CULTURE
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The household has the adults in charge. The children, for the most part, listen and are content to do so. Disobedience results in timeouts and punishments, rarely physical and mostly barriers from toys and the like.
Sebsise children as a whole are very well behaved at home, and where a clear authority is presented.
Religion is loose, with very little ceremonies or rituals. The Moon is considered the source of all sebsise life, particularly her kidney. The tale is that Mother Moon saw the sebsise outcast to her realm, and used her kidney to filter the ocean and air to allow them to live. She poured her blood into the oceans, staining them black and giving life to the world. This also allows them to drink salt water with no ill effects, even if it isnt from their home realms ocean. The kidney is considered a holy organ, and is eaten as a form of fertility treatment.
The one ritual they observe is rerturning to the sebsise pocket realm to share their history with 'star beings'. Little is known of these star beings outside of the sebsise realm. The beings are considered siblings, and are keepers of the Great Library where all sebsise knowledge is kept. All their history is recorded there, but most exists in dead languages. The star beings come to their realm every three years to listen to their sebsise siblings stories, and then leave back to the stars. Their job is to protect Mother Moon and her realm.
They believe in reincarnation with the soul being reused by the Moon to make Star Beings, or to come again as another sebsise.The cycle of life is something they respect greatly. They often leave their dead to rot outside, or in their home realms oceans to give back.
Clothing is all dark, even for children. Muted shades of red and green, but mostly black wardrobes. Much of their clothing is thick and warm, even if the weather does not call for it. On top of thick layers, there clothing is modest. They pride modesty and covering as much skin as possible. Dresses are limited as their functional properties are lacking. Sebsise instead decorate them selves with gold or platinum, both very abundant in the caves. This makes for issues outside of Bricgarde, as they view platinum as a very cheap metal and don't treat it as heavily as they ought to. Various gems are also used, though usually only reserved for the wealthy, certain classes having a 'right' to certain types or colors.
Marriage is seen as necessary, as is children. Though homosexuality is common and accepted, so long as they wed and raise a child. There is no disapproval of open relationships, so long as marriage (and children) exist between both parties. Sex is seen as natural and part of life and its cycle, there's no shame in it. But nudity is frowned on.
There is less single family units, and more of a community of sebsise. They flock together, usually people that aren’t related coming together in a neighborhood or house to help each other. Children are raised more by a community than just parents. Community is a very important part of Sebsise culture, thus they give money and time to their own rather often. Children out of wedlock are accepted, but not encouraged.
There's a stigma around half breed Sebsise, as most are deaf or have a hard time digesting food. Or have severe illnesses or organ defects. Most half bred sebsise don’t have the greatest quality of life, but can live until adulthood. Though most do not. Usually women can not carry another species child to term, if they do the child will not live long. Males have an exceptionally hard time getting women pregnant, even in their own race. Should a non sebsise woman get pregnant with a sebsise child they will most likely not carry to term. If they do, they will likely be eaten inside out before the child is born via the child forming body poisoning her. Effectively killing them both.
The closest they come to 'farming' is harvesting the 'crawl'. A plant that is native to their pocket realm that appears as thick red root like growths. The plants thrive almost exclusively on rotted material, or the ocean waters from their realm. The plant has a strange meaty texture, appearance, and taste. It seems to be some sort of plant vein, even bleeding when cut. It is used to subsitute for other meat if none is present. The crawl is named as such for how it grows, it seems to crawl over the ground in thin small roots connected to the main stem of the plant. It releases spores, but can also be grown from a trimming. The crawl is hearty and can be grown in all climates, but will freeze in snow if it is below freezing for too long. The plant will dethaw with minor issues.
If left to itself the crawl will make fertile soil out of sunlight and whatever if fed to it. Obligate herbivores will not be able to stomach it, as it seems the blood like substace it produces is close enough to real blood. It tastes like meat gone bad and is incredibly salty. It is a good source of protein.
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Their caste is structured, and people fall into it. But poverty and poor quality of life are not a thing in Bricgarde. They value each other, the only difference in the caste is their usefulness and abilities. Their grouping is sorted by how much work they do. The exception is half breeds. The list here is from the top to the bottom, in terms of usefulness. No one is born into their role, not even royalty.
Royalty - Royals, often born into the role, but are able to be elected to position. The crown is either passed to the current monarchs children, or is given to whomever has done amazing feats. Royalty often doesnt change unless the current crown is neglecting their duties. The council has the ability to vote out the current monarch, but must do so with a vote.
Nobility - More or less a council of the most skilled Sebsise, they help the acting royal to make decisions. Are able to dethrone current monarchs if need be.
'Librarians' - Keepers of, and able to access the Great Library. The library that keeps all of sebsise history. Librarians are considered the closest to the moon, and useful to keep better track of the Sebsise's broken timeline. Most spend their lives dedicated to unraveling the dead languages of their ancestors. Inventions, history, and science are all common to be recorded by them. Each cycle, They make sure to bring their records to the Star Beings to be recorded into the Library. Tend to hold a greeat deal of magical potential, and are able to use their magic most effectively, even able to learn magic outside of the cloaking ability.
Sentinels - The highest rank of warriors, essentially specialists in one or more method of combat. They also teach the younger warriors and lead a team or two. They are exceptional in their field, and are highly respected for their work. Usually they work in pairs, and often have a team they are bound to. They do not always work with their teams, but still train and bond with them.
Warriors - Protectors of the caves, and often spies or assassins outside of the caves. Grouped in to pairs, then the pairs are set into teams of eight to ten. Pairs are made by the age of six, and teams are formed soon after. Teams are solidified by age ten. Ten teams make up a fleet, which are all shown on moving maps held by the head of fleets, the council, the monarchs, and most sentinels.The teams never change to promote unity and the ability to work together seamlessly.
Child care givers - They are tasked with raising the children while everyone else works. At age five the children leave their care and begin basic training. Basic training encoruages the childs interest to prep them for the role they will take. Each child will have a partner they can rely on for life, even if not put into warrior roles.
Miners, laborers, traders, tradesmen - The only thing that keeps a steady flow of coin in and out of the cave. They are few in number, but bring in vast amounts of coin. They export jewels, metals, and jewelry mostly, though other things do exist. They import food, plants, animals, hides and other such things into the caves. They are considered to be exceptional at sweet talking, and may steal from outsiders if given the chance.
Half breeds - The only 'class' to be actively disliked and shunned. They are considered untouchable and are kept to a section of caves shut off from the rest of the sebsise, or left to die in the woods. Often blind, deaf, or unable to eat, possibly all three, they waste away easily. Most do not survive birth, and even fewer survive to be adults. They have no use for any other sebsise, and are generally regarded as a waste of resources. Those that do live will give themselves to the star beings to be eaten in the hopes their soul will be made into something more useful.///////////////