The Numbered

Sports warriors

Written by JRTRPG

The Numbered are a culture of people, humans and interstellar species, who have been wearing sports memorabilia for generations. They fight among themselves to stay stronger. This fighting also ranks and creates a familial hierarchy. The Numbered war with neighboring settlements, but don’t conquer. They take what they feel is fair if they win, never enough to doom a settlement. Most settlements have learned to negotiate with the Numbered, leading to fights that are designed to be nonlethal: although plenty violent. The numbered are huge importers of medicine.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

The Numbered culture has been developed and passed down based on sports culture of the pre-apocalypse world: not only through humans, but also "alien" interpretations of the various customs and rules. At this point, the Numbered culture is an amalgamation of various inter-stellar sports and sports customs.

Various sporting implements, like baseball bats and hockey sticks, have been given new cultural meaning and turned into weapons of war. Included among this are race cars and competitive mechs.

Shared customary codes and values

The Numbered fight by a strict rule-set which they've developed over the last century.

Common Etiquette rules

As a sign of respect, the Numbered give high-fives.

Common Dress code

Every member of the Numbered wears colors and numerical digits which represent their family, rank, and job within the community.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Numbered hold what they call "scrimmages" each week. This is when members of the community get together to celebrate their ways, play games, and practice fighting.

Children of the numbered are grouped by their birth year for the various games and ceremonies.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When a member of the Numbered is born, they are assigned a number associated with the year of their birth.

Additionally, each family has an associated color or logo, which is also assigned to the child.

Coming of Age Rites

When a Numbered reaches "adulthood", around 10-13 years old, they are given their first individual number.

Funerary and Memorial customs

When a member of the Numbered dies, their body is burned. Their image, as well as a personal effect, is entombed within the Numbered's "Hall of Fame", a large underground structure designed to keep the memory of their people alive.

Common Taboos

The people of the Numbered view "cheating" in any way to be extremely dishonorable. If an adult is caught "cheating", the event is brought before their council: mostly, this will result in the "cheater" being exiled from the community and stripped of their number.

The Numbered are very serious about their warlike ways. The engage in combat with others in a very structured way. If any of their members engage in "dishonorable combat", they are executed by the community.

Common Myths and Legends

Old sports legends, both from Venus and beyond the stars, are considered heroes and legends to the Numbered.