Runran

Runran are a kemonomimi dominated ethnic group inhabiting the east of the Runran continent, sharing the common Runran language or language family. The Runran follow the Uhazuism religion - lit. “Way of the Gods”, a native polytheistic religion. The Runran have a very long history of magical mastery and empire building.

General Information

• Primary Faith: Local Folk Religion (TM)
• Language: Runran
• Locations: Runra
• Minority: Ginzan
• Clades: Kemonomimi & Macen
• Inheritance Law: Gender equal primogeniture.
• Slavery: Runran does not have direct equivalence of chattel slavery in their culture - pseudo slavery status does exists, in the form of servants and domestic workers that are bonded to their employing family in impossibly expensive contract and can buy their own freedom at exorbitant price - though their children are born free. Source of those slaves come from war captives and destitute people who has sold themselves or their children into slavery, and slavery are a small proportion of the population, somewhere between 1 - 3%. Elites consider slavery to be largely anachronistic and an outdated practice, but make distinction between slavery and indentured-servant-that-might-as-well-be-slave.
• Name Generation: https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/chinese-names.php

Cultural Traits

• Power Structure: Runran follow quite conventional power structure - elders are respected, but do not rule exclusively, and the right of monarch and family to inherit are greatly respected.
• Family Structure: Runran generally have a focus on the core family compared to larger clans. On the other hand, filial piety and loyalty to your parents are very much expected - and one seldomly get to deviate too much from one’s parents’ wishes. Traditionally, family lineages are matrilineal.
• Gender & Sexuality: Gender is quite literally fluid, and no one is expected to adhere too strictly to what is seen as traditionally masculine and feminine traits - given that one can literally change it on the spot. Runran are liberal about sexuality and casual intimacy while unmarried.
• Hospitality: Guests are generally treated to tea and rice biscuits, and tea are poured half-full, with the recipient expected to knock on the table with their finger to express thanks - otherwise tea will be poured as they come. It is customary to thank the host and bless them so they may continue serving tea.
• Artisanship: Runran are renown craftsmen of all kinds, but are especially valued for sericulture and textiles.
• Religion: Put a little altar in your home, and visit temples piously for blessing. Runran like lucky symbolic objects - often given out by temples.  
• Charity: Charity is important and it is important to help your neighbors and those in need. Those who maintain shrines and temples are expected to give out alms and help those in need.
• Conflict Resolution: Laws and order shall prevail over force. Force is the last resort of kings and queens.
• War: War is a necessity, and should be justified with philosophy and law, or for the common good of the people. When it is conducted though, one should be ready to do what must be done to win.
• Magic: Runran are masters of all kinds of magic. They are particularly known for having a slightly friendly view toward necromancy - but attach religious importance to it, thinking its use must be heavily regulated and accompanied with sacrifices and prayers meant to prevent evil spirits from taking over. It is seen as important for ancestor worship.
• Greetings: “Safe Travel” or variation thereof are common greetings in Runran culture.
• Nature Reverence: Runran revere nature. They know it is to be feared and respected. Something to be prayed to, admired, and praised for its blessings. Give thanks when you take from them, and keep prayer in your heart. Don’t kill animals excessively, and take what you need (In practice, human greed can override those concerns) Though they do their best to prepare for natural disaster, if it strikes, there’s a degree of pessimistic acceptance that it is the way of the world.

Cuisine

The main staple crops are rice and wheat, with barley, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yam, and cassava also grown. Oats are mostly seen as animal fodder. In terms of oil, soybean oil is the most common vegetable oil, with lard being a common source of animal fat. Butter is very uncommon. Runran food is eaten with spoons, never forks, and often chopsticks - and most food is chopped into small pieces to be served at the table. Soybeans and tofu are eaten widely and one of the most important sources of protein.

For seasoning, Runran uses soy sauce extensively - with soy sauces split into light and dark soy sauce, made from a mixture of soy and toasted wheat. Premium soy sauce, with an extremely concentrated umami flavor, is available and highly prized, fermented for a longer time. Other types of condiment includes miso, soy paste, fish sauce - made of fermented fish and highly savory, seafood sauce - a derivative of fish sauce that is always prepared fresh with dried scallion, shrimps and noted for a decadent, savory flavor. Spices usage varies throughout different types of Runran cultures - but chili pepper are used, alongside onion, green onions and other types of food - except for Ninibi cuisine, other spices are used sparingly as it is thought to be paramount to bring out the natural flavor and freshness of the food.

In terms of meat, Runran cuisine uses poultries and pork extensively. Chicken, ducks, goose and pork are consumed widely, with duck and geese considered more delicious - but less healthy and less affordable than chicken. Beef is not consumed in large amounts, and cattle are seldomly raised for meat. Most beef is tough and thus cut into small thin pieces. Seafood is consumed near the coast, and inland, domesticated grass carps are highly valued and often grown. Exotic meat that are popular but more expensive includes turtles (A species of which those shells are boiled with medicine to create Turtle Jelly, which are seen as healthy to consume), snakes, rabbits, and cane rats - with cane rats being particularly valued. Deer meat are also valued, especially in winter, as their meat is believed to make your body warmer and more resistant to the cold. Game meat are semi-common due to abundance of Kepen, but the edibility of kepen-affected animals varies - while some are simply larger, bigger version of their normal counterpart, other have meat that are barely edible because of the huge amount of muscles - those are usually slow boiled after being cut into pieces to create delicious, tenderizing stew. Offals and internal organs of animals are highly popular - with parts like tongue, tendon and funny parts being valuable food. Meatballs are also common.

In terms of drinks, rice wine is the most common type of drink, with distilled alcohol coming in a second - made of rice, barley and others - most alcoholic drinks tend to be sweet in nature and Runran dislikes bitter one. Rice wine can be served cold or warmed - depending on preference, but seldomly at room temperature if possible (Drinking a large amount of rice wine at room temperature is appropriate for a campaign - or for a drunkard). Tea is extremely common as an everyday drink, with black, oolong, and green tea being popular. Matcha - powdered tea is also very common. Coffee is known, but considered unhealthy and tea to be a superior drink. Milk is seldomly drunk. Roasted barley tea is a popular summertime drink.

The four subcultures of Runran have different cuisine tradition on how they cook and prepare their food, and have unique dishes of their own:

Southeastern

The main emphasis is on freshness and subtlety of favor, with few dishes having excessively heavy flavors. Congee and porridge are common, flavored with century eggs and pork, and sometimes served with deep fried snacks. Sugarcane is a common treat. Salted fish are a common condiment. Two unique Kupeni traditions are that of the Kupeni roast - delicious, roasted poultries and pork often marinated in a savory and sweet sauce, and Eyukuki - small, bite sized snacks of all kinds that are served at teahouses. Rice is the main grain, and there is a large amount and varieties of rice noodles and vermicelli.

Kupeni cuisine are based on Cantonese cuisine.

Northern

Compared to the Kupeni, the Eza have a much heavier emphasis on using wheat and barley in their diet, with them sometime made into small buns and most of the time, into noodles of various kind that are often stir fried or boiled and served in a savory broth. Simple flatbreads are also made, often with vegetable filling, but in a more luxurious version - they are often served with poultries wrapped in them.

Eza cuisine are based on Shandong and Shanghainese cuisine.

Southwestern

Ninibi culture features both rice and wheat based food, but are spicier in general compared to others. Tofus are used widely - with harder tofus being preferred. The spices used here are varied, and Ninibi have a large amount of stew in their diet - while in other Runran culture, stews are seldomly seen in favor of lighter soup. Ninibi peppercorn - which is similar to Sichuan peppercorn, are used to provide a unique spicy and numbing taste to Ninibi cuisine.

Ninibi cuisine are based on Sichuan cuisine.