History of Kapernia: Kapernian Culture (Part 1) Tribal Communities The rise of tribal communities: During the evolution process, some Kapernian races preferred living in groups of individuals of the same race, being compelled to do so by instincts inherited from their Earth animal. This was most common amongst wolves, lions, meerkats, and various cervine species. These tribes tended to live off the land more than the other races, preferring nature over the more modernized society. In addition, for wolves and other carnivorous species, it meant hunting in groups rather than hunting alone, leading to more success when it comes to catching and killing prey. Other tribal groups, like deer and elk tended to live in tribal communities where there were only females and their offspring present, with the sexually mature males becoming nomadic after leaving their birth tribe and finding other female tribes to pass their seed onto. The males would then compete for the right to breed with the receptive females of the village and then spend several nights mating with them before moving on, leaving the females behind to raise their new offspring as a community. Modern Kapernian tribes (for the most part) continue to operate under the same general rules as their ancestors. However, there are some differences in how tribes are governed and what kind of tribes there are. The following are some examples... Wolf Tribes... Wolf tribes are the most common type of tribal community on Kapernia. They are governed by the "alpha couple" while the other wolves in the tribe serve the community. Most wolf tribes are "wolf only", however there are a few exceptions to this (which will be explained shortly). "Traditional Tribes": Traditional wolf tribes consist of the alpha couple, their offspring (mostly females), and sometimes some of their siblings. These tribes operate like a normal wolf pack, living almost entirely off the land and working as a unit to survive. Outsiders are forbidden to join a tribe and, in some cases, will be chased off by the tribe. Only the alpha couple is allowed to mate and produce pups, although in rare instances if the tribal population is low and the alpha female happens to have a sister as a tribe member, the alpha male may choose to mate with her to help produce more offspring. Male pups are sent out on their own upon reaching adulthood to become alpha males of new tribes while female pups are given the option of leaving the tribe or staying behind to continue serving their birth community. "Semi-Modern Tribes": These tribes live in the woods like their ancestors but have more modern amenities in their tribes. They'll still hunt for food and raise crops, but they tend to live in more modern dwellings, as opposed to the huts or log cabins of the traditionalists. Because of their semi-modern nature, they will need to earn money for survival and they usually accomplish this by selling goods to local towns (usually meat, crops, or animal pelts). Outsiders are welcome to visit the tribe and will often be treated as guests. However, unless the visitor is another wolf, they would not be allowed a chance to stay permanently. All members of the pack can mate, but only the alpha couple (and possibly a couple other females approved by the alpha female) are allowed to breed. Those lucky females who are given permission to breed can only do so with the alpha male. Semi-Modern packs usually consist of the alpha couple, the siblings of the alpha couple, the pups of the alpha couple, and sometimes other wolves from outside the family tree. Like the traditional tribes, male pups leave home upon adulthood and female pups are given a choice whether to stay or go. "Modern Tribes": Modern tribes are the largest of all the types of tribes, usually being the size of small towns, and they're also not exclusive to wolves either. Any canid or vulpine individual can join as long as they are mated to a "native" member or is the mate of the alpha male/female. Members of modern wolf tribes live in modern Kapernian homes (with all the normal amenities) and typically hunt more for symbolic purposes. All pups born into the tribe (male or female) are allowed to stay upon adulthood (should they choose to do so). Mating and breeding is permitted for all members of the tribe. Modern tribes usually have community centers built into them for community-wide gatherings, ceremonies, and other events. Founding of tribes: Typically, a tribal community begins when an alpha male selects a female to be his mate and breeds with her. Should either of them have siblings who wish to be a part of the tribe, the mating is done while the subordinate siblings watch the alpha couple does their thing. After the mating, all members of the newly formed community will join in a howl to show unity. In modern tribes, a tribe is founded when the alpha couple marries, with the mating occurring in private (usually outdoors). The marriages are open to all community members and anyone who wishes to join the community. Hunting: In traditional and semi-modern tribes, hunting is usually done by groups (and sometimes, the whole tribe) using strategies and knowledge passed down by the alpha couple. Typically, this involves surrounding prey, cutting off all possible escape routes while one (or sometimes multiple) individuals move in for the kill, using handmade weapons. Weapons made by these types of tribes are usually arrows with sharpened rocks used as arrowheads or stabbing weapons (sometimes made from the antlers of deer or elk). In modern tribes, individuals or small groups will go out hunting for their own purposes. Very rarely will a modern tribe hunt together as a unit. Weapons used by modern tribes are more arrows made of modern materials, knives (made of steel or other metal), and (in some cases) firearms. Regardless of the tribe, members must use as much of any prey animal they kill as possible. Howling: Howling is the way that tribal members show unity for their tribe and all three tribal types practice this. All adults and sexually mature pups must participate in the howling ceremonies (which usually take place once a month when the moon of Articqua is fully visible). This is always done outdoors and during the nighttime hours when the light of Articqua shines down on the community. In the case of modern tribes, non-lupine members of the tribe are exempt from howling ceremonies (though many of them do it anyway). Breeding (Traditional and Semi-Modern tribes): Although Kapernians are capable of reproduction year-round (more on this when we get to Sex and Reproduction), breeding members of traditional and semi-modern tribes only reproduce during the winter months, when their fertility as at its annual peak. The alpha couple will usually produce one litter per year, though if the alpha male is permitted to mate with other females he will produce one litter with each female in a given year. Pups are born about 2 months after they are conceived, and most females will give birth to anywhere from 2 to 4 pups at a time. Breeding (Modern tribes): Couples in modern tribes are permitted to breed at any time of the year, though most choose to breed during the winter months. The alpha couple (should they choose to breed in a given year) will always do so during the winter during peak fertility. They do not breed every year though and often go 2 to 4 years between litters. Since canid and vulpine females have similar gestation periods to lupine females and usually give birth to litters of similar size, there is little point in going into details on how long a canid or vulpine female is pregnant for, or for how many pups they have in a litter...at least for now. Incest ***NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE PATREON VERSION!!!***: Incest in wolf tribes is fairly common, especially amongst siblings. This occurs in all three tribal types, but is most common in semi-modern and modern tribes (those who engage in sexual activities in 'traditional' tribes must do so in secret or face exile from the tribe). Sometimes, a brother/sister, sister/sister, or brother/brother couple will become close enough to where they will forsake all other partners in favor of sticking with their beloved sibling. Allow incest in semi-modern and modern tribal communities is allowed (and, in some cases, encouraged to strengthen community bonds), inbreeding is still discouraged. "Emergency Mateship" (semi-modern or modern tribes only): In the event of the death of the alpha male or alpha female (while one of them is still capable of reproduction), the surviving member of the couple can choose a subordinate member of the community to serve as their new mate, earning all rights that were granted to the deceased. Should no suitable partner be found from within the community (I.E.: No wolves from outside the survivor's immediate family), the surviving member of the alpha couple will be permitted to mate with a canid (of 'wild' origins) or a vulpine, granting that individual honorary tribal membership. In the case of a semi-modern tribe though, if a non-related lupine enters the community and wishes to join, the surviving member of the original alpha couple will be allowed to choose the new lupine member as a replacement for his old alpha female. If this happens, the temporary mate will still be allowed to stay within the tribe, but will no longer be allowed to breed unless they were to leave the tribe with someone else. In cases where the alpha male or female dies AFTER their reproductive days are over, leadership will be passed down to the oldest daughter of the alpha couple who must immediately find a male to be her partner and start producing new pups. If the oldest daughter is also past her reproductive years, the next oldest daughter will be chosen, and so on. This is the case for ALL types of wolf tribal communities. Deer and/or Elk tribes... Aside from wolf tribes, deer tribes (mainly those based off White-tailed deer) are the next most common tribal communities on Kapernia. Elk tribes are less common, but also exist. Although deer and elk tend to live in their own tribes, there are cases where deer and elk tribes were merge for the benefit of both groups. Both deer and elk tribes consist of many females (most of whom are of breeding age) and their fawns (both male and female). Usually, the oldest female in the tribe is considered the matriarch and oversees the activities of the tribe. Deer tribes tend to be semi-modern, living in larger groups with more modern amenities and buildings, although they still grow their own food or forage for it in the woods. In order to pay for the necessary living expenses, the members of a deer tribe (or at least the ones old enough to get jobs) will often work in nearby towns, doing various odd jobs, either that or they'll set up a shop to sell various handmade goods (I.E.: clothing, bedding, and a few other things). Deer tribes tend to be open about letting visitors into their communities, even if they are not deer. Elk tribes (for the most part) are more primitive in nature, generally living in huts or log cabins, having few or no modern amenities, though there are a few exceptions. Elk tribes generally only allow other elk to be a part of their community, though there are exceptions to this as well. Founding of tribes: New tribes are started when a young adult doe (or cow, in the case of elk) decides to leave her birth tribe and start one of her own. Before she can become the matriarch of a tribe, she would have to make sure to do two things. First, she would need to be impregnated by a buck (or bull, in the case of elk) to ensure that there would be new life to enter the tribe the following spring. Second, she would also need to find followers (which could be her younger siblings or random does/cows she meets). While a single doe could conceivably survive on her own through the winter while carrying a fawn (or calf) in her womb, the odds are much better if she has help. For established tribes, the passage of the role of matriarch is done from generation to generation. The current matriarch will select one of her daughters to fill the role when it comes time for her to step down. Once the current matriarch passes on her role to one of her daughters, she will leave her tribe permanently and spend the remainder of her days living on her own. The roles of male and female fawns: Through the first 10 to 13 years of their lives, male and female fawns spend their time with their mothers, growing in much the same way as a normal Kapernian child would. However, once males and females begin puberty, things change dramatically. Young bucks who are not old enough to leave the tribe to become nomads will continue to live in a group of other 'bachelor' males, devoid of most feminine contact (aside from their mothers and aunts). This is done to discourage the young bucks from breeding with the fertile females in the tribe. Only once a sexually mature buck is old enough to leave can he breed with females...and never from his birth tribe. Young does, on the other hand, are taught by their mothers how to farm, forage, weave, and several other skills that they will need to use when they become sexually mature. When that day comes, does will have a choice. They could either remain in their birth tribe or wander on their own to start a new one...or leave the tribal life altogether to seek out a more modern lifestyle. Most of the time, the does will remain with their birth tribe. "Rutting Day" and the mating season: While (like almost all Kapernians) deer and elk are capable of reproduction year-round, they are most fertile during the autumn months (particularly from about mid-October through mid-November). Every year, on October 13, the females of breeding age start to welcome nomadic males into their tribe for reproductive purposes. It should be noted that not every doe or cow breeds every year. Usually, a doe or cow will breed every 2 to 4 years. How breeding is determined depends on the rules of each individual tribe. Some tribes will let any nomadic male who visits breed with the female (or females) of his choosing, while other tribes will have a group of males come to their tribe to compete for the right to breed with ALL of the receptive females in the tribe. The breeding is done during the autumn since it takes about 6 to 7 months for a fawn or calf to be born, resulting in said fawn or calf to enter the world in the middle of Spring. Does usually give birth to one or two fawns at a time while cow elk usually only produce a single calf. Passing Down of Leadership: In deer tribes, the matriarch will usually remain in charge of the community until she determines it is time to let a younger generation take over. In elk tribes, the matriarch will usually pass down the role of leadership onto one of her oldest daughters. This is done when the current matriarch is no longer capable of reproduction, but not always immediately after her reproductive days are over. Sometimes a cow elk will hold onto her leadership role for several years after she's done reproducing. Regardless of the case, passing down of leadership always takes place during the primary mating season...and often in the evening of "Rutting Day". For a younger doe or cow to be declared matriarch, she must be bred by a buck or bull elk in front of the entire community. Then, once the pregnancy has been confirmed, the younger female will officially be made the tribal matriarch. Once the older matriarch has abdicated her role, she will sometimes choose to leave the tribe to become a nomad for the rest of her life, but in most cases, she will remain in the tribe to assist with raising the fawns or calves of the females of breeding age. Relationship between wolf tribes and deer/elk tribes: While wolves actively hunt deer and elk for survival purposes, they only hunt the feral (four-legged) variety...in other words, like those you would find on Earth. There are many cases where wolf and deer/elk tribes coexist in the same part of a forest, with each individual tribe going about their own business. There are a few very rare cases where a wolf (usually a male) will end up befriending a doe and even forming a bond with her. Should the couple form a romantic relationship, the wolf and the doe would have to leave their respective tribes if they wish to mate together. There are also some very rare cases where a severely injured or dying deer or elk would ask a wolf to end their suffering by begging for a quick and painless death. Wolves are generally reluctant to take the life of a Kapernian deer or elk, even if it is a 'mercy killing'. However, they will sometimes grant the unfortunate deer or elk their wish. In these rare cases, the carcass of the deceased deer or elk is never brought back to the tribe to be processed for food. Instead, the wolf will give the deer or elk a more honorable end by burying it or cremating it. In addition, there are also rare cases where a Kapernian deer or elk will be unintentionally injured by a wolf, by something like an arrow or a throwing dagger. If this occurs, the wolf will almost always bring the injured party back to their tribe for medical treatment...assuming the injury is not life-threatening. Meerkat Colonies... Meerkat colonies are most common in the Flat Island Desert area, although there are some colonies located on Mainland Kapernia and in the Lower Territories. Most meerkat colonies are meerkat only, although they can and sometimes do welcome individuals outside of their race. Meerkat colonies tend to live in fortress-like communities, with outer walls protecting their village from outsiders. Family members of the matriarch (usually males) will stand guard at the entry points to make sure no unwanted company gets in. Because Meerkat colonies tend to live on oil-rich land, they tend to rely on oil drilling to fund their colonies. Meerkat colonies live largely modernized lives...however they also tend to live in modest homes, except for the colony matriarch and her offspring. Founding of tribes: A new meerkat tribe is started when a female of breeding age meets a male whom she wants to breed with (and not necessarily a meerkat, either). If a male accepts the female, he would become the female's stud, serving the matriarch's reproductive needs throughout the fertile part of her life. Unless the young matriarch has a twin sister or other close family member, the stud male would only be allowed to breed with the matriarch. Mating with any other female in the colony would lead to banishment from the community. The roles of family members (in relation to the matriarch): Unless the matriarch chooses to let her sisters breed with the stud male, the sisters of the matriarch will often serve as caretakers of the offspring that she produces with her mate. Older daughters of the matriarch will also serve in caring for their younger siblings once they reach "maturity". Male children of the matriarch (with a few exceptions) will leave home upon reaching breeding age to wander as nomads until they find a female looking for a mate. The ones that do stay behind will often serve as guards for the community. Mating (between the matriarch and her stud male): Like all other Kapernians, a meerkat matriarch is capable of reproduction year-round and will breed regularly to produce as many offspring as she can in her reproductive years. On average, a meerkat matriarch will give birth to between 30 or 40 sons and daughters during her rule. The male she chooses as her stud will be at the beck and call of the matriarch, mating with her whenever she's 'in the mood'. Sometimes, the stud male of the colony will be permitted to mate with other female members of the colony, but as I mentioned earlier, only the matriarch can breed. Sex between the stud male and other meerkat members of the colony is strictly for pleasure. Incest ***NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE PATREON VERSION!!!***: Sex between family members in meerkat colonies is extremely common and is usually between two females. However, the sons of the matriarch will also sometimes get involved with their sisters or even their mother. The sex is performed both for pleasure and for 'bonding' purposes, to strengthen the ties within the colony between family members. While the practice of incest is common in meerkat colonies, inbreeding is highly discouraged. If the matriarch chooses to let her sons mate with her she will go out of her way to make sure she is not fertile before doing so. Passing Down of Leadership: When the existing matriarch of a colony can no longer breed, she will have one of her daughters take her place (usually the first-born, but there are exceptions to this). Before the role of leadership can be passed down to the younger female, a new stud male would have to be found and approved of by the existing matriarch (which usually involves the prospective stud male mating with the existing matriarch to prove his worth). Once approved, the future stud male and the future matriarch would have their first mating in front of the entire colony as she is impregnated for the first time, securing her role as the new matriarch. Afterwards, the former matriarch and (usually) any of her siblings that joined the colony would leave to live the remainder of their lives outside the colony, often moving to other towns or cities, while the siblings of the new matriarch would remain behind to run the colony. Lion Tribes... Lion tribes are the last of the four most common types of tribal communities that exist on Kapernia, and the only tribal community that features a race that wasn't originally native to Kapernia. Originally, the first lion settlers to Kapernia arrived about 1,000 years ago from a planet known as Felus 3. It turned out that some of the genetically-altered Cylians discovered another planet in another solar system, colonizing it and becoming anthropomorphic lions. Because lions require a warm climate to be comfortable, their tribes are found in the warmer regions of Kapernia (Flat Island and the Equatorlands areas). Lion tribes tend to live off the land, with little interaction with the modern world. The average lion tribe will consist of one dominant male, several females (not related to the male), and the offspring that they produce. The dominant male will breed with all adult female members of the tribe. In other words, the community is a lot like that of an actual lion pride from Earth. Founding of tribes: When a nomadic male meets with a group of lionesses (usually related to one another), the male will be asked to join the females in a hunt. If the male is successful in assisting the lionesses catching their prey, they will deem him to be a worthy father of their future cubs and a new tribe will be founded. The roles of cubs: Both male and female lion cubs are cared for and trained by the adult female members of the tribe (regardless of whether or not they are the biological mother of said cubs). For the first 10 years or so of their lives, male and female lion cubs will be taught how to hunt for themselves and how to prepare food. Later, when the male cubs become sexually mature, they will leave the tribe to wander as nomads until they find a group of lionesses while the females usually remain behind for several more years before leaving (usually in one large group). Teenage lionesses will often serve as babysitters to their younger siblings while they remain in their birth tribe. Mating (between the dominant male and the adult lionesses): A dominant male will breed with any lioness who decides she's ready for cubs whenever she asks for it. Like other Kapernians, lionesses are capable of reproduction year-round, but can choose when they want to breed with their partners. When a particular lioness is receptive, the dominant male will usually mate with her exclusively for 2 or 3 days before he feels as if he needs to rest up a bit. Of course, by this time, his sperm has usually met with the lioness' egg(s) anyway. Sex without reproduction between the dominant male and his breeding females is rare, but sometimes does happen. Typically, a lioness will have one litter of cubs from the dominant male every year or two. A typical tribe will have between 20 and 30 breeding females in it. Incest ***NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE PATREON VERSION!!!***: Incest is common in lion tribes and is done between in several different ways. The most common forms of incest in a lion tribe are between male and female cubs prior to the males leaving their birth tribe, between male cubs and their mother, and between the dominant male and his daughters. These interactions are largely done for educational purposes...to give the growing cubs experience in how mating is done for when they do it for real later in life. In rare cases, one of the female cubs of the dominant male will choose to stay behind so she can continue mating with him in the future. This can (and sometimes does) lead to inbreeding. The End of a Tribe: Unlike other tribal communities (which are usually passed down from generation-to-generation) a lion tribe will only exist for as long as the dominant male is alive...or as long as he's able to impregnate the lionesses. Since the offspring of the dominant male almost always leaves the tribe behind once they are ready to breed for themselves, there are no younger generations around to continue the tribe, so once he is gone (and by this point, the lionesses that he bred with are usually beyond their reproductive years) the tribe ceases to exist and the remaining lionesses will form a female-only tribe so they can hunt together and stand a better chance of survival for the remainder of their lives. Anyway, those are the four main tribal community types found on Kapernia. There are other types of 'tribal' or 'pack' communities, but they are far less common than those described here, and some that will be discussed further when we get to "Sex and Reproduction". ***TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2 (Religion and Customs)***