Itori {Manfolk}
"Many heads oft makes a monster dangerous true, but also that much more difficult to lead. This is the curse of the Itori, for they are at their most powerful when united but yet are so rarely so." Itori Proverb - Attributed to the Founder of the Hydrean LeagueThe Itori people are the natives of the Itorrican Penninsula, although their origins beyond that are still subject to great speculation among scholars. The Itori are also in large part intermixed and descended from the earliest colonists of the Arumnic Empire, but earlier connections between the Arum and Itori are attested to far back into the Priest Dawn, and further mixed by an influx of Collisar, Kumar and Taliran people in the wake of the Great Scourge. Creating over the span of generations, a diverse genetic mix of ancenstries and ethnicities, that slowly assimilated beneath the overall identity of the Itori. The Itori then in many ways, have become the "measure of man" in the eyes of scholars. Being roughly average in height, weight, and ability, and possessing a vertible gamut of skin, hair and eye color variations. The native Itori blood though, such that it remains, might be said to favour olive tan skin, brown to black hair, and either blue or hazel eyes. Not since the Arumsfall have the Itori been politically unified in any substantial way, and even during the height of the First Empire, the Itori were by preference and practical necessity divided into multiple provinces. Even now, as the Hydrean League, itself spearheaded by the Itori people of Nevize, unites more and more of the peninsula, it remains unlikely that even this alliance will bring the region into full political unity. Though a politically and ethnically diverse people, they are culturally linked by common values and langauge. They are a people of trade and commerce, whom deeply value personal liberty and independence. They are explorers, inventors, artists, creators, innovators, diplomats, entrepreneurs and intrepid voyagers. Matched in their prowess at sea only by the Kumari, and totally unmatched in their sophisticated engineering of buildings and ships. The Itori may be said to believe more than any other people that fate and fortune is not designated by birthright but by intelligence, hard-work, perseverance and shrewd industry.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Amalia, Anna, Anameeria, Anabelisa, Batricia, Belladora, Camilla, Carina, Caralenetta, Caralenissa, Coralina, Corinissa, Corinalla, Daniella, Delphina, Donna, Dulceta, Eugenia, Ecara, Fidella, Fiorella, Gina, Illunetta, Innata, Juletta, Julianna, Kiera, Liana, Lunetta, Lynissa, Marianna, Marilla, Meeranetta, Mikarina, Nadali, Nola, Nonetta, Ophelia, Orinna, Oriena, Olenna, Patricia, Petra, Rona, Ramona, Rebanna, Roxala, Rolanna, Sylvia, Sophia, Suzenna, Seina, Serena, Selenna, Sorina, Saphrenissa, Saphenella, Selma, Selnissa, Teresa, Tessa, Ulenna, Uriella, Victoria, Vincenza, Violetta, Yolenna, Ylluna, Yolanna, Zolina
Masculine names
Alfanzo, Alassano, Alexio, Alexandro, Aeneo, Adriano, Alferio, Arturo, Albetto, Andalo, Annassio, Bedro, Barnabasso, Baltazarro, Bautiso, Balistario, Baudolo, Benesuto, Benecorino, Beto, Bodilino, Bosco, Calimaco, Calistrato, Calimo, Corynisso, Coryno, Constantino, Dinolo, Dario, Demarcio, Delono, Donato, Enzo, Edoardo, Eugeno, Eustacco, Fabiano, Fabrizzio, Ferrissio, Fidelo, Ferro, Felipo, Giovanno, Geordino, Giancarlo, Giorgio, Gioseppo, Giopetto, Ignacio, Illario, Icario, Icarnisso, Larenzo, Larnasso, Leopolo, Leobardo, Leonasso, Leono, Lucio, Luciano, Marco, Martino, Minanisso, Niccolo, Orsino, Selmnisso
Family names
Benzana, Iancarlo, di Sarenna, tia Neviza, tia Gerosa, dia Orenzi, tia Torrocori, dia Calana, al Arcosi, al Helbari, di Lyrosi, di Vespucci, Gerasi, al Bethari, Tia Vilenima, Colomba, Mercuti, Boloungiano,
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The vast majority of Itori speak Arumnish, and indeed the Itori dialect is said to be one of the more neutral in accent and closest to the standard Church pronunciation due in large part to their former proximity to the Old Empire and their relative cohesion during its fall.
Itori Arumnish is generally considered easy to understand but it’s also known for reflecting the bombastic and colourful nature of the Itori themselves. They punctuate phrases with rising inflections and explosive rises in intensity. They’re infamous for talking with their hands and have a deep vocabulary of hand and facial gestures with a variety of both rude and practical meanings.
A small number of phrases and vocabulary have survived from the pre-Arumnic Itori language into current usage, though no fluent speakers remain. Having long been inculculated into the Church Tongue, even in the furthest and most remote hill tribes.
What reconstruction of the old Itori language that has been done via Necrolinguistics appears to mark the langauge as descended primarily from the Proto-Arumnic branch with influence from the "Sea Raider" language. However, the near eradication of undeath from the civilized portions of Itorrica have frustrated the development of a full reconstruction to prove this theory.
Shared customary codes and values
At their heart, the Itori are people of bold enterprise. They are traders, explorers and diplomats. They are also a people whom deeply value freedom. Since the days of the First Empire and before they have always been independently-minded and fiercely supportive of personal freedoms.
Common Etiquette rules
In Itorri etiquette it is required to offer to pay for any gift offered or service rendered even between friends and family. The proper response to this is to refuse stating that their "friendship/love/beauty/etc is gift enough" if you reciprocate their feelings, otherwise, you are stating that you see your relationship as strictly business-like.
Likewise, any gift you receive from an Itorri, you must first offer a trade for or feign an attempt to purchase, and to decline a gift outright in any situation is a great insult. The custom is increasingly rare in urban and cosmopolitan environments, but holds deep roots in more remote and rural regions, where such an insult may even be considered a violation of guest rights.
Common Dress code
Itori are expected to dress impeccably, from the greatest of the Merchant-Lords to the lowliest of paupers, there is little excuse granted or given for poor attire. The Itorri are considered the trendsetters for fashion throughout the continent and often whatever fashions become popular in the cities of Gerosa and Nevize quickly become the standards in the royal courts both North, South and West.
Art & Architecture
Itori architecture clings closely to the classical Arumnish style, columns and marble, painted on the inside with frescos and designs of Saints and noble histories. Though they prefer peaked roofs of late as opposed to the Old Arumnish domes.
Art is at its zenith in much of the lands of the Itori, whom have come to consider a significant cultural value. Cities compete for the patronage of artists whom have become celebrities of the entire world, known even for their works it is rumoured in the Faraway Courts of the distant Dragon Emperors.
Foods & Cuisine
The Itori have a rich diet and extremely varied cuisine, however in broad patterns, one can see:
Rice Dishes:
Risottos, boiled rice stews, and rolls of meat wrapped in rice and seaweed.
Pasta Dishes:
With cream and cheese bases, either of seafood or meat.
Flat Breads:
Slathered with oil or heavy cream. Served with meat, olives, and fresh greens, usually wrapped.
Coming of Age Rites
Guilds are the most ubiquitous element of Itorri culture across all the major cities, your guild defines your social and political place in the city. To that end one of the most important coming of age rituals is the joining of a guild. Although youths may serve as novices, pages or apprentices without formally joining any guild, the point of becoming a member in good standing is the mark of adulthood to most Itori. Generally, this occurs sometime between 16 and 20 years of age. This ritual is common to both men and women, although men tend to join the guilds of their profession, women particularly those that are not seeking professional careers often join so-called "social guilds" or "societies", these societies end up controlling a great deal of social and political capital within their cities.
Funerary and Memorial customs
As the Itori are a Covenantal people, almost all funerary and memorial practices are filtered through the rules and stipulations of the church's mortuary system. Whereby bodies are kept on holy grounds for a period no less than one week, anoited by holy oils, and family, friends and rivals are encouraged to come to make peace with the dead, to ease their spirit's passing. Once a priest has determined that the spirit has disanchored from its mortal form, the body is if requested returned to the family for final internment, or otherwise disposed of in keeping with local tradition.
The final iternment practices vary among the Itori, however the two most common are that of Sea Burial and Long Cremation. Though often these two practices are combined.
Long Cremation
The Long Cremation under normal circumstances occurs after the Disanchoring of the Spirit, however in times of strife or disease it is generally permitted as an alternative to disanchoring. The process involves a low burning fire, which chars the body but does not engulf it. As many of the expected rituals as possible are then observed, and the body is left to burn being periodically checked for signs of spiritual distress, over a period of 3-4 days. At the end of which the body will be reduced mostly to bone and ash. The remains may then be sanctified, buried, or scattered in an appropriate place.
Sea Burial
Likewise to Long Cremation, the Sea Burial also exists as a form of emergency funerary practice in times of strife and danger, but is also observed after the formal Covenantal Disanchoring Rituals. The process is unsurprising to the name. The body or remains are brought to the open sea, ideally to a place away from port and known fishing grounds. A simple ceremony is held, if time and situation permits, before the body is cast aside, in most cases, in a shroud wrapped with rope and lined with stones. Though the rich may use a stone coffin.
Common Taboos
It is a taboo among Itori to do formal business over a meal. Though absolutely expected for the host of such business to offer a meal. All business is to occur after food is finished and all parties are sated.
It is an extreme taboo to refuse a gift or payment for services rendered, Itorri believe that gifts should always be reimbursed, however, it is customary and correct to among friends reply to such offer by suggesting that their friendship, hospitality or love is payment enough.
Common Myths and Legends
There are many myths and legends common to the Itori people, but first removing those that are common to all Manfolk and the Covenantal Faith as a whole we come across a small set of semi-legendary figures and creatures.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The ideal Itori Man is lean but fit and strong, with dark brown or black hair, and eyes of the typical Itorii ocean blue or sea-foam green.
The same is mostly true of Itorii women, though preferences are for a softer lighter brown (or the very desirable but rare red) in the hair, a lighter skin tone and especially . The ideal figure of an Itorii woman is full-bodied but fit, to accentuate this figure Itorii women prefer natural flowing silken gowns that pinch below the breasts.
Encompassed species
Languages spoken
Related Locations
Comments