Week 7

The Coral Tribe

My small foraging tribe named the Corals live deep within a cave. The cave is underneath a planet whose surface is covered in ice and snow all year round. The only way life could survive on the planet was by moving underground, which is just what the Corals did. The caves lie far beneath the planets surface and is dark, but covered in beautiful cave crystals. The weather is also always around 60 degrees and the Corals never have to worry about storms. The corals themselves are a small alien species with nearly no pigment in their skin due to the lack of light, but they do create their own light with torches around the caves. The Corals have no gender or age. They don’t die as long as they have food and water and have existed on the planet from the beginning of its time.

Food- They eat a small diet of grown plants, milk, and cheese. They grow their own crops in their regulated climate, which allows farming to be relatively simple. The plants also offer food to the creatures that live there. Water is always plentiful since there is a stream that trickles through the cave. The creatures on the planet also provide milk and cheese.

Dominate trait of culture – The culture is focused on peace with the cave and its creatures. They know that every resource is precious and no one ever wastes any food or provisions since they have no reason to die unless they run out of resources. The tribe has an established leader, but everyone lives with the same amount of food and shelter. There is no level of class, everyone is seen as equal and is expected to work and contribute to the tribe.

Its opposite trait -  Establishing new lands and territories. The Corals do not wish to move on from the cave unless absolutely necessary. They believe their home is sacred because living in the cave is the only way they can survive on their planet. The Coral’s are not very interested in finding other planets to live on, they are very peaceful and want to remain where they are.

Complimentary trait – The tribe is still hospitable and are interested in trading with other tribes or visitors who know of them. They seek to benefit both sides by offering and receiving what the other doesn’t have. The Coral’s especially love trading cave crystals for new foods. 

Language and body talk- They speak their own language as well as sign language to best communicate with visitors. They use drawings to communicate.

Crime- Destroying crop life, harming other corals or animals. Punishments include exlusion form tribe events and unpleasant jobs like cleaning up after animals. The goal is to learn and grow from mistakes, so the tribe does not believe in a jail system. They instead believe in knowledge and restoration of the mind and spirit. Only if a coral is unfixable then they will be banished to the cold climate on the surface.

Responsibilities – Since all Corals are genderless and ageless, they have a rotation on who is the leader. Every one hundred years a new leader is elected to give the previous leader a rest from overseeing the Coral tribe. The leader then assesses everyone’s job in the tribe and allows Corals to move to a different position if they wish. For example, if a Coral wants to work as a crop harvester instead of a cheese maker, then they can switch to that role with the leader’s permission and proper training.

Defense -  Tribe members are all required to be skilled at archery. The Coral’s are not very fast, so being able to hide and shoot from a distance is crucial.

Family – There is no official family system. All the Coral’s they have close friends they enjoy being with, but overall the tribe is like a giant family who shares one large sleeping area, food table, and living space.

Clothing – The tribe wears glowing hats they make from a special glowing bacteria that is smeared across the hat made of woven plants. The Coral’s also love to decorate themselves in different luminescent fungus that grows around the caves. They also make jewelry from their favorite crystals around the cave.

Sexual regulations – There is no such thing as reproduction since all the Corals are genderless and ageless. They have no sexual desires or needs.

Holidays – Work is 6 days a week with rest and relaxation on the 7^th day. The Coral’s are not big into holidays except for when they elect a new leader every century or when they have visitors from other planets. They dance, play music on ceremonial drums, and feast on foods only prepared on special occasions such as cheese cake.

Food preferences- Everyday food consists of root vegetables, plants, milk and cheese. Any plants that take a long time to grow are considered special treats and other desserts that are difficult to make such as cheese cake and ice cream.

Manners –Tribe members can normally eat 2 full bowl helpings respectfully, but must wait for everyone else to eat before getting thirds. Must finish everything that you put on your plate. All the Coral’s eat meals buffet style as a group.

Status – There are assigned jobs to each tribe member, but every member and job is regarded as equal.

Stages of life- No stages, Coral’s are ageless.