Society

The Greater Faunid Society

As Faunids developed as a species, a need for a common language arose. Though many Faunid regions have more distinct dialects and local linguistic quirks, there’s a universal dialect that developed naturally due to a reliance on travel and barter. Local dialects are never so different that someone from a different area Atalav could not understand it, but because of regional specialties and different levels of isolation, as with all languages, Faunids’ language developed somewhat separately once communities began to pop up in separate Atalav regions.

While nearly all Faunids are capable of traditional birth, older individuals consider this practice to be taboo as fauns conceived this way are “less pure” than those created solely by the goddess Herne. No one knows how great of a role Herne plays in the creation of traditionally birthed fauns, if any. Despite this, only fauns of matching subspecies (such as merfaun x merfaun) can have a traditional mating and birth, while mixed subspecies couples can opt for adoption or Fawning through Herne.

Through fawning, two Faunids offer up a gift each for Herne, and in return are blessed with a fawn crafted in the image of the two parents. Fawning is celebrated each year during the month of February and is the most typical way for Faunids to make additions to their families. Fawns are only ever created during Fawning, as this is when the spirits begin to stir due to shifting lunar activities, drawing them closer to Atalav’s plane of existence. Alongside the birth of fawns, some regions host special events to both honor Herne and to greet the spirits from the Middling Plane, who now return to Atalav as fawns.

Corrupted Faunids are not able to participate in Fawning as their link to the goddess Herne has been permanently severed. 

Faunidae’s most significant trait is their unnatural intelligence, which developed in the absence of previous advanced societies after the world ‘reset’ post-Blissen. This intelligence was only furthered as the world’s continents collided once more into a new Pangea, and Faunids were able to gather in larger groups and over vast areas, each with their own set of conditions for survival. Their dexterous hands were also a great benefit during this evolutionary period as it allowed them to accomplish a great amount of delicate work that would have otherwise been impossible, advancing them past many other species that exist alongside them.

Their hands are considered a gift from the goddess Herne, whereas their feathers (the second trait that separates them from pre-Blissen species of deer) do not have any particular origin attributed to them. It is not unlikely that due to the tumultuous natural environment during Faunidae’s early existence, some qualities evolved in response, only to become less needed for survival as Faunids (due to their intelligence) were able to establish secure communities, and now remain more as an aesthetic echo of past forms than serving a variety of functions. Others believe that feathers are an additional gift from Herne meant to serve as identification, alongside different hair types, especially if, like in the past where communities were not intermingling as frequently as they do now, some feather colors and patterns were more common in specific areas.

Compared to standard cervids, Faunids are incapable of shedding their antlers. As they go through life, they will have velveted antlers that grow until maturity, at which point the velvet will fall off and reveal their adult antlers. Damaged velvet, improper diet, and careless handling all affect the individual’s antlers. Some Faunids  will have a minor celebration whenever an individual’s antlers have molted, as this is considered a milestone in one’s life since antlers will remain unchanged at that point onwards.

Throughout the year, feathers continuously molt and shed in order to replace broken or damaged ones. The process can be uncomfortable and sometimes changes a Faunid’s feathers, like length and color. Some Faunids respond to the natural environment, resulting in seasonal coats, changing colors depending on the time of the year. However, seasonal coats are not typical, and are considered a remnant of a time prior to Faunid civilization, serving functions that are no longer necessary in Faunid society.

Community Life & Technologies

During the early days of Faunid communities, there were fewer of them, and all of them experienced very significant restrictions on resources. Before Atalav was more populated, most Faunids lived in one of four areas: the Western Coast (Makino and part of the Salmon Coast), the area between the Bullran Cliffs and the Cold North, the South (the area surrounded Lavandul), and the southeast islands of Inaling. As time passed and these groups interacted more and more, smaller towns began to pop up, which also made trading and travel easier, allowing these developing communities to bring more merchandise with them when journeying. 

As Atalav saw the establishment of more and more Faunid villages, the bartering system settled into itself, and a monetary system never developed. Because it is fairly easy to settle into an existing village as long as you are adequately prepared and have something worth bartering for, be it merchandise, services, or skills, Faunids are able to experience the many communities across Atalav and encourage continued exchange.

While there are some universal jobs such as tailors, metalsmiths, farmers, and woodworkers, most Faunid communities also have highly specialized occupations, for example: gardeners with extensive knowledge of local flora. Makino has several jobs related to the Rosen Forest that do not exist elsewhere, such as producing dye from the Rosen flora (a job reserved exclusively for those living in Makino) and lace production from the resulting dye has many designs you’ll find only in Makino. On the other hand, the Dry Plains have inspired several techniques for preserving food and the creation of wind-and-weather resistant fabrics and buildings, technology that the locals then brought elsewhere in exchange for employment. Like with Makino, many Lavandul residents are well-versed in farming and often find great opportunities outside of Lavandul as a result of their expertise, as capable farmers are always desired in Atalav. To imagine what Faunids might focus on in their respective regions beyond basic necessities, look no further than the environments of these communities.

Faunids’ respectful relationship with the natural environment imposes some restrictions on materials for their day-to-day lives, but not to the extent that community development is hindered. Resources such as paper, glass, leather, some crude metals, silk, limestone, salt, and similar basic resources are a staple, although their availability varies depending on your location.

Because Faunids exist in a society where one of the greatest crimes is exploitation, the retrieval and maintenance of resources is highly related to how much is needed for specific projects. While limestone might be available, it should not be carelessly mined and instead calculated as best as possible to meet requirements for a building or similar, and any excess should be repurposed either in the local community or brought to a region where limestone might be unavailable or more difficult to access for bartering. At the same time, if a large amount of silk was created in the limited time period that it can be made in Makino, that quantity will sustain the barter system until the next time the larvae cocoon. There is no universal way to determine what is excess and what is not, but all Faunid communities have developed their own ways of utilizing excess materials so that there is as little waste as possible. The existence of local production specialties also helps in maintaining this system; each region is highly aware of what their environment produces and seasonal shifts, and can care for it while resources are obtained so that it has time to recuperate. This means that sometimes a local specialty is unavailable for some time in intercommunal trade.

Clothing & Weaponry

While completely optional, clothing is readily available. Because of the mentioned restrictions on materials, cotton, silk, flax, wool, ramie, fur, and leather are typically used for clothing, but some regions choose to incorporate metal, bones, lace, or specific dyes in order to make more extravagant clothes. These are not as typical and often these additions require bartering with several different communities in order to achieve specific looks. All clothing is handsewn and requires a great amount of time and effort, making sewing a highly valued skill, extending beyond clothes, as well.

Like with clothing, some Faunids choose to create weaponry or protective gear with a variety of skills involved, be it metalworking or leathercraft. Favored items involve swords, daggers, dirks, bows, and similar, with bows being the most accessible. Faunids typically wear light defensive gear in their day-to-day, but stray from heavy armor, not only because it can be impractical, but also because of the many materials involved in creating it, the exception being those whose occupation involves protecting their respective communities. In these cases, larger weapon and sturdier armor is desired.

Life and Death