Culture

Quarsus is, at its core a militarist state, and while it is a fully functional society with farmers, smiths, craftsmen, merchants and physicians an emphasis on military fitness and service begins virtually at birth. Shortly after birth a child is bathed in wine to test it for strength, if the child survives it is brought before the council to determine if it is viable. If the child is deemed unworthy or deformed the child is cast away and killed, there is no reason to waste resources on useless children. Death is seen with similar dispassion. The common custom is to cremate the body with very little ceremony to speak of. The dead have moved to Doxa and their memory cannot be honored by ceremony, only by honorable service.

Education
When male Quarsians reach the age of seven they begin the Akoge, an educational and disciplinary system designed to teach and encourage competition, physical toughness and basic combat and survival skills and the importance of service to the Shahraam and the state. Young boys live for weeks at a time in communal cells where they are fed just enough to keep them strong, keeping them hungry and wanting for more and trained to b­­e creative, skilled survivors in whatever task the headmasters lay before them. Besides weapons and other “soldierly” pursuits boys study reading, writing, music and sciences and punished severely if they fail to respond to any questions sufficiently.

Young women have similar schooling to the boys, however they do not attend the communes and spend a great deal less time on soldierly pursuits and more on social and economic infistrusture.

Marriage
The marriage custom in Quarsus is standard enough, it is traditional for the prospective groom to ask the potential bride’s father for permission to marry his daughter which usually involved some form of test. If the couple weds without the permission of the bride’s father (Or most prominent male figure) the marriage is considered void and a common result is the Father gathers a posse and murders the couple. Once permission is garnered the couple hold a simple ceremony where they pledge themselves to one another and then take up residence in their marriage house. Marriage in Quarsus is permanent, and while adultery is not considered an issue divorce does not exist under any circumstances.