Post by Nathalia on Mar 23, 2010 18:11:07 GMT -5
Ok, once we get this question thread out of the way, I'll update the old Realms list with everything new and the edited version of what's found here.
Feel free to ask ANY questions about this Realm and I'll get back to them as fast as I can.
You guys wanted Zealots for a long time.
You may finally have them.
<3
Calloo Fjords: Off-white bodies with a black hood and oddly specific gray markings; the Fjords are traditionalists to the extreme.
Their gray markings will take the appearance of one of three holy symbols:
1. A skull – A sign of bravery and shifting history, the person will have large expectations that they will do something special.
2. A tail – A highly coveted religious symbol, rarer than the other two, these people are often taken from their parents at a young age and trained to be priests.
3. A ring – The most usual symbol, simply meaning that they are blessed with a normal life by Odom.
Being born without a symbol is a sure way to be cast out of the Calloo society. Most are banished outright, though not often killed, just forced to live elsewhere.
The realm sports a signature mutation, split tails. One tip is white and the other is black, symbolizing the free will of the Fjords to obey or disobey the gods. Some breeds without tails may receive tail mutations and to be born without a tail is a confusing anomaly. White is revered over black and if (as rarely occurs) a child is born with a purely colored tail, they will either be banished or hailed as a high priest.
Calloos quite like their culture and believe themselves better in many ways to any other regions. They feel this so strongly, in fact, that many of them believe they should spread their genes among the other realms as often as possible. This does not mean they feel they should have hundreds of children apiece, in fact, they are staunch believers in monogamy, but they do feel that it is part of their duty to give themselves to a less fortunate Realm-dweller accepted by their society.
The Calloo Fjords are a very rocky place, with high cliffs and plateaus around the natural fjords they take their name from. Exports from the realm include; lichen, steel, various metals and ores, and remarkably pristine water. The majority of Calloos live in highly decorative and sturdy caves dug beneath the strong currents of the Fjords to keep trespassers out. The terrain is highly dangerous without a guide or a pair of wings.
As a whole, they have an innate difficulty in 'letting go'.
Of anything.
They stick adamantly to their traditions, their possessions, and their people. Feuds can last forever among Fjord families, whether or not anyone remembers the initial reason for the dispute. Animosity is gifted from parent to child as tenderly as any family heirloom. They are a highly religious people and worship a tiny pantheon of gods, the most important being Odom, their god of foresight. Odom takes the form of an Avian Fjord dweller wearing a long white cloak decorated in black markings, he is said to bring dreams and peace to those who follow him. This religion includes a significant number of superstitions that contribute to their attitudes towards other Realms. For example, the color white is a sign of Odom's favor, and black is disfavor. This was brought on long ago by a war with Corvistowne, but the books recording this have been destroyed and none can now remember their reasoning behind the disfavor of the color black.
They are not a gender-differentiated society so much as a generally religious one. Aces are seen as pets and lower beings. To have sex with an Ace is akin to bestiality, and raising one as a child is wrong.
The Fjord dwellers tend to have a mild mania, especially among the women, that borders on obsession, with "saving" unfortunates. The most popular focus of these people are Torquehelms. The Realm itself is seen as being full of "fallen souls" who need to be salvaged and loved back to their full selves, the Torquehelm's usually natural clingy nature only enforces this myth.
As far as Suits go, you guessed easily that their entire Realm consists mainly of Hearts and Diamonds. Black Suits are considered unlucky from birth and can easily fit into the society...once they’ve done something to prove themselves worthy.
Some of the most commonly held beliefs among the Fjords include:
- Avingtons inspire a bit of fear, as they can be forced to 'speak their soul out', and one with a blackened tree is the equivalent of a soulless zombie. Bringing home an Avington to "save it from its soulless fate", is a popular line of reasoning in the Fjords. Of course, their beauty doesn't hurt...
- Benyan Riverlands are seen as a lovely and wonderful people. Easily able to believe in the good grace of Odom and his followers once they are shown the light, so to speak. Many Calloos will take the Benyan's good nature and accepting attitude as more accepting of their religion than it really is. They like them about as much as they like Selkies, and happily trade and vacation with them.
- Corvies have fallen from grace and are a mad lot, creatures to be wary of; according to some legends and tales, they could try to trick you out of your life and soul. They are not to be trusted, some Calloos believe them all to be constructs of pure evil. No sane Calloo will ever mate with a Corvie.
- Niieliye (Cranstone Moors) are seen as the "tame Tulgies". Pretty little things that have struggled to overcome their curse heritage. Fjord dwellers will happily covet them, though the eyes will make some of the more staunch believers uncomfortable.
- Durum Veldt are war mongers and heathens. They see the insects as a god-driven blight upon the land and mating with one is seen as quite an incredible way to spit in the face of Odom.
- Esterberries are blessed by the gods with a surfeit of knowledge that should be respected and their beautiful fur is a sure sign of their purity. Sadly, they have no black markings to offset their design as fitting to Odom, but they make wonderful 'showcase' mates.
- Forest of Kahmden dwellers are boring and not worth much consideration; it is thought of less as a culture and more as a place to live to many Fjord dwellers. However, their easily swayed nature and natural need o abide by rules make them popular among the more rigid believers.
- Golfams are terrifying monsters, and Fjords can be expelled from the region for marrying one; mixes with Golfam in it are frowned upon, though the possibility of them being saved is "there".
- Highlanders are blessed by the Odom with a natural beauty, but stricken with the vanity to match. Many strapping, young male Calloos will head off into the world with the desire to "tame" a Highlander to bring home.
- Hisstors are majestic, beautiful, and strange; the importance of family is approved of and they are an alluring people. However, capturing and returning with one from the hot desert lands is difficult as the Hisstors are usually very set upon not leaving their old family in favor of the promised new one. Trade is good with the Wastes and many of the superstitions other Realms have of the Wastes are scoffed at by Calloos and passed off as jealousy.
- Josiggy and Sorgaire are generally liked and most Fjords have a high opinion of the regions and trade well with them. Sorgaires tend to be slightly more highly favored by the women, while the males tend to like a nice Josiggy to bridle.
- Lowlanders receive extreme sympathy as a whole and it isn't uncommon for Fjords to export medicines to the Realm. The land itself was cursed in their theology by Corvistowneian mages and the people who must live there are an unfortunate lot who should be pitied. Bringing one home as a mate is seen as a very pious and soulful thing to do, regardless of how nasty they may seem.
- Midori are interesting and the drugs so common in the Realm are rumored to give the water-people a connection with the gods. Some desperate Fjords may try Midori fingers in an attempt to reconnect with their faith, or guiltily seek the help of Midori voodoo to find out why they have such a block on their own beliefs.
- Mid-Rangers are seen as very polite heathens who believe in entirely foreign and wrong religions. If a Calloo can convert and marry one, Odom may be convinced to see favor in them and bless them.
- Morganberries are wild, desirable creatures and can be tamed by the truly adventurous men and women of the Fjords. Trade is good between them and many Morganberries find their odd habits and ways quietly funny.
- Raemblen Boggies are unknown to most of them, and the few who know of them think them Corvie-created demons who walk the earth with evil in their stead.
- Selkies are looked on very well as a practical and hard-working people who rarely disagree or argue with their beliefs and have beautiful pelts and stamina. This Realm is one of the most well-loved by the run-of-the-mill Calloo.
- Solandrians are savage, brawling morons and generally aren't looked on as suitable mates, though some may wish to tame them as a challenge. The Glacier dwellers have been thought of as monsters on many occasions as they have convinced some of their people to drop their religion and come away to the Glacier itself. They are not traded with and if met in public will be treated, by most if not all Calloos, with tempered disdain.
- Torquehelm is a truly cursed region, and they believe that Corvistowne mages specifically cursed the place. Some cannot stand the thought of mating with one of the 'fallen souls', whereas others feel sympathy and see their white wings as the sign of possible redemption and a silent plea for salvation that they don't know how to achieve.
- Tulgeys are ghosts. Oftentimes considered frightening apparitions; marrying one is akin to taking in and tending to a lost demon or monster. The black wings on their backs are a mark of divine disfavor, and many believe they cannot be redeemed, though some see the mirror between them and Torquehelm and wish to attempt the challenge.
- Villas are a beautiful people and play the music of the gods; they are coveted mates and sometimes objects of extreme jealousy to be fought over...to the death if necessary. Their music and artwork is considered a way to connect with Odom.
- Yarrows are witches. Horrible, evil demons who should be killed on sight. Strangely, Calloos will do what they can to assist a male Yarrow, seeing them as sad recipients of cruel fate.
<3
~Nathalia
I like the realm so far. I have two questions so far.
