Sikíronians
Sikíronians is a general term for the inhabitants of the Sikíron Empire as a whole, a majority of which are humans or half-elves as well as more distinct groups such as Tanikaz-dwarves, Narsians and Azókani.
At the top is the royal family and old, distinguished clans, with other wealthy families forming a less distinguished part of the aristocracy. Most generals and elite cavalry belong to the latter, identified by a special gold ring on their left hand.
Members of the lower class belong to one of six ranks depending on their wealth and status within the military; those of first rank can afford a horse as well as basic weapons and arms, while the very poor belonging to sixth rank usually serve as rowers in times of war. Among the middle ranks are farmers, craftsmen, artists, teachers and shop owners.
Slavery is practiced to some degree within the empire, with different roles depending on where they live; slaves in towns and cities usually cook, clean and care for the children of the wealthy, or moving things around at harbors and workshops, while rural slaves mostly work in mines or villas. It's not uncommon for loyal and hardworking slaves to be granted freedom, and slaves can ask permission to open shops so they can eventually buy their freedom.
Freedmen- and women belong to the lowest ranks of sikíronian society, with fewer rights than most, but their children are considered full citizens.
Even the clothing of royalty differs little from that of commoners aside from materials and dyes. Most people try to wear something blue, even if its just decorative edges or stripes, as its believed to keep evil powers away.
Most professional athletes follow one of two common diets within the empire; a traditional one based on bread, fresh cheese and dried fruits, and a newer one focusing on meat consumption. Followers of the Ahaþrysian diet, eating nothing but fruit, are infamous for their horrid body odor.
The most common drink within the Sikíron Empire is sour wine mixed with water and some spices. Undiluted wine is popular in the western regions, sometimes mixed with spices or even perfumes, though this is widely frowned upon. Mead is commonly consumed along the southern border and among Narsians, ale is popular on the Meldon Plain, while the Tanikaz-dwarves of Gedirkía drink borrol, a mixture of wine and milk.
Þúrian wine from Marissía to the south is popular among the aristocracy, which flavoured with saltwater, tar and pine resin, and the royal family sometimes enjoys so called Paþarían wine which contains ground barley and shredded goat cheese.
Most of the population must make do with self-taught healers (who mostly rely on traditional medicine, charms and sometimes healing magic) or by visiting temples dedicated to healing deities.
Members of the aristocracy are generally responsible for venerating major deities at their respective temples, although those of lower stature are allowed to do so as well at smaller shrines, if they have good reputation. Each of the mysteries has its own rules, the Telían Mysteries are only open to sailors' wives and widows, for example.
God of war, rain and thunderstorms, often depicted holding a silver spear. Those struck by a lightning are said to be blessed by the god, becoming one of his warriors upon death. Alarus' priests offer a horse of a specific colour to the god at the end of each month, usually a gift from a prominent family to earn the god's favour. After sacrificing the horse via sacred spear, the tail is removed and used to spatter blood on the audience to bless them. In Seylis, according to a custom predating Zameltonía, the horse's head is fixed on a spike and paraded around the city before being burned at the Alarus' altar.
God of the sky and patron deity of the empire, usually depicted as a phoenix, less often as a man with the head or wings of a bird. He's associated with the primordial bird, whose battle with a primordial serpent shaped the world into its current form.
Goddess of magic and healing or, more accurately, an amalgamation of a various local goddesses with similar roles throughout Nemirkía and the Meldon Plain. She's often depicted holding a magic staff in one hand and some medicinal plants in the other, with either snakes for hair or -less often- hair twisted into numerous braids. Elevía is painted on walls and shields to keep evil spirits at bay, some even sport tattoos of her image for the same purpose.
A fertility god and protector of the ruling emperor and empress, usually depicted as a minotaur holding one of his horns as a cornucopia, or simply as a bull. His worship spread from Góalanis through the kadríans, and was officially sanctioned by Ástía, first ruler of the Sikíron Empire (who was a kadrían herself). While Alkoníus is revered by the aristocracy, Fanasíus is adored by the common people of the empire.
Goddess of the moon and sea, often depicted wearing a hooded cloak which obscures her face, or as a mermaid.
God of the sun and agriculture, originally depicted as a centaur but now as a man wearing a golden armour and wreath, often riding a pegasus. Farmers offer a portion of their first crops to the god as thanksgivings.Cult of Ásaríus (centered in and around Krelissía)
Cult of Kúlsus (restricted to Ahaþrys)
Cult of Sarketus (restricted to Kóteran Peninsula)
Falcon Oracles (centered at a sacred spring on Alkons Hill in Gedirkía)
Hirpesían Mysteries (mostly found on the Meldon Plain)
Oracles of Terlataníanus (found in the marshes at the Helkan river delta)
Snake Oracles (found in a few cities, including Gedirkía)
Telían Mysteries (coastal settlements throughout the empire)
Soldiers and many famous people are cremated, their urns placed in monuments along prominent roads and crossroads, while members of wealthier families are placed in family tombs in country villas. Emperors and empresses are the only people permitted to be buried within Gedirkía, as they are believed to reach apotheosis after death and thus their remains don't count as ritually impure. They are laid to rest in a tomb at the base of Alkons Hill, where offerings are burned on an altar using sanctified torches and a nearby sacred flame.
Society
In general, sikíronian society is divided into an upper class on one hand, and a lower class on the other, with former further divided into two ranks and the latter into six. While this system resembles that of the old Paþarían Empire, it allows for social mobility, which the older one lacked entirely.At the top is the royal family and old, distinguished clans, with other wealthy families forming a less distinguished part of the aristocracy. Most generals and elite cavalry belong to the latter, identified by a special gold ring on their left hand.
Members of the lower class belong to one of six ranks depending on their wealth and status within the military; those of first rank can afford a horse as well as basic weapons and arms, while the very poor belonging to sixth rank usually serve as rowers in times of war. Among the middle ranks are farmers, craftsmen, artists, teachers and shop owners.
Slavery is practiced to some degree within the empire, with different roles depending on where they live; slaves in towns and cities usually cook, clean and care for the children of the wealthy, or moving things around at harbors and workshops, while rural slaves mostly work in mines or villas. It's not uncommon for loyal and hardworking slaves to be granted freedom, and slaves can ask permission to open shops so they can eventually buy their freedom.
Freedmen- and women belong to the lowest ranks of sikíronian society, with fewer rights than most, but their children are considered full citizens.
Culture
Art
Sculpture
Several different styles of sculpture exist among the sikíronians. Reliefs on walls, altars and sarcophagi tend to follow older tirúlian style, which tends to show idealized figures of deities, heroes and important persons. More recent sculptures, especially freestanding ones, tend toward more naturalistic portrayal of people from all walks of life, while on the Meldon Plain there's a preference for animals and legendary creatures.Apparel
Sikíronian clothing differs somewhat between the inhabitants on the Meldon Plain to the north and Nemirkía to the south, with the former preferring tunics with long sleeves, long trousers and sheepskin shoes for both men and women, while the latter tend toward belted, sleeveless tunics and sandals for men and simple sleeveless dresses for women, both made from a single large sheet of cloth. Cloaks are worn when travelling or in cold weather.Even the clothing of royalty differs little from that of commoners aside from materials and dyes. Most people try to wear something blue, even if its just decorative edges or stripes, as its believed to keep evil powers away.
Cuisine
Aside from the triad of wheat, olive oil and wine so widespread throughout Adynía, sikíronians grow various vegetables such as lettuce, onion, garlic and all sorts of beans, as well as apples, pears, figs, strawberries and blackberries. Only the wealthy regularly eat meat, mostly pork, mutton, horse and, to lesser extend, beef. Poultry and eggs are avoided at certain times of year for religious reasons, with some refusing to eat poultry at all. Fish and other seafood are popular, and fish sauce is used with all kinds of food. Many kinds of cheese are produced within the empire, mostly goat cheese, with sheep cheese being common on the Meldon Plain and cow cheese to the east.Most professional athletes follow one of two common diets within the empire; a traditional one based on bread, fresh cheese and dried fruits, and a newer one focusing on meat consumption. Followers of the Ahaþrysian diet, eating nothing but fruit, are infamous for their horrid body odor.
The most common drink within the Sikíron Empire is sour wine mixed with water and some spices. Undiluted wine is popular in the western regions, sometimes mixed with spices or even perfumes, though this is widely frowned upon. Mead is commonly consumed along the southern border and among Narsians, ale is popular on the Meldon Plain, while the Tanikaz-dwarves of Gedirkía drink borrol, a mixture of wine and milk.
Þúrian wine from Marissía to the south is popular among the aristocracy, which flavoured with saltwater, tar and pine resin, and the royal family sometimes enjoys so called Paþarían wine which contains ground barley and shredded goat cheese.
Technology
Medicine
Generally, only the army, athletes and wealthy families have access to experienced healers, with those in the legions using a mixture of healing magic and surgeries, while the latter mostly rely more on herbal remedies, dietary advice and knowledge gained from copies of old medical texts, some dating as far back as the old Paþarían Empire.Most of the population must make do with self-taught healers (who mostly rely on traditional medicine, charms and sometimes healing magic) or by visiting temples dedicated to healing deities.
Philosophy
Main article: Seven Sages of SikíronReligion
A number of different faiths are practiced within the empire, with many sikíronians practicing some for of syncretic polytheism as well as being members of one or more mystery religions. Each household also pays respect to a myriad minor deities associated with various aspects of daily life, usually by offering a bit of food and drink before supper.Members of the aristocracy are generally responsible for venerating major deities at their respective temples, although those of lower stature are allowed to do so as well at smaller shrines, if they have good reputation. Each of the mysteries has its own rules, the Telían Mysteries are only open to sailors' wives and widows, for example.
Major deities
Alarus
God of war, rain and thunderstorms, often depicted holding a silver spear. Those struck by a lightning are said to be blessed by the god, becoming one of his warriors upon death. Alarus' priests offer a horse of a specific colour to the god at the end of each month, usually a gift from a prominent family to earn the god's favour. After sacrificing the horse via sacred spear, the tail is removed and used to spatter blood on the audience to bless them. In Seylis, according to a custom predating Zameltonía, the horse's head is fixed on a spike and paraded around the city before being burned at the Alarus' altar.
Alkoníus
God of the sky and patron deity of the empire, usually depicted as a phoenix, less often as a man with the head or wings of a bird. He's associated with the primordial bird, whose battle with a primordial serpent shaped the world into its current form.
Elevía
Goddess of magic and healing or, more accurately, an amalgamation of a various local goddesses with similar roles throughout Nemirkía and the Meldon Plain. She's often depicted holding a magic staff in one hand and some medicinal plants in the other, with either snakes for hair or -less often- hair twisted into numerous braids. Elevía is painted on walls and shields to keep evil spirits at bay, some even sport tattoos of her image for the same purpose.
Fanasíus
A fertility god and protector of the ruling emperor and empress, usually depicted as a minotaur holding one of his horns as a cornucopia, or simply as a bull. His worship spread from Góalanis through the kadríans, and was officially sanctioned by Ástía, first ruler of the Sikíron Empire (who was a kadrían herself). While Alkoníus is revered by the aristocracy, Fanasíus is adored by the common people of the empire.
Tarnelía
Goddess of the moon and sea, often depicted wearing a hooded cloak which obscures her face, or as a mermaid.
Zerakis
God of the sun and agriculture, originally depicted as a centaur but now as a man wearing a golden armour and wreath, often riding a pegasus. Farmers offer a portion of their first crops to the god as thanksgivings.
Orders and mysteries
Funerary rites
Sikíronians practice a variety of funeral rites depending on the persons' status in life, origin and personal beliefs. Most commoners are buried in fetal position in a cemetery located some distance from the nearest settlement, with an inscribed clay pot serving as a gravestone, although mass graves are sometimes used as well.Soldiers and many famous people are cremated, their urns placed in monuments along prominent roads and crossroads, while members of wealthier families are placed in family tombs in country villas. Emperors and empresses are the only people permitted to be buried within Gedirkía, as they are believed to reach apotheosis after death and thus their remains don't count as ritually impure. They are laid to rest in a tomb at the base of Alkons Hill, where offerings are burned on an altar using sanctified torches and a nearby sacred flame.
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Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Languages spoken
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