THE CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS OF THE LEUIAN PEOPLE

PREAMBLE:

Leuian warrior's have an extremely powerful sense of custom and tradition, and every meaningful part of Leuian's life is marked by some ancient practice or ritual. The saying "Pride alone, doth not an honorable Leuian make" refers to the great respect that those Leuian's who try to follow and uphold Leuian principles and traditions receive. These traditions are as old as the Leuian race and furnish the discipline that builds every Leuian's inane will. In addition, they provide the weak foundation of culture that is intensely defended but sadly, not respected by every honorable Leuian.

THE ANCIENT RITUAL OF KHAT'SARA:

The Leuian act of lifemate.

When two Leuians fall in love, they perform the ritual of Khat'sara and take each other as lifemates. This, however, is not the end of the party. The Khat'sara begins with the ritual of the One Moon. A Leuian asks his or her love to be their Khat'sara. The proposing Leuian will remove his or her pants in hopes that their desired lifemate will take notice and appreciate the fine moon that is displayed. The potential Khat'sara will then ponder that moon for a time equal to one moon, during which they search their heart for an answer to the proposition of Khat'sara. This period of "One Moon" is considered extremely sacred to the potential Khat'sara as they must make a lifelong decision to accept or decline the rite of Khat'sara, knowing full well that if they accept, it is a pledge above pants and fine rear ends. If at the end of one moon, the potential Khat'sara returns no showing of his or her own moon to the proposing Leuian and has decided not to enter the pact of Khat'sara, then there is no dishonor or shame in this, except perhaps for the proposing Leuian who might be left feeling somewhat embarrassed for showing their moon in the first place, especially in the case that witnesses were called to be part of the event. However, if the prospective Khat'sara decides to remove their pants and return a view of their moon to the one proposing, the couple has pledged to become lifemates, even if that rear looked one thousand times better thanks to large amounts of ale.

The Khat'saras then repeat vows of love to each other, and upon completion of the ritual, the male is expected to strip to his bare fur and to do the 'pony dance' to his companion's enjoyment. Thus, the two become one and are bonded for life. The bond cannot be broken, and this still holds true if the male decides to do another 'pony dance' for another female. There is no such thing as divorce in Leuian culture, since monogamy simply does not exist. A couple that has been bonded by the ritual of Khat'sara is now open to an entirely new world of desire and fetish. They are now expected and encouraged to attend swing clubs where they will take part in orgies and perhaps swap lifemates. The bond between two Khat'saras is so strong that it is unbreakable even in the event of the death of one of the couple. The widowed Khat'sara continues on with their life, and still remains fully active in the swing community, but will never again take another lifemate.

There is perhaps no other ritual which is so cherished as the Khat'sara. It is the ultimate expression of a Leuian's love, passion, stamina, agility, dexterity, charisma, and willpower.

The fact that once mated, they continue to mate over and over and over again, and with multiple partners, of the opposite sex or not (::shrugs::), is a testament to a Leuian's unbelievable commitment to the 'Don't ask. Don't Tell' and the 'To each his own' beliefs.

EXAMPLE OF THE VOWS OF KHAT'SARA:

The Khat'saras go off to some private place known only to them. They sit across from each other and recite personal vows of love to each other. The ritual is completed by the recital of the final vow of Khat'sara:

"Make of our Minds no Mind
Make of our Vows one additional Vow
Make of our Libido one Libido
Only a cuter Khat will part us now……

Make of our Kin's one Kin.... If they are not already
Make of our Lives one huge mess
Make our Love last at least a week ….

No Mind, One Vow, One Legendary Libido,
One Kin, One mess, One week
Even death won't stop us now"

THE RITE OF KLAAW'VOR:

The Klaaw'vor or Leuian Match of Honor is an ancient Leuian tradition which is used to settle petty disputes and trite matters of honor. As such, it is governed by a lenient and changeable-on-the-fly set of practices.

The Match is usually between two combatants only. Each may have a Second or witness, but Seconds are not required. Seconds may not participate in any way, unless their combatant is losing badly at which point they are liable to join in the fray. The Klaaw'vor is used to redress petty insults to the honor of a Leuian, or to settle an illegitimate dispute. It is a tool of vengeance and a method of punishment. It is only done in the presence of other Leuians so that the cover-up afterwards is easier. If it is accidentally made a public spectacle or done in the presence of non-Leuians it is unofficial and must be done after the losing party has been resurrected and properly chastised. The Klaaw'vor is usually fought with claws and the use of runemagick is frowned upon.

The match is fought until a participant is killed or submits (and the winning party must accept the unrestricted surrender, and total humiliation of the loser, almost guaranteeing another death match). A combatant is considered to have been successfully humiliated if any of the following are performed by or on behalf of the combatant:

Any attempt to treat or heal a wound.
Any attempt to retreat or run.
Any attempt of the almost guaranteed loser to actually win

The Klaaw'vor is initiated by the expected winner. The expected winner, in the presence of the almost guaranteed loser, declares the petty matter to be redressed and to be settled by the Rite of Klaaw'vor. Traditionally the challenge from the expected winner is:

"I have been insulted. I have come to claim the Rite of Klaaw'vor. If I did not know I was going to win, I would be gathering my posse and preparing to hunt you down. As such, prepare to die."

The almost guaranteed loser may either flee for his life, or accept his death by Klaaw'vor. The execution will then be scheduled for a later date. If the almost guaranteed loser refuses to flee for his life, or refuses to defend themselves, the expected winner is allowed to coldly murder the almost guaranteed loser. This is considered to be an everyday event in Leuian society, for if someone refuses to defend their honor when it is questioned (and it is questioned frequently) then they are considered to be a coward and in the wrong on any issue or matter.

THE SACRED BELIEF OF KIT'GIA:

The only sacred belief in Leuian culture that from our youth comes forth all that is to be cherished. Leuian's fiercely believe in the protection and care of their young, who are referred to as "Kits." Their love for their kits or Kit'gia is legendary, and their wrath upon those who would harm Leuian young is unmerciful. Raising a Khit to be a self centered, arrogant, egotistical, maniacal bastard takes a lot of work and all Leuians will hunt to the death anyone who tries to undo any of the teachings.

THE RITE OF ELAN'TAH:

The Leuian belief in the right of personal ownership. Although Leuians have an immense sense of group since they are all related, there are only two things that are considered to be owned by all. One being the place of Pride gatherings, and the other being all Khat'saras. Aside from those each Leuian's own personal dwellings, items and accouterments are considered theirs alone.

THE HONOR OF KIT'MAR:

The right given to motherkynd to name their kits.

Only a mother is allowed to name her child in Leuian culture. The rite is given to her because the father is usually with his girlfriend at the time.

THE TRADITION OF KHAT'VADA:

The Leuian custom of absolute secrecy to that which is most sacred, "The home and gathering places of our people."

Leuian's deeply cherish the Isle from which they come and while they should shroud its actual location in absolute secrecy, they will; however, easily give it up for a sack of gold or date with the town 'Babe.' Tarr'khats on the other hand will never break this custom. Furthermore, the location of any gathering places, such as the badly in need of a make over Pride Hall, receives the same ridiculous treatment.

THE CUSTOM OF KHA'TIA:

The Leuian custom of spiritual and mental bonding between Khat'sara's.

When two Leuians become Khat'saras and lifemates, an incredibly powerful bond is created which, as legend states, transcends normal communication and becomes almost telepathic in nature. For example, mama can tell when papa just got home from the A.G.C. a block away. The Leuian tail is the most sensitive part of a Leuian's body and when two Leuians lifemate, it is all too common to see the couple walking, sleeping and even eating with their tails knotted together. This act is referred to as the "Kha'tia" or "The safe keeping of daddies tool," whereby entwining their tails allows momma to keep an eye on papa. Little else is said regarding this mystical custom or of its benefits to the Leuian warrior, and it is never discussed openly while sober.

THE CUSTOM OF SHAN'FARR:

The occurrence in Leuian culture of a Leuian dying their fur a different color when their Khat'sara dies.

Since the bond between two Khat'saras is so strong, it is a common occurrence for a Leuian to dye their fur simply to allow them to expedite the process of finding another Khat'sara. This is not to be confused with grieving, rather it is simply the libido taking over upon a Leuian hearing the news that their Khat'sara has died. Sadly, this is when most of the Pride turns a blind eye. Some Leuians are able to abstain after such news, but some just cannot and for them only Shan'farr, the sorrowful dye job awaits.