Purpaurean Utopia
Purpaureans are the Rabbit Ferox who founded the densely-populated City of Cavumborough, a sprawling metropolis that extends deep underground. This clan of rabbit-folk once lived in constant fear of raiders, warmongers, and all manner of large and powerful foes but have since become masters of technology, using their engineering feats to support their ever-booming population. They believe in a divine Muse, which can take over their body and create incredible wonders of engineering, art, or academia. Many rumors circulate about what secret technologies might exist within the vaults of Cavumborough’s enigmatic undercity, called “The Burrows”, but the impenetrable automated defenses of the subterranean city have kept outsiders at bay for centuries. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the above-ground portion of the city populated by their dear allies, the Rodent and other Critter Ferox, whom the Purpaureans have coerced into working their fields, mines, and foundries. The surface city is still frequently raided, with the Critter Ferox constantly defending against attacks, while the Rabbits in the lower utopia thrive in safety and luxury.
History
Long ago, Purpaureans made up a modest society of agricultural Rabbit Ferox. Humble and close to the land, they worked their fields, told oral stories, and put family and community above all else. Being small in stature, they were hounded mercilessly by warmongering neighbors and brutal raiders, with their villages and fields left burnt to the ground, their meager possessions stolen, and many slain or carried off to be sold into slavery. For centuries, the Rabbitfolk were kept in an endless cycle of building, growing, reaping, raiding, razing, and restarting, never able to advance beyond the bare minimum to survive.
Though the exact details are muddled by legends and retellings, this is all said to have changed when Clan Purpaurea first discovered the wonders of engineering. Whether this initial discovery was due to the brilliance of one Ferox Inventor, the slow development of technology, or just a fluke of chance encountering a foreign tinkerer, the ancient legends have overlapped so much that the truth may never be known. What is known is that the Purpaureans took to technology with fervor, investing all of their energy into developing and perfecting it. Their farms were automated, which made their population boom. With advancement came new threats, new enemies seeking to take their bounty by force, and thus new weapons and fortifications, new armor, and finally a new sense of security.
Now that the Purpaureans had a means of protection and infrastructure to support themselves, other Rabbit clans began to flock to them, integrating into their clan and eventually establishing the City of Cavumborough. The fields grew more expansive, and the need to protect them grew even greater. Commerce became viable, and with new imports came new opportunities. The city grew larger, but instead of growing taller, the Rabbitfolk opted to burrow downward. At long last, they had a fully defensible society, self-sustained by their food production and thriving in the subterranean utopia. Arts and leisure saw a renaissance, wealth became abundant, and the brilliance of Purpaurean engineers reached new heights far beneath the world's surface.
With the explosion of wealth in the area and the impenetrable defenses of Cavumborough, raiders and rivals had begun turning their aggression toward other Ferox clans. Various clans of Critter Ferox found themselves exhausted by the endless attacks and turned to the Purpaureans for help. Simultaneously, with the Purpaureans’ rapid success came an exponential population rise. Eventually, the needs of the City began to put stress on the Rabbit-folk’s infrastructure such that even their automatons could not bear the full burden of upkeeping not only the endless sprawl of tunnels but the food production, resource harvesting, and industrialization above ground. But the enlightened and privileged Purpaureans were remiss to abandon their way of life for something as meager as manual labor. The solution was clear - if the other clans would work the land in the upper-city to support the under-city, they would benefit from its protection. The Purpaureans allowed other Ferox to live within the walls of the Cavumborough’s top city, and asked only for their labor in exchange for their lives. A fair trade, the Rabbits seemed to think.
As the other Ferox filled in the topside city, the Purpaureans became ever more secluded, now living entirely in the lower levels of their own perfect utopia. Venturing above-ground became a social taboo, as one would not want to associate themselves with the lower class, nor leave themselves vulnerable beyond the city’s protection. Besides, everything that one could need was in the Burrows, connected by miles and miles of tunnels all made luxurious by abundant wealth, labor, and engineering. The Rabbit-folk were natural socialites, and the cosmopolitan game of social climbing has been their most beloved pastime for centuries.
Philosophy
The most successful icons of Purpaurean culture tend to be regarded as geniuses. They can be remarkable inventors, talented musicians, brilliant engineers, exquisite painters, or captivating orators, to name but a few of their many disciplines. To have “Muse” is the most cherished trait of any Purpaurean, so much so that their veneration of Muse has become almost spiritual. When people chase their inspiration, they are given ample space, time, and resources to achieve their vision. They can sometimes lose themselves for hours on a project that captivates them, but the most divine Muses can last for days, months, even years. The final result may be world-changing, or it may be a fascinating new style of dress - it matters little, so long as the inspiration carries the project to completion. The worst thing that can happen is to be abandoned by the Muse, suddenly bereft of inspiration, or worse: to become distracted and to abandon it yourself.
Purpaureans have a history of loving legends and myths, and their stories have a way of becoming grander and grander over time, to the point that their heroes are almost considered divine. Every child knows the story of Hewellyn the Spark of Song, whose inspiration was so great from hearing the call of birds that she began to sing and invented music. Or Arbithurym So Fleet of Foot that the Winds Envy Him, who ran so quickly that he sparked the first fire when he ran across the mountains. There are hundreds of such tales, and the Heroes within them are sometimes even called upon when young Rabbitfolk find themselves having lost inspiration for a particular project. Some ancient families even claim to be related to their favorite heroes, though the overwhelming rate of birth, marriage, and death in the Burrows tends to make tracking lineages very difficult.
All Ferox philosophies explore some sort of duality, and the Purpaureans, whether they realize it or not, embody the dichotomy of enlightenment and ignorance. Their society only thrived thanks to the brilliance of their technology, and they are more proud of their genius than anything else. However, their society also functions on secrecy, hidden information, and remaining secluded in their own echo chambers. Even the naturalism that is the foundation of all Ferox belief systems has been manipulated by willing ignorance about their own wastefulness.
Naming Customs
Purpaurean names typically sound soft and flow effortlessly into multiple syllables. Common parts of names include “lynn”, “elle”, “an”, and “ea”. Names from other cultures are often Rabbit-ized by shifting the hard consonants into softer sounds, such as shifting “Rebecca” into “Revissa”, or “Edward” into “Ethwynn”. Some hard consonants do remain, especially in the beginning of a name, such as “Trent” into “Treth”. Some names are drawn out with additional syllables, such as “Emily” into “Emilienne”, or “Dave” into “Davalian”. It is also popular to use common, natural words as names, with the same alterations as above, such as “Daisy” into “Daisille”.
Common Feminine Names: Wynona, Annevelle, Taylea, Lunaviere, Gwentholynn, Riveranne, Louella
Common Masculine Names: Flintan, Matthewyn, Liamar, Mishael, Syvasthian, Hoseph, Noelan
Common Neutral Names: Oliviere, Roblyn, Llewel, Skyvan, Eriss, Raeshal, Soleras
Purpaureans have surnames, though sometimes their full titles are quite long. For one thing, it’s expected that a child will take both parents’ surnames, with the parents choosing one of their two surnames to give the child. Parents with multiple children may opt to give them different surnames, having four to choose from. As a sign of familial loyalty, a child may later adopt all surnames available to them, meaning any Purpaurean has one first name, and between 2-4 surnames, or more if they have a particularly important great grandparent they wish to honor.
With the Purpaureans’ love of heroes and legends, they will also sometimes adopt monikers for themselves which can be quite lengthy. For example, “Staryssa Fleethand-Aurivare-Blessin Whose Claws of Iron Make Even the Mountains Bleed”, or “Austhen Morgwaelynn-Heriss Bright Heart of the Ninth Generation of Blessed Tinkerers.” These titles are typically bestowed upon an individual, but can also simply be insisted upon by the individual themselves. They’re most commonly reserved for documentation, and formal presentation such as when introduced to a crowd. The young and uncouth may try to force an impressive title for themselves, but this sometimes backfires if a new title sticks more strongly than the one intended, such as in the unfortunate case of “Phyrus Orschalan-Greensire Whose Yapping Mouth Makes Even Worms Cover Their Ears”.
Life in the Burrows
Governance of the Purpaureans is democratic, contributing to the stake of the social games they play daily. The elected council oversees law and civil matters, but security remains overseen by a trio of Ferox whose positions are non-negotiable. They are an engineer, an economist, and a general, who appoint their own replacements by unanimous vote so that the most crucial job in the Burrows - that of security - is always handled by the utmost professionals in their field. These esteemed leaders determine what information is shared where and with whom, while the democratic council creates the laws and decides what is fairest for everyone. Naturally, the security officials also oversee punishment, and have control of the automatons who keep the peace and oversee the upkeep of the city.
For the Purpaureans in The Burrows, life gets more luxurious the further down you go. The deepest levels of the city are where the social game is played constantly. Social seasons come and go on the whispered gossip of the elite, fashions are created and disposed of on the whim of the tastemakers, waste is as abundant as wealth, and the lines between leisure and business are practically non-existent. A day of bed rest might cause one to miss out on crucial context for the next social gathering, leading to irrevocable public blunders that will make them the topic of tomorrow’s tea-sipping soirée. It is a hurricane of information, opinions, secrets, and expectations.
As the city ascends, winding upward through ponderous, unending tunnels, halls, homes, malls, workshops, restaurants, schools, and every other type of building, the glamour will begin to slowly fade away. In tunnels within tunnels, “Rabbit Holes” connect the Burrows to parts of the surface city as well as to one another, where the transportation of goods and resources is entirely automated and incredibly efficient within the sub-city. Waste is funneled upward and outward, away from Purpaurean society where it can be out of sight and thus out of mind.
Purpaureans pride themselves on their ventilation and filtration systems, which keep their air freshly recycled and their water purified. Now and then, some may raise environmental concerns about the waste produced by the city; these problem-makers are quickly disposed of through the tunnels, escorted by automatons to somewhere they won’t burden anyone else. Those few who give it a thought presume them to be taken to another area of the city which may be more to their liking, and where their attitude can be adjusted more favorably. The surface is a thought that most Purpaureans entirely disregard, left to the other Ferox and the automatons who graciously defend the city. All technological advancement happens in workshops below ground, with only the most crude manufacturing happening in the top city with non-rabbit labor, such as mining, smelting, refining, et cetera.
For more information on the culture of Cavumborough’s surface city, including its population of grateful Critter Ferox and the Rat Mafia who politely oversees them, please read the Cavumborough page.
Fashion
A staple crop of the Purpaureans is a red-purple root vegetable called Puradish. So culturally important was this tuber to their ancestors that dyes continue to be made from its purple flesh to this day. It is traditional and still fashionable to use pink, red, and purple heavily in Purparean clothing, with some even going so far as to use the dye on areas of their fur and hair. Less furry Ferox still use the dye to ink tattoos in these colors, or to enamel metal in their weapons, armor, and technology. This color is typically a reddish purple, but can vary from pale lilac, to mauve, to rich, deep magenta and purple. This iconic vegetable and the dyes it created led to the name of clan Purpaurea, meaning “the long-eared purple-people.”
Purpaurean clothing is a culture unto itself. It is high fashion, even avant-garde, with individuals trying to outdo one another in a cycle of trends that moves too quickly to parse. Because styles change so frequently, many types of clothing can be worn, so long as they show some intention and taste. Even in the wider world, this tendency toward statement pieces and creative fashion continues to make Purpaurean Ferox turn heads at any lavish gala where they can wear their best.
In a more practical sense, Purpaureans wear clothing that suits their vocation. Engineers wear gloves, bakers wear aprons, et cetera. Still, these things tend to be decorated with the personal stylings of the Ferox and are often colored with the ever-popular Puradish purples.
Families
Rabbitfolk are naturally communal, with even the most solitary introverts still living somewhat near to others even if they prefer to spend their time alone. Children are commonly co-parented by their neighbors, and parents have many children, sometimes with plural marriages. There is no distinction given to which parents sire which offspring in a family, and a “sibling” can simply be the person whom someone was raised nearest to, related or not. “Aunt” can refer to your parent’s sister, or simply to the kindly neighborhood woman whose kitchen you always ended up in at the end of a long day. The elderly are treated with immense respect, and tend to be knowledgeable in the goings-on of their boroughs.
Technology, Weapons, and Magic
Purpaurean inventors will have a unique technical style that expresses the creator’s ingenuity. Their technology is incredibly difficult to reverse engineer, with redundant functions and red herrings built into its framework to deter others from discovering their secrets. It is as beautiful as it is efficient, with devoted inventors treating their prized possessions as dearly as their own children. They also treasure their tools, with prized tools like hammers and wrenches considered priceless heirlooms. They can be sleek and functional, or decorated with precious stones and engravings. It is not uncommon for Purpaureans to give their weapons, guns, inventions, or even their treasured tools a whimsical name.
While it’s not as common as being an engineer, Purpaurean mystics do exist, and they tend to treat magic the way an engineer treats tools. They can be incredibly clever in its use and function, channeling their potentia to solve problems with creativity and brilliance.
Purpaureans in Galudon
Despite the wonderful life that Cavumborough and its utopian Burrows can provide, some eventually grow stir-crazy and desire to leave. This is not forbidden, though there is a simple caveat - those who leave may never return. Communication is strictly controlled beyond the city, meaning that any communications must be approved by the three security officials. To leave the city is to forge one’s own path, perhaps seeking inspiration, but knowing that you will never return to share it with the people you once knew. Still, this is preferable for those who may not “fit in” with the social circles or who find themselves making trouble more often than not. Sometimes, it is even encouraged, as the individual will likely only cause problems if they remain in civilized company. And with the common love of heroes and legends, sometimes this path is taken by the bravest, boldest, or the most curious. They are given spectacular and tearful send-offs and then left to their own wits and whatever possessions they’ve taken with them into the world.
Purpaureans who leave the sub-city exit beyond the walls of the surface city, and thus may never realize the effects they’ve had on the Rodent Ferox of Cavumborough for their entire lives. As they venture outward they rarely ever look back, and those who eventually start families will usually still speak fondly of the city, leading to many rumors and exaggerated truths about what it’s truly like within the insular Burrows.
Purpaureans are incredibly inspiring to be around, as they push others to succeed with whatever dreams they have, even if it’s not practical. They dive fully into their passions, finding communities that will appreciate their talents. They can be seen as eccentric, sometimes tunnel-visioned or even obsessive. Alternatively, they might be seeking to discover their purpose in life, looking to experience all the world has to offer until their Muse comes to them. They may even wish to make their own legends, like the heroes of their favorite stories.
Having Purpaureans in a city is always a benefit to the cultural scene, as they come with new ideas about art and technology, and a practiced hand at dealing with the social elites. Many are excellent marksmen and strategists, and can contribute to militaries either on the battlefield or from the backlines. They make patient teachers and eager students. Those who prefer to keep to themselves will find a simple home where they can focus on their craft, and foster their inspiration. Often, Rabbit-folk settle into boroughs alongside each other, and form small cultural grottos that help to support and foster one another.
Trivia
- The longest recorded name of a Purpaurean took over three pages of parchment to fully document, and detailed the heroic exploits of a General who defended the city against a massive raiding clan, using a complicated system of turrets and explosive compounds hidden within common objects throughout the surface city. It is also a poem, with its own internal rhyming scheme.
- The very topmost level of the subterranean city is populated almost exclusively by automatons, and the only living Ferox permitted to use it are the Rodents who make up the peacekeeping Rat Mafia, who benefit from having quick access to anywhere in the surface city.
- While it’s generally assumed the security officers have a complete blueprint of the Burrows, it’s well known that many tunnels have gone in and out of use over the years, and thus getting lost in the tunnels is a possibility that many avoid by only navigating those they’re familiar with.
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