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mermaids in space babble
Found this site, and since it's geared toward fantasy obviously not everything is relevant, but it's still helping me define some interesting world-building background stuff.
Arts and Entertainment
What is the status of the various arts (dance, music, theater, etc.) in this society? Are artists revered or mistrusted?
As they are nomadic and only travel with the bare essentials, they don't have theater per se, but they do sometimes act out tales and legends; it's more common that one person will act for several roles though. They tend to blend dance, music and theater; they're on a pectrum, not exactly separate. Those are highly valued because they pass on information and history, but also because they provide a much-needed source of distraction, one that doesn't need you to lug around heavy and awkward things.
I suspect there are some plays that can only be done while around some types of seaweed, as it provides the necessary wigs or disguises for specific roles. Also, they would act underwater, since they can give emotional impressions and use shorthand hand signals underwater, and tell tales out of water, perhaps even on beaches -- beaches are in-between places and more geared toward sacred history than funny things.
They wouldn't have much in the way of visual arts -- they might braid each other's hair, and make bracelets and necklaces and belts which can be extremely involved, but they don't write or paint or do sculptures.
Who supports the arts? Which arts are most highly valued and why?
Everyone supports theatre/tales because they lead a stressful life and need a way to bond and relax together.
Are there permanent theaters or concert halls for performing arts? If so, who owns and runs them? Are there also traveling troupes?
Nope. No permanent structures. Perhaps with every yearly clan meeting there is an exchange of plays and stories, and they might get a little competitive in a positive way over that, who tells the best stories.
What do people at various levels of society do for fun?
Tell stories, play agility games, play catch, race each other, braid each other's hair, socialize, massages, oral/manual sex (which they don't really consider sex. It's just a fun thing to do with friends. vaginal sex makes babies, and therefore it's only for the pod leader and his mates.) Also play I Spy for hours on end, which is just as fucking annoying for them as for us.
Also make up hand signals with close friends that other people supposedly cannot read, so they can have private discussions even in the middle of a pod of telepathic peers.
Can magic be used in the arts and if so, how -- paint that glows, pictures that move, flutes that play themselves, etc.? Is there a separate branch of purely magical art, like illusions?
No magic. They've got telepathy, which, yes, can be used quite skillfully to evoke emotions, impressions, and even visual images for the most gifted.
What sports or pastimes are common (hawking, hunting, skiing, baseball)? Which ones take skill, money, and/or leisure time?
No privileges here! They all get to play I Spy and I Can So Jump Higher Than You Can, Mister Hotshot.
-------------------------
Calendar
Is there a single, generally accepted calendar (including time measurement) or do different countries or peoples or races have different ones?
There are no countries or separate races between the mermaids. They all base themselves on the sun and moons.
How is the day divided into smaller time units? What are they (Hour of the Lark, Sunrise Bell, Nones, etc.)? Are the names relevant to anything? Is the length of an hour fixed, or does it vary depending on changes in the length of the day as the seasons change?
There are three moons; one has about one and a half rotations around the planet a day and the other one is four times as fast so it crosses the sky six times a day. They don't count by hours, rather by the number of passes of the moons in the sky and how high and full they are. The names are something like Matron crescent in zenith or third Girl-child ascendant.
What are the names of months, and how many days are there in each? How many days in a week/week-like-period? Months in a year? Are there leap years? If so, who keeps track?
They don't name the months, just the seasons. Everyone is good at keeping rough track, but the priestess of the pod, or their older member (often a woman), keeps closer track.
Which days are general holidays or festival times? What do they celebrate? Are there any that are only celebrated in particular countries, cities, or regions?
Eclipses, partial or complete. Having three moons it happens rather often. They celebrate by not killing their neighbors. >___>
What event(s) do people use to date years? Is it a single occurrence (the creation of the world, the end of the Great War, the invention of atomic power, etc.), or are events dated based on recurring things (the 12th year of Tiberius' reign, the 300th year of the Han Dynasty)?
Volcano eruption and tsunamis, mostly. They're frequent enough. they don't have a really precise chronology, it's all "three years before the Dragon's Scales sank into the sea, which was twenty years after Blahblahblahblah." Of course records are different between pods.
How do people tell what time it is? Are there clocks, watches, sundials, etc., or do people have to listen for the bells from the castle or church, or do they just eyeball the sun?
They watch the sky. they get rather precise actually.
Are there any days that are considered "outside the year"--like Mardi Gras? How did they originate?
Triple eclipses are holy days and what you do on those days doesn't have consequences. (by which i mean you're not punished for it openly. But if you kill some guy expect your pod to leave without you and let you manage on your own. but anything else, go wild. cheating on the pod leader is a common pastime. >___>)
-------------------------
Crime and the Legal System
What are considered normal and legal ways of gathering evidence and determining guilt? Is torture allowed? Truth spells? Are arbitrary judgements by the lord or landowner allowed, or is there a standard that they are supposed to follow?
Frankly, a pod is a dictatorship where the pod leader is judge and often executioner. And sometimes he doesn't bother using the rest of the adults as jury. It depends on how personally benevolent and fair-minded he is, so it can depend widely. He can rely on others' testimony, or basic logic ( X is dead and he was alone with Y, therefore it must be Y.) He can in theory use his telepathy to force his way in the accused person's mind and discover the truth, but 1) it only works if the other guy is weaker in mindspeech and 2) it's a huge breech of privacy and is utterly abhorrent to a lot of merpeople, so it would only be acceptable in cases of child rape or the like, otherwise the pod might be tempted to revolt. They're conditioned at a young age not to go poking their noses in each other's head and have this expectation that they at least have privacy there, since they have to live all together.
If someone doesn't like the judgement he receives in court, is there anyone he can appeal to, like the Emperor or the Supreme Court?
Nope. If the leader decides, then that's the way it is.
Are there laws forbidding certain types of people (peasants, wizards, priests, women) from carrying arms? Are there laws requiring certain people to be skilled with certain weapons, as England for some centuries required yeomen to be proficient with the longbow?
All males are trained more seriously with weapons, but everyone knows how to handle a spear and a knife. They have to, for survival. Probably other kinds of weapons, but I have to figure out what would work underwater.
What things are considered truly serious crimes and why? (Example: a trade-oriented culture might consider counterfeiting a death-penalty crime; in a place where life is cheap, murder might be something that only results in a small fine.)
Mind-reading others without their permission is very serious. Matings between the wives and one of the non-authorized beta males results at best in a beating. Mating with any person who was born within the pod is expressely forbidden, even if they're at an age where they'd be old enough to be wives -- as long as they're in their birth pod, they're children.
Theft isn't really an issue because most things belong to the pod, not to a specific person. Weapons belong to one person, since not having the weapon you know best could mean your death. Music instruments as well, somewhat, since it's good for the whole pod if the person who has them can actually use them -- so they're more of a "it's yours to play with if you can handle it" and shared between the smaller group of people with the ability. Pretty shells and jewelry don't belong to one person.
What are the punishments for serious vs. minor crimes? Are there prisons, or are people punished and released? Are there degrees of punishment--branding vs. cutting off ears vs. cutting off a hand vs. decapitation--or do they just hang everybody?
Loud and public talking-to, spanking, beating, shunning (various levels and lengths), scarring as a warning to others, banishment, death.
I suspect they could cut off an ear, but not a hand; the guy'd bleed out since they can't cauterize it or let it heal in a dry place. >_>;;
Are there lawyers or advocates? Who can afford them? Who trains and/or certifies them?
People can be defended by one of the elder members of the pod, but if everyone is pissed at them then they're on their own. they're not entitled to someone to plead their case.
Are people guilty until proven innocent, innocent until proven guilty, or does it depend on the mood the lord is in when the case comes in front of him?
Definitely depends on the mood of the pod leader.
Are there judges other than the lord/king or landowner? (...) Is "mob justice" common? Approved of or disapproved of?
Nope, and yes, approved. If someone manages to get a mob at them, then it's expected that he dies -- even if he turned out not guilty. he was a divisive influence and must have said or done SOMETHING to piss off so many people -- at least that's the general view.
Are highwaymen, muggers, bandits, or pirates common or rare? What sorts of crimes would the average citizen be likely to run across during his/her lifetime?
XD They're all pirates.
How are alleged criminals treated before/after their convictions? Do the police/military/city guard make a practice of roughing up suspects, or is this frowned upon?
Depends on the atmosphere in the pod and the attitude of the leader. It's kind of understood if it happens.
-------------------------
Daily Life
How do people feel about foreigners? Non-humans? How ready are they to accept different ideas? How cosmopolitan are they?
They're wary, scared, contemptuous. Not really ready.
How much social mobility is there? Is it easy or hard for a person born a peasant to advance to the middle class, or for a middle class person to advance to the upper class or nobility? How much resistance would there be? Would such a person ever be accepted socially?
There aren't many classes, and they're gender-segregated as well. Drifter, beta male, second in command, pod leader. Drifter, wife, (favorite wife), matron. That's pretty much it. Upward mobility is when you kill your pod leader and take over, or create your own pod, or become the leader's favorite, or manage to get old enough.
What do people in general look like? Would a blonde (red-head, brunette) stand out in a crowd? Someone 5' tall? 7' tall? Do non-humans?
Mostly caucasian-ish, but with extremely vivid hair and skin colors. Those vary a lot, and due to their extreme genetic mixing there isn't really a type linked to a specific area.
In what ways does furniture design reflect the customs of people (example: beds with bed-curtains for privacy in medieval keeps where servants wandered through rooms without warning; chaise lounges as common furniture in a society where people are accustomed to recline rather than sit, etc.)?
They don't have any. :D they sleep on beds of floating bubble-like seaweed that they must braid and change regularly because once it's uprooted it dies in a few days. they sometimes construct light rafts but those are for children; the storms would make building any bigger dangerous and not that practical in the long run.
How do people cope with various disasters--fire, floods, volcanoes, plague, etc.? How common are such disasters?
Fire is obviously not a problem. XD They're good at reading the signs, and have routine responses to tsunamis and volcanos. Plague, now, they tend to drift off alone to die. but of course people who see lonely young women wouldn't think twice about them possibly being sick before going and picking them up, which can contaminate them in turn.
How early do people get up in the morning in the city? Country? Are clocks common, or do people tell time by the sun or by listening for the church bells?
The adults sleep in shifts to keep watch. they move the most in the morning and evening when the sun's glare is weakest, and when there are clouds in the sky.
-------------------------
Gestures
Are gestures and body language in this society generally subtle, or not? Do people talk with their hands, or is that considered vulgar?
They have sign language for underwater work, which they underline with body language, both scripted and not. They're really good at reading body language even when the person isn't consciously communicating.
What gestures are insulting? What do they mean? Do some gestures differ in meaning depending on the culture or time (example: the American "V" for victory sign, which became the peace sign, is/was highly insulting in Europe)?
Good question, gotta figure that out. i'm sure they have a ton of hand insults and home-brewed dialects.
What are the different ways of showing respect (bowing, saluting, etc.)? To whom is one expected to show respect--one's elders, superiors in rank, social superiors, teachers, priests, etc.?
Nods, more or less deep. when you're floating in water it doesn't change much. Not meeting the eyes -- that's a challenge if you are strangers. there are greetings for strangers but people in a pod don't really greet each other because they're always together. if some leave on a hunt for longer than expected people will be waiting for them and might hug them in relief or congratulate them.
-------------------------
Greeting and Meeting.
How did the greeting gesture originate (example: shaking hands to prove one's weapon hand was empty)?
Men who don't know each other don't touch each other precidely because they can't trust the other guy isn't going to kill them. When it's a triple eclipse and they're introduced on one of the meeting places (usually around volcanos, in sacred waters) they grasp each other's forearm so they're too close for spears and if they go at it with knives there's a good chance it would be a mutual death.
Is there a difference between the greeting offered to an equal and that offered to a superior or inferior? Between that offered a man or a woman? (cf. the various levels of curtsey) Between that offered a human vs. a non-human?
Men hold each other's forearms. Women hold wrists. Men and women aren't supposed to touch each other. The asking person or less dominant person holding her palms up, and the other resting her wrists on offered hands and clasping the asking person's wrists back. If they want to prove they're really coming in peace they also cross their/each other's arms/hands, because it's an awkward way to hold that leaves you kinda tangled up in each other.
Is there a way of changing a greeting gesture to make it insulting?
Facial expression. Context. But most of the time they'll just refuse to greet. they're very blunt.
When meeting someone for the first time, how are they greeted--wave, handshake, bow, some other gesture? Does this differ if one already knows the person? If you see someone you like on the far side of the street, how do you acknowledge them?
Depends on the circumstances. Drifters have to stay back from the pod, then they're encircled by the men and the pod leader comes and asks at spearpoint for his intentions. Then if he's satisfied and wants the guy around there's one-handed wrist-clasping with name exchange, and a trial period and blahblah rituals. if you meet someone out in the ocean that you don't want to fight, you nod, and if you have something to trade you make the hand signal for it. otherwise you just swim your own way. if you don't know them you hightail it outta here.
How are two people who have not met before introduced to each other? What is the order of precedence when there are several people of differing sex, social status, or race/species present who must all be introduced to each other?
loner in a new pod: Depends if the newcomer is male or female. Male, it goes from pod leader to beta male, then matronly females, and the new guy isn't supposed to get close to the rest or the kids at first; he'll probably learn their names just by hanging around. Female, pod leader first then matron and women and children, and she's not supposed to talk to the guys at first, same thing. It can vary a lot from pod to pod though.
triple-eclipse festivals, the pod leader and right hand man and matron greet others of same status as a team... after that it's a free for all.
Are there people or beings who are never introduced to each other? Are there customs involving the way in which someone is named when being introduced ?
Men and two-tails never officially meet. And mostly just name, son-daughter of, and identifying nicknames.
and, that's enough for today. x_x i did most of it on the fly, so i might be contradicting myself from what i said before or saying stupid stuff, but it was still a fun exercise and i'm not even halfway done with the questions. XD;;;
Arts and Entertainment
What is the status of the various arts (dance, music, theater, etc.) in this society? Are artists revered or mistrusted?
As they are nomadic and only travel with the bare essentials, they don't have theater per se, but they do sometimes act out tales and legends; it's more common that one person will act for several roles though. They tend to blend dance, music and theater; they're on a pectrum, not exactly separate. Those are highly valued because they pass on information and history, but also because they provide a much-needed source of distraction, one that doesn't need you to lug around heavy and awkward things.
I suspect there are some plays that can only be done while around some types of seaweed, as it provides the necessary wigs or disguises for specific roles. Also, they would act underwater, since they can give emotional impressions and use shorthand hand signals underwater, and tell tales out of water, perhaps even on beaches -- beaches are in-between places and more geared toward sacred history than funny things.
They wouldn't have much in the way of visual arts -- they might braid each other's hair, and make bracelets and necklaces and belts which can be extremely involved, but they don't write or paint or do sculptures.
Who supports the arts? Which arts are most highly valued and why?
Everyone supports theatre/tales because they lead a stressful life and need a way to bond and relax together.
Are there permanent theaters or concert halls for performing arts? If so, who owns and runs them? Are there also traveling troupes?
Nope. No permanent structures. Perhaps with every yearly clan meeting there is an exchange of plays and stories, and they might get a little competitive in a positive way over that, who tells the best stories.
What do people at various levels of society do for fun?
Tell stories, play agility games, play catch, race each other, braid each other's hair, socialize, massages, oral/manual sex (which they don't really consider sex. It's just a fun thing to do with friends. vaginal sex makes babies, and therefore it's only for the pod leader and his mates.) Also play I Spy for hours on end, which is just as fucking annoying for them as for us.
Also make up hand signals with close friends that other people supposedly cannot read, so they can have private discussions even in the middle of a pod of telepathic peers.
Can magic be used in the arts and if so, how -- paint that glows, pictures that move, flutes that play themselves, etc.? Is there a separate branch of purely magical art, like illusions?
No magic. They've got telepathy, which, yes, can be used quite skillfully to evoke emotions, impressions, and even visual images for the most gifted.
What sports or pastimes are common (hawking, hunting, skiing, baseball)? Which ones take skill, money, and/or leisure time?
No privileges here! They all get to play I Spy and I Can So Jump Higher Than You Can, Mister Hotshot.
-------------------------
Calendar
Is there a single, generally accepted calendar (including time measurement) or do different countries or peoples or races have different ones?
There are no countries or separate races between the mermaids. They all base themselves on the sun and moons.
How is the day divided into smaller time units? What are they (Hour of the Lark, Sunrise Bell, Nones, etc.)? Are the names relevant to anything? Is the length of an hour fixed, or does it vary depending on changes in the length of the day as the seasons change?
There are three moons; one has about one and a half rotations around the planet a day and the other one is four times as fast so it crosses the sky six times a day. They don't count by hours, rather by the number of passes of the moons in the sky and how high and full they are. The names are something like Matron crescent in zenith or third Girl-child ascendant.
What are the names of months, and how many days are there in each? How many days in a week/week-like-period? Months in a year? Are there leap years? If so, who keeps track?
They don't name the months, just the seasons. Everyone is good at keeping rough track, but the priestess of the pod, or their older member (often a woman), keeps closer track.
Which days are general holidays or festival times? What do they celebrate? Are there any that are only celebrated in particular countries, cities, or regions?
Eclipses, partial or complete. Having three moons it happens rather often. They celebrate by not killing their neighbors. >___>
What event(s) do people use to date years? Is it a single occurrence (the creation of the world, the end of the Great War, the invention of atomic power, etc.), or are events dated based on recurring things (the 12th year of Tiberius' reign, the 300th year of the Han Dynasty)?
Volcano eruption and tsunamis, mostly. They're frequent enough. they don't have a really precise chronology, it's all "three years before the Dragon's Scales sank into the sea, which was twenty years after Blahblahblahblah." Of course records are different between pods.
How do people tell what time it is? Are there clocks, watches, sundials, etc., or do people have to listen for the bells from the castle or church, or do they just eyeball the sun?
They watch the sky. they get rather precise actually.
Are there any days that are considered "outside the year"--like Mardi Gras? How did they originate?
Triple eclipses are holy days and what you do on those days doesn't have consequences. (by which i mean you're not punished for it openly. But if you kill some guy expect your pod to leave without you and let you manage on your own. but anything else, go wild. cheating on the pod leader is a common pastime. >___>)
-------------------------
Crime and the Legal System
What are considered normal and legal ways of gathering evidence and determining guilt? Is torture allowed? Truth spells? Are arbitrary judgements by the lord or landowner allowed, or is there a standard that they are supposed to follow?
Frankly, a pod is a dictatorship where the pod leader is judge and often executioner. And sometimes he doesn't bother using the rest of the adults as jury. It depends on how personally benevolent and fair-minded he is, so it can depend widely. He can rely on others' testimony, or basic logic ( X is dead and he was alone with Y, therefore it must be Y.) He can in theory use his telepathy to force his way in the accused person's mind and discover the truth, but 1) it only works if the other guy is weaker in mindspeech and 2) it's a huge breech of privacy and is utterly abhorrent to a lot of merpeople, so it would only be acceptable in cases of child rape or the like, otherwise the pod might be tempted to revolt. They're conditioned at a young age not to go poking their noses in each other's head and have this expectation that they at least have privacy there, since they have to live all together.
If someone doesn't like the judgement he receives in court, is there anyone he can appeal to, like the Emperor or the Supreme Court?
Nope. If the leader decides, then that's the way it is.
Are there laws forbidding certain types of people (peasants, wizards, priests, women) from carrying arms? Are there laws requiring certain people to be skilled with certain weapons, as England for some centuries required yeomen to be proficient with the longbow?
All males are trained more seriously with weapons, but everyone knows how to handle a spear and a knife. They have to, for survival. Probably other kinds of weapons, but I have to figure out what would work underwater.
What things are considered truly serious crimes and why? (Example: a trade-oriented culture might consider counterfeiting a death-penalty crime; in a place where life is cheap, murder might be something that only results in a small fine.)
Mind-reading others without their permission is very serious. Matings between the wives and one of the non-authorized beta males results at best in a beating. Mating with any person who was born within the pod is expressely forbidden, even if they're at an age where they'd be old enough to be wives -- as long as they're in their birth pod, they're children.
Theft isn't really an issue because most things belong to the pod, not to a specific person. Weapons belong to one person, since not having the weapon you know best could mean your death. Music instruments as well, somewhat, since it's good for the whole pod if the person who has them can actually use them -- so they're more of a "it's yours to play with if you can handle it" and shared between the smaller group of people with the ability. Pretty shells and jewelry don't belong to one person.
What are the punishments for serious vs. minor crimes? Are there prisons, or are people punished and released? Are there degrees of punishment--branding vs. cutting off ears vs. cutting off a hand vs. decapitation--or do they just hang everybody?
Loud and public talking-to, spanking, beating, shunning (various levels and lengths), scarring as a warning to others, banishment, death.
I suspect they could cut off an ear, but not a hand; the guy'd bleed out since they can't cauterize it or let it heal in a dry place. >_>;;
Are there lawyers or advocates? Who can afford them? Who trains and/or certifies them?
People can be defended by one of the elder members of the pod, but if everyone is pissed at them then they're on their own. they're not entitled to someone to plead their case.
Are people guilty until proven innocent, innocent until proven guilty, or does it depend on the mood the lord is in when the case comes in front of him?
Definitely depends on the mood of the pod leader.
Are there judges other than the lord/king or landowner? (...) Is "mob justice" common? Approved of or disapproved of?
Nope, and yes, approved. If someone manages to get a mob at them, then it's expected that he dies -- even if he turned out not guilty. he was a divisive influence and must have said or done SOMETHING to piss off so many people -- at least that's the general view.
Are highwaymen, muggers, bandits, or pirates common or rare? What sorts of crimes would the average citizen be likely to run across during his/her lifetime?
XD They're all pirates.
How are alleged criminals treated before/after their convictions? Do the police/military/city guard make a practice of roughing up suspects, or is this frowned upon?
Depends on the atmosphere in the pod and the attitude of the leader. It's kind of understood if it happens.
-------------------------
Daily Life
How do people feel about foreigners? Non-humans? How ready are they to accept different ideas? How cosmopolitan are they?
They're wary, scared, contemptuous. Not really ready.
How much social mobility is there? Is it easy or hard for a person born a peasant to advance to the middle class, or for a middle class person to advance to the upper class or nobility? How much resistance would there be? Would such a person ever be accepted socially?
There aren't many classes, and they're gender-segregated as well. Drifter, beta male, second in command, pod leader. Drifter, wife, (favorite wife), matron. That's pretty much it. Upward mobility is when you kill your pod leader and take over, or create your own pod, or become the leader's favorite, or manage to get old enough.
What do people in general look like? Would a blonde (red-head, brunette) stand out in a crowd? Someone 5' tall? 7' tall? Do non-humans?
Mostly caucasian-ish, but with extremely vivid hair and skin colors. Those vary a lot, and due to their extreme genetic mixing there isn't really a type linked to a specific area.
In what ways does furniture design reflect the customs of people (example: beds with bed-curtains for privacy in medieval keeps where servants wandered through rooms without warning; chaise lounges as common furniture in a society where people are accustomed to recline rather than sit, etc.)?
They don't have any. :D they sleep on beds of floating bubble-like seaweed that they must braid and change regularly because once it's uprooted it dies in a few days. they sometimes construct light rafts but those are for children; the storms would make building any bigger dangerous and not that practical in the long run.
How do people cope with various disasters--fire, floods, volcanoes, plague, etc.? How common are such disasters?
Fire is obviously not a problem. XD They're good at reading the signs, and have routine responses to tsunamis and volcanos. Plague, now, they tend to drift off alone to die. but of course people who see lonely young women wouldn't think twice about them possibly being sick before going and picking them up, which can contaminate them in turn.
How early do people get up in the morning in the city? Country? Are clocks common, or do people tell time by the sun or by listening for the church bells?
The adults sleep in shifts to keep watch. they move the most in the morning and evening when the sun's glare is weakest, and when there are clouds in the sky.
-------------------------
Gestures
Are gestures and body language in this society generally subtle, or not? Do people talk with their hands, or is that considered vulgar?
They have sign language for underwater work, which they underline with body language, both scripted and not. They're really good at reading body language even when the person isn't consciously communicating.
What gestures are insulting? What do they mean? Do some gestures differ in meaning depending on the culture or time (example: the American "V" for victory sign, which became the peace sign, is/was highly insulting in Europe)?
Good question, gotta figure that out. i'm sure they have a ton of hand insults and home-brewed dialects.
What are the different ways of showing respect (bowing, saluting, etc.)? To whom is one expected to show respect--one's elders, superiors in rank, social superiors, teachers, priests, etc.?
Nods, more or less deep. when you're floating in water it doesn't change much. Not meeting the eyes -- that's a challenge if you are strangers. there are greetings for strangers but people in a pod don't really greet each other because they're always together. if some leave on a hunt for longer than expected people will be waiting for them and might hug them in relief or congratulate them.
-------------------------
Greeting and Meeting.
How did the greeting gesture originate (example: shaking hands to prove one's weapon hand was empty)?
Men who don't know each other don't touch each other precidely because they can't trust the other guy isn't going to kill them. When it's a triple eclipse and they're introduced on one of the meeting places (usually around volcanos, in sacred waters) they grasp each other's forearm so they're too close for spears and if they go at it with knives there's a good chance it would be a mutual death.
Is there a difference between the greeting offered to an equal and that offered to a superior or inferior? Between that offered a man or a woman? (cf. the various levels of curtsey) Between that offered a human vs. a non-human?
Men hold each other's forearms. Women hold wrists. Men and women aren't supposed to touch each other. The asking person or less dominant person holding her palms up, and the other resting her wrists on offered hands and clasping the asking person's wrists back. If they want to prove they're really coming in peace they also cross their/each other's arms/hands, because it's an awkward way to hold that leaves you kinda tangled up in each other.
Is there a way of changing a greeting gesture to make it insulting?
Facial expression. Context. But most of the time they'll just refuse to greet. they're very blunt.
When meeting someone for the first time, how are they greeted--wave, handshake, bow, some other gesture? Does this differ if one already knows the person? If you see someone you like on the far side of the street, how do you acknowledge them?
Depends on the circumstances. Drifters have to stay back from the pod, then they're encircled by the men and the pod leader comes and asks at spearpoint for his intentions. Then if he's satisfied and wants the guy around there's one-handed wrist-clasping with name exchange, and a trial period and blahblah rituals. if you meet someone out in the ocean that you don't want to fight, you nod, and if you have something to trade you make the hand signal for it. otherwise you just swim your own way. if you don't know them you hightail it outta here.
How are two people who have not met before introduced to each other? What is the order of precedence when there are several people of differing sex, social status, or race/species present who must all be introduced to each other?
loner in a new pod: Depends if the newcomer is male or female. Male, it goes from pod leader to beta male, then matronly females, and the new guy isn't supposed to get close to the rest or the kids at first; he'll probably learn their names just by hanging around. Female, pod leader first then matron and women and children, and she's not supposed to talk to the guys at first, same thing. It can vary a lot from pod to pod though.
triple-eclipse festivals, the pod leader and right hand man and matron greet others of same status as a team... after that it's a free for all.
Are there people or beings who are never introduced to each other? Are there customs involving the way in which someone is named when being introduced ?
Men and two-tails never officially meet. And mostly just name, son-daughter of, and identifying nicknames.
and, that's enough for today. x_x i did most of it on the fly, so i might be contradicting myself from what i said before or saying stupid stuff, but it was still a fun exercise and i'm not even halfway done with the questions. XD;;;
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I had to laugh, though. The trick is that the questions were based on establishing a civilization - and your mermaids aren't really civilized in that sense, period!
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Yeah, I noticed that, but it's still really useful to me. XD Lotsa questions I deleted though.
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.. if not you already know this stuff, have it sorted, whatever, ignore me totally ^^
This is handy! I might answer some of these to help with my own fantasy writings. ^^
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But I only know the tragedies... so erm... Medea, Electra, they are my favs, as recommendation, and I'm fairly sure they've been translated into French and English, so whatever language you prefer. ^^ (Gawd I hope so... >_<)
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Also, there's an unclosed tag somewhere around Daily Life.
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Oops. Fixed, thank you. ^^
Nitpickiness
Wouldn't a cut-off ear bleed profusely, because it's on the head, which has a shit ton of veins and high blood content for the brain? I'm not an anatomist, but it would just make sense. I mean, if small cuts on your face bleed worse than a huge gash on your finger, wouldn't a cut-off somethingorother bleed more profusely as well?
Otherwise, I'm quite fascinated. I really like seeing how you're going through the process. ^_______________^ <3
Re: Nitpickiness
thankies~
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Bandaging the wound is probably equal in awkwardness for both. Hm. >.>
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Why can't it be cauterized?
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Victory sign...
As far as I know, however, the Victory/Peace sign meant the same thing in Europe (or at least in Britain). It's when you turn it around so that your palm is facing you instead of the other person that it becomes offensive, isn't it? Because when you turn your palm to face you, you're basically doing an equivalent of 'flipping the bird' (telling someone to f*** off)?
Like I said, correct me if I'm wrong. I'm just a bit curious about this now. lol.
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Out of interest, have you ever come across the story background checklist? (here-> http://kc-anathema.livejournal.com/1150788.html ). It looks to be the same general thing, but there may be one or two useful bits.