The Second Unification
"The Time of Sterne"
A wood-elf changeling by the name of Grundar brought his clan and five other races together to create the first tribe, and tribes covered the planet as other clans followed suit.
~Modern Mating Rituals~
All changelings still choose their mates for life. A female still gets the final call, and combat still weighs heavily on the proceedings. Marriage and Mate choosing is sacred in Changeling Society as it brings together not only the two changelings, but also binds them to the other's family. Each tribe, depending on what race is the most dominant besides the changelings, tends to have their own ritual. Before a marriage happens both spouses were expected to bathe their old selves away in a bath. As the wedding starts both parties walk from two different sides and meet in the middle. They are to walk up with their weapons drawn and are placed on an altar in the middle. This signifies that the two will carry their weapons alone, but fight together for all eternity. They then stand hand-in-hand in front of the Chieftain who heads the ceremony.
What is common between all Changeling weddings whether if changeling and changeling, or another race to a changeling, is that the married couple says a specific vow that is anointed by the Chieftain. It is finalized by their hands held and bound together with a ribbon, rope, or twine as they speak the vows.
Changeling Marriage Vow
We honor our Mother, the bearer of all, as to bless our eternal partnership.
We honor our Father, the man in stars, to look upon us and guide or eternal path.
You will feel no rain, for I will shelter you for all days to come.
You will feel no cold, for I will give you warmth in the harshest winters.
You will feel no loneliness, for no matter the distance, I will fight beside you.
No matter my face, I will always see you as my better half.
I am yours, and you are mine from this day until the end of days
The marriage is then sealed with a candle's melted wax poured slightly over the rope and a kiss.
~Growing Years~
After many years of changelings having to raise their own children they had slowly learned ways to teach their children assimilation. As a tribe who was affiliated with another race changeling parents could teach their child not only the ways and history of their own race, but had the easy access to let their child run free with the children of the other race. Assimilation became easy, and could be done much more with more than one race, as it could not be done before. Some changelings would opt out of parenting and would ask their allied tribe members to raise the child. This was done in an understanding that these were children of the tribe, and was only done until the changeling child was old enough to have a better understanding of assimilation. Changelings who opted out of parenting tended to be known as Traditionalists.
As children, changelings would go through classes where they would learn not only their tribe’s history, but also the great history of the changelings as a whole. They would get to learn basics of every role, Sky-watcher, Historian, etc. in hopes of finding a better understanding of where they could be placed as adults. Depending on the allied race, the children would also go through whatever the other race’s children would go through as to broaden their learning spectrum. As pre-teens changelings would get special training to prepare them for their Trials of Sterne. They also tended to be “apprenticed” by those in roles that the changeling pre-teen had shown interest in.
Once hitting puberty changelings were expected to be much more independent and have a goal set in mind for what they wanted to do after the trials. Once the trials had been completed the young changelings were encouraged to explore the world outside of tribe, to gain more morph forms. This was still a very instinctual part of a changeling self, and would later on help them to find a solid place within the clan with their newly earned rank. The more societies a changelings can assimilate into means that they strength the tribe with a better understanding of the world around them.
~Historical Documentation~
Tribes tended to keep the ranking system from their days as clans. Problem was since the tribes no longer sent changeling children to a neighboring society, but could assimilate and learn changeling ways at the same time it became harder to place someone into a rank and job-standing. The Trials of Sterne became the new way to help a changeling to be placed in a role they had earned, instead of by the birth rank they were born under. The trials would be overseen by the leader of the tribe, Chieftain, always an Aquarius as tradition dictated. During these trials children who were of age when they would have normally come back to their changeling families now had to go through the Trials of Sterne as Sutars (seekers). Here it was believed that, like how in old days changelings would seek out their blood-family, Sutars would now seek out their true place within the tribe. The December/January after their 2nd year of puberty a changeling teen would go through the trials in hopes of finding the place where they belonged. The rank that a changeling would receive would be displayed through beads given to them after the Trials. These are normally worn in their hair, but due to the firm belief in individuality and adaptation, this was not required during day-to-day life. The beads were to be worn at all times though, whether morphed or not. If their rank changed in future years after the Trials, changelings would display their current on their arm. This gives changelings three specific rankings: their birth rank, displayed on their hip in some fashion, their rank earned during Trials displayed by the beads, and their current rank shown through arm paint or materials. Like before, those who were given lower ranks at the end of the trials tended to be the most brawny and combat-ready people during the event. Mid ranks tended to stay back and watch, and were the most likely to create alliances. High ranks tended to lead the lower ranks to victory. A Sterne Council would decide the new rank for each Sutar based on a point system, and the advice of others who knew the Sutar on a more personal level.
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Now, during the Time of Sterne not every changeling was apart of a tribe. Some had not even joined a clan and had stayed true to the oldest roots of nomadic coupling. Tribes welcomed them to participate, but never forced them too. These changelings became known as Tribeless. Rarely, there would be a changeling with an attitude of “me, myself, and I.” These changelings tended to cause trouble within the tribe, and were looked at as purposely trying to harm the survival of the tribe itself. These changellings would normally have their rank lowered on a constant basis, and after many warnings would be shunned from the tribe. Changelings of this nature became known as Outcasts. A Chieftain, who would make the final decision after much deliberation, and would carry out the sentence of Outcasting a tribal Changeling. A trial would be held for the changeling, with someone close who would speak on behalf of the accused. Sometimes no one would come forward depending on how bad the deeds were. The Chieftain would then brand a burning sword slash into the changeling’s face and cast him or her out of the tribe. Outcasts were only allowed to speak to other Outcasts or Tribeless, forever forbidden to find solitude within another tribe. Different tribes have different ways of marking a changeling as an outcast, but it is always a large, lasting mark that can not be hidden, even when morphing into another race.
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If an Outcast had a child, the child would be welcomed to compete in the Trials of Sterne at any time after their two years of puberty. Yet, before they come of age and compete in the Trials, Outcast children will be held to the same low standards as their parents. This was allowed due to the cultural belief that no one is held to their place at birth, especially those who born by parents who made poor decisions. Changelings believe fully in change and adaptability, and refuse to treat one’s birth as an infinite rejection, but an Outcast child must take the initiative themself.
As the haven societies joined the changeling tribes and not the other way around, the Changeling culture takes precedence over the other race that joined them. This does not mean the other race is treated inferiorly, or that their beliefs, values, and practice are thought of as lesser or not recognized, however. Any race is able to participate in the Trials of Sterne. In the City of Gundar the Trials are held every year, but all can participate. Even if they have already participated in one in their own tribe, or are not a part of tribe at all. The difference is that in the City of Gundar this event cannot change one’s rank. A bead is given to every participant though with a detail that signifies the year they participated. And the victor is give a special bead built of metal. Changelings can go to the City of Gundar and sign themselves up as a true Sutar. Changelings who have never gone through the Trials before are able to go through the event just as they would had they gone through it in the own tribe. If they were they had to come with a representative of their tribe that would state they were doing this as their right of passage, not as a joiner of Grundar. Unless of course they were raised within Grundar itself, and which they would go through the Trials as normal. These “true” Sutars are given their Sterne beads to show the rank they earned after the trials just as if they had done it within their tribe.
(SIDE NOTE: These cities, unlike human cities, are much more welcoming of outsiders and have stayed true to their accepting ways. Changelings believe that every race, no matter what deities they follow, can trace themselves two sources. Though each changeling tribe may have idols or feasts for their allies’ deities, and may even worship the same gods they believe in these two stays consistent with all tribes. That all are raised and nurtured by Cennad Erde, and Guided by Cennad Sterne. It is uncommon to find nomadic changeling couples during this time period, but it is not unheard of.)