Hunluan

Appearance

These tan-skinned people range from darker tones to somewhat pale, depending on lifestyle, work, and wealth. Their hair is black without texture, and their eyes are brown. 

170-190cm in height, though tending towards the lower end of the range.

Lifespan

Some Hunluan have been known to reach a century if they keep themselves in good health; however, these instances are rare. Average age for a human tends to be around the late 70's.

Religion & Beliefs

Religion is something of a loose topic for the Hunluan people, who prize their search for knowledge more than relying on the whims of gods. Despite these views, Ouros is prayed to by those that wish to bring balance to the chaos of their lives and is treated with a surprising amount of respect by all, especially when it comes to the rites of the dead.

As Ouros passes on a soul with the ritual burning of a heart, the body is a mere husk. With this in mind, necromancy is not seen as taboo as other cultures may see it. For a heart not to be passed on to Ouros is considered one of the most heinous crimes.

Geography

Hunlua is a temperate land, and though its terrain is difficult. With most of the region covered by steep cliffs with fertile valleys and rivers, arable land is prized, and the people build their homes vertically, both on and within the cliffs. Rivers are often the best form of travel, given the terrain, though there are many overland trails and roads. Yun Cheng, the capital of Hunlua, perches on the edge of the sea, precariously built around the cliffs as a vertical city above a bustling port. Some regions are more dangerous than others; ruined villages and towns are to be avoided, as what happened to them may still be nearby, have many teeth, or hold magical effects that are not compatible with life.

In Hunlua, necromancy is not a taboo practice, which has given rise to the belief that the land of Hunlua is guarded by the dead. With this in mind, and given the difficulty of the terrain, it is an undesirable land to attempt to invade. The aspirations of many of the people of Hunlua are turned towards knowledge over expansion, making them noisy neighbours, rather than greedy ones.

Society

Much of Hunluan society is a strange balance given the chaotic nature of things. Despite the loose adherence to laws, the people have respect for both high and low standing folk, as all are important for the survival of a region. Those that own mines often take on positions as council members and leaders of towns and villages; however, this is considered a social responsibility and is a role not taken lightly, as they are responsible for the safety of their area, not only to safeguard their mines and wealth but also the people of the region that support it through their work. Similarly, inventors and mages share a similar standing in that they are to aid the people as they are able.

Architecture

Homes are built mostly on cliff sides and even burrow into them, leading to some towns or even cities being carved from the stone itself. Of course, this is not always the case, and some villages and poor districts can be made of anything that can be found, with bamboo being a staple for its strength. However, these areas are sometimes prone to collapse due to poor construction or unfortunate incidents. Those that are built on the ground are either very wealthy or are likely built on unusable ground for farming.

Wealth & Trade

Much of Hunlua’s effort is spent on agriculture, which is heavily relied on for the people's survival. However, trade is important, especially for foreign ingredients and knowledge for inventors and mages alike. The mines of Hunlua are bountiful with gold, bringing wealth to those that own them.

Slavery

An accepted part of life in Hunlua, slaves are generally treated well and cared for. Most slaves are people who have committed crimes that have not been severe enough to be executed or petty enough to be fined, as there are no prisons in Hunlua. It is very possible for slaves to win their freedom through various acts or if they are deemed fit enough to have earned it after a period of time.

Other Notes/Trivia

• The Hunluan can find their design roots in the Chinese people and China. This can be useful when finding a real-world equivalent for your character design, name, or construction inspiration. The Khitan race from Conan can also be a useful inspiration base.

• The name Hunluan is a simplified version of the Chinese word Hǔnluàn (混乱), meaning Chaos. It could also mean "Deliveries on Tuesday", we're not language experts over here, we blame Google Translate.

• The terrain Hunlua mostly occupies in inspired by the real-world Huangshan Mountains in China.