Snake Tribe
May 29, 2017 1:05:34 GMT -6
Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on May 29, 2017 1:05:34 GMT -6
Overview
Keepers of knowledge and guardians of the past, the Snake Tribe are the most reclusive of the Great Tribes, and the least active in Taguel politics. These taguel trade the nomadic lifestyle of most of their kin for a sedentary existence in the ruins littering Vinland. Many taguel go their entire lives without ever meeting a Snake, though some at least know of their existence - but avoiding ruins is seen as a mark of good sense given the ferocity with which they are protected from ALL outsiders, human or taguel.
Despite their singular name, the Snake Tribe is actually comprised of two distinct subspecies - the Lamia and the Naga. Lamias universally have the top half of a woman and the bottom half of a snake, varying mostly in coloration or sometimes one or two inhuman characteristics in their upper half (unusual ears, slitted pupils, etc), while the mighty Naga are significantly larger and demihuman at best in their upper half, and vary more in appearance, often possessing scaled skin, four arms, and horns, ears, or fangs. It could be said that lamias represent the concept of a 'woman with monstrous characteristics' while the naga represent a 'monster with human male characteristics,' and indeed most lamia prefer to think of it that way, though this is a great disservice to naga intelligence. Both species often tend to have intricate and sometimes arcane designs across some or all of their body, either painted on or naturally developing; more on this in Religion. This is one example of a lamia, while a naga might look like this.
Unique among Taguel, Snakes do not have separate human and Taguel forms, instead existing permanently in a single form, with the benefits (fullshift bonuses) and downsides (omg it's a snake) of beastform Taguel both natural to them. Lamia, however, have a brief respite monthly on the night of the full moon, when an ancient curse - or perhaps blessing - activates, giving them human form for a day. They lose ALL fullshifting benefits for the duration, but appear entirely human in return, including a significant increase in emotional intensity. Most naga are smart enough to steer well clear; men are not, and those familiar with lamia culture only somewhat jokingly refer to it as mating season. Considering that lamia mating rituals normally last for four to eight hours, more than a few brash young men have found the theory much less overwhelming than the reality.
Society
Snake Tribe culture as a whole venerates knowledge as the greatest treasure and both groups are united in protecting and gathering it, but each subspecies tends to have different opinions on their role in doing so. Lamias are the founders of their society, enforcing a matriarchal, classist society in which power - which translates to access to their legendary archives - is based on knowledge; it is a world in which knowledge is power, and those not viewed as suitable for the secrets they guard are seen as inferior. Naga, for their part, believe that existence in the service of a greater task provides meaning; they are willing servants, not slaves, though they strongly prefer the term 'guardians.' While admittedly harsh and alien to most human and taguel sensibilities, it is by far the most enduring and peaceful society on Vinland, at least on the surface - power struggles between lamias are savage and grudges eternal, though rarely physical or fatal.
Rather than tribes or families, Lamia - and thereby Snake Tribe - culture is divided into Conclaves, underground civilizations usually tucked away into ancient ruins and forgotten temples. Generally ruled by the most dangerous and clever lamia in the conclave, some some are instead ruled by a coven of like-minded lamia, each conclave stockpiles knowledge individually which they guard zealously, and trade amongst each other mostly revolves around that currency rather than gold or food. Their interaction with the outside world is fairly minimal, usually only necessary trades for food, but hunter-gatherer Naga and the exceptional creativity and knowledge base of Lamia culture allows them to remain nearly entirely self sufficient in general, even forging weapons and armor with techniques long since lost to the rest of the taguel.
Religion
The Snake Tribe are also unique among taguel in that they actually embrace religion as a concept, and doubly unique in that theirs is a living faith. Once devout worshipers of an earth goddess, as their culture grew more and more obsessed with knowledge, their beliefs shifted to center around a goddess of magic that suddenly appears in their texts about 800 years ago. While early texts are somewhat vague as to whether she is a lamia who gained unbelievable power or a bona fida goddess from the start, she is said to be linked to the Akashic Records, a theoretical otherworldly space which contains all knowledge to have ever existed in past, present, and future alike. The goddess is usually not referred to by name, but some know her name as Akasha, though the meaning behind it is subject to bitter ideological differences - those who believe she was once a lamia hold that any lamia who finds the Records can become the new Akasha, while those who believe in her true divinity hold that she created the Records as a library of her own long ago, to be shared only with the truly worthy.
This search for the Akashic Records, also known as the Root, has been the primary source of the gradually growing withdrawal from taguel society that embodies the Snake Tribe. The markings that many lamia bear are said to be the blessing of the goddess; to be born with them grants a young lamia a certain degree of respect, but most believe that at least some of the benefit can be gained by painting arcane designs on one's self. Opinions vary heavily among lamia culture as to which side is superior. While the search for the Records is generally believed to be a singular goal that only one can achieve, naturally dividing those who search for the same thing, the Goddess also brings the tribe together; "As Akasha wills it" is a common saying, and some conclaves believe that she is capable of influencing the world, or even fate, to bring them blessings - actual goddess worship was always fairly rare, but has been slowly picking up among the conclaves in recent times.
Keepers of knowledge and guardians of the past, the Snake Tribe are the most reclusive of the Great Tribes, and the least active in Taguel politics. These taguel trade the nomadic lifestyle of most of their kin for a sedentary existence in the ruins littering Vinland. Many taguel go their entire lives without ever meeting a Snake, though some at least know of their existence - but avoiding ruins is seen as a mark of good sense given the ferocity with which they are protected from ALL outsiders, human or taguel.
Despite their singular name, the Snake Tribe is actually comprised of two distinct subspecies - the Lamia and the Naga. Lamias universally have the top half of a woman and the bottom half of a snake, varying mostly in coloration or sometimes one or two inhuman characteristics in their upper half (unusual ears, slitted pupils, etc), while the mighty Naga are significantly larger and demihuman at best in their upper half, and vary more in appearance, often possessing scaled skin, four arms, and horns, ears, or fangs. It could be said that lamias represent the concept of a 'woman with monstrous characteristics' while the naga represent a 'monster with human male characteristics,' and indeed most lamia prefer to think of it that way, though this is a great disservice to naga intelligence. Both species often tend to have intricate and sometimes arcane designs across some or all of their body, either painted on or naturally developing; more on this in Religion. This is one example of a lamia, while a naga might look like this.
Unique among Taguel, Snakes do not have separate human and Taguel forms, instead existing permanently in a single form, with the benefits (fullshift bonuses) and downsides (omg it's a snake) of beastform Taguel both natural to them. Lamia, however, have a brief respite monthly on the night of the full moon, when an ancient curse - or perhaps blessing - activates, giving them human form for a day. They lose ALL fullshifting benefits for the duration, but appear entirely human in return, including a significant increase in emotional intensity. Most naga are smart enough to steer well clear; men are not, and those familiar with lamia culture only somewhat jokingly refer to it as mating season. Considering that lamia mating rituals normally last for four to eight hours, more than a few brash young men have found the theory much less overwhelming than the reality.
Society
Snake Tribe culture as a whole venerates knowledge as the greatest treasure and both groups are united in protecting and gathering it, but each subspecies tends to have different opinions on their role in doing so. Lamias are the founders of their society, enforcing a matriarchal, classist society in which power - which translates to access to their legendary archives - is based on knowledge; it is a world in which knowledge is power, and those not viewed as suitable for the secrets they guard are seen as inferior. Naga, for their part, believe that existence in the service of a greater task provides meaning; they are willing servants, not slaves, though they strongly prefer the term 'guardians.' While admittedly harsh and alien to most human and taguel sensibilities, it is by far the most enduring and peaceful society on Vinland, at least on the surface - power struggles between lamias are savage and grudges eternal, though rarely physical or fatal.
Rather than tribes or families, Lamia - and thereby Snake Tribe - culture is divided into Conclaves, underground civilizations usually tucked away into ancient ruins and forgotten temples. Generally ruled by the most dangerous and clever lamia in the conclave, some some are instead ruled by a coven of like-minded lamia, each conclave stockpiles knowledge individually which they guard zealously, and trade amongst each other mostly revolves around that currency rather than gold or food. Their interaction with the outside world is fairly minimal, usually only necessary trades for food, but hunter-gatherer Naga and the exceptional creativity and knowledge base of Lamia culture allows them to remain nearly entirely self sufficient in general, even forging weapons and armor with techniques long since lost to the rest of the taguel.
Religion
The Snake Tribe are also unique among taguel in that they actually embrace religion as a concept, and doubly unique in that theirs is a living faith. Once devout worshipers of an earth goddess, as their culture grew more and more obsessed with knowledge, their beliefs shifted to center around a goddess of magic that suddenly appears in their texts about 800 years ago. While early texts are somewhat vague as to whether she is a lamia who gained unbelievable power or a bona fida goddess from the start, she is said to be linked to the Akashic Records, a theoretical otherworldly space which contains all knowledge to have ever existed in past, present, and future alike. The goddess is usually not referred to by name, but some know her name as Akasha, though the meaning behind it is subject to bitter ideological differences - those who believe she was once a lamia hold that any lamia who finds the Records can become the new Akasha, while those who believe in her true divinity hold that she created the Records as a library of her own long ago, to be shared only with the truly worthy.
This search for the Akashic Records, also known as the Root, has been the primary source of the gradually growing withdrawal from taguel society that embodies the Snake Tribe. The markings that many lamia bear are said to be the blessing of the goddess; to be born with them grants a young lamia a certain degree of respect, but most believe that at least some of the benefit can be gained by painting arcane designs on one's self. Opinions vary heavily among lamia culture as to which side is superior. While the search for the Records is generally believed to be a singular goal that only one can achieve, naturally dividing those who search for the same thing, the Goddess also brings the tribe together; "As Akasha wills it" is a common saying, and some conclaves believe that she is capable of influencing the world, or even fate, to bring them blessings - actual goddess worship was always fairly rare, but has been slowly picking up among the conclaves in recent times.