Editing Molenor

'''Location and Geography'''

Molenor is located on the northwestern edge of the southern continent and the four city-states are located on or near the two major rivers of the region.  The northern river is known as the ''Sonnar River'' or the "River Smoke", so named because the ice cold waters flowing out of the ''Mo'Krai Mountains'' ("Dragon Home mountains") often produce thick fog when it enters the warm lowlands of the Molenor region. The Sonnar River flows through the lush Molenor region and empties into ''Ishtoni Bay'' or the "Bay of Turtles."  To the south, ''the Do'gri River'' flows through Molenor territory and then turns south and meanders through the vast southern jungles, until emptying into ''Mo'Kari Bay'' ("Serpent Home Bay"), where local legends say that a species of 100 ft. long snakes make their home.

[[Image:Molenor.png|frame|'''Map of Molenor''']]



'''City States'''

[[Cyzerez]]

[[Murunsel]]

[[Ugurol]]

[[Tunui]] 





'''People and Culture'''

The Molenor are mostly fair-skinned, with the men generally having dense hair development. The average male height is around 5’7” with women being slightly shorter (5’5”). Most Molenor (as they are called by foreigners) tend to be very broad shouldered and rather stocky.

The women tattoo their mouths, and sometimes the forearms. The mouth tattoos are started at a young age with a small spot on the upper lip, gradually increasing with size. The soot deposited on a pot hung over a fire of misheln bark is used for its deep black color.

The Molenor are traditionally animists, believing that everything in nature has an ''amu'' or spirit-on-the-inside. There is a hierarchy of the amu. The most important is ''Grandmother Earth'', then amu of the mountains (Dragons), then the amu of animals, and lastly everything else. The Molenor have no priestly profession. The ruler of each city (or the village headmen) perform the required religious ceremonies as necessary and observe all the major and minor religious days. Ceremonies typically include animal sacrifices, libations of beer, uttering of prayers, and burning willow sticks that are bundled with scented wooden shavings and herbs. These sticks are called ''nusa''. They are placed on an altar and the smoke from these offerings are used to "send back" the amu of killed animals. The Molenor people also give thanks to the gods before eating and pray to the deity of fire in time of sickness. They believe their own spirits are immortal, and that their spirits will be rewarded hereafter by ascending to ''kural misor'' (Land of the Gods).





'''Language'''
The people of Molenor refer to themselves as the Lenor or Lenori, and Molenor means "Home of the Lenor." Their root language is Lenorian, with Molenorian being the modern, commonly spoken form of Lenorian. There are some minor variations in dialects that have arisen.  These dialects are the result of some rural populations being more isolated from the main city states and the rapidly evolving lexicon of city dwellers.  As a result, a native speaker of Molenorian can instantly tell whether someone is from a city or from a small village.





'''Architecture''' 

Rural households revolve around the extended family. Each extended family or clan often lives in a single large house construction of wood and covered with thatch. These houses are built 8-10 ft. off the ground in order to keep the house from flooding during the heavy monsoon rains, and the floods often caused by these rains. During the drier seasons, livestock (mainly pigs, but others also) are kept in pens/corrals located under the house. During floods the animals are brought into the main house. These one room houses can often reach 50-100 ft. in length and can accommodate a large number of people for sleeping and work activities.

Urban houses tend to be somewhat smaller, and cities are constructed on higher ground to minimize flooding problems. Houses are generally two stories, with the bottom floor constructed of thick stone that is accessible only from the second floor. The second floor is constructed of wood with a tile roof and a wooden floor. Large shuttered and slatted windows are common in order to keep the house both cool and dry.

Cooking and warmth is provided by a fired clay stove/oven located in the center of the dwelling. Often in a small area covered with clay tiles in order to help prevent accidental fires.


Here is an example of an [http://www.geocities.com/kirksmithicus/molenorhouse.JPG urban Lenori House] with a small courtyard.





'''Clothing'''

The traditional Molenor dress is a robe spun from the inner bark of the bahan tree, called ''atusta'' or ''atushta'' and consists of a simple, short robe with straight sleeves, which is folded around the body, and tied with a band about the waist. The sleeves end at the wrist or forearm and the length generally is to the calves. Women also wear an undergarment of Jheran cloth (silk). Seamstresses are often hired to embroider traditional family and cultural designs onto these garments, with the greatest seamstresses commanding very high prices for their work. Everyday wear consists of plain brown or white, short sleeved tunics and knee-length pants. Younger and affluent Lenori often incorporate foreign clothing into their wardrobe as an indicator of their social status and disdain for the rigid traditional values of Lenori society.

Both sexes are fond of earrings, which are said to have been made of grapevine in former times but are now made of copper, brass, silver or gold. Bead necklaces called ''samatay'', are a highly prized accessory among female Lenori of all social castes.





'''Hair Styles'''





'''Sports and Leisure'''





'''Domesticated Crops'''

Peas, Millet, Onions, Sorghum, Limes, and Dates





'''Common Herbs and Spices'''

Mustard Seed, Dill Weed, Tarragon





'''Domesticated animals''' 

Horse, oxen, Sheep, Dog, and Pig.





'''Naming conventions''' 

Male names often end in: ast, ver, ero, ame, iate, ern
      
Female names often end in: ady, iss, enne, asha, alia, effe.



'''Creator/s:''' UR Leader Hobbes (Region and City State names), AmberJack (Location and Geography, Domesticated Animals, Herbs and Spices, Domesticated Crops and Language), Kirk Smith (Naming Conventions  and Architecture)



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