This handsome, dusky olive-skinned race is a passionate race. They are fierce in war, love, and play. In this respect, they have changed little from their heritage of Ancient Vulcan. They enjoy good food and trustworthy companions. Their love of life is seen in the stunning vitality, clarity, and ferocity of their art. Their devotion to duty and their loyalty to the Empire exceeds even that of the most fanatical Klingon. Rihannsu starships are all equipped with powerful fusion explosive devices for use in the destruction of the craft. Rather than be taken prisoner, most Rihannsu would rather die with their ship.
Cautious at best, xenophobic at worst, the Rihannsu people have a right to paranoia born of their violent history. The experience with the Orion pirates on ancient Vulcan burned a lesson into their minds forever: never trust an alien. In the mind of a Rihannsu, only another Rihannsu person is worthy of respect and civility.
Romulan Culture & Society
To better understand the Rihannsu culture of today one must look at the Vulcan culture of the past. The Vulcans of the past were extremely warlike and emotional. It was only the teachings of Surak that brought about the logical Vulcan culture of today. It was a student of Surak's, S'Task, who determined after the deception of the people by a "barbarous and cruel universe" that logic and peace were not the answer. Thus, he led a group of people out into the stars to create a new way of life. Based on the fundamentals of ancient Vulcan society, Rihannsu culture is a liberal admixture of old Vulcan traits and ideas that evolved during their travels, called 'The Journey of Sundering' in the ancient texts of both the Vulcan and Rihannsu people.
There is an old Rihannsu proverb that sums up the culture rather well: "Certain it is and sure: love burns, ale burns, fire burns, and politics burns. But cold was life without them." Rihannsu people enjoy all aspects of life to the fullest, reveling in their experiences. Even seemingly unpleasant experiences like death, and war, are cherished for their intensity. One of the most surprising things to outsiders is the discovery that the Rihannsu are a very poetic and artistic society as well, balancing their fierce warrior ethic with the sensitivity of true artistry.
All Rihannha usually practice some form of creative endeavor in their spare time like painting, sculpting, music, or creating literary works. Museums abound throughout the Rihannsu territories, and many mediums are expressed in their artwork and creative endeavors. Epic poetry is considered one of the most favored styles of literature. Other art forms that the Rihannsu hold in high regard, is Martial Arts, and swordplay.
Often, Rihannsu by the thousands flock to the Arena's to enjoy the demonstrations of their finest athletes. It is not unusual to see the spectators challenge the athletes themselves, more to learn a new technique that had been demonstrated, than out of any great desire to defeat the champions.
The Rihannsu also enjoy a lot of games. The most well-known are: D'elo the game of stones and sticks that traces back to ancient Vulcan, Lhi the game of wits and riddles, and even three-dimensional chess has become popular within Rihannsu space. The Rihannsu also enjoy Khariat, a game made up of pieces that are removed one at a time from the structure. The one to draw the piece that causes the structure to fall is the loser. Trayatik is a dice game, similar to 'craps'. Villrillu is the Rihannsu version of playing cards, and there are numerous games to be enjoyed with them. Another popular game, Tyr'llryanniha, is a full-contact, often a brutal and bloody, sport. It is similar to Earth's football, but with the added danger of razor-sharp, bladed weapons. It is not unusual to see at least half of the players carried off the playing field before the first half of the game is finished. The Rihannsu also relish nature and enjoy the outdoors a great deal. Most Rihannsu are avid hikers and campers and participate in a wide variety of other outdoor activities as well.
- Romulan Culture: A more detailed explanation of Rihannsu (Romulan) Culture & The Ruling Passion
- Romulan Society: A deeper look into Romulan Society
- Romulan Family: A look into the Romulan Family Structure
- Romulan Houses: A look into Romulan Houses and Clans
- Romulan Religion: Looking at Romulan Religion
- Romulan Worlds: A brief look at the heart of the Romulan Star Empire