Awakened
Awakened are Humans who's ancestors lived on planets or orbital stations that were bathed in the energies of the Meta-physical plane. In terms of physical strength and mental capacity they are identical to Terrans. Awakened could never be mistaken for Terrans though as they have wildly differing skin hues, hair, and eyes. It's not uncommon for an Awakened to have metallic lavender skin, neon blue hair and gold irises with black sclaera. Awakened also produce a higher proportion of psychics both minor and powerful than any other sub-species of human.
GM Note - The naming conventions and gender ideals of the Awakened were written long ago and I now find them outdated and inappropriate as well as forcing too many restrictions on player characters using the Awakened template. They will be changed or removed in the future.
GM Note - The naming conventions and gender ideals of the Awakened were written long ago and I now find them outdated and inappropriate as well as forcing too many restrictions on player characters using the Awakened template. They will be changed or removed in the future.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Feminine names consist of two syllables seperated by an apostrophe. The first syllable consists of two letters while the second consists of between 2 and 3 letters. The apostrophe does not affect the pronunciation of the name.
Examples:
Ch'el, Sa'sha, Ju'li, Di'an
Masculine names
Masculine names consist of three syllables seperated by apostrophes. The first syllable consists of one letter, the second by 2-4 letters and the third by 1-3 letters. The apostrophes do not affect the pronunciation of the name.
Examples:
J'shuw'a, N'iko'las, A'lexn'dir, R'yah'n
Family names
Family names for Awakened are derivative from the world or station they were born on, with a prefix to denote a more specific lineage and a suffix to denote the gender of the induvidual. Family names are presented before an induvidual's given name and are used in public when talking with those you are not closely related to.
Examples:
Kaa'Canis'eem - Family Kaa, Of Canis, Male Suffix
Whu'Irda'fa - Family Whu, Of Irda, Female Suffix
Oui'Haven'nei - Family Oui, Of Haven, Asexual Suffix
Other names
Gender Neutral names consist of single syllables. They consist of 3-4 letters.
Examples:
Chan, Pek, Zan, Shel
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Awakened speak galactic Basic though some enclaves speak different archaic languages from old Earth.
Culture and cultural heritage
Due to the relatively higher tech level of Awakened enclaves, many menial jobs are completely automated and most Awakened take up a profession for the enjoyment of the work rather than to work for a living.
Shared customary codes and values
Similar to Terran practices. Awakened put a significant emphasis on personal freedom and expression and are highly motivated to voice their opinions and views of any subject.
Average technological level
Most Awakened enclaves retain a tech level of late TL3 or TL4. Very few TL2 or lower enclaves of Awakened have been found.
Common Etiquette rules
Similar to current western culture in the 21st century.
Common Dress code
Clothing styles vary greatly from enclave to enclave, though styles mostly follow the sense of aesthetic that the Awakened favour.
Awakened located in settlements that are not predominantly populated by Awakened will adopt the fashion of the locals though with a distinctly Awakened style added to it.
Art & Architecture
Common traits incorporated within Awakened art and architecture include:
Vibrant Colours
Swirls, Curves, and Rounded Shapes
Abstract Concepts
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Awakened have less issues about personal space than other human ethnicities and things like hugs, kisses and other physical greetings are extended to people beyond close personal relations. It is as common for an Awakened to approach and hug a business associate as it is for a Terran to shake their hand.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Similar to Terran practices.
Coming of Age Rites
Similar to Terran practices.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Similar to Terran practices.
Common Taboos
It is considered to be the one of the most heinous of crimes for a telepathic Awakened to intentionally use their powers on another sentient being against that being's will. Such an event is referred to as a Psychic Rape and can at its most severe trespasses result in the brain cauterizing or lobotomy of the criminal Awakened.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Awakened are attracted to things that evoke a feeling of flowing movement or fluidity. Their constructions have very few, if any, straight lines, instead being comprised of aesthetically pleasing shapes such as curves and ellipses. This preference also applies to physical beauty. Awakened are most attracted to those with slight builds and average musculature. Males tend to have less muscle deffinition than the average Terran male and keep their hair long, making it easy for less perceptive sentients to mistake them for female Awakened. Female Awakened have more subdued characteristics than females of other human ethnicities, such as smaller breast and hip sizes.
Gender Ideals
Awakened have a particularly liberal view of gender identity, sexual orientation, and the roles in society they influence.
Awakened do not define one's gender by the physical characteristics of the induvidual's body but rather what view the induvidual takes of themself. A male Awakened that identifies as heterosexual will have a masculine first name followed by a last name ending in the masculine suffix (eg. P'tri'k Azi'Canis'eem), while a male Awakened that identifies as homosexual will have a masculine first name followed by a last name using the feminine suffix (eg. P'tri'k Azi'Canis'fa). If the male Awakened identifies as bisexual they will have a masculine first name followed by a last name using the neutral suffix (eg. P'tri'k Azi'Canis'nei).
If a biologically male Awakened identifies as a transgendered person they will choose a feminine first name and add their biological gender suffix to their last name in addition to their choosen suffix. A biologically male Awakened that identifies as a heterosexual female will have a name like Sa'rah Azi'Canis'fa'eem while a homosexual female would be named Sa'rah Azi'Canis'eem'eem.
These naming rules apply the same way if the Awakened is biologically female.
A significant portion of Awakened identify as being asexual or gender neutral. These choose neutral first names with the last name suffix being used to designate the general alignment of the induvidual. For example, Zell Wue'Sarga'eem would identify as asexual but uses the "eem" suffix to denote that they tend to view things from a "male" perspective, a man with no sexually motivated feelings. Hep Qio'Uras'nei identifies as a "true" asexual, a person of no gender with no sexually motivated feelings.
Courtship Ideals
Awakened tend to have a more casual approach to matters of courtship than other sentient races. Exclusive dating is uncommon, and it is not unlikely for Awakened to have several prospective matches at the same time. Very little distinction is made between a romantic interest and a close friendship. Many friend groups in Awakened society include casual sex with almost no significant meaning attached to it.
Relationship Ideals
As with their courtship ideals, Awakened have a much more casual view of relationships than most other sentient species. Marriage is far less common and is frequently very open sexually and is more focused on being a financial and emotional support structure than a romantic one. It is not surprising, nor out of the ordinary for sexually incompatible induviduals to marry each other for reasons like financial cooperation, or companionship, while engaging in sexual activity with others. Children are raised communally after they reach the age of 5 with frequent contact with their biological parents.
Comments
Author's Notes
(Adapted from the Destiny Franchise by Bungie)