Tha Vaeaumsdaims-svo Bomdoa | The Shadow of Equality

Culture of Kathricore

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“Kathricore” is a diverse cultural landmass with vastly diverse and distinct cultural boundaries that permeate all aspects of the region's day to day economic, political, and social elements. Despite this, “Kath” are often categorized as semi-isolated tribalistic people who are deeply rooted in the native religious and animistic cultural beliefs. While these do change drastically depending on the nation, The “Kath” are proud of their community with strong tribal clan culture, as well as distrusting of outsiders who come into said culture.

Due to this, the “Kath” people are considered deeply ethnocentric.

This has led to many issues throughout “Kath” history, most notably was a Pan-“Kath” census conducted in 1999, although the results were never released. A new census was undertaken by an international committee in 2009, but turned out to be controversial, as the questions about ethnic affiliation seemed inappropriate.

The threat of release would lead to ethnic violence in the Daga and Ka nations, resulting in a postponement of results until 2012.

Ethnic tensions such as these are a key part of “Kath” life and are considered a common occurrence throughout modern and pre-modern history.

In the regions of “Kathricore”, the main ethnic group umbrellas are that of the “Kath”, Horokoshi Saram, Riamese Saram, and Riojanian Saram. The term "Saram" translates roughly to “nations of another breed”, though has connotations similar to the english term "conqueror." These groups settled or intermingled into the indigenous “Kath” population during many periods of “Kath” history, intermingling their cultures into the native population.

While the term “Kath” is used by foreign nations to describe the general area known as “Kathricore”, the term “Kath” is loosely used outside of the former Riamese colonies along the coast within “Kathricore” itself. “Kathricore” itself is broken into 7 key regions of Falakia, Achait, Trihan, Edrain, Sablal, Ushen, and Shaisia, acting as physiographic regions which greatly influenced the cultural development of arts, customs, values, and morals held within the "old nations."

The term "old nations' ' is a loose term used to describe the interior nations which maintained semi-autonomous or free rule during the Kar Sun period, with their lineage maintained through cultural touchstones. This is a sharp contrast to those of the "Err-aubaurem Sauk'' or Lost Ones, a Pan-“Kath” term used to describe the former colonial holdings.

Today in these areas, a cultural recovery is occurring on behalf of Pan-“Kath” nationalism, though many efforts remained grid locked due to economic and ethnic challenges. Below are terms commonly used by “Kath” to self-identify:

• Momcru, The “Momcru” are the largest “Kath” ethnic group in the “Kath” nations and are considered one of the influential cradles of “Kath” civilization, with a total population of 11.4 million and between 1.7-1.9 million diaspora identifying across the world. Due to its dominant geopolitical position in the "Kathricore", it has heavily influenced peoples and cultures situated throughout the regions of "Kathricore" and its neighboring countries.

  The “Momcru” are considered the oldest ethnic group, tracing linage to the Proto-Ushen nations founded around the Hun-ig peninsula and the Ka river. Today the largest “Momcru” and most influential nation is that of the Caldattan. Early “Momcru” cultural artifacts depict villages and settlements dependent on the various rivers of the Northern Kath country side, with the “Momcru” meaning "people in the river" or "people of the river", as early river villages were heavily dependent on ocean-traveling canoes for trade, hunting and gathering, and for other cultural purposes.

  The abundant fertile forest climate and dependence on the Ka, Daga, and Iemaim rivers allowed the ease of movement and trade between the northern nations and the early Horokoshi kingdoms creating fire Leagues. The result of this mobility and abundant land created a resilient and educated population with the “Momcru” becoming well known as skilled artisans of wood, metal and design.

  They have also shown much perseverance and resolve in the area despite conquest and subjugation, with periods of long standing rebellion and revolts creating a a conservative ideology around their homeland, coupled with nationalistic pride that has spilled into areas of art, language, and conservation.

• Soamore, The “Soamore” are a “Kath” ethnic group which comprise the second largest population of the “Kath” nations, with a total of 10.3 million identifying within "Kathricore" itself and between 2.2-2.5 million identifying in foreign regions with significant populations.

  The “Soamore” are centered in the southern nations of "Kathricore", most notably that of Asornta, the largest and most influential southern nation. Historically, the nation of Asornta and the Sur Gath league under Asornta influence, has been seen as a southern rival to the northern nations. Acting as a counter balance to northern domination and preventing “Greater Kathricore” in the modern “Kath” Question.

  This southern defiance has marked the “Soamore” with a fierce moral and philosophical stance on cultural independence from that of the north. This can be seen due to the large lifestyle differences between the north, with the “Soamore” being largely pastoralists outside of few major population areas centered around the culturally and economically vital Nun river.

  Most “Soamore” place a high value on a nomadic lifestyle due to the unpredictable monsoon seasons which result in a period known as the “Nunmol” or “Tears”, in which between July-September river flooding and concentrated rainfall, force movable settlements. Due to this, the “Soamore” are an ever shifting people with few permanent settlements. Because of this, the “Soamore” are greatly tied to their local herding community with “Soamore” clans are often seen as the most deeply religious.

  Clans partake often in great divination festivals, as well as great prideful acts of faith such as ritual haruspication in order to interpret the past, and predict the future.

• Ukaikomsikai, The “Ukaikomsikai” are the third largest "Kath" ethnic group, comprising a total of 9.5 million in "Kathricore" itself and between 400-500 thousand in foreign regions with significant populations.

  “Ukaikomsikai” is a term that was used for centuries by northern writers and scholars as designation for the nations settled during the Ember Ponthion during the settlement and establishment of Hidedoshi. And became synonymous with the Horokoshi saram who settled throughout the north and central regions of "Kathricore".

  Today the term is still the normal terminology for this cultural group, which greatly dominates former Horokoshi dominated areas. The two greatest nations of this group are that of the Ruchu and Gungju, which house the largest “Ukaikomsikai” population centers. While not being the oldest"Kath" culture, the “Ukaikomsikai” held great influence in several aspects of "Kath" society. Notably:

  Architecture, in the form of governmental palaces throughout the North and Central regions of "Kathricore". Key elements of “Ukaikomsikai” architecture focus on symmetry, which connotes a sense of grandeur to an idealized landscape of human settlement.

  Literature, with the Tho dynasty of the Hidedoshi province being seen as a cultural touchstone, with the acculturation of writing from Horokoshi creating classic "Kath" texts including poetry, astrology, astronomy, and early "Kath" philosophy.

• Koaeumaiai, The "Koaeumaiai" are the fourth largest "Kath" ethnic group, comprising a total population of 5.3 million in "Kathricore" itself with the smallest foreign disporia population of 25-30 thousand world wide. "Koaeumaiai" nations are often seen as a convergent culture, with influences complex due to the massive flux of historical populations, the import of culture along vital trade routes, most notably the Ivory Road, or the fostered civil wars leading to resettlements of parches of historically "Koaeumaiai" territory through its history.

  The "Koaeumaiai" call home the Falakian heartland, a region of rocky, semi-deserts with few bodies of water besides vital tributaries of the Nun river. This area of land is mostly rock with few sandy patches of territory that reside the "Koaeumaiai"'s largest cultural centers of the Daaz, Haab, and Hapax nations.

  The "Koaeumaiai" are seen as the greatest Zabbo caste in the entirety of the "Kath" nations. Noble clans that dominate "Koaeumaiai" draw heritage from the rising merchant clans of the fractured period with vital trade roads forming the backbone of their economic power. These significant trade routes included the Ivory Road, the Spice Road, and the many southern and northern trade routes that often were orchestrated by "Koaeumaiai" clans as middle men in the trade of ivory, gold, salt, slaves and luxury goods.

  This has given the "Koaeumaiai" a reputation as great traders, journeymen, and harsh due to the vast hostile climate. Despite this, the "Koaeumaiai" cities are renowned for extravagance with massive impacts on visual arts, such as tattooing, presentation arts, and displays celebrations leading to a hallmark of "Kath" cultural tourism.

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Wedding Ceremony

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Marriage rituals are a key part of Kath society, showing the communal nature of the clan system as well as the ever growing and ever shifting nature of clan loyalty, influence, and status. There are two key stages of wedding ceremony in Kath culture, that being the “Baubsvo Kedaus” and the “Domsaeaursvo Ersvomkaums.”

The “Baubsvo Kedaus” is the legal component of a Kath marriage. In this process, respective guardians of each clan, traditionally the eldest matriarchal figure in the clan, will negotiate a wedding compact, with the bride’s family taking dominance in request for concessions or dowry.

This phase takes place in the bride's home, and when negotiations settle on an agreed marriage contract, a betrothal period begins known as the “Domsaeaursvo Ersvomkaums.”

The “Domsaeaursvo Ersvomkaums” begins only when a marriage contract is written in a legal binding document by a representative of Kleiner Rocha. These scribes act as both representatives of the church in the matter of marriage rites, but act as the legal arbiter to ensure enforcement of the marriage contract.

When the Kleiner Rocha is satisfied with the agreement and all parties maintain their agreed positions, a ritualized contract is written upon a nice fabric of silk, cashmere, or satin, in which both bride and groom ceremonially throw said cloth into a fire. The fire itself symbolizes purity and the beginning of new futures, but also marks the three days of festivities of “Domsaeaursvo Ersvomkaums.”

The first day of festivities known as the “Dokom Iekes”, is a day-long feast representing the promises of fertility and health. The traditional feast itself sees a wide variety of dishes depending on region, but the most common are dishes with eggs, almonds, walnuts, or various spices such as poppy seeds, salt, wild rice, and black tea to represent fertility.

The second day of festivities known as “Baum-aeaums Iekes”, is a fasting day, marked with introduction rituals, dancing rituals, and preparation rituals. The most notably of these rituals are the “Baeise Iekes” and the “Roesai Iekes“.

The “Baeise Iekes” is considered an eccentric display to show off the natural beauty and clan symbols of the bride and groom. In this rite, bright clothing, predominantly red or white, is worn with necklaces and beaded jewelry. Grooms will often wear beaded ankle jewelry, while brides will adorn beaded bracelets and flat beaded wedding collars.

The “Roesai Iekes“ is a religious ritual rite to symbolize the warding off of spirits and protector role of the groom in the marriage. This ritual occurs at night, within Kath belief, wandering spirits are often at play. This ceremony is overseen by the Kleiner Rocha representative, who gives both bride and groom a ceremonial drink called the “Koioie Sorse.”

The beverage itself is a combination of the “Dor-ie Rvomsrum” and “Dor-ie Roa”, but also contains a mushroom known as the “lions herd”, a psychedelic mushroom that instills the visions of spirits and gods according to Kath religious matters.

Once both bride and groom consume the beverage, the bride is led into the chosen ritual site, where she is expected to flee and evade the groom. The groom is then sent into the site to “capture” her and return her to her family.

This may seem eccentric, but is a key part in Kath culture as the ritual establishes the groom as the protector of the household and wards off evil spirits who may do the bride harm.

The final day of celebration is known as the “Dom-erkaums Iekes” in which the wedding ceremony is held. On this day, the bride and groom are present with a ceremonial knife bestowed by the Kleiner Rocha representative. In this ritual, both bride and groom cut the palm of their right hand, placing their hands into a cloth of silk, cashmere, or satin. The cloth is then tied around their hands to represent their shared blood and the unity of their blood.

This cloth is kept by the couple until their death, and is often buried inside family tombs once both parties have passed.

The ceremony is observed by both clans as witnesses, and the ceremony concludes with a final spice drink of black tea to show harmony and officiate the marriage between bride and groom.

Holidays in Kathricore

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