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Races and Ethnicities of the Taijitu RP

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St Oz:
The Ozian Diet
According to Gaeanist law, when gathering food from any source, all parts must be utilized. Because of this law, traveling in an Ozian market still surprises me after thirty years of studying the culture. The staple food for any Ozian is rice. Through an initiative making it illegal to starve to death (the few hunger strikes I’ve heard about are suppressed by Ozian police shoving rice down their throats), every person is allowed to go to a Gaean temple to worship and receive a day’s ration of rice. A white banner over a temple means they have rice in stock, and a black banner means they’ve run out. Surprisingly though, it’s rare to ever see black banners at temples. Don’t dismiss their cooking as just rice though. Rice is prepared in several manners such as with a scrambled egg, boiled, seasoned, dried, and boiled again, and my favorite is a rice mixed with a goat milk and cheese cream. Your basic proteins are also easy to come by. Fish, chicken, tofu, and pork being the most common and cheap. The more expensive proteins come from rangeland animals including bison, horse, cattle, goat, sheep, and llama. Ozian cuisine usually feature prepared rice, with steamed or fried fruits and vegetables glazed over a meat or protein. Citrus fruit are a popular ingredient added to any food.

Ozians have a variety of alcohol to try, the most popular being from lower class Ozians. The drink is called oezhraki, and is a popular supplement during gambling games. It’s generally made from the pomace byproduct of grapes and fruits from winemakers. As mentioned before, the Gaean doctrine of making the most of whatever is taken from the earth is applied here. The pomace byproduct is often sold at markets in gigantic tubs for household brewing. There are major producers of oezhraki, but Ozians prefer household production and consumption as it’s much cheaper to do. The taste is harsh for most foreigners as some bottles of the household product border up to 120 proof. Adding to a fruit juice with raw sugar is called geshghesi, and is considered the national cocktail. There is a wide variety of alcohol to choose from thanks to the early influence of trading in the region. Alcohol is taxed normally amongst other products, and is generally really cheap. There are only a few national brands of alcohol, and the vast majority of alcohol is going to locally made.

In my opinion, the best thing about the Ozian diet is their coffee culture. Coffee is not something taken lightly in Ozia, and they have more preparations of coffee than I ever thought possible. There are degree programs at university devoted to coffee production, becoming a coffee sommelier, and coffee arts. There is a legend that is often featured on the logos of companies, that is of a woman named Ieter who begged Gaea to allow her to listen to her whispers. At that moment a coffee tree matured in front of her full of ripened berries, and then Gaea set it on fire until what was left were burnt coffee beans. The Ozians consider the coffee tree to be so sacred that removing coffee trees are met with harsh punishments including jail time. Even skyscrapers are put on hold if a coffee tree starts growing on the building site. Coffee shops are everywhere in Ozia, and one only had to walk the streets ten seconds before they see a group of Ozians smoking zuavka and drinking coffee outside. I highly recommend going to a coffee shop, but bring a friend who can show you around. Coffee shops often don’t have menus and any preparation of coffee is already assumed to be known by the locals. When visiting an Ozian at their home, the greatest kindness they can give you is a hand brewed method of coffee. I caution anybody who dislikes coffee to better start tolerating it, because refusing coffee from a host is the greatest insult one can give to an Ozian. Before drinking any coffee in the country, Ozians will say doish’ishi doenieir which means “For waking up to listen.” Not saying this before drinking coffee is an awkward thing to do, but even an attempt at this hard to pronounce phrase it is acceptable. 

Fashion
Ozian fashion have no logos, and a foreigner can be spotted and eyed miles away by muggers if they wear logo apparel. Typically women wear earthy and darker colors compared to much brighter and vibrant colors on men, though depending on the person they wear either. There's not a lot of style differences between men and women's clothing, but everyone wears jeans or pants, with men wearing more tight fitting ones than women. Shirts are typically collared button down shirts, especially in this breathable cotton that's typically dyed gray. They will often have a homemade keffiyeh loosely wrapped around the neck in the same breathable cotton. Tucked in shirts, business suits, and ties will receive awkward looks in Ozia as they are seen as 'too stiff' or 'too capitalist', and they're also prime targets for muggings. Women almost never wear makeup, and wearing makeup marks you as a foreigner ready to be mugged. Some men wear make up on a night out, but hardly during the day. The general rule seems to be, don't wear anything flashy or you'll get mugged.

Myroria:


House Hlarith, a small family sworn in fealty to Great House Moomintroth, 1896



(left to right) Serjos Fothas, Ano, and Giles Quarrovth, 1910



A high school teacher, Ms. Darvala Rarytrith, and a student work on a farm in County Ivorheart, 1951.



Eyeing a chainsaw that won't start, County Novrith, 1984



Mivanu Indiotrith, a fisherwoman, County Ivorheart, 1999



Hlendrisa Quarrovth, Pelagis, 2007. Note on back of photograph says: "Saw subject leaving building rumored to house a clandestine House War service. When conversation turned to employment, subject said 'Oh, you know, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.'"



Mondrar Prilroth, rural County Traval, 2010. Retired timberyack.

Elara:
~ Elarans ~

Brief Ancient History of the Empire:
Hailing from the foreboding piney forests just west of Eluvatar and south of Zimmerwald the hordes of Elara were seemingly never at peace. Seven tribes carved bloody swathes through the fertile lands to the south when they weren't fighting one another. Petty blood feuds and ancient claims were common things to be settled. But, the Shai'Vurren, holy book of the Elaran people told of another time when the tribes would be united and the grand design could begin to take form. Holy furor filled the warrior hearts of many igniting long lasting tribal holy wars. Some of the less enlightened frequently stalked the shores of the ancient Cefnor coasts in their long wooden vessels, leaving a bitter history of their own. But then silence in the forests and coasts as Tulric Vaylen, first Asharr (Emperor) of Elara, finally managed to unite the tribes through the combined use of a silver tongue and an iron sword. A golden age of cultural growth and rejuvenation swept through under the guidance of the noble Houses.

Elaran People:
The fiercely proud people of Elara are a numerous and curious oddity in their region. With fair skin and hair of golden blonde, deep red or somewhere in the middle, and with haunting blue and green eyes, they are quite a sight. Men typically reach a height of at least 6 foot (typically 6'2"-6'4") and built for battle, while women average about 5'7" with graceful, soft features. They are very spiritual following their holy religion of Shai'a which teaches them to honor the values of the Gods but also to be fiercely loyal to their seven noble houses (including the Imperial Household) whom they believe hold divine blood. Elaran families are considered the foundation of their society and their typically large families are second only to the Gods and the Emperor. Much comes with a family name and dishonor from one person can be brought upon an entire family, thus affecting social status and opportunity.

Elaran Noble Houses & Gods:
Each noble house is said to be descended of one of the 7 Shai'an Gods. Also, each noble House maintain their own small force of fighters (with numbers not exceeding Imperial Decree), while the Imperial household maintains the much larger Imperial Army. History has seen a constant struggle between these Houses as they each vie for power, often culminating in large bloody conflicts, assassinations or more recently corporate takeovers. Though after the massive and costly battle of Tor'Serin in 1542, the Emperor (Asharr) Ty'sell, aided by the Imperial Army, ordered the noble Houses back to their strongholds, limiting forever their holdings and size of their armies, and making each Lord/Lady (Venarr / Venarri) regional Governors. Instigating conflict that interferes with the Grand Design was made punishable by death.

House Vaylen (Imperial Family) - Descended from Eltir, God of Light, the Guide
House Morrok - Descended from Zarr'Anin, God of Fire, the War God
House Zira - Descended from Aleera, Goddess of Earth (Plants, Animals), the Protector
House Nor'enn - Descedended from Naya, Goddess of Water, bringer of Life
House Revarr - Descended from Ostya, Goddess of Air, the Messenger and bringer of Wisdom
House Ulterr - Descended from Verron, God of Earth (Metals, Stone), the Smith (brother of Aleera)
House Sylas - Descended from Kirenn, Goddess of Darkness, bringer of dreams, the Great Judge

An Elaran woman from Kor'Valla:


Elaran business mogul, entrepreneur and visionary - Lestan Dur'onn:


~ The Miranese ~

The Miranese tribes were never a truly united people. Their small villages lived in relative harmony even trading with visiting Elaran merchants from across Cefnor. They are small in stature with almond eyes that are incredibly bright and beautiful with hues of blue and green. Deeply spiritual they believed their Gods had abandoned them when a plague in 1732 ravaged many of their villages and brought their people to the brink of extinction. Elaran traders had brought word of their plight back to Vel'Falas where somehow the idea that this was part of the Grand Design somehow entered the Imperial Court. Elaran clerics brought food and medicinal herbs across the sea in great lumbering wooden barges and with them the holy word of Shai'a. The Miranese tribes slowly began to convert until finally the plague subsided after villages were quarantined and burned by the Imperial Army. The healing of the land and the people was surely a sign from the true gods. Even though not Elaran by blood, and only making up roughly 9% of the Imperial population (most of which live in Miran), they are now some of the most devout adherents to Shai'a and known for their unfailing loyalty to the Empire. When the Elaran colony cities of Terr'Varen and Novira first rose up out of the jungle brush, the Miranese, utterly amazed by Elaran architecture and mighty ivory towers, began to mimic that architecture within their own communities. Their assimilation and dedication to the Empire, especially in the Great War has earned them unparalleled status in the Empire.

Ayanna Ontori, Imperial Advisor on Miranese Affairs, Elaran Imperial Court:


General Masura Zonn, commander of the 51st Armored "Reaver" Division of the Imperial Army:


Kiro Atawa, recently appointed Regional Governor of Mira and CEO of Atawa Industries:

Delfos:
New Delfos, the unified country of the Delphic Bay of the Phoenixia continent suffers from being a focal point of the 3 main indo-Phoenixian mega ethnicities.


Early Kita people invading parts of the Delphic Bay


Ethnic distribution of Indo-Phoenixian cultures.


Beautiful carthography by Street Oz

Indo-Phoenixian Ethnicities

Northern Phoenixian ethnic group, the Kita people, resembles western Cefnor people, mostly Caucasian that have migrated from that area. There were more migrations from this area earlier and they add up to the Suna people. They can be related to Real Life Eastern European (Slavic and Greek) and Middle Eastern ethnicities.

Central Phoenixian ethnic group, the Suna people, are descendants from Novic and early Khemish people. Circa 2500 BCE, they have formed the first civilizations of the Phoenixian continent around what is now the Mahara Desert, with heavy cultural influence from early Khemish culture. They distinguished from the Seijin people and scarcely dominating most of the northern part of Phoenixia, until the later incursions set to the settlement of the Kita people. Suna are Caucasian of darker skin-tones than their Phoenician counterparts, resembling indo-Novmir people, with slightly slanted eyes. Their early ethnicity can be related to Real Life Canaanite and Phoenician ethnicities, nowadays resembling East Mediterranean / Middle Eastern people.

Southern Phoenixian ethnic group, the Seijin people, are descendants from Dunedain and Praemian cultures, and Novic people, that migrated from Northern Cefnor and Novmir to Phoenixia around 3000 BCE, over time they have developed a major culture around the Seijin Bay, in the Southwest part of the Phoenixian culture. There's evidence that Seijin culture has predominance of scattered settlements in most of the South part of Phoenixia including parts of the Delphic Bay during the development of the Suna culture. They have mostly very pale skin with slanted eyes and high cheek bones. They can be related to Real Life Eastern Asian Ethnicities, being mostly Nippon (Japanese) around the Delphic Bay.

New Delfos (Delphic Bay) Ethnicities:
Modern New Delfos is very multicultural, specially in Delfingrado where the ethnic diversity is embraced. Sbbasburg in the north counts with representative Letonese and Myrorian minorities, Kazjkien in the south has a large Khemish minority.


Seijin people in the Delphic Bay


Kita women

Kita men


Suna Women

Suna Men

Hendrix:
Ethnic Diversity:
As TUFM was colonised late, its harsh weather conditions mean there were no indigenous people.
The majority of the TUFM population are Caucasian of Anglo-Russian Decent. There are guidelines regarding the concentration of a specific ethnicity within metropolitan areas, however communities have naturally sprung up particularly in the larger cities. These 'towns' are modeled in the same way as those in other westernised countries with shops, restaurants and religious buildings dependent on the heritage of the group. The only difference is legislation which forbids public signage being displayed in languages other than English. Most large towns and cities have a 'chinatown' 'littleitaly' and 'banglatown' but the majority of areas are openly Anglo in their look and output, with English shops, pubs, restaurants and such.

Other large ethnic communities.
-There is a large Maori Community on the North East outskirts of Armford Commune, with a population matching that of New Zealand.
-Gabrielograd is a town with over 60% claiming Dutch Heritage.
-Isiah Has a large Jamaican and West Indian population
-Nova Preatoria has a large South African population.

Reflected in this are three Divisions of Infantry in the Armed Forces each with brigades who's members hold specific heritage.

Physical Makeup:
Freemen are traditionally tall and bulky, with men being considered 'short' at anything under 5 Foot 9. Due to the harsh weather conditions most are relatively wide in appearance but muscular. Hair Colour is mixed, however Brown hair is most common, blue eyes are common, but so are Brown and Green eyes.
The height gap between men and women is slightly more pronounced in TUFM, with a one foot gap being very common.

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