Verse:Hmøøh/Talma

Etalocin (/ˈeɪtəloʊsɪn/ or /ˈeɪtəloʊkɪn/; Clofabosin: ẹtalocin /e(ː)talokin/, from Netagin ʔÉthá + Clofabosin locin 'land'; Tíogall Éatha /ˈeːθə/) is a continent of the conworld Clotricin.

Demographics

Languages

The following language families are represented in Etalocin:

• Clofabic languages
• Quihum languages
  • Talmic languages
  • Naquic languages
• Netagin
• Ladippic languages
• Camalic languages
• Dodellian
• Belen
• Wakanic languages
• Tsrovesh
• Gulyás
• Witcanese

Society

Etalocin was, and still to a large extent is, a Crapsaccharine World. Etalocin boasts a robust tradition of intellectual activity, especially in mathematics and music. However, Etalocian society is a highly stratified meritocracy, which historically caused considerable friction between social classes.

The social cost of nonconformity (especially for men) was quite severe. Crimes were punished harshly (often by forced labor, torture, castration, or death, in addition to public shaming).

Polygamy was and still is legally recognized in Etalocin cultures, though many people are monogamous.

Traditional elite culture

Elite boys were first educated in either a "boarding school" which taught a curriculum of rhetoric, poetry, classical language, math, fine arts, and science, or a military academy. By age 15 they were expected to enter into university study (or military service) in order to specialize into one or more roles in elite society. If one failed to pass the entrance exam administered by a university he could not enter specialist training and thus was effectively banished from elite society. Those who passed the "boarding school" curriculum but failed to specialize usually worked as "managers", low-level officials or schoolteachers. One or more requirements could be waived for a child of exceptional ability in one area.

Elite girls also had access to a full boarding school education (though not to a military education), enough for them to be independent. Unlike males, however, they were not expected to undergo male specialization. Women who wished to become schoolteachers or musicians received appropriate additional training. Some women, mostly courtesans-in-training or those who aspired to marry the most powerful aristocrats, underwent education meant for male specialists; in fact, the word in Tíogall for 'courtesan', mortaħóife, was historically the female form of the word for 'specialist' in Netagin.

Pre-modern vulgar culture

The plebs were largely semi-literate but otherwise uneducated and were forced to do menial labor and/or live in unsanitary places. Non-elite military-age men were often drafted into wars.

The common people had plays and novels as forms of entertainment.

Modern

The rise of the merchant class and the free-market economy marks the beginning of Etalocian modernity.

Culture

Cuisine

Vegetarian cuisine has been backed by various ethical philosophies that prohibit either killing or inflicting suffering on animals. Some form of vegetarianism is common among Etalocians.

Using umami ingredients such as seaweeds and mushrooms, and herbs and spices is common to make up for the lack of meat.