Ocean Elves: the Selkie
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Kikilani, Kapule,
Masculine names
Tobou, Jumo,
Culture
Average technological level
Jellyfish and blue ring octopus poisons are used in warfare and alchemy. They've become the crux of their society in terms of warfare. In shallow waters, Ocean Elves use Manatees for livestock.
Because they live most of their lives in the water, they do not have as good of access to metal working as their land-dwelling cousins, this causes them to rely on trade for various forms of modern weaponry, some of which are completely useless underwater but are still collected for their dealings with those on land.
For writing, they rely heavily on octopus ink written onto sharkskin.
Art & Architecture
When on land, the selkies live in small huts made of leather and held up by sticks or bones. Underwater buildings are rare but when they are built they are lined with shark leather and crab based protection against erosion.
Coming of Age Rites
While not sanctioned by the community, it is common for young children to shift into adolescence years by going into a dangerous shipwreck and bringing out a momento. It's generally thought of as harmless if a little scary for young kids.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Because the hash nature of the sea withers away bodies so quickly, a peaceful burial is usually considered to be not an option. Instead they go down into deep, underwater volcanos, the location of which only high priests know. Through some kind of magic they transform the corpse into gems and give them back to the family.
Common Taboos
Ocean Elves cannot allow themselves to harm a blue whale, which they view as sacred. A location marked by a dead blue whale is then also taboo and must not be touched until the dead body has been removed by the sea.
Killing a seal is viewed the same as killing another elf or human, and is punishable by death.
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