Name: [is that the leader's name?] If yes: Kakklui Great-harpoon (best fisherwoman) / T'tsafa Listen-to-the-stars (high priestess) / Ploïrra Gentle-and-caring (most revered and youngest Melded Maiden to date)
Nation and species Name: Ychtnarley's Clan / The Leviathans and the Mitoshondr
Description: This species is in fact two. First and foremost, the Leviathans. These are aquatics creatures, as big as small islands (with which they share striking ressemblance). Commonly hundreds of meters long. They have a vague ressemblance with jellyfishs, with a flatter body, actual flesh, and a big carapace over it. The tendrils of the eldest, biggest ones can reach the ocean floor, even in the deepest parts of the sea. They are seemingly immortal [note: the aren't. they just live for like a million years or two], and very intelligent. But in a way so alien nobody can hope to understand them. They also think extremely slowly, generations of mortals passing like days to them. Their most subtle, but also most incredible abilities, is the Melding. They can assimilate other organisms into themselves in the course of millenias. They did so for a number of moss species, which are now covering their backs and acting as a feeding organ. For the sake of maintaining this organ and many other reason, mature Leviathans never subside, instead endlessly floating on the sea.
The Mitoshondr are the latest "acquisition", so to speak, of the Leviathan. They are a species of humanoid bugs. Two arms, two legs, mandibles having fusioned into a beak (more suited to a seashell diet), and surprisingly some kind of sparse feather-looking ornaments, made of chitin. Making them looks like some kind of hybrid of men, ants and seagulls. They are peaceful fishermen and gatherers. They live on the backs of the mighty Leviathans, cruising the seas alongside them. They are therefore quite isolated, and their society is clanic. They feed on the local plant (which are also part of the Leviathans), and animals living off or on the beast, like seagulls, fishes, seashells... A whole ecosystem is thriving over the Leviathans, and rare are the species that "melded" with the beast.
Mitoshondr are all females. Only the Queens, or Melded Maidens, reproduce. The queens are the proof the Mitoshondr truly are part of the Leviathan, rather than just parasits. They live in the cavern of flesh, deep in the vents through which the Leviathan breath, towering like mountains over the living island. There, they are fused with the mighty beast, forever part of it, like a gland or a cluster of nerves. They lay all the eggs from which the Mitoshondr come from. With time, they become less and less mitoshondr, and more and more the flesh of the Leviathan. Eventually, they stop laying eggs, and another Maiden Meld with the Leviathan. Some clans have only one Queen, some have several. Some believe they can prophetize the future through their link with the titanic beast.
The Leviathan take care of its inhabitants, moss or mitoshondr. Its formidable genetic bank can alterate the new generations, adapting them to the environment (should the Leviathan return to a cold region after a millenia in the warmer regions), and neutralize the effects of inbreeding: all of the genes of all of the Melded Maidens are stored within it.
Short history: Relatively recently, an archipel of Leviathans began to form near the coasts of a warm continent. Given the speed of these titans, several generations will come and go before the Leviathan really come together. As of now, the respective tribes of mitoshondr enjoy their relative proximity with increasing trade and interaction. The Ychtnarley's clan (named after its Leviathan's name, as is the custom), is one of them.
Clout: 6
Social Traits:
-Symbiots of Leviathan: Mitoshondr live as a part of large organisms, known as Leviathans. Their reproduction and survival is entirely dependent on them. As long as the Leviathan is alive, the tribe won't die. But no tribe can exist for long without Leviathan. (not that you can easily kill one... but leaving them is next to impossible) [negate all population growth modifiers] [become immune to new diseases quicker]
-Peaceful fishermen: Living in an isolated, excessively friendly environment (where overpopulation is never a problem), Mitoshondr are oblivious to the very concept of war. They make very good fishermen and adequate crafters, though.
Oral Tradition: Important, impressive events often get recounted, temporally doubling production of the counting circle. Negative feedback is possible too
RP points: 1
Technology 1: Seafaring [35]
-Boats.
-Navigation (lead to astronomy)
-Sails
Technology 2: Everyday tools [5]
-Fishing tools...
-Gathering tools...
-Generic tools
Technology 3: Food preservation [3/30]
Village name: Ychtnarley (the name of the Leviathan)
Short description of surroundings: near a tropical coast, with several other Leviathans of various sizes within a couple days of travel.
Pop: 8
Food: 9
Ic: 0
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Buildings:
-Fishing docks [2] where most of the activities take place. Gather fishes, seashells and other edible sealife from the "coast" of the Leviathan. [+5 food, boat construction and storage]
-Crafting square [1] Most people either fish or craft. Here are made all tools for daily life: harpoons, nets, bowls, traps for crabs, beds, spoons, knifes... [make useful tools] [1.5 IC]
-Caverns of the Melded Maidens [1] Seen with supersticious awe, they are the breathing vents of the Leviathan. Host the mothers of all mitoshondr. Religious ceremonies are often held outside. Priestess also take care of the eggs and newhatched, before giving them to adoptive mothers when they can leave the warm of the Caverns. [Hatcheries]
-Gathering camp: [1] [Produces 2 food, 0.5 IC]
-Counting circle [2] [Produces 2 RP or 2 Clout]
Army
2 Big boat [A:X D:X+2 Ag: 6 HP: 10] ((X= carried unit))
Author
Topic: Dawn Of Civilizations [ICC] (Read 10158 times)