Moynna ethnographical questionnaire
From FrathWiki
Dr. Zahar’s Ethnographical Questionnaire was compiled by David Zahir and can be found in the files section of the Conculture group at Yahoo. It is used for better describing of conworlds and concultures.
Questions of Place
Describe the geography of where your society calls home.
Moynna is a subcontinent situated between the Elvish lands on the north, the lands of the Humans on the east and the Big Ocean on the west. It consists of three regions inhabited by Dwarvish and mixed Human-Dwarvish tribes (Upper Sethia, Nadaron, and Gono-Dwarvish lands), and two waste regions (Lands to the South and Moria). Moynna is mostly mountainous, although there is a big Gonian plain on the north. On the south, there are several waste deserts. Moynna has a lot of woods in its mountainous parts. It is surrounded by seas on west, north and east. There are two main rivers in Moynna, River Mahta and River Brabhon. The highest peak is Ando Palyata at 7900 ft (2400 m).
Describe the climate your society deals with. How severe are their seasons?
Moynna has a mountainous continental climate. Winters are very cold and with a lot of snow, while the summers are quite warm and dry. Southern parts of Moynna have a little bit warmer climate.
What kinds of natural disasters has this society gotten used to?
Floods during the spring, when the snow from the mountains starts to melt.
What are the most commonly-grown foods?
Maize and vegetables, and vine along the coast.
What are the most commonly-eaten meats?
Fish along the coast and pigs and lambs in the continental parts of Moynna.
What foods are considered exotic or expensive?
Fruits, since they aren't grown in Moynna because of its climate. Only the royal families imported fruits from the south and ate it on their courts.
What forms of alcohol are common? Rare?
Wine is common along the coast, but not in the continental regions, while beer is common in the continental regions, but less along the coast. Brandy was also popular on the kings' courts.
Is there usually enough food and water for the population?
Yes, there is.
What is this place's most abundant resource?
Maize, vegetables, sheep (and thus wool), wood.
What is its most valuable resource?
Gold and silver, which is found in Upper Sethia.
What resource is it most lacking?
Vegetables, which are only grown in Gonian plain and exported to the other regions.
How do people travel from one place to another?
On foot usually.
Are the borders secure? In what way?
Quite secure today, since the lands are surrounded by mountains, waters and desert. However, it wasn't hard for the Dwarves to invade Elvish and Human lands on the north in the history.
How many people live here?
About 80,000: c. 15,000 in Upper Sethia, c. 30,000 in Nadaron and c. 35,000 in the Gonian plain.
Where in this place to they congregate?
In the plains and along the coast in Nadaron and Gono-Dwarvish lands, and everywhere in Upper Sethia. There are many smaller towns and villages, and only five fortified cities (Limard Knokka in Upper Sethia, Limard Nadaronta in Nadaron, Morion in Moria, and Limard Gondora and Limard Firinno in Gono-Dwarvish lands), one of which is a waste city today (Morion).
What part of this place do they avoid? Why?
The uninhabited areas on the south (because there are the deserts) and in Moria (because it was wasted by vampirism, and the people still fears of it).
What are the most common domesticated animals here? And what are they domesticated for?
Sheep, used for food, clothing and leather. Goats, used for milk and leather. Fowl, used for eggs and food. Dogs, used for guarding and herding. Cats, used for mousing. Pigs used for food. Cows and horses are not domesticated.
What are the most common wild animals?
Several wild beasts are mentioned in the literature. Lions were both feared and admired. Most of the wild animals are now extinct (because of both hunting and the climate getting colder), except for wolves, bears, foxes, and other smaller animals. There are no snakes in Moynna, because of the climate.
Which animals are likely to be pets? Which ones won't be?
Cats and dogs. Some upper-class people keep singing birds.
Questions of Time
How far back does this society's written history go?
About 4500 years. 4500 years ago the Sethic runes were invented. Before that, history was only spoken and sung, for about 2500 years.
How far back do its people believe it goes?
Since creation, which was, according to the legends, c. 7000 years ago.
What is the worst disaster they believe they've faced?
Terrible epidemic of vampirism.
What was the best thing that ever happened to them?
The Golden Age, about 1500 years ago, when the Dwarvish kingdoms where richer and more powerful than ever.
What in their past makes them feel ashamed?
A civil war between two brothers of the Braban dynasty, when King Gargna Braban killed his brother and the dynasty of Braban was cursed.
What in their past makes them proud?
Victory in the war with the Elves in Nadaron.
What are they afraid of happening again?
Epidemic of vampirism.
What are they hoping will happen? Do they think it likely?
Nothing.
What do they assume the future will hold?
The present state of affairs continuing forever, or entering another Golden Age.
How has this society changed? Do its current members realize this?
From a mining society to an agricultural society. Class distinctions and differences in wealth have increased in the process. The current members are not aware of this; they think the current state of affairs has applied since shortly after creation of world.
What are the most popular stories about the past?
Heroic poems and songs about brave Dwarvish soldiers who fought the Elves.
Who in the past is the greatest hero? The worst villain?
Dwarvish soldier Phakna is the greatest hero, while the worst villain is Elvish king Nandollon. In Elvish literature, however, king Nandollon is known as Nandollon the Wise and is celebrated as one of the greatest Elvish kings. Dwarves didn't have a word for stratagem before they met the clever king Nandollon, because nobody was that wily as he was. Thus they started to use adjective nandolna for wily and noun nandol for stratagem.
Do people think the present better or worse than the past?
Worse if compared with the Golden Age, but better if compared with vampirism.
Do people believe the future will be better or worse than the present or past?
They have no opinion about the future.
Questions of Sex and Family
How many spouses may a man or woman have?
Only one at time.
Who decides on a marriage?
People usually marry between the ages of 15 and 20, and then their parents decide. A man over the age of 25 may decide on his own marriages, and so may in practice a widow over that age. A marriage is more of a legal contract than of a religious matter.
Can a marriage end in divorce? How?
A man may freely divorce a wife if she isn't good enough for him. A woman usually has to seek divorce through her close male relatives, although cases where a grown woman has left her husband due to physical maltreatment are not unheard of.
Who usually takes custody of children if a marriage ends for some reason?
Usually the mother takes custody, though the opposite is not unheard of, especially if there are male children.
How is adultery defined? What (if any) is the punishment? Who decides?
Adultery is defined as a married woman having sex with someone else than her husband. Men may have lovers, although that's kept as a secret. A husband may leave an adulterous wife.
How are families named?
Family name is quite important. There are several ways in which a family can get its family name:
- by a name of a famous ancestor (Toran's son, Gondora's son, priest's son, etc.)
- by a characteristic of an ancestor (taller than usual, dummier than usual, green-eyed, etc.)
- by a place of living ("the Hill one", "the Forest one", etc.)
What happens to orphans?
They should be taken care of by their father's family. Sometimes it is the mother's family instead, if they have a higher social status, or if they are more willing.
How are boy and girl children treated differently?
Boys have more freedom.
Are premarital relations allowed?
In theory they are allowed for men but not for women. In practice, they are very rare. However, nobody exercises any control over widows or divorcées, even comparatively young ones.
How does your society define incest? Rape? How do people react to these?
Incest is sex between close relatives and is very, very rare. Cousin marriages occur among high nobles and royals. Rape is the taking of someone by violence, and is punishable. Rape of a virgin may even be punished by death, though that would require that she is noble and the rapist is not. Rape within marriage is another matter, though it is generally frowned upon. Paedophilia is punishable and is rare.
What, if anything, is considered a good marriage gift?
Money, precious metals or stones, land or goods, all depending on the status of the involved families. When a widow or divorcée remarries the marriage gift may be wholly symbolic, like a ring.
What secret vice is believed to be widely practiced?
Homosexuality among the nobles and bestiality with sheep among country boys.
What secret vice actually is practiced?
Homosexuality. Bestiality occurs but is not as common as is supposed. Young wives of older men often have male lovers.
What sexual habits are widely believed common among foreigners?
Bestiality, due to the vampirism which was brought to Moynna by the Human tribes of the east.
How do people react to homosexuality?
It is frowned upon but not punishable. It is not accepted in the society, although is common among the nobles.
How do the genders dress?
The common male dress consists of leather pants and sweater. Women wear dresses or skirts and sweaters. City women and noble women would normally not expose their breasts, although peasant women may do so in certain contexts. Male always wear some kind of hat, while older and married women wear kerchief.
Is prostitution legal? How are prostitutes viewed? Is this accurate?
There is no prostitution.
What professions or activities are considered masculine?
Being a warrior, a miner and a shepherd are male professions.
What professions or activities are viewed as feminine?
Looking after children and the household.
What inanimate or sexless things are considered male or female?
The Sun is considered male and the Moon female, but they are considered animate.
What is the biggest sexual taboo?
Mother-son incest. It leads to both mother and son being executed, whereas father-daughter incest would normally only lead to the father being executed. Father-son incest would probably be very taboo, but it is not thought of.
Does this society connect the ideas of marriage with love?
In theory yes, but marriage is often based on land, money or goods. Woman should love her husband even if she didn't love him before the marriage.
What does this society mean by the word "virgin" and how important is it?
It means an unpenetrated female, and it is quite important at a woman's first marriage.
Questions of Manners
Who speaks first at a formal gathering?
The most noble, eldest and most influential person.
What kinds of gifts are considered in extremely bad taste?
Giving money and some invaluable or simple things.
How do younger adults address their elders?
As filya (uncle, Nadarian вхилiа) or gama (aunt, Nadarian гама). Very old people are addressed as palya (grand-mother, Nadarian палiа) and nadko (grandfather, Nadarian надко).
What colours are associated with power? With virtue? With death?
There are no colours associated with power and virtue (although red and yellow are sometimes associated with power), and black is always associated with death.
If two men get into a fight, how is this supposed to be resolved?
Among young men it would lead to actual fighting. Nobles may duel with swords if grave matters of honour are involved. Normally more sober men are expected to intervene.
If two women get into a fight, how should that be resolved?
Women are not expected to fight physically. As with men intervention is expected.
When is it rude to laugh at something funny?
During a ceremony.
What kinds of questions cannot be asked in public? In private? At all?
Questions about sex are avoided in public and in polite company.
How do people demonstrate grief?
Crying and screaming is expected for women, but men are not supposed to cry.
What does this society do with their corpses?
They are buried with a religious ceremony.
What kinds of jewelry do people where? And when?
Necklaces and rings of precious metals, sometimes with precious stones. They are worn all the time but more at joyous ceremonies and festivities. Women are expected to wear more jewelry than men, and nobles more than common people.
Who inherits property? Titles? Position?
Sons, or in their absence brothers or brother's sons or unmarried/divorced daughters inherit property. It is usual for a wife to remain in possession of her husband’s property until she dies. Titles and positions are in theory all bestowed rather than inherited, though ones basic social status as nobility is inherited from the father at birth.
What happens to those suffering from extreme mental illness?
They will be looked after by their relatives. If they have no relatives who are able to look after them they become beggars.
What are the most popular games? How important are they?
Various board games, ballgames and forms of play and sport exist. The only organized sport is wrestling, which is very popular.
What parts of the body are routinely covered?
The genitals, the backside, and among noble women or women otherwise concerned about their virtue the breasts. Adult peasant women routinely go with their breasts bare while working in the fields or while feeding their babies.
How private are bodily functions like bathing or defecating?
Defecating and urinating are private. Men may urinate rather more openly than women. Bathing is not considered private, though most women wouldn't, unlike men or children, bathe entirely naked.
How do people react to physical deformity?
It depends on the nature of the deformity. If it is a big and rare one, people will be feared.
When and how does someone go from child to adult?
Usually between age fifteen and age twenty, by marrying.
Questions of Faith
Is there a formal clergy? How are they organized?
Yes, there is. They are organized into different ranks based on seniority.
What do people believe happens to them after death? How, if at all, can they influence this?
They believe that their bodies rot and their souls are taken to the Moon, who is goddess of death in their mythology.
What happens to those who disagree with the majority on questions of religion?
They are frowned upon but left alone as long as they do not protest against the religious habits of the majority.
Are there any particular places considered special or holy? What are they like?
There are holy stones, springs and caves. Dwarves believe that the holy spirits, some of which are good and some evil, live in the holy caves. They also believe that the holy stones, which are considered holy because they have unusual shape, were made when the holy spirits and gods passed that way. About the holy springs they believe that these springs are healthy and they go early in a holiday morning to drink water from them. Those who can’t see well can get their good sight back if they wash their eyes with this holy water early in a holiday morning.
What are the most popular rituals or festivals?
The festivals of the solstices. Rituals are performed during the funerals, weddings, and births.
What do people want from the god or gods? How do they try and get it?
They pray to their gods to give them good harvest. They gather on every Hannardan (middle day of month) and attend priests’ liturgy to the gods.
How do their religious practices differ from their neighbours?
Humans (Gonians) believe in only one god and several holy spirits. They also believe in reincarnation. Elves believe in several gods, their angels and also several holy spirits. They believe in reincarnation, too.
What is the most commonly broken religious rule?
Fast. It should be held for a month, from the third Hannardan to the fourth. During the fast Dwarves should eat only vegetables and no meat, eggs, milk or cheese. However, it is most commonly broken.
What is the least-violated religious rule?
Hannardan gatherings.
What factions exist within the dominant religious institutions? How do they compete?
The Dwarvish Church is only one, but there are three factions inside it, one representing each Dwarvish country: Upper Sethia, Nadaron, and Gono-Sethic lands. Before there was a Morian faction, too. In the First Age, before the Big Migration, the church was unique. These three factions often compete which one is going to be greater and richer when they perform rituals and festivals.
Are there monastic groups? What do they do and how are they organized? How do you join one?
There is one monastic group and it isn’t connected with the Dwarvish Church. Its members are only men and they live a simple and a poor life. They are not commonly seen in the towns and cities since they live high in the mountains and almost never leave their monastery. Often they are subject of women’s gossiping.
How are those who follow different faiths treated?
As unbelievers (Nadarian iонкежаллое), those who don’t know the real truth about the gods, the creation of world, and the life after death.
What relationship do religious and political leaders have?
Although the Church is not formally connected with the royal courts, religious leaders are very influencing in the politics. The political leaders respect them and often ask for their opinion on something.
What superstitions are common? What kinds of supernatural events/beings do people fear?
There are a lot of supernatural beings in Sethic mythology, including vampires, water spirits, evil horses, ghouls, ghosts, etc. The people are also very superstitious. Every work is started with singing of a spell to protect it from evil magic, etc.
Questions of Government
Who decides whether someone has broken a law? How?
There are judges (Nadarian калмае, singular калма) in each town. They decide whether someone has broken a law when somebody complains to them. The judges are proclaimed by the King.
What kinds of punishments are meted out? By whom? Why?
There are two types of punishments: death (for bigger crimes) and slavery (for everything else). Slaves serve at noble and rich people’s households.
How are new laws created or old ones changed?
There is the Council of the Wise, which can create new laws and change the old ones. Its members are over 55 years old former judges. Every new law and a change of an old one, however, must be allowed by the King.
Is there some form of clemency or pardon? What is involved?
Judge’s word is last and final. Family of a condemned can complain to the King, but he doesn’t often change the judge’s decision.
Who has the right to give orders, and why?
The King gives orders: in war for bravery, and in peace for an extraordinary community work.
What titles do various officials have?
There are only judges and officers. The highest officer is called дотторан (dottoran), and there is only one of them in a kingdom. Smaller officers are called араделiе (aradeliye, plural of арадел) and there are several of them. Simple soldiers are called парθаллое (parthalloy, plural of парθалло), and there is a lot of them. Soldiers are actually mobilized peasants. There is no one official army in a Dwarvish kingdom, but if war happens, the army is made of the male population older than 17. The officials are proclaimed by the King. They are noble and they live in the royal court.
How are the rules different for officials as opposed to the common person?
Officers are invincible, while people can complain about the judges to the King.
How do government officials dress?
Same as common people, but their clothes have more colours and they wear more jewelry.
Is the law written down? Who interprets it?
It is in Nadaron and Gono-Dwarvish lands, but not in Upper Sethia. In Nadaron and Gono-Dwarvish lands the judges have to refer to the law, but in Upper Sethia they can decide on their own opinion.
Once accused, what recourse does someone have?
None. One can’t get out of slavery nor from death.
Is torture allowed? What kinds?
There is no mercy for the condemned ones…
How are people executed?
They are hung up in Gono-Dwarvish lands and in Nadaron and Upper Sethia their heads are cut off.
Who cannot rise to positions of leadership?
Poor people. Only nobles can have leading positions, and rich people often become noble because they have a lot of money.
Is bribery allowed? Under what circumstances?
Usually not, but there are numerous examples of judges being bribed.
What makes someone a bad ruler in this society? What can be done about it?
A bad ruler doesn’t appear in public and doesn’t make speeches and sing patriotic songs. During the wartime, a bad ruler is the one who isn’t winning.
What are the most common or dangerous forms of criminal?
Stealing is the most common.
Questions of War
Who declares war?
The King.
Who has the power to declare conditions of peace?
The King, but in practice the commander in the field would be the one actually negotiating the terms.
What happens to prisoners taken in battle?
They are either executed or taken to slavery, but if peace happens they can be returned.
What form of warfare does this society use?
From our point of view, Dwarvish wars would look like our medieval wars.
Who are the Elite warriors? What distinguishes them?
There are no elite warriors. Soldiers who gain order for bravery are more respected.
How does someone get command of troops?
The King proclaims the officers and they are usually noble or rich.
Where do the loyalties of military units lie?
Are there professional soldiers? Do they make up the bulk of the military?
There are no professional soldiers.
Has this society ever attacked another? Do they want to? What would make them do so?
They had one civil war and one war with the Elves.
Who are their enemies? Who's winning?
Elves are their biggest enemies. The Dwarves won.
What do soldiers do when there's no war?
Live normal life.
Questions of Education
Does this society have its own language? Its own writing?
There are three Dwarvish Sethic languages that are written in Vandar's script and in Sethic runes.
How common is literacy? How is literacy viewed?
Literacy isn’t common and people who can read and write are much respected.
What form and value are books?
The books are rare and are respected, although they are useless for the simple people.
Who teaches others? How do they teach?
Usually only future priests learn to write. Elder priests teach them. In the cities noble and rich people learn to write, too. They hire a priest to teach them.
Who decides who learns to read or write? Who teaches professions, like carpenter or scribe?
Usually only future priests learn to write and elder priests teach them. If somebody wants to become a carpenter or blacksmith, etc. they go to current carpenters and blacksmiths and learn from them. There are no scribes.
Are foreigners ever brought in to teach new skills? Who does that?
No, not ever, except that some Dwarvish tribes mixed with Human (Gonian) tribes and Gonian linguist Vandar has created a new alphabet for Dwarves. The Gonians have also taught Dwarves how to work in fields. They are the first and the only one other nation that Dwarves accepted as friends and neighbours.
How do this society's doctors try to treat wounds and sickness?
Priests and old women serve as doctors. They pray to gods, put some herbs on wounds, say spells to beat the evil magic, etc.
Which medical assumptions of this society are wrong?
They believe that every sickness is an act of evil magic and they heal it by singing spells.
Questions of Art
What are the favorite art forms?
Sculptures and music.
What are the least-favorite?
Paintings.
How respected are artists?
There are no artists, but people themselves make sculptures. Those who sing nice are beloved.
Do artists require official or unofficial protection?
Nope.
What kinds of trouble are artists in particular likely to find themselves in?
There are no artists.
How might a very successful artist live?
Once again, there are no artists…
What forms of theatre does your society have?
They don’t, except in the cities of Limard Gondora and Limard Firinno, where some kind of theatre does exist. They sing patriotic and heroic songs and poems during some ceremonies and amuse noble and rich people for money.
How naturalistic or stylized is your society's art?
Songs and poetry is usually patriotic and heroic, while the sculptures usually represent kings, heroes and nobles.
What shapes are most common in your society's arts, like embroidery or architecture?
Square.
Which art forms get the most and least respect?
Music and poetry are the most respected, while painting is the least.
What form does censorship take?
New poems and songs. One can go to slavery if sings unpatriotic songs.
Who may not be an artist?
Everybody can.
What qualities equal "beauty" in this society?
Music.
What makes a man or woman especially beautiful?
Jewelry and colourful clothes.
How do people react to tattoos? Piercing? Facial hair? Make-up?
There are no such things.
Questions of sex and marriage
Is sex confined to marriage?
It should be, but sex can sometimes happen out of marriage and that’s not so terrible.
Or, is it supposed to be? What constitutes aberrant behavior?
It should be, but sex can sometimes happen out of marriage and that’s not so terrible.
Is there anything about this culture or religion in that culture that specifically addresses sexual conduct?
No, there isn’t, except that a married pair should always have at least one child.
Are there laws about it? What about prostitution?
There is no prostitution.
How old should someone be in your culture to be having sex?
One should be married, but sex can occur before marriage at about age of 15 to 17.
What is considered too great a difference in age for a couple?
Although nobody can stop someone to marry an older woman or man, such marriages are sometimes subject of gossiping. However, it is normal for a man to be up to ten years older than woman (e. g. she’s 17 and he’s 30). Marriages with a big difference in age of the spouses are not uncommon at all.
Do relationships allow multiple partners?
Nope.
Should sex be a one-to-one experience? Or are groups allowed?
One-to-one.
And, of course, what about homosexuality? Is it frowned on? Encouraged?
It is frowned on, but occurs with nobles sometimes and that’s kept as a secret.
Questions of death and burial
What is their understanding of death and dying?
Death is the final end of life. After it, the souls are taken to Moon, where the goddess of death lives. From there they can see their relatives what are they doing in Moynna.
Do they cremate their dead? Or, how are dead bodies disposed of?
They don’t perform cremation, but bury their dead bodies in their family cemetery in the backyard.
Is the family responsible for the body?
Yes, they should bury it, or they will be cursed.
What part do the priests play?
They have to be on the funeral to say a prayer to God and some spells so the soul can find its way towards Moon and the family is not going to be cursed.
Are there cemeteries at all?
Yes, there are family cemeteries in the backyards of their houses.
Or, does everyone have a crypt in back with all the relatives in it?
Exactly, just as I have already said above…
Do people visit the dead? If so, how often and why?
The middle day of the year – the sixth Hannardan – is the day for visiting dead. On that day, the family brings some food and drink to their family cemetery and eats some of it there and some leaves for the dead. They should do it on every sixth Hannardan (which is also called карраллоедхан, “day of the dead”), or they are going to be cursed and the souls of their dead will be angry on them, but if they really can’t make it, never mind. They also wear black robes when visiting dead. Priests are not necessary in this ceremony.
Questions of suicide
What do people in this culture think about suicide?
It is a terrible thing. Suicides are not buried in the family cemetery, but out of town, and priests don’t come to pray for their souls. Their souls are cursed. Only the gods can give and take lives, mortals do not have right to do that.
Murdered people are buried in the family cemetery and priests do pray for them, and if family knows who has killed their beloved one, then he’s executed. Executed people are not prayed for and their bodies are buried out of town. Their souls are cursed too, and they can’t reach the Moon, but stay on Earth as vampires, evil ghosts, etc.
Is it the greatest sin one can commit? Or is it a sin at all?
Not the greatest, but sure is a very, very big one.
Is it the great and last comfort of a tormented soul?
No, it isn’t.
Is it worse than murder?
Yes, it is.
