Clan Sadubayar

Traditions, Rituals, and Teachings

Much of the Sadubayar mentality revolves around the symbolism of their sacred tree and the agricultural practice of rooting- the act of growing a new plant from the limbs or branches of another. The children of the Tumet tribe are taught that the sacred tree represents their Tribe symbolically and that much like the sacred tree, the tribe sometimes needs to prune it's branches in order to remain hale and continue to grow.

The Sadubayar Clan takes this a step further. Instead of considering children who do not return to the tribe as disposed waste, they advocate that the branches pruned- or children left behind- should plant themselves in soil elsewhere so that they can continue to grow. It is better to survive elsewhere as a non-Tumet and to spread the values they'd been taught than it is to allow oneself to die.

Sadubayar children are therefore taught the basics of every other Xaela tribe, along with snippets of Doman culture and language so they can potentially integrate into these communities in their tenth summer if returning to the Tribe proves to be impossible for them. Children who take this path and are seen later- either among other Tribes or in Doman lands- are not considered family, but are treated with respect. They also frequently send children with their crafters to perform manual labor when the crafters go to sell their wares at Reunion, giving the children exposure to other cultures.

Summer Ceremony

Like all Tumet, Sadubayar children are tied to the Tumet's sacred tree on their tenth summer and left behind. Those who manage to get free and rejoin the tribe at the new location are allowed into the tribe as a Tumet and given a name. Upon arriving, all Sadubayar children are given their names and allowed to celebrate with their families that night.

At the end of the season, before the tribe packs up, the Sadubayar will hold a large gathering that serves two purposes: to welcome in the newest members of the tribe and to celebrate and pray for those who did not return.

This is a day-long event filled with food, socialization, and demonstrations. In the morning, the clan prays over the children who will undergo the trial next summer before partaking in a silent breakfast meal.

In the afternoon, the children who underwent the trial in the previous summer showcase their value to the Tribe by partaking in one of three challenges: Combat, Wit, or Crafting. The challenge they undertake is generally understood to be the way they will support the Tribe in the future- their duty to the Tribe.

In the evening, the children who underwent the trial that summer and returned to the tribe are reintroduced formally to the clan with their new names and congratulated. Each child is encouraged to speak of their experience and why they chose or were able to return to the clan, as a lesson for the younger children present, though it's not necessary for them to do so. The clan then begins their dinner feast, which, unlike breakfast, is loud and hearty; with music, drink, dance, and story.

Lastly, when the moon is highest in the sky, the clan prays for the children who did not return. They pray that they did not lose their lives but instead replanted themselves in a new home. They thank the children for what they've contributed to the tribe up until now, and wish them luck and well being in whatever they pursue in the future. A clan elder appointed with the task of keeping an eye out for these children updates the list of those who are known to have survived or perished if a new Xaela has been found. The clan ends the ceremony with a moment of silence for those deceased.

Sabbaticals

Given the Clan's views on other Xaela tribes and on non-Xaela, it's not necessarily surprising that many of the clan will spend at least some amount of time traveling alone. In fact, its incredibly common, moreso today than ever before, for a member of the Sadubayar to travel into Doman lands.

This is treated as an important task if undertaken. Visiting these lands allows for the Tumet in question to help the appointed elder take note of their 'pruned' children. It also allows for the Tumets, and Sadubayar families in particular, sell their wares outside of inter-Tribe trading and Reunion. Therefore, Sadubayar to leave on a sabbatical are often if not always sent away with a reasonable amount of goods to sell and are expected to send supplies and income back to their families while away. In the event that they cannot, they are then expected to return with what they'd earned while gone.

It's not common, but there are a handful of Sadubayar Tumet who's sabbaticals last longer than others or who end up outright living away from home. These members, so long as they keep loyal to the Tribe and it's teachings, visit occasionally, and send back supplies and funds are still considered family.

Bonding

A couple who have decided to dedicate their lives to each other and begin a family undergo a bonding ritual. First they must receive the blessings of each person's parents. Then, they exchange a token of significant personal value, such as an item they created as a child, a family heirloom, or a gift they'd been given and cherish. This represents that their partner will be cherished and cared for as well.

Gender has no influence on the ritual, nor on the prospect of raising a family.

Structure and Family

Because the Sadubayar Clan is made up of several different families, they do not have much of their own internal power hierarchy. They follow Tumet leadership, Tumet tradition, Tumet laws, etc. If there is a dispute or altercation that specifically involves the clan's teachings or way of life, then the heads or elders of each family within the clan will meet in order to reach a resolution.

Children are often raised as a group prior to their tenth summer. While they still live with, eat with, and rely primarily on their actual parents, they are taught and tended to equally by the whole clan.

While uncommon, the occasional Xaela child under the age of ten will be found and adopted into the tribe. The Sadubayar are often some of the most eager to adopt these children. Adopted children, or children who have been orphaned for any reason within the tribe, are first offered to new couples who do not yet have children of their own or who are of the same sex and cannot have children themselves. It's also not uncommon that larger families with many children will offer one of their newly born children to couples who cannot conceive for one reason or another.

Couples who undergo the bonding ritual are expected to stay that way until death. Separations do happen and are allowed, but are generally met with disapproval and scorn. The main exception to this being as a response to abuse.

Non-bonded or casual relationships are allowed as well and are not generally frowned upon, provided the person in question is younger and/or not shirking their duties. Children born out of wedlock who cannot be cared for by their birth parents are treated similarly to orphans, in that they are raised by the clan and given to another clan family.

Misc.

As stated, this is a player-made Clan for the Tumet Xaela tribe! Most of what is written here is headcannons inspired from Chinese/Mongolian culture and Xaela lore. There's not a lot of Tumet lore but what we were given has been used as a backbone.

If you'd like to use the clan or have a member of it, you're totally welcome to! It's a big clan and because it's made up of many families, there's room for lots of minor variations! But hey, let me know if you do, so we can network! AvaZope#1323 is my discord.

Player Characters

Current list of player characters who are of the Sadubayar Clan:

Khoridai Tumet