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CONTENT WARNING

Mature Language
Sexual Abuse
Drug Abuse
Violence
Mental Disorder

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Daracka is one of my biggest writing projects. It is a story and a world that grew massive because of its multiple inspirations from the culture of the Philippines.

I did a lot of research on the Igorot people, an ethnic group in the northern region of the Philippines. Their culture heavily influenced Daracka. But I didn't have to go to extreme lengths to learn because I grew up around the Igorot people, and some of my closest friends are of this ethnic group. I've seen and experienced some of their practices.

This story is also influenced by the Tagalog traditions (people from Central Luzon, the northern region of the Philippines) and the ancient classes that no longer exist.

Daracka, of course, is not the Philippines, so words or things may be used differently in this fictional world. (See also disclaimer).

In a genre overrun by the influence of the medieval age, I wanted to put in a little bit of something in the pot from my own country.

This is the first of two planned Volumes.

Daracka is meant to be a heavy epic fantasy read, following the footsteps of Brandon Sanderson's chunky novels but in a darker and more mature sense. So take note of the content warnings.

Below, you will find some inspirations of the cultural fashion that influenced this writing.

The Igorot:

The Igorot are ethnic groups of mountaineers in the northern mountains of the Philippines.

They wear the tapis (wrap-around skirts) for women and the bahag (g-string) for men. Their fabrics are woven in black and red striped patterns, sometimes with yellow or blue accents. They like to wear beads around their necks and feathers on their heads.

**The Igorot is the main inspiration for the Aradacko in this story.

The Traditional Tagalog Fashion:

Left to right: Barong tagalong for men; kimona and saya for women; traditional barong with slacks for men and baro't saya (baro at saya or blouse and skirt) combination for women; traditional Filipiniana for women; modern mestiza.

**The Traditional Tagalog Fashion inspired the clothing of the Maginoo (royalty and noble) in this story.

The Maharlika:

The Maharlika was the ancient warrior class in the Philippines.

**Their clothing did not inspire Daracka but the category "Maharlika" is used to classify the tribes with warrior blood in this story.

The Maginoo

The Maginoo was the ancient noble class in the Philippines.

**Their clothing did not inspire Daracka but the category "Maginoo" is used to classify the people with noble or blue blood in this story.

* Sources of borrowed images are credited at the end of this story.

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Disclaimer

Any immoral or unethical actions of any characters in this story do not depict or represent any people, groups, or culture that influenced this story.

The Philippines inspired the world-building of this story, but it is not a complete portrayal of the country or its people. Any inconsistencies should be taken as intentional construction by the author.

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