Tungst

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The Tungst are a society of primarily hunter-gatherers who live in some of the most inhospitable regions on Khthon, and this informs nearly every aspect of their culture. Their daily intimate struggle against death means that most of their perception of beauty or attractiveness is directly rooted in survivability and reproductive viability. The most attractive Tungst men are the largest, strongest, fastest, and toughest. The most attractive Tungst women are the most nurturing and fertile. The intense cold of most of their chosen environments means that both are more attractive with more hair and, to a point, bodyfat.

Courtship Ideals

Tungstan life can be short and brutal, so their courtship rituals are usually short and simple, but are taken no less seriously for it. Though it is more common for men to approach women, it is not a cultural imperative and the differing roles in the courtship process are based on pursuing and pursued rather than on gender. Those with a romantic view will say that Tungstan courtship begins with a gift and ends with a dowry, while those less inclined have been known to call it barter system prostitution. A pursuer will begin the courtship by presenting a gift which is usually some particularly impressive, and nearly always utile, example of the same thing they provide for the tribe in their role. One of the most common is a heavy coat fashioned from a particularly impressive animal hunted and slain by the pursuer. The courtship begins if the gift is accepted and can last for any amount of time, though brevity is most common. Though there is a ceremony akin to a wedding in Tungstan culture, it is a pleasant formality, a confirmation of an already existing bond. The real culmination of a courtship is when the pursued provides a gift to the pursuer, this time with a focus specifically away from utility and more on enjoyment. It is one of the few times in Tungst life apart from early childhood when focus is put on enjoyment for its own sake.