Syuhd

## Basic Information

* Name of the nation in local language: Syuhd [pronounced as one syllable to roughly rhyme with "mud"]
* Capital: Ijuvhut
* Ruling figure's name: The Uhvgahv (The Council of Thirteen)
* Languages: Yahdsvut, Dtakattomec (secondary, used for trading)
* Founding player's name: Peter H
* Controlling player's name: Peter H
* Years of existence: 7 November 20201 - present

## Culture

### People

The Syuhd are humans. Their skin comes in a variety of darker tones, and their hair ranges from red to dark brown in color and wavy to curly in texture.

### Religious Beliefs

The Syuhd are joined by a set of beliefs that state that qualities such as color, temperature, and knowledge are divine. These qualities, in their true state, flow in and out of each other and transform into other divine qualities in a realm of infinite, dancing energy. In contrast, the physical world traps and pollutes divine qualities. The physical world is an impediment to knowledge, just as it is an impediment to all divine qualities. This spiritual or philosophical tradition does not have a name because it is so ubiquitous to Syuhd society. It was developed many generations ago by a group of men and women who fasted in the desert, and returned to their countrypeople with *ruhmmangs* (songs that explained their beliefs).

This spiritual or philosophical tradition sometimes interacts with folk religions. For example, a family’s house gods may be said to watch over the family and help them develop their divine qualities, or the ancestors of a group may be said to have transformed into warmth or joy and the group remembers their ancestors when feeling those things. Across folk religions, the core philosophical or spiritual beliefs remain fairly intact.

While most of the Syuhd devoutly believe this philosophical tradition, it does not bear heavily on their daily life. There are not strictures about prayers, sacrifices, or religious services. Some shamans follow ​​a grueling asceticism as part of their rejection of the physical world, but this is not typical. Occasionally, everyday Syuhd seek out a religious leader if they feel they have become too "worldly" and need help getting back in line with their spiritual beliefs.

### Moral values and principles

Syuhd society has a belief in simplicity and cleanliness that stems from their philosophical rejection of the physical world. They equate greed and the hoarding of possessions with the way the physical world pollutes divine qualities. Their homes are kept tidy, and their few, generally multi-purpose, possessions are usually kept out of sight. Syuhdi often confer with their neighbors before making a purchase, and if someone else in the area has what they need they’ll share it instead of getting a new one. They decorate their homes with colored glass windows and vases.

Syuhd society puts high value on tinkering and mechanical invention. Their cultural emphasis on simplicity makes them adept engineers, as they strive to find elegant solutions to problems and abhor excrescence.

### Celebrations

* *Mahtuh-imar*: An annual three day festival of racing. They race dogs, horses, chariots, and on foot, and everyone camps out and parties for three days at the site of the races.
* *Ruhmmangpuh*: Annual observance of the day the men and women ended their fast and returned to share their ruhmmang with the rest of the Syuhd people.

### Food and Drink

* *Bahrjam*: Traditional Syuhd flatbread. On special occasions it is cooked with honey and spices.
* *Ee*: Clear Syuhd liquor made from a local succulent plant. This is crafted with care and drunk in small quantities after meals. It is the only kind of alcohol that has widespread acceptance in Syuhd. Though various other kinds exist, they are looked down on to varying degrees.
* *Zhahmu*: Honey. Beekeeping is popular among the Syuhd.
* *Gohrseeuh-zhahmu*: "Mad honey." A tainted honey that is hallucinogenic in small quantities (and deadly in large quantities). The Syuhd are divided on its appropriateness. It is primarily used by shamans.
* Tahst: A fine powder made of dried and pulverized insects, usually crickets, and mixed with salt and other seasonings to taste. Manual laborers keep a small pouch of tahst at their side. Whenever they take a drink of water they follow it by licking their finger, dipping it in the pouch, and consuming the powder that sticks to it.

### Art

The main forms of artistic expression are glassblowing and singing, with some Syuhd pursuing painting as well.

#### Glassblowing

Glassblowing leads to the creation of the few purely decorative objects the Syuhd value, including vases and beads. They also have methods of creating very strong, colored glass that they use for windows. Some Syuhd use a series of colored glass windows to tell a sequential story.

#### Singing

Syuhd songs come in a variety of genres.

* *Ruhmmangs: Epic length, droning songs designed to impart philosophical wisdom*
* *Jahmarmuns: Long, lively songs designed to tell a story*
* *Prohts: Any repetitive songs for group singing (especially popular among children and people who are drinking)*

### Design

People from other cultures may be struck by the openness and brightness of the architectural spaces the Syuhd create.

Traditional Syuhd design features holes or empty spaces in the material. For example, a table designed by a Syuhd craftsperson would be flat, circular surface with a large hole in the center of it (making the surface more like a thick ring).

## Government

The Syuhd are led by a confederacy, in which a council of 13 people arrive at policy decisions through discussion and consensus. Historically, councilmembers were representatives of powerful families, but recently the country has grown to the point that they need councilmembers to represent geographical regions. Still, councilmembers associated with historical families are regarded with special respect.

Officially, each region selects their councilmember through popular vote, though this is very rarely used. In nearly all cases, the councilmember is either selected by the previous council member, or is the most prominent member of an established family in that area. In cases where there is some question or disagreement about who the councilmember should be, the decision is made through a townhall style meeting and consensus making. Voting, via public ballot, is only used as a last resort.

Local disputes are managed by a peripatetic order of magistrates. Because these magistrates are not based in one location and do not have deep connections in any community they are believed to be impartial judges. Each magistrate follows slightly different traditions, honed by their personal experiences and wanderings, but they all aim to hold up the same values of equality, simplicity, and beauty.

## Unlocked Technology

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**Level 2**

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