Yuani

Yuanis are an ethnic group connected with Khagani nomads who settled the river valley of the Yuan river, becoming a sedentary people. Due to the distance from the capital and the difficulty journeying to the Kingdom of Yuan, Yuanis are often seen as strange and exotic by other people. They have a longstanding enmity with the Khaganis as the two people engaged in warfare for thousands of years.

## Yuani Culture

### Religion

Yuani people have the weakest tie to the Church of Light which despite three centuries of presence within the Empire of the Phoenix has a fairly weak following with the natives. Still the Yuani are very polyvalent when it comes to faith and philosophy mixing local beliefs with new ones without seeing the need for contradiction.

#### *Yuani Animism*

The Yuani often believe that all things have a spirit, and that if one makes good relations with those spirits that it will bring both them and the spirits good things. Part of this involves elementals, where others see them as nuisances, the Yuani animists see them as sacred, and have developed complex rites to ensure a peaceful co-existence with them.

#### *Yuani Philosophies*

Yuani provinces have been a hotbed of philosophical thoughts for hundreds of years, with various schools of thought rising and falling during these times.

* One of the most popular is Patriarchism, a philosophy that places special emphasis on the relationship between parents and children, and extrapolate such a relationship to the world; positing that a good ruler must be like a good father to his subject as if they were his children.

* Legalism on the other hand advocates that the state and its ruler must be completely devoid of sentiments, being a purely rational actor which is to enforce laws strictly to the letter without deviation, and that all laws should apply equally to all.

### Martial Tradition

The Yuani nobility is known for their heavily armored knights known as Samurai but unlike Lyssian knights — who use lance and sword — they favor bows and engage from a distance on horseback, relying on swords and glaive-like polearms in melee. Peasants typically favor special halberds known as Ji.

* Ji, Halberd
* Liuyedao: Short saber
* Dao, Saber
* Dadao, Heavy Saver
* Changdao, Two-handed Saber
* Jian, Sword
* Qiang, Spear
* Guandao: Glaive
* Gōng: Horn recurve bow
* Nu: Crossbow
* Chukonu: Repeating Crossbow

### Food

Traditional Yuani food culture is based on the cultivation of rice and soybean as the primary calorie and protein intake of the people, although northern Yuani who live in a climate where rice does not grow well use millet as their primary grain. The cultivation of wheat and its import has increased in the past centuries during the golden age, which has lead to the creation of wheat noodles.

Yuani are very versatile in what they eat and wild game accompanies domestic animals on the menu, Yuani laws allow all to hunt and fish as they see fit, which adds to their nutrition. Fruits are particularly sought after and meat is often glazed in sweet sauces. Tofu provide a cheap protein for both the poor and wealthy. Common ingredients include; various yuani cabbages, shitakes, enoki and black mushrooms, scallions, ginger, garlic, lotus roots, bamboo, mung beans and sprouts, snow peas, bitter melons, yams, eggplant, yuani radish, taro, water chestnuts, and kelp.

A typical yuani meal will focus on white rice with a complex array of side dishes such as meat, fish, vegetables, various pickles, and relishes. Noodles, which are somewhat expenses are eaten on special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, or partnership with longer noodle prefered as the length of the noodle is symbolic of longevity and continuity.

Tea is the traditional drink of choice with Yuani who typically turn up their nose at coffee and other hot beverages. Yuani have a variety of alcohol, with rice wine being most common, but millet beer, mead, hawthorne wine. Distilled rice wine is the spirit of choice with Yuanis.

Cherry Blossoms and fruits carry a special meaning within Yuani culture being seen as symbol of the emperor and tradition. Rice flour dumplings flavored with cherry blossom is eaten on the emperor's birthday.

### Tea Ceremony

Whenever one receives a guest in Yuani culture it is imperative for the host to serve tea and this is a highly ritualized act and for any who can afford such is meant to be done in its own room. Those who don't have one will typically rent out a tea house's room for special occasions.

Tea Ceremony is where almost all important Yuani business are performed whether commercial (like a business deal) or personal (presenting a spouse to your parents) It involves formal greetings, washing, changing into special attire and footwear. Individuals sit on tatami mats in front of a low-hanging table. A first brew is poured into a single cup, typically Sakura tea (representing the emperor and tradition) and passed around so that all must take a sip to signify coming together.

Tea is then served with snacks in a special order, beginning with a heavy tea (black) and a savory snack. After this guest will leave the house for a moment, typically to discuss privately the matter at hands. A gong will call them back, if the two parties have a deal then a light tea (such as green or herbal tea) and a sweets are offered, representing the change from serious matters to casual and celebration. If they do not have an argument then one party will begin the negotiation anew or withdraw. If all goes well, after the light tea, sake or similar alcohol will be taken out, and a meal will be shared between the parties.

### Language

#### Idioms and Aphorism

* "Angling for stones" — To behave foolishly, wasting time.
* ”If the currents carry/currents carrying” — If all goes well, if circumstances allow.
* “That flows” — That makes sense, that works.
* “We are tranquil” — To be in agreement, to be without conflict.
* ”Well-fathered” — Impressive, well-handled, smoothly run.
* “Well-mothered” — Savvy, wise, likely to go far.
* “Washed” — Pitiful, foolish, not able to handle the world.
* “Swept” — A more polite way of saying screwed or fucked when pertaining to dismal circumstances.