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Society

  • Ssarae Idanwo

    The island known as Ssarae Idanwo is the foci of what makes up Ssarae society. Ssarae Idwano is a massive floating island that is a composite of volcanic pumice and the trapped organic detritus of what the Ssarae venerate as their deity and progenitor; the massive skeleton extends around and beneath the island, anchoring it to the seafloor. The island is a multi-biome microcontinent that is home to all manner of beasts, natural dangers, and Ssarae that never left, evolving amongst the cradle of their genesis and becoming something altogether new.
    It is here that the quarterly Aatank is held.
  • Aatank
    The greatest event of any Ssarae's life is their first Aatank. A week-long event with a mass bazaar filled with crafts, food, games, and competitions.

    It begins with a match of Trēigara Keh that is held in three heats.
    In the first heat, the four teams are split into two matches.
    The second heat has the two losers compete, and the winners compete.

    The final competition is a rigorous amphibious relay between the two remaining teams that ends in the last Trēigara Keh match; this is followed by a ceremony where the winners are set apart and commended for their show of ability as Ssarae and the winning Trēigara Keh captain lights a massive flame on the shore of Idanwo before the Aatank begins on the following day.

    The main event and primary purpose of the Aatank is the massive gladiatorial survive-or-die battle royale where all the Ssarae that have come of age from every corner of Ssarae Vjarta will compete to reach the other end of the island, alive.
    No outside help, just their wits and their skills to aid them.

    Many know this could be the last day of their life or the first day of becoming part of a pod or even starting their own. The Aatank proper is also the mark of the primary time for mating, much of such occurring during the Aatank itself; the open displays of power often lead to the forming of vengeful enemies and lifelong friends alike.
  • Trēigara Keh
    Trēigara Keh or "Triggerfish" is a two-part game where Ssarae first speeds around the set playing area, attempting to hunt and capture a Nautilidae Creature from the depths of their reef, before submitting it to be judged based on size, shape, and quality.

    The winning catch is then used in the second part as the means of scoring goals.
    The Ssarae that submitted the winning catch gets to field the first play.
    Trēigara Keh is played by a team of eight.
    There are three fielders (Center, Power, and Flanker)
    There are four defenders (Left and Right Guards, Front Guard, and Blocker)
    There is one goalkeeper or 'Keeper'.

    The object is to use the Nautilidae Creature to score goals through triangular goals made of interwoven, floating material that is then retained on the sea floor using thick cordage.

    A team wins by being the first to score seven more points than the other team.
    In instances of stalemates, after 2 hours of play a shoot-off will occur where each team fields one player against the opposing Keeper and Blocker until someone scores a goal.

    Several teams from all the isles have a steady rotating league between the quarterly Aatank.
  • Buon Sheria

    The Ssarae are taught form birth and encouraged to adhere their whole lives to four simple and all-encompassing tenants.
  • Truot'Atranak/Dominance

    Dominance is a facet of daily life all across Ssarae Vjarta. Whether it be a show of force by a nefarious chief or pod leader, a young hunter bringing in his first big kill, or two Ssarae engaged in the post-Aatank breeding season, the male must prove his dominance through physical combat, both parties have been known to perish in rare occurrences. To live, to grow, we must dominate. To challenge any leader for control is to command a Truot Atranak. After a challenge, a R'rueng is held, where the challenger is given a moment to speak their peace in front of all before fighting for their challenging position. A Truot Atranak can not be denied, and Ssarae can not cheat; both fighters are bathed thoroughly and inspected by elders before being allowed to contest. This is a fight to the death or unconsciousness. If the latter, they are then placed under submission or servitude; to refuse is to be executed or exiled to Khang Okraw.
  • Kvea'Sanea/Fate

    Fate is the most precious tenant of the Ssarae. If you can not bear to follow the others, this is one to hold above them. This includes aiding in what the Ssarae call Subhae'Tlaeng or "The Emergence," which they view as the first rite of passage, believing that only those strong enough to hatch deserve to. Those who are hatched against this precious first rite are always of the lowest caste, often even beneath a slave, and those who aid them are sent to Khang Okraw. To kill another Ssarae without formal combat initiated, such as in challenging for leadership or deaths that occur during an Aatankand subsequent mating season, is Kātala Takar; murder. Immediate death is executed by the next of kin, Daikou, or 'companion,' such as a chosen second, or good friend. If the deceased had no such connections, then the offending Ssarae would be banished to Khang Okraw or "Outsider's Land," a massive hyper volcanic wasteland with boiling waters and caustic steam, where stories tell, terrifying spirits and monsters will consume young Ssarae and steal their scales for their collections.
  • Samud'Aay/Community

    Community is an important tenant to the Ssarae, for without it they would not, could not, survive. Every member of a brood, pod, clan, and so on has a role in fulfilling; these roles are often familial duties delegated to a brood in a larger organization of Ssarae. Pods often have dedicated scouts, hunt leaders, or even Ssarae whose explicit charge is to guard their leader or even question their decisions. This Ssarae holds the title of Daikou. They are the companion of a pod leader, chief, or religious leader.
  • Rs'Sa/Survival

    To survive is to thrive. The Ssarae focus on skills that increase their chance of survival as individuals and pods. This is taught through games and competition, one such being Trēigara Keh or "Triggerfish,"; a game where Ssarae are judged on their ability to work quickly and efficiently individually and as a Pod. Ssarae are taught skills from hunting, pathfinding, knapping, weaving, and more to help themselves, and their Pod thrive.
  • Communication

    The Ssarae communicate interpersonally through a myriad of gestures, tones, clicks, and body language. They also have a commonly spoken tongue called Sapajībha. They also have a carved runic language representing basic syntax and phrases and a separate, formal alphabet. They primarily communicate over a distance by calling in a method that involves their ganglia and the nerve systems attached through a unique form of empathetic echolocation, they call this T'Kāla kartnā or The Great Call. A great victory over an enemy group or beast of particular trouble, the death of a prominent hero, community member, or leader, or the call of a R'rueng or 'Thing.' It is often used to announce a great occurrence recorded in etchings, carvings, tapestries, or scenes painted on pottery.
  • Curling a length of the tail over itself during inter-Ssarae communication is considered sexually suggestive

    Curling the tail into a ball and sitting atop the coil is withdrawn, expressing that they have taken offense or are feeling defensively

    Flashing a show of venomous fangs essentially means "fuck you"

    Tongue flicking expresses curiosity and an inquisitiveness

    Wiggling ganglia; occurs when a Ssarae is sharing or receiving empathic energies from another living thing that has their focus

    Scales shivering; all scales which shed will raise and lower rapidly, each moving separate from one another and creating a light show, as iridescence refracts environmental light. This is a common reaction to any intense emotion: surprise, anger/aggression, arousal, joy
  • Exchange of shed scales is uncommon between Ssarae and when it occurs, it is a symbol of a promise: loyalty/submission/affection/honor

    Frequently mimicking a yawn signals hunger or a craving to consume

    A singing sound is made when singing in ritual amongst other Ssarae; the sound is reminiscent of an orcas' call and the Ssarae have been known to lure large prey with this familiar call.

    Chirping, super-sonic bark noised when hunting in coordinated groups; the sound a calling cheetah cub makes, the sound able to reach levels of over 140 decibels.

    Growling-crooning heard in the midst of combat or as a result of expressions of aggression; lowing growl layered over a deep rumbling groan.