Atinan Aasimar

Aasimar reincarnate almost entirely within the borders of Atina and they form with knowledge bestowed upon them by the Celestial pantheon and the Cyclical pantheon, which results in a culture distinct from many other in Hillit.
An aasimar has a peosh tzosher (/ˈpeoʃ ˈʦoʃeʁ/ , divine mentor) who sponsored their reincarnation -- Aalun, Allathra, Corserei, Laetha, or the samsaran Cyclical gods. Depending on their peosh tzosher, an aasimar will have different skin tones and enter the world with different kinds of information given to them. Any type of Atinan aasimar can reincarnate in any sacred site.

Naming Traditions

Unisex names

An aasimar's personal name is not typically linked to their gender, but instead is a word in Modern Celestial that they choose for themselves at the formation of their new lives. As they age and achieve personal achievement, they can add to their personal name. This usually happens when they have reached a spiritual milestone.

Family names

Atinan aasimar do not have familial names because they have no family units. Instead, they will use the name of the sacred site of their reincarnation as a sort of familial name analogy, as well as their peosh tzosher.
Peosh tzosher names are

• Aaluni aasimar use the name Ev (/ev/ , white).
• Allathri aasimar use the name Afshi (/ˈafʃi/ , gold).
• Corsereiit aasimar use the name Zof (/zof/ , blue).
• Laethi aasimar use the name Omre (/omˈʁe/ , red).
• Samsari aasimar use the name Esten (/ˈesten/ , blackened).

Major sites of reincarnation include

• Da'an (/ˈdaʔan/)
• Lugutosh (/luˈgutoʃ/)
• Lutz (/luʦ/)
• Ral (/ʁal/)
• Yiyen (/ˈjijen/)

Other names

Aasimar name structure tends to be (personal name) (peosh tzosher name) (sacred site name). Close companions can use their personal names freely, but most Atinan aasimar will insist upon the title Gel (/gel/ , guide) followed by their peosh tzosher name and sacred site name when interacting with people who are not close.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Atinan aasimar form with linguistic proficiency in Modern Celestial. Atinan monks teach them the Common language as well.

Shared customary codes and values

All Atinan aasimar are formed with knowledge of the gods, including rites and rituals. They immediately are given a bias to revere and follow divine teachings. Spiritual growth (usually along the oe peosh philosophical path) is prized above all else for an Atinan aasimar and an Atinan aasimar is expected to strive to achieve a state of ashi before they die. Almost all are unable to do so, but each reincarnation carries a small amount of the wisdom from a previous life to aid them in restarting the journey.

Common Etiquette rules

The ideal Atinan aasimar is unfailingly polite, controlled, and will never show an unintended emotion. Stoicism, kindness, and adherence to ritual is central to their etiquette. According to Gruffi Lozla's On the Nature of Culture, Atinan aasimar are the most intense high context culture in Whohe Dvuha with a strong focus on deeply-seated traditions bestowed upon them by the gods.

Common Dress code

Atinan aasimar favor embroidered robes, flowing fabrics, delicate jewelry, and winged motifs. An Atinan aasimar usually has casual, formal, and ceremonial dress, each of which has its own ritual for creation, wear, and care.

Casual

Casual clothing is layered, loosefitting robes of cotton or linen with embroidered patterns. The waist is usually bound with sashes or leather. Casual clothing is worn during physical labor, travel, day-to-day, and intimiate tasks. The head is usually covered in a cloth wrapping or cap.

Formal

Formal clothing is layered, tighter robes made of silk with delicate embroidery that reflects the symbols of their peosh tzosher, such as sacred animals and flowers. The torso is usually slightly bound in a silk and linen woven band from the waist to under the chest. The band has support along the upper back that features metal, wood, or fabric wing-like protrusions from below the scapula arching upwards towards the head. The head has a draping headdress, diadem, or crown.

Ceremonial

Ceremonial clothing resembles exceptionally high quality formal clothing with an ornate crown, diadem, or makuṭa. Ceremonial clothing can be difficult for most people to move in, but it is made with great care and is used for significant sacred rituals.

Art & Architecture

Atinan aasimar sacred sites feature hallowed temples engraved with murals telling the stories of aasimar that reincarnated at this site before. Monks will keep aware of an Atinan aasimar's spiritual journey and advise them. In doing so, engravers will add the aasimar's journey to the temple.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

The formation of a new aasimar is a widely celebrated event. Monks who guard the sacred sites are rumored to be able to tell when a new aasimar will form based on the spiritual energy of the land. They prepare for the birth of the aasimar by tightening security, dressing in formal wear, and creating a feast. When the aasimar forms, they are immediately welcomed into the world again and brought to the feast (usually vegetarian and gentle flavors to help the aasimar learn what their new palette will be) and announce to the community that a blessed soul is walking amongst them again.

Coming of Age Rites

Aasimar will be protected, tutored, and trained for about five years before they are considered ready to face the world. This celebration is typically a massive party thrown by the community to honor the aasimar's journey so far and pray for a safe journey in the future.

Funerary and Memorial customs

When an aasimar dies, the monastery will create a marble effigy of their form, name, pattern, and record in their libraries the deeds and spirituality of the aasimar. The community that is associated with the sacred site will go into a week-long mourning, including a sacred pyre (either with the actual body or a symbolic pyre if the body was outside the community). After the ashes have fully cooled, the community will prepare for the spirit to form a new body within about 1 year's time.
The death of an aasimar is considered a deep loss, for the collected wisdom and insights are temporarily gone from Hillit. However, the tragedy is short lived, for the community earnestly believes that the wisdom will return again soon in a new form.

Common Taboos

Aasimar have a delicate spirit and are encouraged to follow the oe peosh. However, if the aasimar falters or travels against the oe peosh, there is a real chance their reincarnation can be impeded.
An aasimar who commits grave sins in their life and dies off of the oe peosh will likely reincarnate as a rakshasa (if male) or rakshasi (if female) -- a cruel humanoid that resembles a tiger with backwards hands. The rakshasa will spend their lives trying to corrupt existing aasimar and steal them away when they are freshly reincarnated, which is when they are also the most vulnerable and easily influenced. It is possible for a rakshasa to redeem themselves and return to the oe peosh, but this is a rare phenomenon.

Ideals

Gender Ideals

Atinan aasimar are formed in bodies that are usually assigned as male or female. Beyond this sex, however, there are few cultural differences between the concept of 'male' and 'female'. Since aasimar do not reproduce like other sentients (i.e. they do not need a breeding pair), there is little value towards having a gendered society for them. Male and female sexed aasimar, thus, can easily identify as any gender, including being agendered. Many Atinan aasimar do not identify with any gender and prefer neutered pronouns (they, them, etc.), but will usually adopt personal pronouns that reflect their biological sex simply for the ease of other sentients who are more gendered. It is considered a sign of compassion for an outsider to refer to an Atinan aasimar in their actually preferred personal pronoun.

Courtship Ideals

Atinan aasimar have no need to form breeding pairs to propagate. Since there is a fixed limit to how many aasimar can exist at any time, and since they are gifted mortal form in sacred sites by the gods, there are no inherent family units for two or more aasimar to lead. Thus, there is little in courtship ideals.
Occasionally, an Atinan aasimar will feel a deep emotional connection to a non-aasimar or even another aasimar. This emotional connection can be be romantic or platonic. In order to commemorate such a bond, an Atinan aasimar will bestow gifts of deeply symbolic items distinct to their existing relationship. If reciprocated, the aasimar forms a gilmam (/ˈgilmam/ , bond) with their partner. The gilmam is expected to last for the entirety of their lives.

Relationship Ideals

Atinan aasimar are not sexual beings and most romantic relationships they form tend to be asexual. There is no shame with forming a romantic gilmam, but there is a taboo with forming any sexual relationship with another being. Children of an aasimar and a non-aasimar are always of the other sentient's ancestry with a small trace of the divine linage in them -- this can manifest in a player character as a divine soul sorcerer. The children of these unions are rarely accepted by Atinan assimar unless they exhibit exemplary spiritual dedication. Two aasimar are unable to produce a child.

Major organizations

Atinan aasimar are intrinsically connected to the Celestial pantheon and Cyclical pantheon, as well as their clergies.

Parent ethnicities

• Atinan

Diverged ethnicities

• Aaluni Aasimar
• Allathri Aasimar
• Corsereiit Aasimar
• Laethi Aasimar
• Samsari Aasimar

Encompassed species

• Aasimar

Related Organizations

• Atina