Median
With reduced gravity and bountiful aether, Medians grow tall and retain their youthful visage until they reach the very end of their lifespans.
Culture
Shared customary codes and values
Medians, by virtue of their founding are warriors and continue to be raised as such, regardless of the career path they take. Fighting unites the people and it divides the people, often in cycles of unity and division.
Yet these traditions do not stem from warfare, but from the aetherological research which allowed the first settlers to set foot on and subsequently inhabit the world. Rather than relying on devices and predefined patterns, the research efforts on Eteras Medius were instead focused on Aetheric Affinity, believed to be rooted in the bond between the Soul and the Body interacting with the world around them. While a Majian may be taught incantations passed down for generations, a Median is instead expected to use the basics of Aetheric Incantations and apply them to their own style through intuition.
While the gathering of research notes has long stopped being a custom, the people continue to practice this unique brand of aetherial manipulation, relishing in opportunities to make use of them. As such, battle is simply a formality, rarely resulting in the death of a participant.
Common Etiquette rules
Eschewing physical contact in most circumstances, the formal means of greeting one another is a simple nod, either with ones head, or with ones torso, referred to as a bow in either circumstance.
Elderly are ought to be respected, not for their experience and contributions to society, but for the likelihood they will defeat the disrespecting individual in a duel.
Common Dress code
Though descendants of the same society as the Majians, Medians face vastly different circumstances upon the world they inhabit. While heavy armor plating may help ward off ill trained bandits and rank and file soldiers, their reduction of mobility and weight leaves their bearer open to the precise assaults and swift foes one may face on Eteras Medius. To that end, most citizens and warriors alike wear flowing garb that does little to hamper their movement, adding layers of protection only when it is strictly necessary.
While coloration of garb may be used to show allegiance to certain factions, it is often a matter of personal preference. Those wishing to make their allegiances clear thus wear symbols denoting their membership, a far clearer sign, yet one easily concealed when it suits the individual.
Art & Architecture
Aetheric manipulation seeps into every aspect of the world's creative works. Whether conscious or not, instruments, paintings and buildings are created in such manners as to promote specific aetherial patterns to occur, altering their surroundings in the process. These processes can be as simple as dampening the sound caused by a closing door, an instrument providing far greater range through amplified sound waves or an archway generating a constant high air pressure zone, resulting in a permanent draft.
Common Myths and Legends
Scattered among the vibrant lands are beings of great power which the locals revere. These beings, often shrouded in mystery, rituals and tradition are referred to as 'Spirits' by the Medians. While their origins may be unknown, it is long believed that the presence of a Spirit acts as a means of good fortune for the nearby settlements, causing those on the frontier to seek out new spirits and construct a new life around them. Tributes offered to Spirits vary depending on their 'Domain', a signature element unique to each incarnation of them.
Few reject the traditions around the Spirits, for their power is unquestionable, yet their status as divine beings may yet be an exaggeration. Fewer still know the truth of the matter, and they are cautious to share this secret with the world.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
The distinction between genders is nigh non-existent within most provinces in Eteras Medius. Never is one's destiny restricted by how one was born, only by what they choose to become.
Comments