Parbhyanu
The Parbhyanu are the dominant Solar Elven culture in the world, and with a few rare exceptions of solar elves who have assimilated into other elven cultures, Parbhyanu are also the only Solar Elven culture. The Parbhyanu are united by a few common tenants, and especially in appearance, but there are also great differences in certain traditions depending on where a Parbhyanu is from. Some view this breadth of cultural traditions as beneficial, while others view their brethren as misinformed, but they all view themselves and one another as Parbhyanu. As solar elves, they can naturally be recognized by their bronze skin, light hair, and blazing blue or stormy eyes. However, they also share the religion of Anuism, and despite different interpretations of the faith, it remains a core part of their culture. The Parbhyanu are also a militaristic culture, which may show itself in naval professionalism or land warfare excellence depending on the geographical situation of the various cultures. All Parbhyanu have very sophisticated weaponry, with their technology consistently being ahead of all of their neighbors, excluding dwarven siegecraft. The Parbhyanu were notably the first outside of Gnomes to place cannons on ships, and the first to form a whole fleet of this type of ships. The Parbhyanu can be divided into 5 different subcultures, with 2 of them primarily living outside of the sun elven states.
The Tabhaiedi are a mercantile and cosmopolitan culture who nonetheless maintain a carefully structured and stratified society. They are descended from a mixture of refugees who fled to the coast during a brutal crackdown by authorities. Tabhaiedi are considered liberal and accepting of foreigners, but also structure their laws in such a way that they retain all political power and generally much of the wealth. Consequentially, they remain wary of interracial marriage, with most Tabhaiedi half-elves being eldritch, and limited to the lower classes or as bastards, due to their close relationships with Ægyian peoples. The Tabhaiedi follow a polytheistic interpretation of Anuism due to this cultural exchange with the Ægyians. The Tabhaiedi are interested in colonial and naval ventures, and a number of skilled Tabhaiedi sailors can be found in various ports across western Ærellion, especially those of the Ægyian islands. Tabhaiedi settlements on Ifyrial have begun to agitate for independence from the mainland, but nonetheless have retained an almost identical culture.
Like the Tabhaiedi, the Dasatara and Bhakhata fled during the crackdowns, but instead of moving west, fled east. Both of these groups also profess a polytheistic Anuism, but theirs is different due to differing influences, and generally has less gods. The Dasatara, in fleeing east, came to reside within human-controlled parts of the dryland belt. There, they became tightly integrated with the locals and were looked to as sources of technology, wisdom, and for their anti-troll expertise. However, due to the small numbers of Dasatara, they barely have any influence today, with their communities mostly being along the borders, where less intemingling with locals occured. The majority of Dasatara are eldritch, but even this community is on the decline. Similarly to the Dasatara, the Bhakhata are also primarily a culture of eldritch today, though they have not undergone the same decline, since more refugees fled to the (what they considered) more civilized and safer regions controlled by Ursumar. They were granted governorships along the western border of the Ursumar dominion, and were heavily favored by monarchs who looked west and south, where they played a part in bringing the local humans under Ursumar control. Because of this close relationship, the Dasatara and Bhakhata communities remain close today, and often powerful individuals work together from both sides of the border faclitate trade in a beneficial way for the elven people.
In contrast to the Polytheistic Anusists, the Pashran are Monotheistic. Pashran lands are generally not where the Solar Elves initially arrived, and represent parts of the drylands which were under trollish domination at the time of their arrival. The Pashran have their roots in the Solar Elven factions who performed poorly in early wars and thus remained on the peripheral. Primarily composed of poorer settlers who could not afford to remain in the (at the time) overcrowded highland due to being outcompeted by the stronger Rasani, they instead turned to conquest of the south. The Pashran are adept at hit-and-run tactics, adapting to combat with the physically superior and swift-healing trolls, which they extended to retain their dominions in the numerous inter-elven wars during the years preceding the great crackdown. The distinction between Rasani and Pashran is a nuanced affair, and both have very similar customs outside of battle tactics.
Rasani are Solar Elves dwelling mostly in the hills, highlands, and around the main river system. As the dominant factions at the time of the southern migration, they were able to force the ancestors of the Pashran off their lands and would go on to militarily dominate. Originally not particuarly concerned with the dryland belt, the Rasani nonetheless came to also move southward over time. The Rasani have long served as the religious leaders of the Parbhyanu, which culminated in their enforcement of monotheism and the subsequent great crackdown. They moved to cleanse the larger Pashran culture of its undesireables, which was a great help to the Pashran rulers in cementing their power but also caused great strife. This time of strife allowed the Rasani to expand their lands, and has kept them at the forefront until today.
The Tabhaiedi are a mercantile and cosmopolitan culture who nonetheless maintain a carefully structured and stratified society. They are descended from a mixture of refugees who fled to the coast during a brutal crackdown by authorities. Tabhaiedi are considered liberal and accepting of foreigners, but also structure their laws in such a way that they retain all political power and generally much of the wealth. Consequentially, they remain wary of interracial marriage, with most Tabhaiedi half-elves being eldritch, and limited to the lower classes or as bastards, due to their close relationships with Ægyian peoples. The Tabhaiedi follow a polytheistic interpretation of Anuism due to this cultural exchange with the Ægyians. The Tabhaiedi are interested in colonial and naval ventures, and a number of skilled Tabhaiedi sailors can be found in various ports across western Ærellion, especially those of the Ægyian islands. Tabhaiedi settlements on Ifyrial have begun to agitate for independence from the mainland, but nonetheless have retained an almost identical culture.
Like the Tabhaiedi, the Dasatara and Bhakhata fled during the crackdowns, but instead of moving west, fled east. Both of these groups also profess a polytheistic Anuism, but theirs is different due to differing influences, and generally has less gods. The Dasatara, in fleeing east, came to reside within human-controlled parts of the dryland belt. There, they became tightly integrated with the locals and were looked to as sources of technology, wisdom, and for their anti-troll expertise. However, due to the small numbers of Dasatara, they barely have any influence today, with their communities mostly being along the borders, where less intemingling with locals occured. The majority of Dasatara are eldritch, but even this community is on the decline. Similarly to the Dasatara, the Bhakhata are also primarily a culture of eldritch today, though they have not undergone the same decline, since more refugees fled to the (what they considered) more civilized and safer regions controlled by Ursumar. They were granted governorships along the western border of the Ursumar dominion, and were heavily favored by monarchs who looked west and south, where they played a part in bringing the local humans under Ursumar control. Because of this close relationship, the Dasatara and Bhakhata communities remain close today, and often powerful individuals work together from both sides of the border faclitate trade in a beneficial way for the elven people.
In contrast to the Polytheistic Anusists, the Pashran are Monotheistic. Pashran lands are generally not where the Solar Elves initially arrived, and represent parts of the drylands which were under trollish domination at the time of their arrival. The Pashran have their roots in the Solar Elven factions who performed poorly in early wars and thus remained on the peripheral. Primarily composed of poorer settlers who could not afford to remain in the (at the time) overcrowded highland due to being outcompeted by the stronger Rasani, they instead turned to conquest of the south. The Pashran are adept at hit-and-run tactics, adapting to combat with the physically superior and swift-healing trolls, which they extended to retain their dominions in the numerous inter-elven wars during the years preceding the great crackdown. The distinction between Rasani and Pashran is a nuanced affair, and both have very similar customs outside of battle tactics.
Rasani are Solar Elves dwelling mostly in the hills, highlands, and around the main river system. As the dominant factions at the time of the southern migration, they were able to force the ancestors of the Pashran off their lands and would go on to militarily dominate. Originally not particuarly concerned with the dryland belt, the Rasani nonetheless came to also move southward over time. The Rasani have long served as the religious leaders of the Parbhyanu, which culminated in their enforcement of monotheism and the subsequent great crackdown. They moved to cleanse the larger Pashran culture of its undesireables, which was a great help to the Pashran rulers in cementing their power but also caused great strife. This time of strife allowed the Rasani to expand their lands, and has kept them at the forefront until today.
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