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𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭

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a  sideblog  dedicated  to  building  the  world    +    species  of  my  original  character.    all  posts  are  subject  to  edits    +    are  never  in  their  final  state.    please  do  not  reblog  any  content  from  this  blog    —    likes  and questions are  welcomed !    

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a savek is a commonly seen predator on the kasmis continent of ralltiir. they are amphibious freshwater reptiles, living primarily in the many bogs that dot the landscape of the ralltiiri continent. they are ambush predators, known for eating anything they can fit in their massive jaws. they are also oddly social creatures, living in groups of 10-12.

culturally, the savek is considered to be kin to the ralltiiri. it is viewed as a distant relative, as well as beloved children of satak like themselves. ralltiiri will sometimes seek out a savek and wrestle with it in order to prove their strength. however, killing a savek is highly, highly frowned upon. like most reptiles on ralltiir, the savek is considered sacred, and to kill one would be to invite misfortune and bad luck into one's life.

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HIGH ONTIS | WATCHERS OF YAN-KEL

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HISTORY ⇀ CONFLICTS OF RALLTIIR

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the  true  heritage  and  bloodline  of  the  trels

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     a  ralltiiri     (or  sataki)    name  is  composed  of  four  or  more  parts:    the     mibosl,       or     given  name.       the     kredubosl,       or     heritage  name.       and  the     arlobosl,         house  name.         the  mibosl    is  a  name  with  substantive  meaning,    both  to  the  parents,    and  to  the  future  of  the  child.    often  times,    the  name  is  a  respelling  of  a  ralltiiri  word     ('pienna'  is  a  respelling  of  'py’enna',    meaning  'sovereign'),       and  is  used  as  their  first  name.    this  part  of  the  name  can  be  appended  with  a  few  different  prefixes  depending  on  the  deeds  of  the  individual.       aka’     meaning  the  person  was  a  khrentri,    or     il’     meaning  they  are  a  member  of  the  il’hani.    it  functions  as  a  title  like     lord     or     magister.         the  kredubosl    is  a  conjunction  of  both  the  parents  names,    and  the  name  of  a  prolific  ancestor.    this  part  of  the  name  is  used  to  identify  the  lineage  of  a  ralltiiri  or  sataki.       the  arlobosl     is  simply  the  name  of  one’s  house    —    this  can  change  if  one  chooses  to  marry.  

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Tell us about Ralltiir wedding customs

      marriage   in   ralltiiri   culture   is   an   incredibly   sacred   thing.   it   is   closely   tied   to   the   religion   of   the   ralltiiri,   and   thusly,   is   treated   with   the   utmost   care   and   respect.   heterosexual   and   homosexual   relationships   are   commonplace,   and   culturally   accepted.   polygamy   is   also   common,   with   the   marriage   structure   usually   consisting   of   one   man   or   woman   with   a   multitude   of   partners   of   the   opposite   sex.   saint   tsvi   was   known   to   have   taken   several   husbands,   and   allegedly   some   wives.   however,   polygamy   is   only   accepted   under   the   condition   that   both   parties   of   the   original   marriage   consent   to   another   partner.

      moreover,   arranged   marriage   is   the   standard   among   the   ralltiiri.   housefathers   and   housemothers   will   often   wed   their   children   off   to   warlords   or   those   of   high   status.   to   be   be   apart   of   an   arranged   marriage   is   considered   a   high,   and   important   honor,   as   each   match   is   usually   approved   (or   disapproved)   by   priests   of   satakal—   thusly   making   the   union   one   supported   by   satakal   himself.   however,   marriages   for   love   alone   are   also   common.   these   are   equally   accepted   and   supported   by   society.   these   marriages,   however,   have   different   stipulations   considering   their   nature.   usually,   the   person   who   proposes   a   wedding   will   inherit   their   partner   into   their   house.   i.e.   a   woman   of   house   trel   proposes   to   a   man   of   house   mehtis—   the   man   will   join   house   mehtis,   and   take   the   housename   “al   trel”. 

      a   wedding   ceremony,   regardless   of   its   initiation,   will   always   look   the   same:   the   couple   will   meet   on   the   grounds   of   the   proposing   house’s   ohnarit   (a   body   of   freshwater),   along   with   a   priest   of   satakal,   and   their   parents.   if   the   parents   are   not   alive,   or   are   unable   to   attend,   the   eldest   sibling   of   the   individual   will   take   their   place.   if   there   neither   the   parents,   or   a   sibling   can   attend,   an   ihk'tajsh   of   their   house   may   stand   in   their   stead.   whomever   it   is,   they   will   bring   the   to-be-weds   to   the   ohnarit,   and   guide   them   into   the   water.   both   individuals   will   be   submerged   to   their   knees,   and   bare-handed   as   the   priest   presents   them   to   satakal   with   sacred   words:

ze   satakal   arkh   plasl   fruk   ap   sto   ochki.   ae   sum   udli   ohnarit   fkhuj,   aj   ae’stre   mnajo   lu   pa   van. under   satakal’s   sky   do   we   bring   forth   his   children.   they   enter   these   waters   alone,   but   they   will   leave   them   as   one.

      the   pair   will   then   recite   their   own   words:

pa,   ochk   al   satakal,   zdir   fstrobr   fi   fpesn   spu   /   olzi. i,   child   of   satakal,   give   myself   to   this   man   /   woman.

      once   recited,   the   pair   will   then   take   turns   biting   into   the   wrist   of   the   other,   with   the   intent   of   drawing   blood.   once   sufficient   blood   has   been   drawn   from   both   parties,   they   will   then   grasp   each   other’s   wrists,   covering   the   wounds   with   their   palms.   usually,   the   hands   are   bare   for   this   ritual.   the   priest   of   satakal   will   continue:

pa   vnaf   akst,   a   zdir   luiif   fi   satakal,   zve   mlasnam   frun. as   one   blood,   they   give   themselves   to   satakal,   and   each   other.

      the   pair   will   then   pull   their   hands   down   their   forearms,   until   their   hands   meet.   the   priest   will   then   tightly   bind   their   hands   in   a   long,   leather   strip   that   was   doused   in   the   waters   of   the   ohnarit.   the   pair   will   continue:

bru   fskurt   akst   fork   pasht,   fruk’ll   al   van   akst. with   my   blood   in   theirs,   we   are   of   one   blood.

      the   priest   will   then   douse   their   arms,   and   the   wound   with   a   saltwater   mixture.   this   mixture   encourages   a   scarring   of   the   wound,   which   will   symbolize   their   union.   they   will   say   one   final   line:

bru   fpesn   skasl,   pa   vna   fpesn   spu   /   olzi   pa   fskurt. with   this   marking,   i   take   this   man   /   woman   as   mine.

      with   the   couple   officially   bound,   the   wedding   will   traditionally   end   there.   however,   with   more   religious   ralltiiri,   they   can   sometimes   go   on   for   hours,   with   far   more   convoluted   rituals.

      it   is   expected   of   every   ralltiiri   couple   for   them   to   either   bear   or   raise   children.   due   to   the   dwindling   population,   it   is   usually   the   first   and   primary   goal   after   being   wed.   same   sex   couples   will   traditionally   raise   orphaned   younglings   as   their   own.   either   way,   the   couple   will   ensure   the   survival   of   the   ralltiiri   people.

      divorce   is   extremely   frowned   upon.   breaking   a   union   sanctioned   by   satakal   himself   is   heretical   to   the   ralltiiri,   and   only   in   extremely   rare   cases   will   it   be   allowed   by   priests.   one   of   the   only   reasons   a   marriage   may   be   dissolved   is   if   one   of   the   individuals   is   found   to   be   sterile   or   barren.   without   medical   technology,   the   ralltiiri   are   incapable   of   learning   this   information   beforehand.   and   due   to   a   relatively   common   genetic   trait,   about   30-40%   of   male   and   female   ralltiiri   are   completely   incapable   of   procreation.   a   union   may   also   be   dissolved   if   there   is   physical   abuse   that   could   possibly   lead   to   death.   divorced   individuals   are   allowed   to   remarry.

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    ❝        the    kaz’nitt        ( ralltiiris ,    "starless    black" )        swept    with    its    great    claws ,    cleaving    satakal’s    head    from    its    body    in    one    swoop .    thinking    the    terrible    beast    had    won ,    it    guffawed    victoriously .    it    turned    its    back    on    the    limp    corpse    of    the    great    serpent ,    facing    its    prize—    ralltiir .        it    did    not    see    as    satakal    lifted    himself    from    the    ground ,    and    regrew    his    head    from    the    bloodied    stump .    ❞

    the    twenty-eight    moons    of    ralltiir    are    a    staple    in    ralltiiri    culture    for    their    place    in    mythology .    according    to    the    ralltiiri ,    at    the    beginning    of    time ,    a    beast    known    only    as    the    kaz’nitt    attempted    to    destroy    ralltiir    by    consuming    it    into    the    blackness    of    its    heart .    however ,    the    snake    god    satakal    prevented    this    fate    by    sacrificing    his    life    twenty-eight    times .    the    kaz’nitt    would    cut    off    satakal’s    head ,    only    for    it    to    immediately    grow    back .    satakal    would    eventually    defeat    the    kaz'nitt ,    and    sent    it    back    to    the    far    reaches    of    the    void    it    emerged    from .    each    of    his    decapitated    heads    would    orbit    ralltiir ,    alive    and    with    fierce    eyes    and    gnashing    teeth    as    a    deterrent    to    the    kaz’nitt ,    should    it    ever    return .

    the    facts ,    however ,    are    far    less    entertaining .       it    is    believed    that    at    some    point ,    during    the    primordial    era    of    the    sataki ,    a    solar    eclipse    occurred    for    four    consecutive    days .    the    sataki    interpreted    these    events    as    some    great    battle    ( as    they    are    prone    to ) ,    and    created    a    story .    when    the    sun    ( seen    as    the    eye    of    satakal )    returned ,    and    daylight    resumed ,    they    presumed    their    god    to    be    victorious    over    the    blackness    caused    by    the    eclipse .    most    ralltiiri    accept    the    mythological    version    of    events .   

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having   long,   loose   hair   can   lead   to   an   unfortunate   or   early   death.         comes   from   old   military   restrictions   on   long   hair,      as   humans   often   grabbed   ralltiiri   by   their   hair   and   scalped   them.

stepping   over   a   snake   will   bring   misfortune.      unknown,      presumably   religious.

freckles   or   sunspots   are   a   blessing   from   satakal.         ancient   ralltiiri   saw   the   connection   between   the   sun   and   the   marks   on   their   skin,      and   assumed   satakal   had   blessed   them,      as   the   sun   is   part   of   his   body.

yellow   eyed   ralltiiri   are   closely   related   to   satakal   and   therefore   more   favored.         satakal   is   depicted   with   yellow   eyes,      as   the   sun   is   one   of   his   eyes.

handing   someone   a   knife   by   the   handle   is   a   threat   of   death   /   wish   for   death   upon   the   receiver.         unknown,      possibly   linked   to   a   myth   pertaining   to   an   il’hani   being   murdered   in   this   fashion.

touching   hands   with   a   stranger   is   considered   extremely   rude   and   can   bring   bad   fortune.         derived   from   the   ralltiiri   perception   of   the   hands   being   sacred.

different   moon   seasons   symbolize   different   fortune.         unknown,      presumably   religious.

disturbing   a   sunning   snake   will   incur   the   wrath   of   satakal.         religious,      unknown   origins.      possibly   relating   to   folklore   about   snakes   being   the   direct   children   of   satakal.

if   the   sky   is   red   at   sunset,      hunting   will   be   good   the   next   day.      conversely,      if   the   sky   is   red   in   the   morning,      hunting   will   be   poor.         unknown,      assumed   to   be   folklore.

on   the   night   of   a   new   year,      smear   the   blood   of   a   prey   animal   on   your   doorframe   to   thank   satakal   for   a   good   year.      not   doing   so   will   plague   the   coming   year   with   misfortune.         religious,      unknown   origins.

a   pregnant   ralltiiri   must   drink   strained   bog   water   from   faan-izrepistr   in   order   to   keep   the   baby   healthy.         unknown,      assumed   to   be   folklore   related   to   the   high   miscarriage   rates.

killing   a   hama   in   cold   blood   will   incur   the   wrath   of   satakal.         religious,      unknown   origins.

speaking   too   highly   of   one’s   skills   will   deteriorate   their   ability   perform.         unknown.

making   your   date   or   partner   wait   too   long   can   result   in   the   relationship   going   sour.         presumably   derived   from   the   myth   of   saint   tsvi   and   kiri.

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         pa   fruk   sum   fi   fpesn   pri   su   stvuf,      fruk   slishork   usn   nul,      ista   al   sata'tir.      i   smin   lomneza   al   tsvi,      usn   i   vdom   al   nul   svusk,      zve   i   zirs   al   nul   brasl.      i   fslitont   al   satakal   fpisnal   nust   fi   opets.

         (   as   we   come   to   this   place   of   battle,      we   call   for   she,      daughter   of   the   sun.      the   great   eye   of   tsvi,      for   the   calm   of   her   hand,      and   the   stone   of   her   heart.      [may]   the   wrath   of   satakal   guide   us   to   victory.   )

         according   to   ancient   sataki   stories,      tsvi   was   born   somewhere   in   the   deep   bog   country   of   the   annuit   continent   almost   forty-five   standard   years   before   the   invasion   of   colonist   humans.      at   an   early   age,      she   was   identified   as   an   asata,      and   sent   to   high   ontis   to   be   raised   by   the   il'hani   —      which,      at   the   time,      were   still   a   group   of   force-sensitives   that   governed   all   of   ralltiir   from   the   slopes   of   their   holy   mountain.      there,      she   fostered   a   great   love   for   knowledge,      and   her   growing   power   in   the   force.      in   her   teenage   years,      she   bested   the   archmagister   of   the   il'hani   in   combat,      and   won   his   seat   on   the   council   by   right   of   conquest,      making   her   the   youngest   to   ever   be   seated   in   such   a   position.      the   people   of   ralltiir   greatly   admired   her   and   her   wisdom,      and   the   kindness   she   shared   with   her   people.      however,      it   would   not   be   long   before   the   peace   was   shattered,      and   the   course   of   history   was   to   be   altered   forever.

         some   years   into   her   position   on   the   il'hani   council,      the   very   first   human   colonists   would   arrive   on   ralltiir.      the   sataki,      who   were   barely   outside   of   their   stone   age,      were   rightly   terrified   by   the   invading   forces   in   their   flying   metal   machines.      a   great   many   fled   for   the   safety   of   the   bogs,      abandoning   their   villages   and   cities   —      but   others,      their   great   warriors   and   hunters,      did   their   best   to   fend   off   the   strange   creatures   who   came   from   the   metal   crafts.      however,      these   warriors   were   quickly   cut   down   by   the   invaders   and   their   godlike   weapons.      it   wasn't   but   hours   later   that   the   il'hani   arrived,      and   laid   waste   to   the   invaders   with   their   powers.      tsvi   herself   was   said   to   have   flung   one   of   their   craft   back   into   the   heavens,      and   opened   up   the   earth   beneath   the   feet   of   their   armies,      plunging   them   into   the   depths   of   ralltiir.      with   these   strange   aliens   either   dead   or   buried   alive,      the   sataki   attempted   to   return   to   their   lives   —      unaware   of   what   lie   on   the   horizon.

         the   invaders   returned.      and   they   did   not   return   alone.      within   days,      more   of   the   strange   craft   arrived,      and   hundreds   of   the   enemy   poured   from   the   bellies   of   their   beasts.      this   was   the   beginning   of   a   war   that   would   wage   ten   thousand   years.      and   tsvi   would   lead   the   charge.

         a   great   many   myths   and   legends   would   be   born   from   this   time   period.      fantastical   stories   in   which   the   sataki   claim   the   many   moons   of   ralltiir   would   disappear   at   night   to   aid   in   their   attacks,      or   that   the   wildlife   itself   would   fight   the   foreign   humans   in   revolt   —      but   most   of   these   stories   are   centered   around   the   great   saint   tsvi.      at   the   time,      and   in   the   distant   future,      she   was   a   cultural   icon   for   the   oppressed   and   battered   sataki   and   ralltiiri.      she   is   a   figure   of   power,      strength,      and   wisdom   —      as   well   as   compassion   and   kindness.      often   times,      she   is   associated   with   the   sun,      or   tir,      as   she   is   both   the   life   that   the   sun   gives,      but   also   the   death   it   can   bring.      many   of   her   stories   are   based   in   facts,      but   others   strictly   myth.      the   second   most   popular   story   centered   around   tsvi   is   a   lengthy   tale   of   how   she   buried   an   entire   human   city   with   nothing   more   than   the   might   of   satakal.      another   widely   believed   claim   is   that   she   fought   and   won   over   one   hundred   thousand   battles   alone.      but,   one   of   the   most   famous   myths   associated   with   tsvi   is   that   of   the   waiting   lover.

         almost   a   hundred   and   fifty   years   into   both   the   reign   of   tsvi,      and   the   civil   war   itself,      tsvi   had   long   been   married,      and   had   a   great   deal   of   children.      as   a   powerful   and   highly   respected   member   of   the   il'hani,      and   an   asata,      she   had   taken   many   lovers,      several   consorts,   and   courtiers   over   the   course   of   her   life.      however,      there   was   a   single   person   in   her   life   that   she   treasured   far   more   than   her   late   husband,      and   many   partners   :      kiri.      in   some   versions   of   the   story,      kiri   is   male,      and   in   others,      they   are   female.      in   most   iterations   of   the   tale,      they   had   bright   green   eyes   and   long   dark   hair,      and   was   one   of   the   first   ralltiiri   —      however,      others   claim   them   to   be   sataki.      their   gender,      species,      and   appearance   is   often   ambiguous   in   art,      leaving   tsvi's   favored   lover   up   to   interpretation.      kiri   was   some   years   younger   than   tsvi,      and   was   a   wild,      untamable   soul   that   had   long   fought   in   the   civil   war.      they   were   one   of   the   few   who   could   best   tsvi   in   combat,      and   was   often   seen   accompanying   the   lauded   warlord   across   high   ontis   —      often   to   a   marble   gazebo   that   the   two   had   claimed   as   their   own.      they   had   been   madly   in   love   for   years,      and   considered   each   other   their   soulmates.      tsvi   had   planned   to   marry   them   once   the   war   was   over,      but   with   no   end   in   sight,      their   future   together   seemed   uncertain.      regardless,      they   continued   to   meet   every   night   in   their   gazebo,      no   matter   the   circumstances.

         one   evening,      kiri   came   to   their   meeting   place,      and   told   tsvi   that   their   village   had   been   destroyed   in   the   war   —      their   family   slaughtered,      and   home   destroyed.      they   insisted   that   they   would   find   the   monsters   who   did   it,      and   deliver   them   the   brutal   justice   they   deserved   for   the   slaughter.      tsvi,      though   wary,      did   not   deter   kiri   from   their   revenge,      and   allowed   them   to   go.      however,      as   she   tried   to   sleep   that   night,      she   could   not   shake   the   feeling   that   something   was   terribly   wrong.      she   returned   to   their   gazebo,      listless   and   shaken,      and   waited   for   kiri   to   return.      they   did   not.      the   sun   rose,      and   tsvi's   lover   was   nowhere   to   be   found.      no   word   was   sent   of   their   success,      nor   their   failure,      so   tsvi   waited.      and   waited.      and   waited.      consumed   by   obsession,      tsvi   returned   to   their   gazebo   every   day,      and   sat   waiting   for   kiri   to   come   back   for   hours,      to   no   avail.      years   would   pass,      wasted   all   in   that   gazebo,      eyes   focused   on   a   rising   and   setting   horizon   that   would   never   deliver   kiri   back   to   her.      according   to   some   versions   of   the   myth,      tsvi   would   die   in   her   seat   there,      seized   by   the   grief   of   losing   her   lover.      in   others,      the   great   warlord   would   spill   her   own   blood   across   the   marble,      refusing   to   spend   another   day   without   kiri.      either   way,      saint   tsvi   meets   her   end   in   their   meeting   place   after   eighty   long   years   of   waiting.

         it   is   unknown   whatever   became   of   kiri,      but   later   historians   claim   that   kiri   barely   made   it   beyond   the   foot   of   high   ontis   before   being   shot   down   by   the   colonists.   

         whether   or   not   this   myth   is   based   in   any   truth   is   unknown,      but   the   gazebo   meeting   place   remains   standing,      well   preserved   by   the   followers   of   saint   tsvi.      unsurprisingly,      it   is   a   highly   romanticized   location,      and   is   often   visited   by   lovers,      despite   the   restriction   on   visitors.      overall,      it   is   accepted   as   factual   history   by   most   ralltiiri.

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prominent   ralltiir   fauna         —         1   /   ?               (   artist   )

the   jatr,      known   to   most   offworlders   are   the   ralltiir   tiger   is   a   fearsome,      feline-like   beast   with   tough,      hairless   skin   and   a   chitin   plated   head.      this   creature   was   once   used   as   a   mount   by   the   ancient   ralltiiri   during   the   civil   war.      these   creatures   are   considered   semi-domesticated,      as   they   do   not   attack   or   hunt   the   ralltiiri,      and   will   occasionally   allow   themselves   to   be   ridden   by   them.      however,      they   live   exclusively   in   the   wilderness,      and   are   not   often   kept   as   pets   /   mounts.

the   mnori,      though   unassuming   and   considered   a   shy   or   timid   creature,      is   a   capable   and   feared   hunter.      these   animals   are   often   found   in   the   deeper,      bog-like   regions   of   ralltiir,      earning   the   nickname   bog-dog   by   offworlders.      the   large,      feather-like   extusions   on   its   head   are   capable   of   expressive   movement,      and   are   sensitive   to   sound.      the   mnori   is   rather   docile   towards   humanoids,      and   are   often   kept   as   pets   by   the   ralltiiri.

the   shiuh,      otherwise   known   as   the   ralltiirieel,      is   a   semi-amphibious   predator   that   hunts   small   fish   and   rodents.      it   lives   primarily   in   freshwater   areas,      though,      it   has   been   known   to   take   to   the   tas   sea.      they're   often   seen   in   small   packs   of   four   to   six   of   its   own   kind,      and   is   extremely   wary   of   humanoids.      its   blunt   head   and   the   gap   atop   it   is   often   seen   floating   just   above   the   surface   of   water,      mimicking   the   appearance   of   rocks   or   logs.

the   baasu,      also   referred   to   as   the   ralltiir   dragon,      is   a   massive   mountain-dwelling   creature   that   is   rarely   seen   by   the   ralltiiri.      it   is   considered   near-extinct,      as   only   two   have   been   seen   in   recent   years.      this   gigantic   animal   resides   primarily   in   mountain   caves,      rarely   venturing   into   the   lower   regions   of   ralltiir.      its   skin   is   slimy   to   the   touch,      and   noticeably   iridescent.      according   to   ralltiiri   legend,      one   of   the   asata   saints   once   tamed   one   of   these   great   beasts,      and   rode   it   into   battle.      (   the   image   is   to   scale.   )

the   hama,      called   the   ralltiiri   glowmite   by   many,      is   a   rodent-like   animal   that   is   often   found   in   populated   cities.      it   is   largely   considered   to   be   a   nuisance,      as   it   often   digs   through   trash   or   steals   food   from   inhabitants.      in   its   natural   habitat,      however,      it   primarily   eats   bugs   and   small   fish.      its   long   tongue   is   extremely   dexterous,      and   used   for   quickly   snatching   up   food.      it   gets   its   nickname   from   its   bio-luminescent   neck,      which   glows   rather   brightly   in   the   dark.

[ralltiir]

I'd love to hear more about the Ralltiiri's current relationship with the Ralltiirians. Do they trade, communicate ? How are cross-community crimes handled (ie. a Ralltiiri killed a Ralltiirian or vice-versa) ? What about marriages ? Or hell, throw in taxes too if you want to.

in  modern  day,    there  is  almost  no  communication  between  high  ontis  and  the  rest  of  ralltiir.    it  is  almost  entirely  because  of  the  ralltiiri,    as  the  ralltiirians  have  no  laws  or  rules  against  interacting  with  ralltiiri.    in  fact,    some  younger  ralltiiri  will  occasionally  leave  ontis  to  join  the  ralltiirian  populations,    and  are  often  welcomed  without  much  issue  or  social  backlash.    as  it  stands,    ralltiirians    (  and  humans  in  general  )    are  banned  from  entering  high  ontis.    in  the  armistice  signed  both  by  the  il’hani  and  the  ralltiirian  high  council,    it  is  a  legal  offense  for  ralltiirians  to  enter  within  strict  borders  that  surround  high  ontis,    and  the  ralltiiri  seem  to  be  intent  on  maintaining  this  law  for  the  foreseeable  future.    however,    down  in  human  territories,    anything  goes.

there  are  quite  a  few  ralltiiri  micropopulations  in  various  human  settlements  and  cities  —    individuals  born  and  raised  on  ontis,    but  left  the  mountainside  for  one  reason  or  another,    however,    these  individuals  are  no  longer  considered  “true”  ralltiiri  by  those  up  on  the  mountain.    their  offspring,    especially,    are  considered  the  antithesis  to  everything  that  makes  ralltiiri  ralltiiri.    this,    as  well  as  low  birth  rates  in  those  who  remain  on  ontis,    is  truly  what  dwindles  the  ralltiiri  population.

there  is  some  trade  between  populations.    it  is  extremely  minor,    and  only  occurs  due  to  the  growing  need  for  necessary  supplies  on  the  mountainside.    marble  is  the  only  export  from  high  ontis.    and  this  marble  is  usually  handled,    sold,    or  traded  by  members  of  house  renua.    they  have  been  given  explicit  permission  from  the  il’hani  to  do  this,    and  do  so  under  extreme  restriction.    but  other  than  that,    no  other  groups  or  individuals  are  allowed  to  interact  or  trade.

cross—community  crimes  are  handled  usually  by  the  ralltiirian  high  council  and  their  guard.    if  a  ralltiiri  were  to  kill  a  ralltiirian,    they  would  be  punished  by  ralltiirian  law.    in  most  cases,    the  ralltiiri  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  a  case  like  this,    as  almost  all  ralltiiri  outside  of  high  ontis  are  no  longer  considered  “true”  ralltiiri.    “true”  ralltiiri  would  not  descend  the  mountain  to  kill  or  steal  from  a  ralltiirian.    any  ralltiirian  caught  trying  to  cross  the  border  are  maimed  or  killed  on  sight,    therefore  preventing  any  domestic  crime.    but,    for  the  sake  of  argument,    say  pienna    (  a  “true”  ralltiiri  ),    were  to  kill  or  be  killed  by  a  ralltiirian  —    the  perpetrator  would  be  tried  under  ralltiirian  laws.    the  il’hani  almost  never  raise  a  finger  to  assist  or  prosecute  a  cross—community  crime.    they  do  not  consider  a  slaying  of  a  human  to  be  worthy  of  their  attention.    nor  do  they  consider  a  defector  ralltiiri  to  be  their  problem.

the  ralltiiri  consider  marriage  between  a  human  and  one  of  their  own  to  be  sacrilege,    and  will  not  condone  this  behavior.    a  good  seventy  percent  of  the  time,    this  ralltiiri  will  not  be  allowed  back  up  to  their  home.    they  have  committed  a  cardinal  sin,    and  are  considered  no  better  than  the  ralltiirian  “murderers”.

long  story  short,    the  ralltiiri  still  live  and  operate  under  heavy  dogma.    ralltiirians,    however,    exist  under  typical  human  laws  and  social  expectancies.    visiting  ralltiir  is  not  at  all  unlike  visiting  naboo  or  coruscant.    however,    offworlders  will  always  be  warned  to  stay  away  from  the  mountain.    lest  they  wish  to  pay  with  their  lives.

[ralltiir]

What are the most significant ralltiir holidays?

(oo-toe-ahn),    meaning    “to  be  resurrected”    or    “resurrection”.      a  day  dedicated  to  the  cycle  of  birth  and  death.    involves  the  killing  of  prey  animals  and  skinning  of  their  bodies.    the  pelts  brought  to  faan-izrepistr,    or  the  holy  ascension  point    /    the  “gateway”  to  heaven  as  an  offering  to  satakal.    the  morning  of  this  day  is  spent  ‘creating’    (baking,    building,    creative  endeavors)    to  symbolize  birth.      many  will  dedicate  this  part  of  the  day  creating  something  for  a  deceased  family  member  or  friend.    during  the  midday,    groups  of  hunters  will  venture  into  the  bogs  and  wooded  areas  of  ontis  to  capture  their  prey.    through  to  the  evening,    they  will  skin  their  quarry  and  make  the  walk  to  faan-izrepistr,    and  offer  it  and  their  morning  creation  to  satakal    —    symbolizing  the  death  of  all  things.    

(pay-peh-oht    veh-nee    ree’ah-ahn-ee),    meaning    “our  forefathers”    or    “before  our  fathers”.      a  full  standard  week  dedicated  to  the  mourning  of  the  lost  sataki  race.    according  to  historians,    this  week  was  the  last  seven  days  of  the  sataki,    with  the  last  handful  of  them  dying  inside  those  days.    it  isn’t  entirely  certain  if  this  is  factually  correct.    each  day  is  marked  by  an  unusual  silence,    with  no  commerce  or  activity    —    most  ralltiiri  spend  their  days  praying  or  visiting  historical  sataki  sites  like  sata’s  gate  or  tsvi  point.    particularly  dedicated  folks  will  even  make  pilgrimages  to  the  destroyed  sataki  cities,    and  pay  their  respects  to  the  bones  of  their  ancestors.

(shu    eh-shet),    meaning  “sacred  mountain”    or    “holy  stone”.    two  days  of  celebration  that  fall  on  the  start  and  end  point  of  satakal’s  supposed  original  visit  to  ralltiir.    vmuar,    the  first  day,    is  the  day  of  his  theoretical  arrival.    sik,    the  second,    is  the  day  of  his  departure.    on  vmuar,    the  ralltiiri  make  their  plans  for  the  summer,    and  generally  perform  honorable  deeds.    being  extra  kind,    or  giving  on  this  day  is  traditional,    as  to  do  so  is  to  be  like  satakal  when  he  created  the  sataki.    and  on  sik,    the  ralltiiri  spend  most  of  the  day  resting,    and  thinking  back  on  the  last  year  of  their  lives.  

[ralltiir]

rahtis,      the   written   language   of   the   ralltiiri.

[ralltiir]

great  houses  once  consisted  of  hundreds  if  not  thousands  of  members  due  to  the  longevity  of  the  ralltiiri,  but  within  the  last  few  thousand  years,  their  numbers  have  lessened  greatly.  with  there  only  being  around  five  hundred  ralltiiri  still  alive,  great  house  members  only  make  up  about  30%  of  the  population.  

the  earliest  of  ralltiiri  +  sataki  history  speaks  of  the  seven  great  houses  that  rule  over  the  exalted  high  ontis.  there  are  seven  powerful  families  of  lengthy  heritage,  dating  back  to  a  time  long  before  the  galactic  republic.  with  each  of  these  houses  (‘arlo’    or    ‘riarlo’    in  ralltiiris)    came  a  seat  on  the  governing  body  of  the  il’hani.  usually,  the  eldest  member  of  the  great  house  actually  took  the  physical  seat,  and  weighed  in  on  governing  matters.  while  there  are  seven  houses  seating  the  il’hani,  there  are  nine  known  (and  active)  houses.

*        athi    —    meaning  body-carers,  or  the  passers.    otherwise  known  as  the  last-cold-arm  of  satakal,  or  the  ‘balahn-ur’.  once  charged  with  the  duty  of  maintaining  the  death-peaks  at  the  very  top  of  high  ontis.  in  modern  eras,  they  continue  to  honor  this  tradition.  they  are  one  of  the  most  reclusive  of  the  great  houses,  and  are  noted  to  always  wear  white.  their  faces  are  often  painted  with  reptilian  patterns.    currently  seated. *        dakni    —    meaning  blade-carriers  or  warrior.    the  protectors  of  the  asata.  traditionally,  house  dakni  was  a  family  of  knights  who’s  strongest  would  protect  the  asata  with  their  lives.  however,  as  all  the  asata  are  long  dead,  the  dakni  have  turned  into  an  honor  guard  of  sorts  for  the  il’hani,  despite  being  seated  on  the  council  themselves.    currently  seated. *        kehn    —    meaning  moor-stalkers  or  hunters.    otherwise  known  as  the  strong-second-arm  of  satakal,  or  the  waterwalkers.  as  one  of  the  earliest  recorded  houses,  kehn  maintains  a  strong  seat  on  the  il’hani.  it  is  widely  believed  that  the  name  of  their  house  was  shortened  at  some  point,  but  it  is  unclear.  this  family  was  responsible  for  the  incredibly  dangerous  task  of  leaving  high  ontis  to  gather  necessary  supplies  from  the  flatlands.  however,  high  ontis  has  long  been  self-sustaining,  and  the  kehn  do  little  more  now  than  manage  resources.    currently  seated. *        mehtis    —    meaning  light-bearers  or  temple  keepers.    otherwise  known  as  the  softer-first-arm  of  satakal,  or  satak’s  eyes.  it  is  heavily  contended  on  whether  or  not  mehtis  was  truly  the  first  great  house,  but  given  its  religious  significance  and  the  tasks  it  was  once  charged  with,  it  is  generally  assumed  to  be  true.  they  were  once,  and  still  are,  keepers  of  the  many  temples  dedicated  to  satakal,  and  later,  the  asata  saints.  they  take  their  work  very  seriously,  and  are  some  of  the  most  starkly  religious  of  the  ralltiiri.    currently  seated. *        renua    —    meaning  stone-bearers  or  marble  layers.    renua  once  had  a  different  purpose,  and  a  much  larger  meaning,  but  with  the  loss  of  many  of  the  cities  near  the  base  of  high  ontis,  records  on  what  renua  was  once  responsible  for  have  been  long  lost.  however,  within  the  last  few  thousand  years,  they  have  taken  up  the  mantle  of  marble  cutters,  and  are  generally  tradeworkers.  they  are  responsible  for  maintaining  the  many  marble  structures  atop  high  ontis.    currently  seated. *        sati    —    meaning  hand-traders  or  simply  traders.    back  when  the  sataki  had  full  control  of  ralltiir,  this  family  was  responsible  for  bringing  food  and  resources  between  the  many  cities.  their  name,  like  houes  kehn,  was  shortened  at  some  point.  since  the  great  move  to  high  ontis,  this  family  has  little  to  do  in  the  way  of  trading.  they  now  maintain  the  handful  of  markets  that  dot  high  ontis,  and  occasionally  do  tentative  business  with  outsiders  for  things  that  can’t  be  otherwise  obtained  atop  the  mountain.    currently  seated. *        sehmet    —    meaning  word-preservers  or  historians.    it  is  unknown  when  this  family  came  to  be,  but  they  are  thought  to  have  branched  off  from  house  mehtis  long  ago.  ironically  enough,  they  are  the  historians  of  the  ralltiiri.  they  religiously  keep  and  maintain  a  grand  library  in  the  ancient  written  language  of  the  sataki.  they  were  once  apart  of  the  il’hani,  but  several  decades  ago,  stepped  down  in  order  to  dedicate  their  time  to  chronicling  what  they  believed  to  be  the  end  times. *        trel    —    meaning  bog-keepers,  protectors  of  the  bog  or  satak’s  martyrs.    otherwise  known  as  the  long-fourth-arm  of  satakal,  or  the  guardians  of  ontis.  while  in  recent  years,  house  trel  has  fallen  from  grace,  they  were  once  one  of  the  most  highly  regarded  of  any  of  the  houses.  historically,  the  trels  were  the  first  line  of  defense  for  high  ontis,  and  by  extension,  all  of  the  ralltiiri  /  sataki.  they  lived  in,  and  near  the  sacred  bogs  that  surround  the  foot  of  high  ontis,  protecting  it--  and  ontis--  from  any  who  would  dare  tread  near.  they  were  considered  satakal’s  favored  children,  and  ritualistically,  martyr  figures.  however,  after  their  disgrace  and  the  deaths  of  almost  the  entire  family,  they  no  longer  carry  the  title  of  great  house,  nor  are  they  seated  on  the  il’hani.  it  is  considered  a  “dead  house”  due  to  only  one  member  remaining,  and  her  being  completely  infertile. *      yuun    —    meaning  wild-keepers  or  farmers.    with  ralltiir’s  massive  variety  of  wildlife  and  fauna,  it  would  be  difficult  not  to  take  advantage  of  what  it  had  to  offer.  this  family  has,  since  the  beginning,  caught  and  trained  wild  animals  for  the  use  of  the  ralltiiri.  from  beasts  to  simple  herbivores,  they  take  great  care  of  the  livestock  and  war  mounts  in  their  stead.  this  somewhat  extends  to  the  butchering  and  preparation  of  a  great  deal  of  meats  provided  to  the  community.    currently  seated.

[ralltiir]

ralltiiri   fashion      —      pt.   1   ,      traditional   house   trappings   .

these   articles   are   often   worn   by   members   of   the   great   houses   of   the   il'hani,      displaying   their   wealth   and   status   with   extravagant   leathers   and   fine   silks.

[altrel]

RALLTIIRI CREATION MYTH DICTATES THAT A COSMICALLY SIZED SNAKE SLITHERED DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS, FROM SOME DISTANT STAR. it could not reach the earth, for the length was too far, and only made its way to the soil of ralltiir by the height of high ontis. thusly, the great mountain, touched by this great serpent on its path, is the holiest of all holy places. without it, ralltiir would have remained stagnant and empty of life. THIS GREAT SNAKE WAS CALLED SATAKAL, AND IT SHED ITS BLOOD AT THE FOOT OF ITS MOUNTAIN, GIVING LIFE TO ITS CHILDREN— THE SATAKI.

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