I expect this section will build out as we go along....
I expect this section will build out as we go along....
We're following the path set by Avatar the Last Airbender in terms of culture - it's impossible to separate food from culture, nor would we want to - food should be relatable! So we're respectfully calling back to traditions from our world, in the way that Avatar did; creating whole people, not caricatures. I've done a lot of research into food cultures & histories for the cultures you'll find in the Archipelago. I fully expect that I will make mistakes.
From the Avatar Legends RPG: Playing Outside Your Experience
The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra draws influences from a wide variety of Asian and Indigenous cultures. Just like our world, these stories feature heroes of different cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, religions, and abilities. For some players, this might be your first time playing a game in a world where all the characters don’t share your background.
Players should explore this world through the eyes of its people, and that might mean playing outside of your own experience. You might create a character who shares a culture similar to your own, but of a different gender; you might play someone from a nation based on a culture that isn’t your own. That’s fine! When playing outside your own experiences there can be an impulse (or fear) that you need to do so “the right way.” While it’s true that certain depictions or representations of marginalized groups are based on stereotypes, misinformation, or hate speech and are hurtful, there’s nothing wrong with playing someone different from yourself if done so mindfully.
What’s most important about playing outside your experience is that you portray a whole person, not just an identity or a label. The stories of Avatar are often about learning the depth of others’ experiences, even if we might not truly understand what it’s like to live them. For example, Suki was upset by Sokka’s close-minded sexism but through training him in the traditions of the Kyoshi Warriors, she got him to overcome his upbringing and treat her like an equal. When you play Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, you can take the opportunity to consider other perspectives and challenge your preconceptions. In doing so, you have the chance to grow your own empathy with others as you play, just like your favorite heroes do.
Food is the reason for living. At the end of the working day, a family-prepared meal is why you work in the first place. Ingredients are only what your family and village grow, and tradition is never changed.
Food is community and obligation, provided for extended family and friends. There’s always room for another at the table.
Food is precious, hard to grow and cultivate, and no part is wasted. Everything can be food.
Food is sacred.
Food is art.
Food is status. What you eat shows who you know, your place in the world, and what you can afford.