The Vrkhazhians
Yat-Vṛḵaẕ Ethnographical Questionnaire
Questions of Place
Describe the geography of where your society calls home.
Vrkhazh is closed in by two mountains, one residing north-west, above Vrkhazh's west coast, and one residing north-east. The mountain in the north-east is Vrkhazh's tallest mountain and is named ṛ-Kašmer-Yat-Vṛḵaž or "The Wall of Yat-Vrkhazh", while the smaller one in the north-west is named ṛ-ʾAṭmu-Yat-Vṛḵaž or "The Horn of Yat-Vrkhazh", due to its horn-like appearance. There are two large regions in Vrkhazh where the elevation is below sea level (~40m below sea level). In many places, these low-elevation areas are separated from the rest of Vrkhazh's higher-elevated areas by characteristic ridges.
There are 5 large lakes spread through out Vrkhazh, and most of the population of Vrkhazh live near these lakes, as well as the west coast. In Vrkhazh's arid regions, especially in Vrkhazh's largest desert called Maziyu-Yudkiśun or "The Sea of Ghosts", winds create prolific sand dunes that can be as high as 300m. Travel in this part of Vrkhazh can be rather daunting. The Sea of Ghosts also contains several large ergs.
Describe the climate your society deals with. How severe are their seasons?
The very south of Vrkhazh is a tropical region with soil suitable for farming, while the majority of the north of Vrkhazh consist of arid and semi-arid climates, with steppe and savannah climates forming a narrow belt between the tropical and arid/semi-arid regions. Due to the presence of Yat-Vrkhazh's mountains, most of Vrkhazh suffers from very little annual rainfall, while only the south is unaffected by the mountains, receiving lots of annual rainfall.
What kinds of natural disasters has this society gotten used to?
In Vrkhazh, there are annual sandstorms that occur throughout the arid regions of Vrkhazh, especially in the cold, dry winter season of Pasmi, and occasionally the hot, dry summer of Pannuš. The settlements near the rivers sometimes face unexpected flooding of the rivers, especially areas in the regions that are below sea level.
What are the most commonly-grown foods?
In the arid regions of Vrkhazh, only the most drought-resistant plants can survive, thus the most commonly grown crops are wheat and sorghum. In the semi-arid and savannah regions, the most common crop is millet. Those who live in the tropical regions of Vrkhazh also cultivate various fruits as well, such as bananas, while those who live in arid and semi-arid regions cultivate olives and dates.
Those who live near lakes and rivers commonly consume cattails as a part of their diet. Wattleseeds from acacia trees and purslanes are also commonly eaten as well.
What are the most commonly-eaten meats?
Lamb, goat, and beef are the staple meats in Vrkhazh, though camel is also eaten to a lesser extent. Those living near rivers and lakes often incorporate fish, such as salmon, in their diet as well. The Vrkhazh do not eat chicken, for they believe birds to be sacred and thus should not be killed. However, they do eat their eggs.
The Vrkhazh also consume various insects like locusts, which are considered a delicacy as well as an important food source during times of famine.
What foods are considered exotic or expensive?
What forms of alcohol are common? Rare?
Is there usually enough food and water for the population?
Most of the population of Vrkhazh situate themselves either near the coast, near rivers or near the lakes, thus the Vrkhazh have plenty of water for drinking, bathing, growing crops, and raising livestock. Additionally, those that live in the tropical regions get a lot of rainfall and collect it in large containers for storage and sending to places where water is more scarce.
What is this place's most abundant resource?
What is its most valuable resource?
Water is the most valuable resource in Vrkhazh. Other valuable resources are turquoise, gold and silver.
What resource is it most lacking?
How do people travel from one place to another?
Are the borders secure? In what way?
How many people live here?
Where in this place do they congregate?
What part of this place do they avoid? Why?
What are the most common domesticated animals here? And what are they domesticated for?
What are the most common wild animals?
Which animals are likely to be pets? Which ones won't be?
Questions of Time
How far back does this society's written history go?
How far back do its people believe it goes?
What is the worst disaster they believe they've faced?
What was the best thing that every happened to them?
What in their past makes them feel ashamed?
What in their past makes them proud?
What are they afraid of happening again?
What are they hoping will happen? Do they think it likely?
What do they assume the future will hold?
How has this society changed? Do its current members realize this?
What are the most popular stories about the past?
Who in the past is the greatest hero? The worst villain?
Do people think the present better or worse than the past?
Do people believe the future will be better or worse than the present or past?
Questions of Sex and Family
How many spouses may a man or woman have?
Who decides on a marriage?
Can a marriage end in divorce? How?
Who usually takes custody of children if a marriage ends for some reason?
How is adultery defined? What (if any) is the punishment? Who decides?
How are families named?(g) What happens to orphans?
How are boy and girl children treated differently?
Are premarital relations allowed?
How does your society define incest? Rape? How do people react to these?
What, if anything, is considered a good marriage gift?
What secret vice is believed to be widely practiced?
What secret vice actually is practiced?
What sexual habits are widely believed common among foriegners?
How do people react to homosexuality?
How do the genders dress?
Is prostitution legal? How are prostitutes viewed? Is this accurate?
What professions or activities are considered masculine?
What professions or activities are viewed as feminine?
What inanimate or sexless things are considered male or female?
What is the biggest sexual taboo?
Does this society connect the ideas of marriage with love?
What does this society mean by the word "virgin" and how important it it?
Questions of Manners
Who speaks first at a formal gathering?
What kinds of gifts are considered in extremely bad taste?
How do younger adults address their elders?
What colors are associated with power? With virtue? With death?
If two men get into a fight, how is this supposed to be resolved?
If two women get into a fight, how should that be resolved?
When is it rude to laugh at something funny?
What kinds of questions cannot be asked in public? In private? At all?
How do people demonstrate grief?
What does this society do with their corpses?
What kinds of jewelry do people where? And when?
Who inheirits property? Titles? Position?
What happens to those suffering from extreme mental illness?
What are the most popular games? How important are they?
What parts of the body are routinely covered?
How private are bodily functions like bathing or defecating?
How do people react to physical deformity?
When and how does someone go from child to adult?
Questions of Faith
Is there a formal clergy? How are they organized?
What do people believe happens to them after death? How, if at all, can they influence this?
What happens to those who disagree with the majority on questions of religion?
Are there any particular places considered special or holy? What are they like?
What are the most popular rituals or festivals?
What do people want from the god or gods? How do they try and get it?
How do their religious practices differ from their neighbours?
What is the most commonly broken religious rule?(i) What is the least-violated religious rule?
What factions exist within the dominant religious institutions? How do they compete?
Are there monastic groups? What do they do and how are they organized? How do you join one?
How are those who follow different faiths treated?
What relationship do religious and political leaders have?
What superstitions are common? What kinds of supernatural
events/beings do people fear?
