Loki's Pack

The Khajiiti

Home Nation: Kvatch

General Khajiiti Appearances:
Although their appearances closely resemble humanoid, the Khajiiti suborder is Feliformia rather than Hominid. On outward appearances, they can easily pass has human at first glance, aside from a feline tail. On closer inspection, one would discover that their teeth, eyes, and fingers/claws are clearly catlike along with ears that are slightly pointed. Body hair, although fur would be a more accurate description, also reflects more closely to that of wild cats and come in just as many different styles, though it is no thicker or abundant than that of a normal human while appearing in all of the same places. The only exception to that would be the tail, which is identical in nearly every way to that of a large cat.

An average Khajiiti can live up to 250 years old. They are fully grown around the age of 25 and their bodies don’t show signs of advanced aging aside from a slight graying of the fur and hair. For the most part, the physical body of a 250-year-old Khajiiti is only slightly less capable than that of when they are in their prime. As their sharpened teeth and elongated canines suggest, their diet is mostly that of a carnivore, but they can survive on plant life alone with only a few drawbacks to their overall health. Most of all, the Khajiiti thrive off fish and other seafood, so it was only natural that they choose to inhabit a peninsula.

A Khajiiti’s voice sounds airy and menacing to those who are not used to speaking with them. This also has to do with the resemblance to growling and hissing that is unintentionally made whenever a Khajiiti pronounces certain syllables. Some syllables can even bring with it a purring sound whenever a Khajiiti is speaking in a friendly tone. It can take some practice for foreigners to get accustomed to the additional involuntary sounds and disassociate them from the meanings they seem to imply. It is still wise not to ignore them all together, the threatening sounds might not always be unintentional; it is a good idea to pay attention to a Khajiiti’s facial expression to tell whether they are unfriendly.

There are two sub-species that make up the Khajiiti race; while they share all the aforementioned traits, they differ significantly in body structure.

Khajiiti Panthera

Khajiiti Panthera have come from the larger cat families, such as tiger, lion, jaguar, etc. and are discernible by their muscular frames. The average height of a Panthera Khajiiti falls within the range of 6’0” to 7’6” and weigh around 350 pounds. This sub-species greatly favors power over agility, though they are just as cunning as their Felinae cousins. More often than not, they find themselves enlisting as a Kvatch Templer or as a crewmember of a large fishing vessel where they can put their natural strength to good use. Pureblood Panthera comprise of about 15% of the Khajiiti population.

Khajiiti Felinae

Khajiiti Panthera have come from the small to medium-sized cat families, such as puma, mountain lion, lynx, etc and are much more lean and nimble than their Panthera counterparts. The average height of a Felinae Khajiiti falls somewhere within 5’ and weigh around 160 pounds. This sub-species greatly favors agility to power and typically avoid direct conflict with larger adversaries. More often than not, they find themselves working as a merchant or crafter, though they are just as capable on a fishing vessel or as a Templer. Pureblood Felinae comprise of about 20% of the Khajiiti population.

Mixed Khajiiti
Through the centuries that passed since the Treaty of Kvatch, Felinae and Panthera have mated among one another. The cause of which brought about a balanced Khajiiti that has both impressive strength and agility. It is difficult to approximate height and weight for Khajiiti that fall under this category since it factors greatly on the genetics of their parents. 65% of the Khajiiti population fall under the Mixed category.

Khajiiti Traits:
Every Khajiiti has some skill in illusion magic. Most are unable to do more than cast a veil over themselves in order to blend into the background. That is not to say that it is a form of active camouflage like that of a chameleon. Rather they utilize their magic to reduce their presence to an observer to the point where they become just another minor element in the background. This ability will do nothing if they are being actively searched for or if they have already been sighted. There is a minority who are adept enough at the art to actually render themselves almost invisible aside from the faintest outlines of their body, and there is yet a very select few who are able to actually distort the world around them to an observer.

A natural response to such abilities among their peers has made the Khajiiti more perceptive than most other races in order to detect and see past such magical abilities. As to be expected of any feline descendant, the Khajiiti are nimble, very agile, and able to see as clearly in the dark as in the light. What they lack in raw physical strength and endurance they more than make up for in speed, acrobatics, and stealth. There are some variations among the race that is more than differences in coloration of their fur. With most Khajiiti, one can get a good idea as to the feline that they had descended from by inspection as long as the bloodline hasn't been too diluted by the genetics from other felines. Those that come from the Panthera Family tend to be larger and have a lot more power than speed and are absolutely lethal in hand to hand combat. The majority of the Khajiiti population tend to fall under the Felinae Family who are much more agile and stealthy than their counterpart.

Kvatch

Capital: Torval

Major Cities:
Senchal
Akavir
Elsweyr
Pahmar
Suthay
Alfiq
Senche

Official Language(s): Ta'agra, Common
*Ta’agra is poorly understood by those of other races; this ignorance may be attributed primarily to the lack of Khajiiti literature, the Khajiiti people making use of an oral method for the preservation of their history. Consequently, few scholars have access to the scripts necessary to translate Ta'agra, and the natural disdain Khajiiti share for inculcating foreigners into their culture forestalls any chance of learning the tongue from a Khajiiti citizen.

Governing Body: The Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood is a combination of a dictatorship, an oligarchy, and a police state where only a select few know the true identities of the ruling class. Nearly all government officials, including the law enforcement personnel, are indiscernible from the public with exception of Templers and Speakers. The government breakdown is as such:

Listener – The head of the entire nation. The Listener is the one who has complete and unquestionable rule over Kvatch. The only ones who know the Listener’s identity are the Silencers.

Silencers – Subordinates of the Listener. There are only eight Silencers at any given time, one for every large city. They are the hands of the Listener, carrying out the orders, policies, laws, and other such business as they are ordered. They also act as emissary to the Listener for international business that requires a representative.

Speakers – Speakers act as the voice of the people. The Speakers are the liaisons to the Silencers in order to bring the needs of the people to the Listener’s attention or vice versa should a public address need to be made.

Shadowfeet – Shadowfeet are Kvatch’s police and act as judge, jury, and executioner for more heinous offenders. It is unknown how many Shadowfeet there actually are throughout the nation because they are indiscernible from the public. It is for this reason that crime is low, especially in the larger cities. A Shadowfoot is trained to be especially perceptive and word of a crime inevitably makes its way to them, that is if they weren’t a witness to the crime itself. The most unnerving aspect of a Shadowfoot is that they won’t approach an offender immediately. It is that uncertainty that terrifies criminals, wondering if or when they will run into a dark figure whose sole purpose is to bring justice.

Templers – Templers are the physical presence of security and deal with minor offences such as theft and assault. Whereas Shadowfeet remain unknown, Templers are there to reassure the public that they are being protected and looked after even though the rulers remain faceless. They act as patrol officers, guards, and witnesses throughout Kvatch and are identifiable by the light armor plating draped in crimson cloth that is the uniform standard.

Kvatch as a nation strives to maintain neutrality in all international dealings; this is because its economy is primarily driven by trading between nations. In the few cases where the country was forced into war, significant portions of their forces were in the form of mercenaries or allied troops. The average Khajiiti is not built for direct battle, what makes them truly lethal in wars is their ability to infiltrate and assassinate key targets with ruthless efficiency. Therefore, instead of overwhelming the opposition by pure force or numbers, the Khajiiti chose to cripple the enemy’s chain of command and allow infighting and paranoia to force them into submission.

Economy:
A majority of Kvatch’s wealth is from trading between nations, typically those that rather not trade directly. Larger cities in Kvatch are among some of the safest in the world due to the ever-vigilant gaze of The Brotherhood. Merchant vessels often prefer to do business at Khajiiti docks knowing that corruption and crime is kept to an absolute minimum. The nation is also a good site for negotiations between other countries since Kvatch strives to remain neutral in all international affairs and is always willing to host such forums. There are also rumors that if one was to know the proper channels of communication, they could hire an assassin for the right price if the target is of no significant importance to international affairs. Of course, there is no actual proof behind such whisperings.

Kvatch would still be self-sustaining if the trade industry goes into a recession as long as the national budget is restricted significantly. Khajiiti are well known for exceptional textile products that are both functional and fashionable. Genuine Khajiiti tapestries are some of the most highly prized forms of artwork due to the level of detail that is a product of their keen perception and the fact that they are all made by hand.

Another major export from Kvatch are Khajiiti weaponry. Although they are not significantly sharper or durable than the common item, the key things that set them apart from the rest are their exotic designs and engravings. Most exported Khajiiti steel is never actually used in combat, more often than not they are set on display or worn during military ceremonies to portray a sense of refinement and status. Among the most sought after pieces is the Crescent Blade, a weapon that only the most skilled artisans are permitted to create. These are so high in demand because there are only a handful who are permitted to make the Crescent and it takes up to two years to fashion a single blade.

Kvatch has so much labor devoted to fishing and animal husbandry that the country can keep itself fed without relying on imported food. The Khajiiti are a carnivorous species, so farming has little use for providing sustenance and what consumables are grown are typically fed to livestock. One particular crop, called skirva, takes up over half of the nation’s farmland and is the nation’s top agricultural success both locally and internationally. skirva bears a strong resemblance to sugarcane and is refined to its crystalline form, which looks like regular sugar only with a purple coloration to it and is treated as a controlled substance. It is believed to be "crystallized moonlight" by the practitioners of Ka Po' Tun who believe it is the essence of the lunar gods. Refined skirva has similar effects as catnip for Khajiiti when consumed by inducing alternating states of euphoria and lethargy. The average Khajiiti body is able to effectively process skirva and the effects wear off after a couple of hours with no possibility of physical addiction. The effects of skirva are greatly enhanced and is highly addictive to anybody who is not a Khajiiti, though there are no other health risks with this substance aside from its addictive tendencies. The Listener has made it known that skirva may only be traded to nations that allow it within its borders and that it is an upper-level offense to smuggle it into countries where it is banned. However, once it has been sold to a country that allows it within its borders, Kvatch is no longer responsible for where it goes or if it is smuggled through an intermediary.

Allies:
Idona
The Pirate Clans of the Aqualyt Islands
Fermata
Wyluutaan Jerigg

Enemies:
Korun Otak

Topography and Climate:
Kvatch is a massive plateau; much of it is just barely above sea level. The highest point in the country is the hilltop on which Suthay has been built, at an approximate height of 515 feet above sea level. A majority of the nation is large swampy areas, though there is still a good amount of land that is gently rolling country. Peninsular Kvatch, which is mostly comprised of swampland, has a relatively elevated central spine of rolling country, dotted with lakes and springs. Two large rivers cut deep into the territory that shallow water boats often use to transport cargo and travelers into the heart of Kvatch.

Most of the country is undeveloped and are where thick forests and subtropical wetlands reign. Scattered throughout these untamed regions are small villages, which are homes to the Khajiiti who are uncomfortable with city life and chose to be more in touch with nature. Such parishes utilize the naturally occurring paddy fields to grow rice and skirva, which responsible for most of the nation’s agriculture. Larger towns inhabit the more elevated portions of Kvatch where the ground is sturdier. The residents of such places make a living by raising livestock and mining deposits of white clay.

Kvatch is a subtropical climate that is temperate throughout the year. The ocean brings with it strong fronts that regularly sweeps through the country, keeping conditions dry, particularly over the peninsula. Brief rain showers occur throughout the year; most lasting no longer then five to ten minutes at a time though can come and go as often as twenty times per day. During the winter and spring, these showers last significantly longer and are usually preceded by dense fog embankments.

The History of Kvatch

The Origins of the Khajiiti

The true origin of the Khajiiti race is unknown. The Khajiiti believe that the lunar goddess, Azurah, chose the cunning jungle cats to bring order to the forests of the southern continent. Other spiritual civilizations believe that they are the product of a being that aligned itself with both the light and shadow planes that sought to manipulate life within the virgin territory that was the southern continent for reasons beyond understanding. More logical and scientific minds believe that they are a product of evolution, hastened by the residual power of the Mountains of Knight. There is no evidence to support any of these claims.

Some of the earliest writings and tales of the Khajiiti can be traced back as far as 500 years before the end of the Third War of Illuria; though there is some uncertainty since the war never reached the southern continent that makes it difficult to align key dates to the modern calendar. The earliest of records establish the Khajiiti as a myriad of tribes that fought one another for land and power. Over the next several hundred years, the tribes grew yet remained disjointed from one another and reached far into the southern continent.

The Trial of Lorkhaj

A few decades after the end of the Third War of Illuria, a red moon appeared in the heavens that was an omen from the lunar god Lorkhaj. That very night marked the first time the Khajiiti crossed paths with the Tynir. It is still unknown who attacked first, but it was the first in a long line of massacres that nearly driven the race of great cats into extinction. Although the Khajiiti were superior in cunning and stealth, they were unable to stop the relentless assaults of their foes who were superior in strength and resilience. Over the course of two centuries, the Tynir sought nothing but bloodshed and scoffed at all attempts of diplomacy. By the end of that time, the remaining Khajiiti tribes were pushed as far back into the peninsula as Akavir and were left with vast ocean at their back and enemies at their front. There was nowhere left for them to retreat and their only option was to fight.

The Treaty of Kvatch

Left with no other option, the chiefs from all of the remaining Khajiiti tribes met in what is present day Torval to resolve their differences and unify under a single banner. That night, the moon had shown blue in the heavens, a sign of blessing from Azurah. With the praise from their Night Mother, the Khajiiti spirit was renewed and once again, the great cats fought with valor using tactics refined through intertribal knowledge. Overnight, the tide of war had changed and the Khajiiti had broken the Tynir’s charge that had threatened to run them out into the ocean.

The End of the Great War

Another hundred years of bloodshed passed, but this time the Khajiiti had the upper hand. The Tynir refused to break their tribal ways and were quickly losing ground to the newly unified nation of Kvatch. With great effort and sacrifice from Khajiiti infiltration teams, tribal leaders were assassinated before they had a chance to adapt to the coordinated tactics that gave Kvatch the upper hand. This further stretched the Tynir to a breaking point as they devolved into infighting to restore their leadership and it wasn’t long before the Khajiiti reclaimed the entirety of the peninsula. At this point, the front lines became stretched too thin for either side to gain ground and they found themselves in a stalemate that lasted for several years.

The war grew stagnant as either side grew wary of the war that had lasted for centuries. Eventually, the strike teams that targeted the Tynir chains of command caused so much infighting that their attacks on the Khajiiti was no longer a priority. There was no official ceasefire agreed upon, nor definite borders drawn, but the Khajiiti were satisfied that the Tynir assaults have finally ended. There were still several instances of small-scale raids, but things had finally settled down and the population of Kvatch slowly returned to its former glory.

The New World and the Corruption of Kvatch
Centuries passed and the unified nation of Kvatch prospered without hindrance, with the exception of a few minor conflicts against the Tynir. The country was divided onto a series of separately governed city-states, the names and locations of which are synonymous to the cities of present day Kvatch. An aristocracy that was mainly comprised of the bloodlines of the old tribal leaders ruled each city-state. Although the governments and territories were separate from one another, their alliances were strong from being forged in battle against the Tynir and would not hesitate to offer aid when needed. It wasn’t long before trade routes and a nation-wide currency was established, allowing the capitals to grow around these trading centers. During this time, the Khajiiti were just beginning to create vessels that would carry them out into sea for better fishing yield and were not aware of the world that was far from their borders.

Eventually, some of the Khajiiti sailors became bold and sought adventure rather than fish. Many of the vessels that left north or west either discovered nothing or never returned from their voyage. It was a good decade before they decided to take their chances by traveling south; this was mostly due to the belief that the Tynir lived in the lands to the south and east, so traveling to such land would not be beneficial to those who landed upon it. Instead of landing upon Korun Otak, these adventurers discovered the islands of Fermata and the people that resided upon it.

Their first meeting with a new race was anything but beneficial to the Khajiiti, so it is understandable that they were timid whenever they first met the Fermatans. It wasn’t long before the two realized that their intensions were not hostile, allowing room for diplomacy. It was through these people that the Khajiiti gained vast amount of knowledge and understanding about the world around them. In turn, the Fermatans learned about the races that resided in their neighboring continent and that its entirety was no longer untamed wilderness like they had believed. With the new knowledge of their surroundings, the Khajiiti expanded international trade routes and strived to be recognized by other civilized nations.

The amount of wealth and power that came from this was new to the ruling class of Kvatch and made way to unmitigated corruption within the government. It started with over taxing and bribes, which quickly degraded into incompetent law enforcement and the rise of gang activity. For years, Kvatch delved deeper into depravity and chaos as violence flowed into the streets and even began affecting the smaller villages throughout the country. The Tynir took advantage of this weakness in the social structure and made regular raids on bordering towns and villages, though not daring to invade full force; doing so would only unify Kvatch once more.

The Dark Brotherhood
During these dark times, many gangs and criminal syndicates were formed and waged war in the very streets of Kvatch, having no regard for the law of innocent lives. The cities of Kvatch were merely a façade of a civilized nation; in actuality, the Khajiiti had reverted to their tribal origins. This continued for the better portion of a century before another organization took root and squelched all the others.

This society called itself The Dark Brotherhood, though the identities of its members were almost never revealed. Their power expanded quickly through the utilization of cat’s paws and assassinations of key rivals. All criminal activity that was not backed by the organization was targeted by it, no matter how small scale it was. Without having an obvious target to attack, the other organizations lashed out at one another thinking they were targeting the Dark Brotherhood, which was intentionally spreading such rumors for that very reason.

Before the close of the 1200’s, The Dark Brotherhood had crushed all opposition and gained control of the entire nation. Government officials and law enforcement personnel gradually dwindled into a fraction of what it once was, believing that their presence in such positions only made them a target. Those that remained eventually became admitted into The Dark Brotherhood itself and were among the first established Speakers and Templers.


The New Brotherhood
There is no record of what happened within the organization, it was obvious that The Dark Brotherhood began to change in the early 1500’s. They had effectively gained control of the entirety of Kvatch and the Khajiiti were content with the way things were being run compared to what they had been through before such times. The Dark Brotherhood no longer feared opposition and instead stepped up in its role as acting government, publicly changing its name to The Brotherhood to represent its more noble cause.

Although much of the government maintained its old ways and workings from when it was a secret criminal syndicate, they have established a branch that was visible to the public in the form of Speakers and Templers. This was to give the Khajiiti peace of mind and reaffirm its presence as political body rather than overlord. The general population very much approve of The Brotherhood because of its structure and balance. In order to maintain a faceless presence, the ruling class must live among society as a common citizen; living in luxury would only bring suspicion upon them, becoming corrupted by power or wealth would lead to their downfall. The invisible presence of the Shadowfeet also act as a security blanket for the Khajiiti, knowing that they are being looked after even though they may appear to be alone. Through Templers and Speakers, the citizens have ties to the government where their voices may be heard and to embody a physical presence among the people.

Khajiiti Culture

General Description:
A majority of Kvath’s population are fishers and merchants, so it is only natural that the Khajiiti are excellent sailors. Very little merchandise leaves Kvatch by land due to the tense relations they have with Korun Otak, which means all trading is done overseas. Due to this, Kvatch has a very large fleet of ships that are mostly comprised of fishing vessels or transport ships; there are only a few ships that are fit for naval battles, though the smaller ships can easily be outfitted with light munitions if there is a need.

Daily life within Kvatch is rather simple, but comfortably so. The ever-watchful eye of The Brotherhood keeps crime to an absolute minimum and even the darkest of alleys are relatively safe to travel. Most Khajiiti prefer to be unattached from their kin and live either alone or with their mate. Cubs are raised at home until the day eventually comes that they leave the den under their own free will around the age of sixteen. Khajiiti usually keep only a handful of close friends and regard everybody else as friendly acquaintances, even if they are complete strangers.

Courtship:
Mates are typically chosen more out of instinct rather than personal preference and is signaled by an instantaneous connection that the Khajiit call Kiseen. The science behind it is unknown, but it always happens to the pair at the same time and brings with it a feeling of undying love, commitment, and harmony between them. Typically, it is more of a subconscious decision rather than a mindful one and often happens upon sighting the destined mate; though it can be coerced into happening if a pair feel strongly about one another and have a long history together. Other cultures consider it more as a love-at-first-sight type situation except that it has more to do with strengthening the gene pool rather than physical infatuation; though there must be some sort of harmony between the two minds in order for it to happen in the first place. There have been rare occurrences where a Khajiiti will experience Kiseen with another non-Khajiiti. Such instances can bring about a wide variety of results since the non-Khajiiti will also feel the effects of the Kiseen. In most cases, the species difference will either result in a very strong bond of friendship with little to no feelings of romantic interest or will be identical to a Kiseen between two Khajiiti.

A mating pair that had just discovered one another tends to feel a vague sense of familiarity with one another even if they have never actually met. This intuitive bonding ensures a successful partnership, which is fortunate because mating pair will remain together for the rest of their lives once they have discovered one another.

The pairs will consummate their bonds to one another under the light of the next full moon, making their union official. This ritual is an intimate one between the mating pair under the watch and protection for the goddesses Azurah and Mara. Once completed, the mates will garb themselves in pure white togas and silver circlets until the next full moon to symbolize their unending love for one another. During which time, the pair is expected to do nothing but be with one another and are excused from all other duties until the end of their honeymoon.

Architecture:
Urban and suburban structures within Kvatch are primarily comprised of reinforced adobe construction utilizing locally supplied white clay and timber. The architectural design of most of these buildings are very similar to that found in Arg-é Bam through the use of ogee arches and domed roofs. In the center of each of the major cities is a large square, called the Baadargo, which is devoted to trading and socializing. Buildings within the cities are often spaced closely together, many times sharing the same structural walls, while the roads in front of them are very wide. It is this style of city planning that keeps the mass of buildings from being overwhelming to pedestrians and reduces feelings of claustrophobia. The core of the city is zoned for commercial and governmental buildings and is surrounded by high-density residential buildings. The Khajiiti are more reclusive when it comes to their living spaces, preferring apartment-sized dwellings that have communal bathhouses in the center of the complexes. Those that chose to live in medium-sized houses are often viewed as being ostentatious and having much more space than is necessary; which isn’t entirely ridiculous considering there are typically no more than two Khajiiti per dwelling with the exception of those that have cubs.

Villages located in the marshes are constructed entirely of timber and are lined with animal hides to provide insulation and weatherproofing. The architecture of these buildings are simple shacks that are built upon stilts to avoid being flooded by the fluctuating water level of the swamps during the rainy season. Although these shacks are not much smaller than the apartments of their urban counterparts, they are greatly spaced apart from one another. Typically, there is one shack per several acres that the residents use for agriculture or other ways of making a living.

Clothing:
Clothing worn by those who are not performing laborious activities, such as fishing or farming, wear togas and stolas of various color and detailing; pure white clothing reserved for newly mated couples. Most are made from the fur of Aldermi, which is effective at wicking water from the sporadic rains while having a smooth silky texture to it. This clothing style is usually accompanied by leather sandals with long lacing that winds up the wearer’s leg. Nearly every Khajiiti native found in the Baadargo are wearing this style of clothing.

Those who are performing activities that are likely to soil ones attire typically wear tunics. The materials used to make them range widely from rough leather to Aldermi fur and come in a wide variety of detailing and styles. The shoes that accompany this stole of clothing is very similar to its “white collar” counterpart; the primary difference is that the foot is completely enclosed with reinforcing for the toes, though the lacing along the leg is very similar.


Khajiiti Lore

Religion/Deity(s): Ka Po' Tun
Ka Po' Tun is a polytheistic spiritual religion that is heavily influenced by the phases of the moon. Ka Po' Tun has no congregations for the followers to attend because it is a private and personal religion. There are shrines and statues erected throughout Kvatch which the Khajiiti may use to pray to a specific deity, but the most intimate form of worship is done by meditating under the moonlight.

Azurah - The Night Mother representing Justice, Order, and Loyalty
Azurah is the goddess to whom the Khajiiti attribute both their current form and the mysterious tie between them and the lunar phases. She is worshiped as the highest among the other deities and is represented by the moon’s progression through the sky.

Baan Dar - The Pariah representing Patience, Potential, and Resilience
Regarded more as a manifestation than a formal god, Baan Dar is the personification of Khajiiti cleverness and the wit engendered of long-suffering on their part. He is commonly attributed with that genius which lends itself to the creation of last-minute plans to foil the machinations of the Khajiiti's foes, man or mer. Represented in the lunar cycle as the New Moon

Jode - Big Moon God representing Courage, Fortitude, and Service
Jode is fabled to be the elder brother to Jone and the more bold of the two. He is attributed to be the divine force looking over the Khajiiti who keep Kvatch safe from threats both internal and external. Represented in the lunar cycle as the waxing phases.

Jone - Little Moon Goddess representing Generosity, Benevolence, and Service
Jode is fabled to be the younger sister to Jode and the more meek of the two. She is attributed to be the divine force looking over the working class as well as livestock and fishing vessels. Represented in the lunar cycle as the waning phases.

Lorkhaj - The Moon Beast representing Change, Potential, and Readiness
Held in admiration for his great deceit and cunning as well as fear for his representation of death or change. His presence in the night sky is an omen among the Khajiiti that could represent a myriad of things ranging from a change in lifestyle to a great war. Represented in the lunar cycle as a Red Moon.

Mara - Goddess of Love representing Love, Unity, Mercy, and Compassion
The Goddess of Love, to Mara is attributed all the passion of the Khajiiti and the one who guides them to their respective Mates. Represented in the lunar cycle as the Full Moon

Sheggorath - The Sugar God representing Detachment, Spirituality, and Chaos
The God of cosmic entropy of the Khajiiti and is the one who is attributed to gifting them with illusion magic. He is also attributed to providing Skirva to the region and believers who partake in the substance believe that they are feeling the euphoria of his presence. Represented in the lunar cycle as a Lunar Eclipse.

Character Name: Ra'Sava
Character Alias: Ja'Dhannar
Species/Race: Khajiiti Felinae
Physical Description:
Ja’Dhannar stands at 5’4” and 140 pounds of lean and agile muscle. The markings on his body and tail closely resemble that of a Mountain Lion. His cat eyes are a brilliant crimson that gives him the look of a deadly predator. [See above for the general appearances of a Khajiiti.] When wandering around in public in the day, he is either in civilian attire or in his Templer uniform. Ja’Dhannar usually follows the sleeping habits of nocturnal creatures by being awake at night where he can move more freely as a Silencer. It is during these hours that he chooses to wear the attire of a Shadowfoot, being black BDU pants and a high-collared black leather jacket with a crimson sash, scarf, mask, and headband.

Weapons:
A Taan'Mar (a cross between a scimitar and a wakizashi) fastened to his sash on his right hip.
A pair of Kukri that are sheathed on the small of his back.
Several throwing knives concealed at various locations on his person.

Character Bio:
Ja’Dhannar started his life outside of the den as a Templer. He worked hard to sharpen his skills in perception and interrogation over the better portion of two decades. Eventually his abilities and dedication to his duty were noticed as a Shadowfoot woke him from his sleep one night to induct him into their ranks. Over the next several decades he continued to excel in all areas that were essential for a Shadowfoot to perform his task with the utmost efficiency and conviction. At the age of 76, he was abducted and taken to a hidden sanctuary located deep within the heart of the capital city. It was there that he was tested in skill and in loyalty for an entire week. The trials were designed to bring the participant well past their limits, many of which are considered to be torture in civilized nations. At the end of the week, Ja’Dhannar was approached by the Listener, himself, and advanced to the rank of Silencer.

Age: 90
Gender: Male
Occupation: Silencer of Torval
Skills:
Ra'Vir Mastery - Ra'Vir is a school of martial arts that focuses on disarming, subduing, and killing by targeting pressure points and vital parts of the target's anatomy. This combat style utilizes hand-to-hand techniques and smaller bladed weapons; advanced levels also incorporates illusion magic for especially effective maneubers.

Inquisition - Working as a Templer requires the individual to hone their skills in interrogation, investigation, observation, and forensics. These skills are further developed and improved over time and at increasing rates should the individual advance to the rank of Shadowfoot.

Infiltration - Before a Shadowfoot is assigned to duty, they are trained in the arts of misdirection, lock picking, steath, and stalking. After passing the necessary trials, the individual graduates and is then given missions that are on par with their level of skill. The experience gained from missions allow the Shadowfoot to increase their talents and advance in along the ranks.

Illusion Magic:
Blend - A subtle form of magic that utilizes surroundings and inattentiveness of individuals to remain unnoticed. The gaze of those who are affected tend to unconsciously drift off the user, disregarding them as though they are just another unimportant detail in the background. This magic affects all within a radius of the user, the range of which is proportional to the effort put into the magic and requires focus to maintain. This skill is most effective whenever targets are not actively searching for the individual and the user doesn't do anything that will blatantly cause them to stand out from their surroundings.

Chameleon - One of the few forms of illusion magic that effects the user themself rather than targets. This technique requires constant focus to bend light around the user's body, rendering them invisible. The effort required to maintain this veil is increased drastically if the user is moving, causing flaws within the magic due to the decrease in focus and rapidly changing surroundings. This particular use of illusion is especially exhausting and is usually used whenever Minimize Presence ability is no longer effective.

Rend Senses - Focusing magic directly onto the target allows the user to manipulate the perceptive portions of the target's mind. By doing so, the user can either overwhelm or completely shutdown the target's senses and speech either individually or in combinations. The duration of these effects is proportional to the amount of effort the user puts into the ability and doesn't need constant focus to maintain.

Alter Perception - This ability uses principles that are a blend between Rend Senses and Blend abilities. The user can manipulate what targets percieve; either by removing an element that is there or by adding something that isn't. Constant focus is required and the effort needed is increased by the number of targets afflicted.

Paralyze - An advanced version of Rend Senses ability, but requires a lot more skill and effort to accomplish. The user is able to completely shutdown the target's motor skills for a duration that is proportional to the effort used to accomplish the feat.

Character Name: M'Raverr
Species/Race: Khajiiti Panthera
Physical Description:
M’Raverr stands at 7’0” and built with mountains of muscle that only gives a slight indication of his true strength. The markings on his body and tail closely resemble that of an African Lion. His cat eyes are ruby red that glisten with either kindness or ferocity, depending on whom his gaze falls upon. M’Raverr comes from a long line of adept warriors and accomplished Templers. It was only natural for him to be one of the few to receive the status of High Templer from years of service to Kvatch.

Weapons:
A 5' Greataxe kept slung over his back.
Fighting Gauntlets (made from heavy leather with studded iron plates)

Character Bio:


Age: 105
Gender: Male
Occupation: High Templer, Evocator
Skills:
Da-Marr Mastery - A form of martial arts that incorporates hand-to-hand combat with a variety of weapons. These techniques combine melee blows to disable an opponent while quickly being followed by an execution move. One of the more common styles that practices weapons play for conventional armed combat.

Inquisition - Working as a Templer requires the individual to hone their skills in interrogation, investigation, observation, and forensics.

Surpass Limitations - By turning his illusion abilities upon himself, M'Raverr is able to remove the natural restrictions the body has to prevent causing itself harm. In this state, the user will feel neither pain nor fatigue and is able to continue fighting even after receiving a mortal wound that would send any other person into shock. A direct result from exceeding the body's natural limits is that bones, muscles, and tendons can be placed under severe strain causing tissue damage that the user would not feel until after releasing the ability.

[Reserved for Emoria Character]

[Reserved for Emoria Character]

[Reserved for Emoria Character]

[Reserved for Emoria Character]

[Reserved for Emoria Character]

Viemera - The Essence of Deceit

Name: Loki Aesir
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Weapons: Two single-bladed katars with 12 inch blades each. (Will be obtained within intro post, so experience is lacking initially.)
Appearance:

Spoiler:

Personality: Introverted and soft spoken, only really speaks when he has something important to add to the conversation. Loki is usually hesitant about meeting new people and never opens up to them until they are considered to be a friend. He has a strong sense of moral responsibility and has never been comfortable doing anything that could be considered ‘morally gray.’ Loki always tries to blend in with the group rather than to stand out and be in the public eye. As such, he doesn’t flaunt his abilities; in fact he tries to keep them hidden so as not to be noticed among the common people.
Type: User
Powers: Essence Manipulation
Guardian Wings – Although Loki refers to them as wings, don’t look like typical wings, nor do they provide him the ability of flight. These “wings” are actually eight ribbons of brilliant white Essence that extend from his back along his spine that he is able to manipulate as effortlessly as though they were his arms or legs. Each ribbon is around eight feet in length and three inches wide with no noticeable thickness. These ‘wings’ only illuminate when Loki focuses his energy through them, the amount of focus also determines their physical state. When Loki is unconscious or sleeping, the wings are no longer present. When he isn’t focusing energy through them they are almost invisible, looking similar to the movement of air over a hot surface. While focusing energy through them, Loki can control their illumination and physical state; whether the ribbons are strands of light or are actually able to interact with physical objects; with enough focus, he is able to cause them to burn whatever they touch. Typically, Loki keeps them wrapped around his body under his clothing, not only to keep them hidden from the public, but also to act as a sort of body armor. When in the physical state, each ribbon is as strong as mithral chainmail, preventing almost anything from piercing through. However, when it comes to force dampening, they offer little more protection than a shirt. So deep wounds and cuts are not a major concern for him; heavy bruising, broken bones, and internal bleeding are the most common types of injuries he will suffer.

Wings Aeries – Through the Essence absorbed from wildlife, Loki has gained the ability of flight. By weaving his Guardian Wings together, he is able to form bird-like wings that are pure white with the slightest illumination from them. This ability is still quite new to him and he has yet to get used to more intricate maneuvers, but for the time he is able to sustain flight for a significant amount of time and can even carry light to moderate loads. When in this form, his wings are susceptible to attacks, even energy based ones that his Guardian Wings would be able to absorb. These wings require all of his ribbons of energy, thus removing any protection from his body.

Energy Transfer – Loki also has the ability to transfer energy through objects. Typically, he uses this ability to add a burning edge on his katars or to his punches. He is also capable of overloading things that use Essence as a power source by forcing more energy into the object than it is capable of holding, or vice versa, drain the energy out of the object. In order to transfer energy, he must be physically touching the object and it can’t be too large or require too much energy. Where his “wings” are a natural formation of his ability, transferring energy takes more focus and drains him much more rapidly by comparison. Although, the Essence his body naturally refines is much more pure and potent than they type that is refined by man; the result of which means that it would take less Essence from him to perform the same task as manmade Essence. A drawback to this difference in purity is that absorbing manmade Essence puts a strain on his body as it is processed, making it harder for him to control his abilities until the energy has time to be refined. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a day depending on several variables.

Bio:
Loki’s upbringing is typical for the only son of a small town Therian cleric. His father, Janus Aesir, was very strict and almost cold toward Loki; any behavior that fell short of his father’s religious morals was met swiftly with discipline. Loki’s mother, Ahnassi Aesir, was more forgiving and would usually turn a blind eye to any childhood mischief that would have been quickly put to an end if his father became aware. When Loki was 10 years old, Ahnassi was caught committing adultery after she grew tired of Janus’s uptight rule over the household. The scandal spread quickly among the townspeople who were eager to have a juicy story liven up the otherwise dull town. Ahnassi was taken before the town council, which was comprised of highly religious members of the community. Ahnassi and her lover were quickly found guilty of adultery and were publicly humiliated and exiled. Janus had enough pull within the council that he could have prevented Ahnassi’s exile; however fearing for his reputation and his pride, he stood idle. To this day Loki blames his father for banishing his mother and leaving their family in shambles. In light of Janus’s willingness to turn his back on family and without the protection from his mother, Loki became extremely fearful of his father and avoided doing anything that could incite his wrath. From that day forward, Janus’s attitude toward Loki was met with annoyance and neglect for Loki was a reminder of the shame that was brought on the family by his unfaithful wife. Then the day came when Loki turned 16…

When he awoke on the day of his birthday, he noticed there were odd movements around him as though the air was rippling ever so slightly. Deciding that it was just the lingering drowsiness that was playing tricks on him, he went about his day as if it was any other. His father never made an effort to celebrate anything involving Loki and his strict upbringing left Loki with no friends, just a few acquaintances. That afternoon, Loki was wandering through the nearby woods to treat himself to some wild strawberries when he heard a low, menacing growl coming from behind him. Fear paralyzed Loki as he turned around to see the hungry gaze of a mountain lion as it stalked closer. As a reflex, Loki lifted his arms to protect his face once he saw the cat pounce; waiting to feel pain shoot through his body as muscle and teeth made contact, but the pain never came. Curious as to what happened to the preditor; he timidly lowered his arms to see the it suspended in midair by several ribbons of a brilliant light that were stretching from behind him. Loki turned to see the source of these ribbons, only to notice that their movements matched his own. That was when he realized that they were coming from him, which filled Loki with confusion and fear. With these emotions surging through him, he noticed that they grew brighter and that the mountain lion started crying out and thrashing around to try to free itself as the ribbons started to singe hair and burn flesh where they made contact. Struggling to cope with everything that was happening so fast, adrenaline started coursing through Loki’s veins and panic overwhelmed him, causing his entire body to tense. Reacting to Loki’s emotions, the ribbons of light tightened their grip on the feline; then in one quick sudden motion the ribbons pulled in several different directions tearing the cat to shreds. Dropping into a sitting position, Loki began replaying the events that just unfolded trying to make sense of it all as the ribbons of light casually swayed around him. His posture suddenly became very rigid as several of his father’s sermons ran through his memory. Janus has always viewed man’s manipulation of Essence to be heresy, “Men profaning God’s power and stealing the very life force of the planet,” he would always rant, “and Saturates are the physical embodiment of Man’s greed and desire to become Gods themselves.”

It only took him a few hours to learn how to manipulate the transparency of his wings, as he referred to them, thus allowing him to return home without incident. Over the next year, he was able to sneak off into the woods and continue to hone his abilities. At first it was to ensure that he can keep them hidden from everybody, but he quickly embraced his abilities and found all of the new things he was able to do to be entertaining. Janus either suspected nothing was different or just didn’t care, either way, Loki was glad to find time alone. After a few months, he got used to moving them independently from one another, and now they feel as natural moving as though they were his arms and legs. By the time he was 17, Loki had mastered illumination control and had gotten used to allowing them to interact with physical objects. He even discovered that he could focus the energy to his hands, which would scorch anything he touched. This leads us to present day…

Viemera - The Essence of Deceit

Name: Tsume
Gender: Male
Affiliation: Temple of the Goddess
Age: Mid-30's
Weapon(s): Spear
Appearance:

Spoiler:

Personality: Although he is still a relatively young monk for the Temple of the Goddess, he is quick to assume the leadership position when the need arises. Tsume has a steadfast dedication to his duties as a Monk and will not hesitate to put himself in harm's way to defend the Goddess or perform is obligations.
Type: Summoner
Powers:
Summon Spear – A eight foot long spear that has the typical appearance as of a summoned weapon. The tip is a eight inch long diamond point with a razor edge that makes slashing a viable option. Years of determined training with this weapon makes it seemingly weightless to the user.

Summon Alco – Alco is a golden brown Griffin that is approximately the size of a horse with enough strength to easily carry Tsume into combat. A recent conflict had destroyed Alco's experienced body and even after hours of meditate, the Griffin has only grown to the size of a full grown Labrador.

Earth Manipulation – Through the sacrifice of nature, Tsume gained Essence from the earth and the ability to manipulate it at will. Although the ability is still new to him, he is able to encase himself in portions of earth that acts as a very strong armor after being reinforced with Essence. Tsume is also able to raise portions of stone from the ground to act as obstacles and barriers, but is yet unable to cause them to cause them to levitate from the ground.

Bio: Tsume appears to have been raised to be a Temple Monk from a young age, learning all the skills and secrets that come with the trade. A plot to abduct the Young Goddess once she came of age had caused the Temple to use all of the resources it has available to find her and bring her safely to the Temple before she can be corrupted by an unknown organization. Tsume is one of the many Monks who had been dispatched through out the continent to complete this objective. Not much else has been revealed of Tsume's distant past as of yet.

Viemera - The Essence of Deceit

Name: Marinik
Gender: Male
Age: Mid-30’s
Weapon(s): ?
Appearance:

Personality: ?
Type: User
Powers: Wind Control
Air Pressure – This is one of the most common uses of his ability and one he is most skilled with. Marinik is capable of creating focused pockets of wind to shove people a great distance with an impact similar to being hit in the chest with a club. On the opposite end of the same ability, he is able to force all of the air out of a localized area, creating a complete vacuum. Anybody found inside of this vacuum has all of the air pulled out of their lungs as well, causing an effect similar to drowning or suffocation.
Bio: ?

Viemera - The Essence of Deceit

Name: Rayne
Gender: Male
Age: Early 40’s
Weapon(s): ?
Appearance: ?
Personality: ?
Type: Manipulator
Powers: Shape Shifter
Assume Form – Rayne is capable of storing up to ten human or animal forms at any given time, as long as they are no larger than twice his size or smaller than half of his size. Since humanoids are so similar in shape and appearance, Rayne regenerates his Essence supply faster than it is consumed when in a human shape, allowing him to maintain such a form indefinitely. Other forms consume more Essence to maintain; the more drastic the change the more Essence that is consumed.
Bio: ?

Viemera - The Essence of Deceit

Name: Maeve
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Appearance:

Spoiler:

Weapon(s): 9” long kris
Personality: Maeve comes off as calm and whimsical, though she is also a master at the art of manipulation and seduction. She is always friendly, cheerful, and passionate to everybody she meets, even if they are complete strangers. A lot of the time, however, that smile is just a distraction from the dagger that is poised to stab them in the back. To those that do not know her, she is interesting, appealing, and easily welcomed into one’s company; to those that do know her, she is not to be trusted unless they are sure that they are not targets, and even then it is best to remain cautious.

Type: Manipulator
Powers: Dream Reaver
Induce Slumber – Maeve is able to utilize her will to urge her targets to sleep as long as they are within her line of sight. It is brutally effective against those who are unaware, having the same effect as those succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning. Those that are aware of it are able to resist it, but they will still feel fatigued until they either give in or break her concentration.

Influence Dreams – In close proximity, Maeve is able to infiltrate a person’s dream and bend it to her will. She is able to show them things that they desire and fashion a world around what they crave the most. Conversely, she is also able to inflict horrors that do not even appear in their worst nightmares and can do so with such intensity that it can rend the target insane. When combined with her Induce Slumber ability, the target will be unable to wake under their own free will no matter how disturbing the dream. This ability is also able to be performed from an infinite distance as long as she has a sample of the target’s DNA; be it blood, hair, skin, etc. Even samples that contain direct elements of the target’s DNA can work, such as that from a parent or child.

Bio: ?

Name: David Smith
Gender: Male
Age: 37
Weapon(s): none
Appearance:


Personality: N/A
Type: User
Powers: Control over water. Can make water do whatever he wants due to it being his sole weapon he is very proficient in his user ability.

Water control – With this ability he can create any shape made out of water and hold it for a short amount of time. He usually creates a column of water to horizontally attack or drop on targets from above them. He can also flood rooms with this ability without flooding the entire building. He can control the amount of pressure the water has and control its density.

Ice control – With this ability he creates water and changes the density to that of ice to create shapes with ice. Usually using spikes of ice to attack targets he can also drop blocks of solid ice on targets or make a shielding wall made entirely out of ice.

Fog control – With this ability he creates water and changes the density to that of water vapor causing a cloud of fog to form. He uses this ability to cover his moves making it harder for people to see him while preparing for the next attack.

Bio: N/A

Viemera - The Essence of Deceit

Name: Lord Udonis
Gender: Male
Age: 80 (appears 35)
Appearance:


Weapon(s): None
Personality: ?
Type: Manipulator
Powers: ?

Bio: ?

Viemera - The Essence of Deceit

Name: Brycen Rhetori
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Appearance:


Weapon(s): 2 Kukri Blades
Personality: ?
Type: Manipulator
Powers: ?

Bio: ?

[Reserved for Viemera Character]