Tarshan culture in its current form dates back 3 DCplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigDC

An abbreviation of Diminished Callisae. One of the two time periods tracked by the common Aedelorian calendar. This is a dating method which counts the number of years after the Withering., originating in the Tarshah region of Valdar. Approximately 2 million people consider themselves Tarshan, nearly all of them living in Tarshah. The majority of Tarshans are either human (~45%) or elfkin (~35%), with notable elven (~10%) and deiling (~5%) minorities.

Tarshan peoples are similar to Yarans and Zamerians in some ways, having a shared ancient heritage, though proximity to the elves of Blackthorn Forest has shaped their culture resulting in deep-rooted values of beauty, nature, and harmony. Tarshans are primarily found in their homeland of Tarshah, as well as the rest of the provinces of the Valdarian Empire.

The banner of Tarshah succinctly depicts some of the Tarshan culture's deepest roots: a sun for their beloved Mihr, ten-pointed for their love of symmetry, and set behind a tree for their bond with the elves of Blackthorn Forest.

Banner: A giant silver tree expanding from the center bottom, spreading over half the banner, with a shining ten-point star radiating from the center behind it. All rest on a blue field.

Colours: Blue, orange

Motto: “Under sun and shade we stand true”

Values: Beauty, Growth, Harmony

History: Tarshah was founded by those who disagreed with Ras Yara's alliance with the green dragon, believing it to be an evil entity that they should fight against, not with. When the Tarshans allied with the elves of Blackthorn, they created a fast bond and this was reflected in the banner of Tarshah. The silver tree that stands front and center represents the elves, who fight from the protective shade of the forest. The sun represents the Tarshans, who fight beneath its blinding light. The blue behind represents the sky, which covers them all.

Tarshans do not mark each year as a celebration of a birthday and instead mark milestone years. This is an idea that was adopted from elven culture, where their long lives make annual birth celebrations seem frivolous. Birthdays are celebrated every ten years, starting at the age of ten. Until then, a Tarshan child is allowed to grow, play, and do things they enjoy without societal pressure. They may learn some basic skills at home such as reading and writing. At ten, a Tarshan is seen to no longer be a child left to spend their days playing. A ten-year-old's birthday will be celebrated as a halfway point to adulthood, and the beginning of their teaching to prepare them for the rest of their life. They will be expected to spend their time learning trades and skills and prove their talents. At the age of twenty, a Tarshan will now be seen socially as an adult and this birthday is a large occasion with friends and family attending to wish them well into the rest of their lives. A Tarshan is now permitted by their family to marry if they wish.

For Tarshans, marriage is accepted between multiple partners at once. Marriage is seen as a covenant between two or more partners entering into a commitment to care for and support each other emotionally, physically, and financially. All members of a marriage are considered married to each other, and all members must consent to the marriage. Members may even be added to or removed from a marriage at a later date. Children of any members of a marriage are expected to be cared for by all members of a marriage. The day before a Tarshan marriage ceremony, the soon-to-be-married partners are tattooed with a temporary ink made from the Duskweaver tree. The patterns applied to each partner are trees placed over the bridge of the nose, with the branches and leaves expanding to cover the forehead. Great care is taken to make these trees symmetrical and the same for each person as a symbol of them becoming one. Branching designs may also be done on their hands, arms, and chests. The marriage ceremony is held while the sun is high in the sky at noon, considered the most blessed time of day under the gaze of the goddess Mihr. A priest of Mihr would host the ceremony, but if one is not available another leader of faith may host it. If one or more of the partners are elvish, they may stand in the shade of a tree.

Tarshans offer the bodies of their beloved dead to the sun, seeking the blessings of Mihr upon them and hoping she will bring them to her domain. The body undergoes a special treatment which involves covering it with a thick white paste made from a mixture of herbs, clay, and a gel extracted from Sagespear. After covering the body, it is laid out upon a litter which is decorated by the family with flowers, personal items of the deceased, and gifts to Mihr. There is a funeral procession where the litter is carried through the streets and flowers are cast before the feet of those carrying it. The Alendilad, a requiem in a mixture of common and elvish, is sung during the procession and involves a primary singer with a chorus that all in attendance may choose to sing. The procession ends at an open outdoor area where the litter is placed upon a shurfa minal, a platform built specifically for this purpose.

The body is left on the shurfa minal and over weeks the sun hardens the paste around the body. The body within the hardened paste is softened and becomes like a porous stone. Tarshans believe that this transition occurs as a result of Mihr removing the soul from the body. At the time of the funeral, the family of the deceased will use duskweaver ink to paint a sun somewhere on their bodies. This is an indication to everyone else that they have recently lost someone and are in mourning. The ink remains visible for about a month. After the ink fades, the deceased is removed from the shurfa minal and at this point all that remains of the body is dust. The dust is then scattered in a location of the family's choosing.

Tarshans are proudly bilingual and it is at the heart of their culture to speak both common and elvish. Their dialect is similar to Yarans and Zamerians as they all share a common ancestral heritage and language. Tarshans incorporate many elvish words into their regular vernacular. Some words and proper nouns also have their root in their ancestral language, though their meanings are forgotten by all except the well-studied. Public signs and writings within Tarshah are expected to be both common and elvish, and Tarshans are often employed in translating services especially where elvish is not widespread.

Tarshan clothing reflects symmetry, long-flowing concepts, and intricate patterns. Trees, sun, and stars are used heavily in textile patterns, along with intricate symmetrical designs. Elven influence in their clothing can be seen especially in the hemlines, where the front and back edges are very long compared to the sides. The more pattern and intricacy on a piece of clothing often denotes wealth to a Tarshan, as they can afford the time and material it takes to produce. High-end garments will be made of silk or pure wool.

Men and women wear very similar garments, considering their designs to be mainly unisex. Caftans are worn by all, floor-length loose-fitting garments with an open front and long wide sleeves. They are created in an array of colours and patterns. If not a caftan, they wear light capes with wide hoods and long ends, decorated with a tassel weighing down the tip of the hood. Upper garments are either loose-fitting tunics or shirts, and vests can be layered over top. The materials are always light to allow for layering without getting too warm. Wide sashes rather than belts are worn over top. Traditional leggings are tight-fitting on the calves, and loose around the thighs. Footwear consists of pointed-toed slippers or boots, often jewelled or felted.

Writing is considered an art form for Tarshans. Calligraphy is taught to many Tarshan children, and they are expected to learn complicated lettering techniques. Script is almost always used within their art. Anything from painting to pottery will feature at least some script within it if not used as a central theme. The script may be prayers, prose, or poetry. Tarshan artist Miriam Herzl developed a technique in 143 DC to incorporate metals into paint, and since then shining metallic hues can be found in many great works of Tarshans. Famously, Shah Eyraei that same year commissioned a portrait of his wife done completely in metallic paint. It hangs still in the main hall of the Palace of the Sun in Avilun and is considered a priceless work of art that many visitors flock to see each year.

Music and dance are very important to Tarshans, both for ritual and celebration. Children between ten and twenty are often expected to learn to play an instrument or learn to sing. Tarshan instruments are known to be of high quality. Tarshan music involves string instruments such as lyres, tanburs, and bowed lutes, along with various styles of flutes and drums. Their music almost always includes singing. Tarshan dancers are well sought after for entertainment. Dancing groups are large, normally consisting of at least ten members. The groups consist of an even number of members, as an odd number is considered a bad fortune. They develop skill in synchronization at a fast pace and their many coloured layered garments sweep about them as they move.

Tarshans prefer to build with symmetry in mind, and you will often find smooth domes atop their buildings and towers. They use shapes like circles and squares laid out in concentric and interlocking patterns to achieve symmetry in their design with dazzling complexity. Wide archways, porticos, and open interior concepts allow for a spacious feeling within their businesses and homes. Windows are preferred to be left without glass, which is something you will see within Tarshan settlements. A Tarshan outside of their homeland may prefer to remove windows or leave them open to let in the light and breeze.

Spices and flavours play a large role in the food of Tarshans. Often rich, creamy, or spicy, every meal should be enjoyable no matter how simple it seems. Tarshans favour the flavours found in their homeland such as pomegranates, oranges, apricots, melons, grapes, and dates. Staples of baking and cooking are rice, wheat, yogurt, milk, almonds, beans, and a variety of spices. Kasha is a traditional Tarshan bread that is made from white wheat flour and baked into a large round loaf with ten points about the circle, imitating the ten-pointed sun of Mihr. The bread is dense and sweet, coated with a pomegranate-infused honey glaze, and decorated with dates, almonds, or other in-season fruits. Tandoori is a style of cooking using a cylindrical clay oven and is used to bake flatbreads as well as a variety of meats. Tarshans will often have these in their homes and restaurants. Popular meats to cook in tandoori style are chicken, lamb, beef, and fish. Tarshans also favour hot drinks such as coffee and tea and serve them before or after a meal to their guests.

Asymmetry in aspects of dress, architecture, or art is frowned upon for a Tarshan. The sun as the center point of their identity is circular and symmetrical, and symmetry is seen as signifying harmony and peace. Intentionally utilizing an asymmetrical design would be met with aversion by a Tarshan. Before being annexed by the Valdarian Empire, Tarshans were led by a shah who acted as not only a head of state but also a spiritual leader. These shahs wore prominently tall headwear to signify that they were closer to Mihr than the average person. Despite this tradition falling out of favour since joining the empire, it remains culturally taboo to wear tall headwear or even to wear one's hair in a heightened manner. Although feelings towards their Yaran neighbours have thawed significantly over time, a Tarshan marrying a Yaran risks being ostracized by their friends and family.

Mihryawm, meaning Mihr's Day, is a celebrated holiday for Tarshans when they give thanks to Mihr for guiding them to their homeland. Sometimes also called the Day of the Long Sun, this holiday falls on the 1st of Solbrume each year. Though this is not believed to be an actual date on which Mihr guided the Tarshan people, it was chosen as the day to celebrate as it is the longest day of sunlight. Tarshans will take time during this day to pray at a temple of Mihr, but it is primarily a day to spend outside doing activities with your family, friends, and large group. Activities include organized potlucks, small festivals, and community prayers. Kasha bread is traditionally served at a Mihryawm dinner.

Eren Mydlas is a holiday spanning an entire week starting on the 11th of Morcyd until the 20th. The name is elvish and roughly translates to the day of fellowship. It started as a way to honour the years that the elves of Blackthorn took the Tarshan refugees under their boughs. The union between their peoples was unprecedented at the time and allowed the Tarshans to survive and eventually flourish on their own, creating a long-lasting alliance between them and Blackthorn. The holiday did originate as a political one, begun by the first shah. However, it is not recognized by the Empire as a political holiday and has become a cultural one.

Tarshans and Blackthorn elves alike celebrate this no matter where they are. Its meaning has become less to do with humans and elves specifically and more now about a time of fellowship among all peoples. It is a week where family, friends, and strangers can all safely commune together. During this time Tarshans are expected to right any wrongs they have done to others, forgive and seek forgiveness, and share tables with those whom they would not normally care for. A Tarshan during this week may approach many people in their lives and wish to absolve any disagreements, pay debts, or even simply get back in touch.

Long before the diminishment of the calissaeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCalissae

kæl.ɪ.saɪ - A collective exonym for all giants and dragons. Having both draconic and giant linguistic roots, the word means doom of the world., the Yaran people served green dragons that ruled over much of southeastern Valdar in return for protection from giants and other calissae that would otherwise devestate them. In time, many would grow to find the dragons benevolent. However, not all wished to serve the green dragons and thought that they were evil. The divide of opinions caused Yaran tribes to turn against one another, and many small wars were waged between them. Those devout to the dragons could lean on their power, guidance, and leadership and quickly win these wars. Instead of risking further death, those opposed to the rule of green dragons banded together and left Ras Yara.

Few places in Valdar would be safe or welcoming to the roaming Yaran migrants. Great wars were waged between the calissae to both the north and south, and the far west was known to be a barren land. The vast Blackthorn Forest lay to the east but Yarans knew that fierce wood elves guarded and protected the forest, even from the likes of green dragons, and were unwelcoming of outsiders. Out of all the options, the elves seemed least intimidating, and the Yaran clans travelled east and into the forest. The travelling Yarans were easily subdued by the elves who protected the forest borders and were taken deep within the wood. The leaders of the remaining ten Yaran clans were taken to the elven leadership to determine their punishment but were instead met with open arms. The elves had a prophecy of a ten-pointed star descending upon their trees which would burn away blight, rot, and corruption within the forest and had interpreted the Yaran nomads as the fulfillment of that prophecy. Mihr, goddess of the sun, took note of this. Wanting for a safe home, the clans stayed with the elves and learnt their ways. For the remainder of the Thousand Year Wars, they lived among the elves in Blackthorn Forest, aiding them in guarding it against green dragons and helping to clear the forest of various blights and forms of corruption that would seek to claim the trees.

After the calissae diminished from Aedelor, Mihr looked upon the humans living in Blackthorn Forest and pitied them, believing they did not belong among the trees as elves did. Mihr shone brightly through the dense canopy of Blackthorn to speak to the humans and told them that the calissae had faded from the world and that it was safe to leave the forest. Mihr guided them south to the River Rishe and instructed them to follow it southeast to the sea. There, they began building a new home which they would call Tihr. They called this new land Tarshah, meaning facing the sun, and they began calling themselves Tarshans. Though now gone from the forest, the Tarshans would remain very close to the elves with many of their values becoming important parts of Tarshan life.

Even though the green dragons had largely gone from the world, Tarshans still maintained a deep hatred for their kind and for those who supported the dragons, including Yarans. Though many similarities remained between the two peoples, Tarshans and Yarans would find themselves on opposite sides of many short but bloody wars as they fought over ideological differences as well as for territory along the River Rishe. This prejudice against Yarans would persist even after the Valdarian Empire's establishment in 197 DC despite the empire criminalizing the worship of green dragons by the Yaran people.

In 287 DC Tarshah was absorbed into the empire as an imperial province and Tarshans became forced to interact with Yarans and Aurilemians regularly. The empire brought with it its profound faith in Gydhiela, goddess of the arcane, which would grow to become an important faith to Tarshans in addition to their faith in Mihr. Though it would take generations, the relationship between the Tarshan and Yaran peoples would thaw due largely to both of their inclusion in the empire. Today, only the most stubborn of traditionalists cling to such hatred for each other.