Storm Gremlin
Storm gremlins, or spandules, as they used to be called, are playful but mischievous Air faeries that inhabit the numerous floating islands of Altairus.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Most storm gremlins have surnames that have something to do with the weather. Names such as Jack Thunder, Melanie Starstruck, and Terry Paradise are incredibly commonplace. This surname is often indicitave of what powers the gremlin will have, since magical powers are passed down through heredity. This is not always the case, however.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Storm gremlins, like all gremlins, are a nomadic species. Unlike other gremlins, this is not because they themselves move around a lot, but because the islands they reside on do. They frequently travel down to the ground both to explore and to trade.
Common Dress code
All storm gremlins wear the same skin-tight jumpsuits with badges on their left side representing their powers and personality. The color of these jumpsuits varies significantly, but their gloves and boots are always a slightly different color from the jumpsuits. Male storm gremlins' boots only go to the ankle, while the females' boots go to the knee.
Foods & Cuisine
Storm gremlins are omnivorous and accustomed to eating many different foods. One of their favorites is poached tear bulb. Tear bulbs are plants that resemble blue onions and grow on floating islands such as the ones storm gremlins reside on. When cut, they release a gas that causes anyone who inhales it to begin bawling their eyes out, regardless of mood. This gas denatures when cooked, so when the bulb is poached and cooked in spices, it not only loses its tear-inducing ability but is quite tasty.
Coming of Age Rites
The most important and well known tradition in storm gremlin cultures is the Storm Gremlin Jumpsuit Ceremony. This ceremony is observed when a gremlin widget shows signs of their own unique personality and powers for the first time. As soon as they get their first jumpsuit, the storm gremlin is considered to have graduated from widgethood.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Storm gremlins collapse into storm clouds when they die. Sometimes, these clouds are bottled up and then either kept on a shelf or released somewhere the gremlin loved in real life.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
Storm gremlin societies tend to be somewhat matriarchal. Being stronger and more ambitious than the males, fifinellas tend to serve as leaders to bands of storm gremlins and are given an important voice in community decision-making.
Courtship Ideals
Most often, fifinellas will mate with several males at a time. In a few cases, a fifinella has one particular male she wants to mate with, and they will form a monogamous relationship, although this is less common. Since most storm gremlins are not overly materialistic and the entire community helps out with raising the children anyway, this is not usually an issue.
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