Harera-Paro

Harera-Paro
Capital	Kota-Re-Wa
Ruler	Fera-Varumina-Ke
Government	Monarchy
Demonym	Harera-Paro
Adjective	Harera-Paro
Languages	Sea-Speak; Hikunza; Zabarshan Elven
Religions	Ancestor worship; Ta-Lasau-Kori; Beating Heart

Harera-Paro (pronounced hah-REH-rah-PAH-roh) is a realm in the eastern Wounds inhabited by the Fanakaran people of the same name. Rather unique views about the nature of rulership have given rise to an expansionist mindset, as each successive monarch of the Harera-Paro endeavors to claim territory of their own.

Geography

See also: Chain

The territory claimed by the Harera-Paro stretches across many of the western islands of the Chain, including the entirety of the Islands of the Scribes. Like much of the rest of the Wounds, these islands are volcanic in nature, and even now the archipelago continues to expand as the volcanoes that shaped it are far from dormant. The Islands of the Scribes have a tropical climate with little seasonal variation in temperature, though with distinct wet and dry seasons.

History

Once a relatively small tribe amongst the many Fanakara who inhabit the Chain, the history of the Harera-Paro changed dramatically after the ascension of Fera-Galari-Ke to the role of king of the tribe in Y9878^*. At first he led the nomadic tribe much alike his predecessors, at least until he had a revelation following lengthy sessions of convening with his ancestors. Through these he came to realize his people in their migrations around the Chain had been failing to honor the spirits of their deceased monarchs, for each move took the tribe away from the lands in which they ruled. Fera-Galari-Ke ordered that the tribe build permanent settlements as a mark of respect for those whose spirits they had left behind, and that they cease their nomadic ways in the future.

But it was his daughter, Fera-Da-Ke, who finished setting the Harera-Paro on their current path. A priest-queen much alike her father, she too convened with her ancestors, and came to realize Galari's understanding was incomplete. In remaining bound to the territory in which they governed, each spirit had an inextricable link to it, and it was moreover to disgrace these spirits for a new ruler to claim it too. And so each successive Harera-Paro monarch, from Fera-Da-Ke onward, has continually expanded the islands under the control of the tribe, such that they too could have something to call their own even after the end of the lives.

Since then there have been three other monarchs of the Harera-Paro. Most expanded the tribe's influence modestly, at least until the ambitious Fera-Varumina-Ke donned the royal garb in Y9951^*. Under her guidance Harera-Paro has grown from only the small, westernmost islands in the Chain to encompass the entirety of the Islands of the Scribes, with aspirations of far more beyond.

Demographics

The Harera-Paro themselves are primarily human, with many half-elves and some tengu amongst their number as well. On the islands they claim also live tribes with individuals of many other ancestries, including Zabarshu elves and Keleta-Ru gnomes.

Culture

Religion

Worship of their ancestors is central to the belief system of the Harera-Paro. As with many Fanakara, those who accomplished great deeds in life are especially venerated, but all are treated with respect. Complex rules govern all interactions with their ancestor spirits, and as a result the tribe relies heavily on their priests to remember and preserve such guidance. Disregard of these, such as the uttering of the name of a deceased ancestor on days meaningful to them, may result in them withdrawing until the proper penance is displayed - as the tribe relies heavily on consulting these spirits for aid in difficult times, adherence to the rules and taboos are observed to the greatest degree possible.

In addition, many amongst the tribe venerate the Ta-Lasau-Kori trees, some of which can be found on their islands. Others, significantly fewer in number, worship the Beating Heart.

Society

For at least the past hundred years, Harera-Paro society has been directed towards territorial expansion as a way of respecting their rulers and ancestors. Despite this, they are not violent conquerors, necessarily. Upon their arrival to a new island, or to a part of an island in which they had not previously claimed, they have historically begun by extending offers to any tribes already present to be tributaries in exchange for continuing to reside there. Notions of land ownership is not universal amongst the Fanakara, however, and to many this arrangement is merely an odd formalizing of a relationship that already existed - that is, the offering of gifts between tribes in exchange for peace. In this way the Harera-Paro have been expansionist with less violence than may be expected, though their warriors are certainly up to the task if and when it proves necessary.

Languages

Sea-Speak is the most commonly spoken language amongst the Harera-Paro. Zabarshan Elven and Hikunza are less commonly known as well.

Architecture, urbanization, and migration

While the Harera-Paro themselves are now sedentary, many other peoples who reside in the territory they claim are not. Even those who do keep to a settled lifestyle may have ways quite different from those who claim to rule them.

As is commonplace amongst the Fanakara, the Harera-Paro reside chiefly in eastern-facing villages, in order that the morning sun shines on their homes. These wood-framed homes often only have partial walls, with significant parts of the structure left open in order to catch the breezes and cool the occupants. Roofs are usually made of thatch.

Since the tribe abandoned their nomadic ways, they have gradually centralized, faraway villages slowly abandoned in favor of their former inhabitants relocating to be closer to their monarch, who now holds more power than in their more itinerant past. As a result there is now only one main Harera-Paro settlement - currently, Kota-Re-Wa - along with a number of tiny hamlets, rather than the more diffuse and evenly spread villages of the past.

Though very much now settled, mass migrations are still an important facet of Harera-Paro life. In addition to the respect shown by each successive ruler towards the territory of their predecessors, so too must they honor the settlements in which they lived. As a result, the first proclamation upon taking the royal garb has traditionally been to declare the location of the new palace. This is, in effect, the formation of a new capital city. Such an event sparks a near-immediate migration out of the previous capital and to the new one - even if there is nowhere yet for all the new arrivals to live, they immediately set to work solving this problem. This has historically been both to places where villages already exist as well as to previously unsettled shores.

The palaces of prior rulers are not abandoned, though, but rather are maintained by the close friends of the deceased monarch, and by the priests after these friends have become spirits themselves.

Arts

While the Harera-Paro engage in tattooing in the same manner as most other Fanakara, they also extend this in certain ways unique to the tribe. Most prominent of these are loyalty tattoos, which function as parts of a magical ritual that binds two or more people together, the tattoo itself shifting and distorting should promises not be kept.

Food and cuisine

The increasing urbanization and centralization of the Harera-Paro has led to a gradual adoption of aquaculture over their older, hunter-gatherer ways, to the degree that now their larger settlements are heavily dependent on the practice. Farms of fish, crabs, and other seafood are built along the coast near major villages and the royal palace, often amongst rock shores for protection.

Whether between friends or close family or in ceremonial contexts, mealtimes amongst the Harera-Paro are governed by ritual. Who eats in what order, who offers food to who, and in what order participants are permitted to finish their meals are all strictly defined, if by rules so well-understood that none see this as burdensome.

Names

Harera-Paro names follow the general Fanakaran practice. These names most commonly take the form of a family name first, then a given name, then any honorifics the individual in question may have earned, transcribed in the form Family-Given-Honorifics, though written names are uncommon.

Government

Harera-Paro leaders are monarchs, who usually pass the title and role to their children. The tribe's notion of family does not extend only to those related by blood, however, and a ruler's children may include particularly promising young adults they have adopted. Such adoptions are a great honor to the individual's original family, as it binds the two kin groups together.