Aurelian: Difference between revisions

Something that's often misinterpreted with Aurelians is the idea that they are a monolithic society. This is incorrect. They do share some cultural traditions (such as the adulthood ceremony, and beak tattoos), they tend to be very helpful and loving, they have a formal language to communicate with others of different flocks easier, and they do look similar to one another in many cases. However, there are also countless sub-cultures, languages, dialects, flock-specific traditions or greetings and behavioral norms, stories, art and music specialties, food preparations, etc. They are never truly offended if someone uses another flock's greeting or behavior toward them. The fact that someone knows an Aurelian and respects them enough to use their greeting means a lot and tells them that they will likely respect theirs the same, but they will explain how it works for them after the fact so that it is corrected and respected as unique to them.

Despite being matriarchal, their general language is surprisingly non-gendered unless it needs to be for specific identifiers. A lot of their means of referencing things are based on intensity, or it is said directly if it has nothing to do with a feeling. And in a good number of languages across the planet, this sticks as a consistency even as grammar and vocabulary differ. Things they say also tend to have an interesting variety of meanings depending on the word or phrase, and the tone used to say that word or phrase. Something can go from essentially just meaning "family" to meaning of "the people who help create your soul with you" without adding more words to it because the tone and context do that for them. And while both mean similar things, the intensity changes those meanings. Both are important, and one is not "more meaningful" than another. It's just different intensity and context. This is so for a lot of their phrases and words. Having a simple meaning, but a more complex meaning in other emotional spaces.