Qalasian society is predominantly composed of fennec foxes, most of the standard beige variety, although exotic fur colors are sometimes seen. Due to their far-reaching trade routes, other species are found in the city and the caravans that come to the area. While the Qalasian fennecs are notorious for not having strong racial discrimination biases, they tend not to interbreed with other species, however as with most any large sample of population, there are exceptions to those norms.
Social trends can change with time and circumstances, but general collective behavior and ideas can be used to form an image of a peoples' society.
Fennecs are notoriously noisy creatures, and Qalasian fennecs are no exception. They don't hesitate to raise their voice or outright shout, either from joy or anger or sadness, or mere boredom. When peace and quiet is required, they can oblige, but it's not uncommon for the streets, specially the market, to be a disorienting cacophony of shouting! Specially if something exciting is going on!
Qalasians are notorious for their regard for females: Women are almost invariably all but in name the property or responsibility of a male. Theirs is a patriarchal society, where with few rare exceptions, males occupy all important positions. Truly independent females only exist when they possess some outstanding characteristic that earns them the respect or favor of the male population, and even they ultimately are subject to the rule of their king, who is invariably male. The Qalasians do not possess a proper 'queen', although the High Priestess of the Sun tends to wield significant influence due to her proximity to the king, and some daughters of the king might come to be seen as powerful or influential, for the same reason.
Despite that, Qalasian males consider their females 'precious', an integral, fundamental part of life and society that must be prized and protected, and because of that often only when a matter must be settled will the females subservience to males come up: A male's word and choice will outweigh that of a female. ...with some rare exceptions.
The hierarchy of Qalasian society goes as follows:
- The King is an absolute monarch. He's believed to be divine, a direct son of the Sun God, he always possesses magic that assures such godly connection. His word is the law. He is worshiped and venerated as the utmost protector and guide of his people.
- The Vizier serves the king directly, usually charged with the more hands-on parts of administration: The king issues orders, the vizier makes them happen. The vizier is given a great degree of autonomy to ensure the continuation, prosperity, and well-being of society.
- The High Priest(ess) of the Sun occupies a similar role as the vizier, but in regards to the spiritual and religious aspects of life. While they can command a great deal of power, their autonomy is not supposed to contradict or overlap with that of the vizier and only supersedes that of the vizier in matters directly related to religion/cults, unless otherwise decreed by the king.
- The Captain of the Qalasian Guard is in charge of the defensive and offensive forces of the kingdom, whether be it the guards protecting the king or the vizier, the ones that patrol the city, or the warriors sent out in battle. It's a role that can be further delegated to men specifically appointed to command troops in combat, and they all report directly to the vizier or the king. They are usually given autonomy to pass judgment on the spot whether to enact any punishment upon a perpetrator or to defer to later judgment by their superiors.
- Guards/Warriors are the Qalasian defensive and offensive forces. For the most part they are referred to simply as The Guard, and are in charge of maintaining the order in the kingdom. Guards are given a certain degree of autonomy for on-the-spot judgment on matters of physical conflict, but are encouraged to use lethal force only when deemed truly necessary. There are subcategories of guards (hierarchical order):
- Royal Guards - in charge of the protection of the king and important dignitaries. They rank the highest among the guards and are usually elite warriors with the highest level of training and abilities.
- City Guards - in charge of maintaining the peace and order within city walls. May include Geomancers.
- Desert Guards - in charge of protection outside the city walls, usually found at the caravanserai and paroling not too far from the city. Most are Geomancers.
- Personal Guards - people assigned with the role of protecting someone or something, whether they are or not part of the official Qalasian Guard. They are outranked by all other guards.
- Craftsmen and Scholars develop and manufacture goods and conduct research on matters that might interest the Qalasians. They are regarded particularly high in society because their talents enable the Qalasians to thrive in the rather hostile environment they live on.
- Breeders are freemen or women of particular good stock, recognized by their contribution of consistently producing individuals of good health and desirable qualities. They may work autonomously or under contract with the Slavers' Guild, however breeders to be recognized as such must operate within the guidelines set forth by the Slavers' Guild.
- Farmers have to bend themselves backwards to grow crops in the desert, but they manage to do it through patience and dedication.
- Slavers are trained specifically for the job of breeding, raising, training, and trading slaves, according to the guidelines set forth by the Slavers' Guild. They occupy a hierarchical role on par with farmers.
- Merchants occupy a similar role to that of farmers.
- Slaves and servants (the difference is only semantics) tend to be valued as assets therefore they are cared for, but fall under pretty much everybody's boot.
- Foreigners without a specific duty or role - ie. tourists - are appreciated when they are spending their money but not when they are being stereotypical tourists and causing trouble. Specific alliances grant certain visitors a degree of protection under Qalasian law.
- Dissociated females are women that for some reason or another have fallen out of favor with society and will have practically no chance of improving their lives. This usually happens to barren, unskilled and uneducated females that can't ascend to any other role.
- Criminals have absolutely no rights and are under the mercy of the Qalasian Guard.
- Enemies get no lenience from the Qalasians, who are encouraged to attack and dispatch them on sight! Someone branded as an enemy of Kun Qalasi is unwelcome and to be neutralized or eliminated ASAP!
Priests of the Sun are usually females, trained by the High Priestess, but until one is chosen to succeed the High Priestess, they are hierarchically classified under whatever role they have in society (Craftsmen, Breeders, Farmers, etc), however, their close association with the High Priestess can grant them a perceived higher status.
It is not uncommon for multi-generation families to live in the same home, where usually the eldest male or patriarch or merely legal owner of the house is the utmost authority figure. Qalasian fennecs tend to enjoy sleeping in piles, usually with a male and his main wife in one bed, and secondary wives and offspring and other relatives in another, although there may be only one 'main bed' shared by everybody in the household. Even servants are known to sleep on the same bed as their masters, however often their spot is at the foot of the bed.
Qalasian fennecs are very likely to practice incest. Despite the apparent easiness with which some mothers give up their newborn children, they have close family ties and enjoy companionship of their next of kin, in some cases a little too much. 'Genes' are an anachronistic concept, which is hereby referred to simply as 'traits'. Most bloodlines have favorable traits that prevent the usual degradation and deformities associated with inbreeding. When a Guild breeder produces offspring with defects, that breeder is then either selectively paired with other breeders to refresh the traits, or simply taken out of breeding duty.
On their sexuality, Qalasians are not at all inhibited, possessing no concept of shame associated with one's body or the pleasure that can be derived from it. Sex is almost so casually enjoyed and readily accessible, that professions such as prostitution require them to be able to offer something very special, that justifies spending money on what so many others will be offering freely. Homosexual encounters are not at all uncommon; pleasure is pleasure! But homosexual couples can be frowned upon for their inability to produce offspring on their own. Breeders tend to be excluded from that because they are already producing offspring on the side, regardless of their partnership status. Qalasians make a distinction between sex for the sake of pleasure (casual sex), and romantic sex associated with mateship (serious/important sex).
Children are cared for by their mothers or servants; wet nurses are readily available. They are educated either by their parents or servants or personal tutor, and once at a certain age of development can enlist in apprenticeships with local craftsmen. Offspring are for all intents and purposes under the rule of the head of the household until they can branch off independently.
Polygamy is common, however most partnerships are between one female and one male, who might have other females associated with him in one way or another but aren't his official wives. In extremely rare cases of females who become powerful, they may have multiple husbands who are subservient to them instead of the traditional other way around. Mated females tend not to be solicited by people outside their relationship, and need their mate's consent before engaging in sexual activities with others.
Since the early days, regular celebrations were part of life in the desert. These became more standardized with the union of the tribes. The most important events observed by the Qalasians are the Weekly Feast, a big party that takes place once every 7 days, to celebrate life and all of its joys, with abundant food and drink and music and sex. The Feast of Sekhmet, celebrated on the Summer Solstice, when red beer is brewed and everybody is encouraged to drink and party into oblivion to celebrate the appeasing of the Blood Drinker's thirst and therefore the appeasing of the great goddess and sparing of life on Earth. During this day, extra precautions are taken to prevent enemies taking advantage of the Qalasians hangover; this also marks the Qalasians' New Year. The Heb-Sed, also called Sed Festival is celebrated first at the 30th anniversary of the king's rule, and then every 3 years thereafter. It is mostly a religious festival to revitalize the king's spirit, but abundant food and drink and music abounds in the city. Other minor celebrations take place throughout the year; in the caravanserai it is customary to slaughter a camel and have a big feast when lost travelers/caravans are rescued in the deserts. And every morning, the High Priestess greets the sun as it rises in the East, and the priests recite the List of Souls, the names of the departed, so they may be given energy to continue their journey through the Duat into the Aaru.
Food in Kun Qalasi can vary greatly in quality and quantity and variety. Everything that is edible is eaten. Rich households might have a diet of bugs and meats and fruits and milk and cheese and bread, but most common is the consumption of bugs such as beetles and grasshoppers and scorpions, lizards and small rodents. Poorer households tend to exist simply on bugs and roots. Most food can be bought at the market, but can also be foraged without going far from the city. Meats in large quantities are rare and usually for special occasions. Milk from breeders who are constantly laden is available but usually as a novelty or an invigorating tonic or ingredient for remedies or potions.
The most popular drink besides water is beer, which is often brewed in the household in small batches, but can be found in the market and tavern, which has a proper brewery for the production of more advanced distilled beverages, most notoriously a very sweet and very high alcohol dates liqueur that is traditional to Kun Qalasi.
They are not much into the 'pub culture', although a 'watering hole' does exist in their city; its main function is actually as the local brewery, but foreigners wanting a casual, uncommitted drink tend to visit the place more than the locals do. The same is said about inns. Most travelers either stay in someone's home or camp under the stars. The caravanserai accommodates large groups such as the caravans, but there is one inn in the city, which was expanded upon to accommodate the influx of travelers that expected such services, specially after contact with Lismore was made.
Being experienced merchants and traders, Qalasians are notorious for their barter and haggle prowess. They operate under
caveat emptor principle, and seek to have the upper hand or at least some form of benefit from deals they make. Negotiations can get intense but will rarely come to violence, even if insults are thrown around lightly. They are shrewd and not ashamed of it!
Qalasian fennecs bathe often, which may seem unusual for desert dwellers, but their city has natural springs that supply them with fresh clean water in relative abundance. Besides personal in-home washing, a pool is available in the city for anyone to use, and many do use it, sometimes every day, either for cleaning or as refreshment from the heat of the desert. Another pool is located in the royal enclosure, for the use of the king and VIPs.
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