The Movamomian culture, found on the Meda continent, or “Archipelago,” is deeply intertwined with the oceanic environment, with strong social customs, distinct artistic expressions, and a fluid approach to gender and societal roles. Despite the collapse of a central empire, Movamom societies remain highly organized through city-states, federations, and trade associations that thrive on inter-island commerce and community-centered governance.

Customs

A prominent feature of Movamom culture is the ubiquitous parasol made of palm leaves, serving as both a sun shield and cultural symbol. Among those living in the water, octopuses are popular pets, valued for their intelligence and ability to assist with various tasks. Physical contact is generally considered taboo, especially on land, where touching someone is seen as a profound declaration of affection. However, underwater this practice is relaxed, as water is thought to create a natural boundary between individuals. Movamom customs also include protecting oneself from the sun, with farmers covering their skin in mud for long workdays.

Names are used with caution; they are only spoken among those who share mutual trust, showing a cultural reverence for personal identity. Boats are commonly painted to resemble animals, paying homage to the sea's spirit and displaying eyes as a form of respect. Additionally, families, especially those in the south, often dedicate younger children to temples, offering them early religious experiences. Clothing holds significant importance and reflects regional identity through silk patterns unique to each area of the archipelago. Monogamy is typical, though rare polygamous unions are also culturally acceptable, with nose-to-nose contact being as intimate as a kiss.

Cuisine

Movamom cuisine emphasizes seafood and aquatic plants, with an aversion to terrestrial meats. Traditional dishes commonly include rice, coconuts, and various crustaceans, with seaweed-based tea as a well-known specialty. Rice is typically served with mussels and flavored with aquatic plants, enhancing the delicacy. Food is often consumed with spoons, and seaweed salads are a popular dish, showcasing the Movamom preference for marine ingredients.

Education

Education in Movamom culture instills respect and honor toward parents, who are viewed as figures of divine authority. Gender-neutral upbringing is standard, and children grow up without the strict gender roles seen in other societies. As they mature, they gradually adopt a more fluid understanding of gender roles, mirroring the loosely defined gender expectations of adults.

Appearance and Clothing

Movamom dress includes intricate jewelry crafted from shells, gold, and stone, reflecting their affinity for the sea. Their skin tones range from fair to light brown, and their eyes typically feature yellowish hues with horizontal slit pupils. Clothing adheres to culturally defined gender expressions, with frequent changes expected to match fluid gender identities. Traditional garments resemble Greek togas, and conical hats crafted from red water plants provide sun protection.

Weapons and Armor

Movamom warriors favor polearms similar to naginata and glaives, often concealing their faces except for their eyes with headgear. Armor is covered with thick cloth, lending a concealed appearance. Sharkskin is a preferred material for armor, and firearms are rudimentary, with bamboo hand cannons fueled by gunpowder, alongside other weaponry innovations.

Tattoos

Tattooing holds both religious and aesthetic value, showcasing spiral, wave, and edge motifs that vary by gender. Coherent patterns covering the back and arms are preferred, while vibrant tattoos are exclusive to special rites and administered by priests.

Hair

Movamomians typically have dark blond to light brown hair, worn short with rounded plaits. Long hair is a status symbol reserved for higher classes, as practicality dictates shorter hairstyles among the working class.

Ethics

Movamom ethics emphasize a profound respect for privacy, particularly concerning sexuality, which remains a personal matter. Nudity is a significant cultural taboo, and they view themselves as superior to earthkin, valuing longevity as an indicator of wisdom. Freedom of belief is highly respected, despite occasional conflicts among the various religious sects.

Politics

The Movamomian political landscape is highly decentralized, lacking a unified state since the fall of the Archipelago Empire. Most political organization occurs through monarchies, trade associations, and federations.

Monarchies

In Movamom monarchies, rulers are often seen as semi-divine figures. Theocratic principles guide these monarchies, with rulers appointing officials, usually from wealthy or religious backgrounds, to aid in governance.

Trade Associations

Trade associations are coalitions focused on commerce, with main headquarters on pivotal trading islands. These associations, though not always recognized as sovereign, sometimes function like states, wielding considerable influence and sometimes even claiming statehood.

Communes and Federations

Communes are collective structures where ownership is communal. Small islands and seagrassland areas serve as independent entities that operate without private property, emphasizing communal responsibility.

Gender

Movamom society recognizes a triadic gender framework consisting of male, female, and non-binary categories, though expressions of gender are fluid and expansive. Children are raised without specific gender markers until reaching adulthood, when they declare their personal identity, often reinforced by ritual celebrations. Hormonal plants facilitate natural transition, with gender change deeply embedded in Movamom tradition.

Music and Art

Movamom music features “ancestral singing,” characterized by sustained, resonant tones, and folk art bears a resemblance to cave painting, underscoring a respect for ancestral practices and traditional expressions.

Technology

Fishing technology is highly developed among the Movamom, with specialized methods for different aquatic environments. Papermaking is also a skilled craft, using papyrus-like plants and soot ink for intricate writing systems. Additionally, the Movamom are credited with inventing gunpowder, used primarily for bombs and simpler firearms.

Transportation

Boats and ships are essential to Movamom life, with outrigger boats common for short journeys and larger vessels like catamarans for long-distance travel. On land, transport is limited, though wheelbarrows filled with water are used to bring aquatic pets on land. Underwater, tamed creatures are popular for short-distance movement.

Economy

The Movamomian economy is heavily centered on fishing, which provides sustenance and economic stability for communities. Aquaculture is prevalent, with rice paddies and seaweed cultivation forming essential aspects of food production. Trade is especially vibrant in the northern Movamom regions, where international commerce flourishes, with tea as a significant export.

Farming

Movamom farms primarily rely on aquaculture, with rice, edible seaweed, and controlled fruit tree forests providing food for the population. Paddy fields and deepwater rice techniques maximize crop yields, while coconut palms are another critical crop.

Animal husbandry

Aquatic animal husbandry focuses on fish and crabs, with selective breeding for food and trade. Silk production and sheep farming are also essential, though sheep meat is more commonly traded than consumed locally.

Trade

The Movamom are adept traders, particularly in the north, where they facilitate significant cultural exchange across the archipelago. With trade islands as hubs, they import and export goods from the archipelago and beyond. Historically, marked shells were used as currency, now largely replaced by engraved metal “shells,” still widely accepted across the region.