Mod Journal for Throwing Stones RPG (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} throwing_mods) wrote,@ 2009-10-18 22:15:00 |
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Entry tags: | background |
Society Background
ABOUT PURIST SOCIETY Purist society is incredibly traditional, adhering to rigid traditions that have been passed down through the generations with very little influence from the Muggle world. The main goal of purist families is to see the continuation of their bloodlines and traditions and much of their behaviour stems from that. Women are expected to marry and have children, devoting their lives to society events (both for their own enjoyment and the promotion of purist society) and other "softer" pursuits, while men take on the traditional role of provider and head of household. Not all purist families are ridiculously wealthy, although the general wealth of pureblood families tends to be higher than average because of the number of families who have been able to accumulate wealth and property over multiple generations. But families like the Blacks, Lestranges and Malfoys are the extreme and there are plenty of pureblood families that for whatever reason remain poor or middle-class. Although money does matter, it is not as important as purity of blood or class and proper decorum. Pureblood families are those who can trace their family back at least six generations with no Muggle blood. Fullbloods are those with Muggle blood somewhere in the last three to five generations. Halfbloods have a Muggle parent or grandparent and Muggleborns have two Muggle parents. For the purposes of the game, pureblood family names are limited to: Avery, Black, Blishwick, Bones, Brown, Bulstrode, Burke, Cornfoot, Crabbe, Crouch, Dolohov, Flint, Gamp, Goyle, Greengrass, Harper, Lestrange, Longbottom, MacDougal, Macmillan, Macnair, Malfoy, Max, Mulciber, Nott, Parkinson, Potter, Prewett, Prince, Rookwood, Rosier, Selwyn, Travers, Weasley, Wilkes, Yaxley and Zabini Not all pureblood families are purist, but some fullblood families may adhere to the strictures of purist society, particularly those that are only a generation away from reaching pureblood status themselves. |
ETIQUETTE Purist society members are expected to rigidly adhere to the accepted rules of etiquette, which are engrained in most pureblood children in their early childhood. The etiquette of purist society most closely mirrors Victorian era etiquette in the UK and I could make up a nice reason why involving the Statute of Secrecy and the slower evolution of customs but really it's just a matter of it being a period with readily available etiquette guides for reference. It's evolved more in some areas than others but generally the behaviour of purist society members should be exceedingly polite, modest and formal. Of course not every member of purist society will be good about following all the rules, whether they choose not to do so or just weren't properly taught by their parents. Minor indiscretions may be overlooked, but openly flaunting the rules of society will likely earn you a good deal of scorn from other society members. Society is also quick to look down on anyone who is seen as acting nouveau riche. Most of society is at least reasonably wealthy but they do not flaunt their wealth. Or talk about money at all. (Unless you're an accountant. That's different.) |
CULTURE Tradition is the guiding force when it comes to purist culture. Modern influences are shunned almost as much as Muggle influences are and even if a purist character has somehow become aware of some bit of Muggle culture, they probably shouldn't admit as much. Music, art, dance and other artistic pursuits enjoyed by purists are all classical in nature. Again, think 19th century and earlier as the point of reference. Although it should be assumed that wizards have their own artists and composers, for the sake of everyone's sanity, references to 19th century and earlier Muggle artists are fine. Chopin could have been a wizard. I don't know how else you explain Etude opus 10, no. 2 in A minor. |
COURTING AND RELATIONSHIPS A young woman becomes eligible for courting once she's had her debut or "coming out" party at some point after her 17th birthday. (Although some women choose to wait until after they have left Hogwarts to have their debut.) The debut should be as lavish as a family can afford and every respectable family is invited for the woman's formal introduction to society. A suitor who wishes to court a woman first asks her father for permission. Presuming that it is granted, the couple begins to have chaperoned dates, progressing from walks to outings that may include dinner and theatre visits, all with the couple on their best behaviour. A purist woman may have multiple suitors vying for permission to court her, but she will only be courted by one gentleman at a time. After a couple has courted for at least a year, the man may propose to the woman. Once engaged, a couple may take unchaperoned outings together, although they are still expected to be on their best behaviour. Again, the engagement should last at least a year and it is quite scandalous for a couple to break up once they have become engaged. If you rush the process, if your engagement is only two months long, the society bitches will probably assume you're pregnant. And they are merciless. Once a couple has survived the courting and engagement periods, it's time for the wedding. Weddings in purist society are grand, lavish affairs hosted by the bride's family with all of polite society invited. The bride's family is also responsible for paying a dowry that the bride takes into her new marriage. The dowry is essentially an early payment of the daughter's inheritance. In purist society, a woman who has not married or at least become engaged by the age of 23 starts to be seen as damaged goods. By 25 they'll be assumed to be destined to the life of a spinster. And divorce is all but unheard of. |
CHILDREN Producing an heir is of great importance to the purist couple so their family name is continued into the next generation. There is often great pressure on the woman to give birth to an heir, from both her own parents and her in-laws. The only thing worse than not having an heir is becoming pregnant or having a child out of wedlock as it is expected that the couple will remain virgins until they're married. Also note with children, if your character becomes pregnant over the course of the game, they will be expected to carry the baby the full nine months before giving birth. Rare exceptions may be made if you clear it with a mod first but even then we're talking a few weeks early and with a good reason. No one can pop out a perfectly healthy baby at seven months. Seriously. Same goes with anything else you want to make "special" about your pregnancy. If you want to play this out, there are plenty of resources online where you can research what to expect when you're expecting. Once born, the child may have all manner of nannies and tutors to oversee its upbringing and education, depending on your family's wealth. Some parents may choose to take a more active role in raising their children but even the most involved parents likely brought in a few tutors to see their child educated before they are sent off to Hogwarts. In addition to reading, writing and other educational basics, purist children are typically educated in languages, the arts, proper comportment and of course, magic. |
NAVIGATION PLAYED BYS & BACKGROUND & REFERENCE & CONTACTS |