Udaian Pointing

In the continent of Udai, pointing is a gesture with great significance. However, its meaning among Korvians has changed heavily throughout time, and the way it is viewed now conveys a completely different message from its original intention, also influencing other cultures in the process.

The Finger's Meaning

Originally, Korvians did not have fingers, instead it is said they (as well as Avians) came from creatures with only wings and legs. Therefore, there were no fingers to point with. Instead, it was an open gesture of the wing, equivalent to an open palmed gesture towards something.

Croaker by Jarhed

Gesturing towards something with a finger (after they evolved to have fingers) was frowned upon, as many early fingered Korvians detested their lack of wings, as they could no longer fly. To point with a finger was to embrace the ground, and the Korvians sought only the heavens they came from.
As younger generations came about, rather rapidly due to the short lifespans of Korvians, this changed. Korvians did not have traditions of naming, and therefore children were only named by outsiders.
Therefore, a trend started. Youngsters began pointing at each other with fingers to address who they meant and who they were speaking to, forgoing the potential need for any personal signifier like a name. It did not come entirely from some outside force, but instead organically grew from the issues and limitations of Korvian cultures, combined with some slight external influence from Orcs.
The older generations believed this not to be a sign of developing culture, but instead a sign that their cultural heritage and biological identity was being lost on the younger generation. A panic started, that the morals of the youth were decaying and that if the wing gesture faded, what would be next? Would they name their children? Would they make peace with the Orcs or make attempts to reduce the poverty gap between the nobility and the poor commoners? Every suggestion was more revolting to the elders than the last. They tried to start movements banning it or telling their children to gesture with an open hand instead, but it backfired, with many Korvian youths rebelling and pointing even more than they had before.
Eventually, those old Korvians died, and the anti-pointing movement remained only with the extremely wealthy that were detached from modern society, or the poor on the outer fringes of Korvian society. Pointing was the way of the future, and the finger was always pointed forward towards progress.

Amukk by Jarhed

Orcish Pointing

This pointing fad was influenced heavily by the tradition of pointing among Orcs, who have no concept of traditional ideas of disrespect as the Korvians do, at least not when it comes to things like tablemanners and conversational etiquette.
To them, they happily point at anything that makes them happy, and anything that enrages them is pointed at to show allies what must be torn apart. Surprise is shown with an Orcish point, and most notably, Orcish greetings often begin from a distance, with two Orcs pointing at each other before rushing to embrace or grab each others hands.
From the Korvian youths pointing fad, the Orcs began to fear Korvians when they pointed, as Orcs felt it not to be a sign of warmth, but instead a threat. It seemed to them that the Korvians, often warmongers that attacked the Orcish people, were pointing at their next target if they pointed at an Orc, or to Korvians who were to be the next to attack if it were an ally Korvian. Either way, it terrified Orcs, and any Korvian pointing startled them into attacking in hopes of preemptively stopping an attack.

Mammen Pointing

On that same note, the Mammen merchants picked up pointing from the Korvian youths, using it as a way to quickly endear themselves to their customers. By pointing at these young, often wealthy Korvians, they were able to show them they cared about them and their culture.
In Ruzrugh, the city-state run by Mammen, pointing has taken on a different meaning as the merchants brought it over. As merchants pointed to their customers in Ruzrugh, it became a symbol that someone either wanted something from you or had something you might want. When someone is pointed at in Ruzrugh, or anywhere else a Mamman may be, they eagerly hope that they may be gifted or sold something.