Warforged - Gnaritian

There is a note attached:

This is the transcript for the Cultural Overview Interview deducted by Peverell Lancaeron, Archivist of Sun, from the Department of Cultural Variation. Serial number: 0541B. Date of interview: ------. Place of interview: ------

Subject: J-AOL1056, alias "Joy". Ethnicity: Warforged, wartime standard, note from secondary subject: updated to current societal norms. Profession: Library assistant. Residence: ------, Sobago, Gnaritia.

Secondary subject: Tadeo Fastred. Ethnicity: Halfling. Profession: Artisan Robotics Engineer. Residence: ------, Sobago, Gnaritia.

The interview is captured in its entirety and has only been formatted by the conductor of the interview for the sake of clarity and ease of access. All interview conducted for the COI project all follow the same outline, however, not every point is discussed in every interview. No information has been added or removed. Subjects had the right to have any information redacted without a reason stated necessary. Beginning of interview:

PL: Thank you again for agreeing to the interview, J-AOL-

Joy: Please. No need for formalities. Joy will suffice.

PL: Yes. Quite. Just to get everything in order, both you and your associate have read through the questions in advance-

TF: Yep!

PL: -and have signed an agreement for the storage of a transcript and original recording of this interview within the ARRCA internal library?

Joy: That is correct.

TF: Sure did!

PL: Very well. Beginning interview -

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

PL: What about culture and cultural heritage?
Joy: We mostly inherit elven culture, but we are still at large affected by our history.
PL: As a part of the war?
Joy: Precisely.

Shared customary codes and values

PL: Are there any customs or shared values that you feel are unified across Gnaritia and the rest of Northern Karol for Warforged?
Joy: I feel there are, yes. However, those ideals are moreso imposed on us rather than coming from us ourselves. We are created for a purpose that we are aware of. It is difficult to deal with, for that purpose was easier to follow in times of war. In peacetimes, or rather, in everyday life, most our purpose has been shifted to some sort of beneficial social work, I believe you could call it? Helping the community, I suppose. Strength not in numbers, but in skill. In elven cities, warforged often work in funeral homes, for that work can be straining for other mortals. I work as a library assistant, my partner works as one as well, and my creator has made warforged for various purposes.
TF: Yes! Gardening assistants, academic staff, travelling companions - but that all takes time and work. Most of my clients come to my establishment because there is some sort of hole in the community that needs to be filled.

Foods & Cuisine

PL: Quite. Foods and cuisine?
Joy: Warforged do not require sustenance in the form of food or drink.
PL: Thank you. Just to put it on the record.
TF: Though they do make excellent chefs!
PL: … quite.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

PL: What about birth rites?
Joy: There are none, I believe. Or if there are, I am unaware.
PL: And, if you do not mind me shifting the question to your associate-
Joy: By all means.
PL: What all goes into the creation of a warforged?
TF: Ah! As of today, or historically?
PL: Both answers would be ideal.
TF: Cool cool cool. Historically speaking, when the first warforged were created, for the war-
PL: Yes, yes, for the war.
TF: - well, it was all kinda quantity over quality. Nobody cared back in those times who could talk, who couldn’t, compromises were made, experiments… but when the war ended, that all changed. Warforged started to live alongside people in cities and suddenly, it was very obvious that they were just as conscious and mortal-like like the rest of us. More than automatons.
PL: And that is when the Warforged Construction Integrity Protection Act came in?
TF: Yeah! It passed, but only barely. Four to Three ruling from the Council, one of em couldn’t make it. It was one who was against it, too - we could’ve been at a standstill for so long that much more damage could have been done.
PL: Progress contrasted by protection. It’s a miracle it passed.
TF: Where would you have stood on the matter? You’re pretty young looking, you probably weren’t even born yet.
PL: It was passed before my time. To be honest, I am uncertain where I would have stood on the matter.
TF: But all-in-all, good thing it passed, right?
PL: Yes. With hindsight, yes.

Coming of Age Rites

PL: And - returning back to you, Joy - it is to my knowledge that warforged do not age, in the traditional sense of the word.
Joy: Indeed.
PL: So as for coming of age rites-
Joy: There are none.
PL: -Quite.

Funerary and Memorial customs

PL: And as for the end of one’s life… I was led to believe that warforged are - or, rather, can be - functionally immortal.
Joy: Yes. If the body is taken good care of, maintained properly, we do not decay. Upkeep does get more delicate with time, but not to a point where it would be impossible. There are a handful of warforged who remember the days of war.
PL: So when a Warforged does pass, what are usually the reasons?
Joy: A sense of completion of purpose. Inability for upkeep - as it gets more difficult, it gets more expensive. There aren’t many specialists. Reaching one is beyond the capability of most. We die when we cannot move our limbs anymore, or the myore runs out of arcane power.
PL: But what if the warforged is created with a piece of raw myore?
Joy: I know not of such an individual.
PL: And you do not know of such an example either?
TF: Nope, never heard of it.
PL: Fascinating.

Common Taboos

PL: And is there anything you or other warforged would consider taboo?
Joy: I do not know if it would be considered taboo, necessarily, but it is difficult for other individuals to grasp the fact that we do not feel anything when it comes to touch or contact. Hugs and handshakes are gestures we have a hard time comprehending, as well as kissing in the case of romantic endeavours. 
PL: Ah. So the handshake at the beginning of the interview-?
Joy: It is not a big deal. We must conform to the standard practices of those around us. Handshakes are one of them. But with other aspects of contact, comforting is difficult, hugging is difficult… it’s a gesture we appreciate but cannot replicate most of the time, to the other party’s satisfaction.
PL: I see. Thank you. Now, for ideals -

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

PL: - This point we will discuss is the one you immediately had issue with upon reading, but agreed to discuss regardless.
Joy: Affirmative.
PL: Beauty ideals.
Joy: I shall try to be brief on this point - calling the ideals of our physical appearance "beauty ideals" is a flaw in naming convention. Though there is a certain norm that is sought after in our design, beauty does not play a role in that norm.
PL: What does, then? If you do not mind expanding on the topic.
Joy: I do. I would rather move forward.
TF: (Stuttering) If you do not mind, good sir, I may be able to -
PL: As long as-
Joy: I do not mind.
TF: Well, y'see, warforged design norms and standards have stayed largly the same since the times when they were first created in Gnaritia, and that very creation was for the purpose of war. It's kinda in their name n'all? So the "ideal" would be mostly structural integrity, strength, resilience. These fellas tend to be big, strong n' tough lookin'! That's about it, really.
PL: Very well.

Gender Ideals

PL: Regarding the following topic -
Joy: Gender.
PL: Precisely.
Joy: Simple. We have none.
PL: Due to...?
Joy: Many factors, but the main being there are no differences in our designs based on such arbitrary paramaters. One uniform design, one uniform reception by the public. I have found many other warforged who have encountered a similar experience to mine. One of having a gender continuously assigned. Most conform, pick one. Or many. I have not.
TF: Also, in times of war, most o' these folks would've been just called "it" en masse. Some still stick to that, most do to be honest. Not sure why. I've met some who go by "he/him" or "she/her" or "they/them" and others, too. But gender isn't at all accounted for in designs, if that's what you're askin'.

Courtship Ideals

PL: Now, courtship.
Joy: Indeed.
PL: Now, I do hope I do not come across as rude, but due to the nature of the question I fear I may.
Joy: I will remain unbiased in my answers no matter the offence.
PL: Thank you. What use is there for romantic relationships for warforged?
Joy: What use is there for elves?
PL: You see, that is precisely why I ask. I feel like out of all the subjects I intend to interview, you may have the most similar outlook to - well - if not elvenkind in general, then mine at least.
Joy: Interesting. I suppose there is no practical use for romance in our lives. Then again, I do not suppose its use is practical in other cultures either. The problem we run into is that we were not made for allyship. We were not created for the purpose of bonding, we have not been constructed with building relationships in mind. And yet we pursue them anyway.
PL: Reason being…?
Joy: Simple. We are surrounded by cultures who do. Companionship helps ease the mind, and so it is beneficial. At least in my day-to-day life.
PL: I see. Do you have a romantic partner?
Joy: I do. 
PL: And what kind of person are they?
Joy: It’s a warforged, like myself. Different creators. We met at work. We started as friends, and moved easily into what most would deem a romantic endeavour. Once a relationship has been established, of any kind, it is easy for us to move from platonic to romantic should we see us being compatible. Very little courtship necessary. 
PL: And how do you feel it is received by non-warforged?
Joy: With caution, mostly. Me and my partner have been approached multiple times with concerns, predominantly that of “moving too fast”. Neither one of us sees it that way.
TF: Well it took em a year to become friendly, and a week to call it a romantic partnership! You can’t really blame them.
PL: Hm. Interesting.
Joy: I feel like my answer to your question has not been to your satisfaction.
PL: Preposterous. Next topic.

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PL: … actually… This concludes our interview.
Joy: Oh. Very well.
PL: On behalf of ARRCA, I thank you for your time. Both of you.
TF: No problem!
Joy: Much obliged.
End of transcript.