Leader Name: Yume no yōna kaze
Civilization name: Kowareta
Mortal Species Name: Kowareta
Mortal Species Description: Shambling masses of energy. The older ones tend to take on a singular form, though what that is varies on themselves.
Kingdom Culture: Once, there was land, whole and unbroken. Then came the calamity, which shattered and uplifted. Finally came the Divine, to offer salvation. But war snatched them away, leaving only a broken people. The Before, under the guidance of their leader, threw themselves into the machine in a last ditch effort to survive. And so the Kowareta came to be, their leader being born, and giving birth to the others from the souls trapped within their salvation.
The customs of the Kowareta revolve around self-expression, and only someone who has meditated and learned their true self are considered adults among them. Yume no yōna kaze, or the Dreamy Wind as other cultures translate it, takes the form of a broken hurricane, the walls surrounding her core as they gently float around and merge with each other, showing gaps.
Their architecture is more alien, being based often upon a person's own expressions. Also rather chaotic, as often the person who makes it was also the one who designed it. So one can say they are a people devoted to self-expression. The primary architecture designed by the Dreamy Wind resembles towers, plazas with canals, and a central temple around the primary tower, leading into the Eternal Engine which lets their home move.
Diet is the consumption of food sources and changing it to energy. Though it hasn't actually changed from the Before's tastes. Likewise their sleeping habits remain the same. It is theorized that their souls, despite being broken, still hold to the old ways. Those considered adults did not lose access to their shifting ability, so most can take on a humanoid form, and some have such as their own default. Fashion tends to be as self-expressive as anything else in their society, though tends to shift rather quickly for each individual.
The Kowareta as a whole are all capable of flight, though how and the mechanics of it differ from each individual. Nonetheless, most tend to prefer the ground when resting or relaxing, though there do exist some outliers. Like with most philosophy, this has been noted to likely have been a deep-seated wish in the hearts of the Before, hence why the now Kowareta have the ability. Like their need for food, water, and rest remaining, most things in philosophy and the sciences of their existence are tied back to this central tenet. Whoever the Before were, they are noted to have been a truly individual and social sort.
Their writing system is rather new compared to others, and most still prefer to give reports verbally, though that has been changing in recent times.
The Kowareta's death ceremony is one based upon guiding the dead back the the Eternal Engine, so they will be born anew. While this does occasionally result in those with past life memory, such is often fractured and incoherent. It is still proof that the soul exists for them, and that by returning they may live on in their
'descendants'. Their death is often noted by their bodies breaking down into the ether around them. A bit slow, but their disappearance fully marks their death. Likewise wounds bleed this essence from them, though it can be restored/refilled/regrown through closing the wound and eating enough, along with rest.
(Rundown of Abilities)
Shapeshift(Child): Kowareta are divided between the Adults and the Children. Children don't have much form, tending to be freeforming masses and only keeping a single form for a while. While humanoid forms are more normal among them, they are also more likely to suddenly shift to a mass of energy. Needless to say, teaching them is a chore.
Shapeshift(Adult): Adults have two forms, a true form that represents themselves, and a humanoid one they make for general interaction. These true forms tend to differ in shape, but have no inherent function being their 'free' form. Kowareta in this free form are much more susceptible to damage, as also applies to children. Once can call it the shape of their soul, and while possible to manipulate it, such is very rare among them. (As of right now only Yume no yōna kaze knows how to do such due to her age and experience) An adult Kowareta's humanoid form is stable and solid, which naturally makes shapeshifting it not possible. Features from the true form often make it into the humanoid form, so stuff like wings, halos, claws and such. Generally, once chosen this form doesn't change at all over the decades.
Kowareta Flight: The standard flight exhibited by the Kowareta is often limited to their 'free' forms. There are also limitations among most of them, being often limited to walking speed at max. This can mostly be traced back to it being more like a hover than actual flight. There are outliers who defy this, prefer to spend large stretches of time in the air, enough that their humanoid form is capable of it. Most Kowareta however prefer to stick to the ground, only occasionally going for a flight. And some don't leave the ground at all.
Lifespan: A Kowareta's lifespan varies between 60 and 100 years after childhood. The length of this childhood varies, but is no more than 20 years. As one grows older, they may have trouble keeping their form, which is usually where death comes for them. They just drift away in their sleep. As always, there are outliers, though in this case it is exclusively the immortal.
Diet: The Kowareta transform food into energy, and water into energy, and air into energy. Generally, their processes are the same as the Before.
They don't use the bathroom though.Starting Lands:
Plains of the Beginning- The birthplace of the Kowareta, and central island of the Eternal Engine. Known for it's wacky architecture and being the Before's center. Has another city with a maintained landbridge for connecting to other lands located on it's north face. [Eastern Connection: OoD, Western Connection: FoB]
Holds the Broken City. And farmland. The rest of it has been allowed to grow somewhat freely, showing plenty of natural beauty outside to old houses and abodes scattered around, and small towns.
Ocean of Discovery-A freshwater ocean often enjoyed by young Kowareta. Snatched up early on in their history. Fish and other delights exist in modest abundance, and quite a few floating towns and houses. The primary Port-town itself is built on the waters through weaving and motes, though larger access to wood has resulted in upgrades.
Forest of Beasts- A hard-fought battle occurred here in the past. Now, all that is left is game, herbs, wood, and old ruins.
And the scars left in memory. Never again.Maintains a hunting city on the connecting edge and a few further encampments. Homes outside of this are few, mostly for the eccentric or dedicated.
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Topic: Divine Engines (Sign-ups Open) (Read 2315 times)