Madina/Library/book12
On the Culture of Madina
By Abbot 'The Acelet'
As islanders the madinans are isolated from the outside world relying on the calmness of the sea to get off there island. Especially considering that the madinan gulf and the straight of fatmilak are one of the most dangerous sea passes in Dwilight. There for the salty waters are a key role in there lifes. I will go into details about this subject later. I will first go into a general description of daily life and regular customs. As I said before, the madinans are an isolated bunch which is what makes them unique. Though a friendly and open minded people they are cautious and distrustful to outsiders and cling on to there fellow islanders as well as madinans living abroad.
They show there friendliness by extreme hospitality , interest in business and sharing of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is an important aspect of there daily life's. For nobles, excessive drinking is obviously a taboo. However Locals are commonly seen extremely intoxicated. especially around harbour areas. Rum is the national beverage, cognac is starting to get seriously poplar amongst the higher class but Rum is still one of the greatest export product of the Gardens.
The people are besides friendly also rough and adventurous. The amount of respect you deserve is measured by the number of times you escaped death and the amount of alcohol you are able to consume. Due to there adventurous character, the madinans are excellent merchants and continuously invent new ways of making money, one of the reasons why madina city has become such a successful harbour.
From the old days where there was no Law system at all, the locals, including the poorest amongst them, whore knifes and those who could aford it even swords. Madinans believe in the concept of saving your self and won't easily go to others to solve there indifference's. They'd rather solve them there selves. murder is there for still a common crime. Mercy is not in the dictionary of a local Madinan.
The local cuisine consists out of three basic ingredients which are, rice (or wheat) coconut and seafood. the coconut beeing the most important product in there daily life's. it is used for making houses, boats, ropes, baskets and furniture, it is also used for food, juice, sweets, and oils for many purposes. While mostly used for cooking, it is also a highly popular hair cosmetic, especially amongst richer merchants. it creates a beautiful shine in the hair which the madinans are renowned for. There isn't much characteristic about the local fashion. The locals due have a distinctive cloth around there waist which they fold in a way that it covers only the upper legs, supplying ventilation in this hot and humid climate.
Jewelry is commonly worn by merchants and nobles, the colours, green, red and gold are very popular amongst higher class. Colours are expensive and therefor considered as a luxury product.
Gambling is problematicaly common in Madina and causes most of the crimes and murders in the city. The wilderness of the north is know for other problems, such as inter family marriages, abuse and molestation of the child. Which is modernly seen as a crime.
Langauge in madina is based on common sailor slang which is a popular tongue threw out the inner seas.
Religion is diverse and mostly personal, however the original culture is based around a strong respect towards the salty waters that even goes into worshiping at some points. I have tried to go in depth concerning this piece of culture as i believe it is(or was) one of the most important aspects of the Madinan culture.
On Religion
If I had to die then take my body and cast it into the sea.
Where i was born I shall rest, where I rest I shall be born.
The first thing one should understand is that the following information is based on times passed, these rituals are forgotten and recently only pratized in a less intense way, traditions and rituals changed or even got lost.
This article wil try to summarize pieces and bits of information based on my memory and the few books that have written anything at all about this time.
Rituals and Traditions:
Birth:
Child is preferably born in warm water bath, child is ought to be rubbed with coconut oil and if possible honey. Family and friends all visit the child 4 weeks after seclusion period of mother and child and in some cases also with the father.. When people visit they bring gifts and or gold symbolizing a good future for the child.
Wedding:
Much decoration, alcohol consumption. the oath consists of a simple promise by the man to protect his wife and family with coconut in left hand and sword in the right hand. symbolizing fertility for the family and the means to protect it. Guests put lots of gold coins in a big vase shaped pot resembling good wishes for a good future for the couple.
Death:
Death ceremonies are rough and cold, rubbed in cloth ones body is thrown in the sea. no belongings are taken with the death body, however some throw flowers or gold coins with the body.
Life After death:
All dead bodies are returned to the ocean where, is they find rest will pass on, decay and turned into something or someone else. This is a serious point of discussion amongst wise men they all have there own point of view and each temple site also had its own rituals concerning life after death or various other issues that are unique for that priest and his temple. However all agree that restless spirits still wander the oceans and sometime come ashore.
(more about priests and temples later on)
Daily lifes:
Some food are considered extremely precious like coconuts(which is considered the most important fruit due to its incredible handyness), rice and wheat. Fish is however also seen as precious but they looked at it in fear and admiration. Every time they get into contact with anything from the sea, they thank her for her mercy. Trade is also an important concept and is seen as the key to power and prosperity, without trade, there would be no civilization. Everything from the ocean is highly respected and feared, it's prayers are a praise to her mercy. The ocean is considered feminine an association with the powerfully unpredictable female emotions and the cycle of creation life and destruction. By there believes, the ocean create contain and destroy and thus all life and land erupts from it. however the ocean has a very active tendency to repeat these cycles thus causing disasters which in turn creates new land. The followers pray for passive ocean, the big blue deeps mercy as they call it.
Holy sites are places where the oceans are or where the most active. Difficult sea passes are the places where the big blue deep is ought to be extremely respected.
Prayers and temples:
Prayers are most commonly done at temple sites which can be found in harbours. The temples are very simple.
The entrance is marked by an arch with a mermaid on it and in some causes also other sea creatures. when you'd enter there is a pot of gold on the left which you donate your gold before doing your prayers. Straight ahead there's a stairs into the salty water where visitors show there respect and ask for mercy on there travels. before any sailor sails into the ocean he sprinkles some water on the figurehead resembling a mermaid at the prow of the ship. priests are elder people, naturally seen as wise men by local populance and nobility. These men or women of at least 40 years old spread teryfing tales of ghost ships, sea monsters and times past, they assist in blessings especially before long voyages. since they are old wise and experienced they are highly respected. no one goes against there words, wishes or demands as the big blue deep her self. Male priests assist in death ceremonies female in birth ceremonies and both in weddings. priests are simply named wise men or men of the big blue deep. Temple function only on donations upon entry. temples are often decorated with mermaids or sea monsters.
Temple are only located on coastal regions. there is one wise men or women for each temple who governs it and every follower is also connected with his personal temple(region) with there personal priest and rank title.
No regular follower is higher than anyone else the ranks function only as a group title that indicates which temple you originate from. if you join the temples for example at the temple of Madina, you become a follower of Madina. f a priest would convert you become a follower of his temple. Only priests are regarded higher in hierarchy, however there is no high priest, all priests are equal this means tehre are only two levels, follower or wise men/women. Of course feudal hierarchy plays a role, governors and such are still greeted in respect there is no religious aspect that changes any view upon regular feudal hierarchy.
Concept of compassion:
There is no concept of compassion in this religion. Honour is respected but life is seen as a struggle with your destiny in the hands of the big blue deep. beggars and cripples are considered not strong and worthy enough. The weak will die in this world, no reason to fight nature. Madinan culture slightly contradicts it by there culture of sharing. Locals amongst each other do not take care of each other but they are not afraid of sharing what they have. Enjoying life is a very important concept and you have to share it.
Celestial, the moon the sun and the stars:
The moon and the sun symbolize the two main forces in the ocean on one side the destructive force (moon) and the other the creating force(sun). When there is light the ocean is calm and the ocean brings life. When it becomes dark especially when the night brakes, it brings death. The sun offers guidance and navigation, it also offers warmth and light to grow things on land. However the moon is misguiding, inconsistent and constantly changing like the barren straights of fatmilak. however the darkness of the night also gives us a glimpse on the stars, seen as a map of the world and also used as navigation. it is also believed that the stars and also the moon tells us more about the cycles in the world. Some wise men are called star gazers, they look out in the night searching for clues about the cycles where going threw and the future of our existence. For one day, the oceans peaceful rest will end and she is doomed to awake. The stars which are seen as her reflection might give us some answers.
Mountains are alos worshiped as the represent ancient times of the current cycle and reminds people of the incredible power of the big blue deep, possibly created from the time before she went to sleep.
On other relgions:
The madinas where always extremely suspicious on any form of sea creature worshiping. It is considered evil to awake these creatures and those who do ought to be destroyed.
There is lots of resemblance between the old madinan religious culture and the worshiping of the elements, however they are looked upon as misguided for it was the ocean that created everything, including the elements.
