First Shift

The First Shift is a coming of age tradition celebrated by the Nata-Kea people (Zean: People of the Seprent). It serves as an introduction to the two most culturally respected occupations: the sefia miner and the Snakeguard.

Beginning of the celebrations

The First Shift celebration occurs a week after the first full moon of the spring. All Nata-Kea adolescents of 14-15 years are invited to arrive at several sefia mines spread nearby the capital city of Har-Kea (Zean: Seat of the Serpent). The candidates are then asked to gather either at the mine at dusk or at the nearby plateau at dawn, where they will face their challenge. The two-year window for participation means that one can attempt both tasks in concurrent years. This is seen as a sign of commitment to the tradition. Usually the challenges last for about a week, as a limited number of people can try their luck every day. During this time, the participants are cared for by the towns they lodge in. For majority of participants, this is their first contact with Kea-Atara (Zean: the Great Cave Snake) and first serious opportunity to use the advantages of the Change.

The miners

The adolescents choosing the mines have a relatively simple task. They must enter the caves and follow the signs to a marked sefia vein. There, they must fill several baskets with ore, the number of baskets depending on the size of the group. A tamed, green- or red-painted Kea-Atara will be nearby, which must be loaded with ore and followed to the surface. The serpent will always precede the challengers because they need to carry some ore themselves to gain proper reverence for the animal’s help. This is a team challenge, and the group is treated as one. An injury occurring or one person carrying majority of the weight does not matter. If everyone emerges from the mine and the ore is delivered, the challenge is deemed successfully conquered.

The Snakeguard

The Snakeguard candidates are in a more complex position, as their failure may mean harm coming to one of the serpents. To prevent that, usually two chaperones are assigned to every group. The challenge is even more straightforward than the previous one. The guard must prevent all potential predators and intruders from entering the plateau from dawn until the last serpent returns underground. Usually, there are two to three shifts in that period, depending on the garrison’s size, but the challengers are expected to endure the entire day in the sun. If no natural danger presents itself, one of the chaperones will conduct a mock intrusion, which sporadically results in injuries, usually inflicted by the overzealous challengers.

The festival

During the challenges, a festival is being set up in the capital. The challengers enter the city in a parade, preceded by musicians and dancers. They are greeted by cheers of the adults and a rain of flower petals. For the next two days the life of the capital revolves around several central streets, filled with stalls and performers. For the challengers, the culmination happens on the evening of the first day, when the Council members personally pierce their ears and hand each of them a serpent-shaped earring. Those who participated their second time and conquered both challenges can obtain a second one.

Trivia

Not everyone takes part in the First Shift, as it is not obligatory, but highly recommended as a once (or twice) in the life experience. The career of the challengers is obviously not decided here in any way, as all kinds of trades are necessary for Nata-Kea to thrive. That being said, challengers who displayed extraordinary characteristics are often scouted by the Snakeguard or mining companies. In rural and faraway settlements, a simplified version of the ceremony is performed. It involves several contests, in spirit connected to the main event, such as weight carrying or defending a serpent statue from attacks. They usually end with a feast as well. Members of other tribes, unaffiliated and people of mixed descent are welcome to participate if the age requirement is met, though it is rare.