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Seafoam Pod
Still in Development/Rough Draft, Tentative The Seafoam pod is relatively small, but what they lack in size they make up for in liveliness. They rely heavily on trade to make a living, and it is not uncommon to find them docked offshore of a settlement or a city to barter with their wares. They are known to be very strong swimmers and divers, preferring to be under the surface rather than above it. A lot of their goods come from the ocean floor, where non-Svefra tend not to venture.
The Seafoam pod members are very social and enjoy partying more than most Svefra pods, which is saying a lot. They view celebrations as a tribute to Laviku, so anytime they want to pray or petition, they find a beach, light a bonfire, and uncork the booze. The Seafoam pod is relatively young, founded by a Svefra named Shiva back in 445 AV. Much like the Deepseekers, Shiva broke off from her original pod in hopes of increasing contact with the land-races. Since a child, Shiva had always had a deep fascination with such people, and as she grew older and more religious, she believed that it was her duty to spread Laviku's wisdom to the land dwellers. Her pod started out by docking in many coastal cities and along the way, like-minded Svefra joined her. Shiva eventually developed a taste for bartering, becoming a well-known trader on the Suvan. As the years went by, she withdrew from that lifestyle and led her pod out to the open waters of the Southern Suvan Sea. She passed away in her sleep peacefully, and her only daughter inherited the position of Lia.
Unlike the Deepseekers, the Seafoam pod's ideals never changed. To this day, it is not uncommon for them to dock and trade at coastal cities. Superstitions and Customs
- - - Every pod has its own customs and superstitions and the Seafoam pod is no different. While they are very open to outside interactions, they do not provide safe passage to merchants and other non-Svefra travelers, preferring to leave that to other pods. However, they are not against an outsider staying with them a few weeks, or even months, and are very open about the Svefra culture. In the past, several scholars have stayed with them to learn more about their ways, traveling with the pod and staying as a guest on the Lia's ship. Seafoams are heavy partyers and believe that celebration is another form of worship to Laviku. Every month, they hold a dance in his honor, and other parties are scattered throughout the seasons to celebrate anything they believe is noteworthy. Outsiders are very welcome, as the Seafoam see it as a chance to minister about Laviku and his ways. The Seafoam pod has a long, and strange list of Superstitions that supposedly originated in Shiva's first pod. Some of them are sensible and others not so much, but the Seafoam pod follows them as if they were law regardless. Superstitions: - Whistling encourages strong winds. Often, on still days, you will find that almost everyone in the Seafoam pod is whistling in order to encourage the wind to come back. On days with strong winds, whistling is forbidden. Banu tends not to join in on this particular superstition, preferring to pray to Zulrav instead.
- Never kill an Albatross, Dolphin, or Seagull.
- Many Seafoam pod members wear bells to chase the souls of drowned spirits away.
- Three seagulls flying together, directly overhead, are a warning of death soon to come.
- Never let someone paint your likeness, to do so is to let them take your soul.
- Always send a blood offering to Laviku before fishing in his waters. Blood repaid in blood.
- Never count your fish until the day is over.
- Salt your nets to catch more fish.
- A fish should always be eaten from the head toward the tail.
- A dead fish with a hook still in its mouth placed under the bed during childbirth will ease the pain of labor.
- A child born on land is guaranteed not have Laviku's eyes.
- Any and all drinking must be done above deck.
- Never name your ship after a living person, especially someone in the pod.
- Prayers on a ship should always be done on the starboard side.
- Never bring a banana on board a pod ship.
Some fun Seafoam traditions:
- On a person's birthday, they will find their shirt stolen while they were sleeping. The shirt is usually wrapped around the gift intended for the birthday boy/girl and hidden on one of the various ships in the pod. Thus, every birthday in the pod results in a hilarious, half-naked, scavenger hunt.
- Families will often switch children with another family in the pod every season.
- Couples exchange locks of hair to be beaded and worn like jewelry. It is not uncommon for someone to have five or six said locks marking past and present conquests. To burn said lock of hair is to sever all ties.
- Partner carrying competitions are held annually. The person who can swim the longest with their partner hanging on their back gets a gift from the Lia, who does not participate.
- Diving for treasure is another annual event held by the Lia. Everyone in the pod dives for shells, gemstones and sunken treasures. At the end of the diving session, all loot is offered up to Laviku in a ceremony held by the Lia. The occasion is ended by a massive bonfire, fit with dancing, storytelling, and music.
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