The Pure Ones

Those Left Behind

Arrogant and aloof, the Pure Ones have never ventured out from the island where their ancestors made planetfall. Though precious few remember at all that they came from another world, all of them know the world they inhabit is hostile to them. They fear the Outside and see those who mutated themselves to adapt and survive in it as monsters.
The Pure Ones live exclusively within the walls of the Shining City. It is a fortress they have built to keep the frightening outside world out. Everything they need is either within the walls or brought in by automated systems.
Although their racism against any person from the Outside is extreme, their culture is stunningly egalitarian within their City. Men and women are valued equally, and no distinction is made between Citizens of differing coloration. Even conflicts between people of clashing personality are muted, because in their culture pure ones believe everyone has a place where they belong and are fulfilled. This precludes everyone getting along and so petty squabbles are quickly moved past.
There is only one physical difference from humanity as we recognize it- the bones of Pure Ones are more brittle after generations of low-G spaceflight. Steps have been taken to combat this through nutrition and exercise, but they would never consider using their technology to correct the problem for good. Body modification is the highest taboo among these people.

Naming Traditions

Family names

Pure ones do not use family names, as familial connections are muddied by the City taking custody of children after they are born.

Other names

Names are assigned by the City, unless a particularly attached parent insists on giving a newborn a "star name." Though no one ever knows if their name was especially given by their parents, there is a superstition that names given in this way have powerful meaning and will affect how the child grows.
The City does not take particular care to name the children under its custody, except to prevent two people in a similar age bracket having the same name. This is simply to prevent confusion, since familial names can't be used to specify one from another.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

A Place for Everyone, and Everyone In Their Place

Average technological level

Futuristic. Pure Ones retained all the tech they could from the Endeavor, improved what they could and passed it down to their descendants. As a result the Shining City has a fully automated public transport system, automated defense turrets, automated agriculture robotics, nanobot medicine, and a rudimentary internet.

Common Etiquette rules

Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Don't spit in public.
When you are sick, stay home from work. If you have to leave your home, wear a mask to reduce spread.
Don't lord your status privileges over anyone else.
If someone looks hurt or otherwise in trouble, assist as you are able.
Keep public displays of affection and sex out of public view.

Common Dress code

Clothes are provided by the City, but may be modified by individuals within reason. Feet, genitalia and nipples must always be covered in public spaces.

Art & Architecture

Works of art are very sterile, as the content, materials, and methods are controlled by the City.
Still lifes are the most common paintings and sculpture, with nudes being fully censored and destroyed if discovered. New music has not been made in nearly a century, with a set list of approved songs being passed from one generation's audiophiles to the next. Literature is nonexistant.
The City's architecture is futuristic by our standards, with steel and glass as the main materials. However, there has been no new construction ever since the island's space became fully allocated.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

New Year

Graduations

The graduation from basic schooling as well as the University (as applicable) is celebrated by the pure ones. The two rituals are slightly different, though both call for raucous partying after the proprieties are observed.
Upon graduation from City schooling, each graduate casts their juvenile citizenship card into the ceremonial brazier. They are then handed their adult citizenship identification and shake hands with the uppermost echelons of the Citizenry, welcoming them into the fold.
The University grants a thick silver ring bearing its crest to its graduates. This ring is meant to be worn on the middle finger of the right hand. Each graduate chooses someone important to them to place the ring upon their finger as part of the graduation ceremony. This may be a particularly influential professor, a lover, their best friend, or even a member of the High Circle that they admire. Once all rings have been given, a speech is made by the Dean- something to the tune of "you are the light we are sending into this dark world to light the way for others." Then the former students are dismissed.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Births are not times of special note to the pure ones. It's mostly a time of medical tests and paperwork before the child is passed off to the state. Especially attached mothers may give their babies a "star name" to their little lights instead of letting the City generate one.

Coming of Age Rites

After the City schooling graduation ceremony described above (and after the wild parties that ensue that night), comes the real welcome-to-adulthood moment. The former students move out of the City dorm they have been raised in, out of the rooms they've occupied almost as long as they can remember, to a personally assigned unit. Being handed the key card for their own place is a heart-stopping moment- the moment everything changes for newly minted Citizens. Typically dormmates will bear witness for each other in reverent silence and take a picture together for the last time before wheeling their personal effects out and never looking back.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Most deaths occur without too much fanfare. The body is cremated and the ashes made into a firework which shoots off as part of the New Year celebrations. The City marks each one before it starts so those who wish to see a particular one can find it. The close friends and partner (if they had one) mourn for a time, and are encouraged to see a councilor to help them deal with their grief.
Lavish funerals are only given to the highest echelons of the Citizenry. Anyone important enough to be known by name is given a funerary parade the length of the City before cremation, and their roman candles are at least twice the size of any normal Citizen, often including several colors. Typically these are shot off at a second funeral just for the event, instead of waiting to bring light to the New Year with all the rest.

Common Taboos

Expressing interest or curiosity about the Outside.
Expressing anything approaching dissent with the City or its workings (teenage angst instances of this are often forgiven, especially if the individual receives counseling about their feelings).
Exposing oneself publicly.
Modification of the body (except necessary prosthesis).
Desire to change one's body (wanting wings to fly, or to see like a cat, etc).

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Beauty ideals are unisex: symmetry; clear skin; healthy-looking hair (individuals may have texture preferences but the culture on the whole does not) ; athletically slender; harmonious severity of nose and jawlines.

Gender Ideals

There's no culturally-enforced distinction in how each gender "is supposed to" act. The full spectrum of personalities are accepted among purists. Not everyone is going to mesh with everyone else but this is expected and on the whole no tribalistic animosity exists between social groups. Much like with the work system, the important thing is that everyone has a place and a role where they are satisfied.

Courtship Ideals

Ideally single people get to know each other in public places- parks, commissaries, bars, libraries, etc. This is to make both parties feel safe- when you don't know the other person at all it can feel threatening to be alone with them. If things go well, dating becomes more private and more intimate. All said, courtship is pretty casual among the pure ones because they don't have strong cultural romantic themes.

Relationship Ideals

Purists look for steady lifelong partners. The ideal is for home life to feel effortless, and for disagreements to be cleared up quickly. Hobbies & interests must be shared. Not all are monogamous, and level of physicality is set by the couple.
Because this ideal is held so strongly, many Purists lose it when faced with even simple, common couples arguments. Years-long relationships can completely disintegrate when faced with the basic friction of moving in together. Counseling is common, and councilors are considered Careerists as their role is so vital.

Major organizations

The City Council (and High Circle)
The University
The City School System

Allies: None
Enemies: All Other Ethnicities

Identifying Mutations: None
Patron Spirit: None

Related Organizations

• The Endeavor Colony
• The Shining City

Related Locations

• The Dragon's Eye

Major Exports: None
Major Imports: None