Antarils (Man)
Antaril peoples inhabit the dry expanse of scrublands, savanna and hills of the Ankhare Plains, from the Shoals of Niure to the reefs of Aureon, and from Mesa Sokhare to the Ankolpre Sands. Antarils used their wits and strength of arm to maintain a resilient cultural identity despite the hostility of nearby political powers.
Antarils diverged from Antil culture, and though traces of a shared cultural heritage exist, the modern Antaril is quite distinct from the Antils of yesteryear. An increased focus on the immediate family and a relative shortage of resources, combined with technological advances, led to prosperity and security to surpass even the verdant vales of their jungle-dwelling cousins.
The height of the Antaril presence in Antarillion saw the mastery of animal domestication, the refinement of metalworking and medical practices, mastery of mud, clay, adobe and pottery, extensive use of currency, the development of short-range sailing, and a wonderful collection of oral histories and historical artefacts.
Antarillion was invaded by the Malari, significantly reducing the population of the Antarils and imparting a new fear of others, a revulsion at the practice of magic, and provoking an ongoing war between the Antarils and the demihuman races of the Malabrandi, the lizardfolk, the scorpionfolk, and the lionfolk in particular.
With the disappearance of the Malari, the Antarils repopulated and consolidated control of their territory, which lasted until the invasion of the Regals. As the Antarils were incorporated into the Regalia, their cities grew and contributed a great deal of coin, luxuries and goods to the markets of the Regalia.
With the passing of the empire, Antaril merchants, warriors and would-be rulers battle one another to unify Antarillion and head the Regalia as the centre of trade in the civilised world.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Aurolka, Malabika, Madhujamini, Banaful, Akashjila, Gajamati.
Masculine names
Auryam, Arditya, Mithin, Buburam, Bhojraj, Akhil, Akan.
Family names
Bhashkar, Ganagaadhu, Grihamani, Jayanand, Kanchandhi, Ankusum.
Other names
It is not uncommon for Antarils, especially particularly successful ones, to take virtue names to represent themselves in business and in formal situations. In the modern day, these names are chosen specifically in the Common Regal tongue to better represent the bearer in the multicultural society. Examples of these include; Fortitude, Generosity, Resilience, Governance, Concordance, Honour, Illumination, Silence.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Shared customary codes and values
As the acquisition of wealth and power is a driving motivation in Antaril culture, the giving of gifts is a delicate exchange. Gifts perceived as charity are often taken as insults, and gifts that are meagre shame the giver. A gift given by Antarils is lavish and given only on special occasions.
Average technological level
Major technologies of the Antarils include adobe, animal domestication, brickmaking, ceramics, currency, dyeing, glassmaking, metallurgy, medicine, sailing, stepwells, tailoring, terracotta, telescopes.
Common weapons for Antarils include the ballam, a spear with two curved points that could be used to fling stones or other medium-sized ammunition, the kantaka, a unique scourge fashioned from many pliant and flexible rods with serrations along each length and thorny spikes or hooks at each tip, the kukri, an inwardly curved knife, and the pata, a rigid gauntlet with a long blade emerging from the clenched fist. A kirpan knife is common to adherents of the warrior deity Aurelius Primus, worn as a common article of faith.
Common Dress code
Loose tunics of light fabrics and animal-pelt skirts are the outfit of choice for most Antaril men day to day, with the colour and pelt suggesting varying degrees of social status. These are often accented with leather belts, and ropes of wooden beads, polished coral or bone, or pearls.
When travelling, a thick anchik cloak covers the wearer's shoulders and drapes around their arms and back to provide cover from the sun while leaving the arms free to move. Anchik are generally made from layered cloth, but in the rainy season, a waterproof variant is worn; the abaranja cloak is made from cured leather padded with cloth, or the alakatara cloak is made more cheaply, from coarse, tarred cloth.
Working class women dress in similar tunics, though they also wear mantles of cloth or pelt, and more elaborate skirts of very thin fabrics in a variety of colours, or alternatively, the traditional shari. These are often accented in fine metal chains, pendants, charms and assorted jewellery.
Wealthier women wear lighter dresses in a variety of colours and styles, including the billowing arms, bust and back and tapering leg of the churidaar, the sheathed skirt and flaring mantle of the neriyathum, or the traditional but versatile twists and drapes of the shari. These are always accented with perfumes, metal jewellery, and pearls, corals, flowers, feathers and pelts as the wearer prefers.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Antarils celebrate the life and mourn the passing of men and women by holding a memorial feast called a jibanshah, though the deceased is considered to be the host.
The funerary pyre is the centrepiece of the event, piled wood built up high to support the cleaned and peaceful body of the deceased, or a roughly life-sized replica made from bundles of their bedding and clothing if the body is missing.
On one side of the pyre, where the guests enter from, is a table or dais on which gifts for the host are laid out, given by every man in attendance. These gifts are collected by the family of the host after the event.
On the other side, or sometimes surrounding the pyre on all sides, are the feasting tables. While the body is cremated, the guests feast and drink in the host's hospitality, and offer recollections of their words and deeds, compliments, regrets and apologies.
Common Taboos
Some locations are considered taboo by the Antarils; namely, the great mesas of the eastern, central and western deserts, and the entirely of the jungle. These places are associated with the Malari invasion, and are considered to be the territory of the Malabrandi.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Strength and charisma in both sexes is expressed through feats of athleticism, bravery or endurance, especially in capturing or defeating an animal, or overcoming some natural force.
Gender Ideals
Antarils recognise only two genders which they derive from physical sex, though eunuchs exist in what may be considered to be a third gender role.
Males are expected to provide for and protect their communities, and though in ancient times this meant hunting and fighting, in the modern day, this extends to just ensuring the family is well-fed and comfortable, and the community well-defended. This broad social obligation regards traders and craftsmen as masculine if they are successful and spend their money to fulfil these goals.
Females are expected to assist their families in achieving physical and financial security in whatever manner necessary, though the involvement of women in traditionally masculine pursuits such as military service or manual labour is seen as something of a failure of the woman's male relations.
Eunuchs are purchased as slaves, or taken through force from raids on enemy encampments, sometimes from a young age. These unfortunate people are cast as servants, labourers, housekeepers, and objects, and are often displayed casually to demonstrate the wealth or combat skill of their owner.
Courtship Ideals
Women are not required to leave the family home, and as such, it is difficult to engage in courtship with young men without deliberate effort. The men of a family will generally arrange visits from friends, meetings with preferred suitors, or in some cases, marriage proposals with the intention of providing an acceptable match for the woman in question.
In many families, the woman has the right to decline to meet with, or reject entirely, any such arrangement, however the developed female dependence on male family members puts any such woman in a potentially difficult situation if her family wishes to force the matter.
Relationship Ideals
Antarils practice polygyny in pursuit of and as a demonstration of prosperity and security, with the onus of achieving these goals placed squarely upon the man.
Many ordinary folk marry only one woman, and must provide for her and for any children that result from the union. Sometimes, these men marry again later in life, be it for love, that they are better able to provide for their family, or because the woman in question would be an asset to the household or business he operates.
Wealthy or successful men are expected to have several wives as soon as possible, and these women tend to be chosen based on politics or on appearance as they are not expected to contribute any labour to the household (especially with eunuchs available to shoulder that burden).
This creates something of a schism between social classes, as well-off women emphasise social graces and appearances, and often operate independently of their husband, while poorer women emphasise practical skills and trades, and are often completely dependent on their husband.
Parent ethnicities
Diverged ethnicities
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