Dusty Old Books
The Culture and Nation Outline
Basic Facts-
Culture’s anchor is in this nation:
The people call themselves:
Capital City: (mention locations and population. By a seaport? Riverside?)
Nation’ size and population:
A smaller nation, about a third of the average.
They’ve been around for this long: A few years shy of a century
The language is this: As a major traiding crossroad Velarians speak Common
History-
Basic Overview: (anything not covered below)
The people came to this area by the means of/ because:
The Velerians are a possible remnant of the link to a royal family dating back early 1400s, exiled after a clever coup led to the mass murder of the ruling class. Seeking refuge they came across a thriving city state several hundred miles South of their home. Because the city-state was governed by a large nation and a former ally to their home, the refugees were granted a small plot of land where they mixed with the locals and established a trading city. After the fall of their sovereign nation they unsurpers (Known as the Imprium Nation) led an army to execute the last of the Velerians, only to be held at bay by a dormant military force established decades earlier. The Imprium Nation, retreating from the bee sting of an attack, attempted to expand their borders of their nation towards the Velerians only to discover their enemies had already expanded and collected a sizeable military force. Though not as large as the Imprium Nation the Velerians had a stronger military force and were able to access the materials and technology that allowed the former ruling nation of the land to remain a force to be reckoned with.
Naturally a war ensued and the Velerians were barely able to hold off the Imprium Army. After three years of fighting the Imprium Nation abrutly retreated, the ruling King slain by his youngest daughter Kere Imprium. Kere managed to heal the rift between both nations, establishing a treaty and a border. Although the Velerians later suffered from a plague, Kere still gave them a generous exspanse of land. Much of this land was lost during a large infestation of vehement insects, reducing both nations in size and seperating them.
How long did it take for this group of people to be seen as a sovereign nation?
10 Years
Did this culture ever see a golden age?
No
This culture’s darkest hour was: The war against the Imprium Nation
This culture/ nation’s greatest embarrassment:
Being forced into a small coastal region by vehement insects
This culture/ nation’s greatest contribution to the world:
The remants of technomagical equipment reverse engineered several of the latest innovations, though Veleria is forced to sell this information to sustain their economy
History of Warfare:
- Ten Year War against Imprium Nations
- Attack of the Hruelanty Hordes
Religion- (Probably the most important factor of a culture next to history and government)
The Belief/ The story:
None, whatever gods they believed in has long since forsaken them. However as a trade nation, traders have brought their own beliefs which has converted many citizens.
Is there a person/ object/ animal that is at the center of all religion?
Is it widely believed? (Think of generation gaps)
Is it believed in other nations and countries? (Do they make a point in trying to spread the religion?)
Does it support warfare, deviant sexuality, women in power? Anything controversial?
Is there one thing, above all, that is strictly forbidden?
Does it play a part in the government?
Is there a holy text? (Maybe they convey their beliefs though song? Something other a text?)
Is there a belief in prophets or Jehovah? (Are they still seen in the modern times?)
What details about the religious leaders should be noted?
-Are they gender specific? Is there special clothing? How powerful are the leaders in the community? Do they operate out of temples or buildings in the like? Is money involved in their work?
Are there rigid rules, ceremonies, and rituals that must be followed? (Human sacrifice, anyone? Holidays?)
Does this particular religion have conflictions with rival religions?
How does this religion treat death?
What is the outlook of the afterlife? Heaven? Hell?
Government-
Category: (Monarch? Democracy? Something unclassified completely?)
Basic Overview:
-This is basically all the components that are not detailed below.
Method of Secession:
Manner in which they solve problems:
-Do the people play a part in the law making? How fast do things tend to get completed? Do the proposed ideas tend to work?
Would the people consider it a successful government?
Do other nations mimic/ recognize/ or demean this kind of government?
How does the government treat their people?
-Heavy taxes? Maybe they kill unruly people to keep everyone in line? What about foreigners? People of a different religion? Do the heads even care about the people’s demands? Do the heads CAUSE the demands?
What would be the foremost goal that the government wants to achieve?
-Is it war? Why? Maybe it’s a public service? What’s holding them back from achieving this?
What is the nation’s standing with the rest of the world?
-Do they trade (greatest export/ import)? Would they aid their neighbors? Would they accept refugees? Is there a significant event that has benefited/ poisoned a relationship with a neighboring country? Is it too small to be influential? Too large to control itself?
How does the government treat crime?
Is there a symbol that represents the country/ nation/ government? (like an Eagle, an olive leaf, a bear?)
The People and Their Customs:
Basic physical traits:
-General height? Weight? Hair color? Male/ female? (think about a how different a Japanese athlete would be from a Russian athlete) Is there a desirable trait that is looked for in a person? Maybe it’s delicate hands or long hair?
Clothing:
-Does the clothing suit the climate? How does it differ from the rich to the poor? Do certain colors have meaning? Are the people easily influenced by outside trends?
Their day-to-day attitude:
-Ok, that was pretty broad, but work with me here. Are they genuinely an optimistic bunch? Are they downtrodden? Do they show it?
What are the professions like in this culture?
-Are they for profit or necessity? Does any job hold a high regrade? Is there one job, that should a person be removed from it, the whole nation would fall?
How do they treat each other and how does that compare to their real views of each other?
-Are they openly friendly, but secretly believe that everyone they met would swindle them? Or do they just tell you of their hatred straight up?
Their food, basic diet:
-Are they famous for any dishes? Do they eat anything considered odd? (Like horses?) How much is the diet affected by the area around them?(Try to think of the differences in German cooking and Korean food.)
Is there a gap between the economic classes?
-Is this only in populated cities? Who has the power? The wealthy? The smart? Is the gap adding pressure to the government? Maybe a rebellion or two?
Does their lifestyle support their health?
-Do they play sports? Or are they too busy working till they drop to spend time with the family? How many kids or in the average family? Is there enough food to feed the families? Maybe they bathe and eat healthy and that is reflected in their everyday lives?
One of the citizens has the day off. How would he spend his free time?
Is a particular aspect of life held in high regard/ concern?
-Does the culture value strong warriors? Maybe they invest their children in schools? Are they overly worried of sickness in the city?
Describe a day in the life of a commoner and a nobleman:
How does the overall population treat foreigners/ outsiders:
-Is there a reason for hostility? Generosity? Would they treat the outsiders to a banquet to welcome them? You the outsiders BE the banquet? This one detail can reflect an entire culture’s mentality.
What building would be at the very center of activity in any given city?
What kind of person would your people value most?
-Do they like manly men killing people? Maybe an educator? Is physical beauty factor? What about a particular profession?
What kind of person would be considered a social reject?
-How do they show their discontent? Banishment? Throwing rocks? Does the religion also have an affect on which people they reject?
Do the people retain their traditions, customs, fashion, religion, etc, despite outside trends?
The Setting-
How has the surrounding area affected the history of this nation?
-Mountains might thwart out war, but also keep out traders. Fertile land will beckon newcomers and a desert area will keep them away.
What’s the climate like and how does it affect the culture/ people:
Take a look at the ground. What do you see?
-Is it a rocky terrain? Grassy? Is it a littered street? This applies to any major settings used in your story.
It’s festival night!
-What do you see? Do you hear music or screams? What is the food? All five scenes!
Is their diversity in the terrain?
Is there a heavy populated zone and an empty space?
Is this nation divided in anyway?
-Is it divided because of a war or because of natural bearers (mountains, rivers, etc)? Is there conflict between the people of these different areas? (Think of the cultural differences in the United States between the North and the South. Colorado Springs is not New York, New York isn’t Savannah, Georgia, and none of those compare to Wisconsin.)
What does the architecture basically look like?
-Are the buildings meant to be in one place forever? Sometimes tents can be moved from place to place. Have the styles changed over the years? From fancy to cheap, perhaps? What can be found in the average person’s home? What are the buildings made of in the cities?
Basic Facts-
Culture’s anchor is in this nation:
The people call themselves:
Capital City: (mention locations and population. By a seaport? Riverside?)
Nation’ size and population:
A smaller nation, about a third of the average.
They’ve been around for this long: A few years shy of a century
The language is this: As a major traiding crossroad Velarians speak Common
History-
Basic Overview: (anything not covered below)
The people came to this area by the means of/ because:
The Velerians are a possible remnant of the link to a royal family dating back early 1400s, exiled after a clever coup led to the mass murder of the ruling class. Seeking refuge they came across a thriving city state several hundred miles South of their home. Because the city-state was governed by a large nation and a former ally to their home, the refugees were granted a small plot of land where they mixed with the locals and established a trading city. After the fall of their sovereign nation they unsurpers (Known as the Imprium Nation) led an army to execute the last of the Velerians, only to be held at bay by a dormant military force established decades earlier. The Imprium Nation, retreating from the bee sting of an attack, attempted to expand their borders of their nation towards the Velerians only to discover their enemies had already expanded and collected a sizeable military force. Though not as large as the Imprium Nation the Velerians had a stronger military force and were able to access the materials and technology that allowed the former ruling nation of the land to remain a force to be reckoned with.
Naturally a war ensued and the Velerians were barely able to hold off the Imprium Army. After three years of fighting the Imprium Nation abrutly retreated, the ruling King slain by his youngest daughter Kere Imprium. Kere managed to heal the rift between both nations, establishing a treaty and a border. Although the Velerians later suffered from a plague, Kere still gave them a generous exspanse of land. Much of this land was lost during a large infestation of vehement insects, reducing both nations in size and seperating them.
How long did it take for this group of people to be seen as a sovereign nation?
10 Years
Did this culture ever see a golden age?
No
This culture’s darkest hour was: The war against the Imprium Nation
This culture/ nation’s greatest embarrassment:
Being forced into a small coastal region by vehement insects
This culture/ nation’s greatest contribution to the world:
The remants of technomagical equipment reverse engineered several of the latest innovations, though Veleria is forced to sell this information to sustain their economy
History of Warfare:
- Ten Year War against Imprium Nations
- Attack of the Hruelanty Hordes
Religion- (Probably the most important factor of a culture next to history and government)
The Belief/ The story:
None, whatever gods they believed in has long since forsaken them. However as a trade nation, traders have brought their own beliefs which has converted many citizens.
Is there a person/ object/ animal that is at the center of all religion?
Is it widely believed? (Think of generation gaps)
Is it believed in other nations and countries? (Do they make a point in trying to spread the religion?)
Does it support warfare, deviant sexuality, women in power? Anything controversial?
Is there one thing, above all, that is strictly forbidden?
Does it play a part in the government?
Is there a holy text? (Maybe they convey their beliefs though song? Something other a text?)
Is there a belief in prophets or Jehovah? (Are they still seen in the modern times?)
What details about the religious leaders should be noted?
-Are they gender specific? Is there special clothing? How powerful are the leaders in the community? Do they operate out of temples or buildings in the like? Is money involved in their work?
Are there rigid rules, ceremonies, and rituals that must be followed? (Human sacrifice, anyone? Holidays?)
Does this particular religion have conflictions with rival religions?
How does this religion treat death?
What is the outlook of the afterlife? Heaven? Hell?
Government-
Category: (Monarch? Democracy? Something unclassified completely?)
Basic Overview:
-This is basically all the components that are not detailed below.
Method of Secession:
Manner in which they solve problems:
-Do the people play a part in the law making? How fast do things tend to get completed? Do the proposed ideas tend to work?
Would the people consider it a successful government?
Do other nations mimic/ recognize/ or demean this kind of government?
How does the government treat their people?
-Heavy taxes? Maybe they kill unruly people to keep everyone in line? What about foreigners? People of a different religion? Do the heads even care about the people’s demands? Do the heads CAUSE the demands?
What would be the foremost goal that the government wants to achieve?
-Is it war? Why? Maybe it’s a public service? What’s holding them back from achieving this?
What is the nation’s standing with the rest of the world?
-Do they trade (greatest export/ import)? Would they aid their neighbors? Would they accept refugees? Is there a significant event that has benefited/ poisoned a relationship with a neighboring country? Is it too small to be influential? Too large to control itself?
How does the government treat crime?
Is there a symbol that represents the country/ nation/ government? (like an Eagle, an olive leaf, a bear?)
The People and Their Customs:
Basic physical traits:
-General height? Weight? Hair color? Male/ female? (think about a how different a Japanese athlete would be from a Russian athlete) Is there a desirable trait that is looked for in a person? Maybe it’s delicate hands or long hair?
Clothing:
-Does the clothing suit the climate? How does it differ from the rich to the poor? Do certain colors have meaning? Are the people easily influenced by outside trends?
Their day-to-day attitude:
-Ok, that was pretty broad, but work with me here. Are they genuinely an optimistic bunch? Are they downtrodden? Do they show it?
What are the professions like in this culture?
-Are they for profit or necessity? Does any job hold a high regrade? Is there one job, that should a person be removed from it, the whole nation would fall?
How do they treat each other and how does that compare to their real views of each other?
-Are they openly friendly, but secretly believe that everyone they met would swindle them? Or do they just tell you of their hatred straight up?
Their food, basic diet:
-Are they famous for any dishes? Do they eat anything considered odd? (Like horses?) How much is the diet affected by the area around them?(Try to think of the differences in German cooking and Korean food.)
Is there a gap between the economic classes?
-Is this only in populated cities? Who has the power? The wealthy? The smart? Is the gap adding pressure to the government? Maybe a rebellion or two?
Does their lifestyle support their health?
-Do they play sports? Or are they too busy working till they drop to spend time with the family? How many kids or in the average family? Is there enough food to feed the families? Maybe they bathe and eat healthy and that is reflected in their everyday lives?
One of the citizens has the day off. How would he spend his free time?
Is a particular aspect of life held in high regard/ concern?
-Does the culture value strong warriors? Maybe they invest their children in schools? Are they overly worried of sickness in the city?
Describe a day in the life of a commoner and a nobleman:
How does the overall population treat foreigners/ outsiders:
-Is there a reason for hostility? Generosity? Would they treat the outsiders to a banquet to welcome them? You the outsiders BE the banquet? This one detail can reflect an entire culture’s mentality.
What building would be at the very center of activity in any given city?
What kind of person would your people value most?
-Do they like manly men killing people? Maybe an educator? Is physical beauty factor? What about a particular profession?
What kind of person would be considered a social reject?
-How do they show their discontent? Banishment? Throwing rocks? Does the religion also have an affect on which people they reject?
Do the people retain their traditions, customs, fashion, religion, etc, despite outside trends?
The Setting-
How has the surrounding area affected the history of this nation?
-Mountains might thwart out war, but also keep out traders. Fertile land will beckon newcomers and a desert area will keep them away.
What’s the climate like and how does it affect the culture/ people:
Take a look at the ground. What do you see?
-Is it a rocky terrain? Grassy? Is it a littered street? This applies to any major settings used in your story.
It’s festival night!
-What do you see? Do you hear music or screams? What is the food? All five scenes!
Is their diversity in the terrain?
Is there a heavy populated zone and an empty space?
Is this nation divided in anyway?
-Is it divided because of a war or because of natural bearers (mountains, rivers, etc)? Is there conflict between the people of these different areas? (Think of the cultural differences in the United States between the North and the South. Colorado Springs is not New York, New York isn’t Savannah, Georgia, and none of those compare to Wisconsin.)
What does the architecture basically look like?
-Are the buildings meant to be in one place forever? Sometimes tents can be moved from place to place. Have the styles changed over the years? From fancy to cheap, perhaps? What can be found in the average person’s home? What are the buildings made of in the cities?
