The Zoflari pride themselves in how they smell, so much so that scents in Zoflari culture determine one's status. Every clan, temple, and member of the nobility have their scents in Zoflar.
The Zoflari make it no secret and rarely hide their disgust from others with a different or inferior scent. Naturally, during the reign of King Haekma, the scents became more than a thing you prided yourself on. Now, scents determine your actual status within Zoflar. " The scents convey truth and intention", King Haekma would often say. (It has even become a staple in the Zoflari lexicon).
Whenever the Zoflari are mentioned, elegance, beauty and extravagance are often brought up. Most people do not know that the Zoflari image implanted in every nation's mind is a facade instead of talking about the high and noble scents. Let us examine rock bottom. All the way down.
The Beggar's Scent
The Beggar's scent is the natural scent of the Zoflari; all self-respecting Zoflari get their newborns doused in whatever scent they can access before it sets in. Anything is better than the Beggar's scent.
Let us say, for some reason or another, a Zoflari is to be stuck with this particular accursed scent. And let us say they do not decide to end their miserable lives right then and there. What would life in Zoflar look like for such low-born scum?
The Scum of Zoflar
A Zoflari who cannot acquire a scent is disallowed from the city centre and is only permitted to travel escorted by the city guard and only through the outskirts of the city. Not that moving about the city is easy for such people. Most, if not all, are petty criminals, disgusting filth. The ever-righteous king Haekma has designated them their own district in which to live. The Bog. The Bog is more like an entire city than a district. It's the complete opposite of Zoflar's city centre. The people of Zoflar need not know what goes on in the Bog.
The Bog
Rarely does anyone leave the Bog; some enjoy being lesser. As they should...
Zoflari who somehow get ahold of a scent, be it they were drafted into the city guard or scouted to join a temple of the various religions across Zoflar. Some even manage to get ahold of scents smuggled by one of the Bog's gangs. Everyone is trying to make a name for themselves in the Bog. The guards are quickly silenced with a few coins chucked their way. It is not their problem to deal with. It is not as simple as it sounds, though. As people who "escape", the Bog still have to fight an uphill battle to be treated normally. The Beggar's scent lingers. People can tell if a person isn't from the centre. The Bog's stench lingers. Nevertheless, they get recognized officially as Alnur Brillante -- "The guided by light".
The scent used by the Alnurs is known as the Saphrune. A mix of blue powder and local Zoflari flowers. The supply of it is controlled by the Church of the Brilliant Light.
