Culture

Eternian culture can vary distinctly between tribes. Despite this, there are quite a few similarities and shared customs. Both distinct differences as well as similarities are highlighted below.

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Shared Customs

Mating Rituals
All Eternians share a similar mating ritual.

Female Eternians go into heat two times a year.
These cycles tend to be spread a minimum of 6 months apart.
Heat cycles typically last 1 to 2 weeks.
This is the only time during the year in which a female Eternian
can get pregnant.

Once females enter heat, the dominant portion of the mating ritual falls to the males. Under most circumstances, males are expected to show their intentions for romance and mating with displays, much like birds. In many cases this involves painting their bodies with complex and beautiful decorations, shining their horns, or even shaving them to impressive shapes. In some clans, there are Mating Battles, where males who desire the same female will face off against each other. Ultimately, the decision will be made by a female, if she even desires to mate. Forced or coerced mating is not only forbidden, it can be a call to death in some clans.

Pregnancy lasts roughly 6-7 months. During this time, Eternian females go through a variety of changes similar to human females. Single births and twin births are the most common in the species, however it is not unheard of for an Eternian mother to give birth to triplets are quadruplets. These are rarer, and oftentimes incredibly stressful to the mother.

Eternian cubs grow at a rate roughly the same as many mammalian species. They are nearly entirely dependant upon their mothers upon birth, and do not reach a stage of independence for quite some time.

Crystal Worship
All Eternians have an almost cult like fascination and similar worship to the crystals that make up their home.

Eternians worship the crystals that make up their home, and their bodies, as a God like, spiritual presence. To the Eternians, the most sacred of these is the Mother, the meteor that crashed and began the forced evolution of the species. They worship the Mother as their Goddess, a force that connects all Eternians and grants them their elemental influences and magics.

Secondarily, the Eternians worship Mirror crystals, or just Mirrors, as links to the past. These Mirrors are often large, unnatural crystal formations that jut from the ground like stalagmite formations. They are said to be connected to the Mother deep underground. The most unique thing about these crystals, however, is their ability to connect to the crystals on the hands of all Eternians. By doing so, these Mirrors can receive and "store" memories, which can be accessed by any Eternian.

Lastly, the crystals on the bodies of the Eternians themselves are incredibly sacred. Mated pairs will often craft jewelry from their crystals to share with each other as symbols of affection. Crystals are maintained with strict discipline and beauty standards, and it is incredibly insulting to allow one's crystals to grow unruly. Selling crystals is frowned upon, but exploration to the outside world has taught Eternians that their crystals are desired. Therefore, selling horn chipped crystals or crystals from the natural formations of the homeland is allowed, but large quantities are frowned upon.

Celebrations
While many customs and celebrations can differ, and some clans may have smaller festivals that not all share, there are a few customs held throughout Eternian society.

The Remembrance Festival

The Remembrance Festival is held once a year on the harvest moon in the fall. This date is specifically selected due to the supposed moon influence on the Mirror crystals.

In general, this holiday is very similar to the celebration of Delos de Los Muertos. In similar style, the Remembrance Festival is a day and night devoted to worshipping family and friends that have passed on.

The day usually begins with the cleansing of familial gravesites. Afterwards, the entire clan gathered in a celebratory feast. As the moon rises and night comes, the Eternians will often gather around the sacred Mirror crystals. Using their unique link to these, and the meteor that originally brought the crystals, Eternians are able to "look into the past", so to speak. They are able to see the memories of their dear departed loved ones in the same way one might watch a movie. By doing so, the Eternians are able to connect with their loved ones once more, so long as their memories have been "saved" into the Mirror crystals.

It's not uncommon for entire lines of families to be saved to specific Mirrors. When the Tribes were individuals, the Remembrance Festival was the only time in which Eternians from different tribes could pass into other territories without fear of attack. With the dissolving of the firm tribe lines, however, this has become a thing of the past.

Spring/Fall Solstice

Eternians celebrate the solstice in two different and distinct ways, dependant upon which solstice it is.

The Spring and Fall Solstices are seen as time for rejuvenation and change. Because of this, Eternians treat the spring and fall solstices with less celebration than they would the summer and winter. Despite this, spring and fall solstices still contain their own rituals.

It is common on the spring solstice for many of the tribes to hold their Warrior Trials. Although many of the tribes differ on their methods of trying the young Eternians to test their mettle and welcome them into the tribe, usually there is some kind of ceremony involving a gauntlet like challenge, such as an obstacle course. While dangerous, it's incredibly unlikely that these challenges are life threatening. There is almost always a hunt for the young Eternians as well, and those who complete both trials will be welcomed into adulthood by the tribe.

In the fall, new members of the tribe are introduced. This includes cubs that were born from the previous mating seasons and young adult Eternians that have passed their warrior trials. This is where they are officially welcomed into the tribes as functioning adults, and given official tribe roles, as well as are allowed to begin the courtship process for the potential of a mate.

Summer/Winter Solstice

Eternians celebrate the solstice in two different and distinct ways, dependant upon which solstice it is.

The summer and winter solstices are often incredibly joyous celebrations, complete with hunts and feasts, as well as contests of strength and skill.

In the summer solstice Eternians celebrate the longest day of the year by long, all day activities. This means from sun up to sun down they will be creating large, elaborate feasts and contests. Although the contest can vary dependant upon the tribe, most contests involve similar customs to the rite of passages for warriors, or just pure championships of strength. Hunters will be encouraged to hunt in large quantities before the solstices to provide meat for the tribes to gorge themselves on, and it is probably one of the only times when alcoholic drink is commonplace. As the sun sets and night begins, there are often huge bonfires and dances that keep the party going until the moon is high in the sky, and the solstice is "complete".

The winter solstice is a celebration of the changing of seasons, and while it may not be accompanied by as large of a feast, it is a time for family. Clans will often gather around large bonfires and tell stories that have been passed down for generations with skilled illusions from the embers. It is often a time for mated pairs to renew their affections for each other, giving their mates extravagant and beautiful gifts to show their love. Many "marriage" rituals take place during the winter solstice.

Death Rituals
All Eternians hold the same death rituals for their decease, or dying.

Most Eternians have an incredibly insightful connection with their own mortality. Because of the Mirror crystals, it is not uncommon for many Eternians to embrace and accept death as a natural aspect of life. Many of them do not fear it. Instead, they welcome it.

When an Eternian feels they are entering the end of their life, they will often times gather their friends and remaining family together to pass off any items they may have collected in their time. If they are an Elder within a family, they will name their successor, which usually falls to a son or daughter unless there are some kind of extreme circumstances. They will then be taken to the Mirror for quite a few days, reliving the highlights of their life for the Mirror to record. They can choose to add whichever memories they so wish to these Mirrors, but most of the time they will record the memories that their families will revisit.

Afterwards, the family will call upon a Shaman, and this healer will, with permission, allow the Elder to drift from life. Often times this is accompanied by the family celebrating the life of the one lost. A feast is held in their honor, and the Elder is buried according to instructions. Most of the time this involves a funeral pyre, but some wish to be encased in crystals and left to the forest.

If a warrior or champion is killed before their time in the case of an unnatural death, there is usually a mourning period of 3-5 days. This is due to the loss of memories and celebration of life that life that would have otherwise happened. Families may call upon a necromancer to attempt to see the cause of death, and in some cases the Eternian's crystal memories can be called upon and saved... but there are very few recorded times that this has happened.