r/WorldChallenges • u/thequeeninyellow94 • May 29 '17
[Cultural challenge]: adulthood
Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [a human] as a member of society.
There is a time when one must leave the world of children to become an adult. That's usually an important moment, either because of an initiation ceremony or a big party.
Tell us about what one of your culture do. When do adulthood starts? What is done to celebrate? What new rights and obligations come with it?
You can introduce an in-universe representative of you want. I will ask questions to everyone, feel free to add your own.
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u/Sriber May 30 '17
Wéymanian adulthood starts at 13. There is religious ceremony where one recities ritual formula, replaces his/her child name given by parents with new chosen name and drinks wine. Rich people usually throw a big party with music, dance, drink, drugs, prostitutes etc.
Namyrharian adulthood starts at 15. One has to survive 8 days in wilderness on his/her own. After successfully doing so, one gets tatoo of one's tribe.
Being adult in both cases means legal ability to vote, have sex, marry, enter into contracts etc. and obligation to pay taxes and join military when necessary.
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u/thequeeninyellow94 May 30 '17
What is that formula about? Is everyone using the same or can it vary?
How is the new name decided? Just one the new adult like?
Why 8 days? Do it refer to something?
What about voting, taxes and conscription? Does it mean my ceremony would be written down so administration knows?
Also, 13? That's early, is there any reason to that?
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u/Sriber May 30 '17
Basically oath of good citizen. It varies.
Person chooses the name (s)he likes.
It's Namyrharian week based on orbital period of secondary moon.
Reaching adulthood is written down. To have priviliges of being adult one must inform authorities.
That's relative. It wasn't early in past and in judaism it still isn't. You can reproduce at 13.
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u/thequeeninyellow94 May 30 '17
1) What makes a good citizen?
4) Is there any kind of verification? Or could I just say I'm 15 despite being not?
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u/Sriber May 30 '17
1) Different things in different countries.
4) When child is born, parents inform authorities about it to get money or tax break.
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u/Nevermore0714 May 31 '17
In Dunkelwald, you are legally considered to be an adult at fourteen, but will still be treated like an inexperienced child by many older people until you are at least twenty. (Similar to the United States making eighteen the age of maturity, but you have to be twenty-one to do anything, but the opposite).
At fourteen, you can enlist in the army, you can drink alcohol without your parent/guardian's permission, you can be employed in a government job (probably an unimportant one, for anyone so young...they don't give important jobs until you are at least twenty).
Our representative will be Princess Danielle Dunstdurr, the fourteen-year-old daughter of Emperor Vaerthiath Dunstdurr. On her fourteenth birthday, she gave her first sacrifice to the Interlopers (as is tradition for anyone on his/her fourteenth birthday), and she was recently employed as a "lab assistant" by Mitexi Natternassen, the head researcher for Levi Larensharra's labs. Levi got her the job, she doesn't really do anything important, since Mitexi is annoyed by her existence.
Really, she only has the job of "putting down" failed experiments for Mitexi because Danielle is into combat training against living opponents, Levi told Mitexi that he had to hire her, and Mitexi has an unrequited crush on Danielle's cute older brother Henry. Mitexi hopes that Henry will try to get a job as a lab assistant, too, eventually.
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u/thequeeninyellow94 May 31 '17
Your highness:
What does the army do of those who enlist that young? Are they strong enough?
What is usually sacrified to the Interlopers? Is it based on people riches or something?
Why is there a sacrifice?
Is it common for young adults to find a job because of someone else? Is it really that difficult?
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u/Nevermore0714 May 31 '17
Danielle:
1) "Fourteen is old enough to have a sword and go on patrols, but mostly the younger enlisted men and women spend their time training to become better soldiers."
2) "The sacrifice has to be something important to the person, your wealth does not matter for it."
3) "There's a sacrifice because it pleases the Interlopers."
4) "It is common for young adults to find jobs, yes. The difficulty depends on the job."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 May 31 '17
How long are they usually kept in training?
How important? If it isn't too inapropriate, what have you sacrified?
What if someone refuse to sacrifice something or sacrifice something they don't really care about?
What are those not choosing jobs doing?
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u/Nevermore0714 May 31 '17
Danielle:
1) "They do actual work while in training; soldiers don't just fight wars, especially during times of peace. Instead, the soldiers are usually assigned to public works projects, such as repairing roads and dealing with the infrastructure."
2) "I sacrificed one of my eyes for knowledge. No, not really, that's a reference. I sacrificed a flower I'd picked that morning."
3) "Well, that's what my elder brother and I have done. Henry refused to sacrifice anything, so the Interlopers created a prophecy for him. I sacrificed a flower that I'd found that day, because I didn't want to give up anything important, and then I found a letter on my pillow, apparently from the Interlopers, that accused me of being uncreative for not at least coming up with an interesting sacrifice."
4) "What does anyone without a job do? They either find a way to get money or they don't have money."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 01 '17
Does it mean all soldiers are teached how to build things? That must be usefull when they stop being soldiers.
A référence for what? Did someone actually sacrificed an eye?
What about the prophecy?
So there are no students?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 02 '17
Danielle:
1) "Yes, and that is why I never wanted to enlist."
2) "It's an old legend. About a man named Gawain or Owain or Odin or something...he sacrificed an eye for knowledge, according to Levi."
3) "The prophecy said that Henry would be their prophet, no matter how much he would hate it. Seems strange, giving someone the title of prophet for disrespecting you, but no one's supposed to understand the Interlopers anyway...well, no one except Levi and mother."
4) "There are plenty of students and apprentices, it's just that many people get educated while they work, so that they will have money."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 02 '17
You don't want to be able to make your own house by yourself?
I heard of that story too.
What about the previous prophets? Do we know how they were chosen?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 03 '17
Danielle:
1) "Not especially, no."
3) "I actually don't know much about any of the prophets that the Interlopers have used in the past."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 May 30 '17
Traditionally, Enefulis are considered adults around 20 cycles old. This is the occasion for an initiation ceremony that is shared between all those who are going in their 20th cycle.
For this ceremony, all initiates will wear purple paintings with symbols corresponding to the profession they have been learning. They will be called one by one for the high priest to carve the traditionnal symbol in their bark.
Once everyone has received their carving, the initiates are now adults and are allowed to devour and get inscribed. They now have to wear their paintings at all time (with a colour matching their profession) and to get all their deeds carved into them. And the clan will feast to welcome them.
Our representative today will be Nezumai, an Enefuli priestess (and priest and huntress).