Ilblejideki
"I've never seen so many bugs in my life. The whole 12 thou'. It's either that or the plants that get to me. And shit, it's not like the cities are that much better. The bugs there wear suits, and instead of leaving a welt on your arm, they suck every ounce of blood from your body... and cash from your wallet. I really do wonder, how in Borr's Balls does anyone tolerate this place?" -Shulak, returning from a remarkably unsatisfying business trip to the Ilblejid rainforrest
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Somewhat surprisingly, even with the classification of "matriarch," Ilblejideki society doesn't recognize gendered classifications. Those that qualify for matriarch status must only have sired younglings in the past. While it is still recognized that males tend to take the less physically taxing tasks, it is basically understood that both sexes are fully capable of carrying out their duties to their families and communities, and most importantly, to themselves. Younglings are named in accordance with an aspect of their mother's pregnancy. This could be something that stirred their imagination, a sight, a smell, an experience, or even just a relatively mundane object. In analytics, the number of Ilblejideki adults named either after some form of "chair," "bed," or "rock" is astounding, and frankly, silly. I wouldn't tell that to their face.
Family names
Family names are often chosen by the dwelling they live in. For instance, a family residing in a treehouse would have the name "Jidekoonse," or "treehouse" in Ilblej. Should the matriarch of the family move to a different style of dwelling, it is their responsibility to inform their kin of a name change. Matriarchs are chosen by means unique to each family, but the idea that they must meet the qualification of being a mother first is fairly uniform across all tribes, with a few rare exceptions.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Ilblej is the most commonly spoken dialect in the jungles of the midlands. Each of the three major tribal cluster uses a slightly different set of slang terms, which can give the aesthetic of a different dialect, but is still relatively faithful to the Ilblej model. The dialect make more use of guttural syllables than generic Eskan, and in many respects, it feels like a whole other language.
Culture and cultural heritage
The culture is centered heavily on a sense of duty to one's immediate community. This is universal across all Ilblejideki tribes.
Shared customary codes and values
Community is widely valued above most else, but that comes with an interest in personal responsibility and self-care. An Ilblejideki proverb on this goes as such: "One who has fallen into a river must save themselves before even their greatest ally, for one who has drowned is of no use to anyone." Of all the varied ideologies of the Ilblej tribes, that value sticks to pretty much every single one.
Average technological level
General Ausran technological attainment. However, the Ilblekideki tribes prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, and will often choose to work with their hands rather than automate their tasks. This varies tribe to tribe.
Common Etiquette rules
Although most personal belongings are respected, dwellings are considered the community's, with most doors unlocked or ajar during the daytime. There isn't much you can really do to truly upset or offend an Ilblejideki, save anything less intense than just up and socking them in the face, but their mischief is a culturally learned trait that can leave visitors reeling if they aren't prepared to have anything ropelike on their person to end up in tangled knots, or have liar seeds planted in their backpacks, or have any assortment of pranks directed their way. They do this to each other as well, and are very good natured about being 'goofed upon.'
Common Dress code
Anything goes, generally, but clothing that allows for a wide range of movement is preferable to most other articles. At the end of the day, no-one is required to wear anything specific. Both males and females usually acquire clothing that prevents their swinging bits from interfering in their day-to-day activities.
Art & Architecture
Art is seen as valuable to the culture, and is made mostly of materials that can survive the extreme weathering of the environment they reside within. It is most often elaborate depictions of the surrounding flora and fauna, using materials such as rocks, jewels, pebbles, sap, and other things found around the place. They also have a delightful propensity to indulge in self-portraits, constructed primarily of colored stones. These works are all gathered and shone to the rest of the community in fairs that happen once every few months on a voted-upon day.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
General customs across all Ilblejideki tribes are their shenanigans. Locking someone inside their own dwelling, taking the power sources out of their prized tools, and defacing their properties with difficult-to-clean materials is akin to a handshake.
The decoration of dwellings is a yearly tradition observed during the warmer months. Houses are lined with luminescent fungi and, if no fungi are available, cheap light sources from wandering traders, such as bulbs or canisters of abertinyfn (a gas comprised of many parts of neon, argon, and nitrogen, as well as a few other trace elements that produce a spectacular reddish-yellow light). This is done for practical reasons, as many dangerous creatures that emerge during the summer tend to avoid concentrations of light.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
When a youngling is born, they are taken by the father, or closest sibling, if there is no father present, to the tallest nearby tree (at a range of about 3 miles at most) to be blessed the base by Mysyx, the Goddess of Life and Peace. They are then returned to the birthgiver after an extremely brief ceremony.
Coming of Age Rites
Coming of age happens when a youngling reaches the age of 14 and pairs off with another individual, in one of the aforementioned "marriages." They can "marry" anyone outside of their family.
Funerary and Memorial customs
The death of an Ilblejideki is celebrated in a somber ritual, in which the body of the deceased is returned to the land. This can be through any number of methods. Here are a few I've observed:
- Feeding the deceased to a carnivorous plant.
- Feeding the deceased to a pack of carnivorous animals.
- Placing the deceased in a special biopod to be absorbed by a sapling placed atop the pod.
- Throwing the deceased into a shallow grave and marking it with a piece of artwork that will decay after about 3 weeks, which is the standard amount of time it takes for an Ausran of that size to decompose in their immediate environment.
Common Taboos
Nothing is more taboo than a prank gone too far, or targeted harassment of a specific individual. If a prank happens to cause serious physical harm, or significantly hinders the productivity of the community, the perpetrator is generally shunned for a time to reflect on their actions. If a group of individuals targets a specific person for a long period of time, they may be subject to public denunciation and humiliation, at the discretion of the harassed individual.
Historical figures
Tajric Tann: An avid historian, writer, and philosopher. She is credited by many with kickstarting the resurgence of the worship of Mysyx in the modern age. She lives a comfortable life in the outskirts of Aeon.
Gieg: A fierce politician and acolyte. She is credited with the founding of Aeon in the center of the territory.
Ghemiblejso Friok: A software developer and auteur. Their works have entertained many since the early days of the Ausran civilization, and they are still remembered fondly to this day. Credited with the creation of interactive digital mediums, or as they are known on Terra, video games. Their films have been readapted and reproduced for millennia, and are considered valuable cultural touchstones.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The more unique one is, the more fantastical they are. Brilliant colors, growths such as horns or spines, strange pupils or iris shapes, even webbed feet, can be considered beautiful. Physically, agility and flexibility are prized over raw strength. Individuals are expected to be dependable and responsible, focused on the prosperity of the community and themselves; the ability to take care of oneself (hygiene, clothing, superficial looks) is a virtue that attracts many dating prospects, if you're an Ilblejidek.
Courtship Ideals
A couple that wishes to court will run into the deep of the jungle to survive together for several days to a few weeks (the length depends on their tribe of origin, but this is the generally practiced traditional 'wedding'), relying only on what their partner provides to them. These outings are incredibly dangerous, even for the initiated and adept, but what better strengthens a bond than being able to tend to one's needs, and having them adequately attend to your own, even in the face of nearly constant danger? One can also 'marry' many different individuals of any sex, and it isn't uncommon for an individual in some tribes to be 'married' to over two thirds of their neighbors, regardless of sex. Sexual acts are commonly used as a form of compensation between 'married' individuals, also regardless of the sex of said individuals.
Relationship Ideals
A true friend is one that can be leaned on for support in times of need, be they emotional, physical, or metaphysical. This seems to be the only criteria for a relationship with an Ilblejideki.
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
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