[Open Culture] ᨒ ོ ☼ The Qal'Sharim ᨒ ོ ☼

[TheHufflePug]

Introduction

The Qal’Sharim are a resilient, desert-rooted people who once thrived in the far southwest of Volaris, where the desert met rocky mountains. They are a subculture of Humans, most specifically the Southerners. They were also known to mingle extensively with the Shifters in the area, often closely coexisting with one another. As such, their tolerance and view on Shifters mellowed in comparison to others, with some even forming romantic relationships with one another, despite the inability to reproduce.

Once a vibrant and revered culture, they now survive as fragmented remnants in Sanctuary, their old homeland now lost to time and shifting sands. Fierce, proud, and private, the Qal’Sharim are renowned for their exceptional survival skills, unmatched endurance, and deep-rooted spirituality. They are known to have told the story of their lives and history through music.

Where others bend to storms, the Qal’Sharim endure. Where others flee the dark, they embrace it to find clarity. To endure is to honor one’s Zinhar.

Physical Features

"I feel my ancestors in my blood.
I am a body of people who are asking not to be forgotten."

As a branch of the Southern Humans, the Qal’Sharim are known to be a smaller people with a rather unique aesthetic. Their eyes are more often than not a stark contrast to their typically darker skin tones, with eye colors primarily composed of vibrant greens, blues, and amber. Their hair is almost always exclusively either brunette or black and is wavy, curly, or somewhere in between.

The height of a Qal’Sharim individual can fall anywhere between 4’6 "and 5’7" - any taller than 5’8" is considered highly uncommon within this culture. They are typically a leaner people, as opposed to overly muscular or stocky, built for travel over combat. However, when they do need to fight, they often find themselves suited to guerrilla warfare or espionage due to their usually unsuspecting appearances.

Geography​

The ancestral Qal’Sharim homeland stretched across a tri-region terrain in the Southwest area of Volaris:
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☀ The Shahruun Sands: An arid sea of golden dunes, supposedly haunted by desert spirits, evil and benevolent alike, and broken up by a series of wide canyons. Mysterious stone shrines and sculptures towered throughout the desert, unknown to many how they got there. Rumor has it that the ancient Qal’Sahrim erected them in ceremonial rites of passage.
☀ Nalzharin (The Sacred Grove): A strange, forested area in the northeast corner of the region, where the dry desert climate began to merge with the wetter, greener land to the farther east. Massive trees of strange, contorted shapes and large leaves stretched toward the sky while sand gave way to dry grass, meadows and dirt. A large, freshwater lake was found in the center of the forest, providing one of the region’s only water sources for miles. It was thought that Nalzharin was the best place to connect with one’s Zinhar, and for that reason, along with the reliable source of water, the area around the forest was the most populated in the region.
☀ The Khaldrassai Peaks: A jagged mountain range home to natural springs and ancient stone carvings. Legend says the sharp peaks were the bones of a being formed of pure Zinhar, who used her body to shield the Qal’Sharim from the harsh sun. Treacherous and sacred, the Khaldrassai Peaks are carved with shrines, art and wind-chimes left by pilgrims seeking vision or absolution.

Cultural Values​

"In the end, we will all become stories."​

• Sabr (Endurance) – Patience is divine. The storm passes.​
• Sharaf (Honor) – A person without honor is a shadow with no name.​
• Khidmah (Service) – The highest act is to serve something greater: kin, spirit, land.​
• Suhraam (Loyalty) – Betrayal is a lethal poison; loyalty the strongest blade.​
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• Zinhar – “The sacred breath within the living world”​
  • A revered concept in Qal'Sharim culture. It is said that all things in the natural world carry this spiritual energy. Most strive to connect with this energy and balance the Zinhar within themselves by connecting to nature as deeply as possible. This can look like soul-searching journeys, meditation etc.. To harm something that carries Zinhar (plants, other humans, creatures, even water sources) without a valid cause is considered a spiritual offense.​

The Qal’Sharim speak sparingly, but listen fiercely. Their affection is typically shown through action, not words. Strangers are treated with careful courtesy; friends and family with fierce, unyielding protection.

Spiritual Beliefs​

The Qal’Sharim have always been a deeply spiritual people, and that hasn’t changed now that they’ve traveled to Sanctuary. The majority believe in the current gods as they did the Old God. However, they place special emphasis on inner spirit and believe there’s a divine soul present in all natural things including animals, wind, flame, water, and earth. While the Qal’Sharim can still worship a singular god, they also believe in a sort of fragmented divine force scattered across the elements and nature.

Spiritual leaders have formed within the Qal’Sharim known as the Sihayuun. These leaders serve as priests and scholars, often researching the new gods and the divine. Spiritual ceremonies often involve wind chimes, incense made from tree sap, and chants passed down from alleged ancestor-spirits known as the Zuhl'ra.

Clothing​

Qal’Sharim clothing is modest and layered, shaped by function and philosophy, yet remains subtly intricate and usually colorful.

Philosophy of Modesty

For the Qal’Sharim, modesty is protection, discipline, and spiritual honor. They believe that the body houses Azahara , or inner flame, a sacred ember passed down from ancestor to ancestor. To leave it exposed unnecessarily is said to disrespect that sacred fire and, by extension, all those who have carried that flame before the current individual. Thus:
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• Veiling is fairly common, either through hoods, masks or veils, and is said to protect the soul from being unguarded before strangers who may have malicious intentions​
• Minimal skin exposure is said to draw reverence to the self and ancestors as sacred​

It is important to note that this philosophy of modesty for the Qal’Sharim is not gendered. It is practiced by all.

Typical attire includes one or multiple of the following:

• Ruhba: A layered outer robe, light but long, dyed in colorful tones​
• Sirhaf: A light tunic, belted at the waist with a sash​
• Ka’meera: A headscarf, veil, cloak or hood​

All of these articles of clothing are usually embroidered with patterns, figures, and/or symbols that represent something about the person either spiritually or physically. These embroideries are added throughout the wearer’s life as a way of telling their own personal story. No two patterns are ever alike, they’re as unique as their wearer’s life.

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Common Accessories​

• Arm-wraps/wrist bracers and leg wraps for combat. Wearing these are typically indicative of a fighter.​
• Sand-glass jewelry: Worn to remind one of where they came from and where they will eventually return… gods willing.​
• Zinhar-chimes: Small bells sewn into hems or sleeves said to ward off misfortune and gradually heal an ailing soul.​

Food​

• Primary staples: Spiced flatbreads, dried meats, preserved fruits, hardy grains​
• Spices: Spices are very common in this culture, typically comprised of cardamom, coriander, saffron, sumac, fire-pepper, and ash-salt​
• Signature dishes:​
  • Sufrah: A lovely spiced bread with a hard, crunchy shell but very soft on the inside.​
  • Ashara Stew: A dense, fragrant stew with lentils, dried fruit, and bone broth​
  • Mirajin: A cool drink traditionally made with mint, fermented cactus milk, and honey​

Warfare & Weapons​

The Qal’Sharim were never known to be conquerors or prone to war. Rather, they preferred to co-exist with nature and those around them. However, if forced to fight, they would do so relentlessly and to their final breath. They are defenders and strategists, trained to move with silence and strike with precision. Their fighting style was known to be unconventional and unpredictable, making them notoriously formidable foes if provoked.

Notably, blades of any kind, including daggers, knives, and swords, were and still are thought to be very sacred as they could be forged from a variety of materials. They’re considered to be as adaptable as the Qal-Sharim themselves and quickly became the weapon of choice for the entire culture. However, they would also utilize weapons known as ‘Velqirs ’ or ‘Stingers’. These Stingers were small glass vials filled with the venom of various creatures and insects found within the desert, and were either thrown at their enemies to disorient or incapacitate, or the venom was used to line weapons and increase damage during combat.

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Examples of weapons include:

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• Jambiya: Curved, jagged daggers typically wielded by Sihayuuns. Less for combat and more worn as a mark of spirituality and honor​
• Hooked blades: Designed to catch and tear through armor​

Language & Naming​

The old tongue is called Shari, a fluid language with many poetic idioms and spiritual double-meanings. Although it has largely died out, aside from old records and literature, due to the necessity of speaking the common language in Sanctuary, some words and common phrases have survived.
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Naming conventions:

• Given names traditionally come in pairs and are lyrical. Names are usually taken from stories of old, literature, and inspired by nature, either through creatures, colors, and/or plants.​
  • Ex: Tahl Miraan, Amina Sage, Laahra Moon
    (OOC Note: Most names are typically Arabic-inspired, though can easily be mixed with naming customs of other cultures!)​
• Surnames usually follow the format: [Name] al-[Concept or Origin]
  Ex: Oliver Najm al-Vasir (“Of the Last Light”) or Amina Sage al-Sahir (“of the Magician”)​

Traditions & Festivals​

• Day of Ashes
  A mourning and cleansing ritual held on the anniversary of the day the Qal’Sharim left their homeland to find shelter in Sanctuary. Ash is scattered into the wind, symbolizing death and rebirth.​
• Laylat al-Ruhmar “Night of the Spirit”
  A celebration of night, nature, the ancestors, and other spirits during the longest night of the year. It involves offerings, traditional food, music, and dances under the moon, accompanied by extravagant, colorful attire.​
• Naming of Blades
  As blades are considered a sacred and honorable weapon in their culture, when a Qal’Sharim comes of age or earns their first true honor, they are allowed to name their signature blade and bind it with a drop of their blood.​

Modern Status​

Now scattered across Sanctuary, the Qal’Sharim are a shadow of what they were, but no less enduring. Most serve as mercenaries, some as diplomats, while others are herbalists or scholars. Most hold their identity close, reluctant to share their ways with outsiders for fear of it being disrespected or misunderstood. While it is primarily a human culture, there are some Shifters who can trace their ancestry back to those who were close friends and allies of the Qal'Sharim, even identifying with some of their traditions.

This culture survives through spoken word, the stubborn beliefs they cling to, the vibrant songs of their ancestors, and of course, the way they carry themselves with dignity and strength: straight-backed with hearts of fire.

To be expanded upon…

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