Central Khettadine

The first great Khettadine nation, the Central Khettadine resided in the jungles that spanned Khetta's largest continent.
They expelled the Northern Khettadine due to their use of fire, but a thousand years later, this would come around to cause them much grief when the Northern Khettadine formed an alliance with the Greater Shoreborne and in an attempt to take the land that they had been forced out of a millennia ago, declared war.
With amphibious invasions from the east and west and a land invasion from the north, they were hard-pressed to fend off their technologically superior foes and so lost a lot of territory, suffering many casualties, but held off their opponents through superior knowledge of the terrain and expertise in jungle fighting.
The war lasted for more than two centuries and border skirmishes over the reclaimed territory continued for centuries more, with both sides believing they had a right to the land occupied by the Northern Khettadine.
The Central Khettadine are commonly referred to as "Cent-Khetts," a term even many of them use as a snappy way to refer to their people-group. However, they are disparagingly known as "fruities" by other Khettadine races, a name which draws from their focus on fruit and their practice of making their homes in the trees, where the buildings can look like overgrown fruit.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Feminine names usually represent some aspirational standard, whether the beauty of a flower, the fertility of a native fruit tree, a specific Khett virtue, or some worthy role-model. Some names are also circumstantial, usually related to the child's birth or conception.
Structurally, they often feature rounder sounds, a higher ratio of vowels to consonants, and they often end in vowels sounds, a rarity in the language outside of onomatopoeic words such as "ta" (to strike something that is hard).
Typically, names ending in "a" mean a person who is characterized by doing or being a certain thing, while names ending in "i" mean a person who is characterized by being a certain way. Accordingly, virtue names often have multiple accepted spellings.
Common examples include:

• Borova ("Of the harvest," also a great benefactress)
• Dovari/Dovara/Dovaria ("Love")
• Fraci ("Vivacious")
• Fracorova ("One who gives of her abundance of vitality")
• Haworah ("Haworah tree," associated with beauty, sturdiness, and home)
• Pardova ("Blooming tree")
• Kalny (a bush that bears significant amounts of fruit; edible and decorative)
• Matreparia ("Grove of parin trees")
• Norsi/Norsa/Norsia ("Discipline")
• Siruvasia ("Small, joyful harvest")
• Teysi/Teysa/Teysia ("Peace")

Masculine names

Masculine names usually represent some aspirational standard, such as a quality desirous in a certain occupation or some worthy role-model. Some names are also circumstantial, usually related to the child's birth or conception.
Structurally, they often feature harder, sharper sounds and a lower ratio of vowels to consonents. They never end in vowel sounds.
Common examples include:

• Borog ("Of the stone")
• Borov ("Of the harvest")
• Borpar ("Of the trees")
• Borshur ("Of blood")
• Folwin ("Persistent")
• Losham ("Creative")
• Lun ("Agile," also a benefactor)
• Malkoln ("War-like," also a benefactor)
• Rakt ("Tenacious")
• Voroth ("Stealthy")
• Wolsket ("Adventurous")
• Zeder ("Sturdy," also a benefactor)

Family names

"Family" names are instead derived from the warren in which the Khett is born. These names range from place names ("Littlecreek," "Treebridge") and occupations held in common ("Plucker," "Planter") to the names of famous people or benefactors ("Zeder," "Borova").
Thus, certain names are extremely common. "Zeder" is one of the most common surnames because of Zeder Rodafi Tokta ("Builder"), who was one of the first to charitably construct warrens, first donating his labor directly, then later funding such projects. These warrens were all named after him, and thus many of the next generation carried his first name as their surname.
Middle names serve a role more comparable to what is commonly thought of as a family name (a name indicating bloodline). These are derived from the parent of the same sex, so in the case of a son the father, and in the case of a daughter the mother.
When two Khetts marry, traditionally the female takes the male's first name as a third name, placing it before the warren name and after her mother's name. For example, Zeder Rodafi Tokta's wife's name was Fraci Siruvasa Zeder Akamatreb ("Strangegrove"). In the modern era, this is still the norm, but it is not uncommon for both spouses to add the name of the warren in which they were married (usually being the birthplace of neither) to the end of their name instead of the wife taking the husband's name as part of her own (Name/Parent/Birth-warren/Marriage-warren).
Common examples include:
Place names:

• Akamatreb ("Strangegrove")
• Basparotid ("Treebridge")
• Sivirt ("Littlecreek")

Occupations:

• Breman ("Plucker")
• Orogta ("Miner")
• Skeenta ("Smith")
• Tokta ("Builder")
• Tovan ("Planter")

Benefactors:

• Borova
• Lun
• Malkoln
• Zeder

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Central Khettadine is one of the two major Khett language groups, and the language from which Mountain Khettadine and Northern Khettadine were developed.
There are multiple regional accents and dialectic ways of speaking from across The Centrality, but all fall under Central Khettadine.
The dialect that can most precisely be called Central Khettadine is considered the "true Khett language" by many who speak it, with all other languages from Central Khettadine seen as inferior and polluted by loan words and outside influence.

Shared customary codes and values

Even though there are multiple micro-cultures that comprise The Centrality, with different value systems and codes of conduct, there are certain values universal to all Cent-Khetts:
Family and community:
Family, community, and country are all extensions of each other, and have responsibilities to each other. The individual has a responsibility to them all, in order from family to community to country. In modern times, the alliance of Khettadine nations now sits behind country, although some reject placing it in the order at all.
Productivity:
Discipline, efficiency, and competency are qualities expected of all Cent-Khetts, whether working in the home, the field, or the office. A Khett who does not produce to its capacity does not fulfill its responsibilities to family and community. Laziness is shunned, and "looking past the canopy" (to be daydreaming or absent-minded, uselessly thoughtful) is frowned upon.
Unique to women (or couples), reticence to bear children is widely disapproved of (fewer than four children is considered a small number).
Hospitality:
Related in some ways to both of the above, it is expected that a Cent-Khett family be able to graciously host others on a regular basis with the bounty of their table. Likewise, Cent-Khetts are expected to be good guests when hosted by others.
Virtues:
While related to the above, these are more general concepts of how a Cent-Khett should comport him or herself. There are four shared virtues, four feminine virtues, and four masculine virtues. The assignation of virtues to a particular gender does not mean that such values aren't relevant to the other, but merely that they are more strongly expected of the gender to which they are assigned, and are typically more relevant to their roles in society.
Shared virtues:

• Fortitude (or perseverance)
• Industriousness
• Justice
• Love

Feminine virtues:

• Beauty
• Care
• Peace
• Vivacity (or joy)

Masculine virtues:

• Prudence
• Sacrifice
• Strength
• Thrift

Average technological level

The Cent-Khetts lagged behind their neighbors quite dramatically due to their refusal to harness fire, which resulted in the catastrophic war and series of skirmishes that comprised the Thousand Seasons of Blood. This spurred them to make use of the feared element, allowing them to begin creating weapons and armor that rivaled those of their enemies.
However, their culture was slow to adopt new technologies and so they still lagged far behind until the modern era, losing a massive war that further shrunk The Centrality's territory. They had not even achieved space flight by the time of the Khettadine alliance.
After Alliance Day, this gap was largely erased due to various technology-sharing treaties and agreements. Individual Cent-Khetts often know well-enough how to use even the most modern tech, but there is little demand for such items in the Centrality and associated colonies, so the practical technology level is lower than on worlds populated by the more inventive Des-Khetts or Shoreborne.

Common Etiquette rules

Greetings

When a male meets a male peer, they are expected to greet each other with a short hug. Verbal greetings are typically quite short, except in more formal circumstances where it usually takes the form of a blessing, and must be returned in kind. Such blessings vary, and are often distinctly personalized, but most are based on either the other Khett's birth-color ("May your javelins ever fly true" is common for dark red) or his actual occupation (though if neither is used, a generic phrase is usually substituted). Care is taken to not make the phrases too distinctly personal—if a greeting cannot be used without personal knowledge of someone's circumstance (such as marital status), it should not be used at all.
When a female meets a female peer, they are expected to greet each other with a kiss on the right cheek. Verbal greetings are very similar for females as they are for males, but the subject matter of the phrases vary. Great care is taken in referring to fertility symbols (such as fruit) in order to avoid accidentally giving offense, but beauty is still commented on ("May your tree ever bloom"). Much like with men, greetings should not be too distinctly personal.
When a male and a female meet each other, they bow to each other, each curling his or her tail around the left ankle (If the pair are married, they usually hug and kiss rather than bowing). They then verbally greet each other as appropriate, with the short, generic phrase in more casual environments or with a blessing under more formal or romantic settings. Traditionally, the male gives the blessing first, and the female reciprocates, however in the modern age this distinction is often ignored.
Greetings to elders are very similar, but the younger Khett is expected to bow slightly, curling his or her tail around the left ankle. The elder Khett may then choose to initiate the physical greeting, if desired.
In the modern age, many consider these rituals passe outside of the most formal environments, and anyone who bows is considered old-fashioned. There are those, however, who harken back fondly to the well-mannered olden days and carry on the old traditions.

Farewells

Farewells are nearly identical to greetings, unless in a casual setting, in which case the short greeting is instead a short farewell. In more formal settings, the blessing is simply repeated or variated, but the meaning doesn't change.

Hospitality

When visiting for a meal, food, drink, and table ornamentation must always be brought. In the case of a lone person visiting, only one of the three must be brought. Usually, these take the form of a some fruit or a home-cooked dish that would be served at room temperature, a fermented fruit drink, and a bouquet of flowers or small basket of blossoms.
At such meals, it is important that the guests eat from each dish provided, including their own, both to show that they value the food they share and that they appreciate the food shared with them. It is considered bad manners to not eat at least two helpings or to leave any food on the plate uneaten, and the quality of the food must be positively referenced.
Table etiquette (such as large bites) is considerably more lax than in many cultures, as ravenous eating habits are considered quite complementary—one must not be seen as hesitant or picky.

Agreements

When a solemn agreement of some kind has been reached, such as a business deal, diplomatic pact, or private pledge, the two Khetts each put a hand over their heart and say a blessing to the other party. Often, they will then celebrate with a fermented fruit drink and snack, each party providing one component (or splitting the cost of a single component, if, for example, they only drink).

Common Dress code

Females

Typical dress for females consists of short pants, often with a short skirt for style or modesty, and a full-length top, often sleeveless, with an elastic hem to hold it to her waist or enough additional length to tuck it into her waistband. Sometimes it will be tunic-length in lieu of a short skirt, and is then held to her waist by a belt.
The arms are commonly left bare, except in colder weather, and likewise the legs are often barely covered.
It is socially acceptable, although uncommon, for females to wear hats. More commonly, however, the ears are adorned with one or two bows or miniature floral wreathes. At various festivals or events, females (particular the younger females) will wear a wreath about their whole head. Unlike the daily fashion accessories which must be made of synthetic materials lest they wither and decay, this is typically fresh-picked and hand-woven for the specific event.
Piercings are widely rejected, and seen only on the fringe of society.

Males

Males typically wear short pants, often with a kilt (although this must have a cut-out for the tail), and sometimes wear a shirt. However, males almost only ever wear a shirt when in a formal setting or when necessary for protection in whatever job they have (often with some kind of protective jacket overtop). In casual wear, it is almost always cast aside. In the colder months, it becomes much more common to wear shirts.
It is more common for males to wear hats than it is for females, but like shirts it is usually related to their occupation. Whether a protective hat or helmet, or a broad-brimmed hat to shade the eyes, it is usually of a practical rather than decorative nature, although there are hats designed and worn for their style.
As among females, piercings are widely rejected.

Art & Architecture

Music

Surprisingly, music is almost nonexistant in Central Khettadine culture, even when exposed to it by other cultures. This lack of interest leads to many seeing them as uncultured and literally tone-deaf.
The only type of music that is at all common in their culture takes the form of work chants or cadences, invariably unaccompanied.
Those who have studied the phenomenon remain baffled as to why music is so unappreciated, and most can only throw up their hands and say they guess they just aren't interested. Cent-Khetts are widely considered terrible singers, although whether this can be attributed to a biological characteristic or a lack of cultural exposure is unclear, and since most offworld Central Khettadine grow up in enclaves of other Central Khettadine, there are few true examples of Cent-Khetts raised in a culture with an appreciation for music.

Sculpture

Sculpture is quite common, usually on a small scale, carved from wood, although on occasion entire trees have been cut down and shaped into tremendous statues. However, these are quite rare and mostly modern as very few pursue such artistic interests to the point where they could undertake such a project.
More commonly, sculptures take the form of small figurines and ornaments for the home, typically carved by a housewife.
Other materials such as clay or stone are used for sculptures as well, but only rarely as they must be apportioned for the purpose, whereas it is quite easy to lay one's hands on a serviceable piece of scrap wood.
Sculpture subjects can be anything the artist imagines, although they are most commonly representations of people or animals. Another popular style is to create sculptures of plants or trees, but these are quite difficult to make and consequently rare—many skilled housewives have made significant sums of money selling such creations.

Imagery

Two-dimensional imagery is the most common art medium of the Central Khettadine, and itself comes in multiple forms. The most ancient and cheapest method is wood carvings, where certain tools are used to carve images onto sheets of wood. After painting, this is the most popular artistic skill among Khett females.
Painting (to include sketches, watercolors, and other similar mediums) is in many ways the simplest of the two-dimensional styles, and the easiest to teach. However, that is not to say it is easy to master. Unlike wood carvings, they must be colored, introducing another quite complex element.
The most difficult two-dimensional style is metal engraving. This is inaccessible to most casual artists, and thus exceedingly rare. Given the tools and infrastructure required to support it, it was quite a long time before it reached the mainstream.
Subject matter for two-dimensional artwork is extremely diverse, ranging from portraits to scenes to meaningless patterns deemed attractive by their designers. Most Khett families have many heirloom pieces they can trace back generations, and will gladly explain this history to visitors upon request. Such a request is considered very complimentary, and is a sure way to solve an awkward lull in conversation.

Literature

Literature is the province equally of the two sexes, but they each typically address different genres and audiences. Most fiction written by males is geared towards adult, often male, interests (such as military fiction), while most fiction written by females is geared towards children and is often of a more fantastical nature.
Poetry, likewise, is split in interest. However, females again tend to focus more on what will be enjoyable to children (e.g. nursery rhymes) because that is the context in which they are creating poetry, while the poety written by males tends to be directed more towards adults, whether through simple entertainment value or as a means of wooing females.

Performance

Acting was quite nearly unheard of until civilization had advanced quite significantly, as it was always seen as a waste of time. Live story reading and poetry recital were not rare, but never commercialized, as they almost solely happened in the warren during free times, or as a part of education.
As far as theater or movies go, however, neither caught on. Since the people working those jobs were not "producing" anything (as the concept was understood), they were widely looked down upon. Therefore, neither the jobs nor the product were considered desirable, and so both mediums lag far behind their clusteral contemporaries and exist only on very small scales.

Architecture

Traditionally, homes would be built in the stalwart branches of the massive haworah tree, which subsequently became inseparable from the concepts of home and safety. In this manner, entire networks of buildings could be suspended off the ground and away from dangerous predators such as snakes. Consequently, they were overengineered and built of lightweight materials that could withstand winds and movement without placing too much weight on the trees. This made these buildings very difficult to construct, and so many opted to dig their homes into the ground beneath the trees, sometimes tunneling into the root systems.
In the modern age, cities are built in a more widely recognizable style, with steel and glass skyscrapers growing amid the jungle. Such modern buildings often have plants incorporated into the structure, letting vines run wild over the outside while lush bushes seemingly spill out of every balcony and window box, and the roof spouts a veritable wig of greenery.
Likewise, the rest of the city is integrated with the environment, with many parks and preserves, beyond the frequent trees that dot streetcorners and provide convenient posts for streetlights, signs, and signals. Even the roads are green, as in an age of anti-gravity cars a rough surface is unneeded. The most modern cities feature roads paved with long, lush grass, which when pressed down by traffic creates an almost river-like carpet of greenery.

Food

"Five thousand dishes with five thousand more beside" is how one writer described the culinary climate of the Khettadine culture, and it is nowhere more true than in the Centrality, although it woefully underestimates the true scope.
The Cent-Khetts live in the most abundant region across all of Khetta, with food literally hanging above their heads. Numerous varieties of fruit, none more favored than the parin fruit, dot the canopies, while roots and vegetables are grown on the forest floor. Large swathes of ground have been cleared for fields of grain or other crops, and almost every warren features a garden patch of some kind, with various nightshades grown quite commonly in the cool darkness below the trees.
Fish are sourced from the river and fowl from the trees, while hogs are farmed in pens, each supplementing the plant-based staples well.
The bulk of the Cent-Khett diet consists of vegetation—grains, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, but meat provides an excellent source of protein year-round. No one food can truly be considered a staple, as the extensive variety means that even that which is considered a staple by one warren is rarely eaten by another. However, the sweet parin fruit, while not truly a staple, is universally appreciated and can be found as part of or accompanying almost any dish.
There is an effectively limitless variety to Cent-Khett cuisine, and they readily embraced imports as a way to further expand this panoply. Alien produce has become integrated into not only their cooking but their farming as well, with some unable to fathom a time before some ingredient was readily available for them to enjoy.
Trying to summarize some general "type" of dish is difficult, but foods which blend many flavors and ingredients are quite common and popular, with casseroles, salads, and stews taking an important role. It is customary for an ordinary meal to consist of a main course and no less than three side dishes, one of which is a recipe requiring fewer ingredients than the main course, while the other two consist of some "singular" food such as bread, fruit, or a vegetable that requires minimal preparation prior to mealtime (although, in the case of something like bread, extra preparation may be entailed, especially if for a special event).

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Festivals

The different seasons are very important to the Central Khettadine, and they mark the beginnings and ends of the planting and harvest seasons with week-long festivals.
Planting:
At the official beginning of the planting season, each warren hosts some kind of party, traditionally outdoors around a "warren tree" (either the tree holding their home or a chosen tree). In ages past, this festival was timed when the warren tree bloomed, although in the modern age it is commonly observed on a specific day.
The occasion is marked by general frivolity: dancing, games, sporting, and bright decorations, with warrens and plots of land marked for such festivities festooned with varicolored flowers and garlands.
When the planting season ends, the festival week is much the same. This is also typically when recreational facilities like pools and sporting fields and courts open, and summer is officially declared.
Harvest:
The beginning of harvest is marked with a feast of the last supplies from the previous harvest and off-season produce, although in the modern era this mostly just means certain types of food since most produce is available year round.
The end is likewise marked with a feast, but this is of the produce of the harvest, all fresh food. Gifts are also exchanged between family and friends, and warrens often assemble gifts for each other.

Holidays

Various special days are commemorated by the Cent-Khetts, such as military victories, diplomatic triumphs, or general days of awareness.
Memorial Day:
Memorial Day is observed on the 57th day of spring and commemorates the beginning of the Thousand Seasons of Blood, when the Des-Khetts invaded with the help of the Shoreborne. This marks the beginning of a month-long period of reflection, although in the modern age it is typically distilled into two days, one marking the beginning and the second marking the end.
While the Cent-Khetts have a holiday with the same Aribitral translation (albeit a different native name), the two holidays are different and both predate the peace by hundreds of years. However, they are quite similar, and were united by the Unification Treaty of 3 A.C.E.
The modern experience is as a day to remember and celebrate soldiers who were killed in service of The Centrality or The United Sovereignties of Khetta.
Centrality Day:
The second is Centrality Day, observed on the 88th day of spring. It commemorates the founding of The Centrality, an alliance between twenty-some Cent-Khett states who banded together to fend off the invaders. This marks the end of the month-long period of reflection.
Peace Day:
Peace Day is observed on the 19th day of summer, and commemorates the official end of the Thousand Seasons of Blood. It is less-often celebrated in any great way, because it is not considered a particularly joyous occasion since The Centrality was forced to cede a large swath of territory to the invaders. Instead, it is typically observed as a kind of veterans' day, shifting the focus away from any particular event and more generally towards Cent-Khetts who've fought for The Centrality or The United Sovereignties of Khetta.
Alliance Day:
Alliance Day is observed on the 17th day of winter, and commemorates the unification of all great Khettadine nations in 3 A.C.E.
Black Day:
Black Day is observed on the 15th day of spring and serves as a "birthday" for male Khetts given the sign of the plow at their birth (actual birthdays are not celebrated). Customarily, Black Khetts will be given gifts by friends and family on this day.
Red Day:
Red Day is observed on the 15th day of summer and is for Khetts given the sign of the javelin.
Brown Day:
Brown Day is observed on the 15th day of autumn and is for Khetts given the sign of the axe-hammer.
Gray Day:
Gray Day is observed on the 15th day of winter and is for Khetts given the sign of the pickaxe.
Green Day:
Green Day is observed on the 45th day of spring and is for female Khetts given the sign of the tree.
Orange Day:
Orange Day is observed on the 45th day of summer and is for Khetts given the sign of the orange flower.
Purple Day:
Purple Day is observed on the 45th day of autumn and is for Khetts given the sign of the purple flower.
Blue Day:
Blue Day is observed on the 45th day of winter and is for Khetts given the sign of water.

Events

Various events are commonly held throughout the year, with no particular relation to seasons or times.
Dances:
Dances are held very frequently, each typically with a certain age bracket in mind (though some cater to broad ranges). The youngest brackets are for minors between the ages of seven and ten, and these dances are typically gender-segregated, with little contact between males and females (although performed for each others' benefit). Dances begin featuring couples' dancing around the age of eleven, and this most popular context continues into even very old age, although the enthusiasm and intensity of dancing certainly decreases with age.
Warren construction:
When it is decided that a new warren is needed, whether because of overcrowding in one, a political schism, or a desire to act benevolently, those wishing to construct a warren purchase a plot of land and dedicate a tree on the property as a "warren tree." This dedication ceremony can be very simple, particularly in the case of a company building one to sell, but is sometimes quite complex. The nature of these ceremonies is quite diverse depending on peoplegroup and background, but most often takes the form of a party and feast accompanied by some speechifying.
Once the warren tree has been dedicated, the land is appropriately prepared according to the specifications of the construction and then construction begins.
When construction is completed, another celebration is held and the warren is named. In the case of a benefactor funding the construction, it is customary for one of the future residents to suggest naming it after the donor.
Warren days:
Many warrens have a "warren day" annually near the anniversary of the warren's naming ceremony, usually on the rest day, Dwismit. The celebration is attended by the whole warren and often people who used to live in the warren, typically grown children.
It is held outdoors, conditions permitting, and usually features yard games and a communal meal. Some urban warrens will hold their celebration in a city park rather than move it indoors.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When born, each Khett is given a blanket of a color chosen by the parents. This color becomes specifically associated with that Khett, and shows up in everything from decor to official documents.
The colors are gender-specific and each come along with a certain sign. Boys are given colors and symbols that represent occupations—black (plow), dark red (javelin), brown (axe-hammer), or gray (pickaxe)—while girls are given colors and symbols that represent life-giving—green (tree), orange (flower), purple (flower), or blue (water).
Generally, a boy's father chooses his color, while both parents together choose a color for the girl.

Coming of Age Rites

Upon turning thirteen, a Khett is considered a full adult. Like birthdays, this is marked by color day, meaning one with the sign of the javelin would be considered an adult on the thirteenth 15th of summer since his birth, or one with the sign of the tree would be considered an adult on the thirteenth 45th of spring since her birth.
The day passes without much fanfare beyond the usual festivities, as it does not mark much of a shift in the Khett's life beyond the adjustment of certain legal rights. The Khett is still in school, and will be for years, and will likely already have been working in some sort of apprenticeship or been otherwise training for independent life.

Funerary and Memorial customs

If the body can be recovered, it is buried in a funerary garden patch, where the decomposing body can fertilize the soil. The bereaved are then given a basket of produce from the garden.
Memorial services are typically rather short, and often involve as many as three entire warrens, plus a few miscellaneous guests. Traditionally, the memorial service would be put on by the deceased's warren, and the deceased's birth warren would attend as well. Siblings, friends, and grown children from separate warrens would attend, and the spouse's birth warren would also attend. Thus, sometimes as many as two hundred might show up for the funeral of a rather ordinary Khett.
The deceased is eulogized by spouse, parents, select siblings, grown children, and occasionally friends. Each eulogy lasts only a minute or two, and is usually more of a goodbye than a eulogy as most cultures understand it.
Once the service is concluded, the body is buried and the bereaved are presented with the fruit basket.
Commonly, the grieving period lasts one month. When possible, a surviving spouse is granted a month of leave from work. If the surviving spouse does not have a job, but stays at home with children, the warren provides financial support for a month, and members of the warren will often help with childcare more than they otherwise would be expected to.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Females

Sleekness is highly prized, as it is seen as a proxy for health, fastidiousness, and care. Similarly litheness and a slender figure, which not only indicate health, but less of a stress on treetop infrastructure, are prized. Additionally, reddish fur is widely seen as the highest standard, again in large part because it seems more unsullied than the darker colors, which can conceal dirt, fleas, and other foreign materials.
These were not always the ideals, however, because as with any culture they changed over time. While sleekness has always been prized, preferences for proportion have varied from unhealthily skinny and delicate (due in large part to the precariousness of early treetop habitats) to fairly chubby, which was seen as increasing survival chances.
There was also a brief and widely considered regrettable epoch where a rumpled, unkempt look was in vogue, but this disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared, shortly before Khettadine clusteral expansion. Such a style was initiated by a feminist movement that sought to bring females to an equal standing with males, and was a way of aligned activists to show their rebellion. However, as the cause advanced, such displays became passe and fell out of style, until brought back a couple decades later.

Males

Sleekness is a very carefully-approached feature for males, who are almost constantly trying to achieve the perfect balance between being sleek enough to not be seen as incompetent slobs, but being just unkept enough to seem masculine and active, whether they are or not. Historically, only males who did very little physical labor could maintain a sleek appearance, and thus such an appearance was considered effeminate, and therefore undesirable by females searching for a mate.
In the modern age, few actually have to resort to physical labor outside of select occupations and recreational athletic pursuits, and so it has become yet another arbitrary selection characteristic.
A male is considered attractive if he has darker fur for the same reason why it is considered less attractive for females: it conceals dirt. In millennia past, this was because it could usually be assumed men would be rather dirty, and thus better if it wasn't so visible. While the same need no longer exists, these traditions have stayed in place, in no small part because of the romanticization of dark shades of fur as being mysterious and alluring, with many ancient fictional characters considered dashing and attractive carrying these features.

Cosmetics

Cosmetics are common among both females and males, from fur dye to styling gels and tools, and there is an overwhelming array of options available.
Due to the great surface area that needs to be covered, few actually use products such as dyes or gels over their whole exposed body, but instead strategically apply it to certain areas. Many of the more artistic sort (or who can afford artistic stylists) apply multiple different colors in patterns across their fur. Like tattoos, these can convey a variety of meanings from simple artistic expression to designs of great personal significance. However, unlike tattoos, they are very temporary. Some Khetts are most identifiable by the fact that their style changes so frequently, rather than through a consistently recognizable pattern.
Most males, however, tend to prefer unobtrusive products. They attempt to achieve the desired appearance with seemingly no effort, in order to seem genuine and rugged. The exception to this is fur dye used in the same manner as tattoos, which is fairly common, although they tend to prefer longer-lasting products.

Gender Ideals

Societally, gender roles in the current era have broken down somewhat. No laws currently exist to restrict the prospects of either sex (although some exclusivity still exists, such as certain male- or female-only spaces), and by-and-large there are no cultural requirements that someone take a certain path according to their sex.
However, multiple gendered customs still exist, and most still fulfill roles traditionally associated with their sex. Therefore, below are listed what can be considered "standard" roles and expectations.

Females

Vibrant colors such as green, blue, orange, and purple are considered "feminine" as an abstraction of life-giving elements, specifically trees, water, and flowers. These three feature heavily in symbolism for females in varying ways from cradle to grave. Upon birth, each female is given a blanket of a color chosen by the parents. This color becomes specifically associated with that girl, and shows up in everything from decor to official documents. It is like a birthstone in many ways, although it is separated from any objective metric like the time of year.
Young girls, in addition to their education, are prepared to bear and rear children. This is essential to early development, as Khetts reach maturity very quickly and thus are capable of bearing children while still very uneducated and typically lacking in decision-making capabilities (making unintended pregnancies very common). Young mothers are generally expected to care for the resulting offspring, although they typically have a lot of support from others in the warren.
Most females spend significant amounts of time at home with their offspring, which can be as many as twelve in some instances. Usually, when the number of offspring exceeds five, unless the warren is well-equipped to support them while she is away, the mother will stay home full-time to look after the children.
While at home, most females who can find the time take up some cottage industry or artistic endeavor (be that writing, poetry, etching, or painting). While artistry was never considered the province entirely of one gender, it is typically associated more with females.
The ideal Central Khettadine female is elegant, practical, a committed wife, an effective mother, caring, hard-working, creative, and virtuous.

Males

Muted colors such as brown, gray, black, and dark red are considered "masculine" as an abstraction of occupations, specifically building, mining, farming, and hunting or fighting. Connected are the tools of these trades: An axe-hammer, a pickaxe, a plow, and a javelin. These four colors and tools feature heavily in symbolism for males in various ways from cradle to grave. Upon birth, each male is given a blanket of a color chosen by the father (or mother's father or surrogate father, if the biological father is out of the picture). This color and corresponding tool becomes specifically associated with that boy, and shows up in everything from decor to official documents. Like the custom for females, this is not determined by any objective metric and is subject to choice.
In the past, young men were trained for military service in addition to their education. With enemies on the north, east, and west, such preparedness was essential. As the geopolitical tensions waned and peace became more reliable, such training was replaced instead by largely apprentice-type employment. This carries on to the modern day, albeit on a smaller scale, and is open to females as well.
Young male Khetts are even more prone than young females to engage in risky sexual behavior that results in unintended pregnancies, but unlike the mothers they are not expected to care for the resulting offspring.
Later in life, however, when they actually marry, they are expected to stay with the single female and raise any children born before or during the marriage, becoming the legal father of any earlier offspring.
Typically, males are expected to be the breadwinner for the household, conducting some outside occupation and then returning home with the proceeds to sustain the rest of his family, and also contribute to the welfare of his warren. While females with multiple children are often considered acceptable liabilities (in large part due to the future potential of the children), males who do not on net contribute to the warren are often expelled. In the modern age, it is more common (although still rare) for males to raise children while the female works, changing the calculus of what is a socially acceptable contribution level.
The arts are typically considered the realm of females, since men were expected to work (artistic pursuits would indicate a lack of application to the task at hand), but there was one exception: soldiers, who often had significant periods of downtime, frequently took up writing of various sorts. While it started in ancient times with oral stories, it eventually became a part of the Central Khettadine military that soldiers would be educated in literature and provided resources for composition during downtimes. Thus, the "warrior poet" is considered a romantic figure (perhaps sometimes self-servedly so) and the idealized vision of a Central Khettadine soldier. Almost without exception, officers are expected to be excellent writers—certain literary pursuits are integral to the curriculum.
Additionally, singing is typically considered a man's pursuit, although Central Khettadine songs are largely constrained to work chants and cadences.
The ideal Central Khettadine male is strong, physically active, hard-working, economically adept, reliable, and cultured.

Courtship Ideals

Due to the high rates of promiscuity in younger Khetts, there are essentially two completely discrete methods of courting: one for the reckless young, and one for the significantly more mature full adults.
Young Khetts usually meet each other first either in the context of a warren or in a school, become infatuated, and pursue their attractions to their natural ends. There is little of a systematized courting practice, and it mostly involves the indulging of base passions.
However, sometimes the adults are able to get a better handle on the situation and rein in the young lovers, placing them by force into a more controlled method of courting. This often leads to the two lovers establishing a successful union later in life, and has a greater marriage rate than unsupervised affairs, regardless of the lovers' socio-economic circumstances.
In these more controlled situations, meetings always happen in a public space of the female's warren, chaperoned by either one of the female's parents or by a warren elder (usually a female) tasked with handling these situations (though this is only very common in particularly large warrens).
This supervisor dictates the terms of how intimate (and how soon) the two may be, provides counseling to both parties, and apprises their respective parents of the goings-on. The attitudes of these supervisors differ wildly, from extremely conservative and restrictive to very liberal and permissive, with the former gaining a reputation as overbearing killjoys among many youth, and the latter gaining a reputation as unreliable libertines among many parents.
Although romantic relationships may begin as early as the age of seven or eight, marriage is not permitted until legal adulthood at the age of thirteen. Similarly, the age of thirteen is when it becomes socially acceptable to court without the supervision of a parent or elder.
Traditionally, an interested male will gift the subject of his attraction a corsage of parin blossoms (if possible. Seasonal alternatives when necessary) along with a note inviting her to accompany him to some public engagement such as a dance. If she assents, she gives him a parin fruit (if possible. Season alternatives when necessary) along with a note accepting his request. Alternatively, if she responds in-person, she will gift him the fruit then and there.
Similarly, an interested female may gift the subject of her attraction a parin fruit, along with a note requesting that he escort her to such an engagement. This latter custom is more rarely implemented for the initiation of a relationship, however, but is not uncommon when a female has refused a male's advances and later changed her mind.
Commonly, courting is a six-month-long (or two-season-long) process, practiced in public either facilitated by events such as a dance or simply in locations such as restaurants or parks. After the first month of the process, if she wishes to continue the relationship, the female will gift the male a parin fruit along with an invitation to visit her in her warren, where he will meet her parents (if he has not already) and her children (if she has any, and they aren't his). This is, however, a relatively rare occurrence. Often, Khetts will have known each other for years before the beginning of a formal courtship, and are not rarely from the same warren. In fact, marrying a childhood sweetheart is a rather idealized circumstance. As a result, the invitation to the female's warren more typically takes the form of a dinner in the female's home, with the rest of her family, and simply marks a milestone in the process.
At the end of the six-month courting period, the man is expected to propose or break off the relationship. Much like when initiating the relationship, he will send her a corsage of parin blossoms (or perhaps a preferred flower or blossom, often of her birth-color) and request her to accompany him to a public event. If she assents, she gifts him a parin fruit (or perhaps a preferred fruit). At that event, the male will present her with a token according to his birth-color: A finely-carved wooden band for her arm, a ring of precious metal for her finger, a ribbon of fine linen for her neck (dyed in her birth-color), or a small metal pauldron for her right shoulder.
In the modern era, most of these charms do not carry the same value they once did, while other commodities have become more widely available. Thus, it is quite common for these engagement tokens to feature a gemstone of the female's birth-color in addition to the expected nature of the item. The wooden band has inset precious stones, as does the ring, the ribbon features a brooch of precious stones fastened at the tie, and the metal pauldron has some inset design that uses her birth-color and incorporates a gemstone. Many males who work in an occupation represented by a birth-color not their own will legally change their birth color to match their occupation. However, this is fairly rare as only a small percentage of the population works a job represented by one of the four colors, and those most likely to work one of those occupations have the corresponding birth-color.
After the engagement has been sealed with the presentation of this token, there is a three-month waiting period before the marriage ceremony. On the eve of her wedding, the female is given a final chance to break off the engagement. If she does, the male is informed by an intermediary and the wedding is called off. Practically speaking, if an engagement is broken off, it is usually done well before this point. However, that is the traditional system, and is a formality still performed in the present era.
The marriage ceremony is traditionally conducted outdoors, and always on a clear day. Rain on the wedding day is considered extremely bad luck, and so weddings are almost always delayed for a day where it isn't, even if planned to be held indoors.
The ceremony is attended by the immediate family of both participants, and is officiated by the warren manager of the female's warren (or the male's warren, if the former is not practicable). If the couple started their relationship under the tutelage of a supervisor, the adult who served as their supervisor will typically officiate the marriage.
The couple meets the officiator by twin trees chosen for the ceremony and each stand with their back to a tree, facing each other, with the officiator between them. When the family arrives, they encircle the couple. The officiator delivers a message to the husband first, then the wife, then to the assembled families, and finally asks the male if he will marry the female. When he assents, the officiator backs away and the female presents her husband with a garland, carried by a younger relative (often one of her children, if she has any, otherwise a younger sibling or a sibling's child).
The wife places the garland around her husband's neck, and then they kiss, sealing the marriage.
After the ceremony, it is customary for there to be a party of some kind, although the nature, length, and guest list are varied according to the couple's tastes. However, it commonly includes the whole of all involved warrens (as many as four, if both have moved out), with additional friends invited as well.

Relationship Ideals

Societally, gender roles in the current era have broken down somewhat. However, multiple gendered relationship customs still exist, and most still fulfill roles traditionally associated with their sex. Therefore, below are listed what can be considered "standard" roles and expectations.

Females

Traditionally, females are expected to care for the home and the children, and to contribute to the welfare of the warren through various acts.
Wives are legally independent persons from their husbands and have their own freedoms and property, but there are certain ties that still exist. However, these tend to run both ways, rather than placing the wife in a subservient position as is common in many cultures.
They are responsible for the home and the home economy, and to ensure that their children receive a good education (whether through a government school, a warren cooperative, tutoring, or a home school).
Usually, she receives thirty percent of her husband's wages (after taxes, warren contributions, and expenses) as her own money, to spend as she pleases, but in cases where she works as well or instead, the money is simply pooled and apportioned equal to thirty percent of the remainder. This is simply what is customary, however, and is usually modified according to the couple's personal taste and economic circumstances.
In exchange for receiving a portion of his wages (which are widely seen as amounting to a payment for her work in the home), she is expected to have a meal awaiting his return home, and to maintain peace among the children so that he can rest, during which time she will attend to his needs. In the modern era, particularly in the wake of feminist revolutions prior to clusteral expansion, this practice is vanishingly rare, at least as it was formally performed in millennia past.

Males

Traditionally, males are expected to be the breadwinners, working to bring resources home to the family and warren.
The husband is the head of his household, but his power in that regard is checked by power given to the wife (such as charge over the home economy). For every advantage granted the male, there is a trade-off given to the female.
He is responsible to keep everyone fed, housed, and clothed and to generally enable prosperity, which includes providing physical protection should the need arise.
Usually, he keeps thirty percent of his wages (after taxes, warren contributions, and expenses), giving his wife an equal amount. However, in cases where she works as well or instead, the money is simply pooled and apportioned equal to thirty percent of the remainder. This is simply what is customary, however, and is usually modified according to the couple's personal taste and economic circumstances.
In exchange for giving her a portion of his wages, he expects a meal and a period of peaceful rest when he returns home, although the formal performance of this custom has fallen out of favor.

Mutual

Divorce can be initiated by either party, but requires that abuse or infidelity be proven before a divorce can be provided. They are allowed to legally separate without a divorce conviction, but that is different from divorce, where the marriage is dissolved and both are allowed to remarry.
In a separation, custody is shared equally and finances are still shared (although in a court-adjudicated manner rather than being left to the couple), but they no longer live in the same location or are expected to contribute to each other outside of the court-ordered monetary support. Neither is allowed to remarry.
In the case of proven abuse or infidelity, custody may be awarded entirely to a certain parent (or deprived of both) and if it is awarded to the financially-dependent spouse, the divorced spouse will be required to pay a certain amount of support. In addition, the divorced spouse may serve a criminal penalty, depending on the severity of the offense.

Major organizations

The overarching government native to the region called "The Centrality," the native land of the Central Khettadine, is called "The Centrality," and is the only nation-state acknowledged in modern times, although some still identify with historical polities.
While The Centrality was formed long enough ago that it can be reasonably considered the first true Cent-Khett nation, several others have sprung up within it, separated off from it, or maintained some degree of autonomy and identity.
These are the four largest territories:

• Morodith Tosabir, which translates as "Barrier Lands," was founded after the Thousand Seasons of Blood when the borders were redrawn. They surround the land ceded to the Des-Khetts and extend along the border, providing a very literal "barrier land" against the potential invaders. Over subsequent wars, they have been adjusted radically and the pre-alliance borders encompassed none of the territory they covered originally. Morodith Tosabir is a heavily militarized zone, and has accordingly been governed by the military even in peacetime for millennia, although it still answers to the central authority. In the modern era, Morodith Tosabir has been extended to encompass the entirety of its old borders and serves as a massive joint military base between the Cents and Des-Khetts.
• Nerikant, which translates roughly as "Middle City" (more precisely a political alliance or assembly of warrens), is the ancient seat of power in The Centrality, and was the most powerful of the Cent-Khett nations before the Thousand Seasons of Blood. Through its authority, relevance, and central position by the Sondhawan River, it became quite rich and prosperous, growing into the metropolis that it is in the modern era. Even so, it is not the largest city on Khetta, nor the most politically powerful. However, it is the spiritual home of the Cent-Khetts, and most view it as the true capital—the true center—of Khetta.
• Skeentirogsh Manasdyr, which translates as "Smith-Guild Territories," was founded during the Thousand Seasons of Blood to study captured metal implements and then discover how to reproduce them. They eventually became the foremost miners and metalworkers, and their area of land was heavily mined and dotted with refineries and forges. This powerhouse of industry retained enough political power to govern itself almost entirely independently, relieved of certain requirements to which other regions were subject.
• Tovudindyr bor Tortefanir, which translates as "Fields of the Premiers," was the first large-scale agricultural zone, built at the order of the 376th convention of premiers. While originally under the direct control of the premiers, as it grew in scope and complexity, it split off and became an autonomous internal region at the order of the 399th convention of premiers. Now encompassing over two million square miles of fields, orchards, mountain vineyards, cities, and the support for it all, it is effectively an entire nation and supplies enough food for the entire planet and then some.

Diverged ethnicities

• Mountain Khettadine
• Northern Khettadine

Related Locations

• Khetta
• The Centrality