#### Ancestral Strength Reverence toward one’s ancestors is deeply ingrained in Dayawlongo society, where a passion for the past is demonstrated by people’s love for oaths, poetry, and song. Ancestors sometimes return as guardians called ninunos, spirits of the dead who have taken on new, dryad-like forms and serve as intercessors between mortals, the gods, and the land. Ninunos watch over their bloodlines, bestowing good fortune on pious descendants or curses upon those who put their own needs over those of the family and broader community. #### Bonesingers Artisan-warriors, bonesingers dedicate their lives to maintaining the skybridges. In the ancient past, bonesingers oversaw the final rites when great bakunawa died, then infused the creatures’ bones into the magical bridges that unite Dayawlongon as one land. During the days of the first colonial incursions, bonesingers became Dayawlongon’s earliest freedom fighters, but their victories came at a great cost. Many skybridges became battlegrounds, and countless allied bakunawa were lost. Today, the gigantic bakunawa of old are gone, and few of their smaller descendants remain. The loss of these great creatures and their magic prevents the creation of new skybridges. #### Clans and Reputation Dozens of clans unite families across the Dayawlongon archipelago. Marriages are unions of clans as much as unions between individuals. Adoptions, polyamorous relationships, and other generous family bonds create varied ways to join different clans. Clans have few proscribed roles for their members, with each group sharing responsibilities in ways that work for their members. Reputation carries great value in Dayawlongon, and a person’s reputation also shapes that of their loved ones in the eyes of peers. A Dayawlongo treats their best friend’s children like their own offspring and curses the names of their enemy’s family. #### Debt of the Soul One of the cornerstones of Dayawlongo culture is the concept of _utang ng loob_, a debt of the soul. If someone saves another from mortal peril or assists another at great cost to themself, a soul debt is formed between the people in question and their bloodlines. This debt holds throughout any number of generations until it is repaid. Failing to respect a soul debt is the deepest form of betrayal for Dayawlongos and the root of countless blood feuds. #### Names Traditionally, Dayawlongos have a personal name followed by a clan name. Personal names are varied and often reflect a characteristic that a ninuno connected to an individual or their family found desirable. However, some personal names are relics of colonization and have foreign origins. The following names are common in Dayawlongo: **Feminine.** Asterio, Corazon, Flordeliza, Modesta, Sinta **Masculine.** Amado, Estanislao, Gio, Joaquin, Mirikit **Gender-Neutral.** Alon, Bulan, Dalisay, Melchor **Clan Names.** Bahaghari, Dimansalang, Fabion, Posadas, Recio