Dynamics of a NestCaeli social structures have remained relatively unchanged since the dawn of the species. It continues that a nest typically has one matriarch that leads the nest with the support of multiple consorts and elders. Bonds within the nest are typically strong, with noble houses pledging fealty to their monarch for generations. Caeli typically live in a large communal nest with individual homes dotted across this space. Within the nest, the Queen organizes the environment and social landscape around her in order to protect and grow the nest. While not all Queens are truly benevolent, malevolent Queens have rarely survived as they lose support from elders. What happens when a nest becomes Queen-less is often a dark area of history, avoided by scholars and common folk alike. In the event that a nest loses their Queen it will often take some time before a new one is born, which means a period of destabilization and decline. The knowledge that the absence of a Queen causes complete nest breakdown indicates that the Queen serves an important evolutionary aspect of Caeli biology and psychology.
The NestlessThere are always outsiders on the fringe of society, however this is a very difficult existence for any Caeli. Nestless wanderers are typically shunned from entering inner nest spaces until pledging fealty to a Queen. They often do not receive help and face many challenges in re-entering society. Death by any number of causes is not an uncommon fate to any Caeli that chooses to abandon their nest. However, this doesn't stop individuals from choosing solitude and nature as an alternative to a complex social life that is nest living.
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Caeli LanguageSpoken language is song-like, consisting of a complex range of vocal sounds. They have great flexibility in their speech, with a great textural and tonal range. Their ability to pronounce complex words is great, due to their tensile tongue and developed voice boxes. However, their voices do not sound humanoid at times resemble some birds in their sweet melodious tone.
Written language is highly complex, as it is logographic - defined by a single word meaning that has a corresponding individual glyph. The form of a logogram does not indicate how it is pronounced, and so a child who receives formal writing lessons would continue schooling until late in life, in order to be able to read and pronounce every word. While the majority of Caelis can't write formally, there are many slang logograms which almost every Caeli would know, meaning words such as 'home', 'shop', or 'food'. Even abstract words like 'love', 'friend', and 'whale' would be known by their visual impression. Written language is typically carved into stone, pressed into wet clay that is then fired, or for less important text scribed onto paper using various dyes or inks. This is popular with noblemen and merchants, though official documents typically require stamped clay or stone proof. |
Caeli Number SystemThe number system used by Caelis has been shaped by their culture and biological disposition. Caeli are predisposed to be attentive to circles or spherical shapes, due to the architecture of nests and tunnels.
Caeli technology heavily relies on an understanding of their basic mathematics, and while not all Caeli are proficient it is more commonly used everyday than the formal written language. This is because of the usefulness it has in everyday situations, where currency and trading plays an important role in the life of a Caeli. |
Caeli CurrencyAll currency has gone through the Star nest at one stage or another, either as point of origin or later through trade-market currency checks. Coins are generally made of either high purity gold or silver, where one gold coin is equivalent to five silvers. One side is stamped with the formal word 'Caeli', as well as a logograph for each of the four nests. In gold coins, the underside pays respect to the first Queens of each nest with an image of their likeness.
Coins are used in everyday transactions to replace trading with items, as it is more convenient to have an inter-nest currency which allows economic unification and increased trade. The average Caeli would carry several small bags of these coins to purchase food, pay for services and other transactions. |