Sapiens
Sapiens are a sentient species that are similar to a number of other species variously designated as apes, including the sentient Mountain-Elves and Abra-Comanches. Sapiens are bipedal beings with a bilateral-symmetry, their body is comprised of a head, neck, torso, and four limbs. Sapiens are endotherms, warm-blooded animals, meaning they maintained a constant body temperature independent of the environment using the energy from their food. While some mistakenly described themselves as carnivores, Sapiens are in fact omnivores. The Sapien genome is considered to be remarkably elastic. In reaction to environmental changes, selection pressures only needed few millennia to engage new genes and reshape the Sapien bodies. Sapiens have three sexes: male, female and hijra (third-sex), with the latter being distinguished by having no gender at all.
The Sapiens were visited by the Prophet 150 years earlier, who provided them with vast knowledge. They used this knowledge to fuse magic and technology together, and their experiments have resulted in most of the Satanimals spotted all across Ka'a'.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Annabelle, Rohandra, Latifah, Talitha, Magdala, Lovie, Doverly
Masculine names
Dhuchaich, Chéile, Mozez, Sablo, Yenti, Theja, Bill
Unisex names
Perin, Ash, Jem, Yevin, Steph, Nay, Sam
Family names
Witchkok, Ogrely, Zancor, Erasmus
Other names
V'Lanta'la'mana'maniqua (a title given to a deity or a person who has reached god-like status).
Vanashrianiqualiquanice (a title given to a priest or holy-man).
La'Taniana (a title given to a queen).
Rufanaquishthria (a title given to a king).
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Sapiens speak Ka'aian, the traditional language of Ka'a'.
Culture and cultural heritage
The Sapiens share a culture with the Abra-Comanches, from which they are descended.
Shared customary codes and values
According to code, a man must carry a gun with him wherever he goes. A gun is a sign of power, a status-symbol. People without guns are generally considered as outsiders or just slaves.
Common Etiquette rules
In Sapien society, women are required to be quiet and speak only when spoken too. They are only allowed to leave the table when the husband says so, and must obey his every command. Hijra are free from these sorts of struggles, since they are neither male nor female.
Common Dress code
Men wear simple jeans and tallits, long robes made from a cotton-polyester blend with special twined and knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to their four corners. Tallits are made of 12 bundles of colored thread woven together, each of the twelve colors represents a particular symbolic aspect: black (intensified spiritual-energy), blue (peacefulness, harmony and love), green (vegetation, planting, harvesting, growth, spiritual renewal), gold (royalty, wealth, high status, glory), grey (healing and cleansing; associated with ash), maroon (mother-earth; associated with healing), pink (essence of life; a mild, gentle aspect of red), purple (loyalty and honor), red (political and spiritual moods; bloodshed; sacrificial rites and death), silver (serenity, purity, joy; associated with the moon), white (purification, sanctification rites, festive occasions and spiritual purity; associated with humility) and yellow (preciousness, royalty, wealth and beauty). They also wear long leather boots and wear stetson-hats.
Women wear dresses or jeans with serapes or jackets, they also wear stetsons and may sometimes wear tallits like men.
Hijra wear whatever they desire, as long as it fits social norms.
Art & Architecture
Sapiens use clay pottery and basketry, weaving, wood carving, and metal working are taught to children as a subject.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
According to custom, almost every Sapien, whether rich or poor, has a personal slave either given to them by their parents or purchased at the flesh-market. By the laws of tradition, Sapiens assign to the slaves every shameful task leading to disgrace. Each slave must wear a dogskin cap, wrap himself/herself in skins and receive a stipulated number of beatings every year regardless of any wrongdoing, so that they would never forget they were slaves. Moreover, if any exceeded the vigor proper to a slave's condition, they made death the penalty.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Shortly after birth, a mother bathes her child in mulled-wine to see whether the child is strong. If the child survives, it is brought before the Gerousia (Council) by the child's father. The Gerousia then decided whether it was to be reared or not. If they considered it "puny and deformed", the baby was thrown into a chasm known as the Apothetae. Should the baby survive for one night alone, it is brought back into society.
Coming of Age Rites
When male Sapiens begin training at age seven, they enter the Agoge system. The Agoge is designed to encourage discipline and physical toughness and to emphasize the importance of the state. Boys live in communal messes and are fed just the right amount for them never to become sluggish through being too full, while also giving them a taste of what it is not to have enough. In addition they were trained to survive in times of privation, even if it meant stealing. Besides physical and weapons training, boys studied reading, writing, and magic. Special punishments were imposed if boys failed to answer questions sufficiently 'laconically' (i.e. briefly and wittily).
Funerary and Memorial customs
The traditional burial custom is to wrap the deceased's body in a blanket and place it on a horse, behind a rider, who would then ride in search of an appropriate burial place, such as a secure cave. After entombment, the rider covers the body with stones and returns to camp, where the mourners burn all the deceased's possessions. The primary mourner, normally the closest relative or friend, slashes his arms to express his grief. Twenty-one shots are fired into the air, and a feast is held in honor of the deceased.
Common Taboos
Relations with slaves is prohibited, any Sapien caught in relations with a slave is accused of "racial heresy" and whipped 33 times with a Zapper.
Common Myths and Legends
The legends of the Prophet (White-Wizard of the North) and the conflict with Zandor, the Red-Wizard of the North.
Historical figures
Billy-the-Kid and Wild-Bill Witchkok.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Men grow long beard and mustaches, women braid their hair and hijra grow and braid their hair up to their waists, with their beards touching their belts.
Gender Ideals
A boy is identified not only with his father but with his father's family, as well as with the bravest warriors in the band. He learns to ride a horse before he can walk. By the time he is four or five, he is expected to be able to skillfully handle a horse. When he is five or six, he is given a small bow and arrows. Often, a boy is taught to ride and shoot by his grandfather, since his father and other warriors are on raids and hunts. Boys are highly respected because they would become warriors and might die young in battle. As he approaches manhood, a boy is given his first gun and goes on his first buffalo-hunt. If he makes a kill, his father honors him with a feast.
Girls learn to gather healthy berries, nuts, and roots. They carry water and collected wood, and when about 14 years old learn to cook meals, raise children, sew clothing, prepare weapons, and perform other tasks essential to becoming a wife and mother. They are then considered ready to be married.
Hijra are given jobs of both men and women. They are highly respected and are trained to cook, forge weapons, raise children, hunt animals, control livestock, ride horses, read and write and are given high positions of power, such as Sheriffs or Deputies.
Courtship Ideals
A man is allowed to marry three times, a woman can marry six times and a hijra can marry as much as it desires.
Relationship Ideals
A man is permitted to marry a woman or hijra, but a woman is only allowed to marry a man. Hijra are allowed to marry without gender-boundaries.
Parent ethnicities
Encompassed species
Related Items
Languages spoken
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