Sraebadhan Customs

The customs of Sraebadah are some of the most interesting and complex in the world. Unlike Neravia, which is heavily regulated and has been for most of it's existence, the cultural traditions of Sraebadah are chaotic. Many are contradictory in nature and cause rebellions, land disputes, and - with some poor luck - execution.
Sraebadahn culture and faith are deeply intertwined. While each God will find a place here to be worshipped, the Empire primarily looks at Fasiyya and Amit, often considered to be the God and Goddess of the Sraebadahn people. The people base many of their traditions around them. Most Sraebadahns believe that most of life's events are controlled and orchestrated by these Gods.
This is true especially concerning Sraebadahn culture's two biggest aspects - Marriage and Family. All traditions in Sraebadah must be looked at through the lense of marriage and family to gain a scope of their depth. Sraebadahns as a whole do not believe in the separation of church and state; religion is taught in schools side by side with arithmetic and history.
Temples dedicated to these Gods are considered to be the holiest sites in Sraebadah and strict rules accompany visits there.

Monarchy & Nobility

See Also: Sraebadahn Law and Justice
The Sultan's rule in Sraebadah is absolute and binding. There is no higher law then the one he protects and enforces. All people, regardless of status or power, are subject to the Sultan.

Family & Social Ranking

Family is one of the most important things in Sraebadah and can determine much of a persons standing in society. Family loyalty and obligations take precedence over loyalty to friends, jobs, or one's personal wants and needs. The structure of a Sraebadahn family is generally closely woven.
A persons honor and dignity come from their family, which will inform up on their rank and status. A Pasha with no family is barely a Pasha at all. In Sraebadah people know and speak proudly of their bloodlines, genealogy, and where they are from. This also includes adopted children, who are taken to be considered the blood children of their family.
Fathers are expected to take care of the families finances and protect those members who cannot protect themselves. Mothers are expected to manage the household and see to the education of the children. Mother and Father, unlike gender and marital roles, are fixed: The mother is who educates, the father is who provides for the child.

Adoption

Sraebadahn adoption is a detailed process. An individual could be adopted for several reasons, but the most common is to remove the taint of Illegitimacy from them. A child born outside of marriage is considered Illegitimate and faces many disadvantages in Sraebadahn society. The most common solution is for the mother to place the child with a family who will raise them. Rituals are performed to ensure a removal of the spiritual bloodline of the biological parents.
These rituals can be performed at any age, while it's rarer. Some adults wish for complete separation from a family who has been abusing them, or who has abandoned them. The Cult of Vinmys handles all of these highly specialized rituals. Only nobles can adopt children, though anyone can adopt an adult. A Sraebadahn family may adopt their husbands/wives of their children, grandchildren, or cousins, in order to free them from oppressive situations.
Painfully, when involving children, mother and child are never reunited again. There are several mixed opinions about this that vary region to region. The adopted child is always told they are adopted privately and it is their choice to reveal that information to anyone outside the family. There is no belief in Sraebadah that blood children are loved more than adopted ones. An adopted child is considered to strengthen the bloodline and provide much needed balance to a family line.
Adopted children frequently have conflicting emotions surrounding their adoptions.

Social Ranking

See Also: Sraebadahn Ranks and Titles
The Sraebadahn Empire boasts a strong, organized central government, but still has a nobility system within it. The Sultan is first in all things, and below his family rank the Emir's of each province and their families. This is followed by other noble houses, both greater and smaller, which are typically defined by the highest position ever held by the most recent three generations of the family.
A nobleman who's grandfather was the Hojah to the previous Sultan is going to enjoy a higher social standing then the man whos' father was a Pasha out in the mountains of Khayal.
The ranking breakdown from that point is ambiguous at best and outright confusing at worst. While Pasha's enjoy a lauded position in society, a Pasha does not immediately or always outrank a Janissary guard, who often bases their own rank on who they are guarding. The Janissary of an Emir typically outranks all Pasha's of that same Emir.

Inheritance

Inheritance laws everywhere are messy, but in Sraebadah, with it's fluid genders and sexuality, it becomes chaos. The oldest son inherits his fathers titles and armies, and the oldest daughter inherits her mothers lands. The son is expected to use his titles and armies to take care of his family, and the daughter is expected to divide up the land into dowries for the unmarried women-though she may keep her mother's palace/manor and all it's lands for herself.
When someone marries into a noble family, they take the families name for their own and it becomes part of their personal title. While women often do not lead armies or rule over provinces on their own, a widow keeps the lands she brought into a marriage and may rule until her own death. In this scenario, she might name an heir by herself if she has no children.
The typical method followed, though not the binding law, is that the first son inherits. While not every province or family follows this, its considered normal for the oldest male child to be considered the heir. If following the male-preference primogeniture, the eldest son is followed in succession by the second son, then the third son, and so on. As in Neravia, a mans daughter will inherit before his brother, and if this situation arises the daughter will keep her own name when she is wed, while her husband will take hers.
People may also name their own heirs, though they cannot pass over their legally born children in order to do so. Heirs born into a different family will drop their born family name in favor of the inherited one, such as when female cousins or male second cousins inherit a family's legacy.

Loss of Succession

There are a few things that can cause an heir to lose their standing.
Exile immediately revokes all inheritance and succession rights until completed. If the heir to a family were to be exiled for ten years and the Head of Household were to pass during that time, the title of heir and all it's rights would be given to the next in line. The previous heir would take the lowest spot in the inheritance line upon their lawful return.
The succession may also be renounced if it had been contingent upon a proposal, either business or marital, that is no longer in play. If someone were to be promised as an heir provided they marry a certain Pasha, and the Pasha were to die before the marriage, they would not be entitled to anything promised to them. This can also be done forcefully, as children can be disinherited for violating the Tenant of Obedience, especially if they live with the parent in question.
While everyone is free to name their own heir, there are certain social consequences for how your family is viewed when you change the order of succession. A younger son can be appointed over an older son, but the message being sent to the other families will have consequences.

The Last Son

The Last Son is a law that predates the time of the Sultans. Bloodlines are deeply important to Sraebadahns. While there is still some measure of proving yourself on your own merit that must be done, there is also a fair amount of inherited debt; both good and bad.
In Sraebadah it is well known that when you kill a man who wrongs you, you satisfy a debt. But if he has killed more than one, his life alone is not enough to pay for what he's done. But oftentimes people can do horrible things. Things that cannot be satisfied with a numbered amount of deaths. Other times there are treasonous plots that run so deep into a family that you cannot tell who is involved and who isn't.
The Law of the Last Son exists so that you do not eliminate a Sraebadahn bloodline, even if they have wronged you: The last son of the inheriting line must be kept alive. This means that you can kill a man and his sons, but must leave the the last son of the line of the heir alive. If the boy is younger than 14, you must also leave his mother or closest female relative alive.
Sometimes this means that the only member of a family left alive is a two year old boy. Generally, the boy will be taken into a service of some kind under the Emir of his land; the Emir will arrange a marriage for him and tutor his children, also taking the task of arranging their marriages, in order to instill loyalty to the Empire in them. This takes a treasonous house and makes them into a loyal one over the course of a few decades, all without destroying the bloodline.

Emirs

Inheritance for the Emir's is one of the only codified inheritance laws. An Emir is always succeeded by his eldest son, unless he has no sons. If the Emir dies without issue all together, his title and rank will pass to his next oldest brother and his family. An Emir's heir can only be skipped over with permission from the Sultan, and compensation to the Emir's heir's family must be made, as they will not be inheriting their rightful title.
If an Emir heir is appropriately compensated, he is not allowed to contest the ascendency of his brothers to the throne.

The Sultan

The Sultan is allowed to choose his heir from his sons, though he may select his daughter to rule over his sons without consulting them. A Sultan choice of heir is not questioned by anyone but his Sultana, who might be frustrated at her son not inheriting as was promised to her.
Due to this rule in the culture, there have been more ruling Sultana's then there have been ruling Emira's in the provinces.

Gender and Sexuality

The roles of gender and sexuality in Sraebadah are unique to the Empire. You would not be able to use these customs anywhere else in Cyrrin, and other cultures are often scandalized by Sraebadhan gender customs.

Gender

Sraebadah primarily views gender as a presentation of yourself within society. You are expected to determine your societal role by the time you are ready for betrothals, and betrothals will not be considered until you have done so. Your gender is considered completely separate from your biological sex, though sex must be considered when looking at marriages of any kind. Sraebadan's use colors to denote concepts in the world such as life and death, but not for gender. Any gender can be represented by any color. Long hair and draped fabrics are also used to express identity by both men and women.
Women generally present as decorated and feminine in their fashion and characteristics. The li'wah, the most common form of ceremonial dress for a woman, is an extension of this; decorated with flowing scarves and floral patterns. Facial jewelry is more common in women then it is in men. There is an expectation that women will enjoy each others company, lavish parties, and bear children.
Men are more likely to wear pants and long vests and, depending on the region, may or may not wear shirts. There is an expectation of protectiveness and physical prowess. Men are expected often to prove themselves in combat in one way or another. There is also an expectation of silence, as silence in men is seen as a masculine trait.
These gender guidelines are also seen as slightly outdated by the younger generations, who prefer the very simplified gender roles: Women as mothers and household leaders, and men as fathers and household protectors.

Sexuality

Sexuality is as complex a beast in Sraebadah as it is anywhere else. While many different sexualities exist throughout all classes and races, they are only acknowledged in specific ways. Sex and gender
Men and women marrying and living together is considered to be the first and ideal situation. Many parents attempt to push this route on their children regardless of if it fits them or not. It's considered a lesser situations to have two people of the same sex and gender
Following that, there is marriage allowed between two people of the same sex and gender, but they are typically treated worse than their hetero counterparts. While two men may marry, one of them will be expected to be the wife (see also: Sraebadahn Marriage below).

Age of Majority

There is no official age of majority inside Sraebadah, though you are often assumed to be a child while you live under your parents roof.
Marriage, military service, and moving away are the only three ways to be considered truly independent of your family and a full adult. The exception to this of course is the heirs of a palace or property in a province, because they will inherit the property and so must stay there.
Young highborn boys and girls can choose to attend school, either magical or otherwise. Young men of all classes have the opportunity to join the military and catch the attention of a janissary, to be brought into the First Province to train as one of them. However, you have to be 14 years old to enroll in any of these.

Marriage

See also: Sraebadahn Marriage Marriages are considered to be in poor taste when done before the bride and groom are 13, but can be done as early as 3, especially in times when the Empire is in need of extra support or stability, or during a Rebellion. Sultan Ahmed was only 4 when he was married to Emira Emsa al-Atar, who was 6 at the time. Their marriage was not consummated for several years, however they were acknowledged as legal husband and wife for the purposes of making a peace treaty between the lands.
Most often nobility and royalty are married between the ages of 14 and 25. The tradition of dowries exists and thrives in Sraebadah, so many people begin making wedding plans for their children before they are even near the age of consideration. It is also not uncommon in Scraebadah for nobility to marry half siblings or first cousins (though full siblings is considered unhealthy for the bloodline several Sultans have taken a half-sister or cousin as a wife as a means of securing alliances within the family and preventing coups.
However marriage tends to be most profitable and peaceful when it is bringing together people who love each other very much and have an earnest desire to build a life together.

Ritual and Ceremony

Sraebadahn weddings last for days, nearly a week if the occasion is for royals. The days are broken down by purpose, with some days existing for feasting and gift giving, with one day set aside in the middle for the ceremony. There is a feast expected every night for seven nights if the family is high noble or royal.

Polyamory

Sraebadah places no particular taboo on multiple partners in a marriage, although all partners must act as spouses to each other. A man does not have two wives who serve him, and a woman does not have two husbands to provide for her. Instead, all partners inside the marriage must agree to be partners to each other. This is why multiple marriages are considered to be rarer than the two person marriage.
A woman with two husbands is a wife twice over, but her husbands are also expected to act as spouses to each other. They must defend each others honor, pray for their success in battle, and aim to make each other happy. Each spouse is responsible for following the Doctrine laid down by Vinmys.

Illegitimacy

Illegitimacy is often seen as the worst thing that can be done to someone. To take away someone's right to their bloodline is among the most severe punishments that you can inflict on someone. Sraebadahns consider all children born outside of marriage to be Illegitimate.
While the social status of Illegitimacy is slightly different in each region, there are many things that maintain the same. An Illegitimate child may not inherit their parents lands or armies, they may not be educated alongside legally born children, and they cannot be made into legally born children. Though, if they manage to marry into a family that has a name, they may pass that name onto any legally born children they have.
Due to the religious nature of the Empire, Illegitimate children are often adopted into other families, in order spare them the humiliation and hardship of their status. An adoption into a legitimate family will remove Illegitimacy. A mother who keeps an Illegitimate child is considered to be un-marriable by anyone but that childs father.

Death Rites

See Also: Death
The Death Rites in Sraebadah begin with the entrance of a Shade into the home of someone who is dying. A Shade, one of the many clergy in the death Cult of Uion, begins to guide a soul into their journey to the Sleeping Realm. The shade will take notes of the persons life story, their children, and their legacy. This is all given to the Scrimshander who will carve this legacy onto the dying mans skull upon his passing.
The skulls are displayed in the Temples of Uion, where family may visit them and bring the dead offerings of food or flowers. It's common to visit with the dead on holy days, birthdays, and before a large family event such as a marriage. The bodies of the dead are decapitated, the skulls cleaned, and the remainder of the body burned in a pyre. Much like Sraebadahn weddings, Sraebadahn funerals often last for days.

Naming Customs

First Name

In Sraebadah a child is named in the two weeks following their birth, in a ceremony at the Temples of Vinmys. The ceremony is called Tasmia and it is considered to be one of the largest events of a family, especially if the child being named is the heir. Feasts are thrown for the nobles, along with extravagant dances.
It's traditional for a child, especially the first child a couple has, to be named for their father. This is especially true for nobles. More troublesome nobles could even use the idea that a son was named for another as a way to draw the legitimacy of the child into question. For example, a child born to the wife of a nobleman named Mehmed could expect the child to be named Mehmet, or Ahmed. Something that would keep a portion of the fathers name in it.
The first name of a child is chosen completely by the mother of the child. Illegitimate children do not keep the name their natural mother gives them, though more often then not natural mothers do not name their Illegitimate children.

Last Name

Upon marriage, a wife takes their husbands name, whether they are male or female. While they keep their own name as well, and even use it sometimes to secure trade deals and marriage pacts across the sea, the bloodline they are continuing is that of their husband. This is often a useful way to keep family lines from going extinct, as a female husband can carry on her house name.

Kunyas

See: Kunya
Names that are given to you by others, especially those that explain your linage or deeds, are called Kunyas. Each member of Sraebadahn society is bound to have at least one, though multiples are often seen in those who have lived long lives. A persons Kunyas are often inscribed on their skull after death and spoken about at funerals. The tradition of Kunyas is what allows Sraebadahns to be able to recite so much of their family history.
It's easy to remember what kind of person your uncle was if his Kunya means "kind hearted" or "unstable". This convenience is what helps Sraebadahns keep stories of their ancestors alive.
Kunyas can also be granted by Emir's and the Sultan, as a way to honor someone who has done them a great service.

Holy Days

There are nineteen holy days in the Sraebadahn Calendar. Each one is detailed out as dedication to a specific God or tradition considered sacred inside the Empire.

Astrology

Sraebadahns take their astrology very seriously. An Emir will often employ two or three to check the future and fortune of his current ventures, and the Sultan himself has a whole team of seven.
The time, date, and location of a persons birth is said to be able to reveal much about their future and their life. People often consult private astrologists before large events in their lives; marriages and births, but also funeral planning and education are all planned around the astrological calendar.

Hospitality

Sraebadahn's place no fear on the murder of a guest. While other countries and traditions place severe restrictions on guest right or the rules of hospitality. To be invited into a persons home is to be taken under their protection, and while they will protect you from outside threats, they will not suffer threats or insolence from a guest.
Guests are expected to behave in a civil and respectful manner; the loss of a tongue or a finger is considered an appropriate punishment for insulting the lady of a palace or keep. However, if a guest is found to have been civil, polite, and well mannered during their visit, the breaking of hospitality would be considered abhorrent. It's customary for guests to bring a gift to the home when they visit, such as a plant, a bottle of wine, or bolts of fabric.
Guests are generally given gifts as well, on the last day of their stay, as a way to thank them for their company and geniality.

Pastimes

All people in Sraebadah, whether noble, royal, or common, participate in a variety of pastimes.
Children play with toys and play a variety of games (though noble children play different games then the common children). Noble and royal children are supposed to learn several skills for their own entertainment, as well as for their general education. Horse riding is learned by those who live in the plains, swimming by those who live near the sea or the oasis areas, and all children are expected to learn the basic dances of their region.
Future wives, regardless of gender, are taught homemaking skills like sewing, poetry, household leadership, and music. Husbands on the other hand are expected to train with weapons, learn hunting skills, and combat leadership skills. By the time noble children are 14, they have been learning these skills for years.
Adult entertainments include visits to the bazaar and it's many shows, reading books, sailing, horseback riding, or making music. Often times adults will utilize the skills they learned as a child, such as music making, to perform for their friends and family.

Calligraphy

Calligraphy is an important part of Sraebadahn culture; a decorative script that is distinguished by it's complexity and intricate detail. The signatures of Sultans, Emir's and nobles alike, are often stylized into this type of calligraphy. Words and phrases are written in overlapping Sraebadahn to create a single character that expresses a full title.

Games and Hobbies

Wonders and Diamonds(game) is a popular card game that can also be used to tell fortunes by those who are superstitious enough to believe.
Hamul is a strategy board game whos rules change depending on what pieces are put on the board and in what order they are placed down. Considered to be a nobleman's game, boards come made from all types of expensive materials; from marble to crystal glass.
Himaya is a game children frequently play where the boys pretend to be Janissary guards protecting either an Emir or an Emira. This game is twice as amusing and adorable when the children playing it are being guarded by actual Janissary guards while they play.

Hunting

Hunting is a popular pastime in areas where game hunting is profitable and plausible. Some areas don't have the necessary surrounding environment for hunting, though in many areas with large bodies of water, fishing takes it's place.
Frequently will noblemen take hunting trips into the savannah areas and into the jungles to catch large and impressive game. Sometimes hunting companion animals, such as hounds or large cats are used. Specialized weapons are made for hunting; spears designed for certain prey, bows made for longer distance, clean kills.
Hawking and falconing are both seen as perfectly acceptable hobbies for noblewomen as well as men. Since hunts are often dangerous, it's considered wise to do it in groups of four or more. A hunting party might be out for five to six days, but most common hunting trips last for three days.

Combat

Combat as a pastime is something seen akin to those who like to run marathons for fun. Gladiatorial combat is a popular pastime in Sraebadah, the competitors being praised as celebrities.
Archery competitions are often held,
Animal pit-fighting is common, though generally frowned upon as a "lower" form of combat entertainment.

Theater and Music

Traveling performers, theater groups, puppeteers, singers...
Sraebadah has it all. From the singers that perform beside the bazaar and hope to hear some extra money, to those contracted to perfom for an Emir's birthday, the tradition of performance runs deep in the culture of the Empire. Singers might travel alone or with a small group, theater group caravans can get quite large as they need several cars for hair and make up. Some of these performers are backed by patrons, and some of them are self-financed.
Some groups prefer to perform at a fixed location, such as the The Grand Amphitheatre of Tahlia which has it's own group of performers that travels in addition to one that performs on location. A man might hire a singer to perform a few times a day for his wife, or his children to entertain them.

Dancing

Dance is an important part of Sraebadhan culture; the folk style dancing of many different regions and the more organized dancing of the nobles blending together to great several regional and family dances. The Cengi were a group of belly dancers that can be employed at any palace to teach their style of dancing to the nobles there.
Male dancers, typically referred to as kocek take part in shows and celebrations, much like a carnival, often accompanied by acrobats. They perform difficult tricks and feats of strength while dancing.

Debt

Debt is considered to be part of ones inheritance. Inherited debt is very real to the Sraebadahns, though most will use the death of a family member as a reaosn to excuse debt, as a gift to the family of the departed.
Blood debt is not so easily excused or forgotten.

Blood Debt

Blood debt is debt incurred in the form of favor either by or for your parents. You cannot inherit your younger siblings blood debt, but you can inherit your older siblings.
If your parents performed a great act for a family and were given a favor, you can utilize this favor in their name if your parents have passed. You parents can also send you with a letter of verification stating they approve your use of their favor.