Haerth Tar'ran Culture


Society, Mores, and Behaviour

 

Two Very Useful Concepts

 

 

Act Your Age

 

Unlike the current day, this is a society with little segregation of ages, but there is consequently an enforcement of taboos vs. sex widely outside ones "age-band". There is also nothing like the current day's "youth culture". While children are cherished, they don't have much autonomy, wealth, power, or prestige. Typically, age-bands are seen thus:

 

 

Taboos & Prejudices

 

The biggies: incest, cannibalism (defined as eating Humaniti). Taboos against such things are much stronger than in the present day: if someone were to make a joke on these subjects in the Kingdom, it wouldn't provoke nervous laughter- it would provoke violence. Other unsavory activities are highly scrutinized and regarded with some official suspicion as well: necromancy and demonology (trafficking with demons). These activities are analogous w/ owing fully automatic firearms or "sawed-off" shotguns in the present day- it can be done legally, but it takes a real effort, and you are liable to end up on the government's list of usual suspects if something interesting happens in your neighborhood.

 

Blood is Special

 

Blood is not itself taboo, but is so magically significant that when you deal with it, you become contaminated, and may need a ritual cleansing before doing some religious/ ceremonial magics. Also, some cults are less blood-shy than others, or may just make contamination an issue for the Priests and Initiates.

 

Gender

 

For the most part, there is a high degree of equality between the genders. This is not to say that women aren't more likely to be the nurturers and men more likely to be the protectors. What you will find is a great deal of acceptance of people of either gender in most roles. Women can certainly own property, rule a fief or demesne, manage a business, fight wars, etc. In fact, most TyrNai women are trained in fighting (at least for self protection) as a matter of course.