Charoda
From Mizahar Lore
 Ceas Kalyka, of the Circle of Elders. | |
| Height | 5' - 6' |
|---|---|
| Weight | 90 - 150 lbs |
| Lifespan | 65-80 |
| Major features | Smooth, rubbery skin, pointed teeth, webbed fingers and toes. |
| Abilities | Underwater breathing, swimming, coral manipulation. |
| Population | 2,000 |
| Most common in | Charbosi |
| Reputation | Pacifistic Sea-Dwellers |
| Racial gods | Laviku, Makutsi, Caiyha |
| Racial bonus | +10 Coral Manipulation |
The Charodae (Charoda being the singular term) are a race of amphibious sea-dwellers. They breathe through their skin, and live far off of the Falyndar coast in their coral city of Charbosi. They are capable of breathing on land, but doing so for extended periods without immersing themselves in water is fatal. They are pacifist vegetarians who like to hoard things.
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History
The Charoda existed prior to the Valterrian, although they had no contact with any other race, living far away from the closest coast, and far below the water's surface. They were hunter-gatherers and artisans, living in a massive, living, breathing city of coral. They were unaffected by anything that went on far above them.
Until the Valterrian.
The cataclysm that rent the world apart destroyed the coral city of Charbosi, and reduced the Charodae population to a mere fraction of what it was. The survivors were changed completely. They no longer looked the same, could not digest their former food sources, and no longer had hair. Concerned about what had happened, the survivors eventually worked up the nerve to send a party to the surface, in hopes of figuring out just what had happened to them. Had they angered the gods such that they were to be changed like this? Was this punishment for something that they had done or failed to do?
The party eventually made it to the surface, and attempted to make contact with the land-dwellers. They were slain by hostile forces who had no idea of what was coming from the water and not wanting to know just what they were. When no one from the first party returned, the Charodae tried again, this time attempting contact in another area. This was somewhat more successful, but the Charodae soon returned to their people, with tales of the savages that lived on the land. It was decided that they would begin the coralline city anew, somewhat closer to the land, but with enough distance between themselves and potentially hostile forces.
Biology
Physical Appearance
The Charodae have smooth, rubbery skin, like that of a dolphin's, somewhat pliable but quite resistant. The skin shades vary from pale white to deep blue, with many shades - grey, light green - in between. They are very slender and streamlined. Their spine, and ribs, are not made of bones, but cartilage, rendering them extremely flexible. Their bone density is very weak, leaving them less defended than other races that have solid bones. They have no hair whatever, instead having dorsal fins for hair. Their toes and fingers have webbing in between, with long, multi-pointed ears. They have very faintly protruding noses, almost more like slits, and big eyes that lack pupils. Because of the translucent eye lid that always covers their eyes, the eyes usually appear to be the same colour as their skin, although maybe a bit lighter or darker.
Once omnivores, the Charodae have resigned themselves to the forced life of vegetarianism, as their bodies cannot digest meat. Attempts to do so leave them violently ill. They have three rows of sharp, triangular teeth in their mouths, a memory of times gone by. But their teeth remain useful for chewing the vegetables that grow below the water's surface.
Although the Charodae are built for swimming, they can walk upright on two feet on land. Because of how the water resistance slows the action, the graceful Charodae may seem to be a fair bit quicker on land without that usual resistance there.
Psychology
Once hunter-gatherers who enjoyed testing each other's physical prowess, the Valterrian changed the Charodae completely. Preferring to avoid violence, they have turned their back on it and would sooner solve things with diplomacy. They are taught that life is sacred, and that it should not be wasted. They enjoy scavenging along the bottom of the ocean floor and hoarding things, often building up massive collections of all sorts of things, as well as harvesting seaweed and other such plants that they grow for food.
While visitors to Charbosi are rare, the Charodae are quite friendly, and are curious about others... sometimes so much so that they love to gossip and trade knowledge.
Society
Social Structure
The Charodae are widely gender-neutral in everything, believing in equity and balance. Duties are split quite evenly - while the female of a family may forage for food one day while their partner works on the coralline structure of their home, they may switch places the next day just as easily.
This balance is reflected in the Circle of Elders, which has an equal number of male and female members.
Language
The Charodae have their own language, Char, that sounds more like it is being sung than spoken. Its melodies carry well, and linger, leaving a haunting residue. It doesn't sound anywhere near as grand above the water, sounding more like shrill cries, clicks, and whistles.
Traders and scholars have brought the Common tongue to Charbosi, where the young ones learn it in order to communicate with the world above, should they ever decide to seek it.
Names
Charodaen names vary widely, and most have two parts to their names; a given and family name. The first name is the name they were born with, and the family name, generally taken from both family names of the parents. While there are few patterns to the way the Charodae name their offspring, they tend to be smoother, softer names with less harsher sounds to them.
Examples are as follows:
- Yleru
- Tandra
- Ana'tu
- Lyel
- Beless
- Ialea
Family Life
Charodae take a long time in finding their partners, but when they find them, they usually bond for life. Every five years, eggs are laid in a coral pouch, and the pouch is then sealed. After ten months, the eggs hatch, and the surviving young nibble their way through the coral to begin their lives. While perhaps one hundred eggs or more may be laid, only perhaps five to ten of them will hatch and come out of the pouch.
Looking after the family is evenly divided amongst the denizens of Charbosi. While one parent may tend to their offspring every day and another may instead go about the tasks that mean the success and survival of their family, there is no protocol for whom does what. It is an individual arrangement between partners, and any sort of arrangements are socially acceptable so long as they are acceptable to the partners.
Everyday Life
Family arrangements tend to vary widely within the family, but there are a few constants.
The offspring attend school to learn the 'basics'. These basics include learning how to control their innate abilities with coral, geography, language, both Char and Common, underwater botany, history, and basic maths. They learn about the other races, This continues until they are about 15, and the youngling has been deemed knowledgeable by their tutors.
Exploration is encouraged. Just about any Charodae can explore safely along the ocean floor, and create a temporary shelter for themselves to sleep in by growing coral along the floor. Larger expeditions often take the pelagic dragons in hopes of finding new things and bringing them back, or going on trade expeditions.
The typical day is spent learning, creating, and working.
Art and Industry
Art
The Charodae value music and singing, even though every conversation between them sounds like a song. For this reason, poems are valued, and epic ballads are often used to teach the history of their kind to the tadpoles. Instruments widely used throughout Charbosi include drums, bells, lyres, and harps.
Dancing, for the Charodae, is primarily an underwater ballet used to express stories or poems. Elaborate, graceful, and demanding balance and poise, the Dance of the Sea, as they call it, would be nigh impossible to imitate above land.
Carving is another art form for the Charodae, as is tailoring and weaving. But perhaps the most important of all is the Charodaen ability to manipulate and grow coral. To do so with careful control, using different species of coral, with the mind's eye to what your masterpiece will look like in several years as it grows takes a very specific skill and touch to accomplish.
Industry
The Charodae are scavengers that like to find things, and as a result, sometimes have a hard time actually trading their treasures away. Pearl-diving, fishing, farming, salting, are all some of the industries that are active below the water.
Religion
The Charodae worship Makutsi and Caiyha, and to some extent Dira and Kihala.
When a Charoda dies, the body is laid out, and surrounded with coral grown and manipulated by their family. The body will eventually help grow new coral, returning to the ecosystem, and symbolizing rebirth and the belief that family is nearby, as well as completing what they call Caiyha's Cycle - they are born, they eat the plants, they die, their body provides nutrients for the plants.
Steeds
The Charoda breed enormous seahorses for riding underwater. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns, and have different uses. A new trend amongst the Charoda is seahorse racing, and some enjoy gambling on the outcomes of the races.
Water Velispars
While the seahorses are wonderful for short travel, or slow travel, the Charodae have have a means of faster movement - their enormous water velispars. Capable of traveling at great speeds over enormous distances, the hyteras are the Charodaen merchant's choice for carrying goods for trade.
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Out of character note: Charodaen Characters absolutely may not start with a hytera. They may take a seahorse for a mount, but they cannot start with a hytera. |