Difference between revisions of "Ceskion"

Revision as of 11:41, 16 November 2016

Ceskion Animated, temporary map
Primary Canon ??? Demonym Ceskian Dominant Race(s) Sarkiri, Kovulzel, Litarian Major Deities ??? Official Languages Common, ???
Radius 0.49 r(S) Gravity 0.80 g Orbital Period 280 d(Ce) Rotation Period 22 h

Ceskion (also known as Litaria) is a planet in the Manaverse. It is shared by two dominant races, the Sarkiri and the Kovulzel, but was formerly dominated by the Litarians. It shares the Corian Star System with Euthora and Ferona.

Geography

A canyon, where boulders levitate with electromagnetism.

Ceskion is located fairly close to its sun, which renders it as a fairly arid planet. It receives lots of sunlight, and is overall very hot in terms of climate. Ceskion features little water, although there are many dense jungles and vast desert areas across the planet's surface. It is also quite mountainous with several craggy areas. In several locations on the planet, there exist lava plains that [...].

In some places, there exist canyons with boulders and chunks of stone that float via electromagnetism.

Continents

Regions

Major Landmarks

Ecology

In Ceskian ecosystems, sound is of vital importance as most creatures respond better to sonar stimuli than stimuli to the other senses. The majority of Ceskian plants attract pollinators through sound, rather than color or scent. This leads to Ceskian flora on a whole being much more "muted" in terms of color. Some vined plants may wrap around and attach themselves to animals in order to move from nutrient-poor soil. From there, the vines will use dirt, insects, dead skin caught in the animal's fur, or even pierce the still-living animal for its blood in order to obtain nutrients.

Ceskion's desert areas often feature gigantic, sentient constructs that the Sarkiri refer to as "ribbon serpents." They are constructs of red and gold silk that have been magiologically enchanted to fly listlessly around the desert areas. The ribbon serpents come in various sizes, ranging anywhere from human-sized to colossal lengths. Although they appear harmless, these constructs will attack with magic in the event that something approaches too close to it. Their size is relative to their strength and threat level; the human-sized serpents are mostly harmless, whereas the largest of the serpents are extremely dangerous. It is believed that these ribbon serpents are remnants of a bygone era on the planet, and were once the guardians of an older civilization.

Races

Sarkiri

Main Article: Sarkiri

The Sarkiri are a race of bipedal, digitigrade reptiles with hooked talons. Their splayed talons allow them to stride on loose sand without sinking in. In general, Sarkiri have brightly-colored feathers on their skulls and backs, with males having brighter plumage than females. Along with their feathers, Sarkiri also have spikes that line their heads and spines. They have long horns made of bone, with long, blunt snouts. Sarkiri are obligate carnivores and cannot create the proteins necessary for survival from the raw materials like herbivores can; thus, they eat creatures which have already done it for them. Sarkiri speak in smooth, and slightly sibilant or raspy voices.

Sarkiri have tetrachromatic eyes, and are able to see into the ultraviolet section of the color spectrum. They will commonly tattoo their faces with vibrant warpaint, which also reflects ultraviolet light. Their warpaint appears more vibrant to them than to other creatures, as the Sarkiri can see a wider range of color. The Sarkiri predominantly hunt at night, which means that their warpaint functions to signal the presence of one Sarkiri to another while hunting. This way, they can still remain hidden to their prey. They are predators to the other major Ceskian race, the Kovulzel. Sarkiri are nocturnal, and their reflective warpaint also absorbs and retains the heat from ultraviolet rays. They spend most of the day sleeping or basking in the hot desert sunlight, storing heat to keep these reptiles warm when the temperature plummets at night.

Stealth and silence are culturally prized by the Sarkiri, and they tend to keep strong familial and platonic relationships. It is rare to see a Sarkiri traveling alone, as they prefer to travel in pairs or with family units. As they are a nomadic race, the traveling Sarkiri family units will eventually coalesce into a single community, forming tribes out of several atomic units. It is common for Sarkiri to "trade" individuals in order to bring new blood into groups, or otherwise join entirely together. Their nomadic tendencies eventually leads to them taking an interest in spacefaring technology, enabling them to travel to other planets such as Ferona.

When traveling, the Sarkiri are able to run at a good speed across flat terrain or the desert. By using their tails to balance, they are able to briefly drop to all fours in order to run more quickly, but in general the Sarkiri prefer a bipedal stance.

Kovulzel

Main Article: Kovulzel

Light-colored mammals with dark markings. Spotted pelts, have long, furred tails with rings. Retractable claws and large ears. Based on genets.

They have the vocal cord structure for higher-pitched, animal-like cries, which they use to call their mounts. They may also use this in hunting, to deceive prey or scare off a predator.

Omnivorous/mesocarnivorous, prefer fruit. Tend their own crops. Semi-arboreal, crepuscular and nocturnal. Have large eyes which reflect light.

Are very loyal individuals, creating very tight family bonds. While rare to see a Sarkiri alone, it is unheard of to see a Kovulzel alone; they will do all they can to stay with even a small group, and will often resort to suicide if that is not possible.

Compared to the Sarkiri, the Kovulzel are a primitive gathering race with only the most rudimentary of tools, but are generally more innately talented with magic than the Sarkiri. This slight inherent advantage, however, is usually cancelled out by the training many Sarkiri go through in magic.

Litarian

Main Article: Litarian

The Litarians (scientific name Plumirapax Sapiens) were a Ceskian race that existed long before the Sarkiri and the Kovulzel. They were an advanced, space-capable race that often visited Ceskion's neighbors, Euthora and Ferona, artificially advancing the societies there under the "understanding" that they were helping the affected races. The Litarians believed that intelligence fostered peace, and so making other races more intelligent would make them more peaceful.

The Litarian society vanished suddenly after being cursed to eternal savagery by Cozion, for the hypocrisy they displayed in their justice system and the gradual corruption of their leadership.

Native Species

Both of the dominant races on the planet ride large, lean, quadrupedal reptiles known as Sandstriders as mounts. These reptiles are lean, hardy creatures who are quick and agile. They are best suited for traversing rocky or mountainous areas, but their lean frame and agility make them fit for traveling through the dense jungle areas of Ceskion as well. In the case of both the Sarkiri and the Kovulzel, Sandstriders were either naturally domesticated or specifically bred with the intention of them being used as a mount. In nature, they are generally predators.

Tarnished Drakes

• Nonsapient, draconic
• Low-slung, almost serpentine, very long but fairly short (tiger-height at shoulder)
• Arboreal and amphibious jungle-dwellers; reptiles
  • Can hold breath underwater for long amounts of tie, though must surface for air
• Wings poorly suited for flight, but make for excellent swimming ability
  • Can also use wings to glide between trees, but cannot maneuver easily when in true flight
• Spit acid; highly venomous (potent hemotoxin)
• Tarnished-looking metallic colors, commonly copper and green
• Use large, jagged horns for courting displays; males fight by headbutting and locking horns
• Apex predators that compete with the Sarkiri for prey
  • Vicious carnivores which will often tear prey to shreds before eating
  • Sarkiri admire and respect the drake's cunning and strength; treat it as one of Dyovyhr's topmost creations

Culture

With the Litarians out of the way, culturally the Sarkiri are so dominant to the Kovulzel that the latter barely matters overall.

Sarkiri hunt and kill Kovulzel for food, but also keep them as slaves

Language

Technology

The Sarkiri are highly advanced compared to Ceskion's neighbor Euthora, though do not quite reach Ferona's level of technology. They create devices and other technologies fueled by both Mana and electricity. The Kovulzel, in comparison, are woefully primitive, usually able only to create rudimentary tools and basic weapons out of stones and sticks. The Sarkiri use their technological advantage to not only hunt the Kovulzel for food, but also to capture and keep them as slaves, using special harnesses or collars linked to a remote and often wristband-based control device in order to keep the Kovulzel in line.

The most common model for these collars and harnesses involve thin needles attached to vials set in the neckpiece. These needles are constantly piercing the neck of the wearer, not causing obvious damage should the collar remain undisturbed. The collars are not meant to be removed, and thus have a mechanism which fires upon the unlocking of the collar (unless disabled by the control device) and automatically release the contents of the vials, which typically ranges from anesthetics to poisons to drugs that prevent the wearer from thinking clearly until the Sarkiri can recapture their slave. Kovulzel slaves typically wear these collars their entire lives, with the vials being refilled with the collar still worn. Due to the tightness of the harness, as well as the needles, it is easy to tell by marks and scars on the neck when a Kovulzel is normally collared.

Theology

Actual pantheon = Litarian pantheon

• Cozion, God of the Void: Encompasses Apion and Cozion in Sarkiri beliefs, and Naphion in Kovulzel beliefs.
• Dyovyhr, God of Vitality: Encompasses Dyovyhr in Sarkiri beliefs, and Zymera, Haelia, Catia in Kovulzel beliefs.
• Kirena, Goddess of Nature's Balance: Encompasses Dyovyhr in Sarkiri beliefs, and encompasses Kava, Volenus, Sotrix, Caaris, and Rimos in Kovulzel beliefs.
• Nyelia, Goddess of Logic and Curiosity: Encompasses Laqris and Apion in Sarkiri beliefs, and Nyelia, Tasoi, Syneas in Kovulzel beliefs.
• Vetris, God of Entropy: Encompasses Cozion in Sarkiri beliefs, and Caaris and Naphion in Kovulzel beliefs.

Comparison Chart

Kovulzel Beliefs

The Kovulzel have an intricate pantheon with both greater and lesser deities. These gods represent broad, overarching concepts as well as the aspects of the tight family units the Kovulzel create.

Greater Circle

• Naphion: God of Death
• Haelia: Goddess of Life
• Kava: Goddess of Stars
• Volenus: God of the Earth
• Sotrix: God of Family Unit

Lesser Circle

• Zymera: Goddess of Harvest
• Nyelia: Goddess of Knowledge
• Tasoi: God of Ambition
• Caaris: God of Disease
• Catia: Goddess of Protection
• Rimos: God of the Forest
• Syneas: Messenger God

Sarkiri Beliefs

The Sarkiri believe in primal, wild deities that are referred to as Aspects, rather than gods. The Aspects are representative of traits of the Sarkiri's tribal, nomadic, and predatory society. The belief in the Aspects may vary from tribe to tribe, as the spread of information pertaining to them comes organically through intertribal contact. Dyovyhr is the only truly universal Aspect, inasmuch as he is the most important to all of Sarkiri kind.

• Dyovyhr, Aspect of the Hunt: Dyovyhr is by far the most important of the Sarkiri Aspects. He is said to bestow fruitful hunts on the tribes of Sarkiri.
• Apion, Aspect of Secrecy: Also referred to as the Aspect of Silence in some tribes, Apion is related to the importance of stealth and secrecy in Sarkiri society. They prize silence due to the world around them making so much noise. A saying associated with Apion is "When the world around us sings, silence is our ally."
• Laqris, Aspect of Exploration: Laqris is the Aspect of Exploration and represents the Sarkiri nomadic nature and wanderlust. While part of the reason the Sarkiri are always moving is because of the nature of the desert, the sense of exploration truly drives their nomadic tendencies.
• Cozion, Aspect of Blood: Cozion is different from the other Aspects, as his more "devout" followers have the air of a cult in some ways. However, this cult also consists of the majority of the race's population. He is representative of the more violent natures of the Sarkiri hunters, and is also the reason why the Sarkiri often take up an "assassin-type" role. The Sarkiri culture is such that their assassins do everything in the name of Cozion.

Politics

Ceskian Calender

• A year is 280 days of 22 hours each.
  • Kovulzel Calendar: 10 months of 28 days. Only two seasons are observed due to the minimal climate change of the jungle.
  • Sarkiri Calendar: 8 months of 35 days. Four seasons which change roughly every 2 months.

Inhabitants

Notable Characters

• Shii-Ra Xerseus

History

Trivia

• The Ceskian moon(s) reflects ultraviolet light, rather than absorbing it like the moons of other planets. The Sarkiri evolved accordingly.

Planets
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