Post by Tataryn on May 19, 2012 18:49:09 GMT -5
This thread outlines how the five major species in Litharia understand the concept of committing monogamously to a single partner, and which ceremonies and rituals are required for others in their species to consider the union official. Note that this is a basic outline of typical ceremonies; regional differences and personal traditions may also influence the exact ceremony any particular couple chooses and, furthermore, many couples may not care about the official status of their union. However for those that do, these ceremony outlines can be used for the basis of a commitment ceremony thread. Specific information about regional and individual twists on the various ceremonies can also be found in later posts of this thread.
The Humans
The Humans have the most complex, formal commitment ceremonies of all the species in Litharia. The ceremony is known as a wedding and the union is called a marriage.- To be legally recognised as an official union by the Crown, only certain people are able to be married. Women must either be virgins or widowed at the time of marriage. Men may end an unsuitable union and become wedded again if their wife becomes insane, is unfaithful, is changed into another species, or otherwise brings shame to him and his family. Whores and slaves may never be officially married, and interspecies unions are not only unrecognised but are actually forbidden by Human law.
- Weddings for very high-status couples are held at the Ice Castle and presided over by the King. Weddings of wealthy couples may be held at a family estate or at a temple, while weddings of poorer couples are always held at a temple of the couple's choosing - usually one that reflects the magical heritage of the couple. If the King does not preside a recognised priest or priestess must do so in order for the union to be considered official.
- Any number of guests may be invited to attend a Human wedding. At least one witness each is required for the bride and the groom, but it is typical to at least invite close family and friends. The wealthier the couple is, and the higher their status, the more guests they are liable to invite.
- All Human commitments, whether arranged or not, are subject to a dowry tradition. The dowry is the money, goods or estate that the bride brings to the marriage. Obviously wealthier women will have a larger dowry, and this may impact on how positively they are viewed by the men in their society as potential wives. The dowry always contains a certain amount of coin but may also include jewellery, estates, family heirlooms and other items of value. The contents of the dowry become the groom's property on completion of the wedding ceremony and remain his even if his wife dies or the union ends.
- The wedding ceremony itself must include the following to be deemed official: the tying of the knot, in which the priest binds the couples hands together at the beginning of the ceremony and only unbinds them when the ceremony is complete; some kind of acknowledgement of the presiding God or Goddess, spoken by the King or Priest/Priestess; an exchange of either rings or artifacts related to the couple's magic; and the bedding, as a marriage remains unofficial until consummated. The ceremony itself is usually formal and dignified, especially among those who marry within the City. A formal standard of dress is required for the bride, the groom, and all guests.
- It is customary, though not necessary, for the couple's family to pay for a feast for the guests at the conclusion of the ceremony. This feast is typically as lavish as the families can afford and to not offer one would be considered stingy and blight the honour of both families, as well as conferring ill-luck to the new couple. Dancing and other celebrations are included at the discretion of the couple, and the wedding officially ends with the bedding.
- All recognised Human marriages are noted in the official records held in the Ice Castle. The presiding Priest/Priestess, or the King, is responsible for making these records.
The Shapeshifters
The Shapeshifters have greatly varied ceremonies due to their adaptability and tendency to live scattered throughout the whole of Litharia. The ceremony and the union are known as a joining.
The Shapeshifters have greatly varied ceremonies due to their adaptability and tendency to live scattered throughout the whole of Litharia. The ceremony and the union are known as a joining.
- Any willing Shapeshifter couple may legally be joined; families may object to unions they deem unsuitable but this has no bearing on the legality of the joining. Interspecies joinings are still contentious; their official status is recognised in some places and not others, and it is up to the couple to find a Shifter Priest/Priestess willing to preside. Unions may be officially dissolved, also, if either member of the couple and remarriage is not hindered by past relationships.
- A Shapeshifter couple may choose where the joining is held. Temples, estates, and natural settings are all acceptable and Shifter Island is a common destination for those with connections to the place. Likewise, the couple chooses which guests will attend. It is common for close family and friends to be there but Shifters may choose an entirely private ceremony, except for the person who presides, if they desire.
- The presiding person who deems the union official and guides the exchange of words is commonly a Priest or Priestess, but it is also perfectly acceptable for the couple to choose Elders of a group they are affiliated with. The presiding person must not be related to either member of the couple.
- The joining ceremony for Shifters always takes place on the evening and night of the full moon. The ceremony should commence before sunset, when under the guidance of the presiding person the couple will exchange vows and promises. When the moon rises both change into their true form and the night must be spent together, with no others present. At sunrise of the following day the union is considered official.
- Written records of Shapeshifter joinings are not typically kept, although some families have their own records of ancestral and current joinings. Shifter unions are not as rule-governed as the Humans and may dissolve and reform much more easily, however the ceremony is still considered sacred and only truly committed couples are likely to undertake it.
The Daemons
The Daemons have no officially recognized joining of two people in a monogamous relationship with any kind of legal status, however couples may still choose to make a commitment to each other in a private ceremony known as a partnering.
- Because the Daemons value chaos and what the other species may consider vices, there is no need for a legal partnership status. No records are kept, and inter species relationships are as valid as those between two Daemons. Daemons do understand the concept of monogamy, however, and therefore do have a traditional type of ceremony that couples may choose to utilize.
- A partnering ceremony is generally very private, with only the couple themselves attending. Location is not important and generally somewhere meaningful to the couple is chosen. Guests are not typically invited and because there is no legal meaning behind the joining, there is no need for anyone to preside.
- Likewise, the ceremony itself is simple. The couple demonstrate their commitment by cutting each others palms or wrists and mingling their blood. They may or may not choose to also exchange weapons or jewellery made of dark glass, however the important traditional part of the ceremony is the mingling of blood.
- Partnerings may dissolve easily and without ceremony. As soon as one part of the couple tires of the union they may leave it, and a partnering is considered dissolved as soon as one member of the couple has relations with someone outside of the partnership. Because of the chaotic, unpredictable nature of the Daemons partnering ceremonies are rare in the first place, and ones that last the duration of a Daemons life are rarer still.
The Fae
The Fae have the most celebratory commitment ceremony. Like many things in their lives, any joining of two people is treated as a joyous party. The ceremony is called a commitment ceremony, which results in a union.
- Unlike the Daemons, the Fae do legally or officially recognise commitments made in a traditional commitment ceremony. Any two willing Fae may make this commitment although unions between those of the same blood and magic are considered highly preferable. For this reason unions may be arranged by parents, though this isn't as strict as a Human arranged marriage and both members of the couple have the right to turn such an arrangement down. Interspecies unions are acceptable with Daemons and, more grudgingly, with Shapeshifters. A union between a Fae and a Human is considered extremely taboo and will not be recognised officially.
- A Fae commitment ceremony is presided over by any Fae Council member as well as a Priest or Priestess to show respect to the Fae Gods and Goddesses. Many guests are typically invited and on top of this a Fae commitment ceremony is considered a public event, and anyone who supports the union may attend if they desire to.
- A commitment ceremony is always held in the Forest of the Fae, the Mound, or even Faeryland, and must always be held in close proximity to nature. Both male and female guests and participants are expected to wear tokens of nature for the duration of the ceremony, such as flowers and feathers adorning their outfits.
- The ceremony itself is brief. The couple demonstrate their magical abilities for each other, in such a way as to allude to their commitment, devotion and love. Tokens of nature are commonly exchanged and are always beautiful; gems, preserved flowers and animal eggs or even living animals are common examples. The ceremony is completed with the ceremonial drinking of a cup of wine which the couples share.
- After the ceremony it is customary for a large party to be thrown. This typically lasts at least a day and night and involves dancing, singing, joyous celebration, food, and plenty of drink.
- Records of Fae unions are kept in the Elvish library, however, unlike the Humans, these unions may end quite easily if one member of the partnership becomes unhappy with it. The Fae do not take this commitment lightly and life-long partnerships are certainly not unheard of, but there is no shame associated with ending a union that is no longer enjoyable.
The Outcasts
The ceremonies of the Outcasts differ widely between the Outcast species, however all call the joining of a committed couple a confarreation, resulting in a companionship.
The ceremonies of the Outcasts differ widely between the Outcast species, however all call the joining of a committed couple a confarreation, resulting in a companionship.
Angels
[/li][li] Confarreations are presided over by an Archangel or a recognised Priest/Priestess. Both parties must have at least two witnesses and only very close friends and family are typically invited. Non-Angels are forbidden to attend any Angel commitment ceremony.
[/li][li] The ceremony itself is very serious, formal and structured. Under the guidance of the presiding person the couple exchange pre-approved vows of faithfulness, devotion and loyalty. Items of precious metal, not typically set with gems but rather beautifully inlaid with various meaningful designs, are then exchanged. Rings are common but the couple may also choose to exchange necklaces, bracelets or even weapons. They are expected to wear this item at all times for the rest of their lives.
[/li][li] Dissolution of an Angel confarreation is absolutely forbidden; only death is sufficient to end a partnership, and even then the surviving member of the couple may not ever enter into another partnership. For this reason the Angels take confarreation unions extremely seriously, although it is definitely considered preferable to be in such a partnership before bearing children. Extensive, detailed records are kept of all Angel partnerships.
[/li][/ul]
Halflings
- Halfling confarreations are common and, like the Fae, are considered a joyous occasion worth celebrating. They are always held in secluded natural settings away from possible interruptions from other species, although it is not unheard of for trusted friends of other species to be invited.
- These unions are never arranged and Halflings of any age and status may form a partnership (provided they are not already joined to another). Typically the Clan leader presides, although it is also acceptable for any Elder to do so.
- The ceremony itself is informal and fun. Usually the couple exchange tokens relevant to their clans and exchange some kind of vows, written by themselves and often referring to nature. Laughter, dancing, drinking, music, smoking and a large feast are indulged in for the day and night following the ceremony. The couple are showered with gifts made from natural materials - wooden utensils, gemstones, feather cloaks and so forth. A typical Halfling confarreation will include upwards of fifty guests.
- Dissolution of a Halfling partnership is uncommon but possible at the discretion of the Clan chief and Elders. If a Halfling loses their partner to death they are free to rejoin with another after an appropriate mourning period. Halfling partnerships are recorded by the Clan chief.
Dwarves
- Dwarven confarreations are private affairs, less formal than the ceremonies of the Humans and Angels but not quite like the parties of the Fae and Halflings, either. They are always held in an underground location.
- The Dwarves have no official person who must preside over a ceremony to make a partnership official, however it is typical for the couple to choose one or both of their mentors to guide the ceremony. Typically only a few guests are invited, and sometimes none at all.
- The ceremony itself is a simple, relatively sombre affair. The couple exchange artifacts crafted for the purpose of the ceremony, usually something that would be meaningful to their partner. Sometimes a few words might be exchanged, but other than this no rituals are observed.
- Typically, a Dwarven couple will prefer to be alone together after their confarreation ceremony. They may have a meal together and indulge in their shared interests. Dwarf families use this time to quietly and unceremoniously leave gifts for the couple, and these are always practical in nature - tools, weapons and utensils, for example. The families of the couple may give each other gifts also, to strengthen the bonds that now unite them.
- Dwarf partnerships are officially dissolved at the mutual agreement of both partners. Where no agreement is reach the partnership cannot be truly dissolved, but this is unlikely to stop Dwarves from going their separate ways. Records of partnerships are kept only by families who have the custom of recording family events.
Shadows
- The Shadows have only the most basic of understanding of commitment, as they have little understanding of relationships in the first place. Those who have lived in Litharia a long time are the only ones likely to undertake a confarreation, and even if they do there is no legal or official meaning behind it. The ceremony, therefore, consists of anything the couple wishes it to consist of and the union lasts as long as both partners cooperate. No records are kept.