Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-67.167.27.143-20130815010410/@comment-15374346-20131001013054

BenRG wrote: @ XDex,

Personally, I can see Mistral having a culture somewhat like the ancient Spartans. After a child reaches about 6-8 years, they're transferred to barracks for basic training with their peer group and, thereafter, are raised by the nation as a whole. So, to a certain extent, her 'family' is her entire nation and her brothers and sisters those who went through basic at the same time as her. She knows who her biological family are and loves them but she simply doesn't have as much as a bond with them as others of her age might because of having been seperated from them for years whilst in the kiddie barracks.

This creates some tension between her and Jaune, who has a close relationship with his mother (indeed, she comes close to being controlling of him); Pyrrha doesn't really understand why Jaune prioritises family over the team sometimes. It is also a common frame of reference with Ruby, who has increasingly become aware of the fact that, whilst she loves the Longs, they aren't her biological parents and she's wondering more and more how different she might have been if she was raised by the Roses instead. Oh dear Rwby God, make this true. Seriously, it would be awesome to see the other kingdoms like this!