The League culture and customs
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<label type="important">CHECK</label>* Small facemasks are a common element of fashionable attire for individuals from all walks of life. This custom sprang from the popular Facio style of masked theatre, where actors and even audience members swap characters as they swap masks. Masks also allow an individual to cultivate anonymity and the air of mystery. Some groups – military units and criminals especially – may go so far as to all wear matching masks. | <label type="important">CHECK</label>* Small facemasks are a common element of fashionable attire for individuals from all walks of life. This custom sprang from the popular Facio style of masked theatre, where actors and even audience members swap characters as they swap masks. Masks also allow an individual to cultivate anonymity and the air of mystery. Some groups – military units and criminals especially – may go so far as to all wear matching masks. | ||
*The four rivers of Catazarria are central characters in the art and folklore of the Nation. All the classic literature and theatre includes them in one form or another, whether as central characters or “clowns” during the interludes. A popular game between playwrights and critics is to conceal the characters in some way and challenge the critic to locate them. | *The four rivers of Catazarria are central characters in the art and folklore of the Nation. All the classic literature and theatre includes them in one form or another, whether as central characters or “clowns” during the interludes. A popular game between playwrights and critics is to conceal the characters in some way and challenge the critic to locate them. | ||
The Catazarri consider themselves rational and civilized but they have a few important superstitions. It is considered unlucky to stick a knife in to a loaf - bread in Catazarria is torn, not cut. Spilt wine brings misfortune - though that can be be remedied by dabbing a little of the wine behind each ear and one must always look into the other person’s eyes when toasting. Most importantly the colours purple and black are considered colours of mourning when worn together; an unlucky combination that is to be avoided at other times. Few believe these old superstitions but it is the height of rudeness to draw attention to them and most avoid breaking them in polite society. Like being punctual, superstitions form part of the rules of everyday life. Breaking them invites distrust, it suggests you are the sort of person who cannot be trusted to follow the rules. If you cannot obey the small, simple rules. how can you be expected to obey the important, complex ones? | |||
Citizens of the League consider sharing information to be a national past-time. Very often, the cities are built up rather than out – particularly in the Jewelled City of Sarvos, where space is a premium – meaning that families are, quite literally, living on top of each other. In these cramped conditions it is difficult to pretend not to know the business of ones neighbours; and most simply don’t – conversation is always about what your neighbours have done, the games that your Merchant Princes are playing amongst themselves, who owes what to whom; and which stories are being told about them. While it is untrue to say that fame comes quickly in the League, League citizens certainly seem to thrive on discussing the famous and endeavouring to be the focus of everyone else’s gossip. | Citizens of the League consider sharing information to be a national past-time. Very often, the cities are built up rather than out – particularly in the Jewelled City of Sarvos, where space is a premium – meaning that families are, quite literally, living on top of each other. In these cramped conditions it is difficult to pretend not to know the business of ones neighbours; and most simply don’t – conversation is always about what your neighbours have done, the games that your Merchant Princes are playing amongst themselves, who owes what to whom; and which stories are being told about them. While it is untrue to say that fame comes quickly in the League, League citizens certainly seem to thrive on discussing the famous and endeavouring to be the focus of everyone else’s gossip. | ||
Revision as of 19:59, 10 July 2012
The League is a realm where ritual is important. Every city and Camorra has its own idiosyncratic customs and they expect visitors to keep up. The more common customs practiced by the majority of League include:
- “The best of everything” might as well be the League motto. The nation is a crossroads for trade in all kinds of luxury goods. Being able to set a fine table is the mark of a solid citizen, regardless of social position.
- The giving of gifts is a traditional way of improving one’s social standing, and it is considered consummately rude to refuse a gift that is not obviously dangerous. The value of the gift is important, but the cleverness and appropriateness of the gift is much more vital. It is the icing on the cake for society to see you giving a grand gift to your rival, when they knows that you have ruined them – the rules of the League etiquette dictate that they will smile and bow and bite back the bile as they accept. It is the mark of a true Merchant Prince that they are as gracious in defeat as in success.
- Citizens of the League value punctuality. One who cannot keep to time is a person who cannot be trusted to keep to the rules.
- Formal duelling is an accepted way of settling disputes, although duelling to the death is illegal. Duelling scars are usually worn as a badge of honour. Duels usually take place with sword and dagger CHECK and public challenges are, by tradition, announced in the marketplace.
CHECK* Small facemasks are a common element of fashionable attire for individuals from all walks of life. This custom sprang from the popular Facio style of masked theatre, where actors and even audience members swap characters as they swap masks. Masks also allow an individual to cultivate anonymity and the air of mystery. Some groups – military units and criminals especially – may go so far as to all wear matching masks.
- The four rivers of Catazarria are central characters in the art and folklore of the Nation. All the classic literature and theatre includes them in one form or another, whether as central characters or “clowns” during the interludes. A popular game between playwrights and critics is to conceal the characters in some way and challenge the critic to locate them.
The Catazarri consider themselves rational and civilized but they have a few important superstitions. It is considered unlucky to stick a knife in to a loaf - bread in Catazarria is torn, not cut. Spilt wine brings misfortune - though that can be be remedied by dabbing a little of the wine behind each ear and one must always look into the other person’s eyes when toasting. Most importantly the colours purple and black are considered colours of mourning when worn together; an unlucky combination that is to be avoided at other times. Few believe these old superstitions but it is the height of rudeness to draw attention to them and most avoid breaking them in polite society. Like being punctual, superstitions form part of the rules of everyday life. Breaking them invites distrust, it suggests you are the sort of person who cannot be trusted to follow the rules. If you cannot obey the small, simple rules. how can you be expected to obey the important, complex ones?
Citizens of the League consider sharing information to be a national past-time. Very often, the cities are built up rather than out – particularly in the Jewelled City of Sarvos, where space is a premium – meaning that families are, quite literally, living on top of each other. In these cramped conditions it is difficult to pretend not to know the business of ones neighbours; and most simply don’t – conversation is always about what your neighbours have done, the games that your Merchant Princes are playing amongst themselves, who owes what to whom; and which stories are being told about them. While it is untrue to say that fame comes quickly in the League, League citizens certainly seem to thrive on discussing the famous and endeavouring to be the focus of everyone else’s gossip.
CHECKMost people in the League would love to be as well-known as the great inventor Maria Fortuna, who invented the printing press, or Dottore Alesseo Calvetore, who inspired his students to defend the gates of Diora university during the Riots of 387, or the famous duellist Isobella Fabia, who is captain of the City Guard in Tassato and who, it is told, has a fine network of scars across her shoulders than mirror the shifting canals of the city of Sarvos…
Most importantly to remember, however, is that talk will always; always take a back seat to action when needed – and citizens of the League have never been shy to draw a blade when the time finally comes.