Traditional tethering ceremonies were primarily created to officiate Heba-Tian Tethers, though they have been adapted in many ways for same-planet Tethers. Here are a few of the traditions that I've thought of that are considered traditional, feel free to mix and match them:
- Handfasting: The characters' hands are tied together loosely by the officiant or a close friend of both parties with a piece of fabric decorated in runes/symbols representing the two planets. These fabrics are available for Tian-Tian and Heba-Heba tethering ceremonies as well.
- Foliage/Flower Headwear: The two parties involved will create a flower crown or other headware/fascinators adorned with flowers, foliage, or fungi from their own planet, which they will exchange and wear at the ceremony.
- Hand Decoration: Each party will receive a temporary tattoo of sorts on the back of their dominant hand with a symbol or rune representing the planet of the person they're tethering with and something symbolic of the person they are tethering with.
- Tether Jewelry: Most people wear a bracelet or necklace with charms attached that represent their tethers. The charms can be purchased at many stalls and shops in markets across the Witches' Camp, in a wild variety of shapes. For example, a tether with someone who fights a lot may be represented by a sword, a tether with someone who enjoys gardening may be represented by a flower, etc.
- Outfits: The clothing the two parties wear can range from casual streetwear to formalwear that originates from the person's culture to a traditional Broken World costume that resembles an oversized shapeless long-sleeved dress with a high collar with a sleeveless overlay, specifically worn without shoes. This outfit is unisex. Whatever the participants choose to wear, they usually dress in the color associated with their own planet - vibrant orange for Heba, dark blue for Tian.
- Sharing Food: It is common for each party to buy or prepare a traditional snack from the culture of Heba or Tian to be hand-fed to their new tether at the ceremony.
Some additional information about Tether culture, just for flavor:
- It's only been within the past 50 years or so, as the rebellion increases in strength, that it's become common to have more than one tether. This is mostly because, as the rebellion ramps up, it's more likely to lose loved ones.
- It's also only recently become more common to have same-planet tethers, and it only started coming into fashion about 10 years after multiple tethers became common.
- It's uncommon in Sylphid territory to have more than one tether, which means same-planet tethers are also uncommon.
- Tethers did not originate in romance and while they have a joining ceremony they are not intended to be romantic - while many who are married or in a relationship are also tethered, the two are viewed as completely separate parts of the relationship. The first tethers were completely platonic and the ceremony is completely platonic. In fact, it's generally frowned upon to bring romance into a tethering ceremony - there are other ceremonies for romantic partners.
- There are Tether Counsellors available for people having trouble meshing with a tether.
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Traditional tethering ceremonies were primarily created to officiate Heba-Tian Tethers, though they have been adapted in many ways for same-planet Tethers. Here are a few of the traditions that I've thought of that are considered traditional, feel free to mix and match them:
- Handfasting: The characters' hands are tied together loosely by the officiant or a close friend of both parties with a piece of fabric decorated in runes/symbols representing the two planets. These fabrics are available for Tian-Tian and Heba-Heba tethering ceremonies as well.
- Foliage/Flower Headwear: The two parties involved will create a flower crown or other headware/fascinators adorned with flowers, foliage, or fungi from their own planet, which they will exchange and wear at the ceremony.
- Hand Decoration: Each party will receive a temporary tattoo of sorts on the back of their dominant hand with a symbol or rune representing the planet of the person they're tethering with and something symbolic of the person they are tethering with.
- Tether Jewelry: Most people wear a bracelet or necklace with charms attached that represent their tethers. The charms can be purchased at many stalls and shops in markets across the Witches' Camp, in a wild variety of shapes. For example, a tether with someone who fights a lot may be represented by a sword, a tether with someone who enjoys gardening may be represented by a flower, etc.
- Outfits: The clothing the two parties wear can range from casual streetwear to formalwear that originates from the person's culture to a traditional Broken World costume that resembles an oversized shapeless long-sleeved dress with a high collar with a sleeveless overlay, specifically worn without shoes. This outfit is unisex. Whatever the participants choose to wear, they usually dress in the color associated with their own planet - vibrant orange for Heba, dark blue for Tian.
- Sharing Food: It is common for each party to buy or prepare a traditional snack from the culture of Heba or Tian to be hand-fed to their new tether at the ceremony.
Some additional information about Tether culture, just for flavor:
- It's only been within the past 50 years or so, as the rebellion increases in strength, that it's become common to have more than one tether. This is mostly because, as the rebellion ramps up, it's more likely to lose loved ones.
- It's also only recently become more common to have same-planet tethers, and it only started coming into fashion about 10 years after multiple tethers became common.
- It's uncommon in Sylphid territory to have more than one tether, which means same-planet tethers are also uncommon.
- Tethers did not originate in romance and while they have a joining ceremony they are not intended to be romantic - while many who are married or in a relationship are also tethered, the two are viewed as completely separate parts of the relationship. The first tethers were completely platonic and the ceremony is completely platonic. In fact, it's generally frowned upon to bring romance into a tethering ceremony - there are other ceremonies for romantic partners.
- There are Tether Counsellors available for people having trouble meshing with a tether.