Morns

The denizens of the Moralands are a rather untrusting lot due to the unfortunate nature of their country's birth and how they came to inhabit it. A massive vitraxine mine explosion decades ago wiped out the continental capital of Taisun, including nearly a quarter of the population. This massive graveyard, along with the eerie opalescent mist that has blanketed the land ever since, has created a sense of foreboding and uneasiness in others. No one willingly would go into this wretched place, but those fleeing persecution, prosecution, or immense poverty learned to find refuge in these dangerous lands.
While not technically an ethnicity in the strictest sense, the Morns shared travesties produced a powerful bond, and the villages and cities that they built has produced a powerful sense of pride in their accomplishments.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Feminine names often end with either -li or -sa with two to four syllables. Some examples:

• Cansali
• Orsa
• Molli
• Peimensa
• Sanoli

Masculine names

Masculine name tend to start with powerful sounds while ending in -uru or -oni. Some examples:

• Danuru
• Koni
• Brokuru
• Galoni

Unisex names

The concept behind a masculine and a feminine name in Morn society is defined by outsiders rather than the Morn themselves. Visitors and researchers in the area noticed patterns in names that were more common for male or female presenting Morn. In reality, all names are considered unisex in Morn society as the names are chosen by the owner.

Family names

Due to the unique nature of how their population came to be, Morn society does not use family names as all are one family. Besides, between the Rite of Skill keeping population low, and the Ritual of Names defining the name of a Morn, names are mostly unique outside of the unnamed children.

Other names

Nativeborn Morns are not given true names until they complete the Ritual of Names. They are instead called by the name of a parent followed by -yashi for girls and -yoshi for boys. Due to the powerful significance of names in the culture, children are encouraged to correct any who use the wrong one and to inform their parents if they would like it changed. For those who do not find comfort in either gender, -yan is also acceptable.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Morn language does not contain pronouns nor do they use them in languages that do. This serves two purposes. First, Morns take a name of their choosing during the Ritual of Names giving them immense joy to hear it spoken aloud. Second, it creates a sense of openness in the culture as to speak about someone would require using their name repeatedly in the conversation increasing the risk of being overheard.
Outside of this, Morn language is very similar to most of the population districts which have a common tongue set after the Founding of Taisun and a singular continental government of the past age.

Foods & Cuisine

Between varying cultures blending together and a wholly unique ecological system due to the mist's effect on the lands, Morn cuisine is unlike any other. Bitterness and sourness are the primary flavor profiles as many of the livestock have these flavors naturally. To cut through this, milks of animals and plants are used to mild the dish and various spices including anise, cardamom, chilis, and mint are added as well. Sugar and other sweeteners are incredibly rare making desserts a delicacy. To be served dessert by a hosting Morn is considered one of the highest honors one can bestow. Not just because the ingredients are difficult to procure, but also because the dish is most likely from their previous life sharing the whispered start of a secret they have worked hard to hide.

Coming of Age Rites

Rite of Skill

While there is much pride in those who choose to become Morns, there is still an unspoken understanding of the ramifications of being from this place. As such, nativeborn Morns are often taught the basic workings of a trade starting around the age of five. These trades are often labor based do to the lack of education most had in their former lives, though artistic talents are sought out and nurtured due to the surprising success of a Morn bard; tragedy breeds creativity.
The summer after turning nine, the children are loaded onto wagons and taken to cities opposite the border of nearby countries. A small faire is placed up where the children display their expertise in the hopes of gaining an apprenticeship. If chosen, three things occur.
First, the wagoneer is given a sum of four silver and nine copper for the parents. This amount is symbolic and practical. In the Moralands, five is a sign of prosperity as there are five stages in a long life: birth, childhood, adulthood, elder, and death. Being one copper short is a symbolic tax to thank the tradesperson as well as a painful reminder that if the child had remained home, any hope of prosperity would fall short.
Second, the employer would choose a name for the apprentice as Morn children are not given names. This name would be one that fits the naming customs found in their new home and used to mask their true origin. Occasionally, a name is chosen from a different country if the child's ancestry is particularly rare in the current one to avoid rousing too much suspicion.
Finally, a contract is signed by the wagoneer, employer, and apprentice using their new name. This contract ensures the child is released by their new employer by no later than their nineteenth birthday and is given adequate room, board, and one copper a week while under their employ; the symbolic copper of propserity the parents were unable to give them.
If a child is not picked for apprenticeship, they will continue the Rite of Skill for six years in which case they have passed the age of prosperity and can choose to leave the Moralands with the name of birth or continue to build this new country after completing the Ritual of Names themselves. Most stay. Not being chosen is secretly a sign of pride for many nativeborn Morns even while the parents of Unchosen are often struck with guilt and shame of their inability to provide a better life.

Ritual of Names

If someone is not born of the Moralands but calls it home, their previous life was one of pain, torment, danger, or poverty; oft times more than one. The Morns understand the risk in allowing members from such dark pasts to join their society well and have developed a powerful ritual for those who want to join their ranks. The member takes on a new name branding them as a Morn and must spend six days surviving in one of the mist enshrouded forests as they mutter this new name to themselves as a mantra. While not fully understood why, by the end of the sixth day their previous name and any powerful memories that shaped who they were are lost to the mist. In their stead, their new name and what the Morn believe to be a person's true personality, one unfettered by a life of tragedy, lives on. Only one physical trait changes: the irises of their eyes become the opalescent green of the mist.
As this ritual is irreversible and difficult to conceal even with magical means, some have been known to wait years before completing the ritual. This comes at a cost though, as they receive the same aloof and cautious demeanor as any fresh newcomer.

Common Taboos

While a Misteye Morn cannot remember their original name, other Misteye Morns who interacted with them still can recall it. To use this old name, even in secret of the previous namebearer or by way of recognition of the name to an outsider, is strictly forbidden and is punishable by exile.
Using pronouns of any sort is taboo though recognition of its uncommon nature means that visitors are rarely admonished.

Ideals

Gender Ideals

Those living in the Moralands are constantly on high alert with weird and monstrous creatures roaming inside an already dangerous mist. Worrying about another's gender is like caring about the color of your grandfather's undergarments: wholly unnecessary and at least mildly disturbing.

Related Locations

• Moralands