Urbanized Vermyn

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Feminine specific names are often short, single-syllable names after flowers or spices : Tulip, Ginger, Cilantro, Clover, Dandelion etc.

Masculine names

Masculine specific names are often short, single-syllable names after nature or commodities : Fivel, Copper, Tumeric, Basil, Flint, Scabbard, Wax etc.

Family names

Vermyn identify themselves to others by their home community, such as "Basil of South-Tribute Ridge" or "Tulip of Rysntaburg".

Other names

While culturally seperate from the human dominated settlements that urban Vermyn tend to reside in, it is not uncommon to see Vermyn named after the human cultural naming conventions popular in the specific region, especially if the name matches the quick-syllable patterns the Vermyn tend to favour.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

Proud and culturally resilient, Vermyn may adopt and toy with non-vermyn cultural traditions and values but remain steadfast and defensive in the persaverance of traditional vermyn cultural traits. Vermyn are known to interact and trade with the other inhabitants of their shared city, however they are slow to trust anyone not among their immediate vermyn community. A sub-culutre within any city that they dwell in, Vermyn typically self-govern and regulate, with direct city interventation or guard patrols only being used in rare cases. For the most part, as long as the community brings value to the city and does not disturb the cultural baseline they are left to their own devices.
For the Vermyn family is everything - with the entire community working together and relying on each other like a large family. Showing a level of devotation and loyalty to each other that is rarely seen in other species, Vermyn are slow to form friendships with non-Vermyn and are often mislabeled as "xenophobic" because of this. An individual Vermyn is expected to always do what is best for the community as a whole, with the virtues of selflessness and reliability being paramount in vermyn culture. Vermyn who consistently fail to uphold these values and act unreliably or selfishly are punished or ostracized, with complete banishment being used in the more severe cases.
A single urban Vermyn community can usually only grow as large as a thousand before cultural rifts begin to form, often resulting in an exodus of the community to another district or city altogether. This is a particularly traumatic experience for Vermyn, as often individual families are split apart in the fracture. Unfortunately the intense binds that connect the Vermyn also cause a great degree of conflict and drama which seems to inevitably create a breaking point that forever fractures the community. Accepting of this reality, urbanized Vermyn are slow to accept new members to their group and large individual families are taboo.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Normally adapting well to the local culture, urbanized Vermyn tend to mirror the fashion ideals of the dominant cultures around them - albeit often with significantly more colourful fabrics and designs that would be considered "clashing" by conventional standards. In regions closer to Alvantes Alvain cultural influence is frequently more apparent, with urbanized Vermyn known to dye their fur elaborate colours and even experiment with cosmetics - behaviours that are never seen in the more rural Vermyn. Whether this cultural standard is a direct reflection of Alvain culture, or merely a replication of Alvain influence in the human population they live among is hard to say, but by and large the average urban Vermyn is significantly more colourful and well dressed than their rural counterpart.
Like all Vermyn, hygiene is of chief importance to the cultural group, with vermyn known to bath upwards of 2-3 times a week and communal grooming taking a large role in closely tight social groups. Urban Vermyn who do maintain a strict standard of hygiene and grooming are often treated as taboo and even ostracized by the greater community - who seems hold to hold these standards in even stricter regard than their non-urban cousins.

Courtship Ideals

Social and sexual intimacy between vermyn is blurred lined, as the intensely tight-knit community is often seen expressing affection in ways that would appear "romantic" to a non-Vermyn onlooker. Public displays of affection are both expected and encouraged and advances from other vermyn are rarely declined - provided the advancer is from the same community of course. Out of community courtship is considered taboo and very rare, although if a forgein vermyn is able to sustain the ostercizing of the community and prove their commitment and value to the community they are eventually accepted into the warmth of the community - provided they do not still maintain ties to their former community.

Relationship Ideals

Focused on a small community atmosphere family is everything for the Vermyn; romantic relationships often form the foundation for a Vermyn home, as as such mutual respect, communication, and co-operation are the baseline expectations of any romantic pairing. Divorce is uncommon in Vermyn culture, however the intensity and proximity that vermyn couples share tends to fluctuate over the years.
A communal group at it's core, sexual monogamy is uncommon in Vermyn with close polyamorous relationships being common place throughout the species. That being said however, the practice has fallen out of favour lately, especially in communities in more conservative human cities where such practices warrant disdain from the group's neighboring species. Despite this however, the practice tends to continue in priavate with open discussion of polyamourous relationships considered taboo, especially in the presence of non-vermyn.

Related Locations

• The Vermyn Quarter in Rystanburg