People and Culture
As Cortla has established settlements and nomadic shifts are rare (except for Trapdoor squadrons), towns and cities become bustling with different people and occupations.
Many "jobs'' are divided amongst the four main organizations in Cortlan society: The Funnel, Trapdoors, Webwalkers, and Shepherds. Other careers, of course, exist, but typically will fall under the main "guilds" in terms of who you want to speak to in the government concerning such matters. While these are careers, Cortlan society does not operate in a capitalistic sense like we would be used to, and any citizen is able to access the care and necessities they need on principle. Trading is done primarily on a "want" level, rather than ever on any kind of "need". So long as the individual living within Cortla is Cortlan, as in they have assimilated into the culture and partake in Cortlan society, they have access to living necessities.
Ethnic Diversity by Percentage85% Adelan, 10% Spiderpeople, 5% OtherThis percentage varies by quite a bit, however, as Cortlan hostilities towards Serenian influence often leads to debate as to what counts as being Adelan. Who one Cortlan would call Adelan, another might call Serenian. This same attitude, however, does not apply to the considerable Essyrni genetic influences in Cortla, and those exhibiting Essyrni phenotypes, such as curly hair and dark skin, are simply considered Adelan without question.
General Appearance:- Variants of green for eye color are common, with hazels and browns being the second most common.
- Tall and lean for the most part
- Typically strong upper body builds, very adept at climbing from living in the cliff-faces.
- Long-standing trade routes from Essyrn means the majority of Cortlans have darker skin tones and curlier hair types.
Values:The "perfect citizen" of Cortla would demonstrate all of these traits-- reflection, balance, tenacity, endurance, patience, strength, pride, wisdom. Those who are considered very strongly attuned to one of these traits may be selected to take the matching seat on the Council, becoming specialized in matters of the state in regards to their particular 'virtue'-- Councilmember of Endurance and so on.
Naming:When babies are born, an informal but complex series of decisions are made regarding naming. Both parents are aware of the child in most cases, and there's then the decision as to which "family" the child will be named for. Surnames are often the given name of an important ancestor, with their family and progeny "webbing out" until one makes a name for themselves to justify being at the center of their own family tree. Similar surnames are common, and most Cortlans are well-versed in their lineage to tell you exactly how far out from the "center" they are.
As an example, Jadon of Cortla is a key ancestral figure. Thus, his children and their descendents all have the surname of "Jadon", such as Bob Jadon. If Bob Jadon lives a story of equal legendary status, then his children would take the surname of "Bob". His daughter may then be named Angela Bob, and on until the next important life story.
Given names follow a pattern for being two-syllables for the most part, with some exceptions, and are broadly unisex in their assignment.
Examples of given names are: Aike, Enke, Sikke, Waman, Jadon, Notah. Most important, however, is the child's middle name. The middle name is given by the child's birth parent, and the only two people who know this name are said parent and child. Middle names are often less 'names' and more 'characteristics', typically characteristics that the birth parent hopes their child will grow up to demonstrate some day. Very common ones are those that have to do with the eight core virtues of Cortlan society: reflection, balance, tenacity, endurance, patience, strength, pride, and wisdom
For instance, Aike's middle name is Mercy, a fact known only to them, and so would be written out as Aike (Mercy) Jadon.
Interclan Relations:
- Talu: New, but close allies. There's some minor superstitions leftover from periods of mistrust earlier in their history, but the territories are both working towards a more solid, friendly relationship. There are a few Cortlans who still don't trust the Taluvans but for the most part there has been a shift towards considering the Taluvans brethren.
- Tal'ir Aedol: Cortlans are fiercely patriotic Adelans, and view themselves as being a part of Adela's whole "tapestry".
- Tintintin: Cortlans are naturally wary of Tinines, and tend to treat them with a vague sense of disgust and fear. Tintintin's reputation for being a territory of liars and scoundrels has not earned them any warm feelings from Cortla, and so a Tinine can expect a downright frigid reception in any part of the Cortlan territory.
- Kota: Similar to Tintintin, there is an element of mistrust, as Kotan business dealings are rarely done with open honesty between all parties. The barons of Kota are more likely to be treated with coldness than a commoner, however, and Kotans with established dealings with Cortla are more likely to find a better welcome.
- Other territories: TBD
Slavery:Cortlans do not possess slaves of any variety. They often must fight off slavers from the south, and have developed a distinct distaste for the practice as a result.
Hair and Dress:Still very traditional, with very little tolerance or trust for things that are "too" Serenian. They maintain more traditional forms of dress, with only slight differences over the years, and often employ weblike crochet elements in order to make "foreign fashions" their own. They favor light, breathable cloth shendyt in the summer, layers of thick, woven ponchos and breeches in the winter, and carefully woven spidersilk armor. Almost any variant involves tall boots for maneuvering the rocky terrain and supporting their ankles, and protecting their legs from any local varmints like rattlesnakes.
Tattoos and piercings are common, and often done so to invoke their spider "heritage", such as facial markings in a series of eights, banding patterns on their limbs, and so on. All these are done in a stick and poke style, as the pain is seen as a kind of "payment" for the mark. Magically created tattoos are considered cowardly.
Hair is worn long for all genders. As with anything else, Cortlans favor ornate braiding, and will do complex updo's for special occasions. Otherwise, hair is left uncut. Cutting hair only takes place during periods of mourning, where the amount of hair lost is a signal of how deeply the grief is felt. This is the only time their braid will be cut as well, signaling a new life after the loss. Some Cortlans, rather than braiding back their hair, will protect it from the canyon winds by using headscarves.
Trade with Essyrn has also imparted certain fashions which may be partially adopted into general Cortlan wear. Shendyt-like loincloths are one major contribution, though Cortlans have long since adapted it into their own style and weave. Kohl is another contribution from the south, and painting around the eyes is very common, especially for members of the territory who are out in the direct sun more often than not. Essyrni jewelry is also fairly popular, and since there has been considerable intermarrying with peoples from south of the Thunderblack mountains, many Cortlans have family heirlooms from their Essyrni ancestors. It's not uncommon to see someone wearing a thick jewel who might otherwise have never been able to afford trading with Essyrni merchants for it. The jewelry is not often considered valuable for monetary purposes, but rather because it is a part of the Cortlan's personal history, and it is very rare that they will ever trade the item away.
Art, Music, and Dance:Artworks are typically found in the form of weaving, embroidery and braiding, with complex geometric patterns woven into tapestries. The more detailed and delicate, the more impressive, and the best works will tell a story all their own. Popular tapestry subjects include how Grandmother helped shape mankind, or another important historical event.
Music in Cortla tends to involve very few instruments, relying on vocals and percussive beats created by stomping and clapping. Guitars are rarer, given the lack of reliable wood sources, but have found their way into much of the Cortlan musical culture regardless.
Dancing usually involves a lot of swift footwork, with emphasis on precision and grace. Dancing with a partner doesn't typically have any one "lead", with both pulling the lead role back and forth from one another.
One special dance is done between potential romantic partners. Cortlans don't typically marry, but there's an emphasis on being truthful about your actions. Thus, when one Cortlan wishes to 'court' another, they engage in a dance where everyone can see their intentions. If the feelings are reciprocated, the other Cortlan will dance back. There's no set steps, with the understanding that if you're going to understand your partner, you'll figure out the rhythm of the dance as you go.
Food:Cortlan cuisine is heavily protein based, with peppers for spice, and a key staple of their diet involves cooking up locusts, which they cultivate as a food source. Other food sources are from hunting, clearing trapdoor pits, and trade.
Some typical Cortlan food:- Locust kebabs covered in a spicy sauce
- Pepper buns, which are buns stuffed with goat cheese and pepper jelly and baked or fried
- Sugar melted with more peppers and shaped into discs, a common sweet given to children
- Roasted goat and beans topped with cheese and wrapped in a flatbread
- Bean and vegetable soups
- Honey pie
Housing:Cortla has established settlements, all carved from the stone of defendable cliffsides, mesas or canyons. Clusters of "apartments" are often centered around overhangs, which serve as common areas for those who live there. Much of their architecture is, thus, partially underground. These cities are very carefully planned, not only to preserve the integrity of the mountains and cliffsides upon which they are built, but also to provide ample means for comfort and sanitation. Water from the mountains is channelled down so there is continual fresh access to water, as well as providing a sewage system to prevent the lingering of contamination and disease.
These homes are very ornately built, with carved and painted walls for decoration. Doorways are more often than not left completely open, though some may hang tapestries over them for warmth in the winter or privacy reasons. These tapestry doors may vary in appearance based on the meaning they are meant to convey. For instance, if the resident Cortlan is on a nocturnal sleep schedule, they may hang up thick blackout tapestries to both prevent daylight from seeping in, as well as to communicate to other Cortlans that they are not to be disturbed.
Bathing is often communal. While there is access to running water in the apartments, there is even easier access to natural hotsprings in the mountains. As such, most cities have communal bathhouses where Cortlans will carry their personal hygiene items like brushes and soaps, scrub off the day and then soak in the hot springs to relax.
Sexuality, Gender, Marriage, and Divorce:Cortlans as a whole view gender as more of a wide, wild spectrum than any set binary. They have many people who identify as either, both, or a completely separate gender from men and women, and easily accept changes in how a person presents themselves. The position of their braid negates any awkwardness, as a Cortlan will automatically know how to refer to another Cortlan by which side the braid is on. If they are speaking to an outsider, their devotion to speaking the truth extends there as well, and they will ask if they're unsure.
Going along with this general concept is their equally free concept of sexuality. With no set gender roles or even binary system, sexuality varies as widely as gender does in Cortla culture. Marriages as we understand them don't exist in Cortla. Rather than a one-time ceremony meant to last a whole lifetime, Cortlans will instead perform their courtship dance regularly, almost daily, in order to display their mutual continued interest with their partner.
They value honest communication as with anything else, however, and while relationships can be very open or casual in nature, Cortlans are very strict about making sure all parties involved understand what that relationship involves and agree to the nature of that relationship wholly.
Religion: The Cortlans are very spiritual as a general rule; they believe very strongly in the link between the spirit world and the mundane world, and that to favor one over the other is a sure path to destruction. Words and stories echo creation, and spiritual vibrations are warnings to be minded with great care. Stories of ghosts or contact with spirits are common, and in many cases, completely true.
According to Cortlan cosmology, there is a web that runs through every facet of existence, from animals to plants to rocks and water. This web connects everything not only in the physical world, but also the spiritual world. This foundational web is based on the words of the creator Goddess, and so to tell a lie is to begin physically undoing creation itself. As such, when a Cortlan must be less than truthful with their words (as in with a joke or due to sarcasm), they will twist their wrist a few times in a gesture that physically rectifies the damage done to the web.