Sho'lekstran Cheeses

Sho'lekstran culture is noted for its complex analysis of cheese, with different cheeses being ascribed personalities, familial relations with other cheeses. The cheese family dynamic originally was created as a way of teaching cheesemaking to Sho'lekstran children, as cheese making was and has been a significant facet of Sho'lekstran culture, and it was considered vital for children to know how to make their own cheese. The cheese family dynamic also has parallels to Sho'lekstran folk religion and beliefs. Overtime the descriptions of cheeses bled into a wide variety of unrelated areas of Sho'lekstran culture, resulting in the cheese metaphor system known today.

## Personalities

### Heads of the cheese families

All Sho'lekstran cheeses are said to be descended from Kushemama and Kushemapa, "Mother Milk" and "Father Milk". Kushemama is said to have birthed two children, Malakesa and Nokukesa. Malakesa is usually associated with soft cheeses, and Nokukesa with hard cheeses. There are exceptions for cheeses that are unusual in being more similar to a cheese of differing hardness or other such oddities. None of the heads of the cheese families are associated with any one cheese, although sometimes cheeses which are considered descendents of Malakesa or Nokukesa are referred to by that respective name. Kushemapa and Kushemama are in certain contexts used to refer to cheese in the context of their cheese persona. Which one you say is context and oftentimes gender based.

Kushemama and Kushemapa are unusual for being some of the only cheeses with a strict gender - many are unspecified or said to be gender fluid.

### Malakesa Descendents

#### Kulusinoku

One of the children of Malakesa is said to be Kulusinoku, the father of many similar cheese spreads. The term Kuluxinoku is sometimes used to refer to cheese spreads.

Kulusi (similar to mascarpone) - a laid back and go-with-the-flow cheese, owing to the cheese's semifluid nature, its ease of creation, and its easy pairing with a wide variety of meals. A chill and laid back cheese, it can be both an insult and a complement to call one Kulusi depending on context, either saying they are chill or that they just let life go by.

Kulusinelo (similar to ricotta) - little brother of Kulusi. Also a go-with-the-flow cheese, but a little more of a "follow the leader" type go with the flow. Comparing someone to Kulusinelo is often similar to calling someone a sheep. However, this can also be endearing, when referring to children mimicking adults. The term "Little Kulusinelo" is used often.

### Xosima

Xosima (cottage cheese) - Often associated with going down an unfortunate path, on account of its ease of creation and the frequency with which xosima is made on accident. Sometimes connotated with low intelligence. It is said that Xosima was not interested in putting any effort into child rearing, so they made a deal with Kushemapa to have many descendants that Kushemapa would raise, at the cost of a thousand Millenia of pain and torment. When Xosima's era of pain ends, so too will all those who have fallen to the easy way lose their unfortunate habits. Addicts are often associated with Xosima, as are people who are bad parental figures.

Xosima has many descendents, mostly soft cheeses strongly associated with curdling in particular, such as in the production of mozzarella.

#### Xolosenma

Xolosenma (mozzarella-like cheese) - Described as adaptable, clever and quick thinking, being quite literally "flexible" and able to be molded into many shapes. Xolosenma is considered the oldest child of Xosima, and most disgusted by Xosima's ways, who chose to sell his soul rather than be a decent parent. Calling someone Xolosenma is usually a compliment.