superiority in their craft. Their magicians, their craftsmen, their combatants - it's considered often wasteful to not use all the time to truly become experts in their chosen field.

While this leads to exceptional practitioners, they are often in outdated methods or technologies. It was many decades before the Alluran people even considered adapting to the rifle over the bow no matter its superiority, as the sheer talent and skill of their archers allowed them to out-perform modern weapons. Their societies perfect existing or old technologies through expert use, rather than adopting modern technologies. They often compete with modern technologies through magical improvements over old designs, from enchanted smokepowder rifles to spirit-enchanted carriages.

Of particular interest to many other cultures however is the Alluran tradition of mummification, which has progressed even into modern times; tradition indicates that individuals should be preserved and kept, particularly those of status or skill in efforts to preserve their experiences and knowledge. Necromancy has even been seen as a valid and respected discipline of magic, though its use is strongly controlled. Typically, people are mummified in shrouds and kept in great vaults across Alluran nations, preserved for eternity; however those of status or wealth are mummified and preserved in amber or even alchemically created materials, preserving them more perfectly. The various kings and religious leaders are often displayed in throne rooms, where they can watch over the progress of their societies forever onwards.

Their perceptions of magic, tradition, and perfection however is challenged by the existence of a particular Selaphae subrace, the Tarim. While a larger-than-normal proportion of Selaphae can be magicians, suggesting the species is blessed - the fact all Tarim can use magic, and look as darkened or corrupted Selaphae has lended their culture to treat them as beneficiaries of unholy blessings, worsened by the fact Tarim are born from Selaphae at random rather than being a genetic trait. Over history, many individuals of status have suffered immense social ruin as it's discovered they've given birth to a Tarim child.