Sarr Life

LIFE OF THE SARR

Sarr have a lifespan of about sixty years, although some do live longer than this. Sarr grow rapidly, having two growth spurts, one in the first six months of life and the next at one and a half years of age. Sarr at the age of 6 months are the size and mentality of a 12 year old, by the 18th month of age a Sarr acts and thinks pretty much like an adult and have reached their full growth by the end of two years. Sarr are not considered adults until the age of sixteen. At the age of sixteen a sarr's family will send him or her on a rite of passage. This rite of passage varies from family to family, but upon completion, a sarr is given a totem and is then considered an adult.

Adult female sarr outnumber the males 4 to 1, and are usually polygamous, many of them having litters which consist of two to six children. The same litter can often have been sired by several different fathers. A sarr will seldom mate for life, but if one does, it is a rare occasion indeed. In the case of life-mated pairs, it is an unacceptable and disgraceful to have children with another female's mate. On the other hand it is perfectly acceptable to have an affair with another's mate if one has his mate's permission. Having children out of wedlock is perfectly acceptable.

A sarr will go into heat twice a year or every six months (March and September). These two months are the only times of the year when they can conceive. At this time the urge to mate in both sexes overrides all else and once mating is completed everything goes back to normal. If a female sarr does not wish to mate, it is her family's responsibility to see her wishes are met. Often during this time of year a feast is held all around Jahavra wherein all in a particular clan who wish to mate are invited. This party, called Afarine, is held twice a year by each clan and helps to ensure the bloodlines of the clans remain pure and untainted. Sarr prefer to keep the bloodlines pure, and interbreeding between clans is severely frowned upon.

Interracial breeding is forbidden by edict of the Grand Matriarch, although there have been cases of it occurring. The children of these couples are ridiculed, called half-breeds, and sometimes killed if it is found out. The exception to the rule are the Ligers in Jadugar in the center of Jahavra. The Ligers are the result of the lions and tigers who, when the sarr first came to Jahavra, were traveling and studying together, and, as will sometimes happen, some mated. The leader of the celestial mages in Jahavra was a tiger, unlike in the north where almost all celestial mages are lions. Her mate was a lion. At the beginning of the settlement ofJahavra it was decreed by a mutual council of elders that due to the amount of life mated pairs seeming to be so great among the Ligers group, they would be allowed to remain, but no other clans were to interbreed with each other. All clans agreed.

The Ligers are few in number and only mate once per year unlike the average sarr. They are also remarkable celestial mages. Every 2 years to keep their line from interbreeding and stagnating they adopt two lion and two tiger children, usually orphans, from one of the clans into their enclave Jadugar Senf. These children are reared as Ligers, taught celestial magic, and taught the ways of Balance.

As stated before Sarr females usually outnumber the males 4 to 1, this has led to a matriarchal society and social structure. The eldest female in each family holds the title lady no matter how rich, poor, old, or young they may be. Ladyships are inherited while Damehoods are earned.

Families within Jahavra live within compounds of apartments where the entire extended family lives. All Sarr of the generation older than oneself are referred to as mother and father. All Sarr of the same generation are referred to as brother and sister. All Sarr of the generation younger as daughter and son.

Most Sarr live in cities, towns, or villages around Jahavra. While some lead a nomadic lifestyle, seldom in any one place for very long, but often with one major permanent structure for safe haven. The Sarr, while being formidable, in fighting skills are bound by honor and family and follow a set law.

REGRESSION AND THROWBACKS

Among the Sarr is a period of time in the month of October during the 31 st day that the regression hits all Sarr. This is a malady in which all Sarr revert to the ancient ways of hunting elves. No Sarr is immune to this although some have learned to control it.

Regression is a period of time lasting several hours and appearing at full apex at midnight.

Sarr start feeling edgy around elves about 6 or 7pm.

Around 8 or 9 pm it becomes increasingly hard to control the anger and hatred they are feeling and the beginning of the urges to hunt. At this point they may start sharpening claws and weapons, growling and snarling at elves, and not being able to stay in the presense of elven kind.

At ll pm the calm veneer is gone replaced by an almost animal intellect wanting nothing more than to rip and tear apart their enemies but still being slightly under control to not attack but to wait. At this point a sarr might begin hallucinating, hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there.(This is pure roleplaying for atmosphere and just hope plot does not become involved.)

At 12 midnight if not restrained a Sarr will begin hunting elves including those that were friends.

The only way to stop the regression is to sleep or beat down a Sarr to unconsciousness at exactly 12 midnight or thereafter. Some Sarr have learned meditation techniques to slow the regression somewhat till someone can sleep them.

The Sarr do not talk about this period as it is shameful to them. They do not ever wish to go back to the stage where they were pawns of another.

There have been Sarr in the past who had a bloodlust for elves and a few occurances of this in Jahavra. If they cannot be cured then they are obliterated so as to not pass on this taint to further generations.