User:Captaincarrot/Observations of Love VII

Observations of Love, VIII: The Bats of In’eslae

by Cascadia Noveau, Relationship Counselor, 4E 192

An account of the courtship rituals of the Echmer

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Written by IceFireWarden

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When it comes to the matters of love, dating, and general romance within the Ice Cream Lanes, the Echmeri way of attracting a lover is quite similar to but also distinctively unique when compared to Tamrielic mannerisms.

Traditionally the Bat Elves have always been a rather emotive society, where one’s thoughts towards their family, friends, neighbors, and self was encouraged to be expressed freely. Although this method of thinking was reasonably toned down in modernity upon the collapse of the Chiropteran Monarchy, as such local figures like the Council of Dull Chimes, Lady Hrahndeyl, Sagefather Azar’sari, and several others realizing it was the cause for many of their ancestral wars and blights, remnants of it can be found in festivals (like the monthly Soulfast, where Ynesleans engage in verbal and physical debates in order to clear up disagreements) and―surprisingly enough―finding a spouse.

Relationships should not be stiffy, stuffy affairs as seen through the looking glass of bat elven culture. As one of their great poets, Yuwan Tre’i-Han, once said: “I do not wish to grow old with my wife and die. I wish to stay young with my wife and live.” Bat Elves, despite their general sarcasm and scholastic qualities, are incredible advocates of fun and teasing as a show of their affection; a suitor will often mock, prank, agitate, and compete with the one they fancy in respectfully ingenious and escalating ways until their jokes turn into statements and their retorts turn into vows.

And even after an unbreakable bond is formed, a genuinely happy marriage can be riddled with so many lively arguments, “vindictive tricks”, and obscenities that foreigners that have never set foot in Lapis Lazuli are often shocked and appalled to know that some of these marriages are even happy at all!