Monarchy of Rawhi
The sunny Kingdom of Rawhi is the only absolute monarchy of the continent. Despite that, people of Rawhi are known to be happy and untouched by stress, famous for their party and their slow paced lifestyle they fully embraced the way of their founder, Paki the Jokester.
The King and his Children
King Ra IV is the current ruler of the kingdom of the sun. Is the first king in the history of Rawhi to receive the blessing from both the Tapu of the sun and the one of the moon, Maha and Pewa. Having lost his wife soon after giving birth to his son, the king had to raise the young Whiriwhiri all by himself. After some years he also adopted another child, Athuna, and there are rumours that he saved this child from the neighbouring Counsilate of Tūpato almost causing an international disaster between the 2 kingdoms.
La Convivencia
Between all the kingdoms of Whenua, Rawhi is the only one where there is not a single religion which is stronger than the others but there are 3 religions (The Belief of the Ancient, The Doctrine of the Last and The Ministry of Kara) that coexist peacefully allowing a extraordinary level of cultural exchange and interaction inside the kingdom.
While the king is publicly a follower of The Belief of the Ancient, he does not impose the religion upon his people, who can instead decide by their own what belief to follow.
Every town in Rawhi has multiple churches, mostly the 3 of the main religions, but they are ready to accept new ones in case of need, for example recently the town of Hillai built a new temple for the Church of the 4.
Conquista and Reconquista
Before La Convivencia, when the Ministry of Kara started spreading in the land of Manawa and the Doctrine of the Last became the official religion in Taua, the high ranks of the Belief of the Ancient in the kingdom of Rawhi recruited an army of believer ready to bring back the infidels to the old ways.
An army made of commoners and members of the kingdom soldiers known as Conquistadores left the kingdom to conquer the infidels. The army splitted in 2 and moved toward both the kingdoms of Manawa and Taua. They fought the infidels for years, but the more they fought, the more they realised how many things in common they have.
When finally the Tūpato kingdom invaded Rawhi, the Conquistadores decided to give up their quest to go back and reconquer their homeland. But they were not alone, people of the Doctrine of the Last and of the Ministry of Kara decided to help their old enemies to get back their kingdom.
The united forces of the 3 creeds made the army of Tūpato flee, it was a total victory. Old enemies, now friends, fought and won together and finally declared peace between them in the kingdom of Rawhi.
Festivals
Since the dawn of the kingdom, Rawhi has been the most festive and joyful place on Whenua. Everything started from its founder, Paki the Prankster, who annually held a celebration for the foundation of the kingdom, encouraging every citizen to perform with their unique talent, a moment of joy and laugh.
From that point on, festivals became more and more common in the kingdom, and with every city built, a new festival would born.
Nowadays every city in Rawhi held a different festival and people from all over whenua come to celebrate by eating, drinking, dancing and participate in various activities.
Foreign Relations
The kingdom of Rawhi and the counsilate of Tūpato are old enemies. While there is not an official war between the two, disputes between them are very common.
Despite their neutrality and no sign of official alliances, some rumours suggest that president Nui Kūpapa and Ra, the king of Rawhi, are actually good friends.
Dressing
People of Rawhi use colourful and varied pieces of clothing that reflect their happiness and joyful nature. While everyone is free to dress as they please, there are some more traditional clothing that are mostly used during festivals.Traje de Flamenca
- Description: This is perhaps the most iconic dress in Rawhi, it’s a fitted dress with ruffled sleeves and skirt, often adorned with polka dots (called lunares) or floral patterns.
- Significance: Flamenco dancers wear this dress when performing, but it’s also used in regional fairs and celebrations.
- Accessories: Often paired with large hoop earrings, a flower in the hair, and a traditional shawl (mantón de Manila).
Mantilla
- Description: A lace or silk scarf worn over the head and shoulders, typically paired with a high comb called a peineta. The mantilla is commonly black for mourning or religious events, but white or cream ones are worn during festivals and weddings.
- Significance: Traditionally worn during religious ceremonies, it is an elegant symbol of Rawhi tradition.
Traje de Luces
- Description: The traje de luces is the elaborately decorated, tight-fitting suit worn by toreros, the participant of the Pamplona festival. It is made of silk and heavily embroidered with gold or silver thread.
- Significance: Worn during the Pamplona festival, the suit represents bravery and tradition. Each element, from the jacket to the cape, has a specific purpose in the bullfighting ritual.
- Components: It includes a jacket, vest, pants, sash, stockings, and traditional shoes (montera).
Traje de Chulapo/Chulapa
- Description: The chulapo is the traditional dress of Rangi, worn during the city’s festival. Men wear a checkered cap (parpusa), waistcoat, and tight trousers, while women wear polka-dotted dresses with fringed shawls.
- Significance: The chulapo dress represents the working-class culture of Rangi and is still worn during celebrations in the capital.
- Accessories: For women, a flower on the head and a scarf tied around the neck.
Traje de Vistas
- Description: The traje de vistas is the highly ornamented ceremonial attire. It includes a colourful, embroidered jacket with gold, silver, and coral jewellery.
- Significance: Traditionally worn by women for important ceremonies, including weddings, it is a striking example of Rawhi folk costume.
Espadrilles (Alpargatas)
- Description: Espadrilles are traditional shoes made with a canvas or cotton fabric upper and jute rope soles. They are worn both by men and women and have become popular worldwide as summer footwear.
- Significance: Historically, espadrilles were peasant shoes but have become a symbol of Rawhi craftsmanship.
Capa Castellana
- Description: A long, elegant woollen cape worn by men. It often has a high collar and is fastened over the shoulder.
- Significance: The capa castellana is associated with Rawhi nobility and formal events.
Traje Montañés
- Description: For men, it includes a vest, wide trousers, and a hat, while women wear long skirts and aprons with a shawl.
- Significance: It reflects the rural, mountainous regions of Rawhi and is often worn during regional festivals.
Sombrero Cordobés
- Description: This wide-brimmed hat is made of felt and typically associated with horsemen and the rural areas of Rawhi.
- Significance: Worn by flamenco dancers, horse riders, and during festivals, it has become a symbol of Rawhi identity.
Others
- Faja:A wide sash or belt worn around the waist, often with the traje de luces or regional outfits.
- Reboso: A type of shawl worn by women in some parts of Rawhi, often as part of traditional religious attire.
- Pollera: In some regions, women wear a type of wide, full skirt called a pollera, often brightly coloured and embroidered.
Economy
The focus of Rawhi’s economy is food. Being the richest and most fertile land in Whenua, the big farms of Torumāra produce a huge and varied harvest every year which not only is enough to feed the whole kingdom population but is also exported to the other kingdoms.
The best cooks of Whenua come to Rawhi not only to get the best and most fresh ingredients but also to learn the secrets of their cuisine. Some of them are even able to create dishes to improve people's physical, mental and magical abilities.
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