Cultural Notes on Rebman Society, not already given their own links from the main page. For other details, see also Morality, Education, and Color.
Birth and Death
It is customary for all Rebman births, uncommon as they are, to occur in the depths of the Sea; in this way the infant has been delivered directly into the embrace of the Sea, takes his or her first breath of the life-giving waters, and is counted among the Chosen. Those born away from the Sea by whatever circumstance must at some point be ritually sponsored and presented to the Temple to be fully regarded as one of the Sea's Chosen.
A Rebman life is precious, and upon his or her death, there is a period of mourning. The body and soul belongs to the Sea; once prepared by funerary rites, it is committed to the depths via dedicated current. For this reason, faithful Rebmans desire for their last breath taken to be in the Sea. If that is not the case, they must be returned to Rebma and the Temple of Lir as soon as possible to receive blessings so the body and, it is fervently hoped, the spirit as well, might be sent on to become one with the Sea.
Crime and Punishment
Matters of civil and criminal law on the ancestral holdings are handled by the individual Houses, with one or more of their number designated the magisters over the various communities which reside on their lands. In the capital, there is a council of magistrates to examine and advise on formal complaints within the city, and appeals may be brought to the Queen's court. In between are the vast wilderness and ruins, most of it unregulated and therefore upon traveling parties witnessing a crime to act as the law requires. Regardless of location, however, for reported offences of the gravest nature the Crown is known to spare no expense on a hunt for the accused(s). All such violators of the Sacred Laws of the Sea are to be brought before the Throne for final judgment and sentencing.
In keeping with the letter of the law, for Rebman-blooded criminals there can be no literal execution. Most are imprisoned indefinitely, in the dungeons, or if the family exercises their power, kept under house arrest. The worst offenders are banished to sea realms in far shadow, or worse, flushed into a part of the Great Labyrinth from which there is no hope of finding one's way out.
Gender Roles
Rebma has a marked tradition of matriarchal power, but not so utterly that a male cannot ascend to a ruling position, within his noble house or indeed, over the nation itself. The typical representation, however, places the women in administrative roles, and the men in operations. The clergy ranks within The Cult of Lir can be of any gender, however there have only ever been High Priestesses appointed to lead the faithful. In the social aspects of undersea life, there is no real expectation of dominance among the sexes.
Cosmopolitan VS Cloister
The capital city has lines of social division that are clearly visible if one knows what to look for. Additionally, visitors at the gates are greeted by the grandeur of the Promenade, rippling with the strange news from abroad, lively commercialism, and glimmering lights. Enough time spent wandering the sights and side lanes will bring the realization that Rebma City's tolerant welcoming vibe exists just within a select network of boulevards. Once one stumbles without escort into the more tightly-knit roadways, finding the private residences and enclaves on darker streets, the reception becomes downright chilly.
Language
There is a natural expectation by outsiders that the native language of Rebma, by virtue of various conventions being eerily the backwards-spelling version of common Amber names and locations, will itself be a backwards garble of a language. Only some of the vernacular supports this understanding, with no other explanation than they developed that way due to the centuries of Amber's Pattern-driven influence. Most of the true modern language, however, sounds straightforward and similar enough to Amber's human tongue to be easily interpreted by visitors. Influence from a few ancient dialects persists, of course, from pre-Amber contact, when the Elder Races were dominant.
The Oral Tradition
The Great Archives and personal lore collections will hold countless slabs and Slate and Stone to hold the chiseled records of acts great and small, shards of old mirror can be made to divulge a random account from history. Since creating either does represent skill and work ethic that many Rebmans do not possess, the most popular form of passing on knowledge and entertaining trivia comes from oral storytelling. Wise elders in the household and wandering bards in the taverns and even the neighbourhood gossip are well-regarded for their sharp ears and willingness to let their tongues do the wagging.
More valued than any of these is the individual who knows how to effectively deliver a good story from the ancient times. These tales from before the earliest recorded history have never been retroactively committed to written form, for it is fully believed their power would diminish if thusly imprisoned in silent stone. For the legend to have truly profound effect on the listener, the speaker must have a certain honed panache and sense of pacing, not to mention vocal projection through water. The story must not be too long or superfluous in detail, nor must it be lacking in suggestion and essential truths. Therefore, only by studying with the master bards can one hope to become one him or herself.
Art
Sculpture is the obvious media for Rebman artists, and every non-corrodible material from stone to coral to glass is fair game for their inspiration. What the walls lack in paintings and tapestries, is made up by gorgeous glass mosaic, intricate scrollwork, and impressive bas relief. Among Rebmans, those of House Mairwen have gained prestige as stone masons for the capital, a duty more vital than ever now that conditions allow for permanent structural changes to the city. For some races, artistic ability is so ingrained as to be considered magical.
Music
Managing acoustics beneath the waves is a tricky thing, moreso with each level of depth. Claiming the favour of the Sea, Rebmans are not much troubled by such difficulties when it comes to vocal performance. In the magic environment of the capital, sound travels with minimized distortion and reverb, allowing any individual to speak and hear almost the same as the topsiders do. Sounds are still noticeably deeper and more mellow, as befitting society's more languid pace and mindset. Thus, vocal and instrumental music is readily practiced in the capital, haunting in tone.
Dance
The three-dimensional nature of movement dictates the unique stylings of Rebman Dance, with marked differences in technique due to the influence of natural forces in the outlying territories and the whimsical conditions of the enchanted capital. The latter has allowed the development of spectacular three-tiered dancing performance, in which skilled participants utilize generated currents and the slipstreams of nearby partners to facilitate acrobatic moves. The ballroom dances at the Palace are particularly breathtaking in scope.
Annual Events
Concordance Day
Concordance Day is a Rebman national holiday, commemorating the peace that ended the Triton Wars, and created the unified nation of Rebma. It is a traditional feast day, and celebrations tend towards one of two forms. Grand open houses are common out on the marches, where an entire settlement will fill the local noble's house for a day of food and revelry. In the city, smaller invite-only affairs are more prevalent, and it is traditional to invite one's rivals as well as one's friends to such events. Lesser enmities, and sometimes even great vendettas, are temporarily suspended in the spirit of the day.
Winter Festival
Lasting about two weeks at the end of the common calendar year, an extravagant street fair is held up and down the Grand Promenade, from the city gates all the way to the Palace courtyard. Small entertainments featuring music, dance, and theatrical performances can be found on every corner between the browsing stalls, all to celebrate Rebman culture, cuisine, and industry. The Palace hosts dinner and Rebman ballroom dancing every night in the courtyard.
Trade Festival
A new summer tradition due to Prince Martin's efforts in his regent years invites merchants from outside Rebma to show off their sea-friendly products along the Grand Promenade.
Morfilod Whale Rodeo
Small-scale demonstrations at the festivals only whets the appetite for the wild show held on House Morfilod's ancenstral grounds, marking the end of migration season.
Swarm Days
Between the Late Spring and Early Fall seasons, there are several fish species whose numbers swell and flock around the relative safety of the capital. These make for wondrous schooling displays not unlike atmospheric effects in the air-breathing northern climes.
