Post by araia on May 12, 2006 23:48:01 GMT -8
Unless otherwise stated, all ceremonies are held by the Lawgiver, in the presence of the entire clutch, in or near the Rookery.
Naming
The Naming ceremony is performed when an Avian lays her egg, a month before her child(ren) is/are hatched. A Lawgiver will perform the rite as follows: after the egg is lain, it is cleaned and laid in it’s Nest (cradle). The Lawgiver then says, “In the presence of your family and the souls of your ancestors gone before, I name you (insert name here; parents, inform the Lawgiver of the name ahead of time). You are now a member of the (insert clutch name here)” The actual laying the egg is done by the male of the pair hooking his arms under his mate’s arms (please skip the part about removing undergarments, no one really wants to read that) so she can be in a standing squat. The Lawgiver catches the egg when it is lain, then places it in the Nest and proceeds with the ceremony.
Hatching
The Lawgiver is summoned (wearing the ceremonial robes). One of the Clutch members brings specially prepared fish and other food from the ocean nearby and everyone is invited. Both parents also wear ceremonial robes. The father has the bath water ready, the mother the clothes, and after they do that, the Lawgiver takes the babe and says "Before the ancestors and living members of (insert clutch name) clutch, you, (insert name), son/daughter of (insert names), are now officially a member of our family." Then they feed the baby, and the festivities begin.
Rite of Passage
At the equivalent human age of 18, Penguin Clutch members must face a Rite of Passage in order to become Hunters. This trial consists of the young Avian diving deep below to surface to confront (hopefully one) Oshca, and retrieve their first kill. The strong bones of this creature are then used in the making of the Hunter's bone fetish, and the crafting of his first knife or spear by the parents, which are given to him at the end of the ceremony should he succeed. One of the parents cuts a hair from their head to keep them safe while hunting, and to save in case they find a mate.
Hand Fasting
In lieu of marriage, Avians are hand fasted. A Lawgiver takes the hair of one of the mates saved from when it was cut at their Rite of Passage and ties the intended’s hands together. The vows, said first by the female as the hair is being tied, then repeated by the male, are as follows: “As we bind our hands, we bind our souls. An Avian takes but one mate, and I choose you, until the time the Lawgiver takes our spirits to rest.” The male presents the female with a pearl he must make a journey to the tropical waters to retrieve. The female builds their Nest after the ceremony.
Funeral
When a Penguin dies, instead of being ritually consumed, they are wrapped in their parka or blanket with their bone fetish, and if they had a mate the pearl they were given or gave to their mate is also with them. The surviving mate is given a necklace crafted from their mate's regular weapon given to them by their parents at their Rite of Passage. If both parents died but a child remains, the necklace is dyed black. The bodies of the deceased are given a day full of mourning, particularly if there have been multiple deaths, and then are given to the sea.
If an Avian has committed an act punishable by death, he or she is slaughtered by the Lawgiver, his or her soul is barred from entry to the Lawgiver’s body, and the corpse is tossed into the sea. They are aware that the execution of an Avian is what causes the underwater Raider cousins (Squellies) to exist.
Naming
The Naming ceremony is performed when an Avian lays her egg, a month before her child(ren) is/are hatched. A Lawgiver will perform the rite as follows: after the egg is lain, it is cleaned and laid in it’s Nest (cradle). The Lawgiver then says, “In the presence of your family and the souls of your ancestors gone before, I name you (insert name here; parents, inform the Lawgiver of the name ahead of time). You are now a member of the (insert clutch name here)” The actual laying the egg is done by the male of the pair hooking his arms under his mate’s arms (please skip the part about removing undergarments, no one really wants to read that) so she can be in a standing squat. The Lawgiver catches the egg when it is lain, then places it in the Nest and proceeds with the ceremony.
Hatching
The Lawgiver is summoned (wearing the ceremonial robes). One of the Clutch members brings specially prepared fish and other food from the ocean nearby and everyone is invited. Both parents also wear ceremonial robes. The father has the bath water ready, the mother the clothes, and after they do that, the Lawgiver takes the babe and says "Before the ancestors and living members of (insert clutch name) clutch, you, (insert name), son/daughter of (insert names), are now officially a member of our family." Then they feed the baby, and the festivities begin.
Rite of Passage
At the equivalent human age of 18, Penguin Clutch members must face a Rite of Passage in order to become Hunters. This trial consists of the young Avian diving deep below to surface to confront (hopefully one) Oshca, and retrieve their first kill. The strong bones of this creature are then used in the making of the Hunter's bone fetish, and the crafting of his first knife or spear by the parents, which are given to him at the end of the ceremony should he succeed. One of the parents cuts a hair from their head to keep them safe while hunting, and to save in case they find a mate.
Hand Fasting
In lieu of marriage, Avians are hand fasted. A Lawgiver takes the hair of one of the mates saved from when it was cut at their Rite of Passage and ties the intended’s hands together. The vows, said first by the female as the hair is being tied, then repeated by the male, are as follows: “As we bind our hands, we bind our souls. An Avian takes but one mate, and I choose you, until the time the Lawgiver takes our spirits to rest.” The male presents the female with a pearl he must make a journey to the tropical waters to retrieve. The female builds their Nest after the ceremony.
Funeral
When a Penguin dies, instead of being ritually consumed, they are wrapped in their parka or blanket with their bone fetish, and if they had a mate the pearl they were given or gave to their mate is also with them. The surviving mate is given a necklace crafted from their mate's regular weapon given to them by their parents at their Rite of Passage. If both parents died but a child remains, the necklace is dyed black. The bodies of the deceased are given a day full of mourning, particularly if there have been multiple deaths, and then are given to the sea.
If an Avian has committed an act punishable by death, he or she is slaughtered by the Lawgiver, his or her soul is barred from entry to the Lawgiver’s body, and the corpse is tossed into the sea. They are aware that the execution of an Avian is what causes the underwater Raider cousins (Squellies) to exist.