Summary - Asian culture that concurred much of the continent roughly five hundred years ago.
Appearance - yellowish skin is common among the aristocracy while brown skinned is often seen among laborers who work the fields. Hair is typically brown to black. Both men and women wear their hair long.
Ethnic Origin - originally from Burgandry
Special rules on Thule background :
Thule background gives access to psychic backgrounds for bard and sorcerer classes.
Thule have an issue with necromancy as it is a sacrilege. Thule practicing necromancy or using its powers lose all ancestral powers for good.
History
Thule was created after the second invasion of Barbarians from Burgandry.
Invasion conqued most of the former Sulanese empire and invaders settled down rather than return to Burgandry.
People
The Thule empire consists of an thule ruling class with occupied people making up the peasent and merchant class.
Nobility is based on how pure ones bloodline is.
Many people are mixed descent since very few women were part of invasion though some people came after invasion looking for freedom.
Thules have strong clan associations. The clans mostly separated by region and all Thule go by clan name then individual name. (i.e. Tan Wei is Wei of the Tan clan)
Some northern and southern racial differences still arise.
Long history of antagonism between north and south back in Burgandry.
Magical races almost nonexistent.
Law
Only nobles and military personnel may carry arms or wear metal armor.
All others are limited to blades less than a foot long.
Bows and crossbows are likewise prohibited but enforcement is spotty in rural territories.
Two tiered court system where thule have preferential treatment in upper court.
Religion
Family ancestors are given offerings and treated like minor gods.
The more important the person in life the more prayers in death.
Elders are also treated respectfully since they will soon be joining the ancestors.
Dieing is natural and less horrifying for the Thule. Since they can speak through other blood kin. It is likely a relative would feel compelled to finish any unfinished tasks but the dead would almost never want to return. A psychic who comes back to life often loses psychic abilities.
Magic
Psionics are more common than magic among those of thule blood.
Psionics are something living, magic is dead and seems weaker in those of Thule blood.
Necromancy is horrifying to Thule psychics as it permanently disrupt their channel to their ancestors along that branch of the tree.
Magic is very rare. 1/1000 has magical abilities. Nobility will sometimes dabble.
Psionics - common. All Thule can buy special psionic abilities. It is common for anyone of mostly Thule descent to have access to the collective ancestral memory.
Government
Each territory is controlled by a clan whom rules as they see fit.
Tan - ruling class of Helen. Reputation for highly valuing lore and knowledge. Having done a great undertaking of restoring Helen's great libraries.
Lu - ruling class of Pend to the north west of continent.
Shu - ruling class of Havenral.
Dijid - Control Rich river land cut off from ocean by Albienne.
Wu - Imnihr ruling class but with uneasy control of the natives. Middle eastern feel to the markets and lands.
Feng - rulers of Seth. African themed. Tribal disputes common.
Wei - Wei are very strict Xenophobic Japan. Fishing economy.
Shing - Easter neighbors of Helen. Rulers of Jharr. Economy is Ocean based.
Chu - Drija (Mayan theme)
Sun - Sanga-Thule. Strong desert nomadic influence. Horse riding common.
Cao - South Thule - Heavily threatened by Jade empire. Seen as an internal dispute by many.
Chen - Rulers of Riland - Mountainous region,
Each clan must answer to council of representatives one from each clan.
clan council is responsible for adjucating differences between clans.
All clans come together every two years for a grand council.
During grand council laws that apply to all clans are voted upon.
Members of council may be changed by their clan during a grand council.
Grand council is hosted in different territory each time.
Thule nobility take a percentage of food and taxes from lands they occupy.
restrict civilian rights to bear weapons (see laws)
Military service
All thule men over age 16 must serve in military.
Thule men are also expected to serve as aristocracy so military school educates in more than warfare.
Arts and literature are taught. As is philosophy.
Sexuality
Homosexuality is frowned upon but tolerated so long as individual also does marital duties.
Marriage
Marriages are arranged by family.
Individuals involved on marriage do not have much say. (Man has little say, woman has none)
Family of woman gets gifts in return for woman.
Woman becomes servant of family she married into.
Newest female household member does chores and cooking.
Divorce is only allowed upon death of one party.
Names (Chinese pronunciation found here - http://ccechina.com/traveling/pronunciation.html)
Female - Chang, Cong, Fang, Fang Yin, Fen, Feng, Huan Yue, Hui Ying, Jia Li, Jiang Li, Jiao, Jin, Jing, Juan, Jun, Kahui, Lee, Lei, Li, Li Ming, Li Mei, Li Na, Li Qin, Li Rong, Li Wei, Lian, Lien, Lin, Lin Yao, Ling, Mei, Ming Ue, Na, Park, Ping, Qi, Qimei, Qing Yuan, Rong, Shan, Shu Fang, Shuang, Ting, Ting Ting, Wan, Wei, Xia, Xiang, Xia He, Xiao Chen, Xiao Hong, Xin Qian, Xiu, Xiu Juan, Xue, Xue Fang, Yan Yan, Yi Jie, Yi Ze, Yi Min, Yu Jie, Yue Ying, Yue You, Yue Yan, Yue Wan, Zhen, Zhen Juan, Zhi, Zi, Tao, Zizhen, Zehong
Male - Anying, Anqing, Bai, Chen, Cong, Enpu, Fai, Ho, Kong, Kuan-Yin, Liang, Lee, Lei, Li, Lian, Liang, Lok, Long, Park, Qiu, Shaiming, Shen, Shing, Sying: Star, Wen, Yichang, Zedong, Zemin, Zetan
Honerifics - Lao (older predicate), Xiao (younger pre)
Female rights
Men and women live separate until marriage. Sex outside marriage is taboo.
Women used to be second class citizens. But this has been changing slowly due to their importance to preserving the purer bloodlines. These days women of pure blood can do almost anything they want due to their value to noble families.
Prostitution
It used to be expected that a woman whose family could not support them would sell them into brothels. These days that is only true of daughters of mixed blood. A pure-blood daughter would be sought by wealthy families to join a harem to help breed heirs. These women receive much privileged in the family and have full familial rights once they have sired a heir.
Education
Required of all Thule males.
Education focuses equally on martial and philosophical thought.
Art and literature are both held as important parts of the spirit.
Even warriors are expected to go to theatre and read poetry.
Culture
Theatre - in traditional works men play both male and female parts.
Class of male singers (Castratti)