Dominion Era/Tretallë (Culture)/Traditions

This page discusses a part of the lore of the Dominion Era Tretallë. If you are interested in seeing the Tabletop RPG stats associated with this race, visit: Tretallë (Stats).

Dominion Era Tretallë
Bone Elves
Istfet, The Strangers, Invaders, Deathriders
Imperial Standard of the Tretalleri Dominion
Land of Origin
Continent of Origin	Termalttë
Homeland	Teýrivellë
Capital	Ifatallë Cselvë
Racial Lore
Language	Tretalleri
Characteristics	Tretallë (Characteristics)
Culture	Tretallë (Culture)
History	Dominion Era
Government	Tretallë (Government)
Military	Tretallë (Military)
Stats	Tretallë (Stats)
Racial Relations
Allies	None
Enemies	Elledynnë
Neutrals	None

Collectively, the Tretâllë are much less festive—or hedonistic, depending on who is asked—than their Elledyn'ni cousins. Emphasis on the superficial as well as light-heartedness are not as prolific within the Dominion as they are within the Silvered Realm. Stereotypically, the Tretâllë are considered to be morose, solemn, somber, and basically joyless creatures. There is very little validity to this stereotype as historically, the Tretâllë have been prone to the very same gamut of emotions that all other creatures of Sekhar are, although they are certainly less prone to humour and merrymaking than the others.

Religious Traditions

Although the Tretâllë are not too fond of celebration, and though their culture does not lend too much importance to religious observation, there are certainly a number of traditions in Tretalleri society that are informed by the The Faith of the Nine. Although many of these traditions had secular origins, the symbolism that surrounds them have been adopted into the theology of the Faith of the Nine.

The Lighting of the Lamps

One of the aforementioned traditions with secular origins, the Lighting of the Lamps hearkens back to the days of the Kingship of the Bone Trees. Although the name of the tradition has not changed in the long time since its foundation, the Lighting of the Lamps has certainly expanded in scope and changed significance since then. Originally, the Lighting of the Lamps was solely performed to welcome new elders elected to the council of town elders. In modern days, however, the Lighting of the Lamps accompanies any individual taking a position of public authority. Distinct from this, the Lighting of the Lamps also has a funereal purpose, and it is often performed prior to the burial of prominent community figures.

In the Lighting of the Lamps, the main thoroughfare of a settlement, whether it is as small as a village or as large as a city, is lined on either side with lit lamps and lanterns at sunset. When done as a ceremony of acceptance for individuals taking office, the individual walks down the length of the path at the head of a small procession of some of the community's leaders and a Di'Marrë. When done as a ceremony undertaken at the end of a public figure's life, the individual's corpse is instead borne down the length of the lit path in a covered palanquin as a song of lament is sung by the Tretâllë that are present.

From a theological standpoint, the Lighting of the Lamps represents a special act of communal supplication to the Crone when it is performed to welcome an individual into public office. Although she is considered to be a trickster deity, the Crone is also considered the goddess of worldly Wisdom, especially that which comes from life experience. It is through the Lighting of the Lamps that a community beseeches the Crone to guide the individual so that they can properly assume their office, that they may have the Wisdom to do what is right and what is necessary. When it is performed as a funeral rite for a deceased individual, it takes on a different meaning entirely. In this situation, the Lighting of the Lamps represents the community asking the Crone, who is the psychopomp of the Tretalleri pantheon, to guide the deceased with her lantern into the Stranger's embrace.