Teper

To the people of Teper, parenthood is the defining trait of one's identity. Their view of gender is based in the "role" someone assumes or seeks to assume as a parent, or lack thereof -- someone who desires to carry and nurture children is one gender, and someone who does not wish to parent at all is another. Grandparenthood is also considered a separate gender that someone enters into once they cease being a parent directly and their adult children begin to have children themselves. Because children by default cannot be parents in Teperian society, they are considered effectively "genderless," and Teper is consequently strongly against any possibility that minors, even if they might be biologically capable of doing so, might parent a child, even in situations where the childrearing is not related to pregnancy at all and is more adoptive in nature. They view this as an upset of societal balance and a failing on the part of the "current parent generation" that children might be forced to grow up so quickly. That said, Teper is a strong proponent of sexual abstinence between minors; even if the couple is not capable of biologically procreating for whatever reason, it is seen as a "slippery slope" that could lead to unintended pregnancies just by normalizing the act.
Transmutive magic and medical surgery are among Teper's highest studied fields because of its emphasis on parenthood and allowing any individual, regardless of biology, to hold all aspects of parenthood they see fit, and the country is renowned for its healthcare for new parents or parents that recently had a child. Essentially, Teperians view the defense of the new generation as vitally important, as it is through children that the country will eventually change, particularly as the current generation's parents grow too old to take care of themselves and must be tended to by the children they once raised. Teper is known for the extreme lengths that its citizens might go to protect children, especially at their most vulnerable; almost any politician, if they want votes, will have to prove that their platform is "pro-family" and that their desired changes are for the benefit of children especially. However, they tend to judge other countries harshly -- while they will happily take in refugee children, for example, less might be done for migrant adults that are seen as responsible for themselves or that might not "understand" Teperian ways and do damage to its vulnerable people.
Most notably, Teper drew criticism following the Godbomb when the disparate people of Rakovok sought shelter from the overwhelming destruction. Teper closed its borders to the vast majority of adults that came to their country, only accepting orphans for the most part that could be naturalized into Teperian society. The country was also accused of outright abducting children from "unworthy" parents that could not provide for them, but no definitive evidence was ever found.
Category:Sigzlor
Category:Ealdremen Nations
Category:No Spoilers