Maloed {English}
Most of the Nekur usually become older than Humans but they also reach maturity faster according to their traditions. While one year is not that much different, I find it somewhat interesting how they go about the following days of reaching the age of fifteen.— Everam, Teller of Nimenra
In Central Nekuram there is one tradition among the Necur that many children both wait for and dread. That is the Maloed. The coming of age ceremony marks the transition to adulthood where the former child has to take responsibility for their actions more and more as they approach the full adulthood of seventeen. Maloed can thus be seen as only the first stage of a two-year-long process of learning about the world of adults in Nekuram.
History
The Maloed tradition has been around since when the Necur were fighting amongst themselves in Central Nekuram. Back then it was when a young man or woman could become a warrior or be able to marry and the parents' guardianship was at an end. Similar to Rus Feast tradition of the Orfordsmen, the days following the steps into adulthood was filled with tests of courage and duels among the teens that had just turned 15 the last two months. It almost always, compared to now, occurred on the day when Umber was close to being not present in the sky, during a new moon.
These days the tradition has evolved past the preparation for a dangerous and war filled adulthood.
Execution
As tradition goes the teen is celebrated for their fifteenth birthday as per usual with some additions. First of all, they gain their father's permission to go out into the world and are told that they are, in fact, part adult and part child in the eyes of lawmakers and law enforcers. Most likely this is conveyed through a speech during the festivity.
Second, the teen and their family visit a temple to pray to Krakros that the coming two years will protect the young adult until they will face the world alone as a fully mature adult.
Third, the following days are filled with teachings about the larger world and specifically testing the knowledge of Nekurian law. This is done by an elder of any kind but can also in the cities and larger towns be put on a teacher. This goes on for two weeks. There are some communities that decide on a more communal manner of this part and focuses it down to a specific two weeks in the middle of the year instead.
Lastly is the given right to marry by the mother through the painting a nail in red and black. This is kept on for as long as they like.
Comments