Soulhavnic

Category:Culture
== Overview ==
Soulhavnic referred to the culture of the people native to the kingdom of Soulhaven, a name which they also identified with. Their social hierarchy, political systems and religious practices were all organised according to ancient, cultist beliefs. Society was conditioned to respect authority and scripture without question, adhering to a social code which was entirely predicated on religious beliefs. However, repression seldom occurred as the vast majority of the population simply knew no reason to think a way other than how their social norms dictated they should. 
== History ==
=== Early Settlement on Thadge ===
The people of Vesterike in the Northern Lands were known to have established small settlements on the island of Thadge prior to 900 BG, before the arrival of Màaxi cultists. They were culturally distinct and though little was known about the nature of their culture on Thadge, it was thought to be limited but strong enough to have heavily influenced the Soulhavnic language and accent, as well as granting key knowledge about dragons which would later come to bear on the kingdom greatly, passed down in neoteric scripture and legends, in both the Unified Retaliation and Uprootings. Due to the early influence of the Vester people, many Soulhavnic were closely related to those that dwelled on the island of Vesterike by 301 AG.
=== Early scripture in Mhordyn ===
=== The departure ===
=== Pre-Unified Retaliation Soulhaven ===
=== The Unified Retaliation ===
=== Post Unified Retaliation ===
== Culture ==
=== The People ===
The people of Soulhaven enjoyed relatively common levels of comfort and high standards of living, with more than enough food and nourishment to disperse itself across the population sustainably. Indeed, many Soulhavnic were self-sufficient and grew their own crops, and those who did not in the city were recipients of a generous system organised by members of the four sects of Soulhaven which ensured everyone could live in comfort. However, when dissent occurred, or any divergence from social norms or practices of worship, severe punishments were dispatched. Hypnosis and brainwashing was proceed by the sects upon these people, constituting the kingdom's means to stop the rare instances of crime. In addition, although the people were relatively self-sufficient, all knowledge about the world outside the island was not available to the population, with their roles in the highly hierarchical society pre-determined given their family or house's standing in the eyes of the four sects. Though worship and attendence in certain ceremonies was mandatory, this was rarely enforced due to the deeply held societal conventions. 
=== Scripture ===
Scripture was the cornerstone of all aspects of life in Soulhaven, and could be spit into original scripture and the neoteric texts. Original scripture was that scripture which was written by the first prophet during the cult's unified days as one Màaxi in Mhordyn (though, only according to Soulhaven and was contested by the later Màaxi). The neoteric texts began when the first prophet began to write on the island of Thadge following the schism in the cult, having arrived there around 900 BG - a date which also roughly marked the transition from original scripture to the neoteric texts. One aspect of scripture which served directly as a pillar of the kingdom's entire society and way of thinking was in its deontic code. This code was generally to be found in the original scripture, which listed various axioms; sentiments to live by or means of leading ones life which would therefore lead to a fulfilled life. They were not, however, commands: this invited much disagreement in interpretation among the sects. One such example of maxims or sentiment could be a commitment to not cause unwarranted suffering. Most saliently, the case of the 'ultimate good' was much disputed, with general agreement on the nature of the ultimate good, but widespread disagreement on precisely how the people would know the good to have been discharged. This disagreement related to interpretations of various other pieces of scripture elsewhere, with one sect believing in a more active divine presence, meaning that there would need to be a sign from the deity that the ultimate good had truly been discharged. In contrast, another believed in a more passive deity, resulting in a dispute of great importance beyond the Unified Retaliation. This was one such example where seemingly minor disagreements in the deontic code of original scripture resulted in fundamental theological rifts between the sects, coming to characterise their time in power and outlook on the conduct of Soulhaven with respect to the deity. Needless to say, Soulhaven's culture typified an obsessive attitude towards their divine scripture, resulting in acute disagreements in the intricacies of texts.
=== The Sects ===
Every aspect of Soulhaven’s culture centred around their religion, with political power being held by 4 sects at different points in its history. These sects existed because of interpretations of the 2 aforementioned key prices of scripture - each a cornerstone of the cult society’s belief systems. Although a given influential family in Soulhaven would overwhelmingly populate the membership of a corresponding sect, houses or families were not entitled to 'run' or organise the sect to which they historically belonged. In each sect, there was a clear hierarchy immersed in certain readings of scripture, a reading which was arbitrated by the Selogians - the top of each sect’s hierarchy. As well being the theological masters of each respective sect, Selogians were also tasked with raising the prophet should they be the sect in power. When out of power, the Selogians worked a group known as the disciples in each sect, who searched for new prophets at the death of the previous prophet, regardless of which sect was in power. This was done through them presenting familiar items to scripture - and scripture itself - to many babies born around the same time as the prophet died. Each sect supposed that the true prophet, reincarnate, would recognise the item and thus reveal himself or herself as the prophet. Each of the 4 sects would partake in this, with the Selogians raising the prospective prophets of the three sects without power, ready to install their prophet as the true prophet should there be a power shift between sects. The prospective prophets are only officially anointed as the true prophet should the sect to which they belong gain power, at which points Selogians would raise and teach the prophets in the way of scripture and nothing else. For sects already enjoying power upon the death of a previous prophet, the new prophet would be raised in this manner from the moment they were identified by the sect.
=== The Prophet ===
In Soulhaven's culture, the prophet was seen to be the arbiter of revealed truth and the only means by which mortals could come to know the intentions of their deity. As such, only the prophet themselves are permitted to add to the canon of scripture, with few ever electing to do so. This convention found its origins in what was written about the first prophet of Soulhaven, whose writings when they reached Thadge were regarded as the neoteric scripture. Thus, because all prophets were thought to be the same spirit in different manifestations, this right to add to scripture extended to whichever prophet had been anointed. All prophets led a solitary life, growing up almost entirely indoors and surrounded by the sect's Selogians. Among the people of Soulhaven, their rare public appearances in large ceremonies or events were met with celebrations and joy. Due to the confined and secret lifestyle of each prophet, little was known about them. Their lack of social exposure or ability to explore the world often led prophets to find such concepts ultimately pointless in later life, having being conditioned out of them.