Alavere

"They were a highly inquisitive clan. From the moment they could speak to us, they pestered us with questions about our homes and our technology. Our party was forced to split into groups in order to answer all their inquiries. Though most of our knowledge was depleted rather quickly, the scientists among us had enough answers to keep them asking all night. A strange folk, these Alavere."

Appearance

All Sulmori races have differing appearances. The Alavere are typically shorter than human height, though rarely by much. Skin color is always white or a pale shade of silver, with black or dark gray markings. Hair tends to be silver or gray, while eye color can be red, blue, violet, or black, often a starkly different shade to the skin. Their horns are small, though not as small as Isenthe horns, and are often jagged or twisted, almost never symmetrical.

Naming Traditions

Family names

Alavere family names have always worked in a fashion similar to human ones. Upon union, the surnames of the two Alavere will either be combined, or one will take the surname of the other. Sometimes, the pair will choose a different surname altogether. The surnames of children will be decided by the parents upon their birth, if the parents' surnames are combined. Every Alavere has the right to petition their seniors for a new surname.

Personal Names

Alavere personal names are not gendered. Though there is an Alavere naming style, Alavere names can come from any naming style or pattern. Names of the Alavere style typically end in a vowel sound and can be quite guttural or harsh sounding. Some examples are Ajakra, Shushare, and Yiddaki.

Middle Names (Profession Names)

Alavere middle names, also known as profession or career names, denote the career of an individual. Some examples are Carthesh, meaning "teacher", Arkuz, meaning "scientist", and Nayral, meaning "farmer".

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Almost all Alavere speak Sulmori. Many speak the human tongue as well. Learning human language is required for Alavere at the University of Ylirie, as well as those who travel beyond Altaes, as they interact with humans on a regular basis.

Shared customary codes and values

Most Alavere live by Torelti's Code, a set of expectations and rules penned by the ancient Alavere scholar known as Torelti. The code is not a long document, nor is it a strict one. In fact, it stresses individuality above all other values. Every Alavere, even if they do not choose to follow it, know the items in Torelti's Code.

The Alavere value knowledge above all else. If an individual is knowledgeable, other flaws are often ignored. However, the question of what knowledge should be valued is a debate that has raged for centuries. Some Alavere believe that agricultural wisdom is not as valuable as technological wisdom, and vice versa.

Common Etiquette rules

Because the Alavere value a social structure, etiquette revolves around the idea of a senior and subordinate individual. From greetings, to table manners, to passing on the street, similar rules apply. Both sides are expected to be respectful, but the subordinate individual is expected to be reverent of the senior.

Common Dress code

Alavere dress code is determined by the individual's place on the social ladder. Farmers, politicians, teachers, and students all have different ways of dressing, distinguishing them from all other social roles in Alavere society.

Art & Architecture

Alavere art and architecture are often geometric and symmetrical. In visual art, shapes and patterns are generally valued higher than realistic portraits and landscapes. In architecture, symmetry is almost required. When possible, entire streets, and sometimes entire settlements, will be entirely symmetrical, as it is believed to be more pleasing to the eyes.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Alavere do not celebrate many holidays besides The Reveling. They do, however, observe the birthdays of many politicians, scholars, and artists, both living and dead. These birthdays are separated into reverent holidays and passive holidays.

Reverent holidays celebrate the birthdays (or death days) of individuals who have greatly affected the future of the Alavere. An individual must have been dead for at least a century to have a reverent holiday dedicated to them. Passive holidays are much more common, and often celebrate still-living individuals. On reverent holidays, Alavere do not have to work or go to school. On passive holidays, business continues as usual.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Upon the birth of an Alavere, the neighbors and friends of the family will bring gifts for the newborn. The parents can request certain items, as it is believed that the items and toys a child is surrounded with will affect the career path they eventually choose.

Furthermore, a year after the child's birth, a parent will set a coin, a book, and a family picture before them. The item that the child goes to first supposedly reveals what they will value most as they grow up. The coin represents wealth, the book represents knowledge, and the picture represents love and family.

Coming of Age Rites

For the past two thousand years, the Alavere have conducted an annual test. The test involves information taught throughout all years of education except for that of the University of Ylirie. The test is not required, but certainly expected. There are some Alavere who have not taken it and never will, either because they have a career that does not require it (artist, farmer, etc.) or they have proven themselves capable without the help of the test. However, passing the test is required for many careers, including those in science, politics, and teaching.

Failure of the test has little to no consequences, and it can be retaken as many times as is necessary. Any resident of Altaes over the age of sixteen years can take the test.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Upon death, Alavere are buried on the surface. A plaque with their name and a message from living family members will be placed above them. Dead Alavere are often buried with flower seeds, and there are some Alavere whose job it is to water the funerary grounds. In springtime, cemeteries become vast, beautiful flower gardens. Some Alavere will be buried in raised stone boxes to set them apart, often because they were highly influential in life.