Old Aladu Culture

The culture of the old Aladu peoples in the Bule Republics, particularly in the Bule Republic of Antikken, was marked by a unique social structure, religious practices, and cultural customs deeply rooted in historical traditions.

Social Castes

Social caste was fundamental to Aladu culture, primarily determined by skin pigmentation and the caste of one’s mother. At the top of the social hierarchy was the fair-skinned Üdalütli minority. Historically, membership in this group was based solely on skin color, allowing unusually fair-skinned members of the common Lüküli caste to join. However, admixture with Aldsay (Aldsegian) peoples caused the Üdalütli to diverge from the Byzirite phenotype, making it impossible for even the fairest Lüküli to gain acceptance.

At the bottom of the social hierarchy were the darkest-complexioned Lüküli and the Awawatu Süngü slaves, known as the Qara. Only members of the Üdalütli caste were allowed to own property and slaves, occupying all positions of wealth and power. The Lüküli primarily worked as overseers and mid-level executives, while the Qara were limited to service and labor sectors. The lowest of the Qara, particularly those who were incompetent or possessed a criminal record, were subjected to hard physical labor.

Family

Like many other Byzirite cultures, the Aladu people practiced polygamy. On average, an Aladu man had five wives. A wealthy man was expected to have no fewer than twenty wives, and the Üdbä (a high-ranking official or leader) had nearly four hundred. To maintain a balanced social order with a fifty-to-one sex ratio, practices such as officially sanctioned prostitution, castration, exile, and infanticide were employed to manage the male population.

Marriage

Only men of the Üdalütli caste were allowed to marry and reproduce. A man had to first marry a woman of the Üdalütli caste before he could take any woman of lesser birth as a concubine. The first wife, known as a Kürūbän, held a high status within the household. Subsequent wives, known as Güdäkubäns, were considered above slave concubines, who were referred to as Hūryiriûs.

The number of wives a man could have was only limited by his ability to attract and care for them. Most men married their first wife later in life when they were financially established. Due to the skewed sex ratio favoring men, there was considerable competition among women, making it easy for Üdalütli men to attract multiple Kürūbäns and Güdäkubäns. An Üdalütli or Lüküli woman between the ages of 13 and 16, without physical blemish, had the best chance of securing a high-status marriage.

Children

The first-born son of the Kürūbän inherited all the rights and privileges of an Üdalütli man. All other males were taken by the priests of Atenokten at birth, with the vast majority being culled. A few were castrated to become Qara, while others were sterilized and trained as priests. Female children were raised within the caste of their mother. Daughters of the Üdalütli and Lüküli were raised according to their caste within the household, while the children of Hūryiriûs were considered the father's property and could be kept as servants or sold.

Vocation

Only Üdalütli members were allowed to own property and slaves, occupying all wealth and power positions. The Lüküli served primarily as overseers and mid-level executives, while the Qara were restricted to service and labor roles. The most prestigious Aladu men were independently wealthy leisure men known as Uhuni, whose wealth came from vast slave-managed plantations or foreign investments.

Slavery

The Aladu culture had a long tradition of chattel slavery, with slaves integrated into every aspect of society and the economy. Most slaves, known as Qara, belonged to the Awawatu Süngü tribe, once indigenous to the Omunaka Merge but enslaved centuries ago. The Süngü had been selectively bred for strength, endurance, and docility. A significant minority of slaves were dark-complexioned Byzirites, known as Akhdam.

Slaves fulfilled various roles in Aladu society, from manual laborers and domestic workers to clerks. While the Süngü and other Kuvimbic peoples generally had lower status than Akhdam and foreign slaves, a slave could not always be identified by ethnicity. All slaves were required to wear bracelets on each arm for identification.

Hūryiriûs were a special class of slave concubines, most commonly Akhdam women, though they existed for every taste. They were groomed through years of training into highly educated and sophisticated companions, often achieving near-celebrity status in Aladu society.

Religion

The Cults of Atenokten and Sonü were the dominant religions in Aladu society. Atenokten was a sun god, considered the great architect of the universe and husband to Sonü, a fertility goddess. The cults remained popular among the Aladu elite, and active involvement was a prerequisite for high office.

Rituals associated with these cults, including sacrifices and fertility rites, were described as savage and barbaric by foreigners. Many rituals were banned by the Sürtarnland Company in 7281, but some practices continued in private among the elite.

Fashion

Aladus were known for their distinctive lack of clothing. Traditionally, men wore linen skirts without shirts, while women wore simple sheath dresses made of muslin. Since the arrival of Aldsegian colonists, many upper-class men adopted Anarian-style fashions, although most women continued to dress traditionally. Many Aladu women wore full-body paint in lieu of clothing, with designs that ranged from simple to extravagant.

Cuisine

The lower castes often survived on a porridge known as Uji, which was nutritionally complete. Üdalütli cuisine was rich and varied, featuring dishes such as Tzeri (grilled sheep or goat intestine), Nanzi (a type of dumpling), and Gozli (a pastry). Meals, particularly among the upper classes, were often extravagant, showcasing a variety of rare and unusual ingredients.