Uluru Core Setting

Laragiya Summary
The city was founded over 1000 years ago and is at the height of its civilization. It has over 150,000 human inhabitants, about 45,000 of those free citizens. Its patron goddess is Larakia, favorite daughter of Alinga the Queen of Heaven. Larakia is the goddess of law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics and philosophy. Queen Pallas can trace her lineage directly back to Larakia and her demi-human son, Amaroo, who had been thrown from Larakia's arms by Gidja into the sea but rescued by dolphins and brought to shore in a small village. Amaroo grew to manhood and married Merindah, oldest daughter of a powerful Queen. Legend says he built a temple to Larakia where he'd been found to ask permission for the union and she appeared to bless him and commanded him to build a city there that would thereafter worship her beyond all other gods but the Queen of Heaven herself.

Larakia has a matriarchal kinship system. There is a moeity system with a sun side (female, solar, forceful) and shade side (male, lunar, formative) applied to it. Parentage, birth order, the augury done at birth and totemic gift that follows all set the responsibilities and roles that each individual is expected to take, and who is an appropriate co-parent, lover, master/slave. Character would have a first name (very class based), totemic name (specific to totem), and kinship name (matriarchal bloodline).

Larakia culture values education and placed emphasis on importance of individual human effort and ability to shape future events. There is celebration of human individual achievement and the ideal human forms, but within the context of humans are born to be a specific type of person and they need to be the best at -that- One is born to be an aristocrat, scholar, soldier, artisan, performer, farmer, sailor, slave, etc.,. Their totem is something to draw on and serve as reminder of their role.

Only female citizens are allowed to own land and participate in polis affairs. Typically, it is the oldest daughter who inherits from her mother. Women are typically military leaders but common soldiers are men and normally live in barracks from the age of 10 to 30. Full citizenship is bestowed upon the daughters and sons of citizens when they turn 20. It is no longer legal for the female head-of-household to kill an under-achieving offspring or neice/nephew but it often surreptitiously happens, especially among the aristocracy.

About 30% of the Larakia's 150,000 are slaves and most commonly male. Another 30% are soldiers (army and navy) and most commonly male. Any occupation that involves killing or handling dead flesh (soldiers, butchers, hunters, fishermen, morticians, grave-diggers, rat catchers) is considered "men's" work. The ideal Larakian citizen is female, classically good looking, well-educated, athletic, artistic, "lusty", fecund, pious and has tangible proof of totemic and other spiritual blessing. She takes initiative but only works in the best interests of her family (first) and city (second). The ideal male citizen is classically good-looking, literate, decorated on the field of battle, athletic, good-humored and evenly-tempered, pious, respectful, loyal and has tangible proof of totemic and other spiritual blessing. Self-sacrifice vs. initiative is an ideal pressed about Larakian men.

Larakian women do not marry. They can have long-term or short-term partners of either gender, monogamously or polygamously. Oldest daughters are encouraged to have their first child around 16 and have more administrative/religious roles in the household; younger daughters often focus on athletics or university or military command where sons are sent to the family barracks for training and then are often afield or sailing. Its socially appropriate for women to court men either for a tyrst or a longer relationship, offering gifts and showing their lover generous hospitality in their home before and after sex. Male citizens are free to accept or politely reject courtship. Male citizens can own male slaves and personal possessions but not land or female slaves. Male slaves are expected to do anything their owner says, including killing or sacrificing themselves.

Queen Pallas was elected by the matriarchs of the aristocratic families to serve as Queen. She is considered to the chief magistrate of the legal system, the high priestess of Larakia, and commander-in-chief of its armies. In reality, she delegates a great deal to her daughters.

The city is beautiful, lots of polished stone with domes, arches, ordered columns. Temples, colleges and forums (places of governance) tend to be the most lavish, then the estate homes of the aristocratic matriarchs. The "slums" are closest to the commercial docks or immigrant camps just outside the city walls. Gurras are non-citizens who are not slaves. Gurra occupations include traders, street merchants, merchants, non-artisan craftsmen and hired labor. Citizenship can be granted by the Queen gurra under only very special circumstances. Its something more common to stories than facts.


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