Soki Culture
Centered around Lizard Folk culture, the Soki people is actually an aligned series of city states and kingdoms with many races, but the two largest populations are lizard folk (66%) humans (13%) and then various others including goblinoids, orcs and a smaller percentage of other races who have migrated in to the cities.
Prior to the crash these people had lived together in the Star Walker Hegemony on worlds run by the lizard folk. These humans have ancient Atlantean lineage, but even before the crash were a sub-race of humanity. Culturally they had nothing in common with the Atlanteans, or the peoples who founded Ayorhah culture.
After the crash the Soki commandeered two lifters for the use of their people, they ferried the people from their section to two locations, One was the location of the city of Cos. the other was the the large island Salmagundi. they made several trips to move people and in the last trips they took those desperate to get out of the desert. The last trips settled in the jungle coast on the southeast coast of the Arolend Sea. These lifters have been stripped for parts many millennia ago.
Soki culture is built around living with the jungle, the cycles of the jungles, the inter-dependency and limitations of technology. Unlike the other survivors who used technology to tame and shape the world, the Soki began to learn how the biology and ecology of the jungles worked. They didn't build grand cities to celebrate their survival, they didn't try to build infrastructure or industries they couldn't support. They learned which plants were edible, which had medical properties, which could be used for industry, which had no purpose but had deep purpose to the ecology. This line of study and focus gave them an edge on survival without much reliance on technology.
To the eyes of the Ayorhah, Arolends, Atlanteans they looked like they were devolving. A millennium after the crash the Soki were flourishing while the others were experiencing chaos from systems failing, infrastructure crumbling, resources depleting. They had to go through a long a painful decline before they found their footing, the Soki were already there and claimed the jungles, and despite their reluctance to build large cities they still built great cities as cultural, scientific and commerce centers.
Because they are so well adapted to the bio region they chose they actually support a large population distributed in the jungle. When threatened they have quite a large number of people to call upon for crisis, defense, colonization, or adventure.
Soki cities are generally open, without walls for defense, but are largely made of stone and wood. The cities are built around 3 or 4 large plazas. tight blocks of apartments and housing compounds surround the plazas. The commercial plaza may be open markets one week, the next temporary tents and structures are built for major bulk trading (such as goods, animals, crops, ect), another week may be for purely financial or real-estate based trading. There is a strict code of these trade weeks. The political plaza will have several important buildings for deliberations by elders, sages, and other advisors to send petitions to the prince. The city's nobles and the current leader, the prince (or princess) will hear petitions and decree policy and law. There may also be a tax house where the accounting of taxes and tribute is done. There may be a Celestial plaza with observatories, universities, and libraries. There is usually a cultural plaza with amphitheaters, sports fields, and in very sophisticated cities art galleries, or museums. The cities will be surrounded by farms then right up to the jungle. spread throughout the jungles are the bulk of the populace who live in small villages. these villages are not isolated, they have complex trade, political and social networks not only to the nearest city, but for miles around. Villages are generally aligned to the cities by paying tribute for protection and aid. They can switch alliances by changing who they pay tribute to. One or two switching is normal, but when a bunch decide to, they know their neighbors are up to something. There is a lot of politics of this sort. Only rarely does it result in internecine violence or coercion when a good prince is in power, when a bad prince is in power things can be autocratic to maintain the flow of tribute. Good princes will play the game, and give the village elders their children proper educations, or minor positions in the city authorities or army in return for fealty.
The combination of humanoid emotional intelligence and reptilian cold calculation means the Soki people are made to assess, adapt, and make the right choices for long term survival.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Typically humanoids choose gendered names
Olan
Cusuyo
Tollssa
Cusa
Marcay
Coca
Chuaco
Marca
Siza
Aman
Masculine names
Typically humanoids choose gendered names
Alchiatoach
Atzin
Ahechon
Ichin
Tayauhiacui
Tlatona
Otzin
Tzinacui
Masina
Pana
Unisex names
The vast majority of Lizard Folk choose a non gendered name that translates into something they are good at or known for, and may change names throughout life, or add them together.
Capantzina
Itlapacan
Cihitloco
Huarca
Marca
Curua
Sirua
Family names
Huexoche
Tepeco
Alcoban
Tepeca
Atepec
Tlatalte
Tenango
Halca
Tapotzit
Tulanang
Other names
máak - equivalent of John/ Jane Doe.
jkanan - someone who fights for a living, gives up their family name. common among paladins.
J-ts'aak - someone who heals, gives up their family name, could be any class.
viajero - nickname given to strangers, wanderers, foreigners.
Bak - any humanoid, usually by lizard folk
yaakunaj - last name of someone who was the result of a pregnancy from a love friend relationship.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Sokobaki - This is the language of the Lizard Folk. Its made for the reptilian morphology of the lizard folk, so non-lizard folk who try to speak it do so at disadvantage. (persuasion, deception, performance, etc). however it is fairly easy to learn, so most persons in the region understand it fluently. Sokobaki has a written component and it is a simple and dry language with few words, and new words and concepts are usually imported from that language that introduces it so there are a mismash of writen words for elvish, dwarvish, draconian, and even gnomish.
Láak'o'ob - this is the common language of the Soki humanoids, but uses the written language in Sokobaki. It has a larger vocabulary, but like Sokobaki incorporates words from common, elvish, and dwarvish. Enough so they may get a phase or word in common without translation.
Culture and cultural heritage
The Soki are one with the jungle, and the environment. The idea of seeing a wilderness as something to despoil or destroy is distressing to them, like watching someone wreck a department store just to gather one box of shoes, and wander off. This puts them at odds with the more exploitative cultures. They colonize because they need resources but they will not despoil the environment to do it.
Again, this is not because they are deeply emotionally tied to the environment, but because it is an important resource that demands care, responsibility and that it is dangerous and demands respect. That is how you survive.
The legends of the "The before time" when these races traveled the stars are mostly kept alive by the humanoids, to remind them of their heritage as children of star wanderers. But the reality is they must survive on this planet, right now as it is. The Soki consider this planet their home, the before time is interesting, but it is past. There is nothing to do about it.
Shared customary codes and values
Survival is the core of the Soki culture. Survival depends on the truth and understanding a threat, a danger, and a crisis. Sokis will help each other when there is a crisis, they will adapt, and they will fight when they can win, retreat when they can't, hunt and kill foes when they are likely to succeed and mislead and hide from foes they can't. Ambition, ego, history, glory don't factor in. Because of this the Soki are actually very good at colonizing. over the last few thousand years they have actually explored quite far south in the Grand Campo continent, settled much of the jungles there, and even have colonies far south in the hills and plains.
Soki dislike ambition, but admire a calculated skilled plan for conquest. Soki dislike ego, but admire skill and talent that proves itself. Soki record history, they are not concerned about making it. Soki do not love adulation, but know there is strength in numbers and numbers require purpose, and that purpose must have logical conclusion.
Death is but a state of matter. Honor the dead, miss their loss to the group, move on to the next problem, they can no longer help you.
Average technological level
The Soki are best known for their knowledge of alchemy, medicines, and biology. Soki sages retained a lot more about biological science and medicine than the other settlers. They can craft very inexpensive medicines for common ailments, can make elixirs and potions of better potency, and make medicines other can not. They have an understanding of what cells are, germs, and disease theory. However their medicines are not for the faint of heart. Side effects and pain are considered a part of healing, letting you know your body is in the fight.
The Soki can build long boats capable of ocean travel, but they rarely build galleons or warships. When they need that kind of force they will hire it. Lightly armed long boat trade boats that travel in large convoys, they will usually have cyphers, relics, or mages for the fire power to keep aggressors away. They are skilled navigators and explorers, though for expeditions to cooler and colder regions it is usually humanoids who lead these expeditions. Soki are found throughout the coastal ports of the meridian and Arolend Seas.
To a visitor from many of the other cultures the Soki may appear backward, devolved, maybe even savage because their cities don't have vast castles and industrial quarters, or impressive roads and ports. The people don't wear a lot of clothes and they majority live in jungles. However, their education and knowledge is just as well passed along, if done differently. fine houses don't last in the jungle, so they don't put a lot of work in them, clothing doesn't last long and it's hot, why invest in it? They do understand more of how their ecosystem works, and how to survive in it.
The Soki do have mines and metal working industries, they are usually located away from the cities, near the mines and then transported back. They don't want the smoke and polution in the city , and they don't want to tear up a large part of the jungle to build a city just to support the foundries. The Soki can cast cannons in bronze, and most cities have a few to protect themselves from raids. Flintlocks, muskets, and blunderbusses are less common as they are difficult to maintain, and soaked gun powder from frequent rain storms makes them unreliable. They can make gun powder, but it's mostly for city armies. Soki fighters prefer light armor or medium armor, and lots of weapons. The will usually have one main weapon, but then many smaller hand to hand or thrown weapons. Soki armies are also heavy users of camouflage and stealth. Jungle fighting is their specialty. Even large armies tend to move without a trace and will rely on hit and run, raids, and use the jungle for cover. Only when they have full superiority will they mass and bring heavier weapons to lay siege or engage enemies. Also lizard folk will take bodies of fallen enemies and comrades to add to the larder.
Wheeled vehicles are of little interest outside of the cities. Most items are carried by porters, it is a hard but necessary job. There are few paved roads, most are trails marked with stones, professional guides know the roads, maps are hard to come by but guides know them in their region and are the maps. Some of the native life have been tamed and bred to be beast of burden. The largest are apatosaurus bred down to large size and can carry thousands of pounds. Some cavalry use riding lizards or raptors.
Because the ancient Soki did not over rely on Star Walker technology to do labor so many are still in working condition, and may be family heirlooms. Also many were stored away and forgotten. Ancient caches can have a wealth of devices.
Warlocks are rumored to have originated in Soki culture, also know as wáay, these magic users are able to use the consciousness unlocking power of the hallucinogenic medicines that allow them to commune with "entities" and a great "library" where they absorb magical knowledge. They make a pact with the entities to get access while they are in these altered states of consciousness. This has evolved and changed as warlock magic traditions have spread around Alterra.
The Soki print books on wood and stone blocks, though they are rare outside of universities, libraries, and public buildings. There is little literature, novels, or non-historical or technical writing. Lizard folk are disinterested in fiction, art or ideas, and the majority of humans prefer oral story telling. Most writing is records, histories, lineages, almanacs, star charts, and maps.
Soki are very advanced mathematicians and have rediscovered celestial mechanics and have a rudimentary understanding of gravity and acceleration. They study astronomy intensely to tell time and work out calendars to help with planting and keeping track of the seasons and the influences of the moons on tides and animals. This knowledge is the Lizard Folk's main interest because it gives certainty in a chaotic region.
Common Etiquette rules
It is rude, no matter the situation, to kill someone just to eat them. (this is mostly for the lizard folk). Generally politeness is a foreign concept, you say what is on your mind. It either stands up to logic and is useful or it doesn't and it was a waste of everyone's time. As such emotional outbursts and logical discourse should both serve a purpose.
Respect your elders. Living to an old age is kind of an accomplishment as there is little to aid you to do so in the jungles of the Soki kingdoms. Even nobles and wealthy individuals can meet their fate in the cities or forests to predatory beasts and calculating rivals.
Common Dress code
Nudity is not considered unsightly, and day labor outside is often done naked. It is hot and humid so clothing is not needed for warmth, and will get damaged in that kind of work. If it is dangerous work, like hunting or mining, helmets, sandals or other armor may be worn. belts, harnesses, and bands to hold gear is common. After work is done, and they've bathed, then one will put on clothing. in these more social situations modesty does become a factor and humanoids cover up their reproductive organs. the higher up the social ladder the more elaborate the dress becomes to notify you of their station.
This holds true in the cities as well, and only specialized workers are clothed all day. The wealthy and aristocrats dress very vibrantly to show they have importance and do not labor in the dirt. Clothing is again a utility item: to give a visual cue to who you are, and protect you from the elements as needed. As such clothing style is highly important to identity, so textiles and tailoring are important beyond their utility. Hats, head dresses, bands and jewelry can be important signs to let be know who you are.
Armor is again, a utility item, if you think you need it, you probably do. Same thing with weapons, you carry what you think you need. shiny, dull, it's judged on it's utility, not design or style.
Art & Architecture
Soki cities as discussed before are laid out with large public plazas. These plazas are made from cut stone and are of a high quality. designs that show stellar information, a concept, or is just interesting will be included in the overall design of the plaza. the important building will be built of stone, and although they can cut fine detail and precision joints, they prefer large blocky designs to show weight and permanence. The interior of these buildings will be built out of wood and remodeled as needed. the outside of these building will be covered in histories, quotes from wise leaders, and occasionally images of important events.
Wealthier homes are made of brick or stone with a large common room with alcoves for cooking, working on home projects, and then a courtyard with walls and smaller buildings for storage. The roof will usually be made of wood and either ceramic tiles, thatch, or in some cases beaten metal. some cities may have running water from aqueducts for wealthier compounds. Some may have several cottages for individuals or families in the courtyard.
Common homes are made of wood and thatch but have a similar layout. these homes are all multi-generational and may have 2 to 4 families living in them. There is little privacy, no one gets their own room, and most beds are hammocks or sleeping bags and floor mats.
Villages are like a very large common house. there will be a big communal house where everyone gathers when not working or sleeping. around the courtyard are smaller huts and cottages for individual families to sleep in and keep their possessions. This is usually surrounded by a stockade to keep jungle predators out.
In the cities and very large villages, there are establishments called najo'. These are like taverns, and could be mistaken for a house but for the indicating signs. It is essentially a hotel, travelers stay here when visiting the city. It is usually a large courtyard surrounded by private rooms that open into the courtyard where the proprietors may or may not have food or drink available. These are common, but they are not for tourism, they are for people to escape the lack of privacy at home, to get isolation. these cubicles don't even have furniture.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
When you greet a noble or an aristocrat, you put your hand on the center of your chest and give a nod. It is rude to not look someone in the eye at all times when speaking. It is weird to ask you how your day is going, as the idea of a day having a standard is one way or the other is not normally done. Soki people tend not to make general inquiries about each other since they live in such close contact and have very little privacy. They will be more specific, and if they don't know you they will say something like; "Viajeo, I do not know you, who are you and why are your here?" this my be more direct and without much in the way of flourish, but it is honest and blunt.
Practical jokes are the primary humor of the Soki. This is because they see opportunity for humor and will take it. The lizard folk are emotionless, and make ample targets, and they don't understand they are being made fun of, so they will go along with this. Being the target of a practical joke means that you are trusted, even the Lizard folk.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Lizard folk don't have names, they are referred to as "Je" and a number based on when they hatched. as they grow up and their personality and skills develop they will either be given a name or take one. Some make number part of their name like 9 spear maker, or 3 color spray.
Humanoids are generally given names at birth by their parents. No one celebrates birthdays, they keep track of their age by number of summers since they were born. As such birth dates and death dates are hard to pin down, and not particularly of interest to Soki historians. Also most people don't know their exact birthday. If pressed they may say something like, I was born in the winter the same week as the merchant fair. (This is not to say they don't have an exacting calendar and time system, they just don't use it to define themselves).
Coming of Age Rites
For all Soki regardless of race there are three defining moments growing up into adulthood. The first is the lost days. When approximately 10 or 11 a cohort from a village, ward or clan is taken many days out into the jungle. they are given a knife, a water skin and small pouch of food for about a day. Along with their journey guide they build a small camp. During the night the journey guide leaves. They are left alone to decide what to do. Unbeknownst to the children they are not alone, they are being watched unseen. they are left alone for a week. it doesn't matter what they choose to do they have to do it alone and together. if things go horribly wrong they will intervene. they are also chasing off very nasty predators away from the kids. otherwise they have to figure it out. Either way the journey guide will return and tell them it is time to return to their lives. on the road back they will discuss what happened and the journey guide will have the observations from the watchers to know if they are being truthful or not. This ritual is ancient and part of learning to be self sufficient and work as a group.
Second is their first spirit journey. In general Soki do not believe in gods but they believe in higher states of consciousness or being that we just are tuned into. To access these certain medicines are needed and sometimes wisdom can come from this experience. At around age 16 or 18 they are taken to a medicine person who gives them a powerful hallucinogenic mixture and they have an 8 to 12 hour experience. This spirit journey is theirs alone. For Lizard Folk it is their first time experiencing actual emotion, empathy, which once it is over they will not have, but will have a glimpse of understanding. For humans it is a deeply opening experience that allows them to understand how to shed ego and emotional entanglement, it helps them understand the Lizard folk's detachment. After this rite you are considered an adult.
Rite of the elders. This right is for persons who have earned it by age and survival. It is awarded by other elders and it is not given lightly. Generally humans who are in their 6th decade, lizard folk in their 4th, elves in their 60th decade, or similar for longer lived beings may be considered for this honor. It can take weeks of interviews and speaking to others in the community but if they think you are wise and capable they will invite you to be an elder. If you accept you are expected to spend most of your time thinking about village or city policies, talking to everyone in your village or ward and bringing that information back and discussing to form policy. You are also expected to mediate disagreements, help people with trauma, relationships and rehabilitate reprobates. If you accept you also are given a specific tattoo on your forehead and given special sash. You will basically never have to earn a living, and you can ask for anything, ask anyone anything, and tell anyone anything. Elders have a lot of influence everywhere in Soki culture, and when you see that sash coming at you, respect is demanded and to not do so will be a bad mark on you. The other way to become an elder is to have a horrible near death experience and recover from it, that includes illnesses, injuries, combat, or even capital punishment. Though again, its not automatic. if the elders learned you brought it all on yourself, and you are reckless that will end pretty quick.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Cannibalism is ok. The lizard folk eat their dead. Humans and other mammalian life forms will be sickened over time if they engage in extensive cannibalism. It gets weird and complicated. Lizard Folk can and will eat a deceased friend or family member, and even people they don't know. So much so there are no funeral rites, no grave yards, no markers for lizard folk. In Soki culture Lizard folk do not eat humanoids without asking, and will ask elders if it is ok to do so. This is about calories and nutrients. Some humans leave their bodies to the Lizard Folk, to show they are one people.
Humans also engage in cannibalism, but it is much more limited. As part of a funerary rite for elders, they will ceremonially eat a small piece of flesh from the other elder who has departed.
For everyone else it is the same. The rest of the body is liquefied and ground up and poured on the fields and crops to spread their influence back into the chain of life. A set of stone markers in the village list the names of those who have passed, and a new marker is added each year on summer solstice.
Common Taboos
No one who has not yet gone on a spirit journey should have a love friend. This happens and in those cases the elders decide the fate of the persons who transgressed this. Only adults can be love friends, children can not. Elders can be severe in their punishments regarding this. This applies to outsiders. if they haven't had a spirit journey they are not adults.
Medicine known as Xma' a síijil exists, and prevents pregnancy in humanoids. If you have love friends this medicine should be obtained from a healer. Children from a love friendship are typically raised by the elders and the village as a whole, so to reduce everyone's work, please take the medicine.
If you are Mated, you should not separate until the children have reached adulthood. if you do anything to harm your mate or children to end a mating the elders can punish you. Having love friends outside of a mating is bad form, and risky. Leaving your mate to mate with a love friend is punishable. A mated pair can get mediation from the elders with love friends if a child is conceived on how to raise it. If not handled properly it can generate a lot of dishonor on everyone involved.
Don't kill someone just to eat them. Survival of the one, at the expense of the other is selfish and short sighted. (this is for lizard folk...and people too, I guess)
Common Myths and Legends
Lizard Folk are not interested in legends and myths, they only want to know facts and information for survival. Storytelling is not something they want to spend their time on. Their imaginations and empathy make it hard for them to enjoy surprise, fear, thrills, or joy about the characters or situations. So from the lizard folk there is nothing.
The humans in the Soki culture however, do make up stories about lizard folk. They have invented characters out of whole cloth who represent different aspects of their cultural kin. Tlectec 4 the Navigator, y'tlzelt the skinner, yutlutlex 8 quick fingers, and several others who may or may not represent actual lizard folk, but do have traits of lizard folk exaggerated and their stories show how they think about things and the choices they make and the fates that befall them.
Their other myths are actually mimetic devices to teach about dangers, resources and tools in the jungle as another way to pass along this knowledge. Each myth has a song that goes with it, that may also encode facts, processes or other knowledge about the plant, creature, or other danger.
Historical figures
Melk'ztedek is a human prince who refurbished a great city lost to time and covered by the jungle. In it he found many great Cyphers an artifacts. Using these and his warrior he conquered his neighbors cities and became the only true king. He ruled a separate nation for about 40 years located in the southeast jungles on Grand Campo. His daughter ytzleltel was poisoned and the kingdom split, and civil war ensued in the kingdom. This was the first and last king of the Soki. This was about 900 years ago.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The lizard folk do not consider beauty or art as it doesn't trigger anything emotionally when they see it. So much of the depiction of beauty are highly influenced by humanoid traditions.
Gender Ideals
Lizard Folk are generally gender-less as identity goes. There are no roles based on gender, an elder, chief, warrior, healer, child raiser, sage, astronomer could be any lizard folk. Humans and other humanoids have adopted this equality as well, and it is not unusual for males to stay home an raise children while women go out and trade, fight, or work without any difference. Dress and clothing is generally similar, and tied to station and function.
Courtship Ideals
Lizard folk mate every year about the same time so that eggs are laid in spring so they hatch by summer. This is driven by both pheromones and politics, to get a clutch of eggs that will be raised to be in higher rank.
Humanoids who live in the Soki society are slightly more romantic, and less calculating. Males and females can be equally forthright for either a "Love friend" or a "mate". Love friends are acquaintances you have sexual events with, but it is a casual and non-committed relationship, see below. Mates are who you want to have a family with raise children.
Relationship Ideals
Love friends could be male or female, and there is no concept of homosexuality or commitment. A person may have many or few love friends, and may have on and off again relationships with them. A Mate is someone you want to raise children with and pass on your inheritance and family name to. A humanoid will be expected to have one mate at a time. Socially this is a big commitment for both and the structure is to raise a family, and you are expected to put their needs first, their fortunes first, fight, live and die for them. When mated a pair may have love friends, but this can lead to troubles, jealousies, and other human reactions. Socially it is frowned upon, and becomes socially toxic if you leave your mate to mate with another. Humanoids have complicated emotional lives and lizard folk do not, so the humanoids tend to self regulate to avoid trouble.
Children that come from love friends are often raised by the village or city ward, a collection of elder males and females who adopt them, usually long after their own children have grown up.
Encompassed species
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