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aaimasqtch · 2 years ago

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Ptitheros Worldbuilding - Culture

art by suspicious_alex

Universal Culture

Sleep

Most Ptithian beds are round with circular pillows near the top placed in stacks, allowing them to raise their upper body and account for wing folding space and tails. There is also a tendency to have messy beds, with extremely poofy or fluffy blankets rather than sleek sets. Comfort and warmth is valued over a tidy aesthetic.

There also is no such thing as a "bed set", the whole "mattress cover, sheets, blanket, quilt, pillow cases, etc". A mattress is a mattress and anything can be thrown on top of it to adjust for sleeping temperature conditions. Royals and rich will steer towards matching, aesthetically pleasing things though. Other sleeping arrangements include: on the floor, usually on a rug/ big floor pillow pile/ big bean bag/ hammocks/ lofted window cushions, etc.

Beauty

Ptithians value health as beauty. No matter conditions or body shape, a healthy ptithian is idealized and is beautiful. Still, upkeep can set someone apart in a crowd. Having washed, brushed fur. Keeping feathers preened and silky. Keeping scales washed and sleek. These are all important. Most of all, having clean, clear eyes and ears are the first sign of health, so all ptithians make sure those are clean before leaving home at minimum.

There are no beauty standards based on gender. Different ptithians can be attracted to different gender presentations, but there is no “ideal male”, etc.

Make-up exists, but make-up is not part of any beauty expectations. The use of make-up is up to personal preference and is usually saved for important events.

Gender

Ptithians can be born female, male, intersex, etc. They have an extremely loose connection between gender and body parts, but it is so loose that when these things do not match, absolutely nobody cares (Typically only applies to children, parents will use associated pronouns until the child can decide). Ptithians come in a large spectrum of feminine, androgynous, masculine, and everything in-between. All (reasonable) orientations and gender identities are valid and are not a factor in anything.

The only place biological sex is a factor is in elite Torian position and within sexist cults.

Relationships

Although ptithians have unique cultures with their own relationship quirks, Ptitheros is still a highly-connected world and some relationship standards are shared globally. In general, ptithians do not have marriage nor do they propose. Instead, the transition from girl/boyfriend - fiance - spouse, partner, etc, is based purely on time. The idea of having to sign a document to declare partnership is foreign and absurd to them.

Because there is no marriage, there are also no weddings. However, partnership celebrations still happen. These celebrations have no standard, the couple makes these parties into whatever they want.

Birth and Children

Ptithians are less prone to complications because their reproductive systems are not evolutionarily messed up like humans. Home births are the most common, with one or two mataems/nurses attending to assist. When previous births have gone wrong or there are expected complications, mothers will go to a hospital instead.

All base Ptitheros species are mammals (live birth), marsupials (pouch birth), or monotremes (eggs). This means they all produce milk. Formulas to substitute milk are on the market for mothers who can't produce/produce enough of it for their children. Low-aura mothers with average/high-aura children or average-aura mothers with high-aura children do not produce enough aura in their milk to keep their cub healthy. Condensed aura powders and formulas are made to help with this. They are inexpensive.

Cub sashes are a popular item to carry young children in. They are especially popular with middle and high class parents in cities. Rubasyn joeys in particular like pouch-carrybags because the rubasyn ancestor species, rubus, carried their young in stomach pouches (Some modern rubasyns still have marsupial pouches).

Funerals

Mankians bury their dead in graveyards and funerals involve the close community.

North Noxians cremate their dead and funerals are family only.

South Noxians bury their dead in graveyards and funerals are family only.

Zuaanians send the dead out into the sea and funerals involve the close community.

Sollians cremate their dead and funerals are family only.

Torians cremate but preserve the skeletons to bury in catacombs, funerals are family only.

Galians cremate their dead or send them out into the sea, funerals involve the close community.

Woariians bury their dead in distant natural locations, funerals involve the entire community.

Chaverians had buried their dead in distant natural locations, funerals had involved only the family.

Taboo

Any magic abilities involving flesh, such as blood or bone magic are considered taboo to the majority of Ptithians.

Most monsters; vindiagos, windiages, phantom echoers, mokvels- vampires and cannibals- lindosts and all the parasitic, teeth, and eye symbology that comes with them. These are all considered inappropriate topics or displays in the majority of settings.

Touching whiskers or scent glands (behind the edge of the lips and on the bottom of the chin for most species) purposefully without permission is considered extremely inappropriate. Forcefully messing with whiskers or scent glands, which are sensitive organs, is extremely inappropriate and can be considered assault.

“Smaller” monsters, like werebeasts and scalaces do exist in the larger society. While working alongside or being acquaintances with these ptithians are considered okay, having deeper relationships may cause discourse. Some ptithians consider the relationships as normal, some are viciously against it. Those in the relationships simply need to be careful.

Ptithians do not like when behaviors, jobs, clothing, etc. are gendered. This does not apply to affectionately naming inanimate objects, like naming/giving pronouns to a boat or a teddy-tion.

Fame

There are famous/infamous names across Ptitheros, such as Vaia, an infamous monster hunter in the Wyndgale region. Royals and leaders are household names. There can be popular entertainers in a region who get hired more often because of the status, but Ptitheros does not have anything similar to classic celebrities, especially not in terms of lifestyle.

However, gossip about well-known names and past ones does circulate. Often local fame drives this banter, and it is not uncommon for rumors, good and bad, to make their way through those who enjoy stirring drama or form obsessions. With flight and callrunes, hearing gossip is hard to escape for anyone living anywhere besides the foreign wilderness.

Daily Technology

Ptithians use an array of aura-based technology in their daily lives. They do not live the classic medieval fantasy, instead, it is much more like an arcane sci-fi. From runes that regulate room temperature and fridges, kitchen appliances, gps devices, energy storage similar to batteries, sound players and production, photography cameras, radios, and callrunes; a runic device that works like a highly simplified touchscreen system.

Callrunes are the most recognizable piece of newer technology. They allow video calling, voice calling, document storage of all sorts of files and messages, and can serve the purpose of older radios but can display a screen. Its only downfall is that everything must be real-time due to the nature of aura-signatures.

There are higher forms of technology, but they are not privy to daily use by the majority of Ptithians.

Ptithians have weights and obstacle equipment, treadmills and similar machinery too, but nothing close to computerized equipment, as all their technology follows a biohull, steampunk-y theme. Although, said exercise equipment would not be super common, particularly found on the space station and at training centers in cities for professionals. This is because Ptithians spend so much time outside and burn energy naturally simply living their life.

Scientific and artistic expos occur in the major cities. These expos display everything from upcoming technology, art galleries, book launches, relic and museum displays, scientific discoveries, and more.

Textiles

Fabrics for a variety of things include animal skin, leather, fur, wool, and all the usuals. Plus plant fiber, leaves, cotton, silk, and various mixed materials made from the aforementioned items and extra agents (chemical or magic). Such as spacesuits, which are made from tampered windiage skin, chemicals, and enchantments. Ptithians are well-equipped to make many unique materials and alternatives to modern synthetic fabrics. As long as there is no plastic involved, as they do not make or use plastic in any way.

Because they never created plastics, all modern equivalent items that have use other materials. Fabric bags, glass containers, paper products, tempered animal skin, etc, there are many substitutes in their society and they are good at getting creative with the enchantments they have at their disposal.

Illness

Ptithians take illness seriously, doctors and anyone in the healing profession are valued highly because of how complex the information is when it comes to healing someone from any sort of ailment, both physical, mental, or arcanological. The specialties are often viewed as a triangle, as a healthy Ptithian is balanced between their physical health, mental health, and aura system health. Having one doing downhill can lead to problems in other corners of the triangle.

Economy

Ptitheros is a predominantly capitalist economy that stretches all kingdoms, creating a highly intertwined money system, workforce, and ease of transfer when it comes to working anywhere for any reason. There are no modern "big business", nor monopolies, only small businesses with the largest being the rare merchant family found in cities. Guilds can be argued, but they are mostly founder-funded or charity.

A large variety of occupations exist, many needed in all kingdoms, whereas some are more specialized. Jobs that require complex education are highly respected and artisans are valued for their skills too, as Ptithians believe natural talent is a myth and anyone is capable of being good at a skill with enough practice.

College is generally not expensive in Ptitheros, although some highly specialized education routes can get a bit pricey. When a kingdom needs more Ptithians in a specific occupation, education for said job is often offered for free/paid for by the kingdom in order to bring in those specializations.

Communication and Transportation

Ptithians have no trouble communicating long distances, not even space poses a problem. They have access to callrunes, radio lines, recorded sound, file transfer, and more.

Transportation is easy too. From flying routes and grounded trade routes all across the continent, snapp taxis, trustworthy mount companions, blimps, small and large ships, and even the occasional aura-train.

Recreation and Leisure

Time off and play is plentiful and necessary to have a happy society. Ptitheros is full of outdoor recreational activities and opportunities at leisure. From hiking, flight hiking, spelunking, various sports, gladiator battles, fishing, trophy hunting, rock hunting, mountaineering, skiing, and more. To accommodate the recreational activities, business pops up to provide places to stay and places to relax. From guided tours, hotels, lodging buildings, cabin sites, campsites, beach boardwalks and private zones at lakes, grottos, beaches and more. On-the-move "hotels" on blimps and trains are also a fun vacation option.

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