Culture of Varshan
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The culture of Varshan
Ethnicites
Non-ethnic Varshanis
Non-ethnic Varshanis ("NEVs") refers to Varshani nationals who have no identifiable national homeland but are not ethnically Varshani. These people originate from the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of identifiable Cronan ethnolinguistic groups enslaved or conquered by Zurgite Varshan. The origin of these people shared with some of the prehistoric people of Quetzenkel, plus many more who were conquered and acculturated so long ago that any knowledge of them is lost. Many of these people are related to the descendant nations of the North Songun civilization, taken into slavery during the period of the Hunts.
Foreign Varshanis
Foreign Varshanis are a small group of Varshani nationals who are ethnically not Cronan at all but nonetheless originate in Varshan. Most of these peoples are descended from Occidental or Alshari slaves who intermarried.
Religion
Arzalism
Traditional social institutions
Slavery
Slavery in Varshan was the primary source of labor for most enterprises throughout the existence of Zurgite Varshan.
The largest ethnic group slaved were ethnic Varshanis who became enslaved for military ineptitude, failure to complete certain cultural and religious rituals, or as a criminal penalty; as well as millions of ethnic Varshanis born into slavery, mostly as descendants of people in the previous categories or as the result of sexual slavery under free Varshani masters. Many slave children fathered by their owners are allowed to become metics, especially if their mothers are also ethnic Varshani.
During its existence, many Occidentals lived as slaves in Varshan. Most were kidnapped from Occidental possessions in Crona or captured by pirates and sold into slavery, particularly during the period of the Vallosi Piratocracies. Occidental women were especially prized for their "exotic" appearances.