The City of Quacia

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Language

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The local language of Quacia is Vahanic. It is spoken by all of the social classes. It is a surprisingly gentle language with light accenting allowing for the differentiation between similar words. Tribunals of the Theocratum are indoctrinated in understanding the secret language of whispered words, gibberish sentences, and gestures that are often used by members in their search for heretics and traitors. This language has no name, nor any official teaching outside of the indoctrination chambers of the Theocratum, but the strange manner in which Tribunals share knowledge has raised awareness of its existence.

Whilst a majority of the Heaps are unaware of how to speak the Common language, this is not a universal ignorance. The nobility are often fully capable of speaking in the Common language for the sake of interacting with more effectiveness when discussing political matters with the rest of the world. The Heralds and Voice of the Theocratum are typically capable of speaking Common so that heretical prisoners can be better interrogated. The heads of the Guilds are capable of speaking Common and of basic arithmetic so that they may keep track of their assorted global trade-deals.

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	A good comparison between Vahanic and a real-world language would be Portuguese.

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Recreation and Food

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Recreation

Given the stressful situation of Quacia, there are several activities permitted for the sake of recreation. Vicemen; state-mandated sinners, are allowed to sell a variety of intoxicating drugs, alcohols, and courtesan services to whomever enters their Lair.

Games are also commonly found within the confines of Shanty and the Lair, and it is not uncommon to find foreigners sharing their different rule systems, much to the appreciation of the locals. A pair of fighting pits can also be found in the city, one of which is located within the Shanty and is notably voluntary, and the other which exists almost solely for the cruel pleasure of the Nobility, and which relies on prisoners and desperate migrants.

Cuisine

There is very little which can be grown upon the surface of Quacia due to the ever-present Creep. Therefore, any vegetation and plants are grown beneath the city in a section of the Underway which has been cordoned off from others. Mushrooms and other fungi typically make their appearance in the diet, along with whatever fish can be captured from Mirage.

Wild game is rare given the constant encroachment of Creep, and flesh must not come into contact with the substance to be considered clean enough for consumption. Swine and poultry are raised in the dark confines of the city, and are typically the most common sources of meat. Spices and other food additives are typically considered a luxury, and are almost exclusively imported with a few exceptions.

List of Common Quacian Foodstuffs

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Mushrooms (Varying sizes and types, some with psychedelic or herbal properties)
Poultry
Pork
Rat (For the especially poor)
Cave Wheat
Bloodlights
Ales and Beers
Cave Grapes
Fish and Seafood
Potatoes

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Festivities

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Celebration of The King’s Coronation – Vhalar 23.

This has been a time-honored festival for each and every King who has served as leader of Quacia. The exact date of the festival changes depending on the actual date of the current king’s coronation, though the current iteration of the holiday falls on Vhalar 23. It is one of the few events wherein the Quacian people dispatch emissaries to foreign countries to observe the relative peace and glory of the holiday, and is a time for the Quacian nobility to snobbishly show-off their heritage.

The Heap’s Rebellion Remembrance – Saun 2.

An unofficial holiday comprising of a celebration by the lower classes of the city over their victory over the oppressive policies under the Corpse King. The Theocratum and the nobility both look down upon the celebrations herein with extreme disdain, but the number of persons who inexplicably begin to celebrate is so great that there is little they can do to stop it beyond ensuring that the behavior does not become too reckless or rebellious in nature. This is a time of drinking and partying unseen at any other time throughout the city-state, and raucous individuals can be found aplenty filling the streets.

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Racial Views

• Humans, Biqaj, Sev'ryn - Viewed in a typically positive light. Sev'ryn in particular are required to renounce any previous ties they held to the Immortals.
• Avriel, Aukari - Noted for their quick tempers and potential to cause trouble, but otherwise treated as fellow citizens with no discernible issues. Racial tensions towards these two are quite low.
• Tunawa - Regarded with a fair level of hostility due to the relationship that the people of Quacia typically have with trees. The idea of a sentient piece of plantlife is simultaneously infuriating and terrifying to them.
• Ithecal - The sole slaves of the Quacian people, they are regarded as an inferior species of sub-human lizards, barely above being animals. They are treated harshly by many, and are condemned to lives of hard labor and potential sacrifice.
• Eidisi - Considered to be somewhat odd, but given their general humanoid appearance and their appreciation for knowledge, they're viewed on a fairly good basis by the Quacian people.
• Yludih - Those that are revealed are typically considered to be a fascination. Their abilities are treasured by nearly all factions of Quacia, and it is likely they would not be treated with the same distrust and hostility as other cities.
• Ellune, Qi'ora - Viewed in a similar light as being near-humanoid, but notably different. Their abilities are, on occasion, useful, but they're seen with more skepticism than many other races solely due to their strange physiology.
• Mer - Almost entirely unknown to the Quacian people.
• Lotharro - Appreciated for their monster-hunting abilities, but otherwise classed as little more than a race of strong humans.
• Naerikk - Viewed with some degree of inherent skepticism. The Quacian people tend to distrust the Naer in general, under the impression that all of them are working towards a global conspiracy.

Magic Views

One of the few cities of the world where Magic is quite openly found to be beneficial and is encouraged. This is likely due to the presence of the local Seeker's Conclave. While it is true that there are always individuals in any population who find the rampant practice of such abilities to be somewhat potentially dangerous, for the most part, the people of Quacia don't mind it so long as it doesn't negatively impact their lives. For the sake of ensuring that accidents are kept to a minimum, a majority of practitioners are asked to keep their abilities to a minimum throughout day-to-day life, but there are no punishments for more grandiose displays so long as nothing is damaged and no one is injured.

Interestingly, while it is true that the Seekers are responsible for a great deal of the magical influence within the city, certain schools typically not of their purview are occasionally practiced including the infamous necromancy. Again, these practices are not necessarily viewed in a negative light, and in the past, it has become necessary on occasion to rely on the labor of corpses to ensure that a task is accomplished in an efficient manner. That being said, those who practice necromancy are required to be given access to a desired corpse by the corpse's relatives or immediate family, and are asked to keep such hideous abominations confined where they will not irritate the eyes of passerby, nor assault their noses with the stench, or their bodies with the diseased remains of decomposition.