Post by Canuovea on Apr 3, 2015 21:40:52 GMT
The Gooraf are a mostly subterranean race that lives in Rhoadira in vast networks of caves, tunnels, and caverns that make up their many divided cities. They have Light (which gives limited access to other magics) and Stone magic.
Society:
Their society is based around magical lamps and gems; the gems give them access to other magics, and the lamps give them the light they need to thrive and live in their caves.
Because of this, they can see fine in sunlight, but don't particularly care for the sun, finding its light garish and impure, though not entirely overpowering, just in bad taste. They much prefer moonlight if they have to be on the surface world.
Also, the society is very divided along gendered lines. The males are usually the ones responsible for finding and shaping gems, and the women are the ones responsible for making the lamps. So when married, the male gives the female a gem (not empowered yet, necessarily), and the female gives the male a lamp. This lets them set up their own home together.
Please note: both sexes could make lamps or search for gems, but tradition forces them apart. Women are sometimes allowed to use gems though.
However, the ruling elite are different. The kings and nobles (there are several small kingdoms/city states, and they constantly may war with one another) are male Pangolins who develop or are born with very powerful light magic, which is represented by a visible glow or light aura about them. Seeing one of them angry is terrifying, if only because the light becomes very bright and blinding to lesser people. But, because of this, they do not marry in the traditional Pangolin way. They have no need of lamps.
As such, homosexuality is expected of the ruling class. Two men will come together and merge their property (gems especially), thus enriching their status and power. For a noble to not marry would be not only stupid, but against tradition and be thought of as strange by most Pangolins. Though there have been some instances of this.
Of course, they don't usually have children to replace them, so potential nobles are generally born from the lower classes and are adopted by one of the nobles at birth.
There are women who are born with that same light aura, but they are not taken into the nobility. They are, however, often trained and educated in logic, wisdom, and ancient knowledge. And, unlike the nobles, may marry anyone they please. Additionally they are usually seen by all pangolins as extremely beautiful (because of the cultural obsession with light). Nobles are also considered pretty, but also expected to be gay, so female Gooraf swooning over them isn't supposed to happen. Also, regular Gooraf are expected to be straight (as you need to combine both gems and lanterns). So generally speaking, the women with the light aura are the ones referred to as beautiful.
These women are the thinkers and academics of the society, often living somewhat removed from other people. You come to them if you want advice or need to know something about the past. They are almost like ancient Greek oracles, but more straight up wise and less high on gas fumes.
Magic:
Different gems lend access to different powers (originally it would all depend on the cut and refinement of the gem, but Hark and I ended up deciding that was too complicated). These powers are mostly for every day things and one's job, with most Gooraf being pleased to access just one. Generally, any combat abilities with these are improvised. Nobles and their bodyguards are another story, however. Magics and uses are as follow:
Nature magic - used by the Pangolins for the purpose of growing things. Though underground, they love nature and things that grow, constantly growing gardens and trees under the light of their lamps, and shaping them to suit their tastes. Nature gems allow for this.
Technology magic - used to create and work the anvils and devices for refining and empowering gems beyond what "natural" power that can be drawn from a gem. Most Gooraf can sometimes get a bit of magic from a regular gem, but to truly be able to do things, they must be refined by a device like this and then empowered by the individual Gooraf using it (making it 'theirs'). A pangolin who uses this magic will almost never go out of business, as the demand is so great.
Life magic - healing. Big surprise there. Some can use it to make themselves stronger, but these are usually members of the nobility.
Death magic - Used to prepare the dead and as part of funerals. Rarely used outside the nobility, but it can also make a frightening battle magic in little ways.
Fire magic - Used for generating heat, be it for warming purposes, cooking purposes, or searing an enemy's flesh.
Water magic - Used to purify drinking water and for gardens as well as cleaning generally.
Ice magic - Often used for preservation and cooling things down though. But in combat it may chill an enemy.
Thunder magic - Pangolins love music, and those who use thunder gems can refine and amplify sound. So many who use these gems are musicians. Thankfully, those artists who try to use them as autotune usually end up being murdered.
Mind magic - Gems that are based around mind magic can have a few effects, the most normal one is a calming, clarifying effect, that helps one think and see possibilities. Helps with logical clarity, focus, and keeping one clear during times of stress.
Metal magic - More specifically used for making weapons, maintaining weapons, and in terms of battle magic, enhancing sharpness of weapons or durability of armour. There is sometimes overlap between Pangolins who use technology gems and metal gems.
There is no Stone or Light magic gems, per se, as the Pangolins have access to that magic generally speaking naturally. And because of their nature, they cannot have access to wind or dark magic, it is almost without exception barred to them.
In this same vein, pangolins can own and use multiple types of gems, in theory allowing them to have access to all eight magics. This is, however, heavily advised against. To wield two magics that are opposite of one another (life and death, nature and tech, mind and metal, etc) is not something that the Gooraf mind can usually manage. And succeeding has consequences, namely violence and a degraded, contradictory, mental state.
Is it legal? Sometimes. It depends on the kingdom, as they have different rules on the matter. Some think that the advantages of deranged military types who focus on contradictory military use magics are worth the sacrifice. These are very scary and generally considered evil.
There is, however, a legend of an ancient king who governed all Gooraf. He had mastered each of the gems and, even it is said, found gems that could allow for dark and wind magic, mastering those as well. He is portrayed as being kind, wise, benevolent, etc. Interestingly, though, legends from the same time period also tell of a vicious, paranoid, tyrant who killed where he wished and none would resist him out of fear of his power. Some say this caused the fracturing of the larger kingdom into smaller ones. Others think it happened later.
In terms of the lamps: Women grow and tend luminous crystals that give off lights of various hues and strength. They then build special containers, sometimes crystal sometimes other materials, to house the light crystals inside. These are used to light the caverns and each Pangolin tends to carry one on their person, though sometimes veiling the light. Larger lanterns are often cooperative efforts, and generally adorn large public areas.
Military Armour:
Most are citizen soldiers and the most common armour that they wear is this:
Hardened leather is most common. You'll find it worn almost like an apron over the front because their backs are pretty heavily armoured already. In fact, you'll notice that the riveted leather is actually somewhat reminiscent of a Pangolin's scales and armour at their back. This is intentional. Also, it can actually sometimes have good success against crossbow bolts. That above image is from Deadliest Warrior, and they tested that armour against a steel crossbow. The bolt bounced off. This is good, because basic crossbows are often used by the Gooraf.
Sometimes the bodyguards of nobles will have metal scale armour, similar in design. Like so but not as stupid:
You'll also be interested to know that there is an example of scale armour from India allegedly made from riveted Pangolin scales:
So the scale motiff actually makes sense.
Finally, though, nobles have very expensive pieces of armour, often with gems worked directly into it, more along these lines:
Society:
Their society is based around magical lamps and gems; the gems give them access to other magics, and the lamps give them the light they need to thrive and live in their caves.
Because of this, they can see fine in sunlight, but don't particularly care for the sun, finding its light garish and impure, though not entirely overpowering, just in bad taste. They much prefer moonlight if they have to be on the surface world.
Also, the society is very divided along gendered lines. The males are usually the ones responsible for finding and shaping gems, and the women are the ones responsible for making the lamps. So when married, the male gives the female a gem (not empowered yet, necessarily), and the female gives the male a lamp. This lets them set up their own home together.
Please note: both sexes could make lamps or search for gems, but tradition forces them apart. Women are sometimes allowed to use gems though.
However, the ruling elite are different. The kings and nobles (there are several small kingdoms/city states, and they constantly may war with one another) are male Pangolins who develop or are born with very powerful light magic, which is represented by a visible glow or light aura about them. Seeing one of them angry is terrifying, if only because the light becomes very bright and blinding to lesser people. But, because of this, they do not marry in the traditional Pangolin way. They have no need of lamps.
As such, homosexuality is expected of the ruling class. Two men will come together and merge their property (gems especially), thus enriching their status and power. For a noble to not marry would be not only stupid, but against tradition and be thought of as strange by most Pangolins. Though there have been some instances of this.
Of course, they don't usually have children to replace them, so potential nobles are generally born from the lower classes and are adopted by one of the nobles at birth.
There are women who are born with that same light aura, but they are not taken into the nobility. They are, however, often trained and educated in logic, wisdom, and ancient knowledge. And, unlike the nobles, may marry anyone they please. Additionally they are usually seen by all pangolins as extremely beautiful (because of the cultural obsession with light). Nobles are also considered pretty, but also expected to be gay, so female Gooraf swooning over them isn't supposed to happen. Also, regular Gooraf are expected to be straight (as you need to combine both gems and lanterns). So generally speaking, the women with the light aura are the ones referred to as beautiful.
These women are the thinkers and academics of the society, often living somewhat removed from other people. You come to them if you want advice or need to know something about the past. They are almost like ancient Greek oracles, but more straight up wise and less high on gas fumes.
Magic:
Different gems lend access to different powers (originally it would all depend on the cut and refinement of the gem, but Hark and I ended up deciding that was too complicated). These powers are mostly for every day things and one's job, with most Gooraf being pleased to access just one. Generally, any combat abilities with these are improvised. Nobles and their bodyguards are another story, however. Magics and uses are as follow:
Nature magic - used by the Pangolins for the purpose of growing things. Though underground, they love nature and things that grow, constantly growing gardens and trees under the light of their lamps, and shaping them to suit their tastes. Nature gems allow for this.
Technology magic - used to create and work the anvils and devices for refining and empowering gems beyond what "natural" power that can be drawn from a gem. Most Gooraf can sometimes get a bit of magic from a regular gem, but to truly be able to do things, they must be refined by a device like this and then empowered by the individual Gooraf using it (making it 'theirs'). A pangolin who uses this magic will almost never go out of business, as the demand is so great.
Life magic - healing. Big surprise there. Some can use it to make themselves stronger, but these are usually members of the nobility.
Death magic - Used to prepare the dead and as part of funerals. Rarely used outside the nobility, but it can also make a frightening battle magic in little ways.
Fire magic - Used for generating heat, be it for warming purposes, cooking purposes, or searing an enemy's flesh.
Water magic - Used to purify drinking water and for gardens as well as cleaning generally.
Ice magic - Often used for preservation and cooling things down though. But in combat it may chill an enemy.
Thunder magic - Pangolins love music, and those who use thunder gems can refine and amplify sound. So many who use these gems are musicians. Thankfully, those artists who try to use them as autotune usually end up being murdered.
Mind magic - Gems that are based around mind magic can have a few effects, the most normal one is a calming, clarifying effect, that helps one think and see possibilities. Helps with logical clarity, focus, and keeping one clear during times of stress.
Metal magic - More specifically used for making weapons, maintaining weapons, and in terms of battle magic, enhancing sharpness of weapons or durability of armour. There is sometimes overlap between Pangolins who use technology gems and metal gems.
There is no Stone or Light magic gems, per se, as the Pangolins have access to that magic generally speaking naturally. And because of their nature, they cannot have access to wind or dark magic, it is almost without exception barred to them.
In this same vein, pangolins can own and use multiple types of gems, in theory allowing them to have access to all eight magics. This is, however, heavily advised against. To wield two magics that are opposite of one another (life and death, nature and tech, mind and metal, etc) is not something that the Gooraf mind can usually manage. And succeeding has consequences, namely violence and a degraded, contradictory, mental state.
Is it legal? Sometimes. It depends on the kingdom, as they have different rules on the matter. Some think that the advantages of deranged military types who focus on contradictory military use magics are worth the sacrifice. These are very scary and generally considered evil.
There is, however, a legend of an ancient king who governed all Gooraf. He had mastered each of the gems and, even it is said, found gems that could allow for dark and wind magic, mastering those as well. He is portrayed as being kind, wise, benevolent, etc. Interestingly, though, legends from the same time period also tell of a vicious, paranoid, tyrant who killed where he wished and none would resist him out of fear of his power. Some say this caused the fracturing of the larger kingdom into smaller ones. Others think it happened later.
In terms of the lamps: Women grow and tend luminous crystals that give off lights of various hues and strength. They then build special containers, sometimes crystal sometimes other materials, to house the light crystals inside. These are used to light the caverns and each Pangolin tends to carry one on their person, though sometimes veiling the light. Larger lanterns are often cooperative efforts, and generally adorn large public areas.
Military Armour:
Most are citizen soldiers and the most common armour that they wear is this:
Hardened leather is most common. You'll find it worn almost like an apron over the front because their backs are pretty heavily armoured already. In fact, you'll notice that the riveted leather is actually somewhat reminiscent of a Pangolin's scales and armour at their back. This is intentional. Also, it can actually sometimes have good success against crossbow bolts. That above image is from Deadliest Warrior, and they tested that armour against a steel crossbow. The bolt bounced off. This is good, because basic crossbows are often used by the Gooraf.
Sometimes the bodyguards of nobles will have metal scale armour, similar in design. Like so but not as stupid:
You'll also be interested to know that there is an example of scale armour from India allegedly made from riveted Pangolin scales:
So the scale motiff actually makes sense.
Finally, though, nobles have very expensive pieces of armour, often with gems worked directly into it, more along these lines: