Lanternian
The Lanternian people are a small, and often reclusive human ethnic group native to the Tierra Lanternas. Their numbers are few compared to many other ethnic groups in the Galisean Southwest. Lanternians as a rule live in small villages with local leadership, though they all pay nominal homage to the Crown of Gallaca.
Lanternian origins in the Tierra Lanternas have lived in the region for as long as historic records can show, with Lanternian peoples first being contacted in the region at least 750 years ago. Archaeological records indicate even older settlement with permanent structures predating the Fall of the Yulan-Tai being discovered by some expeditions.
Lanternians, as a rule, are highly self-sufficient, given the small communities and proclivities for hunting the rather dangerous Lanternas. Many Lanternians sell their excess kills, or trade their skills to guide outsiders around the Lanternas. Once at home however, Lanternians tend towards cooperation and communal living, with the profit of their excursions shared by all. A rare few leave their communities, often joining the Gallacan army as elite trackers, or seeking mercenary work of the same.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Names tend to invoke certain traits chosen from what the haruspices determine the child to possess in large quantities. Most often for feminine names invoke concepts of vitality, beauty, or connect to plant life. They typically include:
Alize, Apala, Arine, Bidane, Bittori, Danele, Ederne, Euria, Fede, Fiorentixie, Gabone, Gaztaine, Igone, Iraiti, Izar, Julene, Kalare, Malen, Osane, Ximene
Masculine names
Names tend to invoke certain traits chosen from what the haruspices determine the child to possess in large quantities. Most often for feminine names invoke concepts of boldness, weather, or loyalty to plant life. They typically include:
Artzai, Bernat, Bolivar, Ekaitz, Erramun, Eztebe, Garaile, Gutxi, Inaki, Josu, Koldo, Lizar, Mikel, Ortzi, Peli, Seme, Txeru, Urre, Yuli, Zuri
Unisex names
There are a number of names that are considered unisex, in addition to those granted at birth, everyone, upon completing their first hunt is allowed to choose for themselves an epithet, this epithet pertinent to them, is considered regardless of gender, and indeed to those who do not confirm to a binary gender adopt it as their primary form of address.
Other names
Laternian people forgo a family name, with lineage being indicated by adding a last name, ending in -oz (son of) if masculine, -oza (daugher of) if feminine, or -oze (child of) if neuter, with the root name being either the name of a father, or a mother, with each community having different rules on which parent is selected for linneage.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Lanternians possess their own, relatively unique language, the Lanternian language, that is spoken nearly universally among them. This language has ancient roots, and comparatively few modern relatives, though some tribal dialects make heavy use of Gallega loan words. Lanternian lacks a writing system however, with most information being stored via the visual arts, storytellers, or other means. Outside the Lanternas, many Lanternians take up Gallega, or Common in order to communicate with outsiders.
Shared customary codes and values
Lanternian societies rely heavily on in-community cooperation, and as a result tribal groups often place a strong emphasis on sharing the product of their labor, being good hosts, and protecting the community from the monsters in the Lanternas. Of secondary emphasis, is the impart of critical survival skills, and the ability to hunt creatures successfully.
Average technological level
Though there is some archaeological evidence to imply that the Lanternians were once a developed, high technology society. As it stands in the modern era however, the Lanternians are are lightly settled, hunter-gatherer society, with small somewhat mobile villages, and simple stone weapons being the norm. The lack of acceptable land means that agriculture is impossible. One area where Lanternian culture excels however, is in making durable, water reistant clothing.
Common Etiquette rules
Given the necessity of group cohesion, Lanternians to shun those who are too individualistic, with many cultural activities necessarily requiring the whole village or tribal grouping, or at least a whole segment of it. Eating, dancing, hunting, and other activities are done as a unit in order to maximize the strength of the community. In a more narrow sense, each tribal or village group does have a simple caste system, that generally places either the spiritual caste, or warrior caste on top, though how this works often varies by the local community.
Common Dress code
Lanternians prefer simple practical clothing, with most dress codes enforced by the law of the wild rather than law of man. Plain colored, easy to produced clothing that covers most of the skin to protect it from poisonous plants and animals are favored, and hoods are generally expected to be worn as well, and many people wear boots, which are some of the finest and most water resistant in the known world.
Art & Architecture
The Lanternian arts are limited by the geography of their environment. Small and easily replaced statues, instruments and other artistic objects are preferred, with the art of storytelling, dance, and music being by far the most common performing arts. Lanternian architecture tends to be quite simplistic and practical, and is, by design, quite effective at blending into the local environment.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
One of the most central aspects of Lanternian culture are group stories, presented by a storyteller who also leans on a group of dedicated performers to act out the story. These stories are passed down by a select "storyteller", usually a woman, who selects an apprentice upon ascending to her new position, thus keeping the cultural tradition intact. Religious festivals are quite common, if rather tame affairs compared to those of other cultures.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Given the dangerous nature of living in the Lanternas, there are no rituals held at birth, with the first major ceremony being the giving of names, which occurrs once the child has lived for two years. This rite, involving the local druids is perhaps one of the most important of all religious rites any one individual can undergo. For the childbearer, ceremonies are few, but they are often allowed some time away from their traditional duties.
Coming of Age Rites
The chief coming of age rite for young people regardless of gender is the First Hunt, which occurs for most around the age of 14, though some elect to try at a younger age, and some wait until they are older. In the First Hunt, the young person is taken to a comparatively safe place, and tasked with hunting a large creature, usually with minimal support from older members of the community. If they successfully slay the creature they, upon returning home have a feast thrown in their honor, and are given the opportunity to choose for themselves an epithet that marks their becoming an adult, if they fail, they are given an opportunity to try again whence their injuries are healed.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Those who fall are generally cremated if possible, with a brief ceremony held before, and after cremation, with the ashes interned in ceremonial statues and held within a Hallowed Hall where those who knew the person in life can continue to venerate, or even commune with them with the help of the local druids. Indeed the Hallowed Halls are often used as a font of Wisdom by the local religious caste.
Common Taboos
Generally, as a communal society, the Lanternians have a dim view of those who refuse to share, and especially those who actively hoard material from their communities. Such people are often shunned by their village, or even outright ejected. The highest taboo of all is murder, and especially cannibalism, which is often seen as a heinous crime, and those found to have done so are often executed in fear of the perpetrator becoming one of the many beasts that stalk the Lanternas.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Traditional masculine Lanternian beauty favors quickness, and athleticism, with lean, hardy bodies being the ideal. Long heads with a narrow jawline, and cropped hair is favored, with most Lanternian communities perfering the hair tightly back. Dark skin, black hair, and blue-green, or gray eyes are generally typical and seen as beautfiul. Arms, Shoulders Chest, represent the most erogenized persons in Lanternian men.
Traditional feminine Lanternian beauty similarly favors quickness, with leaner body types being favored. Feminine features are expected to be sharp, but still noticably softer than those of their masculine counterparts, with the dark skin, black hair, and grey, blue, or green eyes being the norm. The most eroginzed feminine parts include the thighs, waist, and hips.
Gender Ideals
Due to the survivalist nature of Lanternian living, gendered expectations are rather minimal as men, women, and nonbianary people alike must all participate in hunts, gather food, rear children, take care of elders, and maintain their communities. People are generally expected to be somewhat self-sufficient, alert, and wise to the ways of the Lanternas. Where gender lines differ is in higher level functions, with feminine leaning persons tending to be favored to form the spiritual backbone of most communities, with masculine persons being favored as warriors.
Courtship Ideals
Lanternian courtship processes tend to be simple, short, and to the point, often with the community's religious leadership playing matchmaker, watching the community's youth during their childhood, and, to the best of their ability guiding people they see as compatible towards one another. These religious leaders tend to refrain from being choosy about the gender of potential matches, given the lax gender roles of Lanternian society.
Relationship Ideals
The concept of monogamy is quite weak in Lanternian society with most people accepting multiple partners in their lifetime, often two or three at once. Romantic relationships are thus often either shortlived, extremely free of jealousy, or both, though sometimes couples that have children slow down somewhat to raise children in their first years before the village raises the children as a unit.
Lanternian Man and Woman by Javak
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Recommended DnD (5e) Traits:
Note: These are rough guidelines, and not strict rules for those wishing to roleplay as Lanternians.If using Getninia Human
• +1 to Wisdom, +1 to Dexterity• Proficiency in Perception, Survival, or Stealth
• Recommended Feats: Keen Mind, Mobile, Observant, Piercer, Resilient, Stealthy, Survivalist
