Kuzdan

Amians, Kuzdan ambassador to Louisia

The Kuzda mainly populate a relatively small peninsula and the smaller islands surrounding it. They inhabit this small area very densely, taking advantage of the abundant freshwater flowing from the mountain range inhabited by their Northern neighbors, the Bor'ja and the Fashfa. The clear rivers, lakes, and streams provide for prospering agriculture both fish and plants.

The seas create a moderate climate for the majority of the year. This, along with the believed health cure provided by submerging in the lakes, fuels a substantial industry of tourism. From all over Paan Atta, those with disposable income journey by sea and by land to experience the waters for themselves.

Many working-class locals are made uncomfortable by the droves of monied foreigners. Some of these tourists may harbor entitled attitudes or lack a proper grasp on the sacredness and fragility of the waters and their plant and animal life.

## Naming Traditions

### Unisex names

As in the majority of cultures of Paan Atta, Kuzdan personal names are not gender specific. These names invoke moral characteristics, though they do not pressure the bearer to aspire to them, rather they are regarded linguistically as good-luck words. Examples include Amians, Kirayui, and Marivfa.

### Family names

Like Marathans, the Kuzdan generally lack family names. As a personal identifier, a person's occupation will be said before their name as a title. This occupation will often be familialy shared and thus serve a similar role to a family name.

## Culture

### Cultural Garments

Kuzdan clothing prioritizes bathing when the weather is warm. In this weather, clothes are held shut by a thick fabric belt at the waist and can be removed in a matter of seconds. In any weather, clothing prioritizes comfort. Boots are easily kicked off, tunics and shirts easily pulled off over the head, and so on. The exception to this ideal is the closely fitting cap worn on the top of the head. This is an element of mythological significance, and it serves to insulate the head from the sun in warm weather or from the cold in cold weather.

### Common Etiquette rules

One should not give a Kuzdan a care object or a personal product such as soap, lotion, shampoo, or hair oil. Even if one is a foreigner, this is the main component of Kuzdan courtship and it would imply such intentions. There is an exception for cases of medical necessity such as a medicated lotion or a salve for an injury.

Although water can aid in cleanliness, it is improper to enter clear and sacred waters without first cleaning oneself.

It is proper to thank the earth briefly before taking a plant for any purpose, whether nutritional or decorative. Decorative plants are to be used very sparingly and only for special occasions. They are also not to be rare in the area they are plucked from, or the first or last of the season.

### Art & Architecture

Devotional and mythological paintings tend to use water from a clear, sacred lake as a component. Temples are regularly cleaned with such water and used in their building wherever possible. In some exceptionally significant locations, a small temple will be built in such a place that it is submerged except at very low tides, constantly imbued with the water's properties. One may swim out to a temple like this and touch it and look at it closely, which is said to provide excellent luck as well as decrease pain.

### Foods & Cuisine

Kuzdan cuisine varies greatly from one household to another but thickened and pounded vegetables are a universal staple with a somewhat breadlike consistency. Spices are usually minimal, allowing the dish to shine for itself. Another staple food is taking whatever fruits, roots, buds, vegetables, berries, greens, and edible barks one can find and boiling them together into a stew. This is both a subsistence meal and a traditional dish to celebrate the beginning and end of new seasons as well as to seek connection with familial ancestors.

## Ideals

### Beauty Ideals

An otherwise uncommon beauty standard widely held by the Kuzdan is the ideal of thinner, less visible, or nonpresent hair on arms, legs, face, back, chest, and stomach. This carries mythological and religious associations and an idea of being aquadynamic. Any visible bodily hair is often trimmed, shaved with a recently invented safety razor or one of the old sort, burned in a safe and controlled manner, bleached, or plucked if sparse enough.

### Courtship Ideals

Kuzdan courtship ideally constitutes physically caring for one's partner. Examples include: massaging them, caring for and styling their hair, mending and making clothes, and gifting care products such as salves and balms. If in response to this courting, a partner allows and enjoys this care but does not reciprocate it, this means, "I enjoy you and intend to court you in the future, but I am not quite ready, I am not entirely sure of my feelings. Let us take this slowly."

Ideally, if one does not desire to court, they will politely say something along the lines of, "I would prefer to care for **myself**, thank you for your efforts."

Family members may care for children, but it is taboo once their child is capable of caring for themself. It must be emphasized that the romantic connotation comes from helping someone capable of doing so for themself. It is an unnecessary favor, a kindness that creates intimacy. It would not be a favor if it were a necessity, then it would be merely caretaking rather than courtship.