Social Structure

(Coming soon!)

Etiquette

It is rude to speak to someone while directly facing them, as this carries the connotation they are being viewed mainly via infrared, as prey would be. Individuals speaking in a one-on-one setting will sit or walk abreast. In a crowd, where it is hard to avoid accidentally facing one another, the front eyes may be kept closed. In stricter communities, the back eyes may be closed as well, or both front and back pairs may be closed during any conversation at all.

Youngsters that are unaccustomed to these manners may dramatically turn their head when speaking, so that their body can still face the direction of conversation.

(Image to come)

Naming Conventions

Inland Karraguls

Young Karraguls are not named until the day they are forced to drop to their knuckles permanently. This is also the point they are considered an adult by the community. Names are given by other members of the community based on environmental events; as they live on water, and are at the mercy of nature, it is considered a very important and worthy thing to take the name of. Some examples are:

• Algal Bloom
• Low Tide
• Many Fish
• Flash of White
• Heavy Air

Coastal Karraguls

On the other hand, coastal communities prefer to name youngsters the moment they hatch. They follow a similar system of environmental names, so clutchmates tend to share similar names and are easily identified.

Gender

THIS PAGE IS OUT OF DATE AND WILL BE REVAMPED SOON. Karraguls now have three sexes and a different gender system.

Since Karraguls have only one sex, their idea of gender has never been historically linked to it. Gender is assigned more to stages of life, and current reproductive roles. What humans might call a child is considered a gender to Karraguls, as is an elder. Adult Karraguls are agender for most of the year, only gaining a gender and being subject to certain roles and stereotypes during the mating season. Those that participate in mating, and those that protect resulting egg clutches are considered different genders, and this may change yearly basis for some individuals. Genders can thus be broadly defined as set or fluid, since some are intrinsically linked to age and cannot be changed, and others change depending on behaviour.

Set Genders

• Child - self-explanatory.
• Teenager - this gender is only found amoung inland Karraguls, as it is tied directly to their transition from bipedal to quadrupedal. They are almost venerated for the pain they endure, and there is widespread belief that they possess magic, to survive and come out stronger from such a dramatic change. Medicinepeople are either teenagers themselves, or request one to stay in their residence to borrow some of their magic.
• Guardian Elder - elder who spent their last season as a guardian. Seen as very patient and strong, but perhaps not very world-wise. Guardian elders are often assigned diplomatic positions.
• Mated Elder - elder who mated their last season. Seen as great dispensers of wisdom, and sought after for advice on major decisions.

Fluid Genders

• Guardian - Guardians are small groups of Karraguls that watch over the eggs until they hatch, but do not mate themselves. They are usually larger, fitter individuals who can fend off predators. Within guardians, there is also a distinction: those that remain guardians every year, and those that change genders annually. There are different stereotypes surrounding each group.
• Mated - Individuals that pair off to produce fertilised eggs, usually young adults. Seen as frivolous and immature.
• Non-mated - individuals who do not produce or guard eggs. Seen as very selfish and antisocial. Choosing not to mate is far from an issue in Karragul society, but refusing to help those who do is heavily frowned upon.