Difference between revisions of "LeviathanTempest:LahamuClan"
(→Genetics: Redid the Mahhu from crippled prohpets (unhealthy blood is Dagonite's thing) to hermit prophets) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | === Lahamin === | + | ==='''Lahamin'''=== |
[The Symbol of Lahamu: Half a Nautilus shell. There have been holes cut out inside the separation between each chamber, and a dark liquid is flowing from one chamber to the next, until it leaks out of the shell in a small pool below.] | [The Symbol of Lahamu: Half a Nautilus shell. There have been holes cut out inside the separation between each chamber, and a dark liquid is flowing from one chamber to the next, until it leaks out of the shell in a small pool below.] | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
[Picture: Central. A woman is entering a wooden cabin. She is young, around 16 and pretty. She wears a brown waterproof coat over torn jeans with sturdy rubber boots. All her clothes are muddy and show the signs of an outdoor life. She carries two large fish over her shoulder, the fish are dripping water down her back. The woman is blond with roughly cut short hair and has unnaturally large brown eyes that are too far apart. You can see patches of mud coloured skin on her arms, they are irregular and look smooth.] | [Picture: Central. A woman is entering a wooden cabin. She is young, around 16 and pretty. She wears a brown waterproof coat over torn jeans with sturdy rubber boots. All her clothes are muddy and show the signs of an outdoor life. She carries two large fish over her shoulder, the fish are dripping water down her back. The woman is blond with roughly cut short hair and has unnaturally large brown eyes that are too far apart. You can see patches of mud coloured skin on her arms, they are irregular and look smooth.] | ||
| − | ==== Morphology ==== | + | ===='''Morphology'''==== |
The descendants of Lahmu are expected to be subtle and secretive as was their ancestor. Direct action is often thought of as crude or unrefined by the Lahamin, instead the Strain favours networks of Cultists placed within centres of wealth and power and vast hordes of stolen secrets. Rarely seen the eyes and infleunce of the Lahamin can be felt everywhere. This does serve to prejudice the Tribe against them with assumptions that the Lahamin avoid personal involvement or are outright cowards. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Tribes natural weaponry comes easily to the Lahmin, unsuspecting direct confrontation their enemies fall to bristling spines and deadly venoms. | The descendants of Lahmu are expected to be subtle and secretive as was their ancestor. Direct action is often thought of as crude or unrefined by the Lahamin, instead the Strain favours networks of Cultists placed within centres of wealth and power and vast hordes of stolen secrets. Rarely seen the eyes and infleunce of the Lahamin can be felt everywhere. This does serve to prejudice the Tribe against them with assumptions that the Lahamin avoid personal involvement or are outright cowards. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Tribes natural weaponry comes easily to the Lahmin, unsuspecting direct confrontation their enemies fall to bristling spines and deadly venoms. | ||
| − | ==== Progenitor ==== | + | ===='''Progenitor'''==== |
The Lahamin claim ancestry of the Progenitor Lahamu, a being of boundless wisdom and unchallenged sight whose gift of prophecy guided the tribe and their mortal followers from the darkest depths of the primordial ocean. | The Lahamin claim ancestry of the Progenitor Lahamu, a being of boundless wisdom and unchallenged sight whose gift of prophecy guided the tribe and their mortal followers from the darkest depths of the primordial ocean. | ||
| − | ==== Genetics | + | ===='''Genetics'''==== |
| − | The | + | The Lahamin are the most dependent on the mystical facet of the mystical, environmental and genetic trinity that governs the birth of a new Leviathan, which does rather annoy them since as it means the Lahamin are behind the other Strains in knowing how to predict the birth of a new cousin. What can be known, the genetic side of the equation, is unusual by the standards of the tribe. The Lahamin can appear from any direct child of another Lahamin but usually only appear as direct descendants of several different Lahamin. Certainly it's not that rare for several Leviathans to exist within a closed gene pool, and if you go far back enough everyone is related to everyone, but neither of those are particularly relevant to the Lahamin, and their blood dilutes as much as any other Strain. Rather a Lahamin is actually likely to have more than one unrelated Leviathan in the near family tree. The odds of this are staggering and the Tribe generally agrees it's a mystical function of their bloodline, a far more subtle but perhaps a more powerful effect than those seen in the other Strains. |
| + | |||
| + | Off all the Strains the Lahamin are the least likely to have established families. Lahamin Bloodlines still exist but they rarely remain as a cohesive unit, nor do they remain distinct from other families. This makes it hard to determine the pattern in which Lahamin might emerge; when three Lahamin appear is this evidence that the Lahamin appear in large numbers? Is it actually that three different Lahamin families have recently intermarried and only have one Leviathan each? Has anyone double checked that none of them were adopted? None of this has prevented the masters of Awareness from learning that there dosn't seem to be any limit to the number of Leviathans who can be born in a given time or place, yet the mystical requirements are often personalised and so it's rare that more than one Leviathan will appear at the same time and place. When many Lahamin being their transition at once be warned, something big is about to happen. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===='''Puberty'''==== | ||
| + | The first two steps are constant. The Wake comes first, then the eyes open to see into the hearts of men. This is a disastrous combination because what she will see in the hearts of men is echoes of the Wake, unaware of any supernatural explanation a young Lahamin can quickly be led to believe that all her past friendships were a lie. Some fight back with logic, especially when they have reason to believe that their friends changed their opinions recently or doubt their new senses. Others retreat into solitude, only those with guidance from an early point are likely to escape with their faith in humanity intact. Faith that provides a solid anchor in the search for Tranquillity. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Lahamin typically become Leviathans alone, they are alone because only one form any immediate family tends to become a Leviathan at a time and they are alone because they tend to be born far from the influence of the Tribe. However while the situation of the Tribe tends to be unremarkable – because there usually is no Tribal presence to remark upon – the situation with humanity tends to become remarkable quite fast. One is still in school when she starts changing and she spots that one of the teachers is a child molester even though he always kept his depravities to another country. In the panic and media frenzy chaos reigns. Another was responsible for negotiating an important contract, when the changes begin he takes sick leave. Without him negotiations fail, hundreds loose their jobs and a community spirals into poverty. | ||
| − | + | The Lahamin often talk about being part of a infinitely complex plan their precognitive Progenitor set in motion in prehistory. It's a point of pride and some even use the presence of Lahamu's long dead hand (or equivalent) as a surrogate parental figure. The other Strains rarely agree with these beliefs. If they believe there even is a mystical effect behind the chaos they tend to assume it's impersonal and random. Those who believe each event was designed chosen by Lahamu tend to assign the Progenitor similar motives that they see in it's descendent. Rather than an ancient world changing plan it's simply one final act of spite against the species that slew the Progenitors, a Fuck You of truly biblical proportions echoing down the ages. | |
| − | ==== Evolution ==== | + | ===='''Evolution'''==== |
From the sea floor came the Lahamin and too the sea floor they return. The true form of the the Lahamu bloodline is one of contrasts encompassing soft worms and the exoskeletons of trilobites, snails and shellfish. Alternatively squamous or rigid their forms are camouflaged against the seabed with prominent unblinking eyes or antenna against the murky depths. | From the sea floor came the Lahamin and too the sea floor they return. The true form of the the Lahamu bloodline is one of contrasts encompassing soft worms and the exoskeletons of trilobites, snails and shellfish. Alternatively squamous or rigid their forms are camouflaged against the seabed with prominent unblinking eyes or antenna against the murky depths. | ||
| − | ==== Ecology | + | ===='''Ecology'''==== |
| + | ====='''Family'''===== | ||
| + | The descendants of Lahamu are reputed to give birth in numbers. Their numerous healthy offspring stand upon a legacy of stillbirths and early graves. Though the bloodline is nurturing to those it spares, the Lahamin are not. At best they make indifferent and neglectful parents, the others never see their children at all. They walk out on their families or abandon eggs to the mercy of nature. All too often the Lahamu must start their search into their family history by finding their genetic parents. | ||
| + | ====='''Lahmasu'''===== | ||
| + | Their Lemashu are the Mahhu. A Strain gifted with prophecy but who wear their blood openly. Often abandoned by their parents and shunned by humanity Mahhu with neither the fortune or skill to better themselves sell their visions from hidden lairs in remote swamps or camouflaged amongst lawless inner city wastelands. | ||
| + | ====='''Cults'''===== | ||
The Lahamin tend to have the smallest Cults of the Tribe, each member tends to be carefully chosen for what they can offer with a bias towards formal power and status. A Lahamin's Cult is often not a formal organisation, many exist as an informal web of contacts with the Leviathan invisible but ever watchful at the centre. | The Lahamin tend to have the smallest Cults of the Tribe, each member tends to be carefully chosen for what they can offer with a bias towards formal power and status. A Lahamin's Cult is often not a formal organisation, many exist as an informal web of contacts with the Leviathan invisible but ever watchful at the centre. | ||
| − | ==== Vestiges ==== | + | ===='''Vestiges'''==== |
'''Awareness''', Fecundity, Predation, Sanctity | '''Awareness''', Fecundity, Predation, Sanctity | ||
| − | ==== Symbols and Associations ==== | + | ===='''Symbols and Associations'''==== |
The sea of Larwi, the Persian Gulf, the vice of Envy | The sea of Larwi, the Persian Gulf, the vice of Envy | ||
| − | ==== Concepts ==== | + | ===='''Concepts'''==== |
Shadowy information broker, deep sea treasure hunter, neighbourhood gossip, determined reporter, deep cover agent, internet addict, sewer-dwelling alligator. | Shadowy information broker, deep sea treasure hunter, neighbourhood gossip, determined reporter, deep cover agent, internet addict, sewer-dwelling alligator. | ||
| − | ==== Quote ==== | + | ===='''Quote'''==== |
| − | |||
''"You heard that I pay well for juicy gossip. So you've decided to come here, find out what you can take from me. But as it turns out, there is nothing you know I'm interested in, because I've been watching you, honey, and everything you know, I already know. So the question now becomes, what are you willing to pay to get out of here in one piece?"'' | ''"You heard that I pay well for juicy gossip. So you've decided to come here, find out what you can take from me. But as it turns out, there is nothing you know I'm interested in, because I've been watching you, honey, and everything you know, I already know. So the question now becomes, what are you willing to pay to get out of here in one piece?"'' | ||
Revision as of 11:48, 13 August 2011
Contents
Lahamin
[The Symbol of Lahamu: Half a Nautilus shell. There have been holes cut out inside the separation between each chamber, and a dark liquid is flowing from one chamber to the next, until it leaks out of the shell in a small pool below.]
[Picture: Central. A woman is entering a wooden cabin. She is young, around 16 and pretty. She wears a brown waterproof coat over torn jeans with sturdy rubber boots. All her clothes are muddy and show the signs of an outdoor life. She carries two large fish over her shoulder, the fish are dripping water down her back. The woman is blond with roughly cut short hair and has unnaturally large brown eyes that are too far apart. You can see patches of mud coloured skin on her arms, they are irregular and look smooth.]
Morphology
The descendants of Lahmu are expected to be subtle and secretive as was their ancestor. Direct action is often thought of as crude or unrefined by the Lahamin, instead the Strain favours networks of Cultists placed within centres of wealth and power and vast hordes of stolen secrets. Rarely seen the eyes and infleunce of the Lahamin can be felt everywhere. This does serve to prejudice the Tribe against them with assumptions that the Lahamin avoid personal involvement or are outright cowards. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Tribes natural weaponry comes easily to the Lahmin, unsuspecting direct confrontation their enemies fall to bristling spines and deadly venoms.
Progenitor
The Lahamin claim ancestry of the Progenitor Lahamu, a being of boundless wisdom and unchallenged sight whose gift of prophecy guided the tribe and their mortal followers from the darkest depths of the primordial ocean.
Genetics
The Lahamin are the most dependent on the mystical facet of the mystical, environmental and genetic trinity that governs the birth of a new Leviathan, which does rather annoy them since as it means the Lahamin are behind the other Strains in knowing how to predict the birth of a new cousin. What can be known, the genetic side of the equation, is unusual by the standards of the tribe. The Lahamin can appear from any direct child of another Lahamin but usually only appear as direct descendants of several different Lahamin. Certainly it's not that rare for several Leviathans to exist within a closed gene pool, and if you go far back enough everyone is related to everyone, but neither of those are particularly relevant to the Lahamin, and their blood dilutes as much as any other Strain. Rather a Lahamin is actually likely to have more than one unrelated Leviathan in the near family tree. The odds of this are staggering and the Tribe generally agrees it's a mystical function of their bloodline, a far more subtle but perhaps a more powerful effect than those seen in the other Strains.
Off all the Strains the Lahamin are the least likely to have established families. Lahamin Bloodlines still exist but they rarely remain as a cohesive unit, nor do they remain distinct from other families. This makes it hard to determine the pattern in which Lahamin might emerge; when three Lahamin appear is this evidence that the Lahamin appear in large numbers? Is it actually that three different Lahamin families have recently intermarried and only have one Leviathan each? Has anyone double checked that none of them were adopted? None of this has prevented the masters of Awareness from learning that there dosn't seem to be any limit to the number of Leviathans who can be born in a given time or place, yet the mystical requirements are often personalised and so it's rare that more than one Leviathan will appear at the same time and place. When many Lahamin being their transition at once be warned, something big is about to happen.
Puberty
The first two steps are constant. The Wake comes first, then the eyes open to see into the hearts of men. This is a disastrous combination because what she will see in the hearts of men is echoes of the Wake, unaware of any supernatural explanation a young Lahamin can quickly be led to believe that all her past friendships were a lie. Some fight back with logic, especially when they have reason to believe that their friends changed their opinions recently or doubt their new senses. Others retreat into solitude, only those with guidance from an early point are likely to escape with their faith in humanity intact. Faith that provides a solid anchor in the search for Tranquillity.
Lahamin typically become Leviathans alone, they are alone because only one form any immediate family tends to become a Leviathan at a time and they are alone because they tend to be born far from the influence of the Tribe. However while the situation of the Tribe tends to be unremarkable – because there usually is no Tribal presence to remark upon – the situation with humanity tends to become remarkable quite fast. One is still in school when she starts changing and she spots that one of the teachers is a child molester even though he always kept his depravities to another country. In the panic and media frenzy chaos reigns. Another was responsible for negotiating an important contract, when the changes begin he takes sick leave. Without him negotiations fail, hundreds loose their jobs and a community spirals into poverty.
The Lahamin often talk about being part of a infinitely complex plan their precognitive Progenitor set in motion in prehistory. It's a point of pride and some even use the presence of Lahamu's long dead hand (or equivalent) as a surrogate parental figure. The other Strains rarely agree with these beliefs. If they believe there even is a mystical effect behind the chaos they tend to assume it's impersonal and random. Those who believe each event was designed chosen by Lahamu tend to assign the Progenitor similar motives that they see in it's descendent. Rather than an ancient world changing plan it's simply one final act of spite against the species that slew the Progenitors, a Fuck You of truly biblical proportions echoing down the ages.
Evolution
From the sea floor came the Lahamin and too the sea floor they return. The true form of the the Lahamu bloodline is one of contrasts encompassing soft worms and the exoskeletons of trilobites, snails and shellfish. Alternatively squamous or rigid their forms are camouflaged against the seabed with prominent unblinking eyes or antenna against the murky depths.
Ecology
Family
The descendants of Lahamu are reputed to give birth in numbers. Their numerous healthy offspring stand upon a legacy of stillbirths and early graves. Though the bloodline is nurturing to those it spares, the Lahamin are not. At best they make indifferent and neglectful parents, the others never see their children at all. They walk out on their families or abandon eggs to the mercy of nature. All too often the Lahamu must start their search into their family history by finding their genetic parents.
Lahmasu
Their Lemashu are the Mahhu. A Strain gifted with prophecy but who wear their blood openly. Often abandoned by their parents and shunned by humanity Mahhu with neither the fortune or skill to better themselves sell their visions from hidden lairs in remote swamps or camouflaged amongst lawless inner city wastelands.
Cults
The Lahamin tend to have the smallest Cults of the Tribe, each member tends to be carefully chosen for what they can offer with a bias towards formal power and status. A Lahamin's Cult is often not a formal organisation, many exist as an informal web of contacts with the Leviathan invisible but ever watchful at the centre.
Vestiges
Awareness, Fecundity, Predation, Sanctity
Symbols and Associations
The sea of Larwi, the Persian Gulf, the vice of Envy
Concepts
Shadowy information broker, deep sea treasure hunter, neighbourhood gossip, determined reporter, deep cover agent, internet addict, sewer-dwelling alligator.
Quote
"You heard that I pay well for juicy gossip. So you've decided to come here, find out what you can take from me. But as it turns out, there is nothing you know I'm interested in, because I've been watching you, honey, and everything you know, I already know. So the question now becomes, what are you willing to pay to get out of here in one piece?"
