Customs

Saltha was until recently a very isolated country, partly because of geography, and partially from a very isolationist government, until opening of rhea border shortly after the civil war and the end of the 100 years war.[1][2] Traditions and customs of Saltha did not have a chance to have any outside influence, and so instead were mostly formed from the religion of Santh, but also is influenced by the cold-blooded people's adoption to survive in the harsh hot climate of the desert.

Greeting

The traditional way to greet one in Saltha is to extend the hands outward, horizontally in front of them, palm upward with a slight bow. This comes from when thieves or swindlers are branded on the palms, one would show their palms to show that they are honest (never convicted). This gesture is also used to say "I am telling the truth/not lying" or to swear an oath.

Clothing

Because of their scaly skin, Saltans are not affected by sunburn, though they can get sunstroke. A more serious danger than heat is extreme cold to these cold-blooded peoples, so Salthans very rarely venture to the colder northern reaches of the continent or up the mountains. It is customary because of the hot temperature to take afternoon naps. It is also very common for shops to periodically throughout the day between doing business indoors and outdoors.

Children prefer to play unencumbered by clothing and are allowed to play wearing nothing or next to nothing until they reach coming of age, at around age eight to ten. Some of the time children wear just a loin cloth around their waist, called an Aki (Ah-key) like when doing chores or going to school.

Adults and children during special occasions wear over this a Hoshi (Ho-shee), a long sleeved robe and then the Skata, a sleeveless robe that fits over it. Finally it is tied with a Tosha (a belt with a triangle shape cut out.). Pants, an item brought in from the human culture are also somewhat popular, modified with a hole and a tie above the tail.

Movement

This is less a cultural aspect so much as a biological need.Because Salthans are cold blooded, it is nessicery for them to regulate their blood temprature. It is very common for shops to have a indoor and outdoor counter that they move to between the day, and stalls have a roof that can be opened. Likewise, school houses are built in a way to let sunlight in, or an alternate area for teaching outdoors.

Bathing, Cleanliness and Purity

The Salthans find cleanliness very important, in fact you might even say it's nearly an obsession, so they have many practices and laws around this, built from the very foundation their culture. Part of this stems from the dusty and dirtiness of the streets, and partly from the need to keep their blood temperature from being too high. The idea of cleanliness extends beyond merely being clean though, it is also partly a spiritual cleaning. Salthan sees physical discipline as a means of teaching self-discipline as mandated in their holy book (Need Citation) and is just as important as or more so than the outward cleaning of their children. These beatings are very rarely severe (and in fact (verse needed) admonishes parents to be loving and not excessive when they administer discipline) or consist of more than a few smacks. This cleaning is something they believe saves or at least forestalls a harsher judgment from their God.

Bathhouse and Bathing Customs

The city has many public bath houses around the city, and along the street are public fountains not very far apart from each other for cooling off. The fountains were basins raised on a wall about 10 feet tall, with an extended pump handle to release the water. These fountains were built when one of the first kings ruled thousands of years ago, and are still used today. It is a common sight to see adults pouring water over their hot heads or children throwing caution to the wind and striping to the skin and showering in them to keep cool.

The customs of bathing in the Salthan country are a bit different than a simple shower or soaking in a tub like most humans do.

The experience of bathing is more than to get clean to a Salthan, but a ritual to cleanse the body and soul. Bathing is something like mixing bathing with something like a religious confessional added in. Most bath houses are segregated in to male and female sections, though there are still a number of non-segregated bath houses. In a bathhouse, you go in to changing room and undress and put your clothes on a shelf. In the next room is the big tub of hot water. You do not get in to the tub right away; instead you first go to one the side to one of the faucets and take a towel and soap and soap up, then rinse off. The water is not heated.

Traditional Salthan City House

A Salthan City house is two stories Tall. On the first floor is a large room for eating and cooking. There is a large table, a stove and a sink. In the back is a door to the bathroom. The bathroom has a drain on the floor with a faucet over it. In Saltha, the bathing custom (See Customs) in Satha is to wash up first, and then get in to the hot tub and soak. Upstairs is one large room. Smaller rooms are made by hanging fabric walls. On the floor of each "room" are mats. Here there is a door leading out to the balcony that has a staircase leading to the roof.

Food, eating and Hospitality

Salthans pride themselves on their hospitality and generosity. It is part of Salthan custom to fulfill any wish of their guests by a guest, within the law and ethics of the culture. This may only be revoked by informing the guest before the guest steps over the threshold of the host's house.

When a guest enters a home, the host (usually the lady of the house) gives the guest a small piece of bread to eat there. It is considered bad luck to enter a house with an empty stomach. The seating of a guest conveys a silent message of the attitude of the person. The place of most importance at the table is the one near wall opposite the door. The lady of the house always sits to the man of the houses left, with the guests sitting opposite as best as possible. Whoever is the head of the guests should sit opposite the man of the house

If the host says "Sit by the door" Then his attitude is that of superiority, he will treat you politely, but you should not ask for any great favors. If he tells you to sit by the far wall, then he will sit by the door. This is a place of inferiority, he at the more dangerous place of the door. For families and close friends most time he will say "sit anywhere."

Children bathing at home

As mentioned earlier, cleanliness is nearly an obsession with Salthans. The streets of the desert cities are very sandy. Children playing out on the dusty streets all day get very dirty, so it is a custom for young children to bathe before dinner. This includes both boys and girls bathing together. This custom is not put off because of visitors, and even young children who are visiting are expected to take part in this, in fact it is considered somewhat scandalous for a child to eat dinner without bathing first. As part of the connection of punishment as part of cleaning, it is common for the person doing the bathing to sometimes when bathing the children to give a single switch to each child on their bare bottom.

Counter-Culture Groups

Some young males, as a way of identifying themselves with a counter culture simular to the human "punk" culture trim the spikes on their heads down.

Gestures

A shrugging of one shoulder foreword is considered a flirtatious gesture. Basically it means "I like you."

Ceremonies

The Six Stages of Life

The Salthan has a series of rituals connected to each major step in life, which is divided in to six parts.

Birth

A woman who is going to give birth is taken somewhere private secretly. No male is told where she is, even her husband. After about two weeks, she returns to her family, and a feast is prepared and the child is introduced to the family and local community.

Coming of Age/puberty

When a boy reaches his tenth birthday he's given the best presents. On that day his father takes him aside and tells him "secrets": about becoming a man, including sex. He then takes part of a big private ceremony that only male relatives and friends may attend. This ceremony is important because it symbolizes the trials of a boy becoming a man. Before the ceremony, two large clay pools of water are prepared. One is filled with water that is left over night and reaches near freezing temperatures. The other is filled with hot water (about 100ºF). Taking part in this ceremony is also a good friend of the birthday boy, who will take part in the same things the birthday boy does in the ceremony. Beforehand, both boys are painted over their bodies in paint of different holy shapes and bright colors. These shapes include lines running up the legs from the inside of the foot to the hips. A line from the palm to the arm pit, a star of Santh on the forehead and a hand print on the chest.

When the ceremony begins, they stand naked before the witnesses. The birthday boy's father performs the ceremony. First he throws each into the nearly freezing cold water tub (symbolizing birth and awakening of the soul) and then quickly in to the hot tub (Which symbolizes trials to become a man.). Because of the quick exchange form very cold water, the hot water feels even hotter. Then he strikes them both ten times (one for each year of the child’s age) across their bare backsides with a switch.

Both redress, the friend sits down, and the birthday boy chooses a name for himself, which is either a combination and his new name and his given name, or to replace his given name. Then they have a feast that everyone is invited to and they celebrate!

Service

At the age of 15, a boy is required at least one month training with a weapon (usually short sword and bow.) He is also drilled and taught military discipline (following orders). Girls at 15 are taught first aid and how to shoot with a bow.

Adulthood

At twenty a man or woman may take an exam that qualifies him or her to serve in the senate if elected. He or she is given a series of hypothetical cases and is asked for his or her judgment on them. These cases are different every year. At this age, the young man or woman usually marries, and is considered accountable to the law.

Wisdom

Old age is seen as a blessing, and an achievement in acquiring wisdom. Starting at 60, the person shares a piece of wisdom at his birthday celebration. This is celebrated every year with a new wisdom learned until the person dies.

Death

Saltans believe that he bodies of the dead should be cremated. They believe their spirits go up to their god Santh in the smoke.

At the ceremony there is a telling of the life of the dead person before friends and family. But then another ceremony with only the person's closest friends and immediate family where a more honest "bitter truth" (Research Salthan term).

Honor

Salthans feel very strongly about honor. They see it as a debt to be fulfilled. They feel to not be punished for a crime or severe wrong because they feel their debt is not fulfilled and they will be judged more harshly by their God.

Marriage and Family

As with the human culture, there are arranged marriages among the upper class based on wealth and position. A large family is seen as a very good thing; an average Salthan family consists of on average of four children. A extended family unit usually lives fairly close by.

Slavery

Slavery is legal in Saltha, but it is very heavily regulated how a slave may be treated. Slaves can be adult or children.

If a slave is treated too badly, he or she is set free. Also if a slave saves his or her master's life, that slave must be freed. Most slaves are dept-slaves, but there are a few captured prisoners of war "owned" by the state. Slavery is currently a very hot topic. There are two ways the government handles dept-slaves. One way is the government rents out the slave, and the proceeds go to the person who is owed the debt. When the debt is paid the slave is set free. The other way is the slave is given to work for the person who is owed for a set period of time depending on how much is owed.

Taboos

It is a taboo to speak the Santh version of the devil's name indoors. It is also considered taboo to eat any reptile in Saltha, since they believe they are a sort of distant relative.

The Ten

A group in the military, this ceremonial position dates back thousands of years to the time of recorded history. Each person represents a clan (Dating back to the tribal pre-king days). If one dies, then another takes their place. Though technically it is a military unit, they are never sent in to battle even in times of war, and live in the capital city. Sometimes the ten are used as a mediator though for disputes as an alternative to using courts.

[1] Bartley, J. M. Eye/Olani - "History of Saltha Vol 3. - War and Change"

[2] Shahrivar, Mattin - "Understanding Saltha". Ten Terak