Kaatin
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Kaatin names in general, whether they're feminine, masculine or unisex are given to a newborn child in a naming ceremony where a spirit wanderer divines the name of the child. The parents don't have any say in it. Names arre often related to spirits, from Greater Spirits - which is seen as an honour or a sign that this child has a great destiny- to local spirits. These relations to spirits are in attributes relatd to that spirit, for example fire, sun or light imagery for Amias or water, sea or moon imagery for Diika.
Names aren't necessarily unique though. Certain names are divined over and over again and are therefore relatively common.
Because of the nature in which the names are given, there isn't really a concept of "feminine" or "masculine" names, but there are common names that do appear more often in women than in men and vice versa but technically speaking, all names are unisex.
Names related to female presenting spirits, like Abit, Diika or Nendàa, are more commonly used for women and names relating to male presenting spirits, like Amias, Kùbahd or Dahebanuu, are more commonly used for men, but it's not a rule and there are women whose names are related to male presenting spirits and men whose names are related to female presenting spirits.
Twofold Soul Folk can also be named anything, but they disproportionally often are related to spirits of transcendence and other realms, like Emåela, which is the greater spirit of the dead, dreams and the bridge between this world and the spirit realm.
Related to Amias:
Auun, Vèling, Vùdam, Vèam, Vèlvè, Vèluvè, Vingkaa, Beging, Beling, Vemeiiè, Meiiuvè, Ginan, Gingkan, Gimuut, Ginèmuut, Daaba, Daaka, Galmeii, Uuneii, Gaahu, Adomù, Mùit, Mowù, Malùe, Daèm, Daabon, Daain, Ganat, Ginnat, Lùweii, Egiimei, Uuniil, Ginaamia, Gingkaaia, Diaavè
Related to Abit:
Aatan, Abin, Aban, Alih, Aatae, Kålit, Gaaliila, Gatåma, Aènad, Vis, Molit, Haavå, Gaalud, Gaalu, Gaalad, Gaalis, Gaalais, Elame
Related to Kùbahd:
Gaaluu, Gaaelil, Baan, Beziàng, Dae, Viiziàng, Båmonång, Vaelil, Våhèl, Bagaal, Gaamon, Gaaèn, Boamåha, Ziànna, Zianùna, Aamålùno, Aamàno, Anaiit, Gohaa, Kådin
Related to Dahebanuu:
Laamel, Lael, Ganeh, Heela, Benun, Benuudii, Hebaan, Votualu, Mùgan, Gaalua, Daalhe, Kaan, Kånaan, Bèmùd, Votuu, Venuu, Votauu, Venàbà, Bemuu, Vånin, Hel, Hedaa, Mùhe, Luan
Related to Nendàa:
Nean, Nehuu, Humynùlo, Nunil, Neio, Liinåo, Diinun, Kuul, Ohduum, iian, Liinan, Haaeh, Iiali, Muum, Kåmul, Mynùlo, Muemynùlo, Voèt, Kaen, Kanen, Liiom
Names aren't necessarily unique though. Certain names are divined over and over again and are therefore relatively common.
Because of the nature in which the names are given, there isn't really a concept of "feminine" or "masculine" names, but there are common names that do appear more often in women than in men and vice versa but technically speaking, all names are unisex.
Names related to female presenting spirits, like Abit, Diika or Nendàa, are more commonly used for women and names relating to male presenting spirits, like Amias, Kùbahd or Dahebanuu, are more commonly used for men, but it's not a rule and there are women whose names are related to male presenting spirits and men whose names are related to female presenting spirits.
Twofold Soul Folk can also be named anything, but they disproportionally often are related to spirits of transcendence and other realms, like Emåela, which is the greater spirit of the dead, dreams and the bridge between this world and the spirit realm.
Examples for names
:Related to Amias:
Auun, Vèling, Vùdam, Vèam, Vèlvè, Vèluvè, Vingkaa, Beging, Beling, Vemeiiè, Meiiuvè, Ginan, Gingkan, Gimuut, Ginèmuut, Daaba, Daaka, Galmeii, Uuneii, Gaahu, Adomù, Mùit, Mowù, Malùe, Daèm, Daabon, Daain, Ganat, Ginnat, Lùweii, Egiimei, Uuniil, Ginaamia, Gingkaaia, Diaavè
Related to Abit:
Aatan, Abin, Aban, Alih, Aatae, Kålit, Gaaliila, Gatåma, Aènad, Vis, Molit, Haavå, Gaalud, Gaalu, Gaalad, Gaalis, Gaalais, Elame
Related to Kùbahd:
Gaaluu, Gaaelil, Baan, Beziàng, Dae, Viiziàng, Båmonång, Vaelil, Våhèl, Bagaal, Gaamon, Gaaèn, Boamåha, Ziànna, Zianùna, Aamålùno, Aamàno, Anaiit, Gohaa, Kådin
Related to Dahebanuu:
Laamel, Lael, Ganeh, Heela, Benun, Benuudii, Hebaan, Votualu, Mùgan, Gaalua, Daalhe, Kaan, Kånaan, Bèmùd, Votuu, Venuu, Votauu, Venàbà, Bemuu, Vånin, Hel, Hedaa, Mùhe, Luan
Related to Nendàa:
Nean, Nehuu, Humynùlo, Nunil, Neio, Liinåo, Diinun, Kuul, Ohduum, iian, Liinan, Haaeh, Iiali, Muum, Kåmul, Mynùlo, Muemynùlo, Voèt, Kaen, Kanen, Liiom
Family names
Kaatin have quite complex naming traditions and family names are no exception. Family names, as opposed to first names, aren't given by a spirit wanderer, but by the community in which one grows up. These names often relate to place of origin, profession or a great/special/horrible deed.
Usually, family names are passed down and don't change, but if someone in a family does something outstanding, it's possible that the community gives a new family name to that family, but the name may only relate to the person who did the special thing and their descendants. So if the child of a family does something great or has a special talent that wasn't related to that family before, the child and their descendants would take the new name, but their parents and siblings would keep the old family name.
Old, powerful families, who can trace their ancestry far back, also talk of "Dynasties" every time the family name changed.
There are people who come from families that are notorious for doing outstanding things and whose name changes almost every generation. But there are also families that are so consistent in what they're doing or where they live that their family name changed maybe once if at all.
Usually, family names are passed down and don't change, but if someone in a family does something outstanding, it's possible that the community gives a new family name to that family, but the name may only relate to the person who did the special thing and their descendants. So if the child of a family does something great or has a special talent that wasn't related to that family before, the child and their descendants would take the new name, but their parents and siblings would keep the old family name.
Old, powerful families, who can trace their ancestry far back, also talk of "Dynasties" every time the family name changed.
There are people who come from families that are notorious for doing outstanding things and whose name changes almost every generation. But there are also families that are so consistent in what they're doing or where they live that their family name changed maybe once if at all.
Other names
Parents often give their children a middle name that they chose, and some parents never call their children by their "official" names and only by their middle names. Not all people give their children middle names though.
Some Examples:
Aluwah, Meah, Dawah, Ahluu, Belun, Aen, Aanila, Ieluu, Diia, Ianeluu, Naheen, Heanaa, Hebaea, Ahelie, Ahella, Velyaa, Vahea
Some Examples:
Aluwah, Meah, Dawah, Ahluu, Belun, Aen, Aanila, Ieluu, Diia, Ianeluu, Naheen, Heanaa, Hebaea, Ahelie, Ahella, Velyaa, Vahea
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Kaatin speak Kaatim, but there are different regional dialects. Since Kaat is divided into 8 different districts, the dialect spoken in the capital and its district is regarded as the "standard language". It's used in writing and official correspondences. Everyone has to learn that dialect and when foreigners speak Kaatim they are speaking the dialet of that region.
There are 7 other major dialects, one in each district, but they all have local variations that vary from village to village. Kaatin can generally understand each other even when speaking dialect, but some dialects, especially local variants of dialects, can be hard to understand for others and foreigners often have trouble understanding anything but the sandard dialect. Northern Kaatim is especially hard to understand, and even Kaatin sometimes claim it sounds like a different language.
People in the capital are usually required to learn Common Arregean but outside of the capital many people only speak one language.
There are 7 other major dialects, one in each district, but they all have local variations that vary from village to village. Kaatin can generally understand each other even when speaking dialect, but some dialects, especially local variants of dialects, can be hard to understand for others and foreigners often have trouble understanding anything but the sandard dialect. Northern Kaatim is especially hard to understand, and even Kaatin sometimes claim it sounds like a different language.
People in the capital are usually required to learn Common Arregean but outside of the capital many people only speak one language.
Culture and cultural heritage
There are two mealtimes: one in the morning and one in the evening.
The breakfast is the larger of both meals because strength is needed for the day. The traditional kaatin breakfast consists of roast meat, vegetables and beans or potatoes. Dinner on the other hand tends to be rather small and they eat rather early. Traditionally, reindeer or horse milk and an assortment of edible moss that supposedly helps with digestion are served.
On holidays fish and sea lion stew are a specialty that is looked forward to by many.
The breakfast is the larger of both meals because strength is needed for the day. The traditional kaatin breakfast consists of roast meat, vegetables and beans or potatoes. Dinner on the other hand tends to be rather small and they eat rather early. Traditionally, reindeer or horse milk and an assortment of edible moss that supposedly helps with digestion are served.
On holidays fish and sea lion stew are a specialty that is looked forward to by many.
Average technological level
Kaat isn't a technologically advanced country. They use neither much technology nor much magic for their day to day lives, but magic is more common.
Common Dress code
There is no "dress code" in the literal sense of the word, but Kaatin are often dressed in many layers to keep themselves warm in the cold climate they live in. They also wear more muted colours except for special holidays, where they wear gowns of vibrantly colourful silk over a number of more modest, usually white, underlayers.
Clothes made from wool and animal hair spun into threads and woven into thick, fluffy fabrics are the norm, in combination with thick leather garments that are meant to keep out the wind. Even though kaatin are elves and as such usually revered for their beautiful and tastefully adorned gowns made from fine fabrics that have a more breezy flair to them, they dress a lot more for practicality and keeping away the cold than anything else.
In the capitol and the more southern regions people do dress more "fashionably", but clothes are simply not such a high priority for them, hair is much more important.
Clothes made from wool and animal hair spun into threads and woven into thick, fluffy fabrics are the norm, in combination with thick leather garments that are meant to keep out the wind. Even though kaatin are elves and as such usually revered for their beautiful and tastefully adorned gowns made from fine fabrics that have a more breezy flair to them, they dress a lot more for practicality and keeping away the cold than anything else.
In the capitol and the more southern regions people do dress more "fashionably", but clothes are simply not such a high priority for them, hair is much more important.
Art & Architecture
Kaatin are famous for inventing a particular wind instrument, it's basically a panpipe but made from bones. Kaatin music is known for its intensity and Kaatin are often regarded as great dancers. They aren't that big on visual art, music is more their thing.
Kaatin architecture is characterised by its teardrop shaped buildings with dome roofs that are made to withstand the wind and guide it around the houses so they don't sustain much damage. They're also quite well isolated which is a necessity for living in such cold climates. Their buildings are arranged in teardrop formations that make them as aerodynamic as possible. In the capital city, the buildings are arranged in layered elliptic rings, so the highest buildings are in the center and the lowest ones in the outskirts.
Kaatin architecture is characterised by its teardrop shaped buildings with dome roofs that are made to withstand the wind and guide it around the houses so they don't sustain much damage. They're also quite well isolated which is a necessity for living in such cold climates. Their buildings are arranged in teardrop formations that make them as aerodynamic as possible. In the capital city, the buildings are arranged in layered elliptic rings, so the highest buildings are in the center and the lowest ones in the outskirts.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Kaatin have a strong hair culture. Hair is the most important siginifier of ones status in society. Kaatin don't cut their hair and they wear it in braided, heavily adorned stiles that show off the length well. Usually only a pat of the hair is braided and the other part is left open to show how long it is. The longer the hair, the more respect is given to that person, because elvish hair grows slowly and needs a lot of maintainance.
People with short hair or split ends are distrusted and automatically respected less because they're seen as oincapable of taking care of their hair and therefore are believed to have bad character or to have done something bad.
Certain hairstyles also signal certain things to others and the amount of adornents, usually feathers, beads or finely worked chains of silver or gold, are also indicative of status.
There are hairstyles reserved for special groups of people, for example spirit wanderers and they also have adornments only they can wear.
Even though kaatin know that other cultures don't place such heavy emphasis on hair, they do often judge foreigners by their hair because it's so ingrained in them.
Political leaders have notoriously cut off their hair in times of war and unrest to show the seriousness of the situation. This is the one exception where cutting off your hair is seen as a respectable thing and there is a very specific haircut that signals the cause of the cut off hair to be of political unrest.
Kaatin also cut off single strands of hair to make vows that bind them. Swearing on a strand of hair that is cut off and given to the person the vow is made to so they can braid it into their own hair, is seen as an unbreakable promise because if it is broken, it is said that the hair won't grow back and one is marked forever as an oathbreaker.
When two people get married they also exchange strands of hair. There is a special braiding technique and a specific spot reserved for marriage alliances.
People with short hair or split ends are distrusted and automatically respected less because they're seen as oincapable of taking care of their hair and therefore are believed to have bad character or to have done something bad.
Certain hairstyles also signal certain things to others and the amount of adornents, usually feathers, beads or finely worked chains of silver or gold, are also indicative of status.
There are hairstyles reserved for special groups of people, for example spirit wanderers and they also have adornments only they can wear.
Even though kaatin know that other cultures don't place such heavy emphasis on hair, they do often judge foreigners by their hair because it's so ingrained in them.
Political leaders have notoriously cut off their hair in times of war and unrest to show the seriousness of the situation. This is the one exception where cutting off your hair is seen as a respectable thing and there is a very specific haircut that signals the cause of the cut off hair to be of political unrest.
Kaatin also cut off single strands of hair to make vows that bind them. Swearing on a strand of hair that is cut off and given to the person the vow is made to so they can braid it into their own hair, is seen as an unbreakable promise because if it is broken, it is said that the hair won't grow back and one is marked forever as an oathbreaker.
When two people get married they also exchange strands of hair. There is a special braiding technique and a specific spot reserved for marriage alliances.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
When a child is born, a spirit wanderer is always present. They perform a ritual where they ride the winds of Dahebanuu to the spirit realm where Emåela gives them a soul that they bring back to the earthly realm for the child. Through chanting and specific hand gestures they then guide the soul into the child that is still in the mother's belly at this point. only after the soul is successfully given to the child it can be born.
After the child is born, there is a naming ceremony, where the spirit waderer once again enters ASC and asks the spirits to claim the child. Sometimes spirit wanderers like to use tools, like oracle cards, dice or animal bones, but others let the spirits speak through them to give the child a name. The child is so put under protection of that spirit but also put into its service. In most cases a local (minor) or regional (medium) spirit claims the child, but it can also happen that one of the eight greater (major) spirits, who are more like deities than spirits, claim a child.
This birth rite, among other things closely related to spirit wanderers, is exclusive to kaatin spirit worship and has not taken hold in other cultures thst adapted spirit worship as their major religion.
After the child is born, there is a naming ceremony, where the spirit waderer once again enters ASC and asks the spirits to claim the child. Sometimes spirit wanderers like to use tools, like oracle cards, dice or animal bones, but others let the spirits speak through them to give the child a name. The child is so put under protection of that spirit but also put into its service. In most cases a local (minor) or regional (medium) spirit claims the child, but it can also happen that one of the eight greater (major) spirits, who are more like deities than spirits, claim a child.
This birth rite, among other things closely related to spirit wanderers, is exclusive to kaatin spirit worship and has not taken hold in other cultures thst adapted spirit worship as their major religion.
Coming of Age Rites
Elves in Kaat, as well as everywhere else, are mature at 50 years of age. This is celebrated with a special, not entirely harmless ritual.
The new adults are taken to Gamhuun, Kaat's most northern city. There they lay naked in the snow to cool their body temperature down to the point of almost freezing. and then they jump into the ice cold Mirror Tides.
The new adults then stay under the water as long as they can hold their breath with the task to connect to their patron spirit, who will give them their blessings and, allegedly, make them more resistant to the cold.
After that the new adults are brought back to the city to feast on sealion and fish. They each eat part of the heart of a sealion to strengthen their bond with nature and the spirits. A prayer to the spirits is held afterwards and the new adults receive gifts that should help them in their new adult life.
The coming of age ceremony is the most important ritual in a kaatin elf's life after the naming ceeremony, and it is an event that is greatly anticipated but also dreaded, because it's a dangerous procedure and there have also been elves who didn't survive it. Other's say there have been elves with such a strong spiritual connection that the spirits had called them to the other realm and they disappeared in the water and were never seen again.
The ceremony is held once a month at the 29th with every elf who had their 50th birthday in that month.
The new adults are taken to Gamhuun, Kaat's most northern city. There they lay naked in the snow to cool their body temperature down to the point of almost freezing. and then they jump into the ice cold Mirror Tides.
The new adults then stay under the water as long as they can hold their breath with the task to connect to their patron spirit, who will give them their blessings and, allegedly, make them more resistant to the cold.
After that the new adults are brought back to the city to feast on sealion and fish. They each eat part of the heart of a sealion to strengthen their bond with nature and the spirits. A prayer to the spirits is held afterwards and the new adults receive gifts that should help them in their new adult life.
The coming of age ceremony is the most important ritual in a kaatin elf's life after the naming ceeremony, and it is an event that is greatly anticipated but also dreaded, because it's a dangerous procedure and there have also been elves who didn't survive it. Other's say there have been elves with such a strong spiritual connection that the spirits had called them to the other realm and they disappeared in the water and were never seen again.
The ceremony is held once a month at the 29th with every elf who had their 50th birthday in that month.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Kaatin favour long, luscious, well cared for hair, as they see it as a sign of good character and responsibility. They especially favour light hair colours because they are rarer and need more care because dirt, grime or split ends are better visible. Haircolours range from white in silver and gold varieties to honey and ash blonde. Ash blonde hair is seen as plain and unattractive and people born with it often decorate their hair with a lot of jewellery or they cover it up with hoods and hats, but that makes them look untrustworthy.
Small ears are preferred over big ears.
They favour dark coloured eyes because it's a lot rarer than light coloured eyes, the only exception is silver or gold coloured eyes, which are incredibly rare and therefore even more valued.
Especially beautiful is light, smooth, unmarked skin with cold undertones. Even though elves naturally have good skin, especially compared to humans, there are differences and having to work outside in the harsh wind and snow doing physical labour roughens even elvish skin. To humans there might be virtually no difference but the elves see when another elf has "bad skin".
Kaatin also favour symmetrical faces and slim bodies, but that's a feature pretty much all elves are born with, but again, there are differences that might be invisible to human eyes, but not to the elves. Being tall is also a favoured trait. Having long and slender fingers with neatly trimed short nails is also a sign of beauty.
Small ears are preferred over big ears.
They favour dark coloured eyes because it's a lot rarer than light coloured eyes, the only exception is silver or gold coloured eyes, which are incredibly rare and therefore even more valued.
Especially beautiful is light, smooth, unmarked skin with cold undertones. Even though elves naturally have good skin, especially compared to humans, there are differences and having to work outside in the harsh wind and snow doing physical labour roughens even elvish skin. To humans there might be virtually no difference but the elves see when another elf has "bad skin".
Kaatin also favour symmetrical faces and slim bodies, but that's a feature pretty much all elves are born with, but again, there are differences that might be invisible to human eyes, but not to the elves. Being tall is also a favoured trait. Having long and slender fingers with neatly trimed short nails is also a sign of beauty.
Gender Ideals
Women:
Women are considered especially attractive if they are slender with narrow shoulders and a high waist. Symmetrical faces with thick straight eyebrows, a narrow straight nose, a soft oval jawline but with prominent cheekbones and bowshaped lips are regarded as the ideal feminine features.Men:
Men are considered especially attractive if they have lean muscles, not the bulky kind, are slim and tall, and have symmetrical faces with arched eyebrows, high, defined cheekbones and a defined jawline. Softer more oval faceshapes are seen as ideal. Straight noses with a high nosebridge are also an important feature.Twofold Soul Folk:
Twofold Soul Folk are considered especially attractive if they can achieve a perfect blend between masculine and feminine ideal features.Major organizations
The overwhelming majority of kaatin elves live in Kaat itself. Only few migrate to other countries and if they do, it's usually to Deya where they might have relatives.
Diverged ethnicities
Encompassed species
Languages spoken
Related Locations
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