Popillian

Kabutoe resembling giant beetles they are known for being crowned with a large horn, a hard deep-blue or black chitin, and a pair of snapping mandibles. More tougher than the average human the Popillian ethnic group are known for their prowess at smithing and their endurance. Among the Kabutoe the Popillian are renowned for their toughness which is only reinforced by their use of heavy armors.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Popular feminine names include Urushido, Watase, Ogura, Yamashita, Kashiwagi, Kazetani, Iwakiri, Hokama, Uesugi, and Matsuoka

Masculine names

The most popular masculine names of the Popillian ar Tsunematsu, Yogi, Takashima, Tamura, Uyeda, Sasagawa, Aoki, Togoshi, Aomine, and Umon

Family names

Mengu Popillian, Hida Popillian, and Shikona Popillian are the most populous family names with lesser families serving under them or holding lower positions

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Popillian are deeply spiritual Kabutoe that revere the divine. The first Popillian was said to have been the high priestess for the original Kabutoe and since then their ethnic group has had close ties to the priesthood. The Popillian are also predominantly smiths and are known for their arms though more for their armor. A Popillian will own and maintain a set of armor that will become like a second skin to them no matter the weight. Even the worker caste of Popillian are said to wear light armor in deference to the original Popillian.

Art & Architecture

Temples are centers of Popillian society holding the largest buildings with the rest of the community surrounding the temple. The temple is a five-storey pagoda that stands more than one hundred feet tall. The stone used in the center pillar of the pagoda is estimated to have been a stalagmite that was much larger until the Popillian workers fashioned it for use in the Temple. The central pillar rests three meters below the surface of the massive foundation stone, stretching into the ground. At its base is enshrined what is believed to be a fragment of the first priestess' bones.
The rest of the buildings are made from heavy clay or wrought stone with many residences being little more than sleeping quarters, the majority of free time (for what litttle Popillian have) surrounds their faith and their job with buildings. Raised-floor storehouses as granaries were constructed using metal tools to protect the hive's food supply from vermin. A gradual increase in the size of buildings led to standard units of measurement as well as refinements in layout and rock gardens for higher ranked Popillian.

Coming of Age Rites

When the warriors come of age at five they are gathered together to become recognized as fully grown men and women. They are placed in a ceremonial battle ground consisting of several circles made of clay mixed with sand. The warrior caste are split into pairs from tallest to smallest with a young adult joining should there be an odd number. The pairs will then proceed to pray over the circle, performing rites of purification upon themselves and the ceremonial circle. The warrior will then wrestle with each other over and over with priestess presiding over each conflict until a Popillian is pinned or moved outside the circle. These ritual combats will use only their armor and their bare hands until each warrior has fought every other warrior present. Upon finishing the now recognized adults are placed within their respective units with proficient warriors being given better positions.

Funerary and Memorial customs

The ceremony of blessing is done to purify and concentrate the dead, while also inviting the angels to watch over the soul of the dead Popillian. The ceremony is lead by one of the head priestess along with two other members of the clergy. Priestess will pray for the safety and well-being of the dead while in middle of the grave the priestess will then place an offering of food to the angels. The priestess will then will pour holy water into the hole, and around several other places around the grave before the other clegyfill the hole. A ceremonial covering will eventually cover up the grave and the remaining holy water is then shared with everyone in attendance.

Historical figures

Hida Popillian Nara was a famous high priestess who directed the Kabutoe to Sadin'Zurah to survive the other races attempt to purge the Kabutoe race. The current high priestess is Mengu Popillian Tuda the first of the Mengu family to achieve the rank of high priestess her appointment was a great upset within the Hida family.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Many Popillian focus on the size of the horn atop their head, the larger their horn the more likely their are seen to be prosperous which led to beauty standards focusing mostly around the horn. There is also a focus on the luminosity and shine of ones chitin with the shinier the body the more beautiful one is considered.

Gender Ideals

Female Kabutoe are considered more important and of higher rank than a male when comparing similar jobs and castes. The highest rank among the Popillian is the High Priestess of the hive.

Major organizations

The Popillian Priestesses are known to be one of the few Kabutoe who travel regularly to other hives and were some of the first to join the Formito Shogunate.

Encompassed species

• Kabutoe

Related Locations

• Sadin'Zurah