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"There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after the winter."- Rachel Carson The Sense of Wonder
Saplings young and spry were coated by the dust of fairy magics during past summers breeding sprees. They have held onto the residual magic in their roots. Each year storing more and growing stronger. This magic has imbued them with the ability of thought. However they remained grounded in the soil they were born. In the jungle they watched the ways of the world around them. What species outlasted the others and why. Plotting on just how to go about getting the parts of the creatures they wanted to make for themselves the perfect body.
Slowly as their brains grew bigger they began to act like parasites. Allowing themselves to be eaten and take over an animal from the inside out. Entering through the digestive tract, spreading throughout the animal to gain the genetic information and exiting the body through the excrement. The next generation would grow in the ground and start again with the knowledge of that trait. They saw the success of the tribal groups of the jungle and aspired to have legs in which to pull themselves from the ground.
When the unnatural frost came these special plants managed to survive protected by the retained magic. The stronger magic that caused the Everlasting winter then sealed their fate...changing the plants forever. They became fully sentient. They craved to grow and spread and to be released from their soil prisons. A darker change also happened, the yearning for proteins...more then just sunlight. The want for meat arose. The plants turned carnivorous. For too long they had been trapped in frost and soil. All the knowledge needed boiling inside them. All they needed now was the vessel that would hold them.
They saw their perfect host: felines. The apex creature of the jungle. They were hunters. They were sly. They had the claws and teeth to get by. It didn't take much to get the great beasts to consume them through the flesh of their own prey. Once they entered this final form, they burst from it showing all the traits of their past taken species. Evolving from a feral state into something more mobile that could also mesh with the tribes surrounding them. Some traits skip generations creating rare and uncommon traits. But certain ones remain a distinguishable marking on the Triffidian species. The fashion in which the fairy dust plays its mischievous tricks, shows through in the irony of bark on the fragile females and blossoms on the masculine males.
Path of infection
Plant -> Herbivore (dung) -> Insect -> Insectivore/or rarely avian -> Carnivore (Feline Host)
* Distinguishable Traits / ! Rare Traits
*Felidae Anthro - Pantherinae features: Face, body, ears, claws, and teeth.
*Armor like "petals" along spine and tail. Sometimes along arms, legs or torso.
*Vines (male) or Bark (female) legs. Bipedal or Polypedal.
*Tail is massive equal in length to body or more and prehensile similar to pangolin's. Has a rounded shovel like end. Entirely armored with keratin petaling.
*Dominant hand has claws larger then the other. For use in digging or slashing.
*Flowers (male) or tree/moss (female) features displayed throughout body: hair, tufts, coloration, legs.
*Female markings are like wood varnishes.
*Petal armor mane - males only(can only be gotten through adoptables or customs)
!Poisonous plant types
!Fruit bearing
!Antlers/Horns
!Full back flowers
!Insect features like antenna or wings
!Feathers
!Big cat markings
Etymology and Characteristics
Florescpanthera aegidicorolla
The scientific name for the Triffidian. This in Latin breaks down to: Floresc - Blooming. Panthera - leopards, lions, jaguars, and tigers. Which is the Genus this species would belong to. Aegidi - Shield. Corolla - Petals is the species name. Together it describes the creature at it's basic appearance being what looks like a large feline which blooms and who's petals are armor like. Triffidian are so called, for their tribute to another fictional plant that some inspiration was taken. Not only that but in many ways the symbol of three will come up again as an important number in their culture. The word Triffidian can be singular or plural. A shortening of the name would be Tiffy or Tiffies.
Sub-species of Triffidian would be the plant base in which they would draw their main characteristics from. For example a Triffidian that have developed from a cherry blossom tree would be called Triffidian P. serrulata or Florescpanthera aegidicorolla P. serrulata Using the first letter of Prunus serrulata and the species name of that plant, flower, or tree. A Triffidian with features of the Lilium wilsonii lily would be called Triffidian L. wilsonii or Florescpanthera aegidicorolla L. wilsonii
Characteristics
Body Type:
The females are called halahi mas (valuable tree that can blossom) or halahi (tree that can blossom), have a slight build around five feet tall and pear shaped bodies. The chest is often smaller than the waist. The hips are usually well rounded and the thighs are plush. The females have delicate willowy arms with sharp claws, the dominant hand has a claw larger than the rest. They have thick legs with slender bark textured feet resembling feline paws. There is toned muscle to be found; mostly in the thighs and calves, but most often she is frail and meek in appearance with a lot more cush than muscle. What they lack in muscle they make it up with the protective petals which grow along the spine and prehensile tail; sometimes torso, arms or legs. They are called petals because of their shape and overlaying pattern, they are actually hardened keratin. They have great flexibility like the Pangolins, and can curl themselves into a defensive ball allowing only the armored bits to show. They have woodsy colored fur with bark barring patterns and an iridescent color over the armored parts. Their hair can be a variety of wild styles and can have minimal blossoms in it. The ears are long and erect sometimes tufted or tipped with flowers.
Transformed: A fully transformed female is just as formidable or more so then her male counterpart. Nicknamed: feshith (tree). They are often seen after a female has been bred. This is a sterile form and cannot reproduce. It is the form of the sentinels who protect the spawn pods. Branches grow from the back, shoulders, and skull, covering them in a lush tree canopy. Roots spread from the bipedal legs creating a polypedal (many legged) locomotion. They retain breasts and feminine features from the torso up. Their size is easily tripled in this state and their behavior is more aggressive. Starting height is about 9ft, but they can grow to reach an impressive 30 foot in height. After spending two hundred years in full form, they will achieve maximum height. The dominant claw will also grow and can be used as a scythe styled weapon. They move slower than a normal biped but their roots can spread underground and entangle their prey from a distance up to 23ft. The teeth have developed like that of the jaguar and they will often deliver the final blow straight through the skull of the victim, crushing bone into brain. Warning: This form is difficult to revert back from. It requires a unique ritual, consumption of certain plants and sheering off of all the overgrowth. It is dangerous to perform and expends a huge amount of energy. !Often not done!
Males are called Soqat (to weave) and have a Trapezoid shaped body that averages 6-7 feet. Shoulders and chest are broader and more pronounced then the waist. The waist has a slight taper to it showing off an athletic musculature. The legs are strong and proportional to the arms with a powerful sense coming from the biceps and the sturdy calf muscles. They scream tribal warrior if not for the look of delicacies about them. They have a huge mane which resembles the petals of their flower. The armor like petals trails down the back and covers the prehensile tail. To the touch one will not find the usual fragility of a blossom but instead a rigid keratin, similar to crocodiles only in texture but not appearance. The men hold colors like blossoms. Their fur is green like a stem while mane is the base color of chosen flower type. The other armor areas are the flower's accent colors. They lack the female's flexibility in this form and cannot roll into a complete ball, but they are swifter and very dexterous. They prefer a crouching defensive posture where they will arch their back and tuck their neck so the armor bits are more forward. When attacking they will often leap, spin, kick, flip, and slash.
Transformed - The male’s transformation is not as impressive as the females. It's more of a rapid growth then it is a transformation. They do not grow any larger than they already were but gain the preferred median of transportation and prey capture. The vines twisted together allowing for bipedal legs spread out like tentacles. Allowing them like the females, to have a polypedal locomotion. It also allows them the ability to climb rapidly using their vines...whereas the female usually do not, being far too dense in their transformation. The male can stretch the vines up to 50ft in each direction and can entangle prey. They can easily shift back and forth between forms and it takes minimal effort.
Physical Details
Face - Has the robust head and strong jaws similar to the jaguar/leopard (females) or tiger/lion (males). Rounded cheeks and an exotic jawline like the Paraguay or Brazilian peoples. There is a felidae muzzle full of carnivore teeth and pointed canines. The ears can be tufted like the lynx or not and stand erect like most feline. They are elongated similar to that of the caracal and can sport small flowers on the tips. The eyes are well rounded, almond shaped, and expressively set. They have a circular pupil as opposed to a slit pupil common in big cats.
Hair - Comes in various wild styles and colors. Typically representative of the base tree or flower species. Often left loose with texture being straight, wavy, crinkly and bushy. But can be found braided or even dreads especially during times of celebration.
Females have less remarkable hair then the males and is often shorter. The female have minimal blossom growth and minimal colors. Though in retrospect the hair is often the most colorful spots on their body which is mostly made up of earthen tones.
Males display a huge lion-esque mane structured like the petals of the flower of it's base species. They are extremely vibrant and eye catching. The mane trails into the petal shaped armor plating along the back of the neck, shoulders, down the spine, and tail. The mane color is the base color of the flower. Any accent colors the flower may have would be the color for the armor of the arms, legs, and back. If the flower has only one color, the accent color would be the same but lighter and less vibrant then the mane.
Fur - A thick pelt with an undercoat. It has a dense like feel to it and is course on the top and more silken underneath. There are tufts common near the underbelly and hanging from the elbows which are similar in texture to the more silken undercoat. Along the spine is home to armored plates shaped like petals. The texture there is tough leathery keratin scales.
Females fur color is woodsy based. Any naturally occurring coloration of wood: tans, browns, and more rarely mahogany. Also patches of mossy greens and strands of vine can run throughout, often seen on fur tufts. There are sprinkles of color thanks to the fairy in a dusting over the armored parts; usually matching the flowers growing from their hair. Creating some iridescence over the fur.
Males fur resemble the stem of a flower being light - dark greens or yellowish greens.
Legs - The limbs of the Triffidian are made up of plant like material and wind about each other creating a bipedal appearance.
Females legs have fused into a hardened bark like texturing from the calf down to the toes. When transformed they branch out from the hips down and spread out like roots to create a polypedal form of locomotion.
Males legs are made up of entangled vines which have come together to form bipedal legs. When transformed they spread out creating their polypedal locomotion.
Hands - The hands are humanized in appearance and have sharp claws. On the dominant hand there is a prominent claw which is three times larger then the others. It is also thicker and more curved; similar to the Pangolins. They use it for burrowing and slashing.
Blood - When injured the Triffidian does bleed. They have a mixture of red blood cells and plant like sap. Superficial wounds results in a red substance that drips similarly to blood and has a sweet scent and sugary flavor. Deep wounds result in ember colored resins tinged with crimson. It oozes slowly like molasses and has a more woodsy scent and flavor. All wounds heal into a hardened dark golden amber with ruby like flecks inside.
Uses: Sap portion can be used to make syrup and sugars. Resins can be used for incense, varnish, lacquer, adhesives, and flavoring in alcohols.
Longevity - The species have a varying lifespan. Males and females sharing a maximum lifespan of about 50 years on average with no transformation. Fruit bearing variants only produce fruit for the first 30 years of life. There is rumors of a way for them to live longer, but this knowledge is locked away by the Nesat.
Female transformed - Can live up to an incredible 3,000 years.
Male Transformed - same as non-transformed; 50 years.
Aging - They retain the mental age of the plant at the time in which it was first coated in magical fairy dust, many many years ago. Most of the original evolved has since past on, except for the current Nesat who stands the oldest among them and any transformed females who are effected by aging. Those of the general masses emerge from their pods with a mature body and mind between (18-25 in humanized years) and age mentally by 3 years after each new generation is birthed by drinking from the knowledge pods. Transformed females gain their knowledge back much more quickly and mentally and physically age by 33 years every generation when they drink from the pods. Once to the age of 200 when they reach their maximum height; they then slow down and then age at the normal speed of 3 years every generation.(see culture and rituals for more info)
Diet: - Carnivore - Omnivore. Meats are highly preferred especially for maintaining warrior muscle and for the breeding conditions in females. However they have an extremely adaptive system. During tough times insects, plants, fruits and even solely sunlight can keep them alive for up to a year without meat. They will suffer from malnutrition though and branches will become more brittle while male petals will become dull or drop off. Armor scales can become soft and vulnerable. Without proper hydration though they will quickly wither. They can only survive a maximum of three weeks without water. When water is scarce it is not uncommon to find them rooted down into the ground in search of it.
Height - Female: 5'0 - 5'5 Transformed: 9'0 - 30'0 Male: 6'6 - 7'0 Transformed: 6'6 - 7'0
Weight - Female: 150 lbs - 190 lbs Transformed: 2,148 lbs - 7,162 lbs Male: 275 lbs - 354 lbs Transformed: 275 lbs - 354 lbs
Physical Markings: Along the back and tail, sometimes arms and legs are armor petals sprinkled in iridescent color that matches the flower subspecies. Sometimes depended on the flower can be a mixture of usually up to three different colors, but can be just one, seen on both genders. Females have patches and tufts of moss or vine throughout and barring or bark like patterns. Rarely big cat markings such as spots, strips, etc can be seen.
Physical Defenses: The petal like armor which covers the back of the head, spine, shoulders, and sometimes arms, legs and torso provides a good amount of protection from most attacks. It is made up of keratin and has a hardness like crocodile keels. The tail ends in a small circular formation that can be used as a shovel or club. On the dominant hand there is a very large claw for slashing. The vines or root like legs can be used to entangle and draw prey to them.
Appealing Attributes: The fairy like dusting of color sprinkled over the armor bits give each Triffidian a slight iridescent shimmer. The male's have huge colorful manes resembling blossoms. The females have a soft earthen look.
Reproduction
Thanks to magical beginnings they are able to spawn with most other beings.
The parts
The male organ is humanized but loosely resembles a feline penis and has small bulbs like the plant stamen down the shaft of the penis, acting like ribs, accented by the colors of their flower. The female vulva resembles a blossomed flower at full arousal, soft and satiny and offering layers of colorful petal like structures. At the center is the pistil which accepts the sperm (pollen/nectar) During breeding season (spring and summer) both male's and females produce a strong nectar scent. Excretions taste intoxicatingly sweet. Females have two mammalian breast which contain a kind of milk/sap mixture. Important to the process of filling pods with the sustaining nectar and sap. The males use ejaculate to mix into the pods as well. (see Gestation and Spawn for more info)
The Birds and the Bees
Due to the symbiotic nature of the creature coupling is more so a take over then a pleasant romantic ideal.
Genetic information and the pollen are passed on through the sperm of male Triffidian into the Ovule (egg) of the female. The egg is then taken over much like the host creature was. It will take on the male plant's attributes if they are Triffidian. The Triffidian seeks to improve itself, so allows for a happy merge over a vast number of species. If two Triffidians were to breed the plants type would have a 50/50 chance to be female dominant, male dominant traits or a hybrid of the two types of plant involved. With a non-Triffi there is a slighter higher chance for the male genetics to be passed on; including the petaled manes onto any spawn. The downside is the male Tiffies' parasitic sperm. Due to the take over, the developing embryos run rampant totaling the womb and absorbing all other unfertilized eggs for a quicker development and nourishment. Effectively causing the female to be made sterile as a result. So there is only ever one breeding between a male Tiffy and the same female. Any species will be effected if bred to a male Triffidian. If the female is not of a good conditioning, plumped and well fed beforehand the embryos can overpower even the mother and cause irreversible damages or severe malnutrition. The female can easily lose half their body weight during pregnancy as the growing seeds absorb any and all energy and nutrition they can get. There is a high mortality rate of the female during birthing because of this.
During female pregnancy they will typically roll up into a ball to protect their stomachs and because of their weakened state. The male's will tote them around on their backs or curled within their tails and become fiercely protective.
If female Triffidian breed with non-Triffidian species there is no parasitic effects. The male genetic information will win out over her attributes resulting in the child resembling heavily the male non-Tiffy parent. On occasion the hybrid child might display the soft brown tinge of fur color or the bark like legs of the females. Rarely will they be able to transform.
Gestation and Spawn
When still in the female's womb the growing seedling fetuses develop swiftly. They have transformed from a seed appearance into a more common fetus look. In only three months they are ready to be born. However they are still severely underdeveloped. The appearance is much like a small mouse. Born hairless, helpless and with eyes closed with white tubule roots and vines dangling from them like a freshly plucked plant from the ground.
Litter size is commonly three and they are called Triffilets similar to triplets. These newborns are stored into pods that have been prepared during the breeding ritual. The pods are full of all the nutrition they will need. It also allows for the transfer of knowledge directly into the growing spawn. All the knowledge from the beginning of their history is passed along this way. The pods are seen as sacred and are heavily guarded for their rarity. The sentinels of the tribe; the transformed females, guard them. They are hung from their canopies. There are rumors that these pods store great regenerative properties (can improve memory, give total recall ability, cure severe wounds, or re-grow limbs) that are highly sought after.
The child will cocoon in the pods and undergo swift growth. In only three years they sprout from their cocoon like butterflies fully mature and ready for the world. Fully capable of speech and judgement. The parents are seldom needed besides to protect the pods during the Triffilets growing stage, as once mature they quickly recall through parent's memories how to hunt and basic survival skills. The pods have all the nutritional needs already available like the yoke of an egg. But most importantly the requirement for growth is sunlight. There is a three week period after emerging that they slowly begin to regain parent knowledge. They are often clumsy, impressionable, and confused during these times.
Culture and Rituals
The Triffidian are a newly founded primitive tribe in the jungles of Guildiuerm in their first generation as fully sentient beings. They are hunter/gatherers. The tribe is elusive and not much is known about their culture besides from the caprids whom live nearest to them. But even then they are highly secretive. On the outside the appearance is a tribe run by the males. Their sheer number beats the female population hands down. It appears the females are held captive by the men. However overall they have a matriarchal system and the tribe is heavily run by the elder women. Some might say they have always been a species on the island but have been recently sighted due to their dwindling female population causing them to seek out other options and trade routes. They have a high intelligence but are just getting their walking legs so to speak. It is a rapidly evolving species. They make their homes out of dead trees, hollowing them out with their long claws. And have recently started developments on small straw topped huts. They do not often wear clothing other then adornments or for special ceremonies. Clothing ranges from bead or bone jewelry, stolen trinkets, feathers, pelts, leathers, cloth, straw skirts, and ankle shimmies made from nuts filled with seeds. They are fond of shiny things especially very rare gold and gems.
Plot: Knowing the scheme between the naga and lizardfolk against the caprids they have opted to gift the horned carvers their aid, in hopes of gaining the advanced knowledge of gem work, mining and stone shelters. This has fueled their fascination for precious stones and the wish to learn about gold. With this arrangement of help in times of battle and trading of resources between them they hope to remain off of the radars of caprid slavers by keeping the scalies from attacking the horned peoples. But the Triffidian know that at any moment the lizard and naga might settle their rivalry and turn their sights on the caprid to revenge those that have been captured. It is not uncommon for the Tiffies to sell some of their women for resources and more fertile females. In this way they could end up slaves at the Tether. They do not do well in captivity and are hard to tame.
Hierarchy
Nesat (to know) - The one who is oldest and has the greatest wisdom of the species and of the land surrounding them. They are like huge knowledge bases retaining memories from the beginning when they were still just fairy dusted saplings. Years upon years of island knowledge can be found with them. There is only ever one Nesat at a time. They have the most influence over decision making and the trading with other tribes. They are transformed females. They do not breed themselves, as once a female either breeds or transforms she is then sterile. However nectar is still produced and added into the pods to share their knowledge with the youth. They keep the secrets of their species hidden so when giving knowledge into the pod only passes along necessary information like hunting and survival. The Nesat's main role is similar to a healer, shaman, and leader. They provide prophecies through seer like visions gotten from nature signs, story telling, the overseeing of rituals and the wounded. They have herbal knowledge of all plants and animals of the island and knowledge of the surrounding tribes. They have more strength then any of the male of their species. They can live up to three thousand years old and grow to a height of thirty feet tall. However they do not participate in wars directly. They have returned to a rooted state. Special abilities: Commune with plants. (Has a physic link with any rooted plant on the island. She can see through them like windows and can speak with them. She can sense when a plant has been pulled from the ground) Photosynthesis. (storing energy and nutrients from the sun and water. She can give these out to her tribe in times of harsh conditions when resources are low or no sun is available. Like reserves.) Healing (using bark, herbs, or pod juices she can heal herself or others)
Vitihirak (watch, guard) - They are the sentinels for the tribe. Consisting of transformed females that were not chosen to be the Nesat. They are still mobile and are the strongest in the tribe. They are the protectors of the spawn pods which hang from their branches. They are often aggressive like mother bears with cubs. Not something you want to trifle with. They are roughly nine foot tall and have a growing limiter of 20 ft, unless chosen to become the next Nesat. They can also live for up to three thousand years. They are easily the tanks of the tribe, taking the pressure of attacks so the hunters can get in close for a final blow. They can withstand a lot of damage but are weak to fire. They also play a role as generals. There are not many of them because females seldom choose the path of the warrior because they have to give up great pleasures but the gain is ten fold; incredible strength, a longer life and more knowledge. Special Abilities: Rooted (they can temporarily root themselves into the ground to be nearly immovable) Super-strength (they have incredible strength) Earthquake (they can produce minor quakes to stumble enemies and collapse the earth to trap them) Barrier (they can manipulate branches or roots to create an obstacle or shield)
Fonak (hunter) - Make up the male population which is the majority gender of the tribe. They are warriors, built and made for battle. They hunt from the trees often when transformed and from the ground. Sometimes riding within the canopy of the Vitithirak. They have the most speed of the tribe, especially when transformed. They hunt usually in a pack formation and prefer the meat of the naga or lizardfolk. They make excellent butchers, skinners, tanners, trappers, farmers, builders and warriors. It is common practice during the mating rituals to hold fights to pick the strongest males to pass on their genetic material. During these mating rituals they also participate in tribal dances and drumming. Special abilities: Camouflage (they have a knack for blending into their surroundings.) Entanglement (using vine like legs to trap prey or enemies. Vines can have thorns) Dart (if a poisonous variety or thorn variety they can launch these parts at their enemies *rare*)
Halahi mas (valuable tree that can blossom) - Make up the non-transformed female population. Due to breeding leaving them sterile and high mortality rates the female numbers are lower then the males. Unbred female is a specimen of extreme value. Only unbred females are called "halahi mas" while bred females are called just "halahi" (tree that can blossom) for their potential to become a Nesat in their life time. Their role is gatherers, care of crops, and sensual arts. Most of their lives are spent with little worry, being pampered, and entertaining. They are proficient in dance, sexual positions, fertility, instruments, herbs and cooking. The halahi mas are appointed a fonak at birth who acts as her guard up until the breeding ceremonies. When they first emerge from the pods they are also given a nose piercing made of bone material. To sully a halahi mas is a great crime which will result in the offenders shaming ritual, the removing of each petal from his mane and to be crushed by all the Vitithirak at once. halahi mas are heavily pampered and the hunter guard can be requested to do work when/if she is too tired to do her own chores. He must oblige her requests. However there is a heavy limitation to pay for her seeming superiority. She can not participate in hunts and she is often never given any privacy. They are like captives in their own home. They can not travel far from the tribe and are not allowed to transform. The repercussions for transforming before breeding is banishment, sometimes physical punishment by the males in the form of vine whipping, and possibly forced reversal. Once they are just halahi the guard is no longer needed nor will he listen to them. The piercing is removed. They will either work as a gatherer and fertility specialist or transform to start a warrior's path. halahi typically outnumber the halahi mas and are often subjected to being traded to other tribes in the area for resources, gems, and especially more fertile women of any species. Special Abilities: Hallucinogen (intoxicating smell released causing enemies to see things. *Does not work on own species.) Charm (works with the scent to cause the targeted to be inclined to cooperate with them. *Does not work on their own species.) Alchemy (mixing fairy dusted armor bits with herbs to create new materials; usually drugs with sensual side effects for fertility uses)
General Triffidian Abilities: Age-less appearance (Aside from the transformed female their physical bodies do not seem to age past the mature form which came out of the pod) Regeneration (each of them has a mild ability to repair themselves over time. Amber scars last a week before disappearing. Full limb regrowth takes 3 months; 3 weeks if pod juice is used. Organs, eggs, and heads, can not be regenerated) Plant growth (each can assist regular plant and flower growth. Increasing rate of growth and size) Healing (each have a basic knowledge of herbs and can assist minor wounds of others) Minor Magic resistance (protects them from outside magics to a small degree)
Language
Sorfosor ase (Earth word) - Is the spoken and written language of their peoples. It holds a sense of power in the pronunciation and reverberation of each word. To the ear some might say it sounds like a mixture of Amazonian languages. It sounds both aggressive and exotic.
Male voices are strong and have growly accents. Ex: click here
Female voices are softer spoken and usually more lyrical. Ex: click here
During festivals it is common to hear females chanting while the men accompany with deep sounds, growls and instruments. Ex: click here
Common instruments are: Drums, flutes, percussion, and basic stringed instruments.
The Triffidian also have the unique ability to imitate a vast number of animals and noises. They can even rattle their armor petals together to make a rattler snake like warning or percussion instrument.
They can speak broken Common thanks to the caprids and trading with other tribes.
The written language has been borrowed from the dothraki dictionary for those who like to incorporate languages into their roleplay. (I'm a huge fan < 3)
Religion
The Triffidian worship a variety of nature beings and fertility goddesses from all different cultures. Here are just a few:
Ahroth - Lord of Hills, Prime of Earth
Jujinka - Lady of Green, Prime of Love
Jeltana - Lady of Offspring, Prime of Childbirth
The Guilderium fairies - fondly nicknamed atthirar vod (life dust) and are praised during their breeding ritual.
Gaia - Greek titan Mother Earth
Rituals
There are three major and three minor rituals.
Major
Athmovezar Hilelat Elain( magic, sex, and seed/sperm) A Breeding ritual that has three phases:
Fighting and Dancing - Begins around the time the first spring time flowers bloom. The entire tribe seems swept up into a rut like display. Both are energized and highly sensual. The males will bang just about anything. They will have encounters with other males in a sport of dominance and the halahi (bred females) since the halahi mas are still off limits at this time. In an attempt to focus the crazy energies, the elders put in place dancing and fighting in efforts to quell the rutting behavior. Males fight in the style like Capoeira. Usually a male with more knowledge years will win. This keeps the "younger" males from breeding too soon after coming out of the pod. The females sing, chant, and play instruments as the battles rage on. After the tournaments that can take up to three - four weeks to complete, a group of the strongest or fittest males will be chosen to breed. Sometimes as many as ten males will be chosen.
Filling of the pods
This part of the festival begins a month after fighting and dancing. The women grow the spawn pods in special gardens. They emerge from the ground like giant seeds about the size of a pumpkin. The outer shell is green and of a stretchy somewhat transparent material. This allows sunlight to pass through to the growing embryos and allows for them to grow without the pod splitting. All the pods are harvested from the ground and seeds for the next season sowed. The halahi mas file around and form a circle when the sun is at it's zenith and start to dance sensually. Sometimes they even make out with each other. This time the males create music and sing and chant for the ladies. The halahi carries the empty pods around to the aroused males so they can fill it with sperm (pollen&nectar). Then the dancers will add in their 'juice' (nectar). The transformed females add in breast milk (sap&knowledge). Lastly the bred will add in their milk (sap). Some pods will never contain any young and are used strictly as knowledge pods. The pods are hung up in the Vitithirak's branches. As the sun sets the females who will be bred that year are picked from the halahi mas dancers. The most supple, fit, and sensual will be chosen. Only three are chosen each year. The rest of the month is spent on preparations and merriment. All the random excretions that in the end drench the ground become fertilizer and help plants grow.
Celebration of the fairies
When summer finally rolls in bringing the fairies, it is seen as a huge joy for the Triffidian. They see the fairies as life givers and praise them by setting up huge alters of stolen or traded goods; from trinkets, to gold coin, to fruits and nuts. The breeding spree of the fairies drive them into another spurt of sex and dancing. Fireflies are gathered and stuck into a few empty pods creating lanterns. They are hung from trees and vines. A huge feast is held; filled with meat, herbal fertility remedies, and the sharing of knowledge pod juice. Under the stars, fairy dust, and firefly lights the chosen will mate in orgy fashion.
Devolat (to know how to) - When a halahi transcends into the Chieftain Nesat. This will usually take place if/when the last Nesat has passed on. The dying Nesat will fill a pod with all of the knowledge she has held. If already dead the Nesat's knowledge can be drawn out from her roots. The new Nesat will eat the sacred knowledge pod and have her memories fully unlocked assuming the role as the new leader. Her growing limiter is broken and she achieves maximum height in a swift burst of growth. Because of it's rarity it is a time for celebration. It is not as bright nor sexualized as the breeding ritual but there is still dancing and a great feast. It has a mood of mixed emotions. Happy for the new and mourning for the lost.
Esazhalat (to take something back) - The ritual to reverse of transformed female back to her normal state. A rare flower that only blooms once every century 80-100 years. Petals from this plant is required for a reversal to happen. The flower allows the knowledge that had been unlocked through transformation to be drawn out. The Nesat will suck the knowledge out from her roots reverting her back to a normal state. The mood of this ritual is stoic and apprehensive. Because of the massive strain on the Nesat and the female it is often not performed. Only serious cases in which the female transformed before being bred or the transformed female has a very good reason why they need to revert back will it be considered.
Minor
Ekhogaralat (to undress) - Is a shaming ritual where the petals of a male's mane are removed as a punishment for his defilement of a halahi mas. Which is the greatest offense outside of eating a pod. He might be subjected to slavery afterward but mostly he will be condemned to die at the hands of the Vitithirak's massive branches and roots by way of stomping and bashing. While the Viti smash him to pieces the rest hiss, scorn, and mock him and throw nuts.
Hethke (ready, prepared) - Is a ritual to prepare for the winter. Generally takes place in autumn. The gardens are harvested; except for the still growing pods which can resistant any cold weather. Younger generation halahi mas also start being conditioned for taking seeds. They are urged to stretch, exercise, and practice their positions. They also practice their dances and start fertility treatments. Males hold a huge hunt and a feast is held with singing and dancing. It is a pleasant calm ceremony with an uplifted mood. The female furthest along in her training or showing the most potential will be gifted with a golden nose piercing, replacing her old bone one.
Sorfo (dirt) - A ceremony held also in autumn to remember and celebrate the dead; those who have returned to the earth. It has a lively mood with dancing, music, and food. They will paint each other in mud, dirt, ash, and sometimes the skeletal remains of kills. With mischievous intent they will visit other groups to 'haunt' them. Yowling, groaning and shuffling about to playfully scare others. Sometimes they take it too far and will kidnap people but they usually return them the next day.
