Post by Dread Gnat on Jun 21, 2012 14:24:55 GMT -5
Flight of Sparrow: The flight of the Sparrow is a coming of age, test of adulthood. During this trial, young Effendal are challenged in a test assigned to them and others of their group by the elders of the various tribes involved.
Though death and hardship is known to happen, the tests are designed to push the children to their limits, and force them to overcome obstacles, without actually harming them. When something unfortunate does happen, it is the elders who take the blame and dishonor for not understanding the children's limits and designing a test beyond their skill.
Failure: Sometimes, even when a test is fairly balanced, some, or all of the children do not rise to the challenge and they are judged to have failed their test by the elders. This is the case also when adults must intervene to save the children from dangers. In a case where a child has failed their test, though they, their family, and tribe, do lose some glory, there is no punishment. The child simply is expected to train harder, and will compete with the next batch of children when the elders feel that the child is ready.
Success: Upon success of the flight of Sparrows, the elders of the tribes involved confer. They discuss at length the actions that each child took to achieve success. This success is not simply on the child's actions, but what motivated the actions, and how they interacted with others.
Once the elders are done speaking, they present a name to each child. Each name represents the child's story during the Flight of the Sparrows: A bold and clever warrior might be given "The Clever Wolf" a kind healer might be given "The Merciful Voice" and so forth. At times the name given is not a name of honor. Should a child do poorly, and should the elders be cruel, the name given might refer to their mistakes during the trial. Some unfortunate names might be; "The Cowardly River," "The Weeping Lion," "The Tripping Stone," "The Sluggish Beaver," and so forth.
Honors: When an Effendal reaches prominence within their society, their given name is elevated to greater renown. If their given name is already fitting, it is kept, but now more frequently used in song and story. If a name was shameful, a new name may replace the old, normally relating to the past name, but showing a positive progression from it. For instance: "The Cowardly River," after doing something heroic or rising to considerable standing may come to be known as "The Cunning River," "The Weeping Lion" may be known as "The Bold Heart," "The Tripping Stone" might be known as "The Mountain Stone" etc.
Though death and hardship is known to happen, the tests are designed to push the children to their limits, and force them to overcome obstacles, without actually harming them. When something unfortunate does happen, it is the elders who take the blame and dishonor for not understanding the children's limits and designing a test beyond their skill.
Failure: Sometimes, even when a test is fairly balanced, some, or all of the children do not rise to the challenge and they are judged to have failed their test by the elders. This is the case also when adults must intervene to save the children from dangers. In a case where a child has failed their test, though they, their family, and tribe, do lose some glory, there is no punishment. The child simply is expected to train harder, and will compete with the next batch of children when the elders feel that the child is ready.
Success: Upon success of the flight of Sparrows, the elders of the tribes involved confer. They discuss at length the actions that each child took to achieve success. This success is not simply on the child's actions, but what motivated the actions, and how they interacted with others.
Once the elders are done speaking, they present a name to each child. Each name represents the child's story during the Flight of the Sparrows: A bold and clever warrior might be given "The Clever Wolf" a kind healer might be given "The Merciful Voice" and so forth. At times the name given is not a name of honor. Should a child do poorly, and should the elders be cruel, the name given might refer to their mistakes during the trial. Some unfortunate names might be; "The Cowardly River," "The Weeping Lion," "The Tripping Stone," "The Sluggish Beaver," and so forth.
Honors: When an Effendal reaches prominence within their society, their given name is elevated to greater renown. If their given name is already fitting, it is kept, but now more frequently used in song and story. If a name was shameful, a new name may replace the old, normally relating to the past name, but showing a positive progression from it. For instance: "The Cowardly River," after doing something heroic or rising to considerable standing may come to be known as "The Cunning River," "The Weeping Lion" may be known as "The Bold Heart," "The Tripping Stone" might be known as "The Mountain Stone" etc.