Pelatan society
by Francesco DefferrariLanguage and writing priests and mages use a cuneiform alphabet derived by the enduk language, and influenced by draconic, that is called the ancient language. Common people use a modified elven alphabet (phonetic).
Calendar and seasons
In the southern hemisphere summer is the cold season.
Pelatians have three seasons:
Alena, young maiden (spring) from 21-9 to 12-1
Imaia, mother princess (hot, winter in the north) from 13-1 to 4-5
Eliela, ancient queen (cold, summer in the north) from 5/5 to 20/9
and 13 lunar months, of 26 days each but one who has 24 days: Shiria, birth
(21/9 18/10)
Karia, growing (19/10 16/11) Esian, flowering (17/11 14/12) Atia, life
(15/12 12/1)
Imila, ripening (13/1 10/2) Eska, splendour (11/2 8/3)Isi, light (9/3 6/4)
Halia, harvest (7/4 4/5) Silin, passing (5/5 28/5) of 24 days
Atyr, rest (1/6 26/6) Dala, gold (27/6 24/7)
Shila, wind (25/7 22/8) Yenia, achievement (23/8 20/9)
Pelatians don't divide months in weeks and don't give numbers to the days.
the days are identified by a tree and a god. So these are the names of the
days from the first to the last day of the month:
oak of Valerias, sequoia of terra, peach tree of Ordana, baobab of Djaea,
willow of Tarastia, ash of Diulanna, maple of Korotiku, pine of Xeron, crab
of Ilsundal, betel of Mealiden, banana tree of Eyrindul, bass wood of
Faunus, laurel of Calitha, hornbeam of Valerias, chestnut of terra, cherry
tree of Ordana, cornel of Djaea, eucalypt of Tarastia, beech of Diulanna,
fig-tree of Korotiku, pomegranate of Xeron, myrtle of Ilsundal, medlar tree
of Mealiden, ebony of Eyrindul, plane tree of Faunus, acacia of Calitha. (in
the month of passing there are no days of Calitha)
so Soladain 21 Ambyrmont 1016 is Valeashan, Shiria Alena 1616 (oak of
Valerias, birth of the young maiden 1616)
festivals and holidays
21/9 first day of the year, day of the young maiden and holy day of
Valerias. This days Pelatians dance in the street for the goddess, new
priests and priestess are accepted in the church, weddings are celebrated
and contracts are stipulated.
22/9 holy day of terra, day of the life, Pelatians check up health and
balance of the wildlife in all the nation.
17/11 holy day of the elven gods. New plants arrive in Pelatan with sailors,
merchants and mages and are transplanted.
13/1 first day of the hot season, holy day of Djaea, great banquets of
fruits and wines are prepared this day.
11/2 holy day of Tarastia, matriarchy receive any petitioner and all the
wrongs must be righted.
1/4 holy day of Xeron, Pelatians go naked in the beaches for some hours to
worship the sun.
5/5 first day of the cold season, holy day of Ordana, food is prepared and
stored.
25/7 holy day of Diulanna, friendly fighting and sometimes start of quests
for adventurers.
14/9 holy day of Korotiku, start of the trade season and day of the tricks.
No one has to be sad this day and Pelatians try to cheer up anyone who is.
19/9 holy day of Faunus, start of the four sacred days. Pelatians go in the
wood to see an animal who will predict the fate of the next year. The animal
saw by the matriarchy is the fate of Pelatan.
20/9 holy day of Calitha starts the ship season. Pelatian swims in the sea
and speak to aquatic creatures.
Architecture and transports.
Pelatians houses are rounded, with squared windows and doors. The tallest
houses can be of five stories, 70 feet tall. Pelatians don't use glass for
windows but curtains. Often houses are decorated inside and outside. The
matriarchy palace (and temple of Valerias) is a big dome with a tall tower
in the centre. The dome is 150 feet tall and the tower 300 feet tall. The
palace is in the centre of a little lake. Pelatians ships are little and nut
shaped, and have usually a heavily decorated bow. Pelatians use horses only
to ride and magical wagons to carry goods.
Arts
Painting is the major art of Pelatan. Painters often are famous people.
Gardening too is considered an important art. Music and bards are common and
most Pelatians enjoy singing and dancing.
Customs
There are no great differences of wealth in Pelatan and usually all the
riches go to the guilds (who are called unions). Show excessive wealth is a
bad thing (but is not punished). Individual property is not important and
all belongs to guilds, churches and government, especially to the
government. Nevertheless, abuses of the government are rare and would lead to
an immediate reaction of the people. The government and especially the
natural solidarity of the Pelatians assures everyone food, work and an
house. Pelatians work from 3 pm to 8 pm, eat a little during the day and
have only an important meal at 9 pm, then they play, meet friends, sing and
dance till 3 am. They sleep usually between 3 am and 11 am. Pelatians dress
with short veils and men and women have naked breast and legs. Nakedness is
not common but for Pelatians there is nothing strange about it, and in some
holidays (like Xeron day) everyone walk undressed. In the cold months they
have a cloak. Men and women paint their bodies and eyes and usually wear
silver amulets and little gems.