forum Ask Dom about Althalos. (Now perhaps just Dom rambling.)

Started March 17, 2020 by @Althalosian-is-the-father book

tune

How do the races interact with and/or feel about each other, for the most part?

Depends on the time. I basically split time into Before Landing, Althalos l & ll as Present, Althalos lll as Future, and then after that as Far Future.

Before Landing/The time of Zol they are all who left for the island rather united. There is some anti Menna sentiment because of the large chunk of the tribe being massively disrespectful to the others. The Dweor also suffered a split between those that joined the Empire Menna and the ones that left for the island, led by the first Mahz Mûl.

Present has some anti Menna from the alFén, kind of a “separate but equal” outlook that’s just fine for trading with and befriending Menna, but marriage is severely frowned upon by the higher tunzíl alFén. The alFén are also rabidly against the Gobé Li and vice versa since they have taken a habit to killing each other after an (unfair) land dispute that forced the Gobé Li to live in caves in the mountains. The Menna are somewhat friendly with the alFén so they avoid the Gobé Li but aren’t necessary out to kill them. The Dweor are pretty neutral to all this as they live a separate day life in Kalj, their ring of mountains and cliffs. They are truly neutral to the Gobé Li and bear them no ill will.
In a town near where the Gobé Li, Dweor, And Menna territories meet, all races mingle freely, with the exception of most alFén. Unfortunately it’s not a nice place to live that’s full of crime.

Future has a movement by the Menna investigating the Gobé Li without prejudice after some helped Barikev, a half Menna half alFén escape a blood sacrifice.

Idk about Far Future.

Dweor rarely intermarry, but one of my MCs’ foster father is half Dweor half Menna.
Gobé Li haven’t married outside the tribe as far as I know, but they were very nomadic, so it’s har to imagine anyone keeping up with them long enough to marry.

Back in the time before time, the god of this world created this world.
Or rather, he created the first twelve people, called Prokustis by the Menna, as minor gods to create the world as they saw fit while he/she (the god doesn’t have a sex) watched carefully.
They created a world very like ours, albeit with magic in the earth, and then the god created the first two people, then another pair, and then a few more.
A few hundred years passed and the tribes were formed.
By this time, three of the Prokustis had grown more than fond of the world, and desired it for themselves (since it was very nice and very much a paradise). They left their positions in the heavens and staged a rebellion rather like what happened in Seattle.
They were eventually overthrow by the other Prokustis and placed under the earth in a cage of fire for their crimes. However, before they were captured, knowing they would eventually lose, they put a spell of corruption on the world and left trails of magic so that they could be brought back by anyone willing to do the spells to bring them back.
At this point the god appeared to the tribes and told them they could ask for changes to themselves in order to help them survive the now hostile world. He also promised that one day, after the the turned Prokustis, now termed Traprodis, were each defeated in battle, the curse on the ground would be purged and all corruption of minds, hearts, and earth would be turned back.
Oh and also the lands of death were created because the Traprodos called Morlús invented death which was part of the evil magic. There’s the living hell part which is under the earth but above Od Varág, the prison, and the nice place which I don’t know much about.

Fashion/Clothes
Menna: Simply having a lot of clothes to choose from is a luxury. As far as I know there isn’t a fashion per se; but the somewhat equivalent would be having a lot of clothes. They basically wear a set of trousers and shirt, though some wear them in one item. A dress can be worn by both sexes, but is normally worn by the wealthier ones. Both sexes also wear a Kamís which is sort of a thin nightgown thing that reaches mid thigh.
alFén: All the fashion. Mostly big clothes that use lots of fabric to accentuate wealth and beauty. Their clothes as still grounded in the practical past, but designers are trying to change that. Flowing sleeves that expose the forearms would be popular as well as loose pants. Robes are basically overcoats only longer, and tied around the waist and mid chest or above (depending on sex for obvious reasons). The alFén have the most colorful clothes of the tribes, and are always looking for new dyes and color combinations to catch the eye.
Gobé Li: They don’t exactly have the same concept of fashion. They will sometimes adorn themselves with bright inedible berries or flowers, but these last for a day or two only. They normally dress in soft grey and brown leathers, both sexes wear trousers that have a section like breeches, but with strings that tie on the section that covers the shins, exposing the knees. The women wear a sort of equivalent to a sports bra. The males that have a higher status wear collars stained red to symbolize service to the tribe. There’s is also another thing that isn’t always worn that’s pretty much a poncho, to be worn on cold nights or used as a bed.
Dweor: Surprisingly they do have a sense of fashion. Sort of. They have formal dress, normally worn by the priestesses, long robes that give the impression of trailing, most often in bright greens, further adorned with yellows and emeralds, their prized jewel that symbolizes good earth, family, and life. Not exactly sure what the rest of them wear, but it’s would probably look awkward to us.

Feelings towards art.
Menna: The Menna respect beauty in much the same way we do, but it is rare that they put great value to it, except what they can get out of it. For the Menna, art is for those who can afford to indulge in the time it takes to produce it. Some jobs, like shepherding, are known for proclivity for art, as well as those from the Brothers, a group of mostly Menna that support themselves in a small community devoted to prayer and good works. There are Menna craftsmen though, mostly to sell to the alFén, who they know are always willing to gain more if they can afford it, including some of the lower tunzíl alFén who keep art like status symbols. There are also the inventors of the Menna, a risky business, usually undertaken by unmarried men and women, that can occasionally prove very successful.
Gobé Li: They do not see the purpose of making art. The world is art and they think it folly to try to be better than the earth. They do harbor a liking for jewels of all kinds though, as well as bright feathers; but those are also parts of the natural world.
Dweor: They appreciate beauty, but they are not ones to make art. They might sing and dance, but painting is beyond them, and sculpture is rarely seen, and normally comes from the miners, the Dweor that have chosen to live away from the tribe, and normally do much of the trading with the Menna.
alFén: They nearly worship art. To the high tunzíl alFén, art is beauty, and beauty is the meaning of existence. Their caste system is based on what arts are best, and what are necessary, to have a high tunzíl is to have honor in life and an important position in the world, to work at the sacred task of creating beauty.

Support of the disabled/elderly.
Gobé Li: They do no have a place for someone to be seriously physically disabled. They always run and jump. Physical ability is more than important to their lifestyle. They might try to I’ve the child away to be raised by another tribe. Or the mother and father might give up the tribal life and life in the winter camp. As the aged do not tired until shortly before death, they keep up with the tribe well enough, though not as easily as in their youth. As for mentally disabled, it all depends on if they are physically fit. If so, they will be mostly accepted into the tribe. Marriage is less likely though, though marriage is not seen as necessary in the tribe.
Dweor: The physically disabled would be placed in whatever work they could do well and be treated as anyone else. (The disabled are also not barred from the preistesshood.) The elderly would be treated with great respect and not work, being allowed to do whatever they pleased until death. The Mentally disabled would be given work if they could manage it; the more seriously disabled would be kept in the house of their mother.
alFén: The alFén would act very discriminatory to the disabled of any sort, sending most away from the palace city to live nearer to the borders, to be cared for by relatives, unless the mother or father insisted that they’d stay. The elderly are given much honor and respect, especially of the higher tunzíl.
Menna: The Menna respect elders, though not as formally as the alFén, the aged still have to work as they can, unless the family is rich enough. Often elders will be in charge of household chores so that the children may do their thing, such as learning or finding work. The physically disabled are well accepted for the most part. The Menna see them as just a part of life like the rest of them. People with mental disabilities are sent off to whatever craft they can manage, working with rovín (more or less grey sheep) and such is relatively common.

(Btw it should be known that I am writing about the tribes in present time except for Gobé Li at about 70 years before.)

Marriage, sex, and babies.
Dweor: Marriage is done by priestesses by behest of the bride. The mother stays home and takes care of the children, a task well honored in their society. Sex before marriage is accepted, but if the woman becomes pregnant, they will be married immediately, though it is not a shameful matter. To them sex is something to be spoken frankly and openly about, though not in a gratuitous manner.
Menna: The Menna tribe is the most varied, culturally, and so they do not all do the same things. But sex is usually reserved for marriage, though it is not seen as a great offense if not by many, and marriage can be as simple as a public statement or a religious blessing. Normally the children are raised by both the father and mother, though close community does help in upbringing.
alFén: Marriage is a grand affair to the alFén. Big ceremony and all that. They are arranged often, but probably more than half are not. Sex is something that is rarely even mentioned in their society, and sex before marriage is seriously frowned upon. Depending on the tunzíl, children are given nurses and tutors that care for them the majority of the time, or raised at home by their parents.
Gobé Li: Marriage is simply the end of their simple courtship ceremony, it is for life, like all the other tribes, yet a second marriage is acceptable to the Gobé Li if a spouse dies, something not done in the other three. Sex before marriage is not done, but it isn’t exactly a taboo, as with the alFén. Children are primarily taken care of by the mother, though there is a group of Mothers to help and direct her, but are also cared for and disciplined by the rest of the community.

Guests
alFén: The alFén are ceremonious when it comes to inviting people over; though of course, the high tunzíl are more often to engage in such behavior, unless it’s someone they know intimately, in which case, customs might be thrown out the window. The guest will be invited to a short bath or at least some kind of washing, perfumes are optional, but incense will be lit, especially if the guest is especially honored. Fold is a must, be it a light snack or a lavish meal.
Menna: The Menna are willing to allow any into their homes as long as they think that person is decent. There are no ceremonies exactly, but they will be invited to stay for whatever meal comes next, and possibly to stay the night. No strict rules, but proper hospitality requires a “go the extra mile” attitude.
Dweor: They are frank and willing, but there’s are set rules. This comes mostly from the fact that no one is welcome to their home except by invitation or acceptance. For the most part, anyone will be kept as an -not exactly honored, but something like loved- guest until the time (I don’t know how long) is up. Then they are No Longer Welcome. Of course, adoption into the clan is allowed, but freeloaders are not allowed.
Gobé Li: They really don’t do guests, being nomadic and all. But they are willing to help anyone in need and to go beyond what is expected, but it would be a very rare thing for the tribe to stop traveling for the sake of anyone so this help would take place in a twelve hour period or less.

Beautiful people
Gobé Li: Beauty is sought after, but they aren’t fanatical about it. They don’t really have any beauty products, and body standards are virtually nonexistent as they all share the same basic body shape (well, males together and females together, but even then there’s not a lot of difference). Beauty is admired, but not seen as a necessity. The world is beautiful, and that is enough for them.
Menna: They like beauty well enough, and will try to make themselves more beautiful (knowing them they probably try everything). But it’s not seen as necessary to them either. Beauty is good, but you don’t need it to live.
Dweor: They literally barely care. They discourage any thought that might lead to beauty making someone more desirable. To them, beauty is skin deep, and you can’t do much to change it. If you’re focusing on that something is wrong.
alFén: They are born beautiful and know it, even still, many of them are not content, and many decorate themselves with ink, normally around the eyes and patterns on the forearms, as well as wearing earrings and flashy jewelry, plus things to accentuate natural color, like making lips a touch more red. To them, beauty is everything. If it is not beautiful it is not wanted.

History time! Remember Zol? Very important guy. Started the first group of those born with what would later be referred to as the great dexár, powers that went beyond normal and firmly into what would be considered the magical. He was doubly blessed with power to manipulate light and biánim, life energy. His first disciple, Karák had the same gifts, though he was better at taking life than giving it, and bringing shadow instead of clearing it. There were others but they don’t matter as much even though I love them. Zol was instrumental in negotiations between the king of the Menna and the rest of the tribes. Unfortunately, though he thought it was going well, the king was using him to keep the sign of peace while still working towards full war. Zol’s work there failed, and the three other tribes, along with a couple hundred Menna, set sail in three ships to escape, and eventually found Althalos. All was well for a time, but it was found that Karák had been practicing magic, trails left from the Traprodis, to give himself more power by allowing the one of the three Traprodis into him. He was driven away by Zol after he killed an old woman to complete the final magic ritual, but later finished it, allowing the traprodos Morlús to enter him, which eventually overcome him until he was completely possessed.

Death and grief
Dweor: A priestess arrives to perform the funeral rights and a few men are drafted to dig the grave. Those closest to the dead are relived of all work duty for twenty days, along with two chosen to be helpers to them live through their grief, normally closest friends. All are eased back into their duties in time.
Menna: They have no official burial ceremony, but a prayer rather like the Jewish Kaddish prayer, asserting the power and goodness of their god. Burial is always the case, though actual coffins are virtually nonexistent. Life goes on, but the village does what we would normally do (extra visits, bringing food over and the like).
alFén: For them, like all things, there are customs to be kept. The alFén paint the Death Mask on their faces if they were very close to the dead, either by blood or friendship. There is also a phrase that is said, a final goodbye to wish the soul well on their journey that is normally reserved for the closest kin to say.
Gobé Li: The Gobé Li are simple about death. They are buried close to wherever they died. The journey is stopped for one day of rest, wherein all speak of the dead fondly, recalling what that person meant to them or the stories they had of them. And then the journey continues, the people sure that th spirit of the dead watches them kindly, interceding for them to their god (Theúsont at this time, like the Menna) to keep them from peril. Often bracelets are made of the hair of the deceased and worn by those close to them.

Affection
Menna: They are open with people they love, giving them all the epithet dagáb meaning that person is very precious to them, also calling friends and family “my love” (though with different words depending on relationship). Physically intimacy is welcome if the relationship is close enough; holding hands is common between friends and is not seen as a romantic gesture. Touch is seen as proof of love between any two people and is expected. Kissing is expected between any who love each other, but on the mouth only for spouses and between children and parents.
alFén: Though they also are free to show affection, it is not as effusive as the Menna. Handholding is done, but hardly more than that. Embracing is ceremonial most of the time unless between very close loved ones like best friends and immediate family. Kissing is not done at all except by parents or spouses, though lovers often circumvent this social rule by tracing their lover’s lips with a finger, which has taken a meaning nearly as intimate.
Dweor: They think affection is good and don’t see any reason to hold back. While they are not really a really emotional people, they accept willingly affection from anyone, and give such affection to whomever they desire to. Just purposefully touching someone can hold a lot of meaning to them, and a friend can express love to the other by simply laying a hand on an arm or leg.
Gobé Li: They embrace and give kisses freely, (though only among their on sex) though rarely do they ever kiss on the lips, even among lovers. However they have strict rules regarding the sexes concerning modesty, touching of the legs of either sex above the general ankle region being a highly inappropriate gesture. The sexes may embrace, but often such a thing is reserved for good friends, anything beyond this would start rumors of a possible marriage in the future.

Mealtimes
Dweor: They wake early, before the sun is visible to them, (which isn’t that early since they are surrounded by mountains) when the sky has only a pale sort of light, just enough to see by. The women whose children are grown and are not priestesses prepare the early meal, something that will quiet hunger fo many hours but not a heavy meal. The workers return to the meal hall when the sun is at its zenith, where the midday meal has been prepared, normally where the heavier food comes in. They all rest for an hour or two, and then go about their day as they will until the third meal of the day, when the sky begins to change color. It is normally a meat dish, not as heavy as the midday. There is a fourth meal of the day that is taken outside the halls when the sky is dark, normally around the fire pits. It is very light, some milk and bread perhaps.
Menna: There are only two meal specials of the day that are always spread, a breakfast and supper, both heavy. A light meal or a few snacks might be had away from the family table.
Gobé Li: Kinda depends, but the first one is sort of heavy and starts less than two hours after they wake up which is a bit after sunrise. They eat on the journey and have another heavier meal a little after sunset.
alFén: They start the early day with a very small meal, do some stuff for an hour or two and then have a meal twice as big. There is a time between then and the last meal where you might eat and might not. Then there’s a heavy meal eaten normally together as the sun sets.

Ancestors
alFén: They treat ancestors like heroes to be remembered. Any ancestor that did anything worth note is taught to the next generation to be held in their memory and also to be passed down. Written records would be made of all family trees, so the alFén have the best genealogy records.
Dweor: The Dweor do not pay much mind to their ancestors unless they did something truly great, such as those descended from Malf-sáng-sés (Thousand-blood-axe) who was one of the greatest Dweor warriors before the tribe left Kosmúnd Extráp (as the Menna call the outside world). They Dweor are mostly simple people. They live their lives and then die, they do not mind it, and only wish to bring and have love during their time in the cycle.
Gobé Li: They are by far the most reverent to their past family. They see death as another part of their Journey, and it is a shameful thing not to know a good handful of ancestor names and a few facts about them. The ancestors protect them on their path, and break trail for them ahead, so that one day they can leap through great forests made of stars in the heavens. Any good tribe member may ask their ancestors to strengthen them, or beg divine aid for them when they are in peril, so it is necessary to be on good terms with them, though it is seen as callous to think of them only for that. Probably they have some holiday rather like Dia de los Muertos.
Menna: The Menna hold up their ancestors like saints. Many of them are looked at through very rose colored glasses after a few generations and seen as role models to strive towards. The younger dead are spared this though, and so the young Menna often take more of an interest to them, possibly viewing them as family.

Conflict
alFén: The alFén have strict authority lines (that are rather sexist tbh). A dispute will almost always be settled in the favor of the higher ranking person. Like most things, this is far more likely in the palace city and around, where it is mostly populated by the high tunzíl alFén, who hold the ranking system as more important. Lower tunzíl don’t care that much bc it’s hard to be classist while you’re at the low side, so fairness is more prevalent with them.
Dweor: They wish for as little conflict as possible. Anything that can’t be settled in a minute of conversation means a priestess will come and listen to both sides and any witnesses and be the judge between them. Greater cases go to higher priestesses, with the greatest being settled by the Máhz Mûlm.
Gobé Li: Rather like the Dweor, the Gobé Li have elders that settle disputes. Gobé Li wish to live in perfect harmony, and so rarely fight between themselves, the elders pressing them to give up for their family at all times. The menfolk are allowed to fight physically if the cause is great enough, but such a thing is extremely rare as they don’t have much to fight over.
Menna: They are probably the most pugnacious. It really depends on the society, scale of the argument, and where they are. If in the village of a lord, the lord will act as judge. If outside, village leaders take that job, or Disciples of Zol or Brothers of Zol if there are any around. Followers of Zol always advocate for peace, but a lord or village leader might allow a fight, depending on what they think is fair.

Religion
alFén: There are many of the alFén that aren’t religious in the way we think of it. I guess maybe all of them. Some of them worship beauty in art. The beauty is the purpose. The more religious ones also think this, but see their creation as part of a divine plan to bring light to the world. So though they do the same thing, some think the product is the end result, others think that the product is part of something, and serve for that reason, not for the things they make.
Menna: They are varied. Towards the western border, many aren’t religious at all, giving little thought to god. The ones that are religious do so in a casual, yet permeating way. They seek openness to their god in all things, in the quiet of the woods to the laughing of children. They speak to him (though their god is sexless) often and pray for themselves and anyone or anything they think of, trusting that their god will look after them, even if they can’t see it. The Brothers of Zol meditate on the creation of the cosmos, and pray for all people often, but most importantly make their house a place where any can come for safety, rest and love, having taken oaths of service and peace, using violence only in aid of their guests.
Gobé Li: They do not think of their god much. To them she is behind everything, making the stars move. They know they will be with her one day, though they do not prepare for it, simply reflecting that their god had a motherly care for them, even though she rarely touches the world.
Dweor: The Dweor are the most outwardly religious. Every ten days the people are gathered before the Máhz Mûlm to here her sing their history and of the plan their god has for them to feast with all their family at the end of their lives if they treat others well.

I’ve already touched on it but I’ll lay out anyways what the tribes trhink about what happens after death.

Menna: They think they go down to the Shadowlands, a not nice place, where they wait for their evil to be drained out of them. After that is done they become spirits and ascend to the clouds, to live there until the end of the world, occasionally making contact in dreams or visions with friends or relatives.
alFén: They believe that after death their souls go in a million places, bringing beauty to the earth.
Gobé Li: They continue their journey on the trail of stars.
Dweor: They appear in a large pavilion full of food and grounds to play in.

More dealing with death.

Fén: Burial is simple. No coffins. The Fén find a place filled with plant life and place the body in a shallow grave. Many of the Fén believe that their spirits will dissolve with the body and spread to the world around, creating more beauty in the world.
Ménna: They also bury their dead. Normally they find a high place to put the dead, since they believe righteous souls ascend to live in the clouds.
Dwéor: They create mounds for them; taller than themselves. After the burial, seeds are scattered over the mound so it will become a place of growth and new life as well as a memorial.
Gobé Li: They do not bury. Instead, they take the corpse to the top of a very tall tree, and tie them there, arms stretched out, ready for the next phase of maláo, which they believe is to be swept away by the hand of the Goddess into the arms of their ancestors who will guide them as they gain a body made of moonlight in order to traverse the Star Forest.