RANKINGThough opinions are listened to equally, when it comes to splitting resources there does appear to be a noticeable hierarchy in who gets first pick.
The females being at the front of the line with alpha males close behind, and normal males get their share last. In the cases of an alpha female being present they take first pick almost every time. A Toskal can up their 'ranking' by perfecting a skill set. An example with hunting - a common ranked male who's bringing down food for the tribe consistently would bypass the lazier of the alpha males and get their resources at the same time as the females. The Toskal world is harsh and hard work will often pay off when it comes to climbing the Tribal ladder! Toskals groom their pelts daily to keep knots and tangles out, their mane will self groom. (if not heavy mane or static-less) Every so often alphas will sand their horns to remove rough patches and dirt that may accumulate in humid weather (swamp alphas especially) Nails file themselves down naturally for tree and cave dwelling Toskals, but other areas have to trim them every few weeks |
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MAIN RELIGIONAs night falls the Toskals deity rises, a great guardian spirit that protects and lights the way when vengeful spirits with their glowing eyes appear.
The Moon Many of the swamps inhabitants have highly reflective eyes like the Toskals, leading to their deep seated belief that the spirits of the dead possess the animals of the swamp, sometimes watching, sometimes to get revenge. Either way it's advised not to wander alone at night. The moon lights up the land though, showing the hiding 'spirits' to any Toskals nearby and lending them courage. Every month when the sky turns black (the new moon) an offering is presented of food and crafted items, this ensures that the moon spirit returns again. Light does many things, it burns and it blinds -- but it can guide the lost in even the darkest of nights. And it can also chase away the shadows of fear from a child's nightmare And it's to this loving and tender light that we give thanks. Heresey?But the Moon is not the only god that roams within the hearts and minds of Toskals. Many tribes and individuals have strayed and branched out in to other forms of worship. From worshipping the blazing ball of fire known as the Sun to worshipping the inky black shadows that make up Darkness. Toskals have continued to evolve and with that, so does their culture.
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THE RITE
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When a Toskal turns 8 they begin to feel the pull that will soon force them to leave their tribe, Toskals call this urge '- - - - ' (the Rite). Due to the dangerous land this is often the last time they are seen, and is both an important and solemn occasion.
The Toskal will leave with just basic supplies of food, water, flint, and any knowledge that the tribe could get them to learn while they were younger. With this they leave for any time between 3 and 12 years on average (longer times have been seen), only around 40% return. As return rates are so low many tribes act as if that the leaving Toskal is dead until they come home. While young Toskals are given boundless information on how to hunt, or what to avoid, all go out without knowing exactly why they must leave, just that they are searching for something. As the first year passes those still alive grow in both stature and aggression, becoming willing to take silly risks to prove their worth, gathering stories to tell and trophies to show upon their return in an attempt to improve their social standing. They could simply make them up of course but trophies of claws or weaponry from other tribes are much more believed. After a year the average survival chance of those still alive increases to 85%. The months start to blur together, skills are swiftly learnt as the Toskal becomes an expert at surviving their environment on the move. To escape boredom wandering Toskals seek out others for company, though with both sides still aggressive it doesn't last more than a few weeks before they're sick of each other and either fight or leave. Until one day they're not, another Toskal shares their path for months with no more than than occasional fights. Nerves calmed and aggression fading, from that point they're inseparable. Within the year most decide to return home to one of their tribes ready to settle down with their new partner. (it's unclear how they decide, whether it's by which is closest, or if one had a closer bond to their tribe than the other, all speculation) Although it's expected to return with a partner it is not shameful to return alone, it being enough to have simply survived the rite. |
Beauty extras (Toskals can, but maybe shouldn't):
- Dye their fur (and mane but that wears off fast)Paint their claws / horns
- Carve their horns (highly looked down upon)
- Tie their mane back
- Shave patches in their manes / fur (also looked down upon and can cause infection due to removing their water-resistant pelt)
- Have tattoos; on palms / feet / inner ear (they're very open to infection while they heal though)
- Carve their horns (highly looked down upon)
- Tie their mane back
- Shave patches in their manes / fur (also looked down upon and can cause infection due to removing their water-resistant pelt)
- Have tattoos; on palms / feet / inner ear (they're very open to infection while they heal though)
