Sefdaanian ethnography Ch. 4, Family Life

Naming

• The Ethrans and the Xylans, who do not procreate, were given their names by the Creator upon their creation. The etymology of their names is, thus, not known.
• Children are named after objects found in nature in a naming ceremony on the sixth day after birth. The names are taken from objects pertinent to the family’s assigned ecosystem, or from objects available to all (sun, moon, rain, etc.). Names may also indicate human attributes (strength, joy, etc.). This name is modified by an appropriate adjective. The name then takes either the adjectival suffix –n- indicating resemblance to, e.g., petáṁnis, like a flying bird, or the adjectival suffix -ṙ- indicating full of, e.g., digóvṙis, full of shining beauty. These adjectives are then placed in the –us declension, that of human beings: petáṁnus, digóvṙus. Another choice is to use an agent noun, e.g., hunter, rider.
• Among the Hydorans and Lithans, children take the name of the father. Among the Pyrans and Humans, children take the name of the father. When necessary, the name of the settlement and the name of the region can be added. Thus, a Lithan named Ṁalpéṙkynus (“strong oak”), whose father is named Qalkédus (“skillful hunter”), who lives in a village named Miirĸílas (“peaceful”), in the western region (watershed) Mèzðaíļas, would have the full name “Mezðàiļás Miiṙĸilás Qalkedús Ṁalpéṙĸyṁus”. This extended name is, of course, only used on formal occasions.
• It is possible for any of the People to receive an epithet for a great deed done but this epithet is not passed on to any children.

Marriage and family life

• Among the Six Peoples, only the Pyrans, the Hydorans, the Humans, and the Lithans practice marriage. All marriages are exogamous (outside the local community) and monogamous. In all cases, marriages are arranged by the parents of the prospective brides and grooms often with the help of a matchmaker (mángus).

1. For the Pyrans, marriage is patrilocal. The bride goes to the husband's dábos with her dowry (ṁeðdóos) of however many does were agreed upon. This prevents inbreeding in both the human and the caprid population. Two men from a third dábos go to the bride's dábos to select the does and arrange for their transfer. Once at her new home, the bride becomes a daughter of the matriarch with all the rights and privileges that that entails. The dowry is seen as payment for the right to exercise these rights and privileges.
2. For the Hydorans, marriage is matrilocal. The husband goes to the bride's family without a brideprice (ṁédəmnos). He himself constitutes the brideprice by his own ability to contribute to the family group.
3. For the Humans, marriage is patrilocal. The bride goes to the husband's ceímos with her dowry (ṁeðdóos) of however many mares were agreed upon. This prevents inbreeding in both the human and the equid population. Two men from a third ceímos go to the bride's ceímos to select the mares and arrange for their transfer. Once at her new home, the bride becomes a daughter of the matriarch with all the rights and privileges that that entails. The dowry is seen as payment for the right to exercise these rights and privileges.
4. For the Lithans, marriage is patrilocal. The bride brings to the husband's home her dowry (ṁeðdóos) which consists mainly of household items. However, she does not come to her new home until a house has been constructed for her. This is built by her husband and any crew he can get together from family and friends. Her husband and his family go to meet her at the entrance to the valley and lead her down to the pálqos, astride the donkey given to her by her parents. This donkey will remain her personal property so that she can take her part in the life of the pálqos.

• Divorce does not exist in Sefdaania, but there can be separation from bed, but not board, if there is any friction between the couple. This is mediated by the various local councils. Any children of the marriage continue to live with the mother until they reach their majority. The husband has to make his own arrangements, although he still has a say in the marriage arrangements of his children. Should either or both parents die, members of the extended family help to raise the children. Among these Peoples whose marriages are arranged, love has to grow between the husband and wife who were chosen for each other.
• Boys and girls are not treated differently, except insofar as they are trained for their respective tasks in the family and the community.

Family size

The Ethrans

• The Ethrans live in large compounds known as citadels (ðúnos). The population changes as the Ethrans are sent out on missions to other citadels or to various parts of the world for scientific or other investigation.
• There are six ranks of Ethrans:

1. Six archimages (ṁɔɔséfƶus)
2. 36 mages (séfƶus)
3. 216 archons (dásus)
4. 1,296 adepts (qálus)
5. 7,776 guardians (póótus)
6. There are innumerable elementals (luudésus).

• These six archimages are appointed as guardians and caretakers of the Six Loquent Peoples:

1. Arĸánus (the head archimage) of the Ethrans; he is responsible for the field of astronomy.
2. Ardárus of the Pyrans; she is responsible for the field of zoology.
3. Harúðus of the Hydorans; she is responsible for the field of arts.
4. Forlálxus of the Humans; he is responsible for the field of meteorology.
5. Maxţélus of the Xylans; he is responsible for the field of botany.
6. Rampélus of the Lithans; he is responsible for the field of the physical sciences.

The Pyrans

• Since the Pyrans live about 200 years and the women go into estrus only once a year, family control is easy. In order to avoid overpopulation, only two to four children are produced in the Pyran family. The population does grow, but in a more-or-less controlled fashion. The Pyran family unit consists of the father and mother and their minor children. If the father is the oldest son, he may also have his parents living with them.

The Hydorans

• Since the Hydorans live about 100 years and the women go into estrus only once a year, family control is easy. Twin births are the rule and in a given woman's lifetime she may give birth to as many as four sets of twins. Since the mortality rate of children is high, the Hydorans tend to give birth to more children. Husbands do not live in the same dwelling with their families. All the men live in a communal house (ĸàṙqïdémos), including unmarried males when they reach their majority, and visit their wives when they wish. The family unit consists of the matriarch (senámas), her widowed sisters, her daughters, and their minor children.

The Humans

• Human families will have from two to four children. It is important that there be a male child, more so than with the other three reproductive Peoples. The Human encampment (ceíṁos) consists of an extended family: a paterfamilias (ðamátas), his sons and their wives and their children and the children’s children. Enough males are needed to manage the family’s herd of horses. When the family herd becomes too large for the area to sustain, one of the sons will take his family and horses and become paterfamilias in a new area. There is plenty of room in the steppes.

The Lithans

• Since the Lithans live about 300 years and the women go into estrus only once every three years, family control is easy. In order to avoid overpopulation, only two to four children are produced in the Lithan family. The population does grow, but in a more-or-less controlled fashion. The family unit consists of the father and mother and their minor children. If the father is the oldest son, he may also have his parents living with them.

Inheritance

• Because the men are away with the herds a large part of the year, the Humans adopted a matriarchal society. All possessions are inherited matrilineally, except for the horses, which are inherited patrilineally.
• In Lithan society all possessions are inherited patrilineally.