by Kaytoo on Fri Jul 16, 2010 4:46 pm
Moragan Hammer Basics
Mon Hamr Kefa’sosh’mon
(Common Hamr Manners of Living)
By K2
The Moragan Hammer people as a whole have a number of manners of living that may seem odd, foreign to even extreme to many other cultures. Some of these mannerisms are based upon practicality, while others stem from ways of living from ancient times simply repeated over each successive generation to finally some simply based upon their deep rooted superstitions (covered in greater detail elsewhere). Whatever the initial reasons were in some cases known others not, the following are just a few of commonly accepted traits or manners of living that have become typical within Hamr society.
Spitting:
Though civilized cultures find it coarse and rude, truth be told most people spit just not so openly as the Hamr or as often. Besides typical reasons such as ridding the mouth of something one does not wish to swallow that would hold for all, the Hamr spit for another very specific reason based upon superstition yet also to convey a message of frustration yet at the same time courtesy to others.
The Hamr believe once a word is thought it then resides within the mouth simply waiting to come out. Kind words healthy and sweet making the individual happier and better balanced if swallowed down, yet also making others healthier and happier if voiced to them as they clearly take them in through their ears. Words of anger, insult, slurs and so on however being unhealthy and bitter and having the opposite effect on both parties be they swallowed or spoken. This to the Hamr is proven out in that a person having kind things to say swallowed down always seems happier and healthier, yet in contrast those having words of anger to voice swallowed down themselves become bitter, unhappy and unhealthy and the effects upon others in both cases are obvious.
To that end, when a Hamr has words of anger, insult or so on to voice yet does not wish to harm others, they will quite often “spit” ridding their mouths of the vile words and once done let the thought go moving onto others. In this way they do no harm to themselves by holding it in or swallowing the words down if you will. Yet in kind do no harm to others. However, contrary to that suggested by civilized peoples to simply not express them, hide them and so on to be polite, Hamr find that rude and deceptive. A typically honest people on the whole the Hamr believe that by not expressing both the upset, yet at the same time the wish to do no harm to another in word or deed, they are being discourteous in that if what is causing them upset continues it will typically lead to violence.
Spitting the honest Hamr’s way of stating, “you/this situation is upsetting me, I do not wish to be harmed further, or harm you” and finally as a warning for the situation to end. The courteous other should then either walk away, or ask what is upsetting the individual.
Nudity:
It is said that long ago when Moragan of the North taught the frail group of people eventually to become Hamr to be strong, that part of that was being comfortable naked. As with many things he taught his reason was often voiced as “we suffer today so our children tomorrow will be strong”. No doubt in many generations past the Hamr’s ancestors had difficulty enduring the conditions of the far North, yet in time Moragan’s words proved out true as over the generations the Hamr people became more and more conditioned to the cold. It would not be uncommon to find the Hamr today quite comfortable nude in what to most would be cold temperatures (50F/10C) with natural variations from person to person many moderately comfortable depending upon the weather even down to 32F/0C. Yet on the whole the Hamr in many climates is warm, clothing often only overheating them.
In kind, wherein at one time it was considered “kocve’mon” or faithful to be nude to endure the trials of life on Vraste’ to make you stronger, it is now considered “kocve’sot” in that you are being true to yourself, the clan and others in that you are not ashamed of yourself, nor try to hide your “marks of life” (scars, tattoos, brands, etc.) a fair warning or revealing of yourself to others.
The Hamr also believe that in being raised around such better balances a person. A body is a body, all having flaws and imperfections as viewed by the civilized person, yet to the Hamr they are only seen as differences. In fact differences that the Hamr may find quite interesting verses repulsive. Additionally, the Hamr believe it eliminates the civilized notion that the physical look of a person is sexual. Granted, they may like this attribute or that, yet in the end simply seeing bare genitals, backside or breasts will not inspire sexual desire it the person, the body not inspiring such, it how the person “is” which does.
Lewd Posturing:
To this day the civilized peoples of Vraste’ or Belariath find the Hamr almost obscene in the manner they sit or present themselves to others. Many believe the Hamr to be nothing short of perverse overly sexual peoples, their almost constant nudity and more so manner of sitting, standing or presenting themselves to others meant to inspire lust in all they meet.
Fact of the matter is the Hamr believe presenting ones self to another dressed to any degree is a warning that they are armed. Tales of a Hamr woman suddenly attacking with a small knife having been hidden in her vagina or under her breast, or men behind their cock or between their bottom’s cheeks all too common to be untrue. Furthermore, “fols” or clothing is meant to sound similar to “folm” or armor. Past the all though be it minimal protection clothing affords, it is also to be said to be worn by those wishing to conceal themselves from others to protect their modesty from that other individual, so in a sense armor for the senses.
To that end, it is considered threatening or insulting to approach another dressed and more so sit or rest in a concealing fashion. It will not be uncommon for the Hamr woman to be sitting with her legs parted wide, knees spread and feet up fully exposing her cunnie and anus, her arms up or back to expose her armpits and raise her breasts, and even to on occasion throughout the conversation pull at a breast or nether lip to raise or spread it. Men may be found to blatantly turn round parting their bottoms cheeks, grasping their cock or balls lifting them and exposing their armpits as well. It is intended to say “I hide nothing from you, you can relax as I can be trusted” and further “I am not repulsed by or fear you, and therefor feel no need to cover myself forcing you to conceal your interests, and trust you”.
Simply, it is meant to state a mutual lack of fear and trust and should be returned in kind, as one should always fear a dressed or armored Hamr, and the results of another not being as courteous the Hamr will find threatening. It is a posturing of courtesy, not sexual vulgarity.
Clothing and Body Decoration:
Past armor and clothing for protection from the threat of others or the elements when needed, clothing is meant to inspire one thing in others, sexual desire. The Hamr believe concealing ones self besides not only forcing the other to wonder what weapon they may be concealing, in most cases inspires the other to want to make the other reveal themselves fully therefor inspiring interest and in turn desire. All aspects of the following performed equally by both men and women.
Therefor, the Hamr wanting to inspire sexual desire in others will often dress for the sole reason of generating interest in getting them undressed. Though most times the clothing risqué or provocative, though to the civilized person it may seem sexual in its design, the point is in reality to not state sexual desire from the design, yet simply due to wearing it (the Hamr more comfortable nude and hence the clothing often “skimpy” even it uncomfortable to them). In kind by wearing clothing though preferring to be nude, it will generate in the person an uneasiness, which in the right mindset inspires their own desire.
Further body decoration comes in often rather simplistic forms. Paints and dyes to hair, skin and teeth to simply look different, and add temporary designs to be attractive. Never applied to just the face as civilized women do yet instead to the entire package if you will. Some will even go to the rare extreme of dripping the juice from the common stainberry (used in tattooing and wound healing from its antiseptic properties) into their eyes to temporarily cause the rims of their lids to turn blue to black and the whites of their eyes a pale blue. Rare in that it is painful at first to do so. Finally adding feathers, shells or whatever else the person can dream up to piercings and hair all once again to simply be interesting and attractive.
All other forms of body decoration however such as victory ribbons about the arms or legs, jewelry, piercings, brands, carvings, tattoos and so on all having deep personal meanings. The typical hammer by showing them not offended by others asking what they mean or why. In fact, it is considered courteous to do so, as it shows that other individual sees the Hamr, and wishes to know more about them.
Dogs:
It is said “the sure way to die by the Hamr is to harm a Kocve’kocc” or dog. For centuries the Hamr have been accused of having “an unnatural penchant for dogs”, many as you can imagine reading into that less savory things. Truth of the matter is though believing dogs come from a time when the Gods decided they needed sport, in fact their first attempt, they also believe that the Gods truly failed in that they had as expected created the perfect being. The failure coming in that dogs revealed what the Gods prized most high, and therefor an example to all, even their name “Kocve’kocc” or “faithful mammal” stating such.
Not in physical form as a simple wiggle of the thumbs tells humans in that regard they are superior, yet in their true being, their spirit, demeanor and soul. The Hamr see dogs as absolutely courageous, unrelenting, clever, kind and having a clear order which all understand and abide by. The traits of a dog are those that the Hamr prize as the most Kocve’ of all. They protect their families and pack, honor ranking yet also test it. They work together to singular ends, and they love freedom yet also find great honor in serving another. Loud when needed, silent when not, threatening when threatened. To the Hamr dogs are a perfect example of how a person should be. How the kocve’ Hamr should strive to be in all regards of their life. Even in the rush, or sexually, men expected to be wanton at all times, women when feeling desire to excessive extremes.
To that end the Hamr revere dogs as the perfect example set in this world to teach and guide them to a higher plane of being, and contrary to the insult as taken by civilized beings, to say a Hamr is a dog is a high compliment indeed. Wolven as a race however contrary to what one might think are viewed as corrupt. Desperate to put on the guise of the most perfect creature, yet in truth living by savage civilized standards. To Hamr all dogs will surely see Koluumn or Heaven as they are the only ones naturally deserving the rest of us having to fight our way there. Finally the Hamr do not view their dogs as pets. They are guides, companions, teachers and superiors. The Hamr their protectors and apprentices, learning from the perfect example of what the Gods most prize.
Be sure however, the Hamr response to mistreatment of Dogs even wild Wolves will be excessive and extreme. A simple kick to some filthy stray may cost another their life and for the Hamr to do so is considered kocve’.
(To be built upon)…..
K2
"Call me savage, and you're only telling me how much you have forgotten of the natural world, and the nature of minds."