retourSociety : Role of the Wise Ones in the Pelaskite society
Article Card:
Title:Role of the Wise Ones in the Pelaskite society
Identifier:46
Created on:2004-03-15 at 10:43
Created by:Eliane Jaulmes
Modified on:2004-03-15 at 10:43
Modified by:Eliane Jaulmes
Credits :
Abstract:The role of the elders in a Pelaskite village.
Contributors:Jérôme Blondel (author), Jean-Michel Armand (proofreader), Philippe Sigaud (proofreader), Edern Rio (proofreader), Eliane Jaulmes (translator)
Subjects:Rightarm Islands, society
Keywords:Cauldron Stirrer, Choralinthor, council, craft, craftsman, Daliath, Daliath's Cauldron, elder, fisherman, herbalist, hunter, Iluriad, omen, Pelaskite, Pelaskos, Rightarm Islands, society, specialist, Well of Wisdom, wisdom, Wise One
See also:Occupation Keywords for the Rightarm Islands(43%), The village council in the Righarm Islands(38%), The Admiral and the Priestess in the Rightarm Islands(33%), Ships and Navigation in the Rightarm Islands(24%), Trade and Exchange in the Rightarm Islands(24%), The Ludoch's place in the Pelaskite society(19%), Fishing and Picking in the Rightarm Islands(19%), The inhabitants of the islands(19%), Life in a Pelaskite village(19%), The Law of the Rightarm Islands(14%)
Appears in:-
Rightarm Islands
Rightarm IslandsRole of the Wise Ones in the Pelaskite societyRightarm Islands

As they grow older, the Pelaskite men develop an attitude similar to the Ludoch's (but the women do not). When they speak, they must be listened to for according to the oceanide belief, life is a great whirlpool whose shrinking circles bring you ever closer of the ultimate plunge in the abysses and the Well of Wisdom.

The old men and women of the village are as thick as dolphins: after spending their whole life fighting over sardine tails, they have run out of subjects for quarrels, at least among them, and that is their great strength. They stay in the village and teach the children all the technical knowledge they need to master before entering adult life and putting their feet in the water.

They form a council, and among them the community chooses the Wise Ones, that is those who proved their knowledge during their long life, and whose advice prevail over that of the other old villagers. The Pelaskites will even go the next village and ask its expert in case their own Wise One begins to ramble, rather than listen to his possible substitute in the village. The principal roles of the Wise Ones are:

* The Fishermen and the Shell Pickers know (more or less) the ways of fishes and shells, and can explain the best way of cooking them.
* The Hunters and Herbalists know the animals of the islands well, and all the secrets in the art of accommodating the plants of the marshes for cooking but also for remedies and drugs.
* The Craftsmen are those who build, mainly ships, and who manufacture the fishing nets. This is a hard work, and all the old women are needed to teach the young girls.
* The Cauldron Stirrers and other priests are familiar with all the rites and superstitions needed for harmonious relations with the supernatural world. They tell the myths and legends by the fire, help the admiral and the priestess for the sacrifices that Pelaskos and Iluriad offer to Choralinthor, and stir Daliath's Cauldron to read the omens and gorge themselves on boiled fish guts.

Different villages will give more or less importance to different specialities. Villages near the deep sea will likely have specialists of tuna fishing, while villages inside the marshes will probably know eels better. Likewise, weaving a net and braiding a basket are two very different crafts, and pottery, whose specialists are always looked for, should not be forgotten.

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