The Lattimors of Aian
The
Lattimors of Aian may make up a small population in the Eastern Quarter, but
they have a close community with a unique culture.
Lattimors are a symbiotic union of two different
creatures: a bursk (a hairy mammalian biped) and a neem (an intelligent fungal
creature). Each creature is has its own personality and
that each personality exists in the Lattimor at once. The
two personalities have varying levels of control over the lattimor at different
times based on which state the creature is in. The fugue state is when the two
personalities are in harmonious balance; working together as a single mind.
Sometimes one of the personalities dominates the other. A Lattimor in a bursk state is usually more easily
prone to anger, more aggressive, and has less self-control. Alternatively, a
Lattimor in a neem state is contemplative, conversational, and extremely
passive.
Lattimors living in Aian have their own unique culture and beliefs. The Lattimors believe in two sibling
gods: Tenemateri and Tenenavatas. Tenemateri is the god that holds the universe
together. She pulls on all things, keeps the planets in orbit around the sun,
and holds entire solar systems together. Tenenavatas is the god that hurls the
universe apart. He pushes all things away from one other; breaking apart that
which connects things together. A typical outsider might think that Tenemateri
is the “good god” holding the universe together and that Tenenavatas is the
devil “hurling the universe apart”. On the contrary, both gods are good and
both gods are evil. Without her brother, Tenemateri’s pull would cause
everything in existence to come together, until there is no planets, no life,
no stars, only one single point in all existence. On the other hand, without
his sister, Tenenavatas’ push would separate all planets and all matter until
there was no light and life was impossible. The beliefs of the Lattimors are
actually a lesson in balance. They believe that in nature there is a push and
pull; and those competing forces should be in balance. Their own bodies
exemplify the juxtaposition of completing values: the neem embodying intellect,
kindness, and peace and the bursk embodying passion, strength, and courage.
When a bursk is born there is ritual that takes place to join it with its neem. Near the end of a pregnant Lattimor’s term, the neems of each parent Lattimor start to produce aecia, or small spore sacs that resemble small pin sized yellow flowers growing on the discolored backs of the adults. These aecia are produced in both parents and might be a result of pheromone signaling that foretells the arrival of the newborn. At this time, the mother will fill a ceremonial bowl with warm sweetened water and place several aecia from both mother and father in the bowl. Over the course of a few hours to a few days, the bowl will turn purple and carries a unique scent of sweet vanilla and yeast. Once born, the bursk is bathed in the water until it has formed a connection with its neem. This connection can take as long as two weeks to establish. During this time, friends and family arrive to greet the new arrival and provide their own tokens to the ceremonial bowl. Typically sweet things are added to bowl like hard candies and cookies which are thought to prolong the life of the broth. Occasionally, people bring flowers and other aromatic plants. And rarely, shins and unique cyphers are placed in the bowl. Many of these tokens are thought to improve the chances that a union will occur. Others carry specific superstitious blessings for the life of the newborn child. The ritual is attended by family, close friends, and the delivering matron. Within about four weeks, the broth changes color from purple to brown; at which point the budding neems within are no longer alive. If a union has not occurred by this time, it is unlikely to occur at all. Lattimors typically aren’t given official names until they reach the age to 2-3, at which time, the names given are meant to suit their individual personalities.
When a bursk is born there is ritual that takes place to join it with its neem. Near the end of a pregnant Lattimor’s term, the neems of each parent Lattimor start to produce aecia, or small spore sacs that resemble small pin sized yellow flowers growing on the discolored backs of the adults. These aecia are produced in both parents and might be a result of pheromone signaling that foretells the arrival of the newborn. At this time, the mother will fill a ceremonial bowl with warm sweetened water and place several aecia from both mother and father in the bowl. Over the course of a few hours to a few days, the bowl will turn purple and carries a unique scent of sweet vanilla and yeast. Once born, the bursk is bathed in the water until it has formed a connection with its neem. This connection can take as long as two weeks to establish. During this time, friends and family arrive to greet the new arrival and provide their own tokens to the ceremonial bowl. Typically sweet things are added to bowl like hard candies and cookies which are thought to prolong the life of the broth. Occasionally, people bring flowers and other aromatic plants. And rarely, shins and unique cyphers are placed in the bowl. Many of these tokens are thought to improve the chances that a union will occur. Others carry specific superstitious blessings for the life of the newborn child. The ritual is attended by family, close friends, and the delivering matron. Within about four weeks, the broth changes color from purple to brown; at which point the budding neems within are no longer alive. If a union has not occurred by this time, it is unlikely to occur at all. Lattimors typically aren’t given official names until they reach the age to 2-3, at which time, the names given are meant to suit their individual personalities.
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