Overview:
Over many generations the culture of the mawmaw species has shifted from the ways of their great ancestors to the mawmaws of today. Though much has changed within this time, the mawmaws live very simple lives with a way of life that is easy to explain.
Social Groups:
Mawmaws are social by nature, and come from a long history of living in large social groups with others of their kind. Although some may be more or less social than others, they all share a biological draw to socializing with other mawmaws- regardless of the way they do so.
Most mawmaws come from large family groups consisting of many generations of their bloodline, and those family groups often form much larger groups with other families known as commons. A common may have anywhere between two and eight different families within them, with some having even more than this depending on the size of the family groups within them!
As a result of the mawmaw's natural desire to socialize and form groups with friends and family, it's not uncommon for mawmaws to have many friends and share those relationships with other friends either in or outside of their commons.
With that being said, the way a mawmaw chooses to socialize all comes down to personal preference. Not all mawmaws like having large families or many friends. Being social creatures doesn't mean they always get along with one another, or have a higher tolerance of other people than say, a human would. In the end how a mawmaw socializes depends on their personality and their preferences.
Most mawmaws come from large family groups consisting of many generations of their bloodline, and those family groups often form much larger groups with other families known as commons. A common may have anywhere between two and eight different families within them, with some having even more than this depending on the size of the family groups within them!
As a result of the mawmaw's natural desire to socialize and form groups with friends and family, it's not uncommon for mawmaws to have many friends and share those relationships with other friends either in or outside of their commons.
With that being said, the way a mawmaw chooses to socialize all comes down to personal preference. Not all mawmaws like having large families or many friends. Being social creatures doesn't mean they always get along with one another, or have a higher tolerance of other people than say, a human would. In the end how a mawmaw socializes depends on their personality and their preferences.
Mawmaw Names:
Much like humans, mawmaws have first and secondary names that identify who they are!
First names have a good bit of variety- with some being pulled from the world around them; things like Cloud, Storm, or Summer, while others are more like those we are familiar with! Names like these can sound more fantastical, like Rho, Ardman, and Ilnia for example; while others may be a little more 'basic', such as Mary, Ryan, or Cameron. No matter what kind of first name a mawmaw has- it is important as the name that identifies them as an individual!
Because mawmaws tend to form larger social groups consisting of multiple families in one, last names act as a good way to tell who belongs to which part of the family; for a variety of different reasons. Last names are passed down from parents to their offspring. Mawmaws who find mates may choose to adopt the family name of their partner, but otherwise keep the same name they were born with.
Last names for mawmaws generally follow a more traditional style where the family name originates from the skill or appearance of the founding member. Names like Suncrest, Warclaw, Snowmane, Daywing, and Thundermaw are all pretty good examples of what these names are like!
First names have a good bit of variety- with some being pulled from the world around them; things like Cloud, Storm, or Summer, while others are more like those we are familiar with! Names like these can sound more fantastical, like Rho, Ardman, and Ilnia for example; while others may be a little more 'basic', such as Mary, Ryan, or Cameron. No matter what kind of first name a mawmaw has- it is important as the name that identifies them as an individual!
Because mawmaws tend to form larger social groups consisting of multiple families in one, last names act as a good way to tell who belongs to which part of the family; for a variety of different reasons. Last names are passed down from parents to their offspring. Mawmaws who find mates may choose to adopt the family name of their partner, but otherwise keep the same name they were born with.
Last names for mawmaws generally follow a more traditional style where the family name originates from the skill or appearance of the founding member. Names like Suncrest, Warclaw, Snowmane, Daywing, and Thundermaw are all pretty good examples of what these names are like!
Romance and Relationships:
Along with friendly and familial relationships, mawmaws put a lot of value into their romantic relationships as well. What an individual seeks in a romantic relationship or a romantic partner and how they go about courting a potential mate all depends on their personal preferences. Once a mawmaw reaches fifteen years of age they are able to decide what they would like in a romantic relationship; and there's not much in the way when it comes to one's preferences (so long as all individuals involved are of age).
When a mate has been chosen, mawmaws typically pair for life with one of the individuals adopting the family name of the other and joining their common to start a family. Of course, not everyone does this specifically, but it's what's most common.
Some mawmaws may participate in polyamorous relationships; where multiple individuals pair up and participate in a romantic relationship with one another as a group. Many polyamorous groups of mawmaws form their own commons or villages and raise their children together; should they choose to have any!
Mawmaws who lose their partner (for one reason or another) can choose to seek out a new partner, if they choose- though it's relatively uncommon for them to do so.
When a mate has been chosen, mawmaws typically pair for life with one of the individuals adopting the family name of the other and joining their common to start a family. Of course, not everyone does this specifically, but it's what's most common.
Some mawmaws may participate in polyamorous relationships; where multiple individuals pair up and participate in a romantic relationship with one another as a group. Many polyamorous groups of mawmaws form their own commons or villages and raise their children together; should they choose to have any!
Mawmaws who lose their partner (for one reason or another) can choose to seek out a new partner, if they choose- though it's relatively uncommon for them to do so.
Raising the Young Generation:
Young mawmaws are raised in small groups within their common by their parents and several other members of the group. Mawmaws almost always parent cooperatively with others in the common to ensure that all of the children in a certain age group are being brought up together, and with more adults to help out it makes the process of raising a child much easier for the parents.
They're taught a variety of different skills depending on which adults are raising them, but having so many "parent" figures at once ensures that the young mawmaws learn more than they would from having just one or two parents. In addition to providing a wider range of skills and mannerisms, having numerous "siblings" means the mawmaws grow up in a group that boosts their future social skills.
Mawmaws typically break from these groups at around sixteen years old, as this is the age where they are fully mature, most have found their soulstones, and are starting to find a job or occupation for themselves. Though they're not totally independent until at least twenty years old, this is around the age where they're no longer considered children/teenagers.
They're taught a variety of different skills depending on which adults are raising them, but having so many "parent" figures at once ensures that the young mawmaws learn more than they would from having just one or two parents. In addition to providing a wider range of skills and mannerisms, having numerous "siblings" means the mawmaws grow up in a group that boosts their future social skills.
Mawmaws typically break from these groups at around sixteen years old, as this is the age where they are fully mature, most have found their soulstones, and are starting to find a job or occupation for themselves. Though they're not totally independent until at least twenty years old, this is around the age where they're no longer considered children/teenagers.
Jobs and Occupations:
Although they are magical beings, mawmaws still have a great need for jobs and occupations to make their lives safer, cleaner, easier, and more efficient! These jobs are important, not only for the economy and ever-expanding advancement of their society- but for the mawmaws themselves as the work they do often provides them with self-worth and a feeling of purpose within their world. By twenty or so, most mawmaws have jobs- and there are many, many different things that a mawmaw can do!
Below is a general list with some ideas for jobs that mawmaws may have!
Below is a general list with some ideas for jobs that mawmaws may have!
- Raw material gathering (miners, hunters, fisheman, farmers)
- Refining raw materials (factory and plant workers, small refineries, brewers)
- Shipping and trading raw materials (traders, seamen, caravaners)
- Building (homebuilders, construction workers, landscapers)
- Crafting (jewelry makers, armor and weapon smiths, carpenters, toymakers)
- Art and Design (painters, musicians, clothing designers, architects, chefs)
- Teaching (teachers, tutors, skill masters)
- Science Fields (doctors, nurses, technicians, developers, scientists of any kind)
- Sanitation (city cleaners, plumbers, sanitation workers, decontamination workers, janitors)
- Law Enforcement (city guards, police officers, judges, small politicians*)
- Exploration (guides, trail blazers, sailors, cartographers )
- Communication (mailmen, messengers, bookwriters, preachers)
- Odd Jobs (mercenaries, pirates, bandits, beastmasters)
- Refining raw materials (factory and plant workers, small refineries, brewers)
- Shipping and trading raw materials (traders, seamen, caravaners)
- Building (homebuilders, construction workers, landscapers)
- Crafting (jewelry makers, armor and weapon smiths, carpenters, toymakers)
- Art and Design (painters, musicians, clothing designers, architects, chefs)
- Teaching (teachers, tutors, skill masters)
- Science Fields (doctors, nurses, technicians, developers, scientists of any kind)
- Sanitation (city cleaners, plumbers, sanitation workers, decontamination workers, janitors)
- Law Enforcement (city guards, police officers, judges, small politicians*)
- Exploration (guides, trail blazers, sailors, cartographers )
- Communication (mailmen, messengers, bookwriters, preachers)
- Odd Jobs (mercenaries, pirates, bandits, beastmasters)
Of course these aren't all of the jobs that mawmaws may have, but some pretty good examples of ones that are more common for them to have (and kept fairly general for the sake of keeping a nice list)! Mawmaws may have most any kinds of jobs so long as they fit into their world and have a bit of purpose to them- that being said, please do not give your mawmaws any jobs that would have a major impact on the lore! These are things like making "kings" or "rulers", or characters who are being made to forcibly interact with the main story of the world. We are not comfortable with this and ask that you not do it!
Where Mawmaws Live:
Since the ancient mawmaws were cast from their cities in the skies, the ground-dwelling descendents of the species had to adapt and find new places to live that would better suit them- which ended up being the many human cities, towns, and settlements that were left behind when they disappeared.
The homes and buildings in which mawmaws live and work from resemble those we would be familiar with in our world; though with some adjustments made by the mawmaws themselves to better suit a large, quadrupedal creature!
Architecture, and the overall aesthetic of certain homes and buildings vary between cities and towns, depending on climate and what resources are available to build them. The mawmaws kept much of what the humans had built relatively the same; so much of the new stuff being built is influenced by what humans built- rather than what the mawmaws once had in their old floating homes.
It’s worth noting that most mawmaws do live in homes; though some who prefer a more ‘off the grid’ kind of life live outdoors in shelters they find (such as caverns and caves) or build themselves outside of towns and cities.
The homes and buildings in which mawmaws live and work from resemble those we would be familiar with in our world; though with some adjustments made by the mawmaws themselves to better suit a large, quadrupedal creature!
Architecture, and the overall aesthetic of certain homes and buildings vary between cities and towns, depending on climate and what resources are available to build them. The mawmaws kept much of what the humans had built relatively the same; so much of the new stuff being built is influenced by what humans built- rather than what the mawmaws once had in their old floating homes.
It’s worth noting that most mawmaws do live in homes; though some who prefer a more ‘off the grid’ kind of life live outdoors in shelters they find (such as caverns and caves) or build themselves outside of towns and cities.
Mawmaw Fashion:
Just because mawmaws are feral creatures doesn't mean they can't wear clothes or accessorize to show off their individuality! In fact, clothing and accessories play a large part in mawmaw culture, as clothing and jewelry represent a mawmaw's status within their common. Of course, a lot of mawmaws will wear clothing that suits the job that they do, or the environment where they live, but the more a mawmaw wears, and the better their clothing is crafted- the more likely it is for them to be a mawmaw of "higher status" within their common!
While wearing clothes is not mandatory for mawmaws, and you wouldn't be indecent for not wearing anything; it's most common for them to choose to wear clothes, as everyone likes to feel important! This is especially common in larger cities and towns where there are more people, and one's status makes more of an impact on a greater number of people.
Mawmaws who wear clothing made out of finer or rarer materials, or anything that is intricately patterned and bright in color usually have a higher social status than others, while those who wear more common, plain, or simplistic articles of clothing seem more the common folk type. The same can be said for jewelry. The better quality and the more intricate a mawmaw's accessories are, the more likely they are to be of greater importance. It's fairly common for mawmaws in the "higher-ups" to be adorned with lots of accessories, while those in the lower parts of the common wear simplistic accessories- or nothing at all.
The styles of clothing articles worn by individual mawmaws range between simple hoods, wraps, and cloaks, to decorative head pieces, specially tailored clothes, belts, bags, buckles, and then some! There are also mawmaws who wear armor, or specialty clothing depending on the type of job that they do! There is no limit to the fashion choices, and each individual mawmaw may dress as they please regardless of status or identity; it's just more common for clothing to represent higher status!
While wearing clothes is not mandatory for mawmaws, and you wouldn't be indecent for not wearing anything; it's most common for them to choose to wear clothes, as everyone likes to feel important! This is especially common in larger cities and towns where there are more people, and one's status makes more of an impact on a greater number of people.
Mawmaws who wear clothing made out of finer or rarer materials, or anything that is intricately patterned and bright in color usually have a higher social status than others, while those who wear more common, plain, or simplistic articles of clothing seem more the common folk type. The same can be said for jewelry. The better quality and the more intricate a mawmaw's accessories are, the more likely they are to be of greater importance. It's fairly common for mawmaws in the "higher-ups" to be adorned with lots of accessories, while those in the lower parts of the common wear simplistic accessories- or nothing at all.
The styles of clothing articles worn by individual mawmaws range between simple hoods, wraps, and cloaks, to decorative head pieces, specially tailored clothes, belts, bags, buckles, and then some! There are also mawmaws who wear armor, or specialty clothing depending on the type of job that they do! There is no limit to the fashion choices, and each individual mawmaw may dress as they please regardless of status or identity; it's just more common for clothing to represent higher status!
Sexuality and Gender Identity:
Mawmaws do not reproduce the way that humans do, and thus, their concepts of sexuality and gender identity are very loose and open to individual preferences. Naturally, mawmaws are all born the same physical sex- it is neither male, nor female. They're all fully capable of reproducing with any other individual once their bodies develop into maturity, because mawmaws reproduce with magic.
Now, we're not going into the nitty-gritty on how this works, but it has made an impact on mawmaw culture, as the lack of a need for roles based on one's physical sex has opened up a broad spectrum of personal identities and preferences for mawmaws that are based solely on their own beings- and there's very little that is considered "wrong" when it comes to one's own preferences.
Individuals get to decide who they are and what they like. There has never been a social stigma with any one type of identity or sexuality (so long as it's not harmful) and mawmaws are free to choose how they identify themselves and what they want in a romantic partner- with the added bonus of being able to reproduce with anyone thanks to their unique method of reproduction.
Now, we're not going into the nitty-gritty on how this works, but it has made an impact on mawmaw culture, as the lack of a need for roles based on one's physical sex has opened up a broad spectrum of personal identities and preferences for mawmaws that are based solely on their own beings- and there's very little that is considered "wrong" when it comes to one's own preferences.
Individuals get to decide who they are and what they like. There has never been a social stigma with any one type of identity or sexuality (so long as it's not harmful) and mawmaws are free to choose how they identify themselves and what they want in a romantic partner- with the added bonus of being able to reproduce with anyone thanks to their unique method of reproduction.