Assatur (Culture)

Assatur

Created by: Lord_Iggy

Starting Location: Northern slopes of the western hills.

Society: The Assatur Tribes hold a variety of different governments, typically resembling a gerontocratic oligarchy, where elder members of the community wield both spiritual and earthly authority. Beyond seniority rankings, there is relatively little division amongst the population, which is composed primarily of subsistence farmers, herders and gatherers.

Lineage: Lineage is typically unimportant except in the few tribes that have shifted into monarchies- one's parents and grandparents are known, but smaller tribes tend to behave as extended families.

Values: Assatur values are stoicism, respect of elders, and modesty. Families are close and united around their matriarchs and patriarchs, and this trend continues all the way to the highest levels of organization in the society. The world is seen as a terrifying place, and peaceful death at old age is sought, for premature death can bring terrible fates upon the spirits of the deceased.

 Religion(s): There are many gods and spirits, and the terrifying majority of them are malign. Humans are little more than toys or less for most of the gods, and wicked spirits frequently commit smaller acts of spite and misfortune. Humans survive by communing with the sympathetic spirits, who are usually the souls of deceased humans, accessed through their bones or preserved parts of their bodies. These good spirits try to protect their descendants, but their powers are limited. Often, the best way to go forth is just to avoid attention from the heavens. As such, the ostentatious religious ceremonies of other cultures are seen as recklessly dangerous.

Past: The Assatur migrated north into the hills from the overpopulated river-lands of the south. It is quite likely that the Assatur come from the same group that also spawned the Formor and Kanor, due to linguistic and physical similarities.

Economic Base: Subsistence farming, herding, hunting and gathering. Nation Names: Assatur, Shaktur, Hassatur, Nillithor Person Names: Mallurin, Sillurin, Sopess, Kurlistur Place Names: Haputh, Niurlinoad, Shothethur, Abasturn