The World and People of Arushia
Arushia Itself
Arushia (pronounced Ah-ru-shi-yah) is slightly larger in size than our Earth, but in a different ‘universe.’ It has one sun, which is not as yellow/white as ours, it is slightly more orange/red, and is much smaller. It has twelve moons, but only three are visible from Arushia. Solar and lunar eclipses commonly occur, solar eclipse occurring about once a month, while lunar eclipses about every three months. Arushians believe that their sun goddess, and their moon goddess fell in love, and when a lunar or solar eclipse occurs it is when they are just about to reach each other, though they never will. Nobody ever celebrates them, only recognise them and acknowledge that they are there, unless one occurs on the first day of Harvest. There are 100 days in an Arushian year, with three months- a wet month, a cold month and a harvest month (the harvest month is relatively dry and warm).
The Surface is 49% water. There are only three continents, which are broken up by the seas. They don’t have names, but many just refer to them as The Islands, The East Continent, and The South Continent. Inside these are many states as the whole of Arushia is considered a ‘country’ instead of a planet. Cities are vast and busy in The East and South, while in The Island Continent, they tend to be smaller and more for trading and selling wares then for living, or industrial.
The Flora and Fauna in The East Continent are more exotic than in the other two- in The Islands they tend to be quite simple really. Arushia has animals quite like ours- the birds are mostly the same, Arushia has many such as sparrows and blackbirds, while swans are quite common too. However they don’t have animals like tigers, elephants or gorillas, for instance. They also have what we would call ‘mythical creatures’ though there aren’t as many as you’d expect. They have dragons and once there were phoenixes, before they were hunted to extinction as a sport. Arushians do keep pets- the common or poor might keep farm animals like pigs, cow, horses and geese, while the rich may keep more exotic pets like snakes or small cats, maybe even birds or insects. Plants are quite like ours, in The East there are tropical trees like palm trees and coconuts, in The South continent, more delicate trees and blossoms, with more fruit like apples, pears and cherries. In The Island Continent, it is much like Britain in Earth.
The People of Arushia
The People of Arushia are a humanoid race,. They live about as long as humans, maybe slightly longer than the average person- about eighty-ninety years. They age the same as humans, except they might stay youthful for one or two years longer than a human.
The Physical Appearance of Arushians is nearly universal, with the only variations via region, slightly darker skin and eyes. Heights can range, though there tend not to be many short Arushians.
Arushian Hair is similar to human hair. All Arushians can have any of the given hair colours- brown, black, blonde, ginger, red (not ginger, red) and white (not blonde, white)- no matter their region, and all hair tends to be curly or at least wavy, unless straightened or combed ferociously. Male Arushians can grow facial hair, though it tends to not be very thick. Very rich and wealthy men, or members of the royal family, always shave and will not be seen with a beard, moustache or stubble in public. Arushian hair grows slower than human hair, so it is very valuable to them and a man having longer hair than his wife (even though they have long hair too) is thought of as disrespectful.
The eyes of Arushians are all similar to human eyes again. Eye colours can also range universally- brown, black, green, hazel, blue and grey. Eastern Arushians tend to have narrower eyes, but not always. Arushian women like to wear a lot of eye makeup.
Longer fingers are another feature of Arushians, and although it is common among all people, it is thought of as a feature only the rich have. Arushians play a lot of musical instruments such as harps and flutes, so this is very helpful to them.
Arushian Culture
Arushian religion is quite important to them. Their religion is very like Hinduism- they have five major gods and goddesses, and the thousands of others are all different parts of those five. The five are The Creator God, The God of Birth and Life, The Goddess of Death and the Future, The Goddess of The Night and The God of The Day. Arushians suspect they have names, and indeed they do, but nobody knows them and everybody refers to their gods and goddesses as ‘The Creator’ or ‘The Goddess of Death.’ Arushians pray once a day, before they go to bed, and they pray silently and alone. They believe that when they die The Goddess of Death (who is really quite friendly, while her brother The God of Birth is quite nasty) collects them in her carriage, where they will ride with her until they arrive to the afterlife. There are many tales and stories about their gods and they are all in their ‘Great Book.’ This is the only religion in Arushia, though not all follow it- in The Islands the people regard themselves as ‘logical’ and do not pray or worship. Arushians go to a temple every month where they will confess their sins to a priestess or priest. Temples are often large in cities but in towns and villages they can be quite small and tend to be made of stone, instead of the marble that city temples are made of. There are over five thousand gods and goddesses in the Arushian religion and nobody is expected to remember them all. Creatures like dragons, have their own goddess, a lizard-type creature whom hardly much is known about.
The Priestly Class work in temples, or with the royal family. Younger priests and priestesses often become a member of the royal family’s guardian or protector, although not many actually enjoy this job. There is a leader of all the priestly people who is chosen, in much the same way as The Dalai Lama with humans. Every time a leader dies, ever Priest or Priestess is required to come to The Holy Temple in the capital city, which is simply named The Holy City and one is chosen to be the new leader. There are also healers, who also work with priests and priestesses.
Morality in Arushia is very important. The worst crimes are murder, kidnap and changing one’s name to have more syllables. This could lead to your execution, or worse, removal of your name altogether. Arushians have slaves and see nothing wrong with it- most slaves are prisoners who have attempted or committed thievery. Slaves sometimes have their tongues removed, sometimes their ears, so you may see a slave who wears bandages on his head. Slaves are always nameless, unless their master becomes friends or acquaintances with them. All people are required to be educated, whether at home or elsewhere. Women with jobs like soldiers, miners or warriors are rare, but not unheard of and severely frowned upon. Arushians may marry as many times as they wish, but a divorce must be approved by the woman and man, along with their parents, and the judge. Homosexuality is frowned upon by most members of the royal family, but it is not illegal and there are many people who support it.
Socially, Arushians are very active, depending on the time of year. A servant may hardly ever meet with friends, whilst slaves are forbidden to leave their master or mistress’ territory. At festivals and holidays, there is often much singing and dancing in the streets, with stalls selling goods, and food and drink. Members of the royal family often go to balls and parties. When a woman bathes, she bathes alone- the only people who may enter her chambers are female servants or slaves, unless she says otherwise.
Dress and Grooming does not much matter to most people but incredibly rich, royal or important people wear a lot of fine clothes. They wear a lot of jewellry and cosmetics- mostly beads and face paint. They wear pastel colours, or reds and purples- the rich wearing deeper reds and purples. Most women wear corsets and where their hair in braids or plaits.
Education and Employment
Arushians receive a general eduaction through their childhood. Most familys try and get a private tutor, but if they can’t, their child may be homeschooled or sent to a public school. Public schools are rarely very big, and the most children there are averagly in one school is ten. They study mathematics, languages, history and other important topics.
Arushian Jobs vary depending on the continent. Islanders tend to work on farms and at sea, while Eastern people work in mines and glass-making. In the South, the is a variety of different people, and so many different jobs. This continent is home to the royal family, and so there are many nobles and soliders, but there are also farmers and related jobs. Healers are in every continent, and often travel.
Gender Roles in Arushian Society
Female Arushians of high class are educated well and normally by private tutors or priestesses. She is not expected to fight with weapon, fist or tongue, does not wear trousers or leggings and must be skilful, polite and clever. They do not learn how to fight with a sword, though she may sometimes go hunting in light woods with her servants and friends. Arushian women are much like Middle Ages women, very peaceful, with no longing for war. The average high class Arushian woman is married by twenty.
Male Arushians of high class are educated well and normally by private tutors or priests. He is expected to know how to fight with a sword, bow, dagger and axe by the age of thirteen, and must be able to hunt by ten years. If a war-like crisis appears, at least one man from each family must fight, and this tends to be the eldest son/s and/or father. Arushian men are very much like Middle Ages men, they tend to be in charge. The average high class Arushian man is married by twenty-five.
Female Arushians of lower class are educated decently and normally by their family, priestesses or priests, or in small public schools (see Arushian Education and Employment). She is not expected to fight with weapon, fist or tongue, does not wear trousers or leggings (unless soldier) and must be skilful, polite and clever. They do not learn how to fight with a sword, but may learn how to use a bow, or any farming equipment. A farming girl would work in the fields, cutting corn or harvesting crops, maybe working in the orchards. A miller’s daughter would work with her father in the mills and fields. People born into a family not specializing in anything in particular would seek a job at a farm, at a mill, some might work a pub or bar, become a shepherdess, run a shop, collect water from the well for the villager etc. The average lower class Arushian woman is married by twenty-five.
Mourning and Death
When somebody dies Arushians belive that The Goddess of Death speaks to you via a dream while you sleep. There you must confess all your sins, and she decides whether you go to the Arushian Heaven or Hell. The Goddess is very friendly and kind, and even if you got to The Underworld, she wil lwish you good luck and maybe leave you a gift or two…
Mourning in Arushia is much like human mourning. The only difference is that they don’t wear black, but white.
More to come!!!!!!!!!! :) |
