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Eukara Vox -> RE: Making a bio for a culture (3/9/2014 16:06:03)
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When I create cultures for my writing, a lot of research and thought go into it. You have to plan out more than you will need, not because I enjoy lengthy writing or details, but that the more you put into it the more pervasive it is in your mind.
I will be referring to one of these this webpages RP characters, Imhiset World Background to help.
What is in a name? It isn't just what they are called, but what it means to them as a people and culture. I tend to look at the personality of the culture I am creating. Are they warlike or peaceful? Do they enjoy arts and research, or conquest and hardy games? Are they explorers or homebodies? Once you know the general personality, the name forms. Take for example, Impera Tor Anax's people off my character page. You get a brief snapshot of her people in her bio. Once I knew that this race is not only dragonfly-esque, but at one time, at their height, massively aggressive scientists, I began searching for a name. It couldn't be anything commonplace. So, I looked up Celtic/Scottish dragonflies to get inspiration. And there it was. Tarbh Nathrach. It's one of the names dragonflies are known by in the Scotland and it means bull snake. There was a superstition about Dragonflies there that cast them in an aggressive and sometimes violent light. I couldn't believe my luck. It was perfect.
The name isn't just what they are called. It dictates everything you can think about them in one or two words. And if you are creating a language for them, then the name has to be important in that language. The name sets everything in motion. It tends to also sound much like the personality of the people.
Who are these people? What is so great or wonderful about this particular set of people that you choose to create them in the first place? What makes them tick? What makes them special to you? It isn't just about what they are, but what makes them special. I've spoken about the Tarbh Nathrach briefly, so now I will bring up the Catricks. I created a female, Sametti Koskettaa, that came from this culture of people. In order to really create this culture, I had to look at their history. Will that history ever be completely elaborated on in anything I RP her in? In all likelihood, no. But, knowing what their history is, and what they have gone through helped me flesh out the culture as a whole and create who they were. The Catrick are a people who know only war. Generations after generation have found against the Reptyns. They are hardened, unemotional people who don't even know WHY they fight anymore. But they do, because that is who they are and all that they are. To be anything different would not be Catrick. Because I know their history I can be so much more detailed about who they are.
I also looked at WHO they would interact with on a daily, or regular basis. This will also help you form and fill out the culture you are concentrating on. If you know how they look at those around them, and how they interact with other peoples, it will help you understand your culture more. It's not just what is within, it is also what is outside that shapes your culture. It is vital. It really will help set apart your culture.
What do these people look like? Are they a uniform people? Are they varied, and if so, how? Do they tend to be tall, short, stout, rail-thin? Is facial hair a big deal on males, or is it taboo? Is it a social status thing? What about females? What is long hair to them versus short? Stylised versus free-flowing? What are their clothing styles? Do their clothes reflect the climate or tradition, or perhaps their way of life? What about body decoration, like tattoos or piercings? Variations in hair and eye colour are important, since in many cultures, not having the right coloured eyes or hair could mean uncleanliness, traitors, half-breeds, magic users, cursed... etc. As an example, I have a book in the works with a character named Eukara Fyrel. No one has green eyes outside the SandSea in the south. Why? Because only the Vampire race has green eyes. To walk around in any culture with green eyes carries a major stigma and you will be treated by each one depending on their knowledge of the SandSea inhabitants. Snjor, who was my EC character... doesn't WEAR clothing. No one in her culture does. Why should they? They are covered in fur. But, put her outside of her culture and suddenly, not only is she kinda affronted by all the clothes on others, but other cultures are in shock at her seemingly unhindered attitude towards nudity. Is either wrong? No, but their cultures deem it wrong.
Where do they live? This can be simple, and yet, not really. Sure you have what it looks like, its seasons, its crops, natural resources, but what does that land do for your culture? How do they manipulate their environment to suit their needs? How does the environment effect your people? In the RP I run, Imhiset, the land plays a big part in each culture's existence and personalities. The landscape on the continent they are from is varied and complicated,, and even within each culture there are sub-cultures because of landscape. Each culture reacts to it differently, some even to the point of hatred. Most cultures find a niche and exploit it, so that they are comfortable and successful. Leaving that comfort zone generally changes a lot in a culture. Think of how displaced cultures over the history of earth have struggled to keep their ways intact in the event of such radical change. Environment makes the people a lot of times. The more sunlight they get, the brighter, more optimistic they are. The darker, gloomier it is, the less likely they are to hold fetes and black parties on a moment's notice.
The land should include everything to weather tendencies, potential weather catastrophies and how it affects them, the climate, the geography, the resources and how they are managed, the way the environment affects the people as a whole, if they've been displaced or forced to live where they don't want to, etc.
To go along with where they live, you also need to know what your culture does for a living. What is it that they do during their daily lives that make it worth living? What are their jobs? What do they like to do for sport? Are they an agrarian people, or a maritime people? Are they hardened mountain hunters or people of the plains? What is family structure like? What is the community structures typically like? What is their government, on a large scale and small scale? What are the expectations of females vs males? At what age are children expected to be like adults? What are the daily rituals? What is their relationship with those outside of their cultures?
What do they believe in? This can be religion, it can be ritual. How does religion affect life? Is it important? Is it nominal? What kind of structure is in the religion or ritual? Are there classes of priests or clergy? How does the culture support this aspect of life? Religion, as much as people may push it aside, is a big part of a culture. I have a pantheon in Imhiset. Each culture has a god or goddess they venerate. Some share, and if they do, each culture may not understand or approve of sharing. Or, they may find it intriguing and accept it. Religion dictated what the culture deems as right, true and straight.
A cultural bio should be detailed. How else can the people you are playing with, or in your case, the DM you are under, be able to interact appropriately with anyone from your culture? Brief cultural bios are okay if you are on the run, but details flesh out and make your culture real and playable and interesting.
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