Society
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__________ Culture
There was never any certainty with a culture so loosely organized and scattered far and wide, never comfortable with isolation and stillness. The Farlands had offered plenty to satiate the wanderlust of the Rasai and their desire to learn, but there was only ever danger capable of surviving the chaotic wilds. The limited numbers that dared to explore beyond their homeland grew a reputation of flighty and impulsive behaviour, used to the rapid changes they've adopted to survive, but strived to learn regardless. Where there was life, there were Rasai ready to expand their experiences.
Rasai were comfortable living among other races, whether it be because they found a way to use their arcane talents to blend in or learned to participate in the culture, but preferred traveling and living in the company of their own kin. Leaders of Rasai would be given titles of royalty—titles that were haphazardly thrown around to avoid the responsibilities of leading their kin. Regardless, they were willing to follow any Rasai that dared to take the titles, happy to serve as long as it kept their society strong and alive.
The company they chose could easily influence them, bribing them with new knowledge. They were happy to learn about the traditions and cultures of others, but quick to flee from anything that actively endangered their lives. There were few traditions carried with them, regardless of how far they drifted away from their own culture and kin. Rasai that have ventured so far may still have their Hunter's Bane ritual to do, claim a nameday, choose a path to advance their talents, or even follow their calling. With such extensive lifespans, they had plenty of time to go at their own pace.
Warrens
Rasai bloodlines were so vast and intertwined, anyone with rabbit-like features could join a warren and they would be accepted without question, regardless of their actual race. Warrens were quick to fill and often became overcrowded, eliminating the concepts of privacy and personal space. When warrens became too large, they split apart into smaller communities and set out to build new settlements.
The Farlands allowed only a few opportunities to build a family and even fewer to build a home. Rasai settlements were humble and comfortable at the bare minimum, primarily using their shifting environments to build their structures. They rarely held a connection to these buildings, forced to accept that they will one day be destroyed by something outside of their control. Places with little resistance to being dampened were sturdy, dense areas like underground cave systems and thick forests. Keeping their settlements in these dark areas not only provided a well-hidden home, but allowed for easier building as there was little room for the Farlands to shift.
More secluded homes were temporary and loosely built, just cozy enough to serve as resting spots for traveling Rasai. The signs of an abandoned structure was always the lack of decorations, as Rasai loved to stuff their homes full of hoarded trinkets. They would take their trinkets with them when they were done, allowing for another to move in or for the structure to fall apart. Some would even attempt to rebuild and repair these homes. Over generations, chaotic and isolated structures would litter the Farlands, becoming an unspoken rule to respect the abandoned builds. Another may need it soon enough.
Cuisine
Scavenging, hunting, foraging, whatever outsiders want to call their means of survival. Rasai were omnivores that favoured raw meats and natural ingredients. The Farlands had a lot to offer, but determining how much of it was actually safe to eat was an impossible task. Well, they had to survive somehow. They've developed strong stomachs and a resistance to toxic ingredients over generations, this tolerance going as far as to allow them to even eat rotten or poisoned food without harm.
Meat from Farlander fauna could be found anywhere, even already dead from their inability to push through the chaos. There were also always new flora growing to be used for seasoning, but Rasai favoured using different mosses. Or just eating straight up moss. Most food storage in Rasai settlements was filled with different types of mosses, if it wasn't already filled with dead fauna. The Farlands didn't really allow for anyone to be too picky.
Honey was considered a rarity, having no luck in finding Farlander bees that can produce large enough quantities of honey to use as ingredients. Sweets were basically only spoken of by culinarian Rasai that have let their roots grow far. Even then, finding ingredients to bake anything was a daunting task. Some Rasai out there are probably expanding out just to find out what honey really tastes like.
Fashion
Clothing was considered by artisans in Rasai culture first and foremost; tailors using their kin to design outfits, armourers offering suits to protect them, theatrics that called for costumes, and even the occasional artist that wanted to capture a scene. Overcrowded warrens didn't allow for much shame in regards to nudity, but that didn't stop some Rasai from just wanting to look pretty in a big coat.
Otherwise, clothing was only valued for its function and comfort. Articles of clothing would be discarded without hesitation when it could no longer provide any use and immediately replaced with the next best thing. Rasai were commonly adorned in trinkets, tools and various pockets of storage. If it had any use for their calling, they would find a way to add it to their attire.
Trade
Rasai value use and usefulness, sharing a racewide belief that stillness will be the end for everyone. Without a calling to follow, there would be a constant sense of dread where there should instead be opportunities to hone their skills. There were no limits to where a Rasai's calling lies and could easily be shaped by their desires, but most would take up what they had a natural skill for. Some may have a keen ear for music, while others may hold onto vast knowledge of the natural world. Rasai were only held back by their desire for satisfaction.
As a result, euphoria came first above all else. Rasai could use their extensive lifespan to advance their knowledge and explore other skills, but generally preferred to stick to the field their calling roots sprouted from. Finding enjoyment in the work they do was far more valuable than fumbling about and trying to learn something outside of their field. It wasn't an uncommon thing for Rasai to try, but being met with constant failure was never a joy.
Those without callings would happily be taken in as apprentices and students, including those that weren't Rasai. Even the most secluded Rasai could find a simple pleasure in sharing everything they've learned over the years.
Magic
The most common form of Rasai magic was the chaos they've been imbued with; their reflection and its capabilities, and they were doomed without them. To Rasai, this was part of their very being and what they truly considered themselves to be; something beyond the shell. There was no separating a Rasai from their reflection, nor could they have their talents taken from them. Injury to the reflection could heal and recover, just as flesh did with scars and all, yet it wasn't injured through conventional means.
To outsiders, what the Rasai were capable of was magic by the very definition, but putting it into words was something else. There were ways to detect their unusual traits, similar to how magic is detected, but it never quite felt the same. All Rasai auras were pitch black, views of their inactive reflections were unfocused, and even their injuries didn't seem to stay in place. Trying to place their magic was like a word on the tip of the tongue, just out of reach. Outsiders' attempts to suppress or control aspects gifted to Rasai by a realm of chaos only resulted in explosive consequences, displays of wild magic and bursts of absolute destruction. There may be the occasional Rasai baby born without the gifts of the Farlands, untouched by the chaos itself, but would have little chance to make it to adulthood.
Other forms of magic could be learned by Rasai, tending to favour enhancements over becoming a traditional spellcaster. There was nothing truly stopping them from exploring whatever the arcane had to offer, but few were willing to dedicate themselves to a time-consuming art. There were no limits to what Rasai could learn when it came to the arcane, as long as it didn't involve attempts to control chaos. Rasai know better.
Superstition
There were certain rules to chaos, some that made little sense and were unknown in origin, yet they were echoed among Rasai regardless. Whether these rules were born of truth or paranoia was a mystery, but the Farlands had all the time in the world and a sense of humour to indulge them every now and then.__________
