The Marches children

Latest revision as of 14:05, 12 August 2020

Marcher children are treated like any other growing thing; they are nurtured so that they may grow straight, strong and true, they are showered with love like the rain and sun and with discipline like the frost and wind.

It is universally recognised in the Marches that children are not yet “finished”, that is, that they have not grown enough in order to bear fruit (have children of their own, fight in the armies, or contribute to the nation in quite the same way as an adult). Until adulthood is reached, a child’s soul has not “fixed” or “settled” in their body; this is why children can be prone to selfishness, whim or fancy and can be unpredictable or fickle.

However, that doesn't mean they can't be useful to have around. The notion is that they'll learn best by watching and helping where they can. This practise is formalised by custom as "giving a hand". It's a precursor to apprenticeship but more based on the child’s interest and not a permanent thing. If a child is watching what you’re doing, ask them to ‘give you a hand’ and give them something to ‘do’, something which doesn’t get in your way. That involves them in what you're doing whilst they watch and learn. An interested child might ask if they can ‘give you a hand’, meaning they want to learn more by helping out.

Most Marcher children are given a poppet each year. Looking after the poppet is part of the child’s growing and maturing process – “learn to look after yourself and you’ll better look out for others” many a mother has been heard to say to her child. The poppet contains a hearth magic that helps to protect the child against disease and illness. When the child’s poppet is ploughed back into the field their connection to the land is strengthened.

Thomas and Eleanor Shanks with the two Shanks boys

Like other growing things children need to be nurtured so they grow straight, strong and true.

When a child passes the tests of adulthood, there is a celebration. Not unlike a birthday, gifts are given and some parents present their children with a weapon so that the child may fight for the Marches when needed and with a tool so that they may work the land in the mean time. These items are often heirlooms and have been passed along generations of families. There are a few regional variations upon this, but the principles are the same. Some well-wishers give a gift of symbolic jewellery representing the items instead.

Things every child should know

Give people a hand. Hard work is the secret to respect in the Marches. If you see people you know who are working hard, offer to give them a hand. If they include you in what they are doing, they'll treat you with more respect and you may learn something useful.
Hue and cry. In the Marches, people work together to stop criminals. Keep your eyes open for anyone up to no good and give a shout if you see it.
Shunning. You must never shun another child, but if you are told that someone is shunned then you should make an effort to ignore them and not talk to them.
Sport. When you're not working, get a ball and some friends and have a game. Don't worry about the rules, worry about winning!
Traditions. If you see someone breaking the Marchers' traditions always speak up and let others know that something is wrong.

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+{{CaptionedImage|file=CM-130726-0034.jpg|width=300|align=left}}
 Marcher children are treated like any other growing thing; they are nurtured so that they may grow straight, strong and true, they are showered with love like the rain and sun and with discipline like the frost and wind.
-It is universally recognised in the Marches that children are not yet “finished”, that is, that they have not grown enough in order to bear fruit (have children of their own, fight in the armies, or contribute to the nation in quite the same way as an adult). Until adulthood is reached, a child’s soul has not “fixed” or “settled” in their body, this is why children can be prone to selfishness, whim or fancy and can be unpredictable or fickle. However, that doesn't mean they can't work: they can watch, and they can help on the farm.
+It is universally recognised in the Marches that children are not yet “finished”, that is, that they have not grown enough in order to bear fruit (have children of their own, fight in the armies, or contribute to the nation in quite the same way as an adult). Until adulthood is reached, a child’s soul has not “fixed” or “settled” in their body; this is why children can be prone to selfishness, whim or fancy and can be unpredictable or fickle.
-It is a common belief that the straw dollies given to children each year contain part of their soul that has been kept in the earth. Looking after the poppet is part of the child’s growing and maturing process – “learn to look after yourself and you’ll better look out for others” many a mother has been heard to say to her child. When the child’s poppet is ploughed back into the field his or her connection to the land is strengthened and that portion of their soul can rest for a short time.
+However, that doesn't mean they can't be useful to have around. The notion is that they'll learn best by watching and helping where they can. This practise is formalised by custom as "giving a hand". It's a precursor to apprenticeship but more based on the child’s interest and not a permanent thing. If a child is watching what you’re doing, ask them to ‘give you a hand’ and give them something to ‘do’, something which doesn’t get in your way. That involves them in what you're doing whilst they watch and learn. An interested child might ask if they can ‘give you a hand’, meaning they want to learn more by helping out.
-The Rights and Tests of Adulthood, common across The Empire have just as much meaning in the Marches. When a child passes the tests and is deemed to be an adult, there is a celebration. Not unlike a birthday, gifts are given and tradition dictates that parents present their children with a weapon so that the child may fight for the Marches when needed and with a tool so that he or she may work the land in the mean time. These items are often heirlooms and have been passed along generations of families. This tradition is thought to be the origination of the phrase “sword and shear alike”.
+Most Marcher children are given a poppet each year. Looking after the poppet is part of the child’s growing and maturing process – “learn to look after yourself and you’ll better look out for others” many a mother has been heard to say to her child. The poppet contains a hearth magic that helps to protect the child against disease and illness. When the child’s poppet is ploughed back into the field their connection to the land is strengthened.
+{{CaptionedImage|file=MarcherFamily.jpg|title=Thomas and Eleanor Shanks with the two Shanks boys|caption=Like other growing things children need to be nurtured so they grow straight, strong and true.|width=600|align=right}}
+When a child passes the tests of adulthood, there is a celebration. Not unlike a birthday, gifts are given and some parents present their children with a weapon so that the child may fight for the Marches when needed and with a tool so that they may work the land in the mean time. These items are often heirlooms and have been passed along generations of families. There are a few regional variations upon this, but the principles are the same. Some well-wishers give a gift of symbolic jewellery representing the items instead.
-There are a few regional variations upon this, but the principles are the same. Some well-wishers give a gift of symbolic jewellery representing the items instead.
+===Things every child should know===
+*'''Give people a hand.''' Hard work is the secret to respect in the Marches. If you see people you know who are working hard, offer to give them a hand. If they include you in what they are doing, they'll treat you with more respect and you may learn something useful.
+*'''Hue and cry.''' In the Marches, people work together to stop criminals. Keep your eyes open for anyone up to no good and give a shout if you see it.
+*'''Shunning.''' You must never shun another child, but if you are told that someone is shunned then you should make an effort to ignore them and not talk to them.
+*'''Sport.''' When you're not working, get a ball and some friends and have a game. Don't worry about the rules, worry about winning!
+*'''Traditions.''' If you see someone breaking the Marchers' traditions always speak up and let others know that something is wrong.
-===Things every Child should know===
+[[Category:Children]]
-*'''Heart and hearth''' Your Household is very important. You must work hard, learn things, and be the best you can be to keep your Household strong and safe.
+{{The Marches Links}}
-*'''know a body by their March; judge'em by their company''' Stick with your friends and they will stick by you. Do as your leaders say, speak up if you don’t agree, and never make a promise you can’t keep.
-*'''One boy's a boy, two boys is half a boy and three boys is no boy at all.''' Work always comes before play. If you see a job that needs doing, do it yourself to make sure it gets done.
-*'''Sow, tend and reap; fight, toil and weep''' Your Household’s farms and lands are very important and must be looked after properly. Listen to the Landkeepers, they know more about the land than anybody else, and can tell you all kinds of interesting things about it.
-*'''The land sees all.''' Never tell lies and always speak up if something is wrong.
-*'''Strong seeds, strong crops, strong land''' Doing something well is more important than doing it quickly. Always do the best job you can.
-[[Category:The Marches]]
-[[Category:Nations]]

The Marches children

Latest revision as of 14:05, 12 August 2020

Things every child should know

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