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Cardassian: Difference between revisions
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===Family=== | ===Family=== | ||
Cardassian families are tightly knit. Usually, parents will have between three and ten children, and sometimes more. An only child is an anomalous | Cardassian families are tightly knit. Usually, parents will have between three and ten children, and sometimes more. An only child is an anomalous occurrence. Families live together in the Cardassian household, with the father being the head of the house. It is not uncommon for the family unit to be extended from unmarried aunts and uncles to grandfathers and grandmothers, all living together in the same household. The Cardassian people venerate age, and elder Cardassians are seen as wise to the ways of the universe. | ||
Cardassian families share in the disgrace of one of their members; therefore much pressure is put on the individuals to uphold the family name. If a family member stumbles, much effort is put into concealing the fact from the powers that be. If concealment cannot be achieved or the action is quite dastardly, then the member is usually ostracized by the family and turned into a pariah. Usually the member will accept this disgrace to avoid having his family disgraced in his name. | Cardassian families share in the disgrace of one of their members; therefore much pressure is put on the individuals to uphold the family name. If a family member stumbles, much effort is put into concealing the fact from the powers that be. If concealment cannot be achieved or the action is quite dastardly, then the member is usually ostracized by the family and turned into a pariah. Usually the member will accept this disgrace to avoid having his family disgraced in his name. | ||
Divorce is uncommon among the Cardassians, except in cases where the acts of the husband or wife would bring disgrace unto the house as a whole. Generally two Cardassians who marry will do so for life, | Divorce is uncommon among the Cardassians, except in cases where the acts of the husband or wife would bring disgrace unto the house as a whole. Generally two Cardassians who marry will do so for life, however a certain amount of philandering is almost expected by the males of the species. While this is frowned upon by society, the people tend to turn a blind eye toward this type of behavior among the males. The female Cardassians do not enjoy this privilege, as they can be outcast for such loose moral character. A disgraced woman carries a heavy social burden. | ||
Cardassian mating is different from other species, and sometimes those differences are very misunderstood by outsiders. A potential mate indicates interest by expressing a bickering, almost | Cardassian mating is different from other species, and sometimes those differences are very misunderstood by outsiders. A potential mate indicates interest by expressing a bickering, almost belligerent attitude. This bickering has caused more than one interstellar snafu as misunderstanding spring from hot debates between diplomats. Fertility is of paramount importance, as a mate that cannot bear children is shamed. Men prefer spirited women, and the females of the species tend to prefer strong, dominant males. | ||
===Arts=== | ===Arts=== | ||
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The Cardassian State keeps a tight reign on its artists. It recognizes that art can be a powerful motivational force. Only state sanctioned writers can be published. Only the work of state sanctioned painters and sculptors may be exhibited, and only in state-run galleries. Each individual work must undergo a long and involved approval process by the Ministry of Arts before publication or exhibition. | The Cardassian State keeps a tight reign on its artists. It recognizes that art can be a powerful motivational force. Only state sanctioned writers can be published. Only the work of state sanctioned painters and sculptors may be exhibited, and only in state-run galleries. Each individual work must undergo a long and involved approval process by the Ministry of Arts before publication or exhibition. | ||
Literature is the most popular art form amongst the Cardassian populace and so it has the most restricted guidelines. Permitted books must actively promote Cardassian ideology or discredit Cardassia's enemies. Epics such as ''The Never Ending Sacrifice'', which describes the service of seven generations of a family to Cardassia, are favorites amongst Cardassian readers. These books are even preferred above tales of valorous Cardassian | Literature is the most popular art form amongst the Cardassian populace and so it has the most restricted guidelines. Permitted books must actively promote Cardassian ideology or discredit Cardassia's enemies. Epics such as ''The Never Ending Sacrifice'', which describes the service of seven generations of a family to Cardassia, are favorites amongst Cardassian readers. These books are even preferred above tales of valorous Cardassian officers defeating the schemes of dastardly Starfleet officers bent on destroying the Union with their corrupt ideals of democracy and individuality. | ||
Cardassians who travel and the upper classes have access to non-Cardassian literature. Dante's ''Inferno'', Tolstoy's ''War and Peace'', K'Ratak's ''The Dream of the Fire'' are all highly regarded works. The Cardassians appreciate Shakespeare's dramas but despise the comedies - particularly ''Romeo and Juliet'', in which the two lovers chose love over family. | Cardassians who travel and the upper classes have access to non-Cardassian literature. Dante's ''Inferno'', Tolstoy's ''War and Peace'', K'Ratak's ''The Dream of the Fire'' are all highly regarded works. The Cardassians appreciate Shakespeare's dramas but despise the comedies - particularly ''Romeo and Juliet'', in which the two lovers chose love over family. | ||
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===Changing class=== | ===Changing class=== | ||
A modern Cardassian Ti'alek, upon showing significant ability, can obtain a sponsor to attend a military academy. The same Ti'alek can now become an officer, achieve great things, and make a name for himself (and thereby his family). Once he has earned the respect of his | A modern Cardassian Ti'alek, upon showing significant ability, can obtain a sponsor to attend a military academy. The same Ti'alek can now become an officer, achieve great things, and make a name for himself (and thereby his family). Once he has earned the respect of his peers and supervisors, his family name could grow in status, and perhaps his children will be known as Amarleks, Ra'maleks, or even quite possibly (if his achievements are great enough) become a Trelek and join the ranks of nobility. Earning enough respect for this may be difficult, as those of the higher classes tend to cling harder to their titles than the lower classes. | ||
Likewise, embarrassments and disgrace can send a Cardassian and his family down the social ladder, leading to ostracism and even exile. Smart families are quick to disown the disgraced Cardassian to prevent him from dragging them down with him. Usually these families maintain contact with their ostracized members, but they try to avoid aiding and abetting them. | Likewise, embarrassments and disgrace can send a Cardassian and his family down the social ladder, leading to ostracism and even exile. Smart families are quick to disown the disgraced Cardassian to prevent him from dragging them down with him. Usually these families maintain contact with their ostracized members, but they try to avoid aiding and abetting them. | ||
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The ''Te'alakesh'' are arguably some of the most powerful Cardassians in the Union, for it is on their determination where a child will be placed for his future. Most ''Te'alakesh'' have great amounts of vesala as parents romance them for their child's placement. ''Te'alakesh'' work for the Ministry of Education, and some even whisper that this is merely a branch of the Obsidian Order, but there have been no foundation to these claims. | The ''Te'alakesh'' are arguably some of the most powerful Cardassians in the Union, for it is on their determination where a child will be placed for his future. Most ''Te'alakesh'' have great amounts of vesala as parents romance them for their child's placement. ''Te'alakesh'' work for the Ministry of Education, and some even whisper that this is merely a branch of the Obsidian Order, but there have been no foundation to these claims. | ||
Once the ''Te'alakesh'' has identified a child's strengths and weaknesses, the child is assigned an advanced school most | Once the ''Te'alakesh'' has identified a child's strengths and weaknesses, the child is assigned an advanced school most benefiting of their place in society, and sometimes that means that a lower-classed Cardassian will attend the finest schools through sponsorship. The ''Te'alakesh'' help the child by finding a sponsor. By showing prominent Cardassians their student's work and making suggestions to the right people, the ''Te'alakesh'' can obtain a sponsor for a promising child. Some ''Te'alakesh'' have even used their personal ''vesala'' to move lower-classed children to the ranks of the fit. | ||
A sponsor is essentially putting his neck out on the chopping block for the pupil, as a sponsor is responsible for all actions that a student makes at her new school up until graduation. Should the student stumble, the sponsor will receive punishment and public humiliation. This makes sponsorship quite a commitment for both the student and the sponsor, but challenging the minds of the youth is something that most adult Cardassians enjoy doing. Once a Cardassian completes her advanced training years, the sponsorship ends and the sponsor is relieved of all responsibility for the young adult. Some dedicated sponsors will follow the career of the youth and watch over them, effectively becoming a patron to them. | A sponsor is essentially putting his neck out on the chopping block for the pupil, as a sponsor is responsible for all actions that a student makes at her new school up until graduation. Should the student stumble, the sponsor will receive punishment and public humiliation. This makes sponsorship quite a commitment for both the student and the sponsor, but challenging the minds of the youth is something that most adult Cardassians enjoy doing. Once a Cardassian completes her advanced training years, the sponsorship ends and the sponsor is relieved of all responsibility for the young adult. Some dedicated sponsors will follow the career of the youth and watch over them, effectively becoming a patron to them. | ||