Traditions
BirthsBirths are a very private matter and new mothers will often hide themselves away where only their closest family can reach them until the foals are weaned. This is especially true of the Imperatrix, Diosa, and the female Champions for whom strong offspring are especially important. If a child is born into the royal line it will be discarded and the family will not admit to it having been born at all.
Discarded children either die, or are adopted by other families (citizens or outsiders). If a discarded child lives they have the right just as their siblings do to return and challenge the current Dios/Diosa of their generation. However, no one of the royal family will acknowledge them as Imperatrix / Imperator unless a challenge is issued, and then only because they can not turn down a direct challenge by an Imperatrix / Imperator from their generation. Because of this, no discarded child has ever returned and submitted a challenge. It's nearly impossible to confirm your heritage as a discarded child and even if you do the fact that you can issue a challenge is a closely guarded secret.
DeathsWhen a member of the herd dies their body is brought down into the cavern of bones. Royals, Champions, and well regarded citizens might receive what is basically a parade as they are carried to their resting place. They may be adorned with jewellery, perfume and fine fabrics; but once they are set down in the cave all this finery is carefully removed and they are left to turn to dust with no markers to set them apart from the bones that surround them.
More lore is focused on what happens in the afterlife.
The Dios and Diosa become gods and goddesses who are worshipped by those who come after them. The Imperatrix, Imperator and the Champions becomes powerful servants of those deities. The Imperatrix and Imperator gain bodies of pure, glowing light, while the Champions are warped into terrifying monsters that are stronger than they every were in life.
For the remainder of the population death is the great equalizer. No matter how well liked or evil, how many slaves you owned or if you were a slave yourself, in death you became a weak spirit bound to serve those above you.
LoveMost couples won't even earn a second glance. It's not even unheard of for a Diosa to fall in love with her Serva. Much like Identity, if you are challenged over your love for someone you are expected to stand up and fight for it. This goes from every member of society from The strongest to the weakest.
IdentityYour identity is something that once stated others rarely challenge. If someone scoffs at you or says they don't believe you then you are expected to stand up to them and fight. It doesn't really matter who wins these scuffles, the important part seems to be that it's done.
Festum BellumA Festum Bellum (or Festival of War) is an event that may be started by any Dios or Diosa. Once announced any warriors who wish to participate would have one month to gather at the capital. From there the location of the Festum Bellum would be chosen. Most often it would be in an arena at the centre of the capital, but sometimes if the Dios or Diosa was celebrating a special occasion they may move the entire event to an uninhabited area where a much larger festival with special rules could be run.
The winner of the Festum Bellum becomes a champion, and is often asked to breed with the Dios or Diosa who started the Festum Bellum.
