Marriage in the IK

[Sul-Menite]

Hi,

I was wondering if marriage ceremonies/ the marriage process in the IK has ever been described (either morrowan or menite). Do married couples wear rings? I assume there are betrothals?


Thanks!

[Sosthenes]

I don't think this is in the new forum's "Doug Seacat on…" thread, but it answers some questions:

People have been getting married a long time, and so I'm sure there is indeed a Menite wedding ceremony which is probably one of the more pleasant ceremonies a Menite priest may have to oversee. But I must admit I've not previously done any thought on what it would be like.

By the way, we've never specified anywhere that these religions have celibacy as a requirement. Marriage is most definitely acceptable for Morrowan priests, I'd expect for Menite ones as well, particularly given some were once priest-kings who likely had dynasties. Marriage is also acceptable for Morrowan monks, I'm a bit less certain regarding Menite ones. Garrick Voyle has taken no spouse, but that isn't necessarily indicative of a general trend.

I could imagine the reclaimers and the monks having vows which might not enable them to marry, but I expect it's otherwise open to the other branches of the Temple. (As long as the marriage doesn't interfere with their faith or duties to the Temple. I suspect many scrutators would choose not to marry, given how obsorbed in their work they are.)

The only thing which comes immediately to mind for Menite weddings is it would likely include a lot of language about obedience, something not very politically correct in modern weddings. One can imagine a rather lengthy litany of chain of obedience, with Menoth at the top of all of them, naturally. But lots of the normal traditional wedding language should still work. Less emphasis on love, more about fidelity, strength of family, and asking Menoth to approve of the union and bestow long life and fertility, etc.

I like the notion of using the symbology of flames joining. Across almost all religions weddings have been a rather joyous occasion, I think even the gloomy Menites might be willing to put on a cheerful face at such a time, with food and drink brought forth to show thanks to Menoth for granting such a bounty, in addition to helping draw the community together in his name. Another interesting element might be that this could be one of the few ceremonies where the priests would not wear the masks of their station, instead opening their faces as a sign of trust within the community.

There might be some interesting and rigid protocol regarding exactly what you can eat and drink at the wedding - specific traditional foods, etc.

This is definitely one area where I think you'd also see some differences between the Old Faith in the north and the Sul-Menites in the south, with elements of their cultures having leaked into the ceremonies over the centuries. (Types of music, perhaps a dance local to the region, etc. Food would also be impacted by region.) I'm imagining the Old Faith marriages being a bit more festive, perhaps, with the Sul-Menites having more elaborate phrasing and costumes. It'd also be interesting if certain Idrian customs have been carried forward and "allowed" to remain for those weddings, where they were not seen to conflict with the True Law.

For some reason I'm thinking it might be interesting and striking if the bride was in white and gold, with the groom in mostly red with gold trim. Rings are an ancient ritual I could certainly see originating with the Menites and later adopted by the Morrowans as well. An interesting variant on this theme might be if the priest presiding over the ceremony also donned a ring in the course of the ceremony, to represent the fact that both bride and groom are bound to and owe their primary obedience to Menoth, as represented by his mortal priesthood. (The priest doesn't keep wearing the ring afterward, it's just a symbolic part of the ritual.)

[Sul-Menite]

Wow yeah that's basically exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you.

Do you know of a way to access the old forums? I'd love to read more of Doug's thoughts on things

[HerrDeux]

I don't think this is in the new forum's "Doug Seacat on…" thread, but it answers some questions:

How the heck did you come by this from the Old Forums? Or are these Seacat musings from the current New Forums, but in another section?

[PPS_Dougseacat]

Cool. I don't even remember writing that. I wonder what year that was?

[Iron_Peanut]

Trollkin materials contain frequent references to "mates," but none to "spouses" that I can recall. Grissel is still lovelorn and and unattached after the death of her male mate. Madrak Ironhide's deliberately avoids spending a lot of time with his mate and children, for fear that the horrible cursed world-ending axe that he hauls around will affect them in some negative way.
I think most trollkin mate for life, with some exceptions. Fell Callers don't place a lot of restraints on their amorous adventures, and Borka Kegslayer takes his role as a shaman of a fertility deity fairly seriously.

Cool. I don't even remember writing that. I wonder what year that was?

It's a terrifying power to open your mouth and have setting canon (or near enough) come out of it.
One example I think about sometimes happened at a Q & A panel for Adventure time.
Audience Member: "You say Finn is the only human, but the Marauders look a lot like humans."
Show Creator Pendleton Ward: "Marauders are not humans. Marauders are necrotic cyborgs. Next question."
And just like that, pow. Necrotic cyborgs. Nothing anybody can do about it.

[Sosthenes]

How the heck did you come by this from the Old Forums? Or are these Seacat musings from the current New Forums, but in another section?

I've got some old notes from the previous forum. Can't tell you the exact date, as all I'm seeing is the date it was imported in my current note-keeping app.