Adavenian Culture

[L.E. Ott]

The Palace-Temple of the first Adavenian queen, Garia I. This style of architecture is characteristic of much of the golden age.

Adaven boasts one of the most settled cultures of Sciri. This is surprising, considering the tumult and great mixing of cultures in their early history. They have borrowed much of their architecture from the late Gasmeian empire, and a healthy dose of the religions of Hoi-Na and other lands. Clothing styles among the wealthy are whatever is fashionable in various other places at the time, while peasants wear what they can cobble together.


Empress Saphira IV dressed in the fashion of a Hoi-Na dancer.


Adaven Forest Guard, Dress/Formal Review Uniform, Probably in the reign of Alario II.


Adavenian Farmer, Early Restructuring period

The first reports of Adavenian culture come through early explorers from Gasmei. In the pre-imperial period, Gasmei was a land of semi-primitive adventurers and free-booters. When they ventured over their own southeastern border, they found a primitive land of savages residing in caves and wattle-and-daub hovels.

As Gasmeians and others pushed into Adaven and “civilized” the people, a cultural pattern was put into play. Thus, the culture of Adaven became much like that of Gasmei, if simpler and less extravagant. The tribes restructured themselves, built villages, and learned the arts of agriculture. They also transposed many of their own myths and legends onto those of their invaders. This was, however, merely a way of maintaining their own early culture and yet seeming to absorb that of the “new people.” As time went on and the cultures merged further, some of the legends became indistinguishable. For example, many heroic Hoi-Na legends about the brother-sister pair of Bui and Beri became analogized with the deeds of the Adavenian deity Ver.

During the time of the Gasmeian Empire, Adaven was merely another territory to be plundered for what it was worth and defended from invaders. It alone of all the territories was allowed to retain its traditional name, perhaps because it was deemed only minorly important. The people maintained their simple lives and worshipped often their own old spirits, replacing their names with those of deities from the culture holding the most sway at the time.

Many new cultural ideas were brought to Adaven with the arrival of the renegade Gasmeian prince Miklos, his consort-priestess Ameera, and their children and followers. The oldest son of Miklos, Farzi, became something of a religious leader, as he was deeply invested in the mystical religion on Hoi-Na, were he spent much of his early childhood. More influence from Hoi-Na was later swept in by Mai Li Koa, the wife of Farzi’s brother Victor.

It was from Farzi that the Adavenian people gained their love of worship, their almost fanatical and constant devotion to meditation and their endless celebrations, feast days, and hours of prayer. This, it is said, is what later nearly brought their downfall. Thus, for much of their history, Adavenians have been a religious, peaceful people. While their reputation as mediators does not go as far as that of the people of Hoi-Na, they are generally cautious when facing a possible battle. Aside from the occasional war, religion has generally kept them too busy for much else.

In the regency of Prince Davril the Fool, when the Empire was falling into decay, several governmental and religious officials came to the conclusion that more focus was needed. They removed Davril and set up a new regency in the name of his young sister Risa. Then, they restructured the religion of Adaven, eliminating all deities but Ver and reducing the number of feast days, celebrations, and hours of prayer drastically.