Culture

Traditional Tever culture values directness of action and of intent. Young Tever are encouraged to find their purpose and embody it as early and as fully as possible. The species is well represented among the explorers, scouts, shock troopers and first responders of the Alliance, though just as many Tever throw themselves just as thoroughly into academic and sedate pursuits.

Tever have been known to head off alone or in small groups of similar age in order to prove themselves – an early life crisis that drives young Tever to run away from home and slightly older Tever to throw themselves into new careers. This does not always meet with success, and both heroic and cautionary tales abound in recent Tever memory and epic historical sagas. To this day, Tever society makes allowances to provide their young with the chance to “go it alone” as an important developmental opportunity (though doing so as part of the Ardent Initiative was vetoed, perhaps for obvious reasons).

The Tever philosophy of osil (oh-seal, “territorial conflict”) can be summed up as the idea that one must strive in all aspects of life to act from a position of strength – and if you cannot, to evade, manoeuvre and regroup until you have the advantage. Osil is cyclically popular among young people of all species, particularly on Viront Z85, and pamphlets on its principles have been found in locales as far flung as SHADOW raid-forts.

Above all else, the Tever have sought to emphasize that their approach to life is based in rational and pragmatic principles rather than reflexive savagery. Direct solutions to problems prevent unnecessary suffering, and allow us to move on; to be willing to act on one’s principles when others are afraid is both practical and laudable.