Post by Eloell on Jul 20, 2022 13:25:46 GMT -5
SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN NEVERMERE
VALUES
Though Nevermere was once a kingdom that prized peace above all else, the years under King Julius III's rule have turned its head towards control instead. Control: to have great power over oneself and others; to be respected and influential. Command: every individual of the kingdom is either seeking control or is being controlled. Threat self discipline is smiled upon, and lack of self-control is among the greatest sins a person can publicly commit.MATURITY
The age of maturity in Nevermere is 16. This is when the young are considered adults and may begin their careers or marry. Under Rainecourt rule most do not begin the stage of adulthood until 18, and while formerly the common marrying age was 16, it is now around 25, if at all, as some choose to pursue military careers rather than building a family. Nobles still highly prioritize marriage, and advantageous ones.GENDER ROLES
Nevermere was once a patriarchal society that did not suppress women but one that certainly isolated them to roles revolving around cooking, cleaning, and having children. This changed with the arrival of King Julius. He implemented gender treatment from Lorendale--that is, that men and women should be afforded the same luxuries and opportunities. Under him, women began attending school and learning to fight. There are still deep-rooted biases that have yet to fade out, of course, but the kingdom is largely egalitarian. Concerning homosexuality, it is regarded as a shameful practice that neglects the population and contradicts nature. There are not written laws against it, but it is not an accepted practice by any means.
OCCUPATION
Any citizen of Nevermere who is under the age of 18 is still training with the military. What they are doing outside of military training is dependent upon their status (noble or commoner) and their wealth. After 18 and the training is finished many commoners will continue on in the military if their family does not practice a trade; many nobles choose to bask in their wealth and play court games, though some pursue careers in the military.Being a coastal kingdom, owning boats and being fishermen is far more common than farming.
CITIZEN STATUS
In Nevermere there are three general ranks within the kingdom: royalty, nobility, and commoners. The noble class is not separated by additional titles, but is instead unofficially ranked according to wealth. The very wealthy nobles have more power and influence, especially in matters concerning royalty. Commoners have very little voice in Nevermere. The great equalizer of ranks is the military. Whether one be a noble or a commoner, within the military all soldiers do the same jobs, and promotions are given based on performance rather than citizen status.STANDARDS OF LIVING
With nobility comes wealth. Older, more established noble families tend to be the wealthiest. They have family estates outside of Skia with sprawling grounds and forests adjoining them. These stately homes do not have the same flashy grandeur as homes in Lorendale, but their sizable grounds give them their majesty. These estates are staffed by 15 to 20 servants that live on the property in servant quarters. These families have all the finery they need, though there is no emphasis on flashy material possessions. Instead, families take greater pride in inherited assets that hold family history.“New money” nobles (ones who either bought a title or were more recently awarded one) tend to live closer to town. Their manors are sizable but do not have the same extensive grounds as estates. They are staffed by three to six servants, few of whom live on the property (if any).
Merchants and landlords are on the top tier of commoners. They can afford to own a home, provide for their families, and still have some income left over. Soldiers, next on the ladder, are paid a decent wage—enough to afford a modest home and put food on the table. Fine material possessions must be saved for, but are attainable. Servants, shopkeepers, and tradespeople are next. They earn a decent wage, but just enough to get by.
Outside of these categories, poverty is rampant. The military is the easiest way to earn a living, and those who do not join by choice or by circumstance find themselves competing for a very small pool of jobs. Those who are unsuccessful are forced to the tenements or out on the street, dependent on the kindness of covens or other charitable groups.
LIFE EXPECTANCY
If a Nevermerean dies from old age they typically get to see 70-80 years of life.FUNERALS
When a Nevermerean dies, the body is washed and shrouded until the day after death. Then, at sunrise, the body is taken to the black beaches and set adrift on a raft. A small group of friends and family stands by while the body is floated out to sea. A chosen family representative shoots a flaming arrow at the craft, lighting the body on fire as it passes into the next world. No words are necessary, but some families choose to address the crowd.TECHNOLOGY
Nevermere's technology keeps to mostly medieval things; the use of the chamber pots, horses and carriages as primary transportation, clocks, glasses, and such.LAND
Nevermere is a coastal kingdom with a wall of mountains hemming them in to the east. See map.RELATIVE ERA
Medieval. The structures and technology are medieval, the social standard of propriety has Victorian hints but is cruder than Lorendale.