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*NOTICE*
this was posted in a guild, but i'm leaving it due to it being DEAD, so i'm putting it here

The guild leader has given me permission to speak of my home culture a little bit, as it is very different from the guild's main culture.
There are four overtribes-the Blues, the Greys, the Blacks and the Purples. Traditionally, all four are rivals, though we share a common history.

First, a little bit on each over-tribe.
Blues-blue skin, blue eyes, silver-blue hair. They are farmers by trade, and expert fishers. They live on the shore of my home world's mainland and on the sole island. They like to keep the peace, and in the upper ranks, they are most commonly ambassadors.
Greys-hunters. Expert archers, make most elves seem like raw beginners. They mostly hunt down marks, monsters that kill for sport. Some hunt for food. Yes, my particular elf-race eats meat, but only on ocasion. They have grey eyes, grey skin, and dark grey hair. Some can actually stand next to large rocks and only be found by their hair and eyes. They live in the mountains of the mainland. They also like to dabble in alchemy/science. They were once considered Blacks, until an assembly of the clan leaders came upon the realization that they were distinctly different.
Blacks-black skin (not brown, black), black hair, black eyes. They are aggressive warriors by day, stealthy assassins by night. They aid the Greys on high marks, and defend the land. They are found just about everywhere.
Purples-purple skin, purple hair, purple eyes. We are the mages, and the smallest over-tribe. Our elders are looked up to by all tribes for advice, as they have lived for tens of thousands of years. With my over-tribe being the smallest, all the other tribes do go out if their way to make our wants and needs satisfied.

Not even the eldest elder knows how we came upon this world, or even how the rivalries sparked, as it was firmly embedded into our culture by then. If you wish to know more, ask me.

Social hierarchy-Purples, being the rarest, are automatically set at the top. Everyone listens to a Purple. Blues are second, as they are the ones that feed us all and keep the peace. Blacks are third, as they do protect everyone. Greys come after, as they are the youngest over-tribe. Elders are always given respect, as are families. This is due to the fact that it is taught from an early age that we are unable to live without each clan.

Lifespan-I am considered an older teen, about eighteen in human terms. However, I have been alive for almost ten milennium. Elders, as I have said, live hundreds of thousands of years. The eldest is nearly a million years of age.

Reading/writing-literally three words are written (will post pics in a later post). Each one has a sign.
Welcoming-when spelled phonetically, it is cheen, though it is spelled kheein.
Leaving-eeluh phonetically, iilh normally.
Thanking-phonetically dakii, spelled aci.
Everything else is oral, with sketches, songs, and dances teaching us.

Names-we have childhood and adult names, the former given at birth, the latter when the elf becomes about sixteen in human terms. Childhood names are reusable, and found easily. Mine was Alii-daen. I have found at least fifty other elf-children with the same childhood name. Our adult names are unique. Mine is broken into three parts: kit, alpha, hart. Most have three parts, though I have encountered a few with two, or even four. 'Kit' for my fondness for the feline family. The first name-part is also the nickname. 'Alpha' is for my bloodline: if we were humans, I would be a princess. 'Hart' is for my open mind, or heart. The 'e' is dropped, as an adult name can have its spelling modified. Originally, my named was spelled 'Kitt-allun Heart.' It was changed when I first encountered humans, my first name.

Courtship-we do not have weddings, ceremonies, or any of that. We have union contracts, and the parents play a large role, as does the couple. The couple go to their parents with the prospective partner and ask permission to have a contract drawn. A long and complicated process occurs (will post later), and the two are united. The first fifty years are spent settling in, and centuries after pursuing the arts. Only after being married for about five centures are they then allowed to start a family.
Some, like me, forgo this and become wanderers. I will post on that, and much more, later. This post is plenty long as it is.

Traditions and events-
New Year: ring in the new year in silent contemplation.
Annual Eternal Rivals event: we go to the only city, each elf, unless ill, oregnant, or very young. Blues might also stay behind if livestock fall ill, while Blacks and Greys might miss it while hunting marks. Most of our history is taught here, ask me if you want details.
First planting-Blue tradition. Crops planted, licestock mated. Celebrated by all as the first day of spring.
High Summer-week of fasting by in remembrance of when Blues were nearly wiped out by illness and nearly every clan died, as it took centuries to recover the Blue population. Young, elderly, pregnant and ill do not have to fast. Eating by night is allowed, and encouraged to prevent fainting and weakness.
Snowfall-one that comes with first snow, and so the date is never set. According to history, the first of our kind arrived during the first snowfall, so we celebrate.
Days of Giving-think Hanukkah. Instead of a menorah and lasting eight days, it lasts two weeks, and each day has an amount of gifts giving. It is dependent on what day it is, so the first day has one, the second two, etc.
Each over-tribe has their own individual ones as well.

Over-tribes, tribes and clans. Over-tribes are each color. These are broken down into tribes, each one residing in one villages, and clans. Clans are families. Simple enough. Visitors stay at the guest-dorm, and each tribe has one.

Laws-not very many, as we are guided by morals.
Incest is a no-no, results in a trial, and if found guilty, execution. Two elves within the same clan cannot have a contract drawn, or have children.
Rape and adultery-very rare, both elves executed. This has only happened once in my lifetime, to show how rare it is.

Family life-both parents work, older children alternate work and schooling, young children are schooled.

If I missed anything that you wish to know, just ask.





Kitalpha Hart
Community Member
  • [07/25/14 05:33am]
  • [02/26/13 11:11pm]
  • [11/14/12 02:40am]
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