The Lightsingers

The light and dark side speak their own dialects, but both languages share a common older language called Stalyrid. Both of the modern languages use the same alphabet, and share some vague language similarities but otherwise are different languages. (think how both French and Spanish are love languages and have some “similarities” but are still different.)   On the light side their language is called Daginscrit. [day-gen-scrit]. The different regions may have a variety of accents and local dialects.

The light side covets their people and work in small, closely knit cities which trade with each other. Some cities, especially in the outer ring, intentionally let their islands drift, allowing their whole city to migrate with the currents to allow better and more diverse tradeh    Each city has its own variations on manners, but in general it is considered your duty as a citizen to contribute to the rest of the city.   Most take on their own trade or work as builders, tinkerers, scavengers, hunters, protectors, or cultivators. A smaller percentage of the population are also able to become what are called Soulsinging.   If you are a “Soulsinger” (the primary form of magic and technology on Alfyr), then you are given special rights as well as specific responsibilities.   As a Singer, you are regarded as important, and respected. Many end up becoming religious Gothi (the name of their priests), or at the very least are likely to become nobles as their gifts would allow them to rise in the ranks of their city more easily. You are usually expected to use your gifts to help improve agriculture, heal injuries, purify the sick, etc.   You are also expected to participate in a ritual called “The Resurging” where a group of singers gather around the various spires on the islands and renew the power within it. This keeps the spires working and the islands of the city afloat.   As a soul singing traveler, it is customary to personally imbue a spire as a sort of paying respect to that city for letting you stay there.

On the light side they have a great understanding of mathematics and engineering. They've been able to construct pulleys and cranes that help them make buildings on the sides of islands as well as the tops of them. This leads to them making beautiful buildings and structures given the resources they have to work with.   Light side is also very adept with soulsinging as a magic system. Soul singing allows a singer to conjure spirits of a certain song’s element and command them to do things for them. They practice this under the idea that it was a gift from their god Ki.   In some areas of the outer ring there are singers who still remember another of the ancient arts called Songtying. This magic allowed you to bind a spirit to an object using soul singing, which would temporarily, or with proper preparation permanently, bind the spirit and desired effect to the item. They would use this technique to make tools, weapons and other useful items. Supposedly this is how the spires were made but the exact process is unknown.   Some people on the light side have managed to make use of the strange old constructs that sometimes linger in abandoned cities. These mechanical creatures have a complicated body made of stone, metals and gemstones powered by some complicated form of Songtying. In modern day some have repurposed broken parts of these creatures and crafted new devices.

specific and general things would be:   taking your shoes off when entering any building or temple.   Never going in public without your band/scarf.   Respecting your elders.   Respecting the spirits.

Architecture is tall and colorful. Pigments are often found or made with minerals or plants allowing their buildings and statues to be painted vibrantly. The designs of the buildings are built of a grayish green stone as well as a special wood that grows on the islands called Reed wood which has a natural pale purple hue and grows tall and thin like a reed (or like bamboo).   (The actual designs of buildings would be slightly inspired by things like Asian and Greek architecture with its own flairs, but things like grand palaces with many pillars, and beautifully ornate roofs and windows made of Reed wood, all painted to be full of color and life.)

On the light side, there is a general taboo of anything to do with shadows and night.   Soulsingers are forbidden from using The Song of Shadows.   The Sea of clouds beneath the islands are believed to be the home of the shades. Evil spirits which would corrupt/ sicken you, so in some areas, it is taboo to enter it. If you do fall into it, but are recovered, you must undergo a “cleansing” or else you would become deathly ill or even die. (technically its because the air down there is toxic.)

they beleive that strong almost hooked noses that have no dip in it is a desired trait in both women and men.   they also think that the neck is a vulnerable and therfore private part of your body, therefore should be covered, though this practice is largely expected of women, and its reasoning is seemingly lost to time.   white hair is also considered to be a beautify if rare trait to have.

Most people wear loose, warm climate clothing similar to the Chitons worn by the greeks. These garbs were ornamented by certain religious pieces which were meant to embody the masculine or feminine genders. Children are given their own garbs at age 13, and noble families have more ornate designs with nicer colors that match their noble houses.   The masculine piece was called a Band and was a wide band of leather with beautiful patterns and braided designs with beads and feathers which was worn on the upper arm of your dominant arm.   The feminine piece was called a Huivi (Scarf) and was a long thin fabric meant to wrap around your neck to cover it, and over your clothes to accent them. These scarves would have beautiful designs woven into them which represented your family and its heritage. They also tend to have personal augmentations like hoods, pockets, or face coverings depending on the need/ desire of the person   There is a third gender recognised in Alfen Culture called an Abrua, a name from an older version of their current language and which means “bridge”. These people are regarded as both masculine and feminine, and wear both the arm Band, and the Huivi.