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Ta' Jahu
(pronounced: Ta - Ja-hü)
Of all the species that inhabit the world of Kralis, and specifically the lands of Ta Los, there is none that can compare to that of the Ta’Jahu. These people are an enigma to the rest of world and much of the Omniverse, or at least in the Drekahn Augua Region portion of the Void.
Most are well known for their cold detachment, others for their aloof and pensiveness behavior. But they are all well known for their contemplative, deliberate and calculating personalities. As a result of their long wars that they waged on each other and their near destruction at the hands of their ancient enemies all Ta’Jahu have deep xenophobic instincts.
Most Ta’Jahu tend to act with an eerie calmness and focused intelligence. As such they view all situations, even those in combat or live and death, with a near dispassionate point of view and disciplined behavior. While they show a cold lack of most emotion, this does not mean that they lack passion. While passions themselves are recognized, Ta’Jahu believe that such energy is often better applied to other things.
While as a species overall Ta’Jahu are not speciesist, they do hold strong views about other species, which is a result of their ancient past when the fled their home world.
All Ta’Jahu belong to one of several Houses (Kuh) that divide up the species by cultural standards, which are further divide up into families that compete for dominance or control of the House.
While most of the Houses are divided along cultural and social lines, many are also divided along responsibilities to the Ta’Jahu people.
The Ta’Jahu are divided into five major Ruling Houses, (House Alutyr, House Malzin, House Saefre, House Silveal,and House Tasana) though there are hundreds other smaller, less powerful Houses which are all aligned in one way or another to the Ruling Houses. Each Ruling House is a complicated familial/governmental hierarchy that dominate the lives of these people.
Each of these Houses are an oligarchy in their structure, with the strongest more powerful families ruling the House, making law and upholding their own legal systems.
Each of the Ruling Houses, as well as the Lesser Houses, are composed of families that are headed by officials known as Johta. These Johta are responsible for the actions of their families, and as such they also comprise the ruling councils of houses.
Most of the House names are more of a cultural holdover as the bloodlines of the original houses grown so co-meddled that any Ta’Jahu could claim affiliation to the ruling houses.
The Houses themselves are rarely in competition with each other, though each House does have level of honor that they feel they must attain and hold over the others. Being of one House over another does come with certain cultural benefits. Despite the outward impression of calmness and order amongst the Ta’Jahu houses, there are deep tensions that boil just below the surface of their day-to-day life. There is a tricky balance of power among the ruling Houses. While it has often be difficult to prove, political assassinations within and amongst the Houses are a real part of the political life for the ruling Houses and other allied groups.
Ta’Jahu that belong to the same House defend one another at every opportunity while those from competing House search for facts that could be used to snipe or undermine the other while attempting to secure any advantage for themselves.
Psychology
Ta’Jahu are well known for their aloof, cold, and emotional face that they show the world. The impression that most of the Omniverse holds is that the Ta’Jahu are arrogant, aloof, calculating, logical, over-confident, egotistical, cunning, reserved, and most importantly emotionless.
While very few Ta’Jahu are seen as open and friendly most outsiders see the Ta’Jahu as an elitist, secretive people that are detached from their emotions. Ta’Jahu are by their very nature a secretive species, while number of Houses have opened up much of the culture to the rest of the world, there is still much that they have hidden from the prying eyes of other species.
Yet the truth behind this facade is very different. As a species the Ta’Jahu are a very emotional species. They are thoughtful and caring to their family, House, and those that they see as an ally. Their emotions tend to be more intense and stronger than they let on. They are also known for a deep sereneness, their good-nature and truly gentle side that boggles the mind of those that get to now the Ta’Jahu. In one moment they are hard-nosed, unrelenting, tactical and cold, in the next they are calmly apply healing and help to their family and allies with a deep concern for their welfare.
While they view the world in a calm and intelligent manner, they are well known to let their “inner demons” to take control when they need to. This dark, sinister side is what has helped the Ta’Jahu survive the genocide that they escaped from tens of thousands of years ago. It is something that each Ta’Jahu works on purging and keeping under control at all times.
In general, Ta’Jahu life a disciplined life where self control along with conforming to their Houses morals are the most valued character traits that all Ta’Jahu aspire to. This regimented style of life means that they view the world as black and white. This further lends to the idea that they are emotionless, as they rarely vocalize about any feelings of anger or frustration. Which is counter to their natural thoughtfulness, though they are deliberate and calculating.
Individual Ta’Jahu see exploring and wandering the Omniverse as a chance for great personal honor (Cyral Nal Da’athe (pronounced: CEE-ral Nal DA aTH) and growth as well as a chance to take back the many things that they learn to their Houses.
Overall, this duality of their personalities is intriguing. Their coldness is countered by their deep love for beautiful things, their logic balanced by their curiosity, their calculating minds enriched by their gentle guidance and their calm behavior in harmony with their gregariousness.
All Ta’Jahu live by a very strict code of honor and reputation, which is played out between the various Ta’Jahu houses. The houses are the most important aspect of an Ta’Jahu’s life. They do everything to bring prestige to their houses, winning battles, securing new trade, and ultimately winning the Druc a’ Orraunil (pronounced: DrUHK A OAR-A-oo-NEEL). This often furthers the idea that Ta’Jahu are an arrogant and emotionless people. Ta’Jahu view arrogance as proper, they treat each other with a sense of haughtiness, forever striving to prove that their House is greater and more prosperous.
Society and Culture
All Ta’Jahu live a highly structured life, in Lathia this is very strictly valued and followed. Within Lathian Ta’Jahu society religion, House politics and economics are inseparable from each other. The only acceptable behavior among Lathians is conformity to the standard of rules set by the current ruling House. Self restraint is equated with culture morality and wisdom. There is a great deal of silent communication of cultural intuition rather than language. Ta’Jahu have a deep obsession with precise protocol in both verbal communication as well as non-verbal cues, where the lack of skill in this area could literally be fatal.
Ta’Jahu see the world in two lights: those that are Ta’Jahu (The People) and those that are Ni-Ta’Jahu (Not of the People). This division within the Ta’Jahu mindset has led the rest of the world to view the Ta’Jahu as elitists and to assume that Ta’Jahu see the rest of the world as beneath them.
This specific division is not meant to be a demeaning, rather it is away for the Ta’Jahu people to remain spiritually and mentally linked in their cultural beliefs. This is mostly seen in the macabre (at least in the eyes of Ni-Ta’Jahu) Blood Ritual. It is in this ritual that the Ta’Jahu spirit is to live on forever, as the memories of those that pass on are passed on to the those that take a part of the Blood Ritual. It is these ancient memories that Ta’Jahu within a specific House pass on to each other. Because of this living memory, many view Ta’Jahu as a people who take on more risk than is necessary.
Ta’Jahu society is highly complex and organized around tradition (Ceth), station (Jahl) and the status (Jahur) of their House and personal honor (Da’athe). These Houses are of noble lineage to the original five Great Houses which various parts of Ta’Jahu community owe fealty to.
Social station is one of the most important aspects of Ta’Jahu life. Depending on the historical nature of the House, a House can be lead by Matriarch or a Patriarch. This often shifts when either the Matriarch or Patriarch dies and is replaced by their partner. When both die a House then spends sometime in mourning before performing the Johta Belar (Leadership War) where the best within a House compete in similar fashion as the Druc a’ Orraunil, in order to determine who should now lead the House. These are non-lethal events.
As mentioned above social station (Jahl), status (Jahu) and honor (Da’athe) are important to Ta’Jahu, where dominate Houses are considered royalty within the specific Ta’Jahu culture. All Ta’Jahu place a strong emphasis on proper behavior, rigid adherence to Ta’Jahu customs and strict social station with little mobility for individuals. Because of this, family life for a Ta’Jahu is very strict and rigid. There is a set way of appropriate behavior that Ta’Jahu learn to work within.
A Ta’Jahu without honor is not an Ta’Jahu at all. Ta’Jahu that lose their honor or station can be exiled from their House, left alone to become a ‘Jahu’Izzyt’ (Set Apart from the People). He is worth nothing to any House other than for labor or mercenary work.
Without honor, the trappings of a House, his or her status and station within the Ta’Jahu world are meaningless. Honor is how Ta’Jahu measure themselves up to the most noble and greatest of Ta’Jahu.
Personal honor is a measure of their character and a reflection of their House’s tradition, station, status, history and deeds. It reflects the Ta’Jahu’s worth within society as well as their House, their trustworthiness, decency, loyalty, respect, and influence.
Family and Structure
The home life of Ta’Jahu, while centered around the continued existence of the House, is a simple affair. Most houses have between 60 and 100 individuals living within the Tumluraq (pronounced: TUM-lur-AK) House Estate), not all relatives of the House live within it, many younger Ta’Jahu leave in search of personal glory/honor or Cyral Nal Da’athe before returning home to serve within the House. Many times, the House will allow them to continue to explore the world freely.
While there is no set aristocracy as within many human kingdoms, Ta’Jahu culture is highly imperial in basis and form with a strong political structure, bureaucracy, culture, religion, and philosophy. Most Ta’Jahu realms are divided into provinces called Dryntar’va(pronounced DREN-TAR'VAH). These are further divided into the various houses or clans (Kuh). A House is made up of 6 to 10 families (Afinerr’a (prononunced: APHEN-er-AH)).
An Afinerr’a is typically made up of 6 to 12 individuals from a set of parents or partners, along with non-bonded sons, daughters, extended family that often include non-bonded uncles,aunts, or grandparents or great-grandparents. Under most circumstances, husbands and fathers are the pinnacle of family life, their word is law and is final. Ta’Jahu men traditionally dominate public life assuming leading roles in politics and the military. Male life is very straight forward, with little need to define their role within Ta’Jahu society.
In general terms, Ta’Jahu women are treated as equals in most matters, and in many respects they are viewed with high importance. Maintaining the general household of a family is the main duty of the Ta’Jahu woman. They are left to manage all the household affairs, care for children and elder relatives and with defending the home forcibly if needed. Within public Ta’Jahu society most women are expected to by humble, obedient, show great self-control, strength and loyalty. Unless an Ta’Jahu woman is the Matriarch of a House, they are restricted from engaging in any political affairs.
Community
Ta’Jahu communities are centered around two concepts: Ta’Jahu Houses (Kuh) and the community (Nisarturi). Both are powerfully important within Ta’Jahu society. For non-Lathian Ta’Jahu the structure of nisarturi is more important than the status of their kuh.
For the non-Lathian the life within towns, villages, and the great cities of Ta’Jahu are more important than the Kuh. To them Nisarturi is what keeps Ta’Jahu bonded together even beyond conflicts between Houses. For non-Lathian Ta’Jahu, and many this aspect is fostered by the wild world and the mutual defense that the Nisarturi brings.
Nisarturi are generally made up of two or more families from either the same Kuh or from multiple Kuh. In most locales the community is made up of three Houses of four or six families.
At the core of any Nisarturi are the elders and leadership (s) that direct and govern the community as a council. Similar to the socio-politics of the Houses, each capable member of the community is given task to perform a specific duty for the community. This not a hard fast rule but rather one by which the community has its various guilds, shops, taverns, etc.
All Ta’Jahu of the community are given a free choice as what they are to do, but if they are to remain within the community they are required to pursue and perfect their assignments. Often this leads to new ideas or variations on older ideas that take on a grand life of their own.
The greater binding force within most Ta’Jahu realms or communities is the Kuh or House. While the Nisarturi are important to all Ta’Jahu, the Kuh is both spiritually and socially important to all Ta’Jahu.
Ta’Jahu society consists of hundreds of different houses, though all have origins within the five Great Houses. Each has its place in the detailed and ornate Ta’Jahu society.
Every Ta’Jahu city will have several major houses, with one ruling for a single generation (150- 200 years). When that generation begins to fade, the various houses call for a Druc a’ Orraunil (War of Wisdom), a “war” fought by six champions from each House during the holy month of Elvalteer (The Will of God; it is never the same month each year, instead being randomly chosen by a member of the First House). Each individual displays a range of skills admired by the Ta’Jahu, most notably magic, fighting, and strategy. The champions are slowly eliminated in competitions that are unbelievable by human standards, and the House with the most remaining champions at the end of the holy month gains rulership for the next generation.
Houses are lead by the most fit, both physically and mentally, that is determined by the Johta Belar, though some Houses prefer to allow the eldest to rule as they have the greatest breadth of experience. These leaders can be either male or female and are referred to Rohjan (pronounced:ROW-JAAN; Male Leadership) or Rohjana (pronounced:ROW-JAANA; Female Leadership) or Johta. The following is an abridged list of the different Ta’Jahu Houses:
| Cor Shan Language | Common Translation |
|---|---|
| Via’ Asthierr | Silver Star |
| Ry Lunia | Red Moon |
| Dra’ nith | Life Flame |
| Cyth Armyr | Illusion of Character |
| Via’ Lur | Silver Leaf |
| Asthierr Sylth | Star Shadow |
| Sha’ Mysi | Silent Mist |
| Ral Asthierr | Rising Star |
| Via’ Lunia | Silver Moon |
| Dra’ Asthierr | Life Star |
| Via’ Mysi | Silver Mist |
| Nastath Asthierr | Twilight Star |
| Druc’ath Mysi | Warriors of Mist |
| Sylth Qusorel | Shadow Runner |
| Fae Sylth | Oak Shadow |
| Fae Lur | Oakleaf |
| Fae Druc’ath | Oak Warriors |
| Ssaevu Ventau | Wild Winds |
| Ssilvael Sylth | Forest Shadow |
| Callirr | Desert Wind |
| Krilith ‘al Qelvarxu | Bloodless Swords |
Ta’Jahu Houses are always struggling with each other over trade, politics, and marriage; something that savvy Chovahian and human merchants have sometimes played to their advantage (magical objects and natural crafts of every kind are major Ta’Jahu exports, and bidding wars between the Houses are none too hard to cause). While Ta’Jahu may be viewed as arrogant by outsiders, they view arrogance as proper – Ta’Jahu treat each other with a sense of haughtiness, forever striving to prove that their House is greater and more prosperous.
Rarely do houses make outright war against each other, as the ruling House is bound by law to intervene on behalf of the defending House. Nonetheless, violence does break out, but it is generally short, with few wounded – Ta’Jahu pride themselves on precision and efficient operations, and unlike humans, they are loathe to slaughter their own kind, as far more “goes into” a Ta’Jahu’s life than a human’s. Many times enforcers or assassins are hired to strike revenge against a House’s Leadership. Though there have been many House grudges and rivalries, few last more than a few years, others are still ongoing. This is more true in Lathia than any other Ta’Jahu settlements. However, against outsiders, Ta’Jahu are a united front, regardless of interior politicking.
Ta’Jahu are a highly secretive group, for various reasons, and to this end there is rumored to exist an elite group of Ta’Jahu called Nal Salaith. It is a highly respected organization within Lathia whose main objective is to protect the Ta’Jahu way of life and the security of all Ta’Jahu from both external and internal threats, by any means necessary. Most species have never heard of the Nal Salaith, but those that have fear the name The organization moves through out Kralis, and other worlds, protecting the Ta’Jahu species where it may be found from threats, particularly against threats of Ta’Jahu slavery.
Art
Much like many other species, the Ta’Jahu art covers the entire spectrum of expression, from realistic to abstract. It is a mistake of other species to think that Ta’Jahu do not experience emotion, and thus would not have an appreciation of art. The believe an individual’s reaction to stimuli and expression of their responses are ultimately an individual’s responsibility. But this does not mean that they are immune to the experience or expression of art nor are they incapable of producing great works.
They practice all forms of art: painting, sculpture, haunting music, poetry, and fables. They value the piece in question for its own sake. While an object of art need anything but creative and beautiful, the Ta’Jahu enjoy art that exceeds this by also having a utility component. This is often seen in their weapon design, armor creation and the designs of their ships from sea-based to void based.
Ta’Jahu music is a well-loved form of their expression. It specifically allows them to generate haunting, moving sounds that can sound off to most other species. They tend to make use of exotic string and percussion instruments.
Of all the art that Ta’Jahu produce, their architecture in all its forms, is the most valued. It is designed with style, utility and strength in mind. Ta’Jahu architecture tends to stand out against its surroundings, while still working within the natural surroundings.
Ta’ Jahu are well known for their knowledge of both technology and magic. This is called tircha, technomancy, and is a great part of their lives within their communities. While they consider magic a lower use of their talents, they do use it but not to the extent that they rely on the use of science and tircha. They know better than to rely on a source of power that can be removed, while tircha is often more reliable.
Ta’ Jahu focus their efforts on ships of all types, though predominately they focus on air and void ships. As well as personal armaments and items to improve life. There are sect of ta’ jahu that focus on stealth, secrecy and miniaturization, this is especially true with the Nal Salaith. Ta’ Jahu believe that form must follow functionality in all things, but this purified when it comes to their development of tircha.
Ta’ Jahu are not only masters of science, metallurgy but also engineering, alchemy and masonry. The instruction that Ta’Jahu receive as youth, inspires creation and discovery at incredible rates, they are pushed learn new innovations as quickly as possible.
Customs, Traditions and Beliefs
Young Ta’Jahu are assigned to a ‘Elghal’ (teacher) for their Kainth Josta (Time of Awareness or Awakening). This is a time of a structured Ta’Jahu discipline and Ta’Jahu knowledge. The two become spiritual bonded during this time, master and student, as the ‘Shilmaat’ (pupil), begins to learn their way within Ta’Jahu society and Ta’Jahu way of life. The Elghal is often an older brother or sister within the House, however, there have been times when the Elghal has been another Ta’Jahu who is not kin, many times this occurs between two Ta’Jahu that are in Cyral Nal Da’athe. The Kainth Josta lasts for several years as the Elghal pass on their knowledge to their Shilmaat.
All Ta’Jahu live by the Saduni Tylin (code of Law and Ethics). It is a code written and established in tradition, and is the moral and ethical path that every Ta’Jahu, from birth to death, attempts to follow. All houses recognize the Saduni Tylin as a legitimate tool for teaching Ta’Jahu their proper place within the Omniverse. This ancient text, which is handwritten, sits in a place of honor within each Ta’Jahu home, often in Sani’Doru (meditation rooms) or ‘Bela Kuhal’ (training hall). According to the text an Ta’Jahu must adhere to the following basic virtues of honor or Da’athe:
- Honesty and Justice (‘Da’ath Uihtyr’): Ta’Jahu are to deal openly and honestly with all others, and adhere to the ideals of justice. There are no shades of gray, there only is or is not.
- Heroic Courage (Uro-neri Roh): Life without fear, but with respect and caution.
- Etiquette (Suhdal): Ta’Jahu are to be polite and courtesy, it is the one thing that separates Ta’Jahu from the rest of the world, and reveals the true strength of an Ta’Jahu.
- Sincerity (Suh’ir): A Ta’Jahu is to show wise consideration to their actions, and to remember that their actions represent their House, their family and all of Ta’Jahu.
- Duty (Aphisu): Ta’Jahu have a moral commitment to their House, their family and other Ta’Jahu. Ta’Jahu must commit himself/herself to the House without consideration of themselves or actions that appear to be of self-interested, it requires the sacrifice of heir immediate self-interest and it shows the highest quality of Ta’Jahu life.
- Loyalty (Phyda): Ta’Jahu are to show loyalty to those that they deem worth the time and effort. Loyalty to House and loyalty to family is the true measure of an Ta’Jahu.
- Mindfulness (Mielu’dun): The logical, coldness, calculating mind that so many other species attest towards Ta’Jahu is part of the ancient belief that the mind can prevail over matter if it is sufficiently trained. Through this teaching Ta’Jahu learn to control their emotions and focus their minds into a logical process that lead them to the discovery of the real and the truth.
Within Ta’Jahu beliefs the strongest and most unique is the Blood Ritual or Temaru Nal Krilith. A cannibalistic endeavor in which Ta’Jahu partake in the flesh of their own kind. Considered a spiritual-religious undertaking to preserve the memories and strengths of the fallen, and not like the cannibalism that Rhakas perform on the weak and decrepit in their own culture. Ta’Jahu believe that through this spiritual practice the preservation of the knowledge of the Ta’Jahu is passed from generation to generation.
They believe that the body and blood holds the great wealth of knowledge and in a ritual of passing Ta’Jahu partake in the flesh of the fallen as well as sipping of their blood. The ritual is predominately done with Ta’Jahu elders that have passed on, but the ritual itself can be performed with any Ta’Jahu that as died recently. Most often this ritual is done with mixture of Ta’Jahu wine. Ta’Jahu consider this practice to be the celebration of the fallen Ta’Jahu life and partaking of their flesh preserves their experiences and life within the bodies and souls of other Ta’Jahu.
When the death of an elder occurs, all Ta’Jahu of the House are required to return from their wanderings and participate in this ritual. In participating in this ritual Ta’Jahu gain the knowledge of the fallen Ta’Jahu, giving them access to any one skill as though it were a species skill, any minor ability (750 Merit Cost or less) of the Ta’Jahu or an attribute bonus: +5 Wits, +5 Willpower or +5 Intelligence.
Marriage
Marriage is not a romantic, idealized concept among the Ta’Jahu. Ta’Jahu marriages tend to be per-arranged, in which partners are generally bonded as young adults. While most families tend to bond male and females, the Ta’Jahu do not have any social restrictions or norms that prevent families from taking into consideration their children’s desires, which may bring together partners of the same sex.
While marriage does not carry the same romantic weight as it does in other species, the marriage between Ta’Jahu is more often about reproduction, inheritance, and creating new alliances between Houses or re-affirming old House alliances. With the socio-political nature of the Houses, it can often become complicated and problematic for partners to be in love. Though this does not stop partners from being in love or falling in love overtime. In most regards these relationships, as will all Ta’Jahu relationships, bring a sense of stability and predictability.
Holy/Dates of Importance
In similar fashion to that of humans, the Ta’Jahu recognize many important dates, though only a small number of “holy days”. Many of these dates are held over from their lost civilizations and their distant ancestors while others are directly connected to the Five Great Houses, as well as numerous other lesser houses. There are three specific dates that all Ta’Jahu universally celebrate or observe: Shaylatu, Rhuna, Ta Aalaun and Ta’ Sylyn. Every Ta’Jahu view these dates as core to their ancestry and who they are as a people.
Shaylatu: Shaylatu is traditionally observed as the Ta’Jahu new year festival. This is celebrated in the month of Lehet on the 1st day of the full moon. Ta’Jahu assemble in their various temples before down for the ceremonial and honorable hoisting of the Ta’Jahu flag called the Ajahl Ta and to sing hymns of the blessings of the Quarial Ta’Luthin (the ascended ancestors). Attendees bring simple offerings of flowers and lit candles. These symbolic offerings are to remind Ta’Jahu that just as the candle will melt and the flowers will wither, so too will life and that it is subject to decay and destruction.
Rhuan: Honors the arrival of the Ta’Jahu on the world of Kralis 13,000 years ago. It is celebrated with festivities over the week between the end of Sotetseg and Derekan. This week of celebration reveres the ancestors of the Ta’Jahu as well as birth of the Ta’Jahu. During this time many pre-arranged marriages occur as well as the Druc a’ Orraunil Ta’ Aalaun: As much as Rhuan celebrates the arrival of the last vestiges of Ta’Jahu culture to Kralis, Ta Aalaun observes the exile that the people had to endure by fleeing their homeworlds in order to escape the genocide of their species. Ta Aalaun is celebrated on the 1st day of Janak. All Ta’Jahu cover their heads with black see through silk coverings, which hide their faces for the entire day and through the night to the next morning. This also happens to be a time when dark deals are struck by Ta’Jahu and clandestine missions by the Nal Salaith have often ocurred.
Ta’ Sylyn: Because there is such an intense importance on names, particularly clan names, many Ta’Jahu do not name their children until they have reached third or fifth birthday’s, after the child has grown more into his or her personality at which point a grand naming ceremony is performed.
Dress/Clothing
Ta’Jahu clothing are created with distinctive colors that indicate both a Ta’Jahu’s House and status within the overall society. Most clothing is made from various materials, predominately cotton and linen. Much other secondary clothing is made from a variety of leather and other materials for boots, leggings, jerkins, overcoats, and various hat designs.
Those Ta’Jahu are a part the military tend to wear black, with their House symbol in white on their left chest. Ta’Jahu that are dressed in purple-black are predominately apart of affairs, both domestic and foreign. Those of industrial and technology affairs are typically dressed in blue-white. Ta’Jahu that are affiliated with education, justice and colonial issues are dressed in white uniforms.
Those that are not directly associated with specific affairs of the various Ta’Jahu realms wear clothes and colors associated with either their own family colors or House colors. These range from light blues to shades of yellow to dusky red to various grays.
Non-exploring or traveling Ta’Jahu tend to wear layered robes over tightly fitting dress which often included trousers and shirts made of linen, cotton or silk.
Those Ta’Jahu that are in the world traveling, adventuring or exploring tend to wear clothes that were designed and crafted for such things.
Only commanding officers of the Nal Salaith are known to wear very specifically designed uniforms. They are burgundy and black in color. Soldiers of the Nal Salaith wear dark blue-gray uniforms. They are form fitting, allowing for ease of movement during covert operations.
Food
Of the known civilized species, only humans are known to have a greater field of traditional foods than the Ta’Jahu, which have played an important part of Ta’Jahu culture, identity and heritage.
Much of what consists of a Ta’Jahu diet is filled with spices and built around the use of predominately fish, fowl and ghistal (a type of domestic bovine similar to common sheep).
Rich, flavourful and diverse are terms that are frequently used to describe Ta’Jahu food. All these words are apt in describing their cuisine, for it is diverse in variety and taste, and is made up from a wide array of regional cuisines throughout various parts of the world and Omniverse. Culture, tradition and religion also play significant roles in influencing the cuisines and diets of the Ta’Jahu.
Religion and Spirituality
Ta’Jahu are a study of duality in many regards, so it is by no means any different with their concept of religion and spirituality.
Ta’Jahu spirituality or philosophy revolves around the concept of Dra’Pahkun (pronounced: DRA' PA-coon; Ta’Jahu life force “soul”; similar to Kai). This lifeforce is described as the essence of what makes up the Ta’Jahu soul and mind. It is this essence that Ta’Jahu believe transfers to those that partake in the Temaru Nal Krilith (pronouncd: TE-MAroo NAL Kree-Lith; Blood Ritual)and what moves into the afterworld (Dralacire) when death finely comes.
What the Ta’Jahu believe as the “soul”, a cosmic energy, springs into existence from time to time from the “Waters of the Omniverse” and lives through cycles. Each cycle is filled with learning. The soul continues to pass through these cycles learning lessons before it ultimately achieves ascension into the Quarial Ta’luthin as a higher state of energy or being.
When first born the energy is light and not weighed down by the mortality of the Omniverse, but as the being moves through its mortal life, it becomes weighed down with sacelus (loss of connection with the Omniverse), and must learn how to let go of this weight, yet in doing so the “soul” often becomes weighed down with other sacelus. It is believed that when a being dies, there are three paths that the soul or energy will take: if completely unburdened by sacelus then the energy or soul ascends, for the Ta Jahu this means joining the Quarial Ta’luthin, for other souls this means returning to the Waters of the Omniverse to create new energy and thus exist forever.
If slightly burdened with sacelus or not having learned its lesson from its previous life it returns to the mortal world, being reborn with an understanding that it lived once before and must learn vhitonem (lesson of spirit), though it does not truly remember what the vhitonem was. If the soul or energy is too heavily burdened by sacelus and has been unable to learn how to grow beyond vhitonem, then it is pulled downward into a place of great darkness and crushed under its own weight, its energy forever trapped unable to return to the Waters of the Omniverse but pulled into the abyss of negative energies.
Ta’Jahu philosophy further states that the Dra’pahkun is what allows for reincarnation, whether by magic or by rebirth. It is also believed it is this that can be controlled by others, should the Ta’Jahu lose his or her life to creatures of chaos or evil.
Ta’Jahu religion is difficult to describe to any good degree. Unlike many other species whose gods where already a part of the pantheon, the Ta’Jahu deities arrived into this world much later than their “children” during their internal struggling and strive. Which seems to question whether the deities of the Ta’Jahu are actually deities at all, yet despite that they have been accepted within the pantheon of most worlds as “gods”.
Ta’Jahu regard their “deities” as something more akin to aged wise ancestors, much like that of wizened sages, perhaps as exalted people or ascended Ta’Jahu rather than distantly-removed god-figures. While Ta’Jahu sing to Ammavaru they do so out of reverence and devotion not prostrate worship. There is no organized Ta’Jahu worship like what occurs in many other species in Kralis.
What is indicated by the Ta’Jahu scholars and non-Ta’Jahu that have observed Ta’Jahu philosophy is that there is no concept of fealty or sacrifice in Ta’Jahu religion. When they speak of their stories, they do so as though they are memories, an ancient family history.
The Gods
The Ta’Jahu pantheon (Quarial Ta’luthin - Ancient Ascended Ones) is comprised of five “gods” and five “goddesses”. The pantheon is led by Ammavaru the True-Mother, referred to as the goddess of all Ta’Jahu kind and the Ta’Jahu deities. There is reference in Ta’Jahu theology of another species of “deities” referred to as the Mahl Soueana Tes’qual (Ancient Forgotten Ones), and are referred to as the enemies of Ta’Jahu kind.
The Quarial Ta’luthin are best called ascended ones, as they were not created by the One or birthed by the Omniverse, rather they are spiritually enlightened beings whose dra’pahkun achieved a state pure energy, unlike any other Ta’Jahu in existence. , and has ascended into a higher plane of existence, one much greater than most Ta’Jahu can attain, though on rare occasion a unique and powerful Ta’Jahu makes the ascension of the ancients.
Because of their ascended status, the Quarial Ta’luthin have many powers, capable of miraculous things, though not as powerful as those of true deities.
Death and Funerals
As noted previously, Ta’Jahu believe that death is a natural part of the mortal cycle. That death simply leads to rebirth or ascension. These core beliefs is a comforting and important principle to the Ta’Jahu. For the Ta’Jahu death is not something to be feared.
Those Ta’Jahu who die of normal means, such as age, pass through a standard funeral custom. After death relatives and friends pour cold, pure water over the head of the deceased in a bathing ceremony. The body is then placed in a casket filled wit incense, silk, wreaths and covered in a cloth of their House.
In other cases many Ta’Jahu believe that cremation should be used to free the soul from the body. When this is chosen, the body rests in stasis at the family’s home for three days, often waiting for distant relatives to arrive or to show special honor to the deceased.
In all cases all closely related Ta’Jahu partake in the Blood Ritual or Temaru Nal Krilith, which must be done within the first 24 hours of death. Though, Ta’Jahu alchemists are able to store vials of this blood, keeping it fresh for up to a year.
After Life
For the Ta’Jahu, as explained previously, there is no direct correlation to an after life, either than to become ascended or return to the mortal world to learn the lessons of the soul (vhitonem).
Language
The Cor Shan Language or Ta’Jahu Tongue, like many species languages, has many different dialects and variations based on the various Houses. The most common are: Cor Akash, Cor Solis, Cor Dar Lugal, Cor Electa, Cor Lar, Cor Serkt, Cor Tazza, and Cor Wadha. Cor Shan is the root language that supports all the other dialects and variations.
Cor Solis is spoken by House Alutyr. Cor Darlugal is spoken by House Malzin. Cor Akash is spoken by House Saefre. Cor Serkt is spoken by House Silveal. Cor Tazza is spoken by House Tasana.
