Culture, Clan, Law*
Core Beliefs
Culture and Defining Beliefs
Core
The dominant Skolexari cultural tradition holds that the universe is interconnected, interlinked, and repeating. Pointed eared aliens are all created by the same divine force as the Skolexari. The Skolexari homeworld is the literal center of the universe.
Clan is a major factor in Skolexari culture, life, and justice.
This Section: It mixes some of the content also in History because their history has shaped their culture.
Belief in Superiority
The Skolexari view themselves as an apex species, chosen by cosmic design. Most (not all, but most) other beings are regarded as resources, curiosities, or pests. They believe that species with pointed ears are "star-seeds," distant kin to themselves. Star-seeds are spared, protected, and often well-liked. All other species are seen as inferior and are typically targeted for conquest or eradication, if lucky, perhaps made into high-end slaves.
Why do they believe this? Stems from their ancient practices of strict rules, expectations, harsh punishments for transgressions, and constant fighting between different Skolexari clans. In ancient times their planet was broken up into unique groups of Skolexari who lived in different regions of the planet. These areas still exist today, but Skolexari have long ago unified. Eventually all Skolexari came together under one planet (unification era). After unification they became space fairing, soon after this they were attacked by aliens the Skolexari call the Kaharime. There was a long war against the Kaharime, eventually the Skolexari persevered. Unification and the first great war with outsiders had a strong impact on their identity, mixed with their natural inclination to fight. It extended towards the external, the other. It reinforced their sense of unity and took them on the path to become who they are today. Their natural tribalism turned towards the stars. Everyone, all Skolexari, against everything non-Skolexari.
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Conquest Philosophy
The Skolexari no longer destroy planets for sport; those eras have passed. Instead, they conquer and refine. They view their dominion as a benevolent act, an imposition of order and stability upon lesser civilizations. Resistance ensures destruction. Skolexari enjoy finding a species to fight with. Maintaining the vast Skolexari Empire requires enormous resources, which often means harvesting planets for raw materials. They have a strong military-industrial complex but on a mass scale.
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R’visiia & Cultural Scars
Thousands of years ago, when the Skolexari were first venturing into space they were invaded by another humanoid technologically advanced species, the Kaharime. They stopped using the name of this species, and it has been forgotten by most of the population. This resulted in a brutal war that lasted almost 762 years, killing a vast number of the Skolexari population and leveling major cities. They prevailed, driving off the invaders. The lasting impact of this remains on the Skolexari psyche and influenced their own brutal expansion and conquest of others. Though the details of these days have faded, the imprint remains along with songs and legendary figures. They honor this time during the Blood holiday. The loss of their cities and widespread destruction cost them culturally, a lot of monuments and ancient spaces were destroyed and could not be recovered. Though this happened in ancient times, they still remember. This period of their history is called R’visiia.
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Social Views | Tolerance
The Skolexari understanding of fairness doesn’t mean equality or individual justice.
However: Various religions, sexual orientations, and identities are accepted as long as citizens obey the law, clan, and fulfill their roles. Most personal beliefs and lifestyles are respected. They hold their elders in high regard and generally have close family and found-family ties, tolerance within families may vary between colonies and family culture.
Skolexari consider fairness to mean reciprocal obligation, restoration of balance, and consistent application of clan duty. They do not equate fairness with individual equality.
An easy way to think of how they view tolerance is: they dislike the idea of someone being punished for something they cannot control (the way you were born, your sexual orientation, or a disability). They do not tolerate rhetoric that goes against the beliefs held by the majority.
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Honor
Their top priority is clan; it would be unlikely a Skolexari would defy his elders or clan. Their fear of public shame is so powerful that individuality among Skolexari is less important. Their reputation is their entire clan's reputation. Wrongs may be forgiven but never forgotten. A Skolexari considers his actions not only for himself, but his offspring, his descendants, his entire clan.
Please note, Skolexari honor may not apply to aliens. Aliens = non Star-Seeds.
Skolexari Honor -
Dignity (self-control, will, tolerance)
Respect elders and parents
Do no harm to children
Honor land (Skolexari homeworld, your colony, your place of birth)
Honor language
Small things reflect the whole (small deeds matter)
The clan is above all, above honor. Disobeying or dishonoring the clan means the Skolexari is not a good person. He could perform 100 great tasks but the 1 dishonorable thing he did will mean more and follow him, and his offspring forever.
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Terraforming
Skolexari enjoy taking planets and terraforming them into designer worlds. This is a common, widespread practice of the species. Beautifully terraformed worlds are then re-named and become colonies.
Skolexari are viciously against any terraforming, manipulating, or changing of their own homeworld, protecting and honoring its natural beauty. This belief is not extended to alien planets.
Becoming a planet designer is a desirable career.
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Ethnic Groups
Skolexari are a unified species.
In the past they had different ethnic groups, these still exist but no longer dominate Skolexari life.
These groups are unique to different continents of the Skolexari homeworld or Ranges. Regions have dialects and small cultural practices that continue today, but are totally unified and no longer see themselves as unique or separate from the Skolexari whole. Unity is extremely important to modern Skolexari culture and sense of identity.
Exceptions: Cloud Range territory where the Okti’nak ethnic group lives.
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Clan
Clan Role: See Laws, Justice*
Clan governs its own clan members, carrying out punishments when a clan member commits a crime, wrongs another, or breaks a law.
All of the information about clan laws is in Laws, Justice.
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Clan Size
The clan can be thought of like a tree. It has many roots; each root is a family. Each family's elder is the head of that family. Clans have councils of elders which select a single representative for the entire clan.
A clan may be hundreds, even thousands of Skolexari.
First, offenses are handled by the family.
Some families may be very small but those families are part of a large clan.
Clans are usually large and it would not be possible to be aware of every member in your clan.
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Council of Elders
As stated in clan size.
Clan elders form a clan council which decides on punishments, carries out justice, sorts out grievances with other clans, and even helps mediate interpersonal problems within the clan. These councils are interplanetary, as clans are spread out on different colonies.
Every family may not contribute an elder to a clan council as some families are very small. Often the clan elder who is sent to council represents several families and is from a specific colony. They don’t have a set rule for this. If a family wishes to send an elder to council to speak on behalf of another over an important matter, no one would stop them.
Clans have their own Council of Elders.
The Skolexari Empire has a High Council of Elders, where a single elder from a clan’s council of elders is sent to represent the entire clan.
The High Council of Elders works with Skolexari royalty.
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Clan Symbols
Clans have the equivalent of a coat of arms and a tartan or color pattern associated with that clan which clan members wear on their clothing. Skolexari coat of arms tend to reflect Skolexari art which is overwhelmingly geometric if traditional.
Clans have unique fashion items, such as wearing a gold ring on the pinky finger of their left hand.
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Laws, Justice
General
Skolexari law may seem simple and lacking to many species.
Skolexari have few formal laws on books. They don’t have lawyers, juries, courts, or judges.
They follow a deeply traditional, self-governed social structure. They're clan based and have always been. Individual families are responsible for policing their own members, ensuring adherence to Skolexari customs and cultural norms, which carry the weight of law. Social pressure is immense; those who misbehave face judgment not only from the public, but from their entire bloodline.
Culturally, Skolexari do not cope well with shame or failure. Ancient laws are still observed because they continue to serve the society effectively.
Punishments may impact families, not only individuals.
Skolexari have a group-punishment mindset, to them it’s normal to punish a family for the problems caused by one member even if others had nothing to do with it and were unaware.
Obedience to elders and parents is absolute. Skolexari are expected to conduct themselves with Skolexari discipline and honor.
Good standing within one’s family is vital; poor family ties cast a long shadow and invite suspicion. Skolexari with bad family relations find it harder to enter into unions (marry) and even make friends due to suspicion that something's wrong with them.
Because of this system, the Skolexari require few written laws and maintain only a small number of prisons. Most formal legislation pertains to interactions with non-Skolexari and military conduct. Most prisons deal with military crimes, political prisoners, and other special cases.
Skolexari legal hierarchy ~
Family
Clan Council of Elders
High Council of Elders
Royal Overseer.
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State of Society (less crime)
Skolexari have way less crime than we do because of clan structures, sense of group over self, unity, and severity of punishments. Of course, crime exists but it’s generally less.
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Laws on Record
They have a few laws which would be enforced by Police and a Royal Overseer if the clan failed to enforce it themselves.
This includes -
Treason: A Skolexari attempted treason or was found guilty of intent to commit treason. Punishment: Death.
Murder: Skolexari murdered another Skolexari or SB-5 Pact Member. Punishment: Varies, see Clans.
Sexual Assault: Skolexari on Skolexari. Punishment: Death, exile.
Cradle Mark Tampering: Skolexari is found guilty of Cradle Mark Tampering or assisting in Cradle Mark tampering. Punishment: Public execution.
Child Abuse: Skolexari adult is found guilty of any form of child abuse that has caused provable damage to the child (requires witnesses, requires proof). Emotional neglect or deliberate disruption of a child’s bond becomes child abuse when it causes developmental or medical harm.
Punishment: Death.
Terrorizing the Weaker: This is basically a domestic abuse law, a Skolexari is found guilty of abusing a weaker mate, family member, or person under their care who is unable to defend him or herself against their attacks (physical). Emotional abuse is not considered abuse in Skolexari law (adult to adult, this law is not concerning children, that’s a separate law). Punishment: Varies.
These are crimes that are written into Skolexari law and would be pursued by the Empire if the Skolexari’s clan fails to deal with the problem themselves. The punishment remains the same, regardless if the Empire or the Clan administers it.
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Clan Law & How it works
Blood debts and honor killings are practiced regularly for crimes, luckily these punishments are so severe and Skolexari fear of shame is so severe, they have little violent crime.
It is the duty of the eldest family member, or the parent, to carry out this vengeance and restore balance. This means family members will kill their own family to repay blood debts. If unwilling to do this, they're seen as weak and risk out casting their entire clan. The laws on record listed above ensure justice is served in the event a clan fails to perform its duty.
The chain of decision making begins with the offender’s immediate family. If the crime is severe it begins with the clan’s council of elders, if the crime is less severe but the immediate family fails to resolve it, it also goes to the clan’s council of elders. If the council of elders fails to resolve it, the empire steps in.
They don’t view this as cruelty, they view it as honor and duty. The offender should go willingly to his clan and face punishment with dignity - and many do.
How do they determine guilt?
Skolexari work differently than humans.
It’s also in their cultural character to come forward when they have done wrong and face their clan in an attempt to uphold their clan’s honor and reputation. The group, the clan, is greater than the individual.
Glow is evidence of emotional state, never an infallible lie detector as an innocent Skolexari may express fear, guilt, or remorse and not be guilty. Skolexari are aware of this and do not make explicit judgements of guilt based only on glow.
Skolexari are investigated and a Royal Overseer reviews all materials, or the issue is handled by clans in their own manner.
Investigations
Formal testimony requires exposed face, throat, hands, and wrists.
Concealing glow during negotiations is treated as suspicious.
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Murder
If a Skolexari murders another Skolexari, the wronged family requests the death of the murderer from the offender’s family.
Acceptable debts (punishments): Exile, death, clan-to-clan payment / deal is reached.
Murders are usually crimes of passion.
The old clan blood debt is 1 for 1 (you take one of ours, we take one of yours). The Clan decides, but a parent can offer themselves. The clan is allowed to choose, though it is almost always the murderer / offender who pays. This is still practiced today.
The exception of this 1 for 1 rule is if a child was killed, then the clan must pay 2 adults for the death of the child. It is usually the murderer / offender and a close family member (sibling, first cousin, aunt, uncle, parent).
This sounds brutal? That’s the point, and it ties into the Skolexari sense of unity and clan. Few would risk murdering someone, especially a child if they would bring down their father or brother with them.
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Minor Crimes & Transgressions
Minor punishments worked out between families or within the family.
Often involves: public shame, showing remorse, and public service.
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Removal of Privileges
Loss of SOL and government support.
Banned from: educational institutions, starting a business, working, receiving pay, promotions, public positions.
Stripped of: private property and personal wealth.
Removal of privileges can, and is often, applied to families so the wrong of one member impacts all members (not entire clans, immediate family). In this case, it’s usually taking things from extended family such as personal wealth or private property. This is generally not done to members with dependents, so single or childless members are targeted before those with dependents.
Travel bans.
Public humiliation.
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Exile
Exile, to Skolexari, is a worse punishment than death in many ways (though individuals may disagree).
Exile is usually too far reaching and less desirable colony worlds.
Clans tend to not put anything on record, it’s just assumed the exiled member will honor the terms of the exile. The government and royals control and track exiled members and where they are.
Exile can be lifted and forgiven by clan and government via royal pardon or the clan elder giving forgiveness and welcoming them home.
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Preemptive Exile
Protective measures done by families to protect the whole from a problem member because they don't want to be punished as a whole, shamed, or have resources taken. They may throw out a specific family member preemptively or attempt to get rid of them by various means (union, marriage, a job on a distant colony world, outright asking them to go away, giving them money to go away and live somewhere else). Shunned family is not spoken to by anyone in their entire clan, the clan may even tell other clans to shun and exile the member. They may be asked or put on ban lists where they're not welcome on the homeworld or popular colonies. Shunned family cannot be contacted or visited by anyone in their clan.
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"They vanished": Is typically something said about family members who have been shunned or killed. Due to shame, they're not spoken of. Family may act like they never existed, pretend to be confused, not remember, or claim the family member simply vanished. This is the Skolexari polite way of signaling not to talk about that specific individual. Other clan members may even adopt the shamed clan member's children to try to protect them from their parent's shame affecting them (reputation).
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Crimes: Skolexari may be creative in punishing family as punishments are worked out between the offending clan and the victim clan. Public humiliation, horrible tasks (spend three months on a jungle world full of huge flesh-eating plants, have to stand ankle deep in freezing water for three days), payments, there is no rule for what is allowed, it is entirely between the clans to decide. While death may be a legal recourse, it is not always pursued if other agreements are reached.
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