LGBTQIA+ in Oxerune
LGBT/QIA+ - these terms refer to those who love or express differently than yourself.
Buntline hitch - a sailing knot typically used to secure sails on a ship.
Bowline knot - a sailing knot used for mooring that cannot be undone while under load.
It would interest readers to know that different species do have different views on the LGBT, for example dwarves are less rigid in gender than may be expected. The manner of adornments in braided hair is the primary identifier for gender. Leaving it unbraided is considered gender neutral. Though it is not uncommon for nonbinary dwarves to braid their hair for comfort and cleanliness, or for formal occasions when it is expected to be braided. In these cases the hair is fastened with simple fabric ties that match the dwarf's hair color. Masculine dwarves have thicker fasteners, while feminine dwarves have thinner fasteners. This can be changed on a whim and its not uncommon for some dwarves to switch their preferred fasteners on a daily basis. Other dwarves will refer to them with the last fastener they saw them wearing. The ornateness of the fasteners corresponds to rank with the exception of weddings and funerals. For weddings, hair adornments may be as intricate or simple as the betrothed desire. For funerals, however, it is expected that all in attendance wear plain iron fasteners befitting their preferred presentation. Gender neutral dwarves will wear black fabric fasteners at funerals. Generally non-dwarves are considered exempt from these traditions with the exception of funerals. If any non-dwarves in attendance wish to have their hair fastened, it is expected that they adhere to the plain iron fastener rule. Dwarven funerals in cities will sometimes provide iron fasteners at the entrance to the funeral for those unaware of this cultural standard.
Conversely, while elves generally prefer loose flowing clothing that can be indistinguishable between dress and pants, their gender presentation is more rigid. If one wishes to change their gender, a ceremony is held with everyone familiar with the elf in question in attendance. These are considered to be a significant affair that require much planning. Thus while there are elves who change their gender, they are in the minority and these changes are a rare occurrence. It may be noted as well that the rarity of the occurrence can be connected to their long lives and different perception of time's passing.
These examples only represent a small part of Oxerune's people and readers can be assured that a book detailing each's relationship with gender will be published in the future—likely a series of books with each one corresponding to a species. Regarding sexuality, there frankly isn't much to note here. The general populace of the world pays little mind to who you do or do not bed as long as the people in question are happy, consenting adults of their species. Rather amusingly, humans are the least likely to have encounters outside of their species until they visibly age due to other species struggling to identify their age on sight. Many beastkin have characteristics that they only develop in adulthood, gnomes' ears only round out once they achieve adulthood, and elves gain a mark at their nape that corresponds to their sub-species. Moon elves gain a crescent moon marking, sun elves gain a sun marking, and eventide elves gain a combined marking. Elves that are of mixed subspecies gain a marking typically unique to them, and half-elves—or those with only one elven parent—gain a faded version of their parent's mark. All this to say, for every other species there is a clear indicator of adulthood, with humans it is often only their word until their face shows their age.
With a lengthy introduction out of the way, a short autobiography of a young dwarf's coming-of-age will now be shared. Many thanks to Canhkt Brinthale for being willing to share their story.
I think I was about ten when I was given the choice who I wanted to be. I was given a male name when I was born aboard our ship, but it wasn't something my parents pushed me into. Really it didn't matter what I could be as much of my early childhood was spent on the waves, unaware of the trade routes my clan sailed along. Upon turning ten I was sat down by my parents and a couple kin and presented with a brown strip of fabric, and two sets of wooden hair rings, one thick the other thin. My ren and da told me that while my name might be male, it's up to me who I am. If I want to be male, I can take the thicker wood rings, if I wanted to be female I could take the thinner wood rings, and if I wanted to be neither I could take the fabric. My kin-bahn told me that I didn't have to decide now, or ever unless I wanted to. They reminded me how while they normally wore their thin shell rings to fasten their hair as a woman might, they also wore their fabric ties some days and that was okay too. I honestly wasn't sure who I wanted to be right then, and I think my family expected as much. As a kid my hair was fastened with a square of cloth to keep it out of my face. I wasn't really called a boy, girl, or anything, I was just a child. I spent my time learning to tie knots, getting underfoot, and fishing off the boat in ports. On rare occasion I got to go into port with Ren or Dad and see bits and pieces of the world beyond our ships and the waves. Even when we came to our latest port of call who I was didn't matter much. I guess the locals were familiar with our customs so they didn't try and put a who to me either. Turning ten was the first time it ever really mattered to me or anyone, and only because my kin felt I was old enough to make that decision. It took me a long time to come to a decision. I kept tying my hair back with the square of cloth I had used all my life and I kept being treated as I had been treated. It came to me all at once one day as I flopped dramatically into a coil of rope to watch gulls circle overhead. Being a girl didn't really feel right to me, it wasn't something that called to me, and while being a boy felt alright, I would compare it to using a bowline knot to secure a sail versus a buntline hitch. Both will get the job done, but there's a reason we use a buntline over a bowline. I could live the rest of my life being a man—and there are days I take those thick wooden fasteners and use them instead of my fabric ties—but laying there watching the gulls circle over head, listening to them call and the waves lapping at the hull. I just knew that I wasn't a man or a woman. I was just me- something in between or maybe neither. I got my ren, da, and kin-bahn together and told them what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. They smiled and nodded, I could've just started wearing the fabric ties and they would've known, but it felt right to tell them directly. Over the next few days my kin-bahn helped me practice tying my hair in braids and fastening it with the fabric ties. Too loose and they'd slip off, too tight and I could damage my hair. These days I usually just pull it all into one lock and secure it for my hair and beard both. Although my ren has long passed, may the Smith and the Maiden guard her soul, my da's still kicking around and preparing me to take over our ship. Most of my kin still handles the trades and the like, but I've always loved being at the helm. I don't have the head for numbers or negotiations, but apparently I can be counted on in a hot situation to make the right calls and I've learned the seas and her many faces. Even at forty-something years old, I still seem to be growing and coming of age as I get ready to take the helm. It's a different kind of coming of age though, and when da passes I'll be wearing his old iron fasteners with pride and despair. Maybe I'll have one of his mourning fasteners and one of my ren's shell fasteners made into earrings so I can keep them with me always. That about wraps up my story, nothing too exciting, but I hope this helps your paper.
We once again extend our thanks to Canhkt Brinthale for sharing their story with us. Next in this special publication, one of our writers had the luck of being invited to an elven vertsylf ceremony, and with permission recorded their experience to share.
Hello readers, my name is Tilka Farax and I'm honored to have the opportunity to write about my dear friend Saelihn Lumsol. I traveled from Bridgemire to Amrenhil via a very generous teleportation circle offered by Saelihn's family. It's evidently not uncommon for the elf in question and their family to help those in attendance make it to the ceremony ranging from travel to lodging depending on what's needed. In the days leading up to the ceremony, Mister and Missus Lumsol explained what would be happening, what would be worn, and how to behave. Apparently in other vertsylfs, non-elves have made a ruckus at inappropriate moments. While not held against them as everyone knows that it's in support, it's still inappropriate so warnings are now given. The whole matter is considered to be a very solemn affair where loud displays are looked upon distastefully. For apparel there were some robes that guests were invited to change into. While Saelihn would be wearing a beautiful jewel toned robe as they shared this transition in life with all they knew, attendees were wearing robes in pale shades of browns and greys. This helps ensure everyone knows who to focus on and for some it also hints towards what their new self will be. During the ceremony, all attendees will be seated before a dais while the vertsylfen also known as the elf who's changing their gender, stands before them. Someone of the vertsylfen's choosing—often a priesten of their chosen deity—will stand alongside them reciting a script that was worked between the two of them. Everyone will then greet the vertsylfen followed by this magical moment of a breeze coursing through the space. This breeze is generated by each row in turn sweeping their arms up towards the sun, moon, or horizon. This practice comes from the ancient worship of the sun, moon, and eventide and is meant to reintroduce the vertsylfen to their people's Ancients.
Now I have the great pleasure of sharing with you what Saelihn's ceremony was like. I didn't bring my journal with me so this will be done from memory, I apologize for any inconsistencies that may arise from this. However, I wanted to give my dear friend all my attention as they moved to this new page of their long life. Not to mention how incredibly rude it may have been.
Saelihn is part of the eventide elves and has a personal preference towards dusk over dawn so the ceremony was to take place at dusk. However, the day was still filled with preparations. While Saelihn would be having their preparations off from the rest of us, we were invited to bathe in a natural spring and have our hair adorned with flowers and branches of the dawnwood tree. The flowers and branches represented longevity, rebirth, growth, and vibrancy. Then we were provided with a small selection of robes to change into. I opted for a nice tan robe that felt like silk. It was a bit long initially, but thankfully one of the elders was quick with a needle and hemmed it for me. After that we were given a simple lunch of wine and steamed berry buns, as well as some fish for those that couldn't have the buns. It was quite delicious, I wish I had caught what sort of berries were used in the buns. Next we were taught how to introduce Saelihn to the eventide. You'd think that sweeping your arms toward the horizon was easy, but it took many attempts before we got the motion right. I was very concerned about getting the speed and swish correct at the ceremony but it would turn out just fine. For all the strictness and seriousness that is part of the vertsylf ceremony, I get the impression that a lot of grace is extended with the focus on coming together for the vertsylfen.
As the sun crept closer to the horizon, we were brought to a beautiful grove just outside Amrenhil surrounded by dawnwood trees with their purple-grey trunks and goldenrod leaves. On one end of the grove was a marble dais and set in front of it was beautifully carved wooden benches. They even had little cushions for anyone who struggled with hard benches. The benches were really quite comfortable though and I don't think anyone used the cushions. Once we were all seated, a hush fell over the grove. Saelihn glided into the grove with an ease that spoke of many hours of practice. After they took their place on the stage with their hands folded before them, a priestess of the nature god. I wish I could fully express to you how beautiful their words were. It was expressed however that it would be best for me to merely summarize instead of inserting quotes from the speeches. The idea was how the natural world goes through cycles of growth and change and so to does Saelihn as they transition from identities that no longer fit them to ones that do. At the end it was announced they would be a woman for the foreseeable future. With that announcement we answered her with a chorus of "Saelihn we see you as you are, now we reintroduce you to the Sun and Moon." Finally, all our practice came to fruition as we swept our arms towards the horizon one row after another creating a soft breeze that toyed with wisps of hair that escaped from braids.
After the ceremony we walked back towards Amrenhil for a lovely feast. I spent the rest of the evening finally catching up with Saelihn. It had been too long since we had last spoke. She somehow changed so much and yet so little at the same time. Many thanks to the Lumsols for providing me transportation and lodging. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I hope this essay helps people understand vertsylf ceremonies a bit better and gain a better appreciation for how varied the cultures across Oxerune are.
With that, this special publication of the Scorched Scrolls will now be wrapped up. We thank our readers for coming along with us to learn more about gender in Oxerune. We once again extend a special thanks to Canhkt Brinthale, Tilka Farax, and Saelihn Lumsol for their part in this publication. We could not have done it without them. No matter who you are, who you love, or where you're from, Oxerune will welcome you with open arms. That said, carry a sword, a few cantrips, or perhaps some hired guards, for the roads are perilous and while the people are kind, the world is not. Burn bright and let your story unfurl.
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