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Allowed Species: The colony consists of mainly Ma'ome, and these are the only species actually considered citizens, no matter how low or high class they are. Other species are allowed, but will always be ranked lower than Ma'ome. They have very specific Ranks they are allowed to hold, to serve the colony. One of the most important of these is the Rank of Lusus. For more information on this, see the post below detailing Life and Ranks in the Colony. For purposes of beliefs and religion, they are not believed to possess Souls like the Ma'ome have.

Colors of Fur and Eyes: There are no restrictions on fur color within the colony. Eye colors, however, are a different story. The colony believes that the color of a Ma'ome's eyes reflect the color of their Soul, and their society is based around these Soul Colors. Some Soul Colors are considered mutations, and are "technically" not allowed in the colony. This isn't to say that you cannot have a Ma'ome with these mutant eye colors. Just be prepared for them to be looked down on, and for their life to be potentially dangerous. For more in-depth information on this, see the next post.

Geography: The colony is split into two major areas - an area housing almost exclusively cubs and adolescents, and an area housing adults. This adult area is also a base of operations for raids upon other groups. Separating the two areas is a small hilly area - almost a mountain range. There is a true mountain filled with caves at one end of this divider, called Kali Taya. The area where the colony's young stay is safer and more temperate, for the most part, and it is easier to hunt prey there. The adults' area, by contrast, is basically a desert wasteland. At some point in the past, it was over-hunted, and a drought hit it hard. This is perhaps one reason the colony has turned to invasion tactics and hostile takeovers of others.

Nocturnal Colony: Most of the colony is nocturnal, due to harsh conditions on the adult side of the area. The sun is too bright and hot there for anyone to want to be moving about during the day. So the colony runs on a night based schedule - forcing even the cubs in the safer, more temperate area to adopt a nocturnal lifestyle.

Trials of the Youth: Every cub born into the colony (and those brought in from elsewhere) must pass a series of Trials before they are allowed any real responsibilities, and can eventually be considered an adult. Even adults who join the colony must pass a more difficult version of the Trials than cubs go through, often involving battling a colony member at the end. Jade Souls are tasked with deciding when a cub is ready for the Trials. Some are sent to the mountain younger than others, if a Jade believes they can make it through. Once a cub is deemed ready, a Jade will come fetch them and drop them off at one of many mouths of a series of caverns riddling Kali Taya - the mountain on one end of the hills dividing the colony. These caves are considerably dangerous - dark inside with steep dropoffs, deep pools, and deadly wildlife. The goal is to make it through the maze of the caverns and back out again - on the correct side of the hills. If a cub tries to exit on the adult side of the colony, they are punished and turned back. The cubs are required to pass this Trial alone, though as long as they enter and exit alone, none can really say if they happen to help one another out inside. Of course, many alliances and enemies can be formed during the Trials.

Birthday: A colony member's birthday is not, in fact, considered to be the day they are actually born, but the day that they exit the Trials - the day they are birthed from the earth. This day is typically only celebrated among friends and romantic partners - as it is very rare for a colony member to know who their biological parents are.

Twelfth Perigee's Eve: This is the one major holiday celebrated by the colony, taking place (somewhat obviously) in the twelfth month of the year, when the moon is largest in the sky above. This evening is focused on thanks for getting through the year before, and giving gifts to friends and partners.

Naming: Cubs born into the colony are always given a name that has six letters in it. They are not given this name until they pass their Trial. A Jade typically names cubs after their Trial, though some cubs are allowed to choose their own name. Some have a first and last name, but not all, and this is not required. New members may choose to change their name, after passing the adult version of the Trial, to fit this tradition but are not required to.

Titles: Adult colony members are encouraged to choose a Title for themselves that has something to do with their personality, beliefs, profession, or something else they feel strongly about. These titles are typically eight letters, though there are exceptions. It is also not an absolute requirement to do this - but it is considered a bit weird if someone doesn't want to choose a Title.

Isolationist Tendencies: Most in the colony tend to isolate themselves from others, aside from close friends and romantic partners. It's accepted and expected that every Ma'ome is out for themselves. Competition is encouraged, and the strong are revered. The colony leader is especially ruthless, hunting down and killing or exiling any other Fuchsia Soul she hears of. It's uncommon for colony members to even have friends, much less a lot of friends. Cubs are much more likely to have friends, but just as likely to lose said friends in the Trials, or to competition for food, ranks, power, prestige, or any number of other things. Friendships lasting into adulthood are very rare.

Quadrant Romance: Romantic relationships within the colony are divided into four fairly rigid quadrants. Romance that blurs these together, or is outside the accepted and explained confines of them is considered aberrant and sometimes dangerous. For more information on this, see two posts down. A Clade is the term for interconnected quadrants that a colony member may have. For example, a partner of a partner would be in your Clade, and you'd be more likely to defend them in a battle than someone not in your Clade - though you yourself have no relationship to them.

"Ancestors": Most colony members, as previously stated, don't know who their biological parents are. Some adults through the colony's history, however, have made a name for themselves by doing something notable. Such as winning a decisive battle, being a well-known figure in religion, etc. If a young colony member is able to somehow trace their line back to one of these figures, they revere them in a way. It's not exactly religious, but they do admire these Ancestors and some try to emulate them, if they know of them.

Death: Death is considered fairly commonplace in the colony - the adults live in a dangerous area and war and invasion is also dangerous. The only ones who might mourn a death are those closest to the colony member who died. For most others, life just goes on as usual. Even a cub dying isn't really notable - as many cubs are lost to the Trials every year.

Romance within the colony is structured into four distinct types, or quadrants. Below is a brief description of each, their symbols, and how they work in society.

Matesprite; Red; Heart: This is the most similar to a typical romantic relationship that other colonies would recognize, so it's the easiest to start with. It's symbolized by a heart, as well as the color red; and indicates partners who love each other in a positive way including physical relations intended to produce offspring. It's often referred to as "flushed" romance in society.

Moirail; Pale; Diamond: The second of the more positively inclined quadrants, Moiraillegiance is close-ish to being someone's best friend. It's not exactly the same, however, as there is still an element of romance. Moirails watch out for each other, and try to make one another a better person by way of positive reinforcement. Moirails also act as therapist to one another, "jamming" with their feelings and emotions. There is some physical affection shown, usually by touching and cuddling. But this quadrant is not about producing offspring at all - there is a definite "ew" reaction to any implication that Pale partners would do this. This type of affection is symbolized by a diamond and is often called "pale".

Kismesis; Pitch; Spade: Probably the most difficult to explain, this quadrant is sort of a flip side of the Matesprite and Moirail quadrants. It's based in wanting to be better, and make your partner better - but this is done through competition and rivalry, rather than more positive things. Entering this kind of relationship requires respect from both partners - and both are usually dangerous alone, but even more dangerous when they put their skills together. There is a physical side to this quadrant, similar to the Flush quadrant - but think of it like a BDSM relationship - for lack of a better parallel. There is still respect and rules to this part of the quadrant, it's not just senseless violence. This quadrant does have physical relations that can produce offspring.

Auspistice; Ash; Club: This is the final quadrant, and is tied with Kismesitude. At times, two colony members will attempt to become a Pitch pair - but for whatever reason it doesn't work like it's supposed to. Perhaps rules are not as clear as they need to be, or there is some other imbalance. This quadrant is for that. It is a polyamorous quadrant, involving the two potential Pitch partners, and a third member who mediates between them. These relationships can be temporary - simply existing until the Pitch partners are stable - or they can be long lasting. This quadrant does not produce offspring.