Aristii

Aristii Crest

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This article is about the Aristii people. For the historic nation of a similar name, see Aristios. For other uses of the term "Aristios", see Aristios (disambiguation).
The **Aristii**, also referred to as **Aristii Remnants** and **Imperial Aristii**, are a group of people originating from Northwestern Eldham that are predominantly present in Preyella, Olea and Katolis.

The Aristii formed from the people of Yurki adopting the traditions of the Amerii, while keeping some of their own values, the combination of which became the norm for both groups. The name comes from *Imperxíon*, Voclari's Mandate, where Zar en Olea was told to unite all the "Great People"(A'ristii) in their lands(A'ristíos).

The Aristii are characterized with extreme pride(especially of their culture), a strong sense of friendship with everyone who reciprocates(an Aristii will treat the man sitting next to him at the pub as a brother), and a deep stubbornness.

For despite the hardships, oppression, and *kataspa* (an Aristii word referring to Eldham's opposition to the Aristii), the Aristii and their culture flourish.

## Culture

### Faith

Voclarianism is the faith of the Aristii. It's followers were greatly oppressed following the fall of the Empire, and it almost entirely died out until various programs in the Imperial Provinces of Aristios, led by the current Patriarch Lúka en Olea brought it back to prominence. The most important values are humility, honesty, and a sense of Voclarist brotherhood.

It is mostly monotheistic, save for a few extremely minor deities, the 3 children of Voclari.

### Language

The Aristii speak the language of "High Aristii", originally evolving from the Yurkian dialect of the Amerii's language, as with lots of Aristii culture.

High Aristii Lexicon.

### Fashion

Many Aristii will wear uninteresting clothes, whether out of economic necessity or humility(a virtue in Voclarianism). That being said, some Aristii wear grander clothing. Aristii typically use linen fabrics and various metals such as iron(especially for enlisted folk).

* Xefal Rakon(Capital Clothes) - Worn by social elite, primarily in the capital(s). It is characterized by a long shirt of various colors with a high neck and golden lining, a bright sash, and gray pants. There is also a unique version for the Autokratoras and for Voskrators(princes)
* Strat Rakon(Soldier Clothes) - Typically worn by off-duty soldiers although isn't scarce for civilians, it features an entirely purple shirt and pants, with thin iron armor lined with gold
* Fívor Rakon(Religious Clothes)
* Xozak Rakon(Xozako Clothes)

### Music

Aristii music is characterized by a grandiose sound, with lyres, trumpets, and drums. It prefers a feminine vocalist, although masculine ones are common too, especially in marshal marches and religious hymns. Classical music is very slowly paced and deep, while more modern music is more fast and upbeat.

Music is quite important to the Aristii, and is sometimes used for political means. One such instance was a woman named Helan en Atixos, more commonly known by her pseudonym "Lady Aristios". She was born into a family with imperial loyalties, and was blessed with a beautiful singing voice.

With the dawn of the revolution, Helan wanted to join it, so she joined the early marches and sung revolutionary songs for the soldiers, putting on grand performances in the cities to recruit the populace, and once even preformed in Akirashalam for the Kratoras. Her legacy would be a new mainstream genre of music in Aristios - fast, upbeat, intensely patriotic, Revolutionary Music.

### Weddings

Aristii weddings are fundamentally tied with their Voclarist Traditions, and are known for deep Voclarist symbolism and a very upbeat mood.

#### Clothing

All the clothing worn by the Bride and Groom at an Aristii wedding is has a pure white color scheme, some of which has purple and gold trimmings, although some are entirely white. The women wear a long dress and a crown of flowers, while the men wear a form of suit, with a flower in the left chest pocket. The Bride and Groom both wrap a rose around each wrist. The pain of the thorns is an offering to Áleta, one of Voclari's daughters, representing the more ugly side of love that the spouses will have to endure, however some more progressive Voclarists dethorn the rose first.

#### Ceremony

The ceremony is officiated by a Voclarist Clergyman. First, the mother of the bride and the father of the groom comes up to the stage(in the case of the absence either, the spouse can choose someone of the family to do the ritual in their stead). The Mother swears to induct the groom into their family and treat him as one of their own, then gives the Father a present from her family to his. The Father reciprocates. The Clergyman formally announces that the two families will be joined in unison, then invites the Mother and Father to retrieve their child from the audience. They shake hands before returning to the audience to take their child by the hand and walk them up to the stage. The Bride and Groom stand center-stage facing each other, with their parent behind them, and the clergyman in-between. The Clergyman has them recite various vows. Then, the bride and groom take out their *Agosdáxs*, the item they retrieved from the Nether during their devotion, and exchange them, meaning that they now own the other's direct link to Voclari. Then, they each remove the rose from their wrists, and hand it to the clergyman. The Clergyman will tie the roses together, then wrap them back around the bride and groom's wrists. The Bride and Groom kiss, the Clergyman declares them now legally bounded in the eyes of Voclari, and the two keep the roses tied to each other for the rest of the wedding.

### Funerals

Fire is seen as something sacred in Aristii culture- being the thing that birthed Voclari. So, when an Aristii passes on(Aristii will say "Hav avya ún síos", they leave in peace), they are placed upon a bonfire with some of their most treasured material possessions. Friends and family give eulogies, and the fire is set alight at twilight and stays ablaze until the next dawn.

### Executions

With similar religious themes to funerals, Aristii executions are done via pushing the condemned into a pit of fire in the Nether. Some clergymen say that it is mercy rather than punishment, for the fires will cleanse the condemned of evil and make them "pure", although it is likely the man burning alive does not see it that way.

More high-profile executions are done with much spectacle, attracting large crowds. The crowds tend to chant a phrase, "Viyr Vít'on Hav", or Fire Made Him. It refers to Voclari and the purifying nature of fire. It is likely most of the people who chant do not fully understand the concept and just think it is very metal.

### Symbols

* **Eagles** - The eagle is an extremely popular symbol; and for good reason. It represents many core Aristii values, such as pride, self-determination, and freedom, the latter two being extremely important in the revolutionary era.
* **Gold** - Gold represents wealth and social status. Aristii tend to stray from wearing much gold, for it goes against the Voclarist tenet of humility.
* **Iron** - Iron is seen as proof that one can protect oneself, thus why it is worn by many Aristii. It is heavy symbolic in the Iron Rebellion, where their predecessors in the Olameronian Defense League failed to defend themselves in the Voclarist Civil War so many years prior.
* **Fire** - Fire represents purity, for it was what birthed Voclari

### Names

#### Naming Conventions

Aristii names follow a format of "Name of(en) Family Name". This evolved from the Amerii's original method of "Name from(av) Parent". The name of the parent evolved into saying you were "of their house", and eventually the name passed down and became a family name. For this reason, many Aristii surnames are Old Amerii first names.

Historical figures who lived during the old naming conventions (such as Xastelus av Ismeni), are still talked about using "av" rather than "en".

## Oleacracy

Of course, the Aristii have their politics too. Many Aristii believe in a modernized version of the classical Imperial system (Neo-Oleacracy)

#### Etymology

    The term "Oleacrat" traces it's roots back to The Third Republic of Aristios. Many of the Western Republicans knew the Imperial Easterners by "Ottocrats", a pun on the common word Autocrat, using the name of the Kratoras Otto en Olea. The Easterners countered, claiming they were not Ottocrats, but Oleacrats. And so was born Oleacracy.

### Party of the Golden Eagle

The name of the Party of the Golden Eagle, translated to Kova en Xrísos Átosí in High Aristii, is a reference to the nationalist party made by Murdius en Gerrat-Olea, which in of itself was a reference to the imperial sigil.

### Governmental structure

Oleacracy, as the name implies, is headed by someone of the Olea dynasty, as per Voclari's Mandate of Aristios. Other than that, it uses the standard Imperial System of Antiquity. A chancellor serves as the second in command of the Autokratoras, as well as a Patriarch to command the connection to Voclari. Provinces are ruled by Imperial Governors. War, foreign affairs and internal affairs are managed by Grand Ministers. Culture, commerce, and more are managed by Ministers. There is a senate with certain powers, with proportional seats by province population.

### Beliefs

    Oleacracy believes in *A'Lífxosí en Voxlarii*, the Great Deliverance of Voclari, stemming from the Revelation of Prophet Alexsa. The idea being that, with absolute faith from the Aristii, Voclari will deliver the Aristii from their suffering and create a great new home. Partially for this reason, Oleacrats are very devout Voclarists.

The Great Deliverance of Voclari has not come about at the time of writing, but within the few remaining bastions of the Aristii culture, the Oleacratic belief structure thrives.

## Regions

### Current Regions

These are regions in which there currently exist Aristii states and have large, generally Aristii populations.

#### Ameria

Ameria is the traditional capital region of Aristios, with the city of Oleapolis being founded atop the central mountain in Ameria. Ameria is currently the only region to be split between Aristii and the Kasitai Junta, with Oleapolis(Nyoxuín) in the west and Zarpolis in the east.

#### Olameronia

Olameronia is famous for its capital city of Perdin, known for being the Home of the Aristii Revolution, with the revolution's father SiameesHessel.

It is also home to cities such as Lacdechant, Ottosphia, and New Arebor.

#### Preyella

Preyella is known for being an absolute titan of industry and military might in Aristios. Its capital Pertonia is the most populous city in Aristios and one of the most in all of Eldham. It also has cities like Galliopolis, Karub, and Naiamo.

It is sometimes known as the strongest Aristii region.

#### Katolis

    Out in the far east, lies the region of Katolis. Katolis is known for having some of the best culture in Aristios, despite the fact that it has one of the more unique, drawing on influences from Takavians, Valreshian Katolians, and other Western Drakaen cultures(in addition to Aristii), forming the culture of the Alanii/Xozako.

It is also the most recent addition to the Aristii culture, with it not being entirely under Aristii rule until the days of the high republic, but Katolians are known for patriotism nonetheless.

The capital is the city of Xozak, but it is also home to cities such as Stronheim, Thornswood, Krystalis Keep, and Takavagrad.

### Historical Land

These were lands that had been lost to the Aristii and currently only have small to non-existent Aristii populations living in these lands. In contrast, these territories were historically part of Aristii nations and used to have large Aristii populations. Despite these troubles, many Aristii still have a yearning for these lands and desperately want to reclaim and purify them of the occupation they endure.

#### Astillia

Astillia is an extremely important region for the Aristii culturally. It has various holy sites, such as Kalasburgo where the Prophet Ismení was born, and where the Transcardians came via the Great Nether Trail.

It is entirely occupied by the Kasitai Junta in the north and Skyra in the south.

#### Sanctus

Sanctus was the capital region during the Aristii Revolution, wiwerethe throne being in Akirashalam due to exile from Oleapolis.

To the north, lie the Aristii Dwarves in Vallis, a small but strong subculture of the Aristii. Directly to the east lies the Sanctus Basilica, one of the holiest sites in Voclarianism. South are the Tasqar people of Akirashalam, one of the most beautiful cities in all of Aristios.

Sanctus is currently entirely occupied by Ashai.

## Other

### Artifacts

The following are a list of objects that hold cultural or religious significance to the Aristii people.

#### Tear of God

The Tear of God was an important piece to Aristii culture and history. The "Tear of God" was a jewel gifted to Emperor TbsDbs by a benevolent spirit. The tear of God became a symbol in Aristios of good hope since after TbsDbs got the jewel, he succeeded in finishing the walls of the capital city even though it was deemed impossible at the time. The "Tear of God" was kept in a vault sealed away in the capital city of Oleapolis.

#### Grimm Stone

The Grimm Stone was said to have been chipped from the Gate of Night, an ancient gate formed by the Valar as an entrance and exit from Arda into the Void. How the stone was chipped was unknown, but the force must have been mighty. The Grimm Stone has been lost to time, nobody knows its whereabouts, and some have speculated that it was destroyed though it can not be confirmed.

### Heraldry

#### Chrysos Aetos logo

The Chrysos Aetos was the logo of the Aristios nationalist party created by Murdius. The symbol was reused for the Nationalist party in Republican Aristios and the Military School.

#### Aristii military symbol

The Aristii Military Symbol was based off the one made by Azrielz. IVEA stands for Imperxíon Valanfír en A'ristii(Imperial Military of The Aristii). *Maros Vóka'l* roughly translates to "die gloriously".