Let me tell you a bit about the Marathon. These are large (about 8 feet tall, this differs depending on rank) insects with four arms and four eyes. They walk bipedally. One set of arms is strong long, these are used for heavy lifting and pushing. The other set of arms are small and fragile and are used for more accurate manipulation and tool use. Thick packs of grainy, coarse hair are found on joints and along certain ridges in the exoskeleton to allow for feeling. Favoring carnivorousness due to a high metabolism animal husbandry does exist and is relatively common. Coloring is often a mix of black and dun colors, patterns often form. These creatures rely heavily on sight and smell, releasing many pheremones for communication as well as spitting out clicks and chirps. The common tongue can be mimicked with some difficulty but speaking it takes a lot of effort. Their name is Marathoners because of the fact that they will not tire. In pursuit of something they are absolutely relentless and will carry on until the task is complete, or they have died, often also being compared to berserkers in this aspect. A drawback to this structure is that they do not have a very wide scale to push. If they are running, it is usually the fastest that they can, there is no sprint. That being said, they can still improve and raise their standard, as well as rarely, the lack of twitch muscle is overlooked, these are called Veradores and are considered gifts of the gods, never chiefs, but also highly regarded and only trained for hunting or the warrior lifestyle.
The ruling style is highly rank and appearance based. It is REQUIRED to wear many scents and paints as well as decorations, won from one thing or another. (For example a successful raiding party leader would com back wearing parts of the armor of those who have fallen to him, painted in their blood and viscera as well as toting their heads on his pike. Where a lord may paint himself in many foreign and bright colors.) Gloating is frowned upon. All normal emotions are felt. Rank is very important, everyone below you must be treated as such but not overly so (no kicking around children and stuff.) Stooping to the level of offering to help a lower rank would be bad, where doing the task for the lower rank because it was unable to is good. Saying nothing of it is even better. Rank is fought over, making a higher rank, directly above you submit will allow yu to rise above them. No skipping ranks. The only one who does not need to worry about this is the Shaman.
Shaman are occasionally female but often times hermaphrodites. Shamanism is said to be discovered when the Marathoner becomes very ill, almost dies, and in this purgatory sees the spirits and deities from the other worlds and is ripped apart by them, then put back together as a shaman. After this they will usually remove their sex organs.
Males are small (only about 5 feet tall) white shelled, and simple minded, only existing for the sole purpose of procreation and gene differentiation. Only a small number of males can exist in a tribe at one time. Whenever a number of males are made there is often a large splinter cell from the group and many members leave, violently, creating a new tribe. Males are made in the pupal stage by feeding them a nurturers jelly. Not hard to make, not exactly a great idea to have around.
Individualism without breaking the norms is a big deal and showing off without boasting is also big.
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Topic: Tribes under two suns - Needs suggestions (Read 7831 times)