RIHANNSU SOCIAL STRUCTURE: 
Family Life

The foundation of Rihannsu culture is the family unit. The family includes not only parents and children, but also extended family members and servants. Lineage is determined through the matriarchal line and an important consideration when certain inherited positions of state are to be filled. 

Physically each "House" is constructed of several smaller individual family units, usually gathered together in one large military-style complex for defensive purposes. The goal of each House is to be able to protect and defend its members without assistance. 

However, each Lesser House also owes allegiance (militarily and politically) to one of the powerful Great Houses and would expect that the aligned Great House would come to their aid if necessary.

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Taken from the former RSR archives: http://www.romulanstarrepublic.org/society/family.html

When a man takes a wife, he also takes her name and becomes a member of her house, sworn to uphold it against all enemies. The only exception to this scenario is if the wife has no family. In that case SHE would take the husband’s name and join his family. 

The Rihannsu are a passionate and close-knit people. Marriages are forever and are not entered into without serious consideration. There is no word for divorce in the Rihannsu Language. 

Procreation, without the benefit of marriage for the sole purpose of producing children for one’s House is a common practice among Rihannsu females and is considered an honorable option for an unmarried female. 

Although childbearing during the teenage years is possible, having a child at so early an age is considered socially unacceptable. Most females have their first child after the age of 40.

Priest/Priestess: Kuokur, bont Ocala v' lata ehhae ....llaiir v' eihss, ouria, llaiir v' vaurek ....Dellae v' Heis'he llairr ishae diamn. 

Friend 2: .Bont irho v'l'oenn-uoira, sa hnnieth vaurek komhei iunnh.

(I give you this drink to soothe your thirst, as with the sweet water of your souls you will soothe each others' troubles.)

Priest/Priestess: Bont Ihhuein vaurek faest'hna..Thei vaurek faest 'le hnnieth draed, aekwinarrae achhu mollais. 

Friend 3: Bont nhaih v' digaer nhiah, 'le Heis'he diamn d'anna meraere. 

(I give you this cornerstone to be the foundation of your new home, as your enduring love for each other will be the foundation and support of your union.)

Priest/Priestess : Bont Avihl - nhaih diahmn . Thei' latasam ethae, thei'saakhe iunnh. 

(I give you Earth -- Eternal rock that to life gives birth. May your true path across the Earth be ever smooth and may you never stumble from the way.)

Friend 4: Bont daihl daehp fvi digaer salae 'le aevr vaurek bont isha diamn. 

(I give you this name-flag to fly above your home, as the free air of your twinned spirits will give flight to all your dreams.)

Priest/Priestess: Bont Jaeih kalabam aehv. Thei' aevr aen daimn. 

(I give you Air that is the sigh of the Father of Storms in the Goddess' arms. May it rise and give flight to your wings, may it sustain you in your flight.)

Groom: pledges to Bride: E'lev, vaurek Ilaiir.....draed daihl.... vaurek tellis.... vaurek hnnieth. Kaevre stelam, kaevra rrhueieh, v' nouhha culhas Heis'he delethalhi diamn. Havra aeiiht d'era mnean vaurek hwi. Fvienn ...delevhas...vaurekoii... nodaire. Theah ...Diamn... d'anna. 

(In our love have I found the fire of my soul, the foundation (earth) of my life, the breath of my songs, and the clear water of my soul. In star's heart and heart's desire, in the name of the Elements, I pledge my love unto you .... and myself unto the protection of your house from hence forth unto eternity*. As we travel together along the path of the stars we will from this day forth be one, I will be your strength and shield, your lifemate, and your guide. Now and forever... WE ARE ONE.)

Priest/Priestess: Kuokur D'anna. Ikhuein pa'rshed'akhe. Jaeih aennh. Avihl nodaire. Okhala pokot. D'navassa nviamn, nviamn v' Rihannsu faelirh, Rihannsu paenhe. Fihaele En d'anna. Thea... diamn... caernur ehhae, vaurek Ikhuein. Pehai Avihl ekhaem. Ikhau Jaeih hrrafv. Haenither yyitair, uan , ifir. En hrrafv Heis'he. 

(My children - You are a part of this world yet together... apart from this world. Water will quench your thirst, Air will fill your lungs, Earth will guide your steps, and Fire will warm you in winter's chill. All these are yours by right of birth, the right of every son and daughter born Rihannsu. In the name of the Elements, we recognize you now as ONE. From this day forward : Be as light to each other's eyes and life-giving water to each other's souls. Give of the richness of the earth, one to the other. Catch the wind within to sweep away all doubt, all pain, all fear. Be all things within your love.)

Priest/Priestess: gives benediction to the congregation:: Thei Ilaiihr saakhe saehfe. Thei Jaeih saakhe d'era kalabam. Thei latasam ethae.... Thai caernur Ikhuein mhir oelh. URR SAITH ... RAEDA... D'ANNA. 

(May you kindle Fire and never be burned by it. May the Air never send storms across your path. May that path across the earth be a soft one, and may the water of your tears always taste sweet with joy. Go in peace and joy to celebrate this new union.)

(*literally until the all suns stand still, leaving all Spheres in silence)
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Male and female children are equally prized. There is no one person responsible for the care of the children. Rather, the entire household considers themselves to be responsible for each child. Except for the obvious role of child-bearing, the Rihannsu have no separate specific male and female societal roles as do some other similar species. All household members, including servants, are responsible to see that the children are cared for, educated, and protected.

While the raising of children is a community effort, the formal education of the children is usually done under the strict auspices of a highly-learned tutor in a nursery or schoolroom setting. The position of tutor to the House is considered an extremely important post and good tutors are held in exceptionally high esteem by the Rihannsu.

All children receive basic education in the sciences, the arts, literature, and mandatory military service. They are tutored in the proper forms of address for adults, equals, superiors and servants. The important concepts of honor, respect, duty, strength, service to the Empire, and self-sacrifice are engrained within our children at a very early age. Prior to the age of testability, all children are extensively trained and prepared to their maximum potential. Children who had successfully completed the D’sora ceremony are the joy of every Rihannsu household.

*An adopted member of the family has the same rank and receives the same respect as a blood member, but with the added responsibility of another House, perhaps. Adoptions are commonplace.

*Another commonplace adoption, a unique form of revenge, usually prompted by a Mnhei'sahe in the case of the murder of a child, is known as "hostage fostering". In this situation, a House steals the children of a rival House and rears them as their own. A family that has lost their child in this manner usually never sees them again.

In the face of ever-present shortages of food and supplies, the ancient Rihannsu had to make certain difficult decisions. Preferential treatment was given to those individuals with the best chance for survival in the harsh environment. Only the smartest, healthiest, and strongest could survive. It was customary for the ill and infirm to simply walk away from the settlements, to elect to die with honor, than to strain the meager resources of the people to care for individuals who could not contribute to the greater good.

During this time of survival, the D’sora Ceremony was formed, the testing of young children for intelligence, for strength, and adaptability. Those children who passed the test are feted to a glorious time of feasting, dressed in magnificent ceremonial robes, and honored at a special religious service, at which time they were given their family name and officially entered into the historical records of the family.

Those who did not pass, that is, those who were genetically or intellectually inferior or ill or infirm in any way, were quietly and painlessly put to death and never spoken of again.

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