So, yeah.... I have a small race, there not large enough to be considered one of the major races like dwarves or centaurs. They're a sort of merpeople, and they live on an island off to the left of the other three countries.

But, they lack pretty much everything. Culture, what they eat. Pretty much all they have is a name, a home, and a general idea of what they look like. So, any ideas?

I always model my cultures off of real cultures. Same with religions, just modified to fit the world, of course. For example, I have an Arabic-like cultute, Brazilian-like, one similar to US, a Native American culture, and a Central Asian culture. That one is my favorite because I know it so well and it's not a well known culture. The Russian culture is also fascinating, if you research that. I recommend stealing real-world cultures, not making your own.

Ooh, that's a good idea. Might be able to get general idea of what they could look like and other stuff too.

Yup. I have met people who consider it cheating, but I'm satisfied with that method. My asian Elves are awesome.

Cheating? They do know that writing isn't a game?

I'll bet. Would mixing cultures work too? Like, Dwarves with German and English cultures?

Yeah, I know. That's what I tell them.

I'm pretty sure that would work, at least I don't find a problem with it. Make sure though that the elements that you pull don't conflict, unless on purpose.

What do you mean by conflicting elements?

Well, if two aspects don't make sense together, you wouldn't want them to mix. Can't think of any examples, I'll be thinking though.

An example of incompatible cultures would be the Greeks and Hebrews. Two totally different viewpoints, almost irreconcilable.

OK... so (I've no idea if this true, but anyway) the Hebrews don't eat pork, and the Greeks do. That would be a kind of collision to avoid?

Hebrews eat pork, just not much. And what they do eat is certain choice cuts. There were sections that the Lord told them not to eat, therefore they didn't.

Yeah... you can't really have a culture that both does x and doesn't do x. But also in general, the Greeks were a very humanistic civilization, while the early Hebrews were devoutly and heavily religious. While the closest the Greeks came to religion was to say that the gods lived on a mountaintop, the Hebrews brought their God in amongst them, even carrying His ark on their shoulders. You couldn't mix a totally humanist, almost modern-secular, civilization, with one like the Hebrews.

A modern-day example is the US versus Zambia. The US is driven by individualism, whereas in Zambia relationships and family are more important than personal gain.

I like Zambia's thinking there. So mixing cultures is OK, so long as they contradict each other.

God told the Hebrews to not eat pork. At all. Since it didn't chew the cud, even though it has a cloven hoof. I don't think He made exceptions as to what parts were OK to eat. None of it was to be eaten.

OK, I'll stop derailing my own thread now.

Er. . . felt obligated to say something. Not trying to start a completely off-topic argument. First, since Hebrew is a term used for ancestry, not necessarily implying observance to any form of Judaism, I shall presume you mean Jews, since you are obviously talking about people who maintain a level of religion. Second, for mammals, the dietary laws are as follows: the animal in question must have a cloven hoof, chew the cud (which pigs do not), and be slaughtered properly (shekked - and good luck doing that on a pig; they're not built for it). I am unaware of any sects who believed that certain cuts were allowed, and if there were sects who believed that, they do not warrant the general term Hebrews/Jews.

Edit: OK, Aris said something to this affect already. Sorry.


Russian mer-people! Why does that sound incredible?

Anywho. I had something useful to say!

If you are going to steal a culture, I would suggest looking into cultures that share some similarity with what you do know about the Nyrians. Ie; look into cultures where the sea played a major part, or different island cultures, or cultures that were in the same climate. That way you're not just slapping a culture on a people; it's grounded and will seem more natural. Eep, I hope I'm making sense.

Hebrews/Jews do eat pork today; they just don’t eat certain cuts. The most devoted Jews do not. According to Jewish law, pork is one of a number of foods forbidden from consumption. They are known as "non-kosher” because they lack a ruminant. They do have split hooves, so this is not the restriction. It’s externals make it appear to be Kosher, but it’s internals show it is not.

The dietary laws are now thought of chiefly as a means to keeping your body healthy. It is believed by most Jews (and many others not Jewish) that the meat of the forbidden animals, birds, and fish was unwholesome and indigestible, and thus the Lord made the law.

I just made the comment because of the sweeping statement made that Jews don’t eat pork. Biblically, they did not. The most devout Jews still observe the Lord’s law of not eating pork. Many Jews however, and even devout ones, now eat pork. Even Messianic Jews feel that it is acceptable for them to do so.

Alright, so you meant non-observant Jews. Much more sense. That is, unfortunately, true.


This severely depends on who is doing the thinking. And we need to be careful about assigning reasons (or even "chief reasons") for God's commandments. I'm sure health may have been part of it (kind of like a nice side-effect), but considering the dietary laws were always part of God's covenants - the most close times God has approached humans - there is no doubt something deeper.


Ah. Well, I see your reason for your comment. But you did the same sweeping statement mistake! "Hebrews eat pork, just not much." XD Which, of course, is what prompted me to say something.

And. . . I'm going to leave that use of "Messianic Jews" alone. Just know that when if I ever get lazy and identify myself as a Messianic Jew I mean something different from you think. (Long derailing story.)

Um, /offtopic? Sorry, Aris!

Well, I'll leave this topic alone, since it is a total derail. I'm not sure what you mean by , because I know some Messianic Jews, but perhaps you will have to PM me, or we can talk about it elsewhere. For now, I'd say it is time to wrap this discussion up and let the thread return to its original objective.

That's not your fault, actually. *prepares pm*

That's a good idea about matching Nyrian life to cultures who're more or less close to what they are.

My fault for derailment. I kind of started it. But, we shall carry on.

An overblown example of a clash would be if you had nomadic herders who were vegetarians. Not a good thing, there. But, that's a bit drastic and easily caught. A real-life example is the Uzbek Muslim people. Their law prohibits consumption of alcoholic beverages, but because of the mix with Russian culture, it has become very accepted. The answer? Their religion has become more nominal, and they don't actually practice it.

I'm not sure if I understand both examples. If the Muslims ended up not practicing their religion in that that they don't drink alcohol, how would that contradict, if they started drinking?

Nomads aren't supposed to be vegetarians? I'm just trying to make sure i understand everything.

Well if you had Nomads, how would they grow the food they ate? Normally they are herders. Just ignore me. I'm awful at saying what I think.

They could be nomadic based on seasons.

Elanhil- Oh yeah... didn't think about that.

What could the Nyrians do for meat, aside from? Would 'hunting' above water (still in water, but using a spear or something) work?

In theory it might, but the thrust might not be very strong as it is harder to move and get a grip whilst in the water. They could also catch fish, but whatever they got it would have to be raw...

Yeah, but they'd be able to rise partway out of the water, they can breathe above water, just not as well as they could below. Then there's also the chance that whatever they strike could run off, thus deprving them of meat and a spear.

Being a mermaid (or man) must be tough living.

They could have a rope attached to the spear so they could reel it in. Sort of like reverse fishing.

Brilliant! Probably not ideal right next to a lot of trees, but that's a great idea.

Same thing with fishing in water that has lot's of branches etc. in it.

Yeah. So, what would be a good way to reel in their 'catch' if it flees in a zig-zag pattern through the trees?

Keep the rope short, so they can't get away that fast. And that can be a good plot thing...a young guy could make that mistake (too long a rope) and that's how he loses his catch.

That's a good idea.

Yeah, it would. Stranded MCs could find the lost 'catch', and could follow its trail to the water, where they could find the Nyrian.

Awesome.

As far as Nyrians needing a life, I have my own race of merfolk. Now, the best way I develop a new culture is through Q&A sessions so I'm just going to ask you a few questions to ponder.

Do they spend more time on land or in the water?

Lungs or gills? (I won't bring up the warm/cold-blooded controversy here)

Social or reclusive?

If an outsider shows up, do they wage war or invite them in?

Nomadic style race or city builders?

How often do they go out into the open ocean?

What form of leadership do they have?

I can offer more advice if this style isn't helping, but that's how i tend to go about it.

Hmm, interesting questions, Riniel. Now I want Merfolk. D:

Those are interesting questions.... hm.

1. Water. They have a sort of dolphin-like tail-fin instead of legs.

2. Uh... yes? Their gills would be the stonger. They can breathe above water, but not easily.

3. I don't know about this one...

4. They would probably be wary of him, and found out first if he means them harm or not before showing signs of less strained civility.

5. City-builders. They live in the water around a large island and several smaller ones. But there may be some nomadic groups.

6. Hmm. Probably not very often. If they're feeling adventurous, perhaps.

7. That... I don't know. Form of leadership is an area I lack in.

Well, even though I really just made those up as I went, those were good questions. Thank you, Elanhil and Riniel, for helping me with this.

That's the beauty of Q&A. It's all about making it up as it comes to your head. You can always refine it later on.

I am officially making a merfolk race. Look for them in my sub-forum.

Haha, cool, Elanhil.

It's up.

That's cool, Elanhil.How will they fit in your story? If at all?

I don't know if I've asked what your story is about... if I haven't, I'll ask now.

To prevent derailing could you maybe ask that again in the 'Menbie Q+A' topic or the one about the mer-folk? I'm happy to answer, just not by derailing your thread.

Yes, sir! *Scurries off*