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 Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:19 pm
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►Life in Kasai ||
The life of a Taiho ||
Taiho, unlike the rest of the citizens of the kingdom, do not take trades. When they are brought to Kasai they are educated in the ways of the pride. They learn the history behind each of the three kingdoms, their kings, and their laws. They are taught the ways of peace and karma, learning the importance of the balance of the world that sustains life and order. As they grow older they are taught several arts- music, writing, and teaching to name a few. This is so they can contribute to the rich culture of Kasai and, eventually, to their own kingdom if they are selected to serve as a Saiho.
The Taiho are cared for by the Nyosen from the time of their arrival to the time of their passing. The Nyosen wake them, groom them, bring their meals, mend their hurts, offer a listening ear, and a shoulder to cry on when needed. Their lives are peaceful, comfortable, and filled with the finer arts that cultivate peaceful, wise souls. The Taiho will learn to hate violence and even the very sight and smell of blood. They are brought up to believe themselves to be pure, the bridge between the gods and the mortals. Their visions make them somehow more than gods on some level.
When a Taiho seeks to start a family it's often a very heavy decision. Taiho are not allowed to leave the island of Kasai for any reason. The dangers on the outside are too great and the Taiho are too precious to risk. They may make families with one another but any non-seer cubs will be gathered up by the Nyosen and taken to one of the other kingdoms to be raised by a surrogate family. Taiho are encouraged instead to seek out godly mates. They can ask one of the three local gods to search for any willing to give them a family. This way they can have their families with them within Kasai.
The final option is if a male Taiho wishes to start a relationship with a Nyosen. Again, the non-seer cubs will be brought to the main land and in most cases, the Nyosen will leave Kasai to raise the cubs on her own away from Kasai, never to return again. Because of the difficulty behind mating, Taiho rarely reproduce.
The Nyosen ||
The Nyosen are essentially the mothers of the Taiho. They live to serve them and find great pleasure in being the caregivers to such holy creatures. They don't see their life as being one of servitude, rather, they find purpose in the upbringing of these divine beings. To the Nyosen, the Taiho are like their family. They care for them, feed them, groom them, teach them, and listen to their troubles.
Nyosen are afforded very comfortable lives as well. They are safe within the walls of Kasai and enjoy the rich, god-blessed landscape around them. Most Nyosen will be hybrids because they are unable to naturally reproduce. They find a family, they find children, within the Kasai and this fills the missing place within them.
Nyosen are only female because they are to provide a motherly presence to the Taiho where the god of peace stands as something of a father to them. Any prospect Nyosen arrive at the foot of Kasai where the gods and other Nyosen stand guard. They can make their case to one of the gods and, if found worthy and loving, they are allowed inside. However, leaving the Kasai is frowned upon. Most Nyosen stay for life but on occasion a Nyosen will carry the family of a Taiho and wish to return to the kingdoms to raise them.
► Celebrations ||
The Festival of Harmony ||
Twice a year the festival of harmony is celebrated: The first during the summer solstice and the second during the winter solstice. Every festival begins with a celebration of life, hope, life, and peace. The Taiho and Nyosen dance, sing, perform any special talents that they have, and exchange gifts. This is a day to celebrate everything that lightens the spirit and brings forth new life. It is also the most romantic day for a proposal for romance. It's thought that cubs conceived during the festival will be blessed with good fortune.
The second day is a more somber day. It serves as a memorial and an observation of those that have passed away, a remembrance of hard times and of chaos. Strife and suffering are part of the balance as well and the citizens of Kasai know this full well. On this day songs of bold heros, tragic romances, and memorials to the fallen are sung. White flowers are picked from the trees and placed within the lake to float to the mainland. Come morning, all three kingdoms have little white petals littering the coastline.
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