Culture
Ascalabote culture is very similar to that of humans from the stone age to the medieval age.
Communication
Ascalabotes have a spoken and written language. Their spoken language is very similar to Latin with many words taken from Latin. Some words are also a combination of several Latin words
Example:
Aurum(Gold)+Aeris(Copper)=Aurism
Aurum(Gold)+Aeris(Copper)=Aurism
Dictionary of words spoken by Ascalabotes
Along with their spoken language, Ascalabotes also can make many sounds to communicate. These sounds are most used to hunt but young Ascalabotes use these sounds before they learn how to talk.
Chirps and chitters are used when Ascalabotes interact with each other at close range. Younger Ascalabotes chirp more and older Ascalabotes chitter more.
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Ascalabotes can hiss or whine when they are stressed, hurt, or threatened. Ascalabotes tend to hiss when they are threatened and whine when they are stressed or hurt though this varies in individuals.
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Growls, snarls, and barks are used when an Ascalabote is angry. Growls and snarls are often interchangeable and used more when the Ascalabote is angry at another Ascalabote while barks are more often when the Ascalabotes is angry about not being heard or listened to.
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Purr and coos are used in comfortable and calm settings often among family members.
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Roars and bellows are used to intimidate other Ascalabotes as well as communicate long distances. Bellows tend to be a lower pitch then a roar.
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Pups may bleat or squeak while playing or to communicate with each other or their parents.
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Ascalabotes trill when they are sad or upset.
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Clicks and screams have many uses. Clicks are used when the Ascalabote is deep in thought or between members of a hunting party. Screams are used in any high energy situation, from seeing an old friend to being hurt.
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The alphabet that is used most by Ascalabote though there are some local differences.
Food
Ascalabotes are more on the hunter/gather side when it comes to food, though growing small medicinal plants aren't uncommon Senluna's harsh environment makes it hard to keep plants alive outside of their native environment.
Despite their limitations, Ascalabotes are able to cook food and are able to combine ingredients together.
Despite their limitations, Ascalabotes are able to cook food and are able to combine ingredients together.
Sea salt is the most common kind of seasoning though there are plenty of seasonings that can be found on Senluna though location tends to dictate what can be found.
What Ascalabotes eat
Ascalabotes are mostly carnivores so their diet is mostly meat, Pistrix are their main prey but a skilled Ascalabote can catch just about anything.
Ascalabotes often cook their meals but they also dry meat to store.
Ascalabotes often cook their meals but they also dry meat to store.
Cresce fruit is another main staple in the Ascalabote diet, the fruit can also be dried and stored but when the fruit is ripe it's best if it's eaten the day it's picked.
Kaykolo or Simul seeds can be ground into flour that can be made into bread or the seeds can be eaten raw or with seasoning.
In the dry season when food is scarce, Ascalabotes also dig up and eat tubers.
A desperate Ascalabote can also eat rotting food and not get very sick, though they probobly would have a bit of a stomach ache.
In the group, feel free to depict an Ascalabote eating human food since most food we can make they can make too.
art
Art is very important to Ascalabotes. Despite having a written language, art is still the best way to communicate across time or distance. There are many ways Ascalabotes make art and it largely depends on the materials they have avalible.
Dyes and tools
Ascalabotes primary use red. blue, and purple colored dyes due to both pigments being the most common. In the mountains the dyes are more colorful due to ground up crystals that also add a sparkle to the dye when used. Other pigments are possible though they vary in rareness with the wide spread trading between Ascalabote groups has brought in many crystal dyes.
Quern-stones are used to grind materials that give pigments to powder. A liquid is added to the powder to create the dye, depending on what the dye is going to used for determines what kind of liquid is added.
Sea water is added to the powder to make a watery dye that is useful to dye branches and pelts. Fresh water is only used during the flood season since for the rest of the year it's very hard to find.
Cresce sap is added to the powder to make a thicker dye that is better for body paint and rock paint.
Sea water is added to the powder to make a watery dye that is useful to dye branches and pelts. Fresh water is only used during the flood season since for the rest of the year it's very hard to find.
Cresce sap is added to the powder to make a thicker dye that is better for body paint and rock paint.
Types of art
Woven art is the most common for most Ascalabotes, dyed Cortex branches are woven into ealies. Weaving is also a very important skill and Ascalabotes teach start to teach their children how to weave though weaving isn't mastered until adulthood. Woven art is also shown in quilts, banners, baskets, and just about anything else that can be woven.
Carving is another common form of art, one that takes very little skill but can be hard to completely master. Cresces and their fallen branches are the most common base for carved art because the wood is strong and relatively resistant to decomposition, Cresce trees can also have images carved into their trunks and because the bark is so thick the carvings will stay on the Cresce for a long time, leading to there being at least one Cresce near an Ascalabote group being used a bit like message board.
Bones are also carved though unlike Cresce carvings these are held to a higher regard so this kind of carving is done more in celebration such as a first successful hunt.
At the south pole, the Ascalabotes carve ice.
Bones are also carved though unlike Cresce carvings these are held to a higher regard so this kind of carving is done more in celebration such as a first successful hunt.
At the south pole, the Ascalabotes carve ice.
Pelt art is an important form of art for Ascalabotes. Pelts are used like scrolls and keep track of the history and stories of the Ascalabotes. Pelts may be sewn together to create a larger surface. Colored pelts are also displayed in ealies.
Rock art is how different groups of Ascalabotes can leave messages to each other. There are specific "mark stones" that have been used for many generations to warn of danger or to stake claim to an area. Rock art is typically done with paints but images can also be permanently carved into softer rocks.
Body art is only seen in special occasions, this includes paint on the body as well as beads made from colored bones woven into the Ascalabote's fuzz.
Permanent body art is more common, and scars are often incorporated in the art.
Permanent body art is more common, and scars are often incorporated in the art.
tools and Items
To help them with every day tasks, Ascalabotes use a variety of tools and other items. Most tools and items are designed for quadrupeds to use but bipedal variants exist.
Most tools and items are made from wood or rock, Ascalabotes are able to work with metal but it is hard to find on Senluna so it's not very common.
Most tools and items are made from wood or rock, Ascalabotes are able to work with metal but it is hard to find on Senluna so it's not very common.
Important tools
These tools are used nearly every day regardless of the Ascalabote's career
Ascalabote knives typically a stone blade with a wood handle though in areas with a lot of Cortex the blades are made of metal. Knives are used in situations where claws wouldn't be such as cutting food. Specialized knives are also used by Ilearas.
Ground stones are used to grind down materials into a powder or a paste. These stones come in many shapes depending on what it's being used for. All Ascalabote families have at least one and individuals or Ascalabotes that move around a lot are likely to have at least a small one.
Ascalabote fire starters are similar to human flit. It is in two parts, a jagged black rock that has a similar look and feel to obsidian though much stronger and a chalky rock. The black rock is struck on the chalky rock to create sparks, the dust from the chalky rock is quite combustible and will quickly catch fire.
Pots, pans, other dishes and containers are made from a variety of materials depending on the use. Most dishes are made from clay while pots and pans tend to be made stone and baskets are made from woven cortex branches.
Cutlery is only used by bipedals and tends to be made out of wood but can also be made out of Kaykolo stems.
Sharping stones are common in Ascalabote culture for both sharping knives and other tools but also to sharpen or maintain claws.
Harnesses are used almost universally by Ascalabotes, often a harness has one or two baskets attached and is used to carry items or even to carry pups long distances. Though harnesses range in materials, the most common is a mix of cortex branches and Prixtrix hides with two loops on either side for baskets to be tied into
Special tools
These tools aren't as common but are still seen in Ascalabote culture
Looms and spindles are used by Ascalabotes in the Praetexo career though some Ascalabotes may have small personal looms. These are normally made from wood.
Gongs are used by Ascalabotes in the Vigilate career. Gongs can range in size with the larger ones being permanently fixed to a lookout area to smaller ones that can be carried. Gong mallets are often personalized with carvings to the wooden handle.
Fang and Claw extensions are used by Ascalabotes to protect their teeth and claws from being broken in a hunt or fight. Claw extensions can also be used to help climb Cresces. Both can be made to different lengths depending on what is needed. The fang and claw part of the tool is made from metal while the band/boot that holds it to the body tends to be made from Prixtrix hides
Armor is used to protect the body, made from metal only Vindeax ever wear full armor though many Ascalabote careers issue at least a helmet. The armor often has crystals and colored rocks embedded into it in designs that are supposed to help the Ascalabote wearing the armor.
Toys
Young Ascalabotes play with an assortment of toys.
The most basic of toys are sticks and rocks found near by, sometimes these are modified over time into other kinds of toys.
Balls are a very popular type of toy, they range in size and material though they are most commonly made from polished rocks or tied up leaves.
Cresce fruit have thick rinds that don't rot very quickly and due to their larger size the rinds are often saved after the insides are removed, these can be painted or even carved.
Much like Cresce fruit, Kaykolo seeds have a hard outside that can be hollowed out and filled with pebbles to create a rattle. The natural ripple pattern on the seed makes it easy for young Ascalabotes to grip and play with.
Hoops are often used with sticks but can also be used like a hula hoop or to play hopping games similar to hopscotch. Hoops are mostly made from large Cresce branches that have been hollowed out and the bark smoothed though softer and lighter hoops are made from Cortex branches.
Soft creatures are a popular comfort item for pups. Made from softened hides and stuffed with leaves, fur, or sand these can resemble creatures present on Senluna, mythical creatures, or anything the designer wanted.