Location: Chi'Hamak
Belief System: Charkritians have a system of ancestor worship where the remains of families (close and extended) are stored in ossuaries in large "Cities of the Dead", where they are looked after by obedient descendents, prayed over, and in some cases, enchanted with protections by powerful mystics who have learned their craft in far off schools of magic to prevent the remains from falling victim to grave robbers.
Architectural: Mostly stone and local materials, aided where needed by the high-tech materials developed over the last few centuries. Wood is seldom used, and ornate carvings are common, especially on wealthier buildings.
Political Structure: At the local/city level, councils are elected by popular vote and stay a term of two years. Councils hold session weekly (or more often depending on issues) to hear complaints, pass laws, debate policies and news from the capital, and talk about themselves at great length, because they all want to be re-elected. Local judges try petty crimes all the way up to capital crimes, though jurisdictions become federal if the crime is capital and committed outside of a city or town. At the regional level, roaming magistrates try special cases on behalf of the federal government, and regional elders administer to multiple localities.
At the Federal level, a Ruling Council of three is elected every six years, and those three nominate magistrates and regional elders to approval by a representative council (whose only real function is approving/rejecting those nominations and causing political intrigues). They also pass laws, which are reviewed by the representative council for adherence to the Charkritian Laws to ensure they are not overstepping their bounds.
Cultural Personality: Charkritian orphans are individualistic, curious, generally humorous, open, tolerant, and have a humble, can-do attitude. Some of the older Charkritians, especially in light of the problems the Pandemic has caused in the grander scheme of things, are less trusting and open, and are wary of strangers due to the instability during the societal breakdown the Pandemic had temporarily caused. All Charkritians are very respectful of their ancestors, and many older Charkritians practice forms of ancestor worship.
Having a culture based in the harsh deserts and only later moving into the less-demanding climes, the Charkritians favor lose clothing with practical purpose, though ceremonial garb and formalwear is commonplace. Ceremonial and formal wear is typically more colorful and lighter in fabric than work clothes or everyday garments. Those venturing into the vast Hamak’Del will outfit themselves with survival gear and loose clothing to protect against the heat and dust storms, which have been known to flay men alive. Expanding into the colder areas of the Southlands, and trade with their Fringer allies, has added the use of furs and leathers into the Charkritians’ fashion sense. Casual robes can morph into sarongs, dresses, and with variations such as short-sleeves, hoods, collars, patterns and colors, etc.
Charkritians are hard-working and value no-nonsense, honest people who value integrity. The Fringers’ darker, bawdier sense of humor is slowly starting to rub off on the Charkritians, who had already taken to dark sarcasm, though the Bokarans’ loftier wit leaves them feeling somewhat condescended to. They have a long, proud history and lose their humor pretty fast when that history is insulted. Other than that, they are fairly easy going.
Politics Pertaining to Other Factions:
Shendolin/Stellar Corporation: Geography shields them from the Shendolin, except for rare times when war breaks out and they come to the aid of Fringers, who are usually fighting them. Charkritians are not friendly or trusting towards the Shendolin, and are less than friendly or trusting in regards to the Stellar Corporation that the Shendolin have introduced to the planet, though the demeanor of the Bokarans allow the Charkritians to have at least limited contact with them.
Kandi’Kana: Charkritians fear and hate the Kandi’Kana due to their barbaric ways, and will either flee or attack them, depending on the relative strengths of those involved. The Charkritians do not have a policy of all-out war on them due to the harshness of the desert and the logistics involved in an operation of that type, though the sentiment is there.
Fringe Clans: Allies of the Charkritians, there is numerous areas of cultural blending and trade flourishes between the two. Political disagreements are few and usually not as heated as the problems between them and the Bokaran Stellar Corporation or the Shendolin, but occasional serious political problems do happen.
Regional Descriptions: Coming Soon...