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Its All Me
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Jae
Posts: 41
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Siren [Draft...I Forget]
OOC: Took out the head exploding, changed their origins Italics usually mean myths and well, they're here for inspection and lovin'! Thanks to you all in advance, its been years, I'd love to see them accepted with your help.
Siren
Sirens(plural) Sire(superior) Sirene(mother) Siri(child) - When spoken in Common.
Terminology
Landwalkers: Humanoids onland.
Wavewalkers: Slang name for Sirens by Mer.
Muintir - Family.
Leanbh - Children/ young.
Fásta - Adult
Tuismitheoir - Parent.
Teanga - Language of the Siren.
Baile(s) - Homes(s)
Ardeaglais - Cathedral.
Names of Importance
Bandia Uiscí - Goddess of the Siren.
Riúil Uiscí - Name of the First Siren Queen
(All queens from the above mentioned are titled with Uiscí.)
Uiscí Aigéan - Current Siren Queen. The Gloried Hand of Caitle Oileán.
Caitle Oileán - Siren Island.
Pálás Inis - Palace of the Queen.
The Siren is said to be older than most races on Telath. They spawned as spectral forms, a residue of the evil which was cast out by the Graces in all their good work. As they grew, so did their power and the threat to reinstate the evil they were part of. So, they were banished to the oceans, a place they could bring no harm as they could not touch the land, forced to live in the deep ocean currents. Over the patterns of banishment, they fed off lost sailors, taking their vis to build themselves a physical form. With the diminishing number of Graces upon Telath, the Sirens grew strong.
With their feeding they took on many human characteristics, such as compassion and empathy along with love and caring for their own kind. Their need to extinguish the good in the world diminished as their need for survival and order grew. Languages formed over time, Siren's finding a power in Voice, using notes of power from their Arcanic origins to communicate. Once they could return to the land a language was developed as their power did not stretch so far.
The taint of evil still flows in their veins and they take dominance over the sea, claiming before those Gods that chose to shun then, that all those on their waters would belong to them.
Sirens were born at the time the first races began to stalk the land, choosing the deep and dark oceans as their home. It is unclear how any races became part of the land, and much more mystery surrounds the Siren.
They were first noticed as beautiful women laying on the beaches, long slender legs with a shimmer of scaling. They were approached by those on land, who sought nothing more than to be at peace with all. Yet, new creatures revealed the harsh power of the Siren, leaving the land dwellers reeling at such a vocal attack. It was from that day the war between land and sea began. Legends of the Sirens slowly filtered from the campfires and into the first books, fast becoming a believed truth. The Sirens hid themselves away in their oceans, slowly building their vast city, developing just as they were on land.
It was only with the sinking of the island that brought the Sirens back into the eyes of the world, people watched in horror as a huge quake fractured the island and the storm waters rose to crash over it, drowning those still left living on the harsh land.
Slim and elegant female figures, not to dissimilar to sea elves and Merfolk are the alluring quality of the Siren. Ranging from 5ft 7" to 6ft in height, this creature has very little difference between its siblings, each female being very slim and well toned with a slightly grey pallor which darkens about the joints, ears, eyes, nose and between the fingers and toes, giving the impression of grime or dirt. Long limbs aren't webbed as the most striking feature of a Siren is the two ribbed wings that grow upward from their shoulder blades at a 90 degree angle. These 'wings' propel a Siren through the water, twisting and pulling downward. Siren’s tend not to wear clothes, the spattering of scales covering their modesty. These scales can be a myriad of colours, blues and greens are the most common, yet reds, golds, silvers and whites are not unheard of. The Siren can change her scale colour as she sees fit when on land, yet when in the water it will always take to its natural hue.
The eyes of the Siren are almost always white with no iris and the pupil being a hazy blue which is the cat like slit. They have two sets of eyelids, those that are human like which close horizontally, and another set which are transparent, they close vertically. The Siren doesn’t blink, these second eyelids are almost always closed, they only open when on land and in the dark. The nose of the Siren looks like a human’s, yet it is completely useless, they breathe and smell through their gills, which are located just behind the slightly pointed ears. The ears are more elfin in shape and covered by translucent scales, which keep the water out but allow sound in.
The Siren is born and lives the majority of its life in the sea. Their hunting grounds are deadly shallows near cliffs and coastlines.
Siren City - Caitle Oileán
Taking to the surface the Siren Queen and her followers spent much effort and life on sinking a great island, from which they claimed all the damned souls on its surface. This was the base of Caitle Oileán, its new inhabitants taking to the system of caves which snaked through the rock. Over the patterns that followed, wrecked ships were pulled to the island and built up in a ring of interconnecting homes. With the fracture of the Athergem, a mighty Airship was pulled to the growing city and nestled in the bowels of the towering ships. It is said that the Siren city is a simple maze, that should you be taken there, you would never return or even glimpse the sky again.
The Palace of the Queen - Pálás Inis
The Palace to the Queen is a mighty Airship of the Imperial Armies which crashed into the sea after the Ather Fracture. It was brought to its current home as the heart of Caitle Oileán and nestled within the towering walls of the city. The ship is long and wide. It is rectangular in shape with a flat bottom. The prow holds the golden heads of a Warbird, still glinting in the murky depths. The main deck houses the heart of the Palace. Four layers of concentric ovals reach upward into the rose carved masts, which are now sail less. In these ovals is the throne room, the Ardeaglais and various apartments of the queen, along with the fabled Meeting Chamber, which houses the effigy of the Bandia Uiscí. In the hull of the ship is various official apartments and storage rooms which are used to feed the Sirens in the city.
Above Land
On land the Siren stays in coastal cities, their preference on houses are large, cool, and quiet, with plenty of clutter. Siren’s often opt to have a large pool built on the premises, filling it with sea water for rejuvenation. They also like a place hide, secret passages and so forth, just in case.
Family - Muintir
Family in Siren society is very different to that on land. There are a select group of Siren's that act as mothers. These females will take upward of 15 Leanbh at anyone time, raising them to their final land year. These elder Sirens are picked by the others once they have passed their prime and cycle.
Male carriers are captured and held in the prisons in the tunnels under the city, an air pocket created to keep them alive. They are treated as slaves, toiling in the tunnels clearing out rocks and dead bodies and caring for the carriers. This builds up their strength for their true task. A male is impregnated by a female through an act similar to human intercourse. A small egg shaped worm with burrow in through the man and then into his abdomen, a sticky gel which it secretes sealing any wounds as it enters.
Gestation lasts around 4 month, the eggs (up to three) forming nicely in the abdomen. Each egg then hatches within the carrier and simply eats the interior of the egg. To be born the young Siren’s wings have little claws on the tips. They use these to cut and claw their way out of the vessel. The young Siren’s are taken to be nursed; they thrive on milk of nursing whales. The number of clutches a Siren can sire is three, and this happens in the Siren’s earlier years. As a Siren can live into Ancient years, the fertilization takes place once every eight to ten years. A siren can decide to when she wishes to have a brood, but much beyond her 100th pattern, she would loose the ability to breed.
Siren's are ruled by one governing body, spearheaded by Uiscí Aigéan, the Gloried Hand of Caitle Oileán.
A Queen is born into power, any brood of the Queen is placed instantly into a school in which they are taught how to rule and the laws of the Siren world. The Queen herself will choose her replacement with a unimous vote from her circle of advisors. Replacements are chosen through the appitude they have shown in their learning. A test is carried out whereby each candidate is placed with an advisor to spend a time in the actual learning envoironment. All learnings are noted by the advisor and Queen all which leads to her choosing.
The assention rite is a small ceremony where by the Crown is passed over when the current Queen reaches her 150th year. Should a Queen die before this time the advisors will rule in her stead until a Princess is ready to assend. The unsuccessful candidates remain as Princesses, often moving to the rank of advisors.
Religion
The Siren’s all worship Bandia Uiscí, she is simply the first Siren Queen.
In the early years of their creation, a Siren lived for herself, it was one Siren who grouped them together and created their society and purpose. She was revered and worshiped and a great sorrow was upon the people when she died. Her tomb is held opposite the Throne, her face carved into the stone lid.
Early, Siren’s were simply human figures, huge fins radiating down from their head, down their back and along their arms; the Queen also carried a tail. It was from the Siren that the Mer was spawned, the good and compassionate side of the Siren creating and thriving of its own accord.
Education
Sirens are taught basic language, history, geography, hunting, adaptation and etiquette. Schooling starts from their fifth birthday and lasts until their tenth. After their tenth birthday, they are taken onto land and taught how to adapt and blend to a life there. At the age of eleven, they are considered adult and can partake in any field of life they may decide, such as hunter, politician, merchant, farmer and warrior. Each is for life, and one must be chosen.
Diet:
Sirens are omnivores, eating a variety of sea going meat such as fish and whales. Their vegetation is seaweed, sponges and a specialty grown plant which is much like an apple and pear combined, yet tastes much like a plum. On land their food fare is fish and berries, most Siren’s dislike bread, unless it has been soaked in honey. Dry foods are not touched by the Siren, as they feel it makes their scales, ‘dry out’.
When on land a Siren will either opt to travel alone, or in a small group of her own race. The life a Siren chooses is often singer, artist, courtesan and entertainer. The Siren lives to captivate and hold as much attention upon herself as possible, often known for throwing large parties for any reason.
Combat:
The Siren’s voice is very powerful. The voice can hypnotize, captivate, control and destroy. The voice is used to cast illusions, when used in force it can turn armies upon itself. Siren's do not like to combat on land but will if the need is there. They use a spell of Suggestion, whispering in the minds of those around them.
Yet many who have fought the Siren’s have simply blocked their ears to the sound. In this instance the Siren’s are excellent sword fighters. They opt for double blades, the weapons being 15 inches long, and hooked along the inner curve, the points all deadly, capable of piecing armor. The outer curve is a sharp edge for slices.
A naval ship is no match for a Siren. Siren’s always wreck ships, taking the souls from within. In this instance, Siren’s groups together and with sharp claw like nails, tear away at the wood, allowing the water to crash into the hull.
A Siren, seems like an impossible adversary, can be thwarted. They are mortal creatures and are easily slain, their scales hold no protection and they are mainly dressed in leather armor, any metal would weigh them down in water. Sirens are terrified by naked flames. They can withstand seeing fire, but not being close to it. They scream terribly, their voices faltering as fire is brought near. Fire drives them back to the sea. Pitch and flame dumped about the water will also hold of a Siren attack for some time, long enough to block ones ears and scrabble to arms.
The Siren’s are very weak against the sphere of Thaumaturgy. All Siren’s are told of a great power of the Graces and even though they are their kin, they are to be feared and hated. Therefore, Siren’s dislike anything that resembles a Grace, shares its power of its mindset.
The most powerful spell is that of Suggestion, which trained, can prove to be deadly. They can suggest a victim to walk off a cliff should the desire to be there. However such ideas need to be implanted over time. The other infamous spell is that of Confusion, sending the intended mad for a short period of time, allowing time for the Siren to flee.
The Siren can withstand pressure and temperature lows and highs of the ocean. The Siren is also resistant to jellyfish stings, and other sea poisons.
When on Land, the voice of the Siren is altered, it is not as powerful, when a child goes onto land at their 10th year, she is taught how to overcome this, in a basic way. Basic meaning that she is taught that she can manipulate the air to act like watter currents. With any army training, this voice training is taken higher, the Siren is actually taught how to manipulate the air. Some have a natural affinity to singing on land, others struggle and tend to become the archers.
The Queen is a wholly powerful being as she is one that is taught how to shroud herself with her song, a small silent tune that can alter her appearance and the nature of her power. Others can be taught this ‘enchantment’, yet it takes many levels of schooling.
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Thank you to Iseult for the avatar and banner.
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