Old Imperial Culture

## History

Old Imperial Culture was the culture of the Old Empire. It was brought to Ferra via the settlers of the Imperial Colonies.

While Old Imperial Culture as such doesn't exist anymore, it is the basis of the Imperial descendant Culture which now dominate most of Ferra.

## Culture

### The Standings

The Standings, a racial cast system, lies at the core of imperial cultures. While the descendant cultures put differing emphasis on the Standings, it is observed by all.

##### The Imperials

Though in the distant past humans and elves once were a different people, during the time of the Old Empirethey interbreed to such a degree that they can no longer be distinguished and are simply called “The Imperials”. Imperials are by far the largest and most influential race on Ferra and almost all the events of the past 1’500 years are direct consequences of their action. It is also the imperial understanding that influences the history and societies of Ferra today and incidentally, Imperials stand highest on the racial ladder.

#### The Civilised Races

What the Old Empire saw as “Civilized Races” were usually allowed a normal life within society with many of the same rights as the Imperials, yet always second to them. Amongst the civilized races are the dwarfs, gnomes and halflings. While many members of these races have often dreamt to overcome the legacy as second-class citizens by establishing their own nations or cities these attempts were often unsuccessful or simply ignored by the Imperials.

#### The Beast Folk

The many races thought to be so far below the Imperials that they were not deemed worthy of being citizens of the Old Empire. The Orcs, Ogres, Goblins, Tieflings, Aarakocra, Dragonborn and other such races were used only as cattle slaves and battle thralls. Though Beast Folk are rarely systematically kept as slaves these days, attitudes have not changed much and most societies, especially the rural ones will view Beast Folk with open distrust, fear and hostility. Beast Folk are usually pushed to the fringes of society, used for hard labour or unsavoury work, reinforcing the self fulfilling prophecy which causes the Imperials to view them as dangerous brutes.

#### The Lizardfolk

The lizardfolk are native to Ferra and were unknown to the Old Empire before their arrival on Ferra. Though they were slowly pushed all the way to the western parts of Ferra over the ages, the lizardfolk never lost their ferocity. They are highly spiritual, their leaders being priests or skilled spiritual warriors. Though they value their gods highly and do not fear death, they do not cling to them. If a god fails to grant them strength or proofs too weak, the lizardfolk will look for a new god to worship. In this way, the lizardfolk on Ferra before the arrival of the imperial settlers prayed to different dragons and their kingdoms and empires revolved around a Dragonflight. After the dragons proved incapable in defeating the imperial settlers, the lizardfolk rose up and enslaved their former masters. Most dragons still alive on Ferra are broken slaves to the lizardfolk. They are hated by all races of imperial heritage. The Lizardfolk are seen even below the Beast Folk. Something the Beast Folk hold on to. Though they hate the system which deems them little more than cattle, most Beast Folk are unable to overcome the racist ways of thinking instilled on them since ages past and the hatred Beast Folk display against the Lizardfolk is often worse than what the imperials display.