Culture of the League of Balúrail: Difference between revisions
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{{Culture of the League of Balúrail Sections | {{Culture of the League of Balúrail Sections | ||
|Introduction=The '''culture of the League of Balúrail''' is chiefly that of the [[Tuzquão]], who make up most of the League's population, together with that of the [[Mifajene]], the native people of [[Balúrail]]. Tuzquão culture has been shaped by Balúrail's swamps and long winters, by the [[Ascendant Spirit]] [[Mavai]], whose love of mystery runs through its arts and thought, and by the League's history as a colony of the [[Kingdom of Bóinbile]] and then as an independent state. The state religion is Parethism, a branch of [[Tefar]]. Mifajene culture, centered on the [[Mifajene Reservation]], has its own script, arts and traditions. | |Introduction=[[File:Winter Night Travel Painting.jpg|thumb|Painting of a traveler on a winter's night]] | ||
|History= | The '''culture of the League of Balúrail''' is chiefly that of the [[Tuzquão]], who make up most of the League's population, together with that of the [[Mifajene]], the native people of [[Balúrail]]. Tuzquão culture has been shaped by Balúrail's swamps and long winters, by the [[Ascendant Spirit]] [[Mavai]], whose love of mystery runs through its arts and thought, and by the League's history as a colony of the [[Kingdom of Bóinbile]] and then as an independent state. The state religion is Parethism, a branch of [[Tefar]]. Mifajene culture, centered on the [[Mifajene Reservation]], has its own script, arts and traditions. | ||
=== Colonial period (201–289 ME) === | |History==== Colonial period (201–289 ME) === | ||
The first settlers came from the Kingdom of Bóinbile in [[Gosterra]] in 201 ME and brought Gostaldi culture with them, along with the Yeparchist branch of Tefar. Writing in the colonies was in [[Gostaldi (Language)|Gostaldi]], chiefly chronicles of the settlements and religious texts. | The first settlers came from the Kingdom of Bóinbile in [[Gosterra]] in 201 ME and brought Gostaldi culture with them, along with the Yeparchist branch of Tefar. Writing in the colonies was in [[Gostaldi (Language)|Gostaldi]], chiefly chronicles of the settlements and religious texts. | ||
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The Mifajene have their own script and written tradition, including histories of their towns and of their wars with the League. | The Mifajene have their own script and written tradition, including histories of their towns and of their wars with the League. | ||
|Visual Arts=[[File:Balúrail | |Visual Arts=[[File:Balúrail nude painting 01.jpg|thumb|A Tuzquão painting of a nude woman with a mask.]] | ||
Tuzquão painting is known for atmospheric landscapes of mist, water and winter light, and for portraits; works associated with Mavai often show veiled or masked figures and unexplained scenes. Mask-making is among the most important crafts of the League, and masks associated with Mavai are worn in ceremonies and kept on display. Wood carving is common in a land rich in timber, as are weaving and other textile crafts. Photography, introduced from [[Elursāde]], has been in use in the League's cities since the mid-800s ME. | Tuzquão painting is known for atmospheric landscapes of mist, water and winter light, and for portraits; works associated with Mavai often show veiled or masked figures and unexplained scenes. Mask-making is among the most important crafts of the League, and masks associated with Mavai are worn in ceremonies and kept on display. Wood carving is common in a land rich in timber, as are weaving and other textile crafts. Photography, introduced from [[Elursāde]], has been in use in the League's cities since the mid-800s ME. | ||
The Mifajene have their own visual tradition. Their houses, built with the Path of Tahami, carry raised geometric patterns shaped into the walls as they are raised. They embroider sashes, wraps and hangings with dense geometric designs, use their script decoratively on walls, objects and documents, and carve wood and bone. The oldest surviving Mifajene art is the cave art of the [[Donal Hills]]. | The Mifajene have their own visual tradition. Their houses, built with the Path of Tahami, carry raised geometric patterns shaped into the walls as they are raised. They embroider sashes, wraps and hangings with dense geometric designs, use their script decoratively on walls, objects and documents, and carve wood and bone. The oldest surviving Mifajene art is the cave art of the [[Donal Hills]]. | ||
|Performance Arts=[[File: | |Performance Arts=[[File:Masked ball Drawing 01.jpg|thumb|A masked ball in Têr]] | ||
Masked theater is closely associated with Mavai: its plays turn on hidden identities and secrets, and the performers are masked. Traveling shows of storytellers, players and musicians tour the towns and the countryside. Music ranges from the church music of Parethism to folk songs of the long winters, the sea and peat cutting; reed instruments are made from the [[Cantuim]], whose stems already make song-like sounds in the wind. | Masked theater is closely associated with Mavai: its plays turn on hidden identities and secrets, and the performers are masked. Traveling shows of storytellers, players and musicians tour the towns and the countryside. Music ranges from the church music of Parethism to folk songs of the long winters, the sea and peat cutting; reed instruments are made from the [[Cantuim]], whose stems already make song-like sounds in the wind. | ||
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Osia otherwise plays little part in daily life or industry. Tuzquão Osiari are few, and most train at the [[House of Mavai]]. The Mifajene build their houses and towns with the Path of Tahami. | Osia otherwise plays little part in daily life or industry. Tuzquão Osiari are few, and most train at the [[House of Mavai]]. The Mifajene build their houses and towns with the Path of Tahami. | ||
|Lifestyle=[[File: | |Lifestyle=[[File:Tuzquao Dress 01.jpg|thumb|Tuzquão in traditional dress]] | ||
Tuzquão food is built on fish, fresh or smoked over peat, with root crops and rye and barley from the dry ground, game such as the [[Oeinso]], and berries and mushrooms gathered from the swamps. The national dish is a whole [[Lacutão]] baked slowly inside a thick rye crust, which keeps for days and is carried by peat cutters and travelers. [[Lumbage]] tea is the everyday drink; through the long winters the favored drink is a brandy distilled from [[Talme]] berries. | Tuzquão food is built on fish, fresh or smoked over peat, with root crops and rye and barley from the dry ground, game such as the [[Oeinso]], and berries and mushrooms gathered from the swamps. The national dish is a whole [[Lacutão]] baked slowly inside a thick rye crust, which keeps for days and is carried by peat cutters and travelers. [[Lumbage]] tea is the everyday drink; through the long winters the favored drink is a brandy distilled from [[Talme]] berries. | ||
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The Mifajene eat almost entirely fish and berries, among them Talme and [[Elurbe]]. They wear little clothing, but ornamental bead necklaces are common, and the jewelry a Mifajene wears shows their standing. Their houses are framed in wood on ground shaped with the Path of Tahami and covered over with peat. | The Mifajene eat almost entirely fish and berries, among them Talme and [[Elurbe]]. They wear little clothing, but ornamental bead necklaces are common, and the jewelry a Mifajene wears shows their standing. Their houses are framed in wood on ground shaped with the Path of Tahami and covered over with peat. | ||
|Sports=[[File: | |Sports=[[File:Boy Skating Illustration 01.jpg|thumb|Skater on a frozen lake near Têr]] | ||
Winter sports dominate in Balúrail. Skating on frozen lakes, rivers and canals is the most common pastime, and a team game played on ice with curved sticks and a small ball draws large crowds in the cities. In the [[Eastern Highlands]], skiing is used both for travel and in races. In summer, long boats rowed by crews of a dozen or more race on the lakes, a tradition that began with congregations rowing to church together. Shooting contests are popular in the countryside. | Winter sports dominate in Balúrail. Skating on frozen lakes, rivers and canals is the most common pastime, and a team game played on ice with curved sticks and a small ball draws large crowds in the cities. In the [[Eastern Highlands]], skiing is used both for travel and in races. In summer, long boats rowed by crews of a dozen or more race on the lakes, a tradition that began with congregations rowing to church together. Shooting contests are popular in the countryside. | ||