Marriage Among the Elves, Volume 1 (book) - Revision history

TK-421 at 20:05, 14 April 2021

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	their good wishes and join in the celebration of the joining.		their good wishes and join in the celebration of the joining.

			{{Cat\|Books,Wedding books}}
	~~{{Cat\|Book,Wedding Book}}~~[[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::Bone Elf\| ]][[race association is::Celestial Elf\| ]][[race association is::Forest Elf\| ]][[race association is::Mountain Elf\| ]][[race association is::River Elf\| ]][[race association is::Sand Elves\| ]][[race association is::Snow Elf\| ]][[race association is::Wind Elf\| ]]		[[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::Bone Elf\| ]][[race association is::Celestial Elf\| ]][[race association is::Forest Elf\| ]][[race association is::Mountain Elf\| ]][[race association is::River Elf\| ]][[race association is::Sand Elves\| ]][[race association is::Snow Elf\| ]][[race association is::Wind Elf\| ]]

CARAAMON at 07:19, 18 March 2011

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			{{RTOC}}
	=Marriage Among the Elves=		=Marriage Among the Elves=
	==Volume I: The Roots of Elven Ritual==		==Volume I: The Roots of Elven Ritual==
	-''An Investigation By Simon J. Bright''		-''An Investigation By [[Simon]] J. Bright''

	===Introduction===		===Introduction===

	Nowhere else in their daily rituals does the obsession of the		Nowhere else in their daily rituals does the obsession of the
	[[~~Elf~~\|Elvenkind]] regarding children become as evident as that shown in		[[race association is::elf\|Elvenkind]] regarding children become as evident as that shown in
	the immense variety and legality of their wedding rites. Elves		the immense variety and legality of their wedding rites. Elves
	tend to be pragmatic about fleshly desires. They draw clear		tend to be pragmatic about fleshly desires. They draw clear
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	their good wishes and join in the celebration of the joining.		their good wishes and join in the celebration of the joining.

			{{Cat\|Book,Wedding Book}}[[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::Bone Elf\| ]][[race association is::Celestial Elf\| ]][[race association is::Forest Elf\| ]][[race association is::Mountain Elf\| ]][[race association is::River Elf\| ]][[race association is::Sand Elves\| ]][[race association is::Snow Elf\| ]][[race association is::Wind Elf\| ]]
	[[Category:Book]]
	[[Category:Wedding Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::elf\| ]]
	[[Category:Elf]][[Category:Bone Elf]][[Category:Celestial Elf]][[Category:Forest Elf]][[Category:Mountain Elf]][[Category:River Elf]][[Category:Sand Elves]][[Category:Snow Elf]][[Category:Wind Elf]]

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	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]]
	[[Category:Wedding Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::elf\| ]]		[[Category:Wedding Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::elf\| ]]
			[[Category:Elf]][[Category:Bone Elf]][[Category:Celestial Elf]][[Category:Forest Elf]][[Category:Mountain Elf]][[Category:River Elf]][[Category:Sand Elves]][[Category:Snow Elf]][[Category:Wind Elf]]

CARAAMON at 22:05, 22 September 2008

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	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]]
	[[Category:Wedding Book]]		[[Category:Wedding Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::elf\| ]]

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	Shortly thereafter, the couple rejoins their guests to receive		Shortly thereafter, the couple rejoins their guests to receive
	their good wishes and join in the celebration of the joining.		their good wishes and join in the celebration of the joining.

	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]]
			[[Category:Wedding Book]]

Maintenance script: minor formatting & added some links

2008-04-21T04:24:23Z

minor formatting & added some links

Maintenance script: Marriage Among the Elves, Volume 1 moved to Marriage Among the Elves, Volume 1 (book)

2007-11-19T13:50:55Z

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Marriage Among the Elves moved to Marriage Among the Elves, Volume 1

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Maintenance script: New page: =Marriage Among the Elves= ==Volume I: The Roots of Elven Ritual== -''An Investigation By Simon J. Bright'' ===Introduction=== Nowhere else in their daily rituals does the ...

2007-05-05T22:25:41Z

New page: =Marriage Among the Elves= ==Volume I: The Roots of Elven Ritual== -''An Investigation By Simon J. Bright'' ===Introduction=== Nowhere else in their daily rituals does the ...

New page

=Marriage Among the Elves=
==Volume I: The Roots of Elven Ritual==
-''An Investigation By Simon J. Bright''

===Introduction===

Nowhere else in their daily rituals does the obsession of the
Elvenkind regarding children become as evident as that shown in
the immense variety and legality of their wedding rites. Elves
tend to be pragmatic about fleshly desires. They draw clear
distinctions between the essential need of the family lines to
produce children and the emotional attachment that may draw two
people together to spend eternity.

Although Elves have an acute appreciation for beauty, they are
unlikely to choose a mate based on a whim of physical attract-
iveness. Nor do Elves (as do some races) casually put away from
themselves a partner who has ceased to amuse them. To dissolve
any marriage before its purpose is attained, except under unten-
able circumstances, is considered barbaric and unacceptable.

Due to the nature of their long lives, several compromises have
evolved in order to meet the needs of the family bloodlines.
Most of the various ceremonies of marriage or mating recog-
nized among the Elven clans are temporary in nature. This
is not a fault, but a recognition of the primary drive of
all Elves to produce offspring to carry on the family line,
as well as produce strong alliances in the interwoven web of
alliances and loyalties among the various clans. A well-mated
couple might indeed produce the desired child and an eternity
of obligation between the bloodlines but may very well also
evolve in different directions and desires during the course
of several centuries of adult life. Outsiders who jibe at the
"casual" nature of Elves fail to understand that many of these
time-limited arrangements may extend far longer than their
own natural lifespan.

That said, deeply engrained in the psyche of almost every clan
is the ideal of a rare love between two people in which they
meld together for life, and perhaps even beyond life as we
understand it. Gelinajaun Ruh or "the soul marriage" is the
rarest form of wedlock. Once accepted, the bonds of this form
of marriage cannot be sundered except by death. In fact, usual-
ly the bond is so strong between the two that when one departs
the Plane of Abiding, the other soon sickens with "jan puscen",
which translates roughly as "the broken spirit", loses the will
to continue and eventually withdraws and is seen no more. Most
outsiders would simply say the surviving spouse died of a broken
heart, but Elves speak instead the tale of the Two and how the
Mother of all fades after being afflicted with jan puscen upon
upon the death of the Father.

Children are a rare joy, particularly the birth of the first-
born daughter, who generally carries on the traditions of the
family line. It is a matter of grave importance to the family
and clan that the best possible future mate is secured for the
newborn infant almost from the moment of first breath. It has
become a fine art among the Elves to evaluate the family blood-
line's virtue and weakness, and seek a mate who will not only be
compatible and improve the family's coffers and alliances, but
will also compensate for any perceived failings in the blood-
line. Families considered to have excellent bloodlines are
highly sought after, with every female child almost immediately
in the position of having a multiple of bloodlines requesting
the honor of the son of their blood being promised as future
husband to her.

By the time a female child has seen her first turning of the
seasons and a male child his fifth, such preliminary arrange-
ments are usually firmly in place. Unless the children are
bound in formal handfast (an uncommon event for any but the
highest social class), these arrangements are considered ten-
tative and not completely binding. The elders of the families
carefully monitor the development of the children and gauge if
they are reaching the full potential of their blood. Children
who fail to show any of the positive characteristics of their
family line often suffer an unfortunate "accident" of one sort
or another, particularly in the families of finer bloodlines who
would consider a public rejection of the betrothal a smear
against their blood. It is not uncommon for infant handfast-
ings to be broken and recombined for a more advantageous mating
by the time a child passes its tenth or eleventh turning.

Love between the two partners is considered desirable but not
critical. Elves tend to subscribe to the notion that love has
a fragmentary, elusive quality about it that may not develop
until years after the initial wedding. Of greater importance is
compatibility of spirit, the ability to form a bond and continue
with it unabated through the years of turnings that lie ahead.
Most Elven couples become extraordinarily fond of each other,
and other races view the love between them jealously, little
suspecting it may have taken the couple a few hundred turnings
to reach this happy state of affairs.

Elves recognize many different forms of marriage, and any child
born from one of these arrangements claims full birthright to
the bloodlines of both parents. Since the majority of the
Elven clans trace heritage and bloodlines through the maternal
side, there is no concept of illegitimacy among them as all
children are cherished.

Marriage between the Elvenkind and other species continues to be
viewed with great skepticism. Well ingrained in Elven history
is the almost fatal attraction that appears to exist between
Elves and Humans, and to a lesser degree with some of the other
races. Most families view this as a very undesirable state of
affairs unless the Human has a great deal to offer in the manner
of powerful alliances and wealth. Even with such compensations,
few families would greet with joy the knowledge that their son
or daughter might grow to love their mate and in effect be
accepting a death sentence by pursuing such an arrangement.
Even the less binding arrangements are considered to be of
doubtful value, since Elves believe most of the other races
would find it difficult to maintain the degree of commitment
that the Elves take for granted.

===The Marriage Arrangements===
'''The Handfast Ceremony: El Agzata'''

Upon agreement that a match is suitable and the bride payment is
acceptable, arrangements are made to promise the children to one
another. There are two separate versions of this ritual. The
most common simply requires that an elder of each family state
the agreement and its provisions before the local Elven council.

In the case of nobles and the ruling caste, El Agzata is often
used to signify a marriage by proxy. In this case, an adult is
chosen to stand in for each child in the ceremony, after the
bride price and all other negotiations have been found accept-
able. These adults carry the title Zuzen Sesan (True Voices),
bound by the obligations of guardian and protector to the child
they stand for, and speak for both the children and the family.
While the child is under the age of maturity, the Zuzen Ses has
complete authority to watch over the child's rearing, protecting
the child's interests in any manner the Zuzen Ses so chooses.
The Zuzen Sesan present the children before the Elven Council,
where their bloodlines are chanted and the details of the nuptial
agreement again specified. The Zuzen Sesan accept the agreement
for the marriage and embrace one another, which seals the ritual.

'''The True Voice Marriage: Zuzen Gelinajaun'''

By virtue of representing a child promised in marriage, the
Zuzen Sesan may themselves marry unless they are formally mated
to another in a way that would prohibit such a joining. Although
Zuzen Gelinajaun is not required, it is highly regarded if they
choose to do so. This variety of marriage is time-limited and
valid only until the time when the children they represent
reach the age of maturity.

'''The Simple Marriage: Gelinaji'''

This is the simplest form of marriage. The couple must merely
appear before the council with linked hands and declare them-
selves wed until they mutually agree to terminate the arrange-
ment. If the Council accepts the marriage as valid, the couple
is considered married.

This variation of marriage is often used in a second marriage by
the lesser bloodlines that have lost a spouse through death,
desertion or by simple completion of the goals of the original
marriage. It is rarely used by any of the Elves of finer
bloodlines.

Younger Elves also use this variation of marriage in an attempt
to sidestep marital arrangements their families have made that
are not to their liking. The Council is unlikely to validate
such arrangements unless the woman is pregnant or they are
unaware of the former promises.

'''Marriage of Shame: Lotsen Gelinaji'''

This marriage is used as a disciplinary measure when a child has
been produced from the liaison of a couple and one of the
parents refuses to acknowledge the other bloodline or to grant
the child its due rights.

One of the parents of the child may petition the Council for
redress of the injury done to the child, or the Council may
demand both parents be brought before it. After listing the
complaint and evidence, the Council has the right to declare a
temporary marriage between the parents. To do so, the left palm
of each parent is sliced and the bloody hands bound together
with the wrappings of a silver chain. The council rules how
many turnings of the seasons they must remain married by decree-
ing how many days they are bound. Each day they are fastened
together symbolizes one full turning of the seasons. Once their
sentence has been performed, the parents must again appear
before the council in order to have the binding cut from their
hands. They may accept no other marriage until the length of
time decreed for the Lotsen Gelinaji has passed.

'''The Blessing by the Four Winds: Bile Janis oc Hul Haizeani'''

While each clan uses a different version of Bile Janis oc Hul
Haizeani, the common root elements of the ritual appear in all
of them in one form or another.

In its simplest form, a representative home is set for the
couple in the central area for the ceremony, harkening back to
ancient times when the marriage took place in the actual house
built for the newlyweds. Most clans use some version of a
ceremonial cloth called "gelnutre". In many cases this is an
heirloom item, handed down from one generation to the other for
the firstborn daughter, or it can be made specifically for the
marriage.

Guests stand in a loose arch above the northern point of this
area, prepared to welcome the bridal couple into the community
as a wedded pair. Before them waits the person chosen to lead
the ceremony. This is usually a cleric or shaman, but can also
be the clan leader or any other highly regarded person in the
clan.

The cardinal points of the east and west are occupied by the
witnesses for the groom and bride -- the man in the masculine
position of the rising sun and the female in the receptive
position of the setting sun.

From the south (the wind of the past) the bridal couple are
escorted by those who stand as guardians to them. The witnesses
step forward from their positions to meet them at the center of
the area and request the couple be released from the bonds and
responsibilities of the families who have raised them, as they
are about to enter a new stage of life. The guardians assent,
formally releasing the couple and seating them upon the gelnutre
before stepping back to the southernmost point of the area.

Although it is permissible for the couple to chant or sing their
bloodlines past seven generations, it is more proper and formal
for this duty to be preformed by another. Very elaborate
ceremonies are devised, often utilizing the services of bards
and mages in order to emphasize the quality of the bloodlines.

Usually, the witness for the female chants her lines and attri-
butes first, followed immediately by the witness for the male.
Two favored variations of this part of the ritual involve the
witnesses singing a duet, with the marriage lines intricately
interwoven into one cohesive whole. Another variation often
chosen is for each witness to sing a piece that incorporates
the necessary information one after another.

After the lines are declared, the witnesses return to their
respective positions, still facing the couple. A sudden silence
falls, broken as the guardians, witnesses and cleric all turn
sharply to guard the cardinal points around the bridal couple.
Four challenges are issued to the cardinal points of the winds
to offer cause why the ceremony cannot continue. The cleric
issues the first challenge to the North Wind for any of the
flesh to speak, followed in rapid succession by the witness of
the bride calling out to the god of the bride in the west and
the witness for the groom calling out to the god of the groom to
the East. Finally, and most importantly, the guardians of the
couple challenge the South Wind, the place of the ancestors and
the past.

Assuming no word has been spoken by flesh nor any ill omen dis-
plays the displeasure of the gods or ancestors, all turn back to
the center and approach the couple. The cleric blesses the
couple and joins their right hands together before raising them
up. Each declares their vows to the other and gives a symbolic
element to the other to declare their commitment before the
cleric declares them wed. Almost immediately, the guests and
family surround the couple in cheerful celebration and the
festivities start with song, dance and abundant food.

'''The Mating of Need: Behar-gelinaji'''

A fruitful marriage that has produced children is highly
regarded by the Elves. In the sad event that one of the spouses
dies, if no other marital obligation lies upon the surviror, the
Council has the right to demand that the surviving spouse re-
marry after the period of mourning has been observed. This usu-
ally happens when a bloodline has been plagued with childless mar-
riages or when calamity has struck down the heirs of a bloodline,
leaving an aging family facing the prospect of extinction. In
these extreme circumstances, the family is likely to petition the
Council for the services of the surviving spouse. These marriages
are terminated upon the successful completion of a pregnancy.

'''The Formal Marriage: Gelinajaun'''

At times, it is expedient for families to insist that their
line be joined to another one for reasons of consolidating
wealth, power, or personal attributes. Normally this only
happens in the higher ranks of the Elves. These marriages are
considered binding only until such time as an heir has been
successfully produced, after which time it is not uncommon for
the couple to lead their own lives and take less formal
arrangements to please themselves. Some of these formal
arrangements eventually become Gelinajaun Ruh, with each member
of the couple not only firmly twined in the other's future and
power, but also celebrated in some of the most famous Elven
tales.

'''"Sister Gift" Marriage: Shostro Emanto'''

This ancient tradition dates back to the need of the elves to
produce children, particularly the pragmatic need of the eldest
daughter to secure the bloodline by producing an heir. It most
likely developed during ancient times when sisters either shared
a mate when there was a shortage of available husbands or when a
sister offered to share her husband with her older, childless
sister. Although traditionally none of these arrangements
consult the wishes of the "borrowed" husband, in most cases the
arrangements are friendly and consensual, since the goal is the
strictly pragmatic one of producing an heir.

Regardless of the variation, the procedure is the same. The
eldest daughter stands with her husband before Council and
declares one of the Sister's Right variations. The person
claimed joins the couple before Council, who approve the
legality of the marriage. Any child from these arrangements
becomes legally that of the original couple and has the
right of inheritance unless the original couple belatedly
produces a child. In this unlikely event, the child born of
Sister's Right assumes the position of second sibling in the
bloodline.

In the first variation, the marriage of the eldest sister proves
fruitless. In order to produce an heir to the line, she has the
right to borrow her sister's husband from her until she bears a
living child. Alternatively, if she does not have a married
sister and her husband does, she may utilize that sister's
husband for the duty of producing an heir.

In the second variation, the eldest daughter chooses another
"wife". Commonly, this is her younger unmated sister, but it is
also considered an honor to choose a close friend for this
position. Typically, the second wife continues to share the
household after she bears a child and takes the status of an
aunt to the child. If she wishes to leave the household, she
must petition the Council for release from the arrangement.
However, any children produced in this manner again remain with
the original family.

In the third variation, the couple has proven fruitless regard-
less of the variation chosen. The couple may petition the
council for a child of equal rank from a family who has several
"extras". This is generally an avenue of last resort and ex-
treme desperation on the part of the petitioning family, but
it can prove very advantageous to a younger daughter with few
prospects.

'''The Soul Marriage: Gelinajaun Ruh'''

This is the rarest form of all the marriage arrangements. Quite
often, it is chosen after years of another marriage. This is
the only marriage among the Elves that cannot be dissolved,
since in this ritual the couple declares that they are no longer
two separate souls, but a new creature intertwined with but one
soul. It is an extremely private ceremony with very specific
requirements.

For a couple not already married, this ceremony is integrated
with the Bile Janis oc Hul Haizeani. The cleric does not join
the couple's hands nor declare them wed. Instead, he raises
them to their feet in silence and takes up the gelnutre.

This is a signal to the guests to withdraw to the area of the
feast and begin a rather rowdy celebration of their own, full of
feasting and singing while the private ceremony is in progress.
The cleric leads the couple and their witnesses to the place
previously prepared for the ritual. The only requirement is
that it be private and have access to a body of water. Salt
water is preferred but not required. The necessary items have
been neatly arranged on either a small table or a rock of
unusual beauty. A large candle burns brightly with two unlit
tapers lying near it in readiness, a bottle of exquisite wine
awaits in an ornate decanter with two empty wineglasses before
it, and a loaf of unleavened bread lies on a small platter or
fine cloth.

The cleric shakes the gelnutre out and spreads it on the ground
before seating the couple upon it. He speaks sternly to the
couple about the degree of commitment they are about to
undertake and asks them if they undertake this freely. When
they reply that they do, the cleric joins their left hands
together. Throughout the ritual, this grasp may not be relin-
quished, and the couple must rely on their witnesses for
assistance as they proceed through the declarations of joining
in the ancient way of sun, earth, water and air.

The cleric then asks for the token by which they will join.
Depending on the clan, this token may be a torque, a ring, or
ceremonial earrings. The cleric leads the couple in exchanging
their vows and tokens of their love. After a blessing, the
cleric returns to the assembly and announces with great cheer
the impending death of the individuals all have once known.

Each member of the couple is given an unlit candle. Although
the candles may be simple tapers, generally ornate ones are
chosen. Most couples cherish the symbols of this ceremony and
display them prominently in their home after the ceremony. With
simple words from the heart, they speak directly to one another,
binding themselves by fire, and light their separate candles in
unison from the brightly burning central candle. The witnesses
take the candles from them and set them to either side of the
master candle before seating the couple.

The couple next declare themselves joined by earth and are
handed the loaf of unleavened bread. Together they break the
bread, each feeding a morsel of it to the other. The witnesses
take up any remaining bread and destroy it by fire to symbolize
the exclusiveness of the relationship.

Each witness brings forth a wine goblet of delicate workmanship
and assists each member of the couple in pouring a glass of
wine. The couple bind themselves by water, first sipping their
own wine and then sharing it with the other. Once again, the
remainder of the wine is cast away and not shared. In the
strictest observance of ancient tradition, the wineglasses were
also shattered along with the decanter in which the wine was
served to again symbolize the exclusiveness of the relationship.
However, it has become equally acceptable for the couple to
retain both the decanter and the glasses as reminders of this
special day for use upon their anniversaries. If this choice is
made, the witnesses set the empty wineglasses alongside the
brightly burning candles.

Next, the couple declare themselves joined by air, each speaking
or singing their heart to the other. These pieces can be
heartbreakingly simple or masterpieces of intricate work.

The witnesses assist the couple in standing and they embrace
before unclasping their joined hands. Guarded by the witnesses
they lose their bridal finery and enter into the privacy of the
waters before them. They enter the waters as two separate
individuals but emerge as a new creature sharing one soul. The
witnesses turn their backs upon the water and guard the area
from intruders, for whatever occurs there is between the couple
only. Upon exiting, they joyfully assist them in regaining
their wedding finery and run to the assembly to declare the new
joining and imminent arrival of the new soul-bound creature.
Shortly thereafter, the couple rejoins their guests to receive
their good wishes and join in the celebration of the joining.
[[Category:Book]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:24, 20 April 2008
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	Nowhere else in their daily rituals does the obsession of the		Nowhere else in their daily rituals does the obsession of the
	Elvenkind regarding children become as evident as that shown in		[[Elf\|Elvenkind]] regarding children become as evident as that shown in
	the immense variety and legality of their wedding rites. Elves		the immense variety and legality of their wedding rites. Elves
	tend to be pragmatic about fleshly desires. They draw clear		tend to be pragmatic about fleshly desires. They draw clear
Line 39:		Line 39:
	is the ideal of a rare love between two people in which they		is the ideal of a rare love between two people in which they
	meld together for life, and perhaps even beyond life as we		meld together for life, and perhaps even beyond life as we
	understand it. Gelinajaun Ruh or "the soul marriage" is the		understand it. [[Gelinajaun Ruh]] or "the soul marriage" is the
	rarest form of wedlock. Once accepted, the bonds of this form		rarest form of wedlock. Once accepted, the bonds of this form
	of marriage cannot be sundered except by death. In fact, usual-		of marriage cannot be sundered except by death. In fact, usual-
	ly the bond is so strong between the two that when one departs		ly the bond is so strong between the two that when one departs
	the Plane of Abiding, the other soon sickens with "jan puscen",		the [[Plane of Abiding]], the other soon sickens with "jan puscen",
	which translates roughly as "the broken spirit", loses the will		which translates roughly as "the broken spirit", loses the will
	to continue and eventually withdraws and is seen no more. Most		to continue and eventually withdraws and is seen no more. Most
	outsiders would simply say the surviving spouse died of a broken		outsiders would simply say the surviving spouse died of a broken
	heart, but Elves speak instead the tale of the Two and how the		heart, but Elves speak instead the tale of [[the Two]] and how [[Celestidhl\|the
	Mother of all fades after being afflicted with jan puscen upon		Mother]] of all fades after being afflicted with jan puscen upon
	upon the death of the Father.		upon the death of [[Keloryon\|the Father]].

	Children are a rare joy, particularly the birth of the first-		Children are a rare joy, particularly the birth of the first-
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	viewed with great skepticism. Well ingrained in Elven history		viewed with great skepticism. Well ingrained in Elven history
	is the almost fatal attraction that appears to exist between		is the almost fatal attraction that appears to exist between
	Elves and Humans, and to a lesser degree with some of the other		Elves and [[Human\|Humans]], and to a lesser degree with some of the other
	races. Most families view this as a very undesirable state of		races. Most families view this as a very undesirable state of
	affairs unless the Human has a great deal to offer in the manner		affairs unless the Human has a great deal to offer in the manner
Line 116:		Line 116:

	===The Marriage Arrangements===		===The Marriage Arrangements===
	'''The Handfast Ceremony: El Agzata'''		===='''The Handfast Ceremony: El Agzata'''====

	Upon agreement that a match is suitable and the bride payment is		Upon agreement that a match is suitable and the bride payment is
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	the agreement and its provisions before the local Elven council.		the agreement and its provisions before the local Elven council.

	In the case of nobles and the ruling caste, El Agzata is often		In the case of nobles and the ruling caste, [[El Agzata]] is often
	used to signify a marriage by proxy. In this case, an adult is		used to signify a marriage by proxy. In this case, an adult is
	chosen to stand in for each child in the ceremony, after the		chosen to stand in for each child in the ceremony, after the
	bride price and all other negotiations have been found accept-		bride price and all other negotiations have been found accept-
	able. These adults carry the title Zuzen Sesan (True Voices),		able. These adults carry the title [[Zuzen Ses\|Zuzen Sesan]] (True Voices),
	bound by the obligations of guardian and protector to the child		bound by the obligations of guardian and protector to the child
	they stand for, and speak for both the children and the family.		they stand for, and speak for both the children and the family.
	While the child is under the age of maturity, the Zuzen Ses has		While the child is under the age of maturity, the [[Zuzen Ses]] has
	complete authority to watch over the child's rearing, protecting		complete authority to watch over the child's rearing, protecting
	the child's interests in any manner the Zuzen Ses so chooses.		the child's interests in any manner the Zuzen Ses so chooses.
	The Zuzen Sesan present the children before the Elven Council,		The Zuzen Sesan present the children before the [[Elven Council]],
	where their bloodlines are chanted and the details of the nuptial		where their bloodlines are chanted and the details of the nuptial
	agreement again specified. The Zuzen Sesan accept the agreement		agreement again specified. The Zuzen Sesan accept the agreement
	for the marriage and embrace one another, which seals the ritual.		for the marriage and embrace one another, which seals the ritual.

	'''The True Voice Marriage: Zuzen Gelinajaun'''		===='''The True Voice Marriage: Zuzen Gelinajaun'''====

	By virtue of representing a child promised in marriage, the		By virtue of representing a child promised in marriage, the
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	reach the age of maturity.		reach the age of maturity.

	'''The Simple Marriage: Gelinaji'''		===='''The Simple Marriage: Gelinaji'''====

	This is the simplest form of marriage. The couple must merely		This is the simplest form of marriage. The couple must merely
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	unaware of the former promises.		unaware of the former promises.

	'''Marriage of Shame: Lotsen Gelinaji'''		===='''Marriage of Shame: Lotsen Gelinaji'''====

	This marriage is used as a disciplinary measure when a child has		This marriage is used as a disciplinary measure when a child has
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	time decreed for the Lotsen Gelinaji has passed.		time decreed for the Lotsen Gelinaji has passed.

	'''The Blessing by the Four Winds: Bile Janis oc Hul Haizeani'''		===='''The Blessing by the Four Winds: Bile Janis oc Hul Haizeani'''====

	While each clan uses a different version of Bile Janis oc Hul		While each clan uses a different version of Bile Janis oc Hul
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	After the lines are declared, the witnesses return to their		After the lines are declared, the witnesses return to their
	respective positions, still facing the couple. A sudden silence		respective positions, still facing the couple. A sudden silence
	falls, broken as the guardians, witnesses and cleric all turn		falls, broken as the guardians, witnesses and [[cleric]] all turn
	sharply to guard the cardinal points around the bridal couple.		sharply to guard the cardinal points around the bridal couple.
	Four challenges are issued to the cardinal points of the winds		Four challenges are issued to the cardinal points of the winds
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	festivities start with song, dance and abundant food.		festivities start with song, dance and abundant food.

	'''The Mating of Need: Behar-gelinaji'''		===='''The Mating of Need: Behar-gelinaji'''====

	A fruitful marriage that has produced children is highly		A fruitful marriage that has produced children is highly
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	are terminated upon the successful completion of a pregnancy.		are terminated upon the successful completion of a pregnancy.

	'''The Formal Marriage: Gelinajaun'''		===='''The Formal Marriage: Gelinajaun'''====

	At times, it is expedient for families to insist that their		At times, it is expedient for families to insist that their
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	tales.		tales.

	'''"Sister Gift" Marriage: Shostro Emanto'''		===='''"Sister Gift" Marriage: Shostro Emanto'''====

	This ancient tradition dates back to the need of the elves to		This ancient tradition dates back to the need of the elves to
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	Regardless of the variation, the procedure is the same. The		Regardless of the variation, the procedure is the same. The
	eldest daughter stands with her husband before Council and		eldest daughter stands with her husband before Council and
	declares one of the Sister's Right variations. The person		declares one of the [[Sister's Right]] variations. The person
	claimed joins the couple before Council, who approve the		claimed joins the couple before Council, who approve the
	legality of the marriage. Any child from these arrangements		legality of the marriage. Any child from these arrangements
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	prospects.		prospects.

	'''The Soul Marriage: Gelinajaun Ruh'''		===='''The Soul Marriage: Gelinajaun Ruh'''====

	This is the rarest form of all the marriage arrangements. Quite		This is the rarest form of all the marriage arrangements. Quite