People and Culture
PopulationIn Zapan'Rei, there are 2.86 births per woman, and 28.6 births per 1,000 people, making the birth rate 2.86% and the average number of births in a year 3,574,481. The life expectancy in Zapan'Rei is 89.37 years. The population of Zapan'Rei is content and enjoy high levels of civil rights, political freedom, and economic freedom. The people that live in Zapan'Rei are free to live their lives as they want and aren't severely punished for mistakes, unlike other nations in the world.
Currently Zapan'Rei has an approximate population of 124,981,864
46.2% of which are males. (57,741,621)
53.8% are females. (67,240,243)
79.8% of the male population are able to be conscripted. (46,077,813)
82.1% of the female population are able to be conscripted. (55,204,239)
It is currently estimated that there are 146.9 guns per 100 people.
Zavrainen is the de facto national language with approximately 98% of the population speaking Zavrainen as a first language. The hard, unique language, is extremely difficult for others to pick up, which forced the government to promote different languages to be learned by the population. Zavrainen is the the national language, but Zapan'Rei also has five official languages: Japanese, Korean, German, Swedish, & English. Approximately 15% of people speak Japanese or Korean as a second language, with around 10% of people speaking German or Swedish, 4% speaking English for a second language. 1.7% of the population speak another language in the world as a second language.
Zavrainen is a unique language that was created shortly after the founding of Zapan'Rei. The language combines Korean, Japanese, English, Chinese, German, French, and multiple other languages together, while having its own unique words derived from no existing language. This language barrier has benefited the military extremely as they rarely have to worry about their enemies obtaining and translating any orders.
Zavrainen is a hard, unique language that's spoken nowhere else in the world. There are two variants of Zavrainen, though. Regular and Coded Zavrainen. While they're both the same language, the difference is to understand Coded Zavrainen, you first need to learn Regular Zavrainen, and then from there, Coded Zavrainen will go from a foreign language to a bunch of gibberish that makes no sense. All natively born and raised people in Zapan'Rei learn Regular Zavrainen, however, most people in Zapan'Rei don't understand or are even aware of a Coded version of the language. The government has set it up this way so that Coded Zavrainen can be used as a military tactic. A few people in the government and all soldiers in the military that are career and the rank of Lieutenant and up speak Coded Zavrainen meaning that the average grunt in the military won't understand. However, Corporal radio operatives will be required to learn at least a small amount of Coded Zavrainen to be able to use Coded Zavrainen over the radio. Coded Zavrainen takes Regular Zavrainen and changes the different endings around along with changing certain words and bending and breaking a few rules of Regular Zavrainen to create what would normally sound like a gibberish mess into a tactical coded sentence.
Some examples of the two different versions of Zavrainen.
- "I'm going to the store"
Regular Zavrainen
Spoken and Understood as: "I'm going to the store"
Hearing coded way of saying it: "Death store to? is what it's sea"
Coded Zavrainen
Spoken as: "Death store going to the I'm sea"
Understood as: "Store going to the I'm" or basically "I'm going to the store"
- "Can Miyu, Derek and Yu come over and play?"
Regular Zavrainen
Spoken and Understood as: "Miyu, can Derek and Yu come over and play??"
Hearing coded way of saying it: "Love player Derek to Yu hunt over to can Miyu virus."
Coded Version
Spoken as: "Love play? Derek and Yu come over and can Miyu virus."
Understood as: "Play? Derek and Yu come over and can Miyu." or basically "Can Miyu, Derek, and Yu come over and play??"
Zavrainen has a total of 618 characters that make up its alphabet. Each character has a specific use and place that it belongs, alone and in a sentence. Each line, dot, and box must be drawn out clearly to avoid confusion with any characters that could resemble the character if not drawn correctly/clearly. Failing to do so could result in turning the sentence into a different one, changing the word, or changing the meaning of the sentence, along with turning a sentence into gibberish.
CultureThe People of Zapan'Rei are a kind, accepting, semi-religious people who believe in equality, way of the sword, and honor. Zapanreinen's are firm believers in equality, and do not think that one social class should have more rights than others. Though the people of Zapan'Rei are slightly uncomfortable with strangers, they still accept them and make exceptions in their culture for foreigners. The people try to help those that they can and hate to see others suffer. The people of Zapan'Rei love the Bloodline family and fully trust them to make the right decisions. Zapanreinen's respect the people of other nations, especially those who've proven to be good hearted, strong, endurable, and/or accepting. People from Zapan'Rei love to visit other nations and see the beauty that they have to offer. In the daily life of a Zapan'Reinen, it's common to see people go out with friends and loved ones after work and enjoy the time they have. The people of Zapan'Rei fully except that they will die one day, thus approaching death in a very casual manure, which is one reason that they are such a fearsome foe on the battlefield. Zapan'Reinen's will often take part in dangerous and risky activities not caring if it's going to be their last day but making sure that they have fun and don't leave the world with any regrets.
Zapanreinen's have been described as very individualistic, competitive, and hardworking. This has resulted in great economic productivity and strong equality. This has also made Zapan'Rei a popular destination for tourists and immigrants. Citizens of Zapan'Rei and especially those that follow the main religion are very generous and often donate whatever they can to charity.
Cultural Customs- Grettings
There are three different forms of greeting in Zapan'Rei. One for when you're talking to someone older/more experienced than yourself, "Riekon" (Ri-cone). One for when you're talking to someone younger/less experienced than yourself, "Dewrie" (Dew-ri). And an informal greeting used with family, close friends, and those you are romantically involved with, "Konrie" (Cone-ri). If you're talking to someone who's age/experience you don't know, then you would greet with "Riekon". It's expected to greet those when you're in a business meeting with the formal greeting Riekon, and the same goes when talking to a customer/someone from the public. When talking to colleges in a work setting, those who were hired on before you and superiors are to be addressed with "Riekon", while those who were hired after you and your above are to be addressed with "Dewrie". Even in the setting where you and another worker were hired on the same day, you never use "Konrie". In such a situation, it would be acceptable use either greeting with them. It's seen as extremely disrespectful if you tell someone older/more experienced than yourself or tell a stranger "Dewrie". A mistake that will often lead to the person being slapped/hit. Using a kiss as a greeting is seen as disrespectful and inappropriate. The best thing one could do is just greet everyone with "Riekon". Touching during a greeting is looked down upon, being seen as dirty. It's okay to kiss and touch during conversation, but isn't accepted during greetings.
- Conversation
Conversations are taken seriously when in the working environment and talking to a stranger. You're expected to not beat around the bush and to get straight to the point. When talking to people you know and not in your working environment, conversation isn't taken too seriously beyond greeting and goodbyes. The people of Yurikiya are very comfortable talking with people they know, but are a bit shy and find it a bit awkward when talking to strangers when not in a working environment. Because of this, people always expect conversations to be as short and direct as possible. A mistake that is often seen with foreigners who aren't accustomed to the culture of Yurikiya. Luckily, most people in Yurikiya are able to overlook most things that foreigners do when they don't know/understand the culture of Yurikiya.
- Goodbyes
There are two forms of Goodbyes in Yurikiya. A formal goodbye, "Sayu" (Sigh-uh), and an informal goodbye, "Uysa" (Uh-sigh). "Uysa" is to be only used when talking to family, friends, and romantic partners. Everything else you use "Sayu" for. It's perfectly acceptable for partners to use a kiss as a form of goodbye instead of saying anything. It's looked down upon to touch someone who isn't your partner during a goodbye.
- Romance
Romance is sacred tradition of Yurikiya. When it comes to romance, females are almost always shy, not wanting to talk about it. They will usually blow off any advances towards them for awhile before finally starting to accept them. They rarely ever make a move themselves (though when they do, it isn't looked down upon), which makes romance for bisexual and lesbian females all the harder. If a female is not into someone who is trying to woe them, they will continuously blow off any advances, and eventually tell the suitor they aren't interested in them after they've gain enough courage to do so. It is seen as taboo to tell someone your not interested in them in any way other then face to face conversation. You're expected to no longer go after someone who's informed you that they're not interested. Doing so is off limits and can even lead up to a restraining order and jail time. It will also lead to dishonoring your family name, making it even harder to find someone in Yurikiya. Because of how females act, many foreigners are discouraged from trying to romance females from Yurikiya, even though many aren't against the idea of dating a foreigner. It's also culturally acceptable for a male to be shy, as it isn't too uncommon for males.
- Funerals
Funerals are taking very seriously and held dearly. Making a scene during a funeral is taboo and can have you kicked out of the temple and funeral, which is seen as highly disrespectful and dishonorable. Funerals in Yurikiya are always held in a specified temple which is located in the deceased's will. The body will not be with the funeral, for while the funeral is taking place, the body is being cremated. After the funeral, the ashes of the deceased will be scattered in a location that's specified in the deceased's will. The deceased's family and closest friends are expected to take the time off of work and travel to the specified area with the monk in charge of the deceased's ashes. Before scattering of the ashes takes place, the family and friends are to kneel down, praying for the deceased's soul. The monk will then scatter the ashes and say a prayer for the deceased's spirit. Afterwards, the deceased's family and friends are to finish their prayers with "Iikumo bushi kasumina ect ii yasnim deimonts su monso," (May you find peace in the next life of yours).
- Culturally Unaccepted Opinions/Practices
- Racism, Homophobia, Sexism, Antisemitism, and any disrespectful talk about ones religion are seen as fundamentally unacceptable and crimes. Any opinions expressing this will be taken as an offense to all and will end with you being subdued by anyone nearby until police arrive to arrest you.
- Flipping the bird, putting up the "peace sign", and any sexual innuendos are seen as disrespectful, sexual harassment, and often will be responded to with violence.
- Asking someone to change religions is seen as greatly disrespectful. Never ask someone to change their religion, suggest to change religions, and is risky to ask why they chose their religion.
- Never attempt to pick someone up in a bar. Doing so will be seen as suggesting them to be immoral, perverted, and unattractive.
ReligionThe primary religion, despite being a religious free nation, is Spirality, which is found almost nowhere else in the world. The people believe that after death, your soul rises from one's body and walks the planet until it’s their time to be reincarnated. However, the time on how long until you’re reincarnated depends on how you acted when you were alive. The belief that if you are a horrible person and acted in nothing but hate and evil or any other major negatives, you have the chance of never being reincarnated and transforming into different stages with the last being a demon whose soul purpose is to wreck havoc to the living. When you die and your soul rises, you regain the memories of all your past lives only to forget them when you're reincarnated. A person can however, remember bits and pieces of past lives or the future in one's dreams when asleep. The religion also believes that there is a Goddess named Kalo (Kay-low), though she is also refereed to as Suta (Sue-tuh). Both names come from their language Zavrainen, with Kalo meaning Fortune and Suta meaning Knowledge. She has the most power in the afterlife, and is a wealth of knowledge, always learning and always deciding the fate of people. It’s believed that few have ever gotten close to her and even less to see her true form. She is often depicted as beautiful female warrior, often in the company of a Pheonix or another bird. It's believed to get close enough to speak to her, you must have been holy in all your lives, almost never sinning. If one manages to meet her, it's said that they will have great fortune for many reincarnations. There is at least one shrine in each village and city, with at least 4-5 shrines in the bigger cities. There are also three main temples that have been set up for the people when they take part in Zateii su Deimonts un Montsdei. The first temple, the Walk of Life Temple, is a temple that is located in the on top of a large waterfall, with paths that lead to the temple from both sides. The second temple, the Temple of Nature, is a unique temple that appears to be floating and is the largest of the three temples. The final temple, the Temple of Sea, is a temple that's built on the top of a small mountain overlooking a coastal city and the coast. The only ways up to the temple is a beaten path up the mountain that's rarely used anymore and a tram that leads from the coast to the front of the temple.
The Walk of Life Temple | The Temple of Nature | The Temple of Sea |
| | |
