In Kirinia, the sole method of capital punishment allowed is to put the condemned person in the arena, in a combat to the death against another condemned person. Men fight men and women fight women.
The newly condemned must fight in three fights to the death, where no mercy may be shown. Those who survive become neophytes, who fight one another to rise in the standings. During these combats, a combatant who is disarmed or defeated may surrender, and the person's life may (or may not) be spared.
Those who survive a neophyte season become victors, and compete against other victors. At this point they are given much longer intervals between fights, and so have greater odds of survival.
Some criminals are not strong enough to compete, and others, such as those of the Kristan faith, refuse to fight. These invariably die in their first fight.
The reason for this execution tradition is that, in the light of the struggle for survival the Kirinian nation is going through because of the constant wars with the Sahchiro, it is distasteful for any Kirinian person to intentionally kill another Kirinian. To be an executioner would be to live with dishonor. So the criminals execute one another.
The fights in the arena are also said to serve a good purpose. The public learns about combat methods and also becomes less squeamish about blood and gore. This is considered to prepare the young for future combat in the military, and to help civilians cope with the trauma of an attack.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Forbidden Words in Kirinian Culture: cannibalism and human sacrifice
In the Kirinian Empire, the most common social taboo is in regard to words referring to cannibalism, and human sacrifice leading to cannibalism. This is because ever since Kirinia was settled, they've been locked in an on-and-off, life-or-death war with the Sahchiro, who are most commonly known as the Eaters-of-Men.
It is allowed to say the words 'Eaters-of-Men' so long as one is referring to the ethnic group without hinting at their dietary habits. One can say 'my son died in an attack of the Eaters-of-Men'. But one does not talk about the Eaters-of-Men in connection with their eating habits.
The closest to an acceptable euphemism is to talk about 'the Sahchiro habit' or 'the Sahchiro practice'. But even this is considered rough talk to be avoided around children and sensitive women. To speak of 'a certain Southern habit' (or practice) is considered more delicate perhaps because it might not be easily understood to be a reference to cannibalism.
Referring to Sahchiro sacrifices, or the mounds or stone mounds which are the Sahchiro place of sacrifice, are as forbidden as the cannibalism topic. An ordinary Kirinian will react as if the speaker just took a dump on the dinner table (forgive my crudeness here.) Even lower-class rough men who curse like profanity is their native language react like this. No one is comfortable with this topic spoken aloud. At best one can hint around about it in whispers.
Since the official Kirinian religions include animal sacrifice, the word sacrifice is not forbidden or sensitive, so long as it is crystal clear that the sacrificial victim is an animal. In fact the word 'victim'--- a technical term pertaining to sacrifice--- is considered to contain the meaning 'animal'. No person is ever called a victim, because that is not only calling that person an animal but stating that person is to be sacrificed. That would be a taboo statement in the culture.
As a result of this cultural feature, the Kristan religion (Christianity) is considered a vile and disgusting faith. In the Early Church period here on Earth, the Church was characterized by 'the breaking of the bread'--- the Eucharist or communion service. The Early Church period is exactly the time when certain legions from Rome came through a Portal to the planet Erileth and settled what is now Kirinia. The Kristans from then to now continue to practice this unspeakable rite of eating the flesh and blood of Yeshu Kristo in the form of bread and wine. They also refer to Kristo as a sacrifice, a victim, the Lamb of God.
Imagine in modern America if there was a religion which constantly uttered the most taboo things--- four-letter words, racial epithets--- and had a sacred rite which was a symbolic re-enactment of a racially motivated gang rape. THAT'S how offensive ordinary Christian practices would seem to a member of Kirinian society.
I'd like to thank Amanda Borenstadt from A Fortnight of Mustard, whose writing prompt gave rise to this bit of worldbuilding.
It is allowed to say the words 'Eaters-of-Men' so long as one is referring to the ethnic group without hinting at their dietary habits. One can say 'my son died in an attack of the Eaters-of-Men'. But one does not talk about the Eaters-of-Men in connection with their eating habits.
The closest to an acceptable euphemism is to talk about 'the Sahchiro habit' or 'the Sahchiro practice'. But even this is considered rough talk to be avoided around children and sensitive women. To speak of 'a certain Southern habit' (or practice) is considered more delicate perhaps because it might not be easily understood to be a reference to cannibalism.
Referring to Sahchiro sacrifices, or the mounds or stone mounds which are the Sahchiro place of sacrifice, are as forbidden as the cannibalism topic. An ordinary Kirinian will react as if the speaker just took a dump on the dinner table (forgive my crudeness here.) Even lower-class rough men who curse like profanity is their native language react like this. No one is comfortable with this topic spoken aloud. At best one can hint around about it in whispers.
Since the official Kirinian religions include animal sacrifice, the word sacrifice is not forbidden or sensitive, so long as it is crystal clear that the sacrificial victim is an animal. In fact the word 'victim'--- a technical term pertaining to sacrifice--- is considered to contain the meaning 'animal'. No person is ever called a victim, because that is not only calling that person an animal but stating that person is to be sacrificed. That would be a taboo statement in the culture.
As a result of this cultural feature, the Kristan religion (Christianity) is considered a vile and disgusting faith. In the Early Church period here on Earth, the Church was characterized by 'the breaking of the bread'--- the Eucharist or communion service. The Early Church period is exactly the time when certain legions from Rome came through a Portal to the planet Erileth and settled what is now Kirinia. The Kristans from then to now continue to practice this unspeakable rite of eating the flesh and blood of Yeshu Kristo in the form of bread and wine. They also refer to Kristo as a sacrifice, a victim, the Lamb of God.
Imagine in modern America if there was a religion which constantly uttered the most taboo things--- four-letter words, racial epithets--- and had a sacred rite which was a symbolic re-enactment of a racially motivated gang rape. THAT'S how offensive ordinary Christian practices would seem to a member of Kirinian society.
I'd like to thank Amanda Borenstadt from A Fortnight of Mustard, whose writing prompt gave rise to this bit of worldbuilding.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
The Legend of Arsinoa
The legend of the lost princess Arsinoa is a part of the Kirinian popular culture. Statues and paintings of her are sold in the marketplace, there are plays and poems written about her.
Arsinoa seems to be based on the historic Arsinoë, sister of Cleopatra who was a captive in Julius Caesar's triumph, whose life was spared afterward but who was murdered later.
Kamilla Klaudia, a girl from a noble family, wrote the following poem about Arsinoa.
For Arsinoa
a princess of today greets
the lost princess of the east
they made you march in chains
at the triumph of Julio
they did not kill you then
but waited
until it would be a surprise
Arsinoa seems to be based on the historic Arsinoë, sister of Cleopatra who was a captive in Julius Caesar's triumph, whose life was spared afterward but who was murdered later.
Kamilla Klaudia, a girl from a noble family, wrote the following poem about Arsinoa.
For Arsinoa
a princess of today greets
the lost princess of the east
they made you march in chains
at the triumph of Julio
they did not kill you then
but waited
until it would be a surprise
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The lost kingdom of Bakja
Bakja was located in the Center region of the Important continent. It was settled by refugees from Shilla, fleeing an evil king. They developed farming communities throughout a wide swath of the region, and later cities.
The kingdom of Shilla, even after the evil king was gone and good rule restored, did not wish to have any relations with the 'rag-tag' Bakjans.
The kingdom was destroyed when the Eaters-of-Men invaded from the south, using Portals. They killed all the Bakjan men and boys they could find, and enslaved the women.
The Bakjan kingdom was replaced by the Kirinian empire. The Kirinians came through by Portal and found a rich land, all but deserted. They were able to defend against the Eaters-of-Men.
The Kirinian city of Septemdekem was once a Bakjan town which remained untouched by the Eaters-of-Men. People of Bakjan ethnicity dominate, but they are mostly assimilated to Kirinian culture and speak the Kirinian language.
The kingdom of Shilla, even after the evil king was gone and good rule restored, did not wish to have any relations with the 'rag-tag' Bakjans.
The kingdom was destroyed when the Eaters-of-Men invaded from the south, using Portals. They killed all the Bakjan men and boys they could find, and enslaved the women.
The Bakjan kingdom was replaced by the Kirinian empire. The Kirinians came through by Portal and found a rich land, all but deserted. They were able to defend against the Eaters-of-Men.
The Kirinian city of Septemdekem was once a Bakjan town which remained untouched by the Eaters-of-Men. People of Bakjan ethnicity dominate, but they are mostly assimilated to Kirinian culture and speak the Kirinian language.
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