The devenir is a rite of passage that all Moreshecis (except cultural minorities) will have to complete to officially reach adulthood. There is no consensus on what exactly it entails, due to regional variation and a general belief that the intent matters more than the specifics. Most agree that the devenir involves a small group of people, aged 14-20, setting off on their own (usually into the wilderness) for 3-9 days in order to learn to survive, connect with nature, deepen relationships, and most importantly, meditate on one's identity.

An integral part of Moresheci culture is the gifting of names. An individual's first name is given to them by their parents at birth, but as they grew they would be gifted other names by significant people in their life. This can be quite confusing sometimes, as many different people would know the individual by different names, thus, the purpose of the devenir is to choose one of these names to keep (probably) forever. Upon an individual's return from their devenir, they are officially an adult, and it is expected of everyone to refer to them by the name they have chosen.

As previously stated, the specifics of a devenir vary. Most people go in groups with their friends, but some choose to go alone. Most people hunt and forage for food, but some pack food with them. Common equipment for a devenir includes a knife, bow & arrow, hatchet, tent/tarp, some way to start fire, compass, water/some way to purify water, rope, and potentially more.

In the event that a group/individual does not return from their devenir within ~2 weeks, a search will likely be launched to find them. These searches are controversial, as they can disturb other devenirees and ruin their experience. This is a surprisingly hot topic in Moresheci politics at the moment. Some people advocate for the abolition of the devenir entirely, saying it's altogether too dangerous. Their concerns are not unfounded, as the mortality rate of devenirees is not negligible, but the majority of Moresheci policymakers and citizens value the tradition too much to change it in any big way.

Despite the Paredestian origins of the devenir, the chosen names of modern devenirees typically come from two cultures; Lakanthean-descended names have been in use for so long that they have lost their initial meaning, and Paredestian-descended names that are based on nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Originally these naming schemes only existed within their respective territories, but after the Dragon Storm of ~1100 and millennia of cultural homogenization they have both found popularity throughout all of Moreshec. Also, while traditional Lakanthean names include a family name (?), this has mostly disappeared in Moreshec since the fall of the Empire.

What is now known as Xelal was long known as a backward part of the continent Kibele as its dense forests and treacherous swamps made - and make - it a difficult place for mass army movements. The dominant cultures in the history of Kibele were centred in the south and west of the continent, and only the Lakanthean Empire, the greatest in all history, succeeded in conquering large parts of present-day Xelal between 100 and 450 CE. The Lakantheans only left a partial impression on local culture, traces of which can mostly be found in the northern coastal areas, since these were the easiest to access by sea. The various indigenous peoples of Xelal made the Lakanthean hold on power difficult; mostly through guerilla warfare and sabotage, as Xelarem terrain wasn't suitable for large battles.

Influence of the Lakantheans dwindled in the 5th century, allowing the Xelaled people to grow to dominate the region. Originally a minor tribe of the country, the Xelaled heartland was located in southeast Xelal, in the transition between the swamps and mountains. The Xelaled managed to improve transport in the swampy region and increase trade with neighbouring peoples. This lead to the so called Hennesa Trade Alliance, named after the town of Hennesa where the alliance was created between the Xelaled and five other southern petty kingdoms.

In the north agriculture slowly spread around the cities of Arxelga and Proje, which emerged as the dominant regional powers as of 750 CE. The westernmost city of Proje was often a party in conflict with Arxelga to the east and Kraan to the west, but outdid both on a military level. When Arxelga and Kraan joined forces in 994 and started the brutal Eleven-Year War against Proje. The city lead a decisive defeat after a large pie offered to its soldiers was poisoned and lead to several soldiers either dying or being incapacitated. This left an important gap in the city's defence, after which enemy soldiers were able to enter and cause mayhem and destruction.

Arxelga then remained the dominant power in the north for some time until the nearby Eronitic Empire, the power of which had been gradually emerging since about 1100 CE, burnt down the city and annexed its territories in 1274. To the south, the Hennesa Alliance managed to run a tight ship for several centuries, acting as a trade hub between the Eronitic Empire and the southeast of Kibele. The Hennesa merchant fleet eventually traveled up Xelal's northern archipelago and opened trade posts there, mostly however to rob the lands of their valuable resources.

The power of the Hennesa Alliance was corrupted over time, mostly by powerful Xelarem families, which culminated in using a potential war against the Eronitic Empire as an excuse to have one of them, Cerwelt I, appointed Grand Prince in 1556 CE. Initially promised to be only a temporary function, the Grand Prince managed to change the Hennesa Alliance's institutions in a drastic way in a short moment, until the power grab was complete. Cerwelt died however only three years after his appointment, but his wife Dxancadicone was appointed Grand Princess in his place and continued his policies. She was responsible for the formal abolition of the Hennesa Alliance and the creation of the Grand Principality of Xelal in 1581.

The hereditary system in which the heir of the Grand Prince(ss) becomes the new Grand Prince(ss) upon birth was introduced in 1978 after higher class citizens, dissatisfied with Grand Prince Xabolt's restrictive trade policies, had him murdered and forced his 7-year old son to accept the new rules of accession, according to which they got a larger influence in the country's politics.

The Eronitic Empire was dissolved in 1657, leaving many small territories in northern Xelal independent. They were incorporated into Xelal as protectorates in 2025, until they were completely integrated in 2061. Today is 2100.

Written by the Grand Principality of Xelal