Haaru Cultures are diverse, but generally deviate from a human worldview in several important respects.

Midtool Signification

Height Makes Right

Altitude is a major aspect of all Haaru cultures. In various contexts it implies superiority in society, government, economics, warfare, and probably others, so don't hold me to it. Evolutionarily, altitude meant a safer dwelling and more access to resources.

Lower-SES populations live off the runoff from higher-SES pops, due to differences in adjacency to uncovered sky. "Runoff" is a common expression to indicate sour grapes or refusal of a poor or insincere offering.

[Possibly move this into the Hierarchical Paradim section]

Hermaphroditism (Uosei)

Hermaphroditism (Uosei) is given great reverence in most Haaru cultures and religions, being frequently incorporated into deities and sacred objects. Children born with intersex phenotypes are considered to have supernatural gifts, and are often afforded special roles in society, most commonly that of Shaman or Seer. Many significant figures in Haaru history were intersex.

No Stars At Night

No astronomical navigation

Stunted Maritime Tradition

Three-Dimensional Topology

Climbing and gliding

Architecture
Social conventions
Stances in regard to all tasks, as well as use as social signifiers

Circular Topology

Circles make much more sense to Haaru than rectilinearity. How far would this extend?

Architecture

Less Reliance on Gravity

Climbing instead of standing, clinging instead of resting

Might have effects on how they view containers and storage

Architecture

The Language of Stances

See also: Haaru Physiology

Stances are a major vector of communication among Haaru. Their use in social signaling is contextualized, as not all spaces allow all stances.

Low

In the Low stance, five or six limbs are placed on the ground. The head and neck may or may not be reared. It is used for climbing, hiding, stalking, resting & convalescence, or carrying heavy loads with the aid of a Haarness (Rename).

According to context, the Low stance communicates any of the following:

Apology, deference, humility, respect, submission, surrender (in Haaru War Culture)
Convalescence, fear
Secrecy, shame

Those of high social status generally avoid being seen in a Low stance. This can contribute to forms of Haaru Spinal Pathology.

Upright ("Centaurian")

The Upright stance has the spine forward of the midlimbs bent upwards, freeing the forelimbs for prehensile use. One midlimb is easily recruited in this stance.

Culturally, the Upright posture is considered the norm. Most spaces are designed with the Upright posture in mind, and it carries few social connotations.

Reared

Gliding

Use of the Neck

The long, serpentine neck of the Haaru adds a further dimension of social expression.

Expression with Tail

Expression with Face

Lessons of the Bull Age

Competition, routine apocalypse, semi-defensive conquest through territorial intermingling, territoriality in general.

Neighbors are rare

Impermanence, starting again and again

Cyclical view of history

Lessons of the Mother Age

Symbiosis, sedentarity, coexistence, cultivation and abundance

Prominence of Eschatology

Bull Age ancestral memory

Sedentary Preference

Explorers and forays not common

Hierarchical Paradigm

The logic of the structure of a tree defines their lives, and accordingly their psychology about abstract matters

The Ovipar's Palate

Haaru find it disgusting to eat eggs. No surprise, since they're oviparous. Conversely, they have little problem with eating fetuses, as in the case of Gekepeshiyik.

Haaru Culture