The First Cry
The First Cry is what the The Small Folk of the Expedition call the day of their birth. It is a joyous day for friends and family, so much so that it is not uncommon that the parents invite a friend or family member to be part of the birth.
Being a midwife among The Small Folk of the Expedition is quite an honor. It is a position of respect, and only given to Small Folk known for their honesty and integrity. These qualities are important to uphold the standards of The First Cry ritual.
For the The Small Folk of the Expedition the most important part of The First Cry, apart from the obvious wish for a healthy child, is to ensure their child receives a last name. It is up to the midwife to ensure this happens according to tradition. If something goes wrong, it means a lifetime of bad luck for the child.
It is widely believed that if the parents don't give their child the last name, or if they try to somehow break the rules of The First Cry, the child will be cursed by misfortune for the entirety of their life.
Once the child has been delivered, it is expected to cry. This is what The Small Folk of the Expedition refers to as The First Cry. The mother and the midwife will tend to the child until it stops crying. The midwife determines when the baby has stopped and will announce it to all who are present.
Once it has been determined that the baby has stopped crying, it is time to give it a last name. The child's last name can only be the name of any object within the room. If the birth is outdoors, it is the name of any object within sight.
To grant the child its last name, any person present can point to an object and speak out the name. No matter who does it first, it will be the last name the child receive. The Midwife ensures that this rule is upheld, even if a family member makes a joke and points to seemingly ridiculous items, the midwife will ensure that it counts. This is also a good reason to only invite friends or family that you know you can trust.
Some families bring items of beauty, or items with pretty names to the birth so that their child may receive a meaningful or pretty name.
The Midwife
The birth itself proceeds just like most other humanoid races. A midwife is present, to coach the mother, and handle any unforeseen issues.Being a midwife among The Small Folk of the Expedition is quite an honor. It is a position of respect, and only given to Small Folk known for their honesty and integrity. These qualities are important to uphold the standards of The First Cry ritual.
For the The Small Folk of the Expedition the most important part of The First Cry, apart from the obvious wish for a healthy child, is to ensure their child receives a last name. It is up to the midwife to ensure this happens according to tradition. If something goes wrong, it means a lifetime of bad luck for the child.
It is widely believed that if the parents don't give their child the last name, or if they try to somehow break the rules of The First Cry, the child will be cursed by misfortune for the entirety of their life.
The Lastname
In order for a child to be eligible for the last name, it must have a first name. Because of this, the parents have decided on a name for each gender beforehand.Once the child has been delivered, it is expected to cry. This is what The Small Folk of the Expedition refers to as The First Cry. The mother and the midwife will tend to the child until it stops crying. The midwife determines when the baby has stopped and will announce it to all who are present.
Once it has been determined that the baby has stopped crying, it is time to give it a last name. The child's last name can only be the name of any object within the room. If the birth is outdoors, it is the name of any object within sight.
To grant the child its last name, any person present can point to an object and speak out the name. No matter who does it first, it will be the last name the child receive. The Midwife ensures that this rule is upheld, even if a family member makes a joke and points to seemingly ridiculous items, the midwife will ensure that it counts. This is also a good reason to only invite friends or family that you know you can trust.
Some families bring items of beauty, or items with pretty names to the birth so that their child may receive a meaningful or pretty name.
My name is Milo ... Milo Bench!Afterward, she verifies the name, by ensuring the item is present and the correct name for it was used. Once done, she will announce the full name of the child, at which point The First Cry ritual is concluded. The name is now set in stone for the rest of the child's life.
My dad brought a gold pact to my birth. I was supposed to be named Milo Goldcoin but luckily my uncle Splint had a great sense of humor and managed to point at a bench and yell before anyone else.
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Milo Bench
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Suna Sand
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