Varanasi

Emmel    World Encyclopedia    Ethnicities      Varanasi

The group of people who inhabit much of the highlands on the eastern side of Terstone Canyon.

History

Over 1000 years ago the Varanasi people were a widespread collection of clans that lived all across the central part of the continent that included The Toruga Basin, Upper Shivalik Hills, Núramoth, Giant’s Steps, Gwathló, and the Shivalik Hills. The clans had many similarities culturally, but due to the wide landscape they covered, differences were far easier to pick out. When the Myrdin Empire began their crusades the Varanasi were the first targets as they were scattered and individually weaker than the Myrdin Imperial Army. One by one with each crusade more of the Varanasi clans fell to the Empire, and became slaves or prisoners if they would not bow. Over several hundred years the many clans worked closely with each other and eventually united over their shared heritage. The flames of this not yet resistance were stoked by General Golden Dawn who started along the Southern Seas uniting cities and peoples to fight the Myrdin Empire. Once the southern alliance had reached the point that they could conceivably fight, the Varanasi people staged a massive rebellion that upended the Empire. They joined forces with the general and fought back the Empire over the course of 25 years.

When the time came for Arveia to officially come together as a formal entity many of the Varanasi fought with General Golden Dawn however when asked to unify under one country’s banner many of the clans of the Varanasi rejected the idea. They were not a people that wished to be under another's rule any time soon and so instead formed their own alliance among the different clans and created the Varanasi Council. Only two of the Varanasi clans agreed to join the Arveia Alliance, the Mizo Clan (Hill People) and the Assam Clan (Uneven Lands). Since the alliance the Varanasi have worked closely with the Arveians against their common enemy, but as equals. This history of subjugation and violence combined with their government's structure of power is where many get the idea that the Varansi love fighting and war when in fact many would like nothing more than to live in peace.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Personal Expression

The word Varanasi comes from an old draconic dialect that is no longer spoken by the Varanasi peoples any longer, it means “People of Light” which is what they called themselves after liberation from Myrdin. It is a name that truly reflects the attitude of the people. The Varanasi love any and all expressions of life and are a truly vivacious people. In their visual arts this translates less of a focus on articulating precise anatomy than many other contemporary art styles but showing smoothly-flowing forms expressing breath and life. Nearly all aspects of their life is accented with vibrant colors of which indigo, orange-red, yellow, and varying shades of white being the most common. Tattoos are another form of expression and are worn to show a sign of their clan, or more often nowadays, their home, and are typically on the upper chest, neck, or head.

Clan and Family

Clan and family bloodlines are both preserved among the Varanasi and are highly important to the culture as a whole. Both are different, though the distinction is subtle to outsiders. Family refers specifically to actual blood relatives, as far as can be traced which is made difficult by their slavery at the hands of the Myrdin Empire. Whereas clan, in their context, refers to a confederation of families united by mutual purpose in ages past, organized along military lines. Of the two, the clan is usually considered more important and it was to the clan that the Varanasi owed their most loyalty. At the head of each clan is the Primarch that oversees the clan's dominion. A person's actions are expected to bring favor and good will to his or her clan, improving its reputation. For this reason, the Varanasi typically go by their clan names rather than their family names, hoping to bring honor and glory to their clan.

Overall, compared with clan ties, family is secondary and private, as reflected by the fact that most family names are kept secret, and shared with only the closest friends and other family members. The usual family unit is quite small, often composed of only two individuals: a mated pair or a parent and their child. Varanasi marriages are arranged by the city leaders along old pact lines in many cases. The Varanasi lack the association of love with marriage that many races had, instead wedding purely for reproductive reasons. Once a child reached 3 years old the marriage is typically dissolved, with the parent who is the same sex as the child rearing it for the remainder of its childhood.

The parent–child relationship during the formative years between the marriage's dissolution and the child's adulthood are incredibly important, this would be ages 3 to 15. Parents, along with other adults from the community, are expected to not simply act as loving caretakers but teachers as well, using storytelling and direct action to instill the virtues of society within a child. In addition to scholarly studies and moral lessons, parents are also expected to focus the drive of the child and teach them basic martial skills for the purpose of defense. The Varanasi believe this in-depth mentorship is necessary not only for the child's education but also for their morality. It is thought that without this imposed discipline, a Varanasi child's fierce passions might give way to a feral savagery. Within a large community, the parent maintains the position of authority, but other adults are allowed to act as surrogate parents and teachers, giving a young child multiple examples to learn from.

Religion

Because of their position as slaves of the Myrdin Empire for so long, the Varanasi have a very different approach to religion and the gods than the other groups. The fierce independence they are known for translates into a natural aversion to being beholden to a superior authority they have no control of. For this reason, many are entirely agnostic, with no strong feelings one way or another about the gods.

Those who do embrace religion, however, are well-suited to the path of a paladin. Making the creed and commandments of a god, a code by which they could live, is in many ways attractive to the Varanasi, so long as they are able to get past the whole worship part. If they do join the faithful, they can become quite devoted in their chosen church, craving the direction and purpose it gives them. Likewise, paladins, unlike clerics, represent an almost martial career path and one that blended well with their militaristic culture. The most common deities where one might find a Varanasi worshiper is with Eldath, Helm, Ilmater, but especially Lliira and Tyr. In some parts of the eastern coast the worship of Talos can also be found.

Shared customary codes and values

The Varanasi enjoy broad freedoms, so long as one completes their duties, and does not prevent others from completing theirs, nothing is forbidden. For example, there are no laws against recreational drug use, but if someone is unable to complete their duties due to drug use, their superiors step in. Judicial proceedings are akin to 'interventions' where peers express their concern, and try to convince the offender to change. If rehabilitation fails, they have no qualms about sentencing dangerous individuals to life at hard labor. Tied in with this, dereliction of duty is punished as one of the more serious crimes as it is seen as an affront to not only those who are subordinate to you, but also to the clan and country as a whole.

The Varanasi’s drive for honor carries on into every aspect of the culture. Among them, the most horrible crime is oath-breaking; honesty is expected whenever a deal is struck. Commitment to a word is expected to be carried out to the letter, and all parties in a transaction are held accountable and responsible for failings. Ultimately, those who fail to meet their word are expected to accept the consequences and, in fact, most Varanasi do so. So widespread is this value of honor and honesty that it is commonly believed that they never break their word.

Citizen Tiers

These tiers in many other cultures would be indistinguishable from military ranks but these tiers govern almost every aspect of life there. We begin with the first tier at childbirth and advance upwards from there into the initial period of mandatory military service at the age of 15 which is the second tier. Formal citizenship is conferred at the third tier once military training is complete. Promotion to higher tier is based on the personal assessment of one's superiors and co-rankers. Higher-ranked citizens are expected to lead and protect subordinates while lower-ranking citizens are expected to obey and support superiors. The stigma associated with demotion lies not on the individual, but on those who promoted them when they weren't ready for additional responsibility. This curbs the tendency to promote individuals into positions beyond their capabilities. Settling into a role and rank is not considered stagnation as many other cultures may consider. The Varanasi value knowing one's own limitations more than being ambitious. At the top are the Primarchs, who each rule a domain, a clan, military regiments and vote on matters of national importance. They otherwise maintain a "hands-off" policy, trusting their citizens on each level below them to do their jobs competently.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Milanā and the Milna

The Varanasi have an interesting relationship with the griffon and hippogriff population native to the plateaus. These beasts are both revered as symbols of freedom and partners. The Varanasi have a special connection with these beasts, though they cannot speak they are intelligent enough to understand speech and choose they're riders of which it is considered a great honor. Generally every settlement, both big and small will have an aviary of either griffons or hippogriffs where they are taken care of. Once a rider and a mount have bonded it is considered a lifelong commitment in which they entrust each other with their lives and the protection of their family. As such it is common for the children of a bonded pair to eventually bond as well. This process of bonding is called Milanā which means "to come together in harmony", and a bonded pair is known as a Milna.

Major organizations

Varanasi Council, Arviean Alliance

Encompassed species

• Dragonborn

Related Organizations

• Varanasi Council