Provings
Two young Givosions in a proving
Givosion culture is one that centers itself on the basis of war. Each man is a warrior from birth, and is raised as one. At the age of 6 his father begins to train him in the basics of hand to hand combat; and prepare him for his provings. It is common for brothers to be pitted against each other to prove dominance. By the age of 15 each boy is able to fire a weapon effectively, and can serve in a local militia. At this point it is the boys choice to chose a trade to learn, or to continue training to join the Legion. There is no dishonor in learning a trade, as it helps further the Empire from the interior.
Givosion Slavery (Cekopi)
Givosion's have long practiced the art of "Slavery", known as Cekopi in Givious (Servitude) where a criminal, or a debtor would be put into servitude; or sold into a demi-slavery. The person would act as a house servant, normally to a wealthy noble or a well standing warrior. The practice was banned under the Demond, and regained some movement after his death, but never truly took root like it had. It was always a choice of criminals, but never chosen. With such an increase in prisoners from the nationalist war, many were put into this program, with the exception of children and the elderly. The people under this are still protected, but are owned by the buyer.
The practice is very much like indentured servitude in the colonization of America, where the person(s) were provided with food, accommodation, clothing and training.
Slavery in time of war however changes ten fold, in that each legionnaire gains a set amount of slaves from the population, wither they be warriors, civilians, or even children.
The practice is very much like indentured servitude in the colonization of America, where the person(s) were provided with food, accommodation, clothing and training.
Slavery in time of war however changes ten fold, in that each legionnaire gains a set amount of slaves from the population, wither they be warriors, civilians, or even children.
Givosion Ritual Suicide (Gejoka)
In time, carrying out gejoka came to involve a detailed ritual. This was usually performed in front of spectators if it was a planned gejoka, not one performed on a battlefield. A Crit was bathed, dressed in white robes, and fed his favorite meal. When he had finished, his instrument was placed on his plate. Dressed ceremonially, with his sword placed in front of him and sometimes seated on special cloths, the warrior would prepare for death by writing a death poem.
With his selected attendant standing by, he would open his robe, take up his Bakora and plunge it into his abdomen, making a left-to-right cut. The attendant would then perform a cut in which the warrior was decapitated. Usually decapitation would occur as soon as the disembowelment was complete or the order was given from a supervising warrior or warlord. The process became so highly ritualised that as soon as the samurai reached for his blade the attendant would strike. Eventually even the blade became unnecessary and the Crit could reach for something symbolic like a fan and this would trigger the killing stroke from his second. The fan was likely used when the Crit was too old to use the blade, or in situations where it was too dangerous to give him a weapon in such circumstances.
The second was usually, but not always, an executioner with the sole job of doing this rite. If a defeated warrior had fought honorably and well, an opponent who wanted to salute his bravery would volunteer to act as his second.
With his selected attendant standing by, he would open his robe, take up his Bakora and plunge it into his abdomen, making a left-to-right cut. The attendant would then perform a cut in which the warrior was decapitated. Usually decapitation would occur as soon as the disembowelment was complete or the order was given from a supervising warrior or warlord. The process became so highly ritualised that as soon as the samurai reached for his blade the attendant would strike. Eventually even the blade became unnecessary and the Crit could reach for something symbolic like a fan and this would trigger the killing stroke from his second. The fan was likely used when the Crit was too old to use the blade, or in situations where it was too dangerous to give him a weapon in such circumstances.
The second was usually, but not always, an executioner with the sole job of doing this rite. If a defeated warrior had fought honorably and well, an opponent who wanted to salute his bravery would volunteer to act as his second.