Family
Families are important in the world of Rootlings. They unite, nurture, and grow.
A rootling's family is built up from several different areas of life. Depending on the rootling's story, some family may feel much closer than others. How does your rootling feel about the other creature's in its life? Even more so, how does your rootling cope with loss?
Coronation Parent
Upon coronation the rootling has begun to form a family, however small. Whichever rootling performed the coronation will henceforth be its coronation parent. Their relationship may be good, bad, somewhere in between, or as extensively complicated as the player desires. Sometimes a rootling will stay with, or nearby, its coronation parent for the majority of its life. Other times they will part ways early on. If your rootling loses it's natural life parents, then it may feel much more attached to its coronation parent.
Upon coronation the rootling has begun to form a family, however small. Whichever rootling performed the coronation will henceforth be its coronation parent. Their relationship may be good, bad, somewhere in between, or as extensively complicated as the player desires. Sometimes a rootling will stay with, or nearby, its coronation parent for the majority of its life. Other times they will part ways early on. If your rootling loses it's natural life parents, then it may feel much more attached to its coronation parent.
Temple-Born Parents
If a rootling was born from a temple, then it has either one or two temple parents. It is possible for pairs of rootlings, friends or mates, to combine their lumesse into a new seedling. Temple births are sometimes even more meaningful than coronations because the rootling wasn't asked to do this by any other creature. No animal approached a rootling and requested a temple birth, rather the rootling decided on its own to perform this ritual and create a new life. Because of this it is more common for temple parents and their offspring to stay together as a family on the same territory.
If a rootling was born from a temple, then it has either one or two temple parents. It is possible for pairs of rootlings, friends or mates, to combine their lumesse into a new seedling. Temple births are sometimes even more meaningful than coronations because the rootling wasn't asked to do this by any other creature. No animal approached a rootling and requested a temple birth, rather the rootling decided on its own to perform this ritual and create a new life. Because of this it is more common for temple parents and their offspring to stay together as a family on the same territory.
Natural Life Family
If the rootling was created through a coronation, then it already has parents existing in the world. Something to consider is that the rootling now has a life that cannot be ended by old age. It will outlive its parents, and it will most certainly outlive its siblings as well. If the rootling is not slain by outside factors it could go on living forever. How does your rootling cope with loss? How does it feel about its family slowly passing away, but itself being left alone? Your rootling might realize this upon coronation and decide to leave its old life behind to avoid this pain, or it might cling to it for whatever time remains.
If the rootling was created through a coronation, then it already has parents existing in the world. Something to consider is that the rootling now has a life that cannot be ended by old age. It will outlive its parents, and it will most certainly outlive its siblings as well. If the rootling is not slain by outside factors it could go on living forever. How does your rootling cope with loss? How does it feel about its family slowly passing away, but itself being left alone? Your rootling might realize this upon coronation and decide to leave its old life behind to avoid this pain, or it might cling to it for whatever time remains.
Coronation & Temple-Born Siblings
There is no limit for how many offspring one rootling can have. Although it is encouraged that players invest into and develop one character greatly, many can be crowned or born. That being said, it is not uncommon for rootlings created from the same parent to think of each other as siblings. How does your rootling interact with its siblings? Do they ever cross paths? How do their relationships with their parent(s) differ? While they are all unique in their own ways, is there any common feature among them that ties them together as a family?
There is no limit for how many offspring one rootling can have. Although it is encouraged that players invest into and develop one character greatly, many can be crowned or born. That being said, it is not uncommon for rootlings created from the same parent to think of each other as siblings. How does your rootling interact with its siblings? Do they ever cross paths? How do their relationships with their parent(s) differ? While they are all unique in their own ways, is there any common feature among them that ties them together as a family?
Found Family & Mates
Your rootling may go many places in its life. If it tries hard enough it can surely traverse the entire world. What kinds of friends and family will it make along the journey? Family is not always something you are born with, sometimes you set out and discover it on your own. Sometimes family finds you. A rootling may bond with the other animals and/or rootlings who share the same dwelling, and it may select another rootling to be its mate.
Rootlings mate for life. They are highly intelligent and incredible emotional creatures. When they form bonds they are strong, deep, and nearly unbreakable. Rootling mates may choose to create temple-born offspring by splitting the lumesse cost between the two of them. They may share a dwelling, or create neighboring territories with a shared border if they choose to live near one another.
Your rootling may go many places in its life. If it tries hard enough it can surely traverse the entire world. What kinds of friends and family will it make along the journey? Family is not always something you are born with, sometimes you set out and discover it on your own. Sometimes family finds you. A rootling may bond with the other animals and/or rootlings who share the same dwelling, and it may select another rootling to be its mate.
Rootlings mate for life. They are highly intelligent and incredible emotional creatures. When they form bonds they are strong, deep, and nearly unbreakable. Rootling mates may choose to create temple-born offspring by splitting the lumesse cost between the two of them. They may share a dwelling, or create neighboring territories with a shared border if they choose to live near one another.
Animal Companions
Rootlings might form friendships with normal animals in their environment. They may invest a small amount of LP to strengthen their bond together. Rootlings with bonded animal companions are more likely to be seen drawn or written about together. A rootling must exert 20LP to form this bond. This makes their friendship official!
Rootlings might form friendships with normal animals in their environment. They may invest a small amount of LP to strengthen their bond together. Rootlings with bonded animal companions are more likely to be seen drawn or written about together. A rootling must exert 20LP to form this bond. This makes their friendship official!
Human Alliance & Friendships
There are certain circumstances where rootlings might connect with humans. These connections can become an assortment of odd friendships. Sometimes this will be between a rootling and one human, other times it could be between a rootling and a community of people. These relationships are almost always symbiotic, but they are never intimate. The deep magic embedded in the rootling species blocks them from developing romantic feelings toward humans, so their bonds are always platonic.
There are certain circumstances where rootlings might connect with humans. These connections can become an assortment of odd friendships. Sometimes this will be between a rootling and one human, other times it could be between a rootling and a community of people. These relationships are almost always symbiotic, but they are never intimate. The deep magic embedded in the rootling species blocks them from developing romantic feelings toward humans, so their bonds are always platonic.
What kind of family will your rootling build? Or will it set off to face this grand journey alone?