Kailowa
Kailowa is an internal name for the lamia population of the Elkreld Islands. Over time, Kailowa have specialized for the islands, including belly scales specialized for controlled movement on wet sand and increased lung capacity for swimming.
Naming Traditions
Family names
While in the islands, Kailowa don't use last names. On the occasion an individual travels outside the Elkrelds, they tend to use the family name DeEsta, or "Of Esta."
Culture
Art & Architecture
Kailowa value efficiency in structure. Due to the salty air and generally permeable building materials, structures are tore down and rebuilt regularly (seasonally for smaller structures, once a decade for the hermitage buildings). A side effect of this is that Kailowa structures are recognizable for their more open structure and combined utility compared to buildings created by other cultures.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
There is little difference in gender ideals for the Kailowa as much as there is for age differences. Children are expected to roam the islands and learn the myths, legends, and sacred songs from the elderly of their community. Older children and young adults generally herd the children outside the hermitage buildings and manage catching food form the sea. Adults manage the hermitage proper, as well as the visitors to the hermitage. Elders are considered holders of stories whose main duties are to teach children the songs and myths young so they can live with the ideals of their home their whole lives.
Courtship Ideals
Courtship in Kailowa is less formalized than many ethnicity and cultures, but there are certain rules that must be followed to be considered "proper."
Any person can initiate a courtship, but there is an expectation that efforts have been made to already learn about the person and establish a baseline friendliness. Courtship itself begins with the giving of a gift or service that the courted should appreciate. (A bad gift or service is a quick way to end a courtship, generally without too many hard feelings.)
After which, there is a courting period of a year where the two or more people involved (as courting can also be done by or to an already existing grouping) are expected to get to know one another better and think about whether they wish to formalize their status. At any point, any individual can end their courting process.
At the end of the year, most individuals know whether they wish to formalize their relationship in the eyes of their community, extend their courting period, or end the courting.
As the only difference would be the acknowledgement of the community as formal partners rather than courting partners or informal partners, many hold off on courting unless they feel particularly strong about a relationship and wish for it to be celebrated.
Major organizations
Pretty much all Kailowa live at the Esta hermitage.
Comments