Life in Himinil

Calendar

Before sailing the skies was a major part of life, there were many different ways of keeping track of the days. However, the church of Veritism went on their Crusade of Shared Knowledge. This massive undertaking led to a universalization of many concepts such as language, moral ideals, religion, and the calendar. This means the Krithian calendar is used in the vast majority of the skies. The few exceptions are small inconsequential powers that refuse to change their ways.
The Krithian Calendar is much like our own. 4 seasons, 12 months, 365 days. But, the Krithian week is five days long which results in 73 weeks. Every month contains 30 days. This leaves 5 days over, which is used as a week of celebration at the beginning of the year. This is called the free week, and it is generally expected that it is a full week of rest and relaxation for many. Though, there are many who ignore this week and continue to work.

Veritic Calendar

The Veritic Calendar is the most widely used calendar in Himinil. It is used by any who wish to deal with nations other than their own. True, each nation has their own calendar which is used alongside the Veritic Calendar, but they are slowly being done away with. This calendars year begins when the church of Veritism first began its Crusade of Knowledge. The current year is 638 AT. AT being "After Truth" the time after the Crusade. Before the Crusade is refereed to as PK, or "Pre-Knowledge"

Seasons

Himinil does follow the same pattern as earth. Winter to spring to summer to fall and so on and so forth. However, the Krithian year begins during the fall harvest. Fall is called NAME, Winter is NAME, Spring is NAME, and Summer is NAME.

Months

There are twelve months in Himinil, three per season. They are named as such
January = Visellionnuu - Visellionnuu means Visellia's month. It was renamed from Yoyesi (which is still used in some parts of the world) after Visellia, the first queen of Krithia. Yoyesi meant the month of Fertility.
February = Acanthionnuu - Acanthionnuu means Acanthio's month. Acanthio was an ambition king who was famous for acts such as moving the capital city, and renaming a month after him. The month was originally Takassi, the month of peace.
March = Vuonosi - The month of Change. Names for the changing of seasons.
April = Neirisi - The month of Culture. This month was named in celebration of Krithian and Veritism culture.
May = Nirayunosi - The month of Strength. A common time for armies to be gathered.
June = Kuveisi - The month of blood. Named after the tendency for wars to start in this month.
Jully = Ventsairtoyisi - The month of beuty. Named for the rise of noble balls during this month.
August = Yuntsairtoyisi - The month of grace. Named for the victories of nobles who have survived the waring months.
September = Filuysi - The month of bread. Named for the summer harvest.
October = Minoivosi - The month of sailing. Originaly called the month of the sky, it was named in respect of the month the Crusade of Knowledge began on.
Novembre = Aintenosi - The month of Noble. A colder month, thus named for the tendency for nobility to be more civil towards each other.
Decembre = Daynosi - The month of beginning and end. Named to symbolise the end of the year.

Week

A week is 5 days. They are in order of Greste, Liaste, Perste, Harste, and Hurna

Food

Food varies greatly in Himinil, but it can be separated into three broad categories. Island food, Krithian food, Vadathan food, and Mokson food.

Island Food

The islands in Himinil lack oceans and large lakes, so seafood and fise is a rare treat. Most of the world does not have enough land to grave herd animals either. So the most common form of meat is poultry, pig, goat, deer, and even dog in some islands. Birds are plentiful in Himinil and many techniques have been discovered to catch, breed, and domesticating birds. Chichen, turkey, pheasant, and other common large birds have been bred to produce more meat and not be able to fly as far.
Grains are not as plentiful as it is in our world, but they are grown wherever they can be. This allows for bread, tack, and other foods. Cheese is also a common food. Though, cheese is not produced by a cow. Rather goats, cats, sheep and small domesticated deer. Fruits are common on many islands, as birds carry their seeds across the lands.
On more tropical islands, coconuts and other tropical fruit are common. Colder climate lands produce pears, apples, oranges, and berries. Warmer islands produce peppers, tomatoes, cactus fruit, and zucchini or squash.
Each island is slightly different, but the typical meal for an Islander is a whole small bird or portion of a larger bird, A piece of goat or deer cheese, a piece of hard bread or cracker, a small fruit, and a cup of water, wine, or deer milk.

Domesticated Animals

On an island, there are not many large animals to produce for food. Birds are the most common domesticated animal. The types that have been domesticated tend to have their wings clipped or are unable to fly. Every Island has different kinds of different fowl that they raise. Most raise several kinds.
Aside from birds, deer, goats, and sheep, cats are domesticated for food as well. The cats are not the small house cats we are familiar with. While those cats are certainly popular, the cats raised for their milk are about the size of a dog.

Krithian Food

Krithia has a large tract of land that grains, vegetables, and large domesticated animals are raised en mass. The common food for a Krithian is a chunk of beef, a loaf of bread with butter, a roasted tuber such as a potato or beat, a piece of cow cheese, and water, milk, wine or beer.

Domesticated Animals

Krithia has domesticated the cow, sheep, and yak. Bovine and pigs are unique to Krithia, therefore steak is a common food and export and live pigs are exported all over the world. Cows are not exported as often because of their size and cost of feeding them. Krithia also domesticated several dozens of types of birds, dogs, cats, and many rodents that are used as pets. Cats are much smaller in Krithia and they are not raised for their milk.

Vadathan Food

Vadath has the land to grow large amounts of food, but they are only now beginning to mass produce food for their entire land. A common meal for a Vadathan is a piece of deer Jerky, a slice of bread and honey, and a piece of goat cheese.

Domesticated Animals

Deer, elk, and the miniature deer are animals unique to Vadath, and they have been domesticated well. Deer are harvested for food, milk, and hide. Goats and sheep also originate from Vadath. Goats are also used for their meat and milk and sheep are used for their wool and meat. Vadath does not eat as much fowl as other peoples, but they do commonly eat fish.

Mokson Food

Mokso is a large, flat land that grows many types of vegetation. Their diets involve these vegetables with meat as an added treat. A common Mokson meal would be a loaf of bread, a corn spread with peppercorn, Cheese made from the Mokson Elephant, and a small piece of ostrich meat.

Domesticated Animals

Mokso has domesticated the ostrich and its variations, the mokson elephant which is about the size of a large elk, and several boats. The ostrich is raised for their egg and meat, but they are common mounts for those who cannot afford other transport. Mokso Elephants are beasts of burden who are also killed for their meat and milk. However, butchering a Mokso elephant is done rarely as they are usually more valuable as beasts of burden and only give birth to a calve every few years.

Animals of Himinil

Birds are by far the most common animal in Himinil. But this section will detail the more unique animals of Himinil and where they come from.

Horses

The horse is originally Krithian, but they are an endangered species. There are only 50 horses in Krithias wild, so they are not used as often as they are in our world. Instead, Buffalo take their role on Krithia. Elk is ridden in Vadath. Ostrich is the horses of Mokso.

Miniature Deer

A Vadathan miniature deer is a small creature which stands 1.5 to 2 ft. tall. It is a common pet for young Vadathans. Their horns grow to reach 6 to 8 inches tall, and those with interesting colors and antlers are bred to increase their chances. After many generations of this selective breeding, domesticated Miniature Deers have distinct coloration and a unique, weaving antler structure.

Roc

A Roc is a type of Eagle found commonly in the Bitter Winds, but they are known to fly as far as the Umbral Clouds or even the Stormy Sky. A Roc's wingspan can reach anywhere between 20 and 25ft. These birds are scavengers who soar through the skies searching for food. Their feathers are very valuable as jewelry, but it is illegal to hunt these birds. Rocs are also the most intelligent bird, rivaling some of the smartest dogs. They can be trained easily. While rare, it is possible for a Roc to be ridden.
There are two breeds of Roc, the standard Roc, and the Lesser Roc. Lesser Rocs are smaller but more fierce. They are approximately the size of a human, and as intelligent as a standard Roc. Lesser Rocs are commonly trained as hunting companions and guard animals.

Dragon

A Dragon is not a large, firebreathing lizard that we are familiar with. In fact, they are no larger than a medium-sized dog at their largest. A dragon is a lizard similar to an iguana. It spends most of its days sunbathing and eats insects and fruits. A Dragon does have large bat-like wings in place of its front arms. They are similar to a bats wing, in which they can be used to handle objects. Dragons can fly a short distance, but the main purpose is for them to spend energy to rise as high as they can, then glide to the next island. The back legs of a Dragon are finned and are extended outwards when gliding.
Dragons are referred to as having a firey breath, however. Their saliva is an irritant and slight poison which burns on contact with skin. Being bitten by a Dragon is akin to having your arm burned by a hot stove. Luckily, dragons are mostly docile and will only attack when threatened.
Dragons are a common animal in the Broken Expanse. They are important creatures to Taugata stories, but other than that they make a fine stew.

Mokson Ostrich

The Mokson Ostrich is very similar to our own, with a few exceptions. The Ostriches in Mokso have been bred to carry people and equipment, thus they have a more muscular neck, back, and legs. Their wings are smaller, but the bird is larger than ours by a foot. These Ostriches are bred to be eaten or ridden, so there are minor breed differences. Only one person can ride an ostrich comfortably, and it takes much practice. But mastering Ostrich riding can allow someone to travel quickly over land, and even catch up to a train. Because of this, Ostriches are a common tool of the Mokson Anarchists.

Mokson Elephant

The Mokson Elephant is a maximum size of about 7 foot tall, so they are not as large as our elephants. These elephants also have thick fur on their back, akin to boar hair, and a shorter trunk. Their tusks are long in the wild and do not stop growing. The tusks are kept filed down on a farm, but a wild elephant can have a tusk that wraps back into the elephants head if they do not break. These beasts are used to pull plows, produce milk, carry carts and wagons, but are rarely butchered.

Manticore

A Manticore is another creature of the Broken Expanse. These are house cat sized felines with bat-like wings instead of front legs. They fly from tree to tree hunting birds but are relatively harmless to humans. Their tail is unique in that the Manticore can control its shape somewhat. When in flight, the tail flattens and becomes wider, which allows for greater control. This unique tail combined with the Manticores flexible body allows Manticores to be one of the more accurate flying creatures. They can fly at full speed through a jungle. Manticore kittens are known for slamming into trees and people at full force once they learn to fly. Luckily, their skull and neck bones are designed to be able to survive such blows. Manticores are popular pets and pest removers.

Dire Bats

The Dire Bat of the Umbral Skies is effectively a large fruit bat. They can grow to be three, or even four, feet long at adulthood. Their primary food is fruit and large nuts, such as coconut, which they eat with their large jaws. They are known to have a powerful bite and are sometimes trained to attack targets. Though, training a Dire Bat is a lengthy and tedious process because they can be very stubborn.

Giant Moths

Giant moths were originally from Mokso, but they were driven out by an alchemist long ago. Now, they fly from island to island in swarms of dozens to hundreds. A Giant Moth is about a foot in length and fairly harmless by itself. However, swarms of these creatures can descend on a farm or village and eat everything in sight. The moths usually stay for eight to sixteen hours, but in that time they can destroy a villages food supply or destroy the sails of a ship.

Fish

There are only a few bodies of water large enough to sustain a stable fish population. Outside of these places fish are found in ponds and lakes and are usualy very small. They are not a reliable source of food, but many nobles like to keep them as pets in aquariums.

Unique Birds

Birds are the most plentiful type of creature in Himinil, and every day there are more and more species of birds being discovered. Many of the birds are the same as ours. Pigeons, chicken, vultures, and the like. However, a vast amount of the birds in Himinil are much stranger. Some have unique calls that are chilling to hear, some have poisonous yolk, some have silver beaks. Those are just a few examples. It is impossible to list all of the different properties that some of the stranger birds have. Some of these birds have more mystical or magical properties. If you can imagine it, there is a good chance that there is a bird like it in Himinil.
Bird salesmen are common throughout the world. They collect and sell unique or interesting birds to others. The collecting of Rocs and magical birds is illegal, but there are many bird salesmen that sell them in secluded locations.

Pheonix

The Pheonix is a type of vulture from the Searing Clouds. They are hunted down to the point where they are rare now, but for good reason. Their feathers are naturally fireproof. When the Phoenix is ready to molt its feathers, they excrete an oil which causes the normally fireproof feathers to ignite and burn away easily. They do this once a year, and the feather regrows healthy and fireproof in two months. Pheonix lay their eggs in the dry grass as well. Their eggs can lay dormant for many months and can survive a grass fire. In fact, surviving through a grass fire allows the Pheonix eggs to hatch.

Monkies and Gremlins

Monkies are common on almost every island with a jungle. They vary from jungle to jungle widely, but they follow the standard build and motives of the standard monkey in our world. One exception in a monkey known as a Gremlin. Gremlins are hairless monkeys which create nests and are most common in the Jeweled Sky. These nests are adorned with shiny objects and pretty stones to impress mates. If the Gremlin can manage it, they will also wear necklaces and bracelets. Some Gremlins have been recorded to pierce their own large ears with a piece of jewelry. Because of this, they seek out jewelry and coin naturally. Gremlins are also one of the smarter breeds of monkey and have been seen using simple tools. They are easy to train as well.
Gremlins are omnivores and their favorite food is a live bird. because of their diets, their teeth have a sharp, jagged look to them that can be terrifying when they smile. Gremlins smile when they feel endangered or are distrusting. Desperate Gremlins will hunt down larger prey as a group. It is not unheard of to be attacked by a group of hungry Gremlins adorned with gold and jewelry. Many pirates love to take on Gremlins as pets because they can sometimes return to a ship with some treasure they have pickpocketed.

Technology Level

Himinil is a world that is recovering from a massive war. This war sped up the process of the invention, particularly in the usage of war. The type of technology most commonly used in Himinil is clockwork. Their clockwork technology is much more advanced than our own. It is treated as a science and feat of engineering in this world, whereas clockwork is more a form of art for us. The following a few key points about the technology in Himinil.

Printing

Printing presses are common practice. They are not like our printers, however. Instead, the printing presses of Himinil are complex machines which physically write words that have been programmed into the machine. This means newspapers have a handwritten aesthetic to it, and every printing press has its own unique handwriting.
Because printing is common, news and propaganda can spread quickly through the world. However, the technology is only about 10 years old so only a few printing presses have been built. Most of these presses are used to mass produce books quickly. This means every book has a handwritten aesthetic with the machines own twerks.
Often, older printing machines will subtly change its handwriting or, rarely, how it words what is being written. It might add commentary or more eloquently describe what is being written. This is because most of these machines are powered by warp pearls.

Firearms

Firearms are an important technology, and it was one of the key features that made the Great War so devastating. The technology of their firearms is equivalent to ours during the 1800's. Firearms, even hunting rifles, are heavily restricted to non-military peoples. However, many smugglers deal in firearms. There are branches of the military trained to hunt down these arms dealers, and they will inspect any firearm they find, require the paperwork of it, and register that it has been inspected.
A common man can own a firearm if it was passed down from an ancestor or gifted to them by a friend. Assuming they have the proper paperwork to go along with it. However, the purchasing of ammunition is still illegal.

Airships

Airships are an important aspect of everyday life. They are the lifeblood of many peoples and cultures and have been a part of the world for hundreds of years.

Automatons

Stil a new invention, Automatons are quickly taking many roles such as mining, farming, or even doing paperwork. There are many who distrust these inventions, but many more who see their potential.