Trovian Reflection: Self-Identity

The philosophical exercise of self-reflection is a foreign concept to many Trovians. When asked the generic phrase of "Who are you?", you'd likely get a response of their name and city. "What are you?" would result in the same answer. Interviewing the vast majority of Trovians would show a clear distinction that self-identity is largely tied to where they live or where they grew up.  

Group Identity

While individuality does exist, identity largely falls into a combination of city-identity and familial-identity. Most people define themselves as a combination of these two. When choosing their personal directions in life, these are the two largest factors in determining what they do. First born sons will often follow their father's steps, but children after this will often choose their place in the community based on what it needs. It isn't uncommon for the individual to even ask the Renuer¹ in smaller villages what the town needs.   In larger cities, it is still the city that becomes the defining characteristic to most Trovians. City-pride is common and can even reach the point of being dangerous for potential enemies of the city. History is peppered with examples of city dwellers defending their cities alongside the more organized militia.   This somewhat-tribal mentality is ripe with prejudice and stereotypes common to any form of identity. Cities that rival each other for a resource will often find negative assumptions being told as facts about one another. Even small hamlets will develop a rivalry that can sometimes turn violent over trade, resources, or even something as minor as an individual moving to the next town over.   While a person's home is vital to their self-identity, their role in their immediate family is nearly equally in importance. When asked what a person does, they will often tell you the role they place in their family. If they are the primary cook of the family, or sing for family at night, these are the aspects they hold close. Without children, couples tend to identify as being a part of each others families, not often recognizing themselves a family unless they have moved to a different town.  

Group Identities Not Recognized

National
Though identified by the modern world and in this article as Trovians, in truth, few actual Trovians could accurately identify the name of their nation or nationality. This isn't to say they have no awareness of who rules over them at the highest echelons, but simply that they do not identify themselves nationally. Telling two strangers that they both share the quality of being Trovian would do as much as informing them both that they are alive. It is simply a trait that is not recognized by very many. Villages at the border may not even realize that they are on the fringes of their sovereigns control. Villages beyond the border do no identify as "foreign" in any stronger sense than a village going deeper into the nation does.   Racial & Ethnic
While racial awareness exists, there doesn't seem to be much self-identification with race for established Trovians. While race is used as fodder for insults when describing members of other races, this is still only done as it applies to outsiders. A human and elf living in the same city will only barely recognize their differences, if both families have an established history within the city.   This view of racial identity applies to ethnic identity as well. While most villages are ethnically homogeneous, their ethnicities have relatively little bearing on a person's identity. Ethnic awareness is, once more, only used as fodder to insult outsiders, when such a profanity is viewed as necessary to the individual.   Religious
Across Trova, religion is fairly fluid. The two main faiths, Fenul Mythology and Balor Animism, are only somewhat structured in cities where temples or priests exist. They blend significantly and differ drastically in smaller villages. While there is awareness of other faith systems, the majority of Trovians will simply view this as lack of understanding in their own religion. Even those more knowledgeable in their primary faith, by the nature of Trovian religions, tend to assume they are secrets of the spirits that were discovered elsewhere.  

Professional Identity

In most of Trova, the eldest son will take on the father's profession. Occasionally the daughter and younger sons will as well. These identities are viewed almost as in-born traits. The eldest son of a jeweler simple believes that they are a jeweler as well, not often considering other professions. For younger children, they often take similar professions, if not the same, but will often take these skills to their own lots or for the community.   On occasion, for younger children in smaller cities and villages, they will go to the mayor or renuer to see what the community needs. The children will nearly always seek to fill that role, even if this means they need to travel to nearby villages or further to learn these skills. In this circumstance, the village will pay for any training they need, if funds are available.   This profession-identity is not limited to men. Women too will often follow a matrilineal approach to professions, with the girls growing to follow their mother's professional choice, if they have one outside of the home. While not strictly enforced, it is common for women to perform a craft from their homes, if they live near enough to the village center for people to visit, or to offer services in a care-providing or administrative role to the city where their children can be kept safely nearby.  

Dynastic Identity

Beyond the upper-class and nobility, dynastic identity is only considered for the eldest son and daughter when following their parents profession, and only if they stand to inherit the profession from their parent. This is usually represented as a form of pride (ex: "I'm a potter like my father before me and his father before him" or "This farm has been in my family for six generations now"). In general, while a form of family pride exists, Trovians will generally not identify or consider their lineage as a core part of themselves.  

Gender and Sexual Identity

While a broad range or sexual identities exist within Trova, only biological sexes are generally recognized. This is not a cause of conflict for individuals as gender identity is rarely a determining factor of a person's identity. Males do get preferences for inheritance, but it's not uncommon for the male to be skipped over for a more competent woman. When there are no males in the direct line of inheritance, the role will generally fall to the eldest daughter, and will only go outside the immediate family if no children exist.   Some professional and social roles are predominated by each gender, and there do exists stereotypes of each gender. These roles are fairly fluid and people are free to do as they please in most instances. While a woman that chooses to be a smith may raise a brow initially, it rarely goes beyond a curiosity as long as she shows competence. The same is true for men who chose to take an administrative role within the village or city.   On a gender-professional level, men typically fall onto physically intensive roles, or dangerous roles, with the assumption that men are stronger than women. Trovian culture tends to hold a belief that men are more stable minded and better decision makers, leading them to be heads of communities. Women, in contrast, are generally considered more intelligent, wiser, and empathetic, leading to their roles are care-givers, administrators, and usually filling the roles of council when prestige is discounted.   Sexuality is not generally considered a major part of an individual. Sex, in general, is often viewed in a lax manner, unless pregnancy occurs. In some senses, same-sex couples are often given more leniency with their private affairs, as unexpected pregnancy is not possible.  

Self-Expression

Family dynamics are considered an essential part of Trovian identity. What a member of the family brings to the hearth at night is important. For most, this means learning an auditory art or memorizing stories to share. Music is an important part of Trovian family life, and virtually everyone has learned how to play some form of instrument or learned how to sing.   On any given night, one would find the sound of music, often low and melodic, coming from every home. In general, once the home has been settled and the evening meal is being prepared, one member, often a parent or adult child, will begin to play from their instrument of choice. Breaks in music are uncommon, with someone else picking up if the original musician needs to rest. These songs are often inspired but free-form, usually slow and melodic, and a way to ease the family into a restful slumber.   Though music is by far the largest form of self-expression in Trova, many artist of other mediums exist, though usually they are more professional in nature than a method of self-actualizations. Most other arts are simply too expensive to pursue.

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