Irresi

Once the rulers of the entire inner Tirsei system, war and infighting have reduced the Empire of Irresa to a single, impoverished planet: their homeworld of Zeii. The Irresi are famous for their inscrutability (you never know for sure what one really feels) and aristocratic bearing (despite having lost their empire, Irresi still act as though all others are beneath them).   Zeii was one of the first worlds to unify after the fall of the Ma'ur. The Tirseians consider the coronation of its first Empress to be the end of the Dark Age, and the event is Year One of the Irresi calendar, the calendar used on Zeii, Tirsei II (Dasu), and Belera (as well as the worlds under Erkasian control). Despite having lost their empire, their ruler still claims the title of Empress despite the nation being small, poor, and corrupt. Corporate interests from Erkas have a strong foothold there, and Irresa has become home to many Erkasian manufacturing plants (whose owners take advantage of the nation's poverty to pay their workers wages that would be considered criminally low in Erkas).   The Imperial flag is purple, and in the center depicts a golden sword pointing upwards.  

Culture:

  Irresi culture is traditionally matriarchal, although influence from Erkasian culture has been driving a shift towards a more gender neutral society. Traditionally, women are the head of the household.   Avoiding embarrassment is important in the Iressisphere, and Irresi usually train hard in certain areas so as to maintain a high level of competence. Tasks in which a person lacks competence are usually avoided. To help with the saving of face, one usually does not acknowledge a mistake on the part of another.   How one presents one's self is very important in Irresi culture. Maintaining the appearance of respectability is far more important than actually being respectable. This attitude has made it extremely difficult to curb corruption, as admitting its existence, a necessary step to combating it on a systemic level, would be a national embarrassment.   The Irresi need to avoid embarrassment can also be seen in their attitude towards pre-marital sex. Irresi of both genders are supposed to stay virginal until marriage. Few actually intend to do this—a well known, but unspoken fact—but the pretense must be maintained. As such, premarital liaisons, while commonplace, are kept secret. Until recently, it was considered extremely uncouth to acknowledge that such romances even occurred. While everyone was aware of their prevalence (and probably participated in or hoped to participate in such trysts), they could not be discussed. While this unspoken rule has endured in some regions, in Irresa City itself this tacit prohibition has recently begun to loosen. Irresi now discuss the existence of such liaisons, though only in private and even then only in hushed conversations. Details are still avoided, but speculation has become common. Sometimes the more crass (or more besotted) will let slip hints to close friends that they are involved in some sort of courtship, but the identity of the other party is never revealed. As intergender friendships are standard in Irresi culture, guessing who is secretly involved with whom can be difficult and has become a popular pastime (although always in hushed whispers as, again, it cannot be openly acknowledged that such liaisons occur). Consequently, many Irresi have begun deliberately leaving false evidence, feigning subtle signs of interest with one friend while publicly affecting indifference towards the actual paramour or projecting an aura of annoyance and jealousy towards another to appear a scorned lover. All of this deception makes it especially difficult to tell true relationships from feigned ones. It is considered the grossest vulgarity to reveal the actual details of a premarital relationship, and such behavior rarely occurs.   Throughout the Irresisphere, such covert liaisons serve the important social function of allowing people to experiment with sexuality and relationships without damaging their reputations. When they find a partner that meets their needs, if both are willing, they can publicly announce their engagement and imminent marriage. The time between the announcement and ceremony is usually very short as once the announcement has been made, the two are not allowed contact so as to “preserve their virginity” (as, again, it cannot be acknowledged that the two have already been in a relationship for some time). Two weeks is the standard length of the engagement, although this is sometimes extended if a particularly detailed wedding needs to be planned. To hasten the wedding process, professional wedding planners are usually hired if finances permit (and if not, then the couple most likely lacks the funds to throw a large wedding anyway). Irresi weddings are lively affairs with lots of brightly colored decorations, dancing (which all Irresi study from childhood since poor dancing is one of the quickest ways to make oneself look foolish), food, and music.   Irresi culture has always been hierarchical, and the right to train in Xa'an has traditionally been the exclusive privilege of the aristocracy. Commoners are not allowed to learn such techniques.  

Interactional Norms:

  Compliments: Compliments in Irresi culture are seen as a way to elevate the recipient above the speaker. As such, the polite response is to reject or at least downgrade the compliment so that both interlocutors remain on the same level.   Pointing: Pointing is considered rude. Irresi indicate the direction they are referencing by nodding towards the target with their head. Should more precise instruction be required, they verbally explain where to look (halfway through the third line of the paragraph; between the fruit stand and the lamp post; to the right of the wrench). Should the asking party not understand the verbal instructions, he or she will have to muddle along as asking for clarification could would reflect badly both on the asker (for not understanding) and the teller (for failing to explain it clearly).   Passing Objects to Another: The polite, formal way to pass an object is with both hands. An acceptable alternative in less formal situations is to touch one's heart with the other hand while passing the object. In big cities where the pace of life is faster, it is more common to forgo such niceties due to the need to hurry all the time, but the second method is still frequently used.   Apologizing: Direct apologies are rarely given, as this would cause the loss of face. In the place of minor apologies, e.g. after bumping into someone, Irresi pause, make eye contact, bow their heads, and move on. In the case of larger infractions, Irresi offer to do the injured party a favor (should the reason be unclear, they may mention the infraction casually in the course of the offer, but will not apologize or acknowledge that any harm was caused). Only in the case of very serious infractions are direct apologies given, and this is done by genuflecting and asking for forgiveness. There is no word to acknowledge culpability in a non-legal sense. Asking for forgiveness is the closest an Irresi may come.  

Addressing Others:

  Irresi personal names have two parts: a matrilineal family name followed by a given name. The given name is used to address the person, although an honorific such as hyn (for commoners) or esa (for nobles) can be used to show respect.  

Fashion:

  Purple, silver, white, and gold are the most common colors, although pink and turquoise are fairly normal as well. Red and orange are traditionally only worn at weddings. Typical garb for a male includes a long tunic and tight trousers or leggings. Capes are commonly worn. During the summer, or in warm climates, unmarried males typically go shirtless (married males are expected to remain modest around other women and are not allowed to expose themselves publicly). During the classical period, women also went topless during during warm periods, but in recent times this has gone out of fashion as it is felt among the middle and upper classes that women should remain more regal than their crude male counterparts (and the shirtless men are there for the women's amusement, whereas the women have no such obligation towards the men). Women in poor regions are more likely to ignore this custom, and it is considered more of a city thing. Poor women covering up in the heat are liable to be mocked by their peers for putting on airs.   Even poor Irresi are always well groomed in public, as looking disheveled would be considered shameful.   Swords are the mark of the aristocracy, and nobles often carry swords with them. Commoners are forbidden to carry weapons other than work knives (except for constables, who carry truncheons, and active duty soldiers, who may be equipped with any weapons except swords).  

Recreation:

  The most popular sport is the traditional Irresi sport of Air Ball. In this game, two teams compete to score a goal. At the center of the spherical game court there is a one meter in diameter hoop that sits on its edge at the top of a one meter pole. The players score by hitting a fifteen-centimeter-in-diameter ball through the hoop. The task is complicated by the fact that players cannot hold the ball and it cannot touch the ground. Player must bounce the ball off of their bodies to team mates. If the ball hits the ground, the team of the last person to hit it loses a point. If a player hits the ball through the hoop, their team wins ten points. It is a difficult game, but since Irresi play it from childhood, they become quite adept at it (and if they do not, they stop playing in their teens when the embarrassment of their ineptitude becomes unbearable; this dooms them to a life of having to make polite excuses to avoid playing, however, since admitting to being a poor player would be shameful; as such, parents usually make their children train hard to insure they achieve at least satisfactory proficiency). The game is played by both genders.