For being biologically close to aquatic creatures they caused qualms among other tribes at first, but today Dova are known as the Sea People and Ghosts of the Ocean, yet not in a foul way. Even so Dova openly show preying aggressiveness towards less intelligent species, they are actually one of the kindest of all tribes, cheerful and blithe in mind, holding heads high, altruistic and first to sacrifice themselves for another kin. Almost motherly they are protective of smaller sistren. Whence it often feels like they treat us as children, and view all our actions as mere childsplay. They even accept hostility so easy as such – once you declare Dova an enemy, then without question they will see themselves as your enemy, but they will not see you as their enemy, and so facile it is to end a conflict just by accept their friendly hand. No matter what we do – they are gentle and benevolent to us.
During early Age of Crumbling Dova contributed greatly to the people who lived around Sea of Birth, and other tribes commend them for it. At the times when survival was harsh and people were lingering into superstition, other tribes were telling stories to their kids about Ghosts emerging from seas, so they are not afraid to seek aid from the Sea People who come to help – who are to protect from evil creatures of the Ocean, and to feed when you hunger, and to rebuild during disasters. Parables and myths of their deeds remain till this day, thus many folklore figures are based on ancient deeds of Dova kin.
One of such legendary folklore figures would be the generous Ghost of Grandma Zanada Graoza, a gift-giver emissary of Allmother. At the last night of every month she would reward virtuous kids who listen to their parent, emerging from earth and ground as if it is ocean and leaving presents under beds they sleep; but those kids who dare to stay awake would disappoint her and be dragged into bottomless abyss of the Ocean for punishment. Of course the more helpful and obedient kids were to parents, the great was her present. So it became a long-lasting tradition for parent to reward their children under disguise of Grandma Zanada.
At some point Dova started to migrate and spread to other coasts and isles. A great deal remained on shores around Waist and Thigh Regions, but more were settled on Tail Archipelago. This was Her crumbling Gorgeousness for the longest period, with many emergent problems. Aside from foraging of native stubborn trees, continuous large-scale agriculture is barely possible in soil quality so sterile; no serious towns would stand for long before earth crack under them; and while fishing was already dangerous near these islands, it become even more straining when Serpent’s spawn begun setting lairs there. Other tribes adjourn any attempt to settle on Tail Archipelago even into current Age, except for Dovas: they are people of action and obstinate courage. Dova spirit is made of contest and rivalry against the nature and existence itself, challenging the tremendous or dying while trying – “The worth of our lives should be measured by scars” they say, and fortunately for them there is no greater challenge right now than the Ocean… and what slumber deep beneath it… Besides, they wanted to have at least some hunting grounds they can have all for themselves.
There, on Tail Islands, they would organize as nomadic culture: a few villages were build with a handful of families to permanently live and take care of shores, while the rest would regularly move between these villages following seasonal fish migrations, forest fruitfulness and Envasion occurrences. Although, as Dova populations grew, some clans didn’t stay there for long either and traveled beyond. Many nations and states claim to be the first to settle on various coasts, but eroded sites of primal villages built by Dova ancestors can still be discovered, with no burial grounds or traces of mass extinctions found – Dova themselves believe that their ancestors didn’t find these beaches inspiring enough to stay there, so they returned.
***
Massive frills, for which Dova are called Ghosts, are very light and have a natural use in water: while lagging behind they conceal movements of arms and disorient prey at the moment of an attack, though arms are mostly used to grab and hold onto prey before biting it with deadly jaws. Dova can propel themselves really fast by utilizing quick wavy mirrored movement of their twin tails, in which case these frills make Dova visually longer and bigger, deceiving other predators on where to bite… before it is already too late.
On land Dova secrete oily sweat to protect their skin from drying out; they are in constant need to be moisturized, and so Dova tribe don’t live in areas and cities where they are not guaranteed to get access to water on demand, or at least humidity is high enough and rains are regular. Temperature is not much of a problem for them as blubber layer may easily lose or gain fat to adjust for different regions and seasons.
Dova do have a set of gills, but just to help them stay submerged for longer – not live underwater like some believe. They can freely swim deep for over an hour without relying on gills, and for almost three hours if actively use them (but with modern diving gear they can stay underwater indefinitely). Dova capable of that because their bodies maintain high amount of myoglobin, and a greater volume of blood than it actually seems, and since Dova depend on their twin tails to swim – these muscles as well accumulate more myoglobin to stay fresh for prolonged periods.
As a protection for their vast and powerful circulatory system Dova developed strong immunity against many natural toxins, paralyzers and unnatural-made poison. Some ancient text say that Dova could consume Umbral flesh that of Jealous Beastiary raw and survive. It is impossible to confirm if it is true, since this practice of eating Serpent’s offspring became culturally loathsome in Meority long time ago and claimed to be heretical by Herquisition, but Dova are ones to rarely become Envious.
***
Having mention that, the same antitoxin production in Dova bodies also have a side-effect of overdosing organ systems with hormones for a very extended time, and results of that is as well drastically different between futales and females.
Futales feel rising urge to proof the quality of own might, to show themselves as the absolute hunters and protectors. When hormones are low they just flex their muscles, test limitations of own physique or spar with each other; but it doesn’t mean they will not challenge an othertribe sistren when they see one as a worthy rival, and whether one wants it or not Dova always go all in; but if you truly win though, you will earn their lifelong respect… and even longer line of new challengers. However when hormone dosage is really high – Dova futales depart their homes to hunt. They may swim for weeks and hundreds of kilometers to find the biggest ocean monster and tote its carcass back to flaunt own performance, but if another futale brings a greater game they may sail to hunt again for even bigger prey, missing for weeks again or dying deep in the ocean, which they still accept as a fitting result to own weakness.
Females are prone to hunt for sea creatures themselves, but under hormonal high they have an urge to be mothers and nurture kids. However, if Dova females yet childless, her brain will be wired to treat smaller othertribe sistren as own children. In this states she will mentally cling to one or two and be protective of them… very protective… too protective. Dova females would not cosset you, but rather prefer to chain you to a wall in a hidden room somewhere in the forgotten lands, where no evil can find you and you can’t harm yourself; never leaving you alone, constantly looking at you not being hurt, carelessly feeding so you not hunger, warming you with a hug of own body so you do not shiver from cold. Their motherly treatment will never end, but if it does then it is just temporarily, because when the next cycle starts she will run to find you and only you, in fear of missing her only dear “child”. If you meet such Dova, her watch over you will never end until you life as perfect as she deems, and then she will stay there forever to make sure it all remain perfect. She be very obsessed and jealous if you interact with anyone else, maybe for an exception of a spouse, but even then she might not like her and attempt to drive away the unworthy. Non of these are theories, considering a few infamous known cases... and who know how many more unknown cases.
Elders try to convince youngsters to reproduce first and only then care about bravery, yet as a result of these frequent and irregular hormonal spikes, where substantial number of young futales are absent during female Estrus cycles or dying on hunts before passing down genes, while females themselves are missing somewhere taking care of othertribe “children”, Dova population is not only stagnated, but in the last two centuries it dwindled due to exponentially increased Envasions. Today Dova are the smallest of Eight Sacred Tribes. In fact their numbers would already reach lower than that of some subservient tribes if not for Military Entente between Feet Republic and Free States of Tail Archipelago.
Cursed image of a High Abomination of the Cult of Slug; Eight times redrawn and purified by Herquisition; First depicted by a Martyr 1324, let her repentance and sacrifice be the forgiveness for past betrayal.
***
“Smells like wet fire… like a putrescent brine... darkness everywhere… but it is not absence of light, it is miasma… I hear thunderstorm, but see no lightning... I see nothing... but I see umbral blood vessels... so swollen that they spread, outreaching outside… Rotten leaves grow where arteries burst with thunder… it is sacrilege rot... and own blood is worn like a dress... veins converging into a knot… pulsating like a heart, all-thinking, always-knowing, Narcissistic about own existence… carried by two bodies... but there was more… there is more… there will be more… they are inside veins, not blood… faces of parasites, constantly changing in their Arrogant expressions… myriad… merging… still in process of merging... but never... It spreads bloody tendrils towards me… I refuse… it doesn’t care… it wants to know me, so it can remove me from the existence… because it doesn’t like that there is something else in here... but it already knows about me, from the future where I don’t exist anymore… It consumes all the darkness around itself, blaming everything that ever existed and don’t exist anymore… but… Darkness is oozing from it, stench of black nothing… It survives on slurping its own rot...”
Cursed murmurs of a Martyr 1317, let her repentance and sacrifice be the forgiveness for past betrayal; Eight times rewritten and purified by Herquisition; describing unholy visions of a High Abomination of the Cult of Slug.
We are born from Her flesh, and when we die we return to Her flesh – with all our substance, with all our memories, with all our emotions.
Meora remembers Her every dear child. All we achieved, all we experienced, all we dreamed about – She remembers it all, our Allmother. This memory of us is what we call a Soul.
Sometimes Meora may shows us apparition of dear to us, who are already part of Her, to comfort our life, but as well through the Gift we can conjure these memories of our ancestors – in a shape of phantoms and ghosts they will appear. Moreover there are rumors of places where souls roam free like Her misbehaving children, when their own death is mere nothing compared to ardor of reasons to stay alive and play around.
The Taint
Was it your will or not, to sense the Evil is to be corrupted by it. When you witness its ugly form, when you hear its nauseating howls, when you smell its sickening stench, when you read its foul words and messages... Your being becomes tainted by it one way or another, and thus more susceptible to the Serpent.
It is not a sin, but it is… bewailful. Remedy Engifted can cleanse your body and purify your mind, but the fact of being touched by the corruption even once is enough to never be pure again. And some Herquistion members believe that even be informed about existence of the Serpent means to be tainted by Its influence.
It is why many dither to even consider fighting the Jealous Beastiary or Heretics, a fear. Likewise their sovereigns and leaders who would rather avoid tainting own people and ask only a few to sacrifice own purity in extermination of the most acute pestilent nests while awaiting greater heroes to conquer what is much further.
Though some sistren see it as a proof a true guardian, who truly sacrificed themselves to the cause. It is how the Red Capes and Knights of Creation are eventually forced to join Ordono Kerno and bear their bells. After years of fervently slaughtering Traitors and Envious Beastiary they get soaked in corruption, so deep it is that no Purification nor Cleansing can save them anymore – a doleful sacrifice… a sacrifice they do to protect the rest of us, so we never get corrupted even slightest.
Yet peaceful civilians are never safe: Envious and their Cults always try to poison waters, food and air just by mere existing. They whisper cursed words when you sleep, enough to reach your ears for you to remember them. They make you see visions on walls and paintings you shouldn’t. They never stop… but it is our duty to Meora to stay as pure as she created us – Gorgeous in body and Joyful in spirit, and we can not falter.
Anomalous presence
An uncontrollable Aura of change surrounding high-grade Engifted, which alters the reality into what it shouldn’t be, driven by their broken sanity an understanding of the world.
There is no particular history of migration for Ralamians: families would travel with sistren tribes and settle among sistren tribes. Although they prefer a perfect balance of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure and windiness to keep bodies comfortable: If one of these meteorological variables is too low or high then others should compensate for that. As well they choose regions where continuous and extensive cultivation of silica-rich plants is simplistic whole year, and plenty of suitable soil is found in Eastern Feet Region.
When born, cells in Ralamian bodies are still soft and carbon-based, but after a couple months they get hungry and start absorbing high amount of silica, minerals and metals (latest substantially for bones), hence after toddlerhood Ralamian diet is composed mostly of just these silica-rich plants. They still can consume food made of carbon-based meats and plants, but because they can’t digest it so easily they do so in lesser quantities and not for nutrients source, but just to add taste to a bland and small amount of products they really depend on.
After a few more months gem-like structures develop on joints and rib cage (primarily sternum area), and around skull. While most of them serve decorative purpose, gems located on sternum are external organs which crucial to release byproducts of breathing and hydration in Ralamian silica-rich bodies. Crystal, mostly quartz, formations start developing on these gemorgans through out the day, and every nights Ralamians would scrape these outgrowth as a hygiene process, like brushing teeth. If left unsupervised for too many weeks it can cause serious damage to the body; leaving without attention for even longer can result in death from intoxication.
Scalp produces different type of byproduct: wet on touch, soft and elastic homogeneous substance made of hydrogen-abundant radioloria-like cells; luminescent, harmless; functionally comparable to hair of other tribes. It can keep desired shape under a weak electrical current. Chunks of this mass can be detached and absorbed again before cells start dying.
With the specific from-birth diet Ralamian gems can become precious crystals, valuable enough to be turned into gemstones; after it became a wide understanding by the end of the Age of Crumbling Ralamians’ lives became valuable to [REDACTED] of the Hegemony, but these lives would last short, filled with a suffering as a stock for a single final purpose in mass generation of jewelry. Thus Ralamians generally avoid these diets as a detest to the past, but still some risk to follow them for own beauty – after all, visual characteristics (coloration of skin, gems and “hair”) depend on a diet and mostly permanent. Though it is easy to discern when Ralamians are ailing or malnutritioned – their skin looses it hue and turn more ashen and pale.
***
Ralamians grow really fast until their bodies fully develop and reach a certain peak, then they look young forever as their aging process is differ from pure carbon-based sistren. Always their skin is smooth and movements are elegant. Yet come a time when they will begin dying as fast as they grew. In fact Ralamians have one of the shortest lifespans of all tribes – less than forty Meorenell years at best. Though, it is theorized that they perceive time at much slower pace that other tribes, based on cognitive speed and reaction time of a Ralamian brain.
Just as cells in Ralamian bodies continuously consume and recycle silicon atoms, they slowly turn heavier and brittle, and suddenly fail to sustain themselves as an organic being. First visible sign of final months in Ralamian’s life always starts with eyes – they begin to pale and loose inner glow, eventually crystallize; optic nerves follow; skin and flesh gets hoary as well; then crystallization process reaches brain and nerve system, at that point the rest of the body is already cracking, and eventually crumble to sand. A Ralamian dies as a person, but a body partially stays alive: cells of some organ tissues (lungs, heart, liver and bone marrow) keep growing as symbiotic colonies, creating lustrous crystal and metallic structures for a few more decades before fully mineralizing to non-alive state naturally or under threats of nature.
It is really easy to identify Ralamian cemeteries when you see a field of crystal formations surrounded by ashes and dusts. In modern times these crystals can find their value for technological use, but it is illegal as well as immoral to collect and use them unless Ralamians themselves bequeath it, which some of them do so in prideful likeness to ancient words of Meora:“Take my body and prosper. Take my skin, my flesh, my bones, my tears – use it to live and flourish. As your mother I order you, my children. As your mother I sacrifice myself for your thrive.” Alike She allowed us to exploit Her being and not be ashamed nor feared, these Ralamians desire to aid Meority after own deaths as well.
***
Besides regular names, Ralamians also have Inner Names – whispered only by intercessor in prayers to Meora when alone, for well-being of special someone, never for oneself. These names are so sacred to them that very often spouses and their children don’t know Inner Names of each other.
Regularly you can hear Ralamians gently singing and humming; for a long time it was obscure even for them why they do it, but it was discovered that humming boosts Ralamian cognitive abilities, and tune changes directly depends on their thoughts.
Because of a powerful natural bioelectrical field it is possible for Ralamians to share thoughts and memories with each other (or at least somewhat read othertribe’s minds) by linking nervous systems. Even children inherit memories of their mothers from during pregnancy period, hence Ralamians become ready and experienced for the world much earlier than sistren tribes. Coupled with accelerate growth, Ralamians regard each other as adults as early as six years.
Other tribes characterize Ralamians by solitary, stoic nature and equanimity, or sullen and morose, with tendency to keep secrets and refusing to communicate nor cooperate. They are indeed can be described as individualists and their first values are family-oriented at best, above nation and tribe interests. In truth many Ralamians just aspire for individual autonomy and aim to shape own, unique views on the world, to seek what others don’t. Which comes from a fear of their minds amalgamating and personalities stagnating through an entire tribe as a risk of thought-sharing potential, even if they reject to use it most of their lives. In conjunction with a lessen lifespans it shapes a specific loner mentality: very personally they are shy and timid, even docile, keeping themselves lone from other people and tempered somewhere behind, because sometimes an idea of mental homogenization so horrid they hermit themselves even from othertribe sistren. With such, achieving any close relationships with Ralamians means gaining their absolute trust in values and intentions.
Although, a lot of Ralamians spend their final year amongst own Elder Communities, where by excess use of bioelectrical field faculty they are advancing ideas they gathered through their short lives, committing to science, philosophy, experimenting and inventing; passing combined knowledge of decades through generations, often never to be seen outside but of their joint minds, kept secret and eventually forgotten anyway until someone else re-invents these thoughts again. Still, many scientific breakthroughs and discoveries, technological advancements and achievements are due to commitment of Ralamian Elders for the betterment of Meority. As their philosophers say: “Enjoy given life, but embrace inevitable end. Even if you live for yourself – serve upon death to other”.
Those Engifted who are vehement and judicious enough, can be taught standardized knowledge and disciplines, to aid wielding their Gift more effectively. Basic knowledge of our world is taught in regular schools enough to shape and mend perception for physics and maths, even more can be learned in higher academies, but Engifted sistren require something more than that – a deep comprehension of possibilities of minds, to train insight, to nurture imagination – this is a task beholden on various Engifted Doctrines.
Varying in lore, design and purpose, but intentions of most is to simplify and excite use of the Gift. On top of providing understanding for future self-improvement Doctrines also teach ideas of already conventional miracles. One of key techniques familiar among all Doctrines is to train own brain in recreation of memories, ideas, envisions and knowledge by associating them with specific words and gestures – which would become mental triggers, allowing an Engifted surrounded by constant distraction and stress pressures to efficiently recreate miracles binded to these signs. Sometimes it is achieved by ceaseless drilling, but some Doctrines use physical or mental sensations (pain or pleasure) to become associated with said signs.
Alas, It is almost impossible to train most high-grade Engifted as they can’t fully comprehend what their sisten can. Nor anyone really dare to try and teach them. Nor they really need Doctrines with such powers they already blessed.
There are countless Doctrines, ranging from worldwide fundamentals branching into multiple distinctive Tomes, to a community-niche ones, but here are examples of a few:
Stability Doctrine;
The first and main Doctrine is Stability: great unnatural miracles can affect the entirety of Meorenell, causing unforeseen chains of disasters to our only home we all share, and of course to Her Gorgeous body. Young Engifted first educated on how NOT to use the Gift and discipline themselves from foolish unreasonable actions, nor disturb others while actively contributing to society with their blessing. Too, Stability may teach about self-preservation against another Engifted – not just overcoming, but also nullifying each other if so needed by synchronizing with another’s thoughts in opposite intentions. Nor least important, Remedy is a key Tome within Stability Doctrine: it instructs alike named Remedy Forces on how to confront parasitic influence of the Serpent and Its creations on reality, as well how to purify umbral carcasses and cleanse vile miasms from Her body.
Temperathurgy Doctrine;
Another example of common Doctrines – it extends mind’s comprehension of how true elements and substances work and can be transformed through absence or presence of heat. With basic gestures Engifted can easily create balls of fire and walls of ice. In case of ever deeper learning, Temperathurgy divided into more specific Tomes inside Tomes: like Cryomancy, which teaches about utilization of commonly liquid or gas substacnes by generating temperatures lesser than freezing point of water, or Pyromancy, which teaches about specific plasmic state and flammability.
EnchantmentDoctrine;
This Doctrine is especially favored by the Knights of Creation. Ability to enhance active attributes of own body and equipment. By continuously applying the Gift an armor never be damaged, sword never crack, a mind never falls asleep and muscles never tire of fighting. As well can be helpful in achieving great physique during exercises, improve memory and reaction time. Although prolonged self-enchantment or permanent changes to body parts is not advised still – sum of natural biology is more complex than one’s mind can comprehend.
Illusiory Doctrine;
Doctrine of Illusions exist still, though it is… not much legal – manipulation of another’s innocent thoughts through the Gift is outlawed, and most specified uses are authorized to be utilized by Herquisition Agents only. Such as for pacification of some highly-vehement Engifted: as many of them can’t control own Anomalous Presence, its effect is somewhat tied to their perception of reality, thus through Illusions it is possible to change that perception and reduce effects of Anomalous Presence for a fracture. As well Police forces are permitted to use Illusions under Herquisitorial supervision. Though lesser Illusions are allowed in public when not used directly on a person: such as puppeteers compel their puppets to look more alive or hunters can keep themselves concealed from beasts. There are two main Tomes of this Doctrine: first one edifies to use natural surrounding light and atmosphere to fool senses or create fake visions, another instructs to directly manipulate biology of a brain with chemical alterations and hallucinations (which is bordering with plain brainwashing, hence this Tome is reserved for Herquistion authority only).
Slime and Tentacles Doctrine;
This is... It is not hard to guess a purpose of such Doctrine considering it was created by Vammabelle al Apole – an Ardem Engifted, who is elevated to a status of Saint among Ardemial Thigh Clergy, with her Pelvic Girdle being preserved at the Grand Cathedral of the Golden City itself. When the Slime and Tentacles Doctrine was first presented it became popular so fast an edict was issued in a week for every Ardemial Thigh Chapel to dedicate a quarter of their Horny Attics specifically to this Doctrine. At its foundation is principally simple technique: a body-safe fluid is Animated in various shapes and motions for carnal pleasure purposes, ranging in volumes from a wiggling girthy rod to a chest overflowing with dominant hungry tentacles.
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