Islander

"You didn't think that you were all in Maecodia, did you? Oh, it's true that this is the only continent to find free humans, but not only do you have cousins in bondage on Shelor, but you also scattered to just about every island on the ocean. Human wayfinders have infested more islands than rats have." ~Abide Baht Mig, of Abide and Seak's Bizarre Bazaar

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Huhana Rehipeti Wa Terere Waewai Kingi Mami Hariwana Pianga Pikari Wa Witika Uruau Uri Kino Aperahama Taimana Hariwana Taiomi

Masculine names

Okiara Pihopa Eti Eketone Tipene Nopera Nahi Petera Hori Akarana Paipau Raharuhi Puta Taneti Anaru Pekama Natana Kawhena Eteka Wati

Family names

Islanders live in small tribes, which only ever have one or two clans in them. They rarely go by family names.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Islanders tend to speak Common and the mainstay language of whatever the nearest continent is. A few especially isolated islands have replaced their knowledge of common with languages based on primordial.

Culture and cultural heritage

Islanders came from Shelor in waves. Some came from Seaudyr more recently. They were refugees, or explorers, or simply colonizers. They usually trade freely with the surrounding islands and the nearest continent, so they pick up bits and pieces of culture from their neighbors.

Common Etiquette rules

Islanders believe in a concept of perdurence. They believe that if you start a journey for a purpose, that purpose should never change. If they arrive at an island to discuss a trading of goods, they will not decide to make war on the island's tribe if they arrive and see them as weak. For that journey, they are a traders. Likewise, setting sail to another island in order to conduct a raid will not turn into a diplomatic meeting if they are greeted with high walls or unexpected monsters. They will either conduct the raid, or turn back in defeat.

Common Dress code

Islanders dress in whatever materials are most common on their island. The nature of this clothing and how much it covers up varies greatly from tribe to tribe; one might find naked tribesmen on one island, only to sail to the next and find canvas toga-wearing gentry on the next.

Art & Architecture

Islanders generally prefer simple homes, or at least homes practical to their needs. A love of nature is ingrained in what little culture they have, so homes will sport large apertures to allow in sunlight and the materials will be collected locally.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Islanders have little in the way of shared beliefs. Their relative isolation between the scattered islands make for a diverse culture that can barely be considered one culture at all, rather a spectrum or rainbow incorporating their nearest neighbors' customs and beliefs but ignoring the ones farther away.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When a child is born, the whole tribe will board their rafts and sail to the tribe that produced the other parent. When they arrive, they will celebrate with feasting and dancing. Falling in love at one of these parties is supposed to produce a blessed marriage.

Coming of Age Rites

Islanders don't engage in the Becoming. They have a varied set of rituals for their coming of age, but most of the time it involves a celebration and their first tattoo.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Islanders bury their dead at sea. Traditionally, they will build small, special boats out of dry reed doused in alcohol and push them out to sea, lighting them on fire as they do.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Islanders tend to have dusky, smooth skin, the men rarely sport beards, and both genders favor intricate tattoos. Some tribes eschew the tattoos, preferring instead natural beauty.

Gender Ideals

Men are meant to be big, meaty, and cocky. Women are meant to be small, bold, quick-witted, and diplomatic.

Courtship Ideals

Tribes vote on potential matches. Ideally, two suitors will meet, fall madly in love, and petition their respective tribes. The women in those tribes will meet and negotiate dowries, decide which tribe gains a citizen, and how long the post-marriage peace will last.