orphans
08-09-10, 06:59 PM
Level 1 Updates in Deep Sky Blue
Dovicarus
Race Profile:
The Dovicarus are known by many that are land bound as Bird Herders or Shepherds of the Sky. A Dovicarus is characterized by a pair of horns attached to the head and a pair of wings on the back to what would otherwise look like a normal human. The wings of each individual Dovicarus varies in size, shape, texture and color but are never large enough to allow the Dovicarus the ability of flight. Flight is achieved through as a supernatural ability, however, with or without their wings. The horns of a Dovicarus have medicinal qualities that are rumored to cure even the most gravest of wounds or deadliest of plagues. If a Dovicarus was to remove its horns, however, its life is void as his or her strength will deteriorate rapidly until he or she dies 37 hours later. Due to the horns of a Dovicarus it is ageless and any wounds a Dovicarus sustains be it mental or physical, recovers rapidly within 6 hours. All Dovicarus serve in the Order of Farinma without exception and if a Dovicarus were to break a Farinma Law, his or her horns will crack immediately and the “Mark of Heresy” will appear to serve as a warning. If a second offense is committed the horns shatter into dust. Unfortunately, for the said Dovicarus, it is impossible to escape from judgment as every Dovicarus is bound to the Farinman Order. The means of how the Dovicarus are bound to their Order is unknown to outsiders but if asked, all Dovicarus refer to a being as, “The Never Ending Coil.”
Dovicarus have a natural affinity to barrier and enchantment magics but depending on their station of life, young Dovicarus tend to train in only the magics they are allowed (shielding magics for grave keepers and bookkeeper and more offensive enchantment type magics for the warriors and guards.) As a Dovicarus ages, their curious nature usually sends them on a path to learn other magics or begin the mastery of a weapon of war. By the time a Dovicarus becomes an elder, he or she is a force to be reckoned with due to their proficiency in both a weapon (usually only one) and one or more types of magics.
The existence of the Order of Farinma came into being when the world of Vyanm was young and when the simplest life forms were simple water plants. The Dovicarus were created shortly after to maintain the Order and establish themselves as a force to balance the world. The monastery of the Farinman Order is established in the high mountain wastes of Sol’el Arc. Located near “the roof of the world,” the continent of Sol’el Arc is constantly battered by harsh winter weather all year round while the mountains the monastery is located is shrouded in a persistent blizzard, stopping only three months during the summer seasons before starting once more. Though the Dovicarus have a tolerance to extreme temperatures, they feel most comfortable in the frozen mountains of their homeland and would often complain to elders if they had to mission in warm and temperate climates (which is usually the case.)
Rebirth:
Rebirth of a Dovicarus is much like the process for hatching a new Dovicarus with the exception that the soul is already in existence. A Dovicarus that has been reborn does not necessarily always attain his/her former station and is instead, treated as if he/she is like any other newly hatched. The rebirthed Dovicarus are not born with the knowledge of their past life, but instead their memories filter back quickly once his or her horns have stopped growing.
Horns of the Dovicarus:
The horns of the Dovicarus, as mentioned before, have medicinal properties as well as providing the youthful appearance and longevity of the individual Dovicarus. The horns of a Dovicarus are only slightly harder than titanium and are always angled in such a manner that it would be impractical to use them as a weapon of any sort. If a Dovicarus were to lose a large part of their horns, they would begin to weaken in strength both physically and mentally but the horns will function like any other (technically a Dovicarus can lose one horn and still function but would tire more easily than usual.) As stated already, if a Dovicarus loses both their horns, they will die within 37 hours. Fortunately for most of the Dovicarus, only heretics have to worry about damage to their horns. A normal Dovicarus can regenerate his or her horns after a full night of rest, a heretic cannot. For most Dovicarus, their horns become fully developed after 250 years or more. A cleansing one's horns become fully developed after a single year once they begin to grow. A cleansing ones’ horns act in the same way as a normal Dovicarus, not as a heretic’s.
Wings of the Dovicarus:
The wings of a Dovicarus have no exact purpose and many of them consider it merely decorative. Some tie talismans and other trinkets to their wings while other simply leave them alone. The average wingspan of a Dovicarus range from one to three feet and are sensitive to touch, giving rise to the tradition in which many warriors sever their wings before the beginnings of great conflicts. The wings are also not completely feathered but usually a mix between feathers and fur.
The warrior tradition of severing wings began with the realization that when the wings were severed, the Dovicarus would go into a state of temporary incapacitation for about an hour. Unlike other parts of their bodies, a Dovicarus’s wings, once severed, do not regenerate within the normal 6 hours, but instead can burst forth into their original size after two days. Whether or not the wings are “released” is up to the individual’s discretion but upon release the Dovicarus will experience another period of incapacitation lasting for the same amount of time as when the wings were first severed.
Uncommon Role(s):
Cleansing Ones – These are Dovicarus that have died while burdened with the Mark of Heresy. Unlike a normal rebirth, cleansing ones are reborn and must live their life elsewhere on another plane or realm of existence until they are cleansed. The reasoning behind this tradition is the hope that the punished Dovicarus will learn respect for the life while living among the land bound. The cleansing ones usually appear as human infants on the doorstep of a family, orphanage, or temple so that it might be taken in and accepted to the realm it was placed in. The only hint of abnormalities the child might have is the Mark of Heresy that he or she will still bear. The horns of a cleansing one can begin to develop much sooner (usually around the age of 12) but unlike a normal Dovicarus, the cleansing one will only be able to live to a full potential of 113 years and the horns can only develop after the cleaning one has experienced injuries inflicted with a weapon or what is perceived as a weapon by the young Dovicarus. The mentalities of cleansing ones also develop much like that of any human, and thus develop much faster than a Dovicarus. Every other aspect of a cleansing one’s horns is the same as any other Dovicarus. ((Note: Cleansing Ones are not subject to the laws of Farinma because as a cleansing one, they do not truly know what they are, even if all their former memories filter back slowly in trickles. The wings of a cleansing one develop shortly after his or her horns begin to grow. Once a cleansing one dies or is killed, their spirit is recalled back to the monastery instantly.))
Personalities:
Children – As children, Dovicarus seem to almost have no personality of their own but instead retain a rather bland demeanor. The mind of a Dovicarus is very innocent at this stage and easily influenced by his or her caretaker(s). Around the age of 8 the children begin to act more like average human children.
Mark of Heresy and Heretics:
The Mark of Heresy resembles a crescent moon pierced with an arrow. The instant the horns of a Dovicarus begin to crack due to a crime committed against the Order, the mark will magically burn and infuse itself between the shoulder blades of the perpetrator. The mark serves a few purposes; the main reason is allowing those of the Farinman Order to track the Heretic. The mark is also a reminder of past failure but perhaps the most important reason for the mark’s existence is that it allows the recall of the spirit of a cleansing one to return to the monastery.
Heretics can attempt to remove the mark by accepting missions to live among the land bound for a number of years until they have gained a higher respect for the life of the land bound. Many heretics chose this option but because of how the land bound in Vyanm treat the Dovicarus and each other they often return with confusion and mixed feelings of the ones they were intended to watch over (behaviors such as stealing, murder, and other heinous acts based on the reason to support someone of dear value while other act with kindness and mercy only to deny it to another for being of a different color of skin.) Many of the heretics tend to be younger than 500 years of age and although rare, there have been times when those who are quite old within the Order become heretics.
Dovicarus
Race Profile:
The Dovicarus are known by many that are land bound as Bird Herders or Shepherds of the Sky. A Dovicarus is characterized by a pair of horns attached to the head and a pair of wings on the back to what would otherwise look like a normal human. The wings of each individual Dovicarus varies in size, shape, texture and color but are never large enough to allow the Dovicarus the ability of flight. Flight is achieved through as a supernatural ability, however, with or without their wings. The horns of a Dovicarus have medicinal qualities that are rumored to cure even the most gravest of wounds or deadliest of plagues. If a Dovicarus was to remove its horns, however, its life is void as his or her strength will deteriorate rapidly until he or she dies 37 hours later. Due to the horns of a Dovicarus it is ageless and any wounds a Dovicarus sustains be it mental or physical, recovers rapidly within 6 hours. All Dovicarus serve in the Order of Farinma without exception and if a Dovicarus were to break a Farinma Law, his or her horns will crack immediately and the “Mark of Heresy” will appear to serve as a warning. If a second offense is committed the horns shatter into dust. Unfortunately, for the said Dovicarus, it is impossible to escape from judgment as every Dovicarus is bound to the Farinman Order. The means of how the Dovicarus are bound to their Order is unknown to outsiders but if asked, all Dovicarus refer to a being as, “The Never Ending Coil.”
Dovicarus have a natural affinity to barrier and enchantment magics but depending on their station of life, young Dovicarus tend to train in only the magics they are allowed (shielding magics for grave keepers and bookkeeper and more offensive enchantment type magics for the warriors and guards.) As a Dovicarus ages, their curious nature usually sends them on a path to learn other magics or begin the mastery of a weapon of war. By the time a Dovicarus becomes an elder, he or she is a force to be reckoned with due to their proficiency in both a weapon (usually only one) and one or more types of magics.
The existence of the Order of Farinma came into being when the world of Vyanm was young and when the simplest life forms were simple water plants. The Dovicarus were created shortly after to maintain the Order and establish themselves as a force to balance the world. The monastery of the Farinman Order is established in the high mountain wastes of Sol’el Arc. Located near “the roof of the world,” the continent of Sol’el Arc is constantly battered by harsh winter weather all year round while the mountains the monastery is located is shrouded in a persistent blizzard, stopping only three months during the summer seasons before starting once more. Though the Dovicarus have a tolerance to extreme temperatures, they feel most comfortable in the frozen mountains of their homeland and would often complain to elders if they had to mission in warm and temperate climates (which is usually the case.)
Rebirth:
Rebirth of a Dovicarus is much like the process for hatching a new Dovicarus with the exception that the soul is already in existence. A Dovicarus that has been reborn does not necessarily always attain his/her former station and is instead, treated as if he/she is like any other newly hatched. The rebirthed Dovicarus are not born with the knowledge of their past life, but instead their memories filter back quickly once his or her horns have stopped growing.
Horns of the Dovicarus:
The horns of the Dovicarus, as mentioned before, have medicinal properties as well as providing the youthful appearance and longevity of the individual Dovicarus. The horns of a Dovicarus are only slightly harder than titanium and are always angled in such a manner that it would be impractical to use them as a weapon of any sort. If a Dovicarus were to lose a large part of their horns, they would begin to weaken in strength both physically and mentally but the horns will function like any other (technically a Dovicarus can lose one horn and still function but would tire more easily than usual.) As stated already, if a Dovicarus loses both their horns, they will die within 37 hours. Fortunately for most of the Dovicarus, only heretics have to worry about damage to their horns. A normal Dovicarus can regenerate his or her horns after a full night of rest, a heretic cannot. For most Dovicarus, their horns become fully developed after 250 years or more. A cleansing one's horns become fully developed after a single year once they begin to grow. A cleansing ones’ horns act in the same way as a normal Dovicarus, not as a heretic’s.
Wings of the Dovicarus:
The wings of a Dovicarus have no exact purpose and many of them consider it merely decorative. Some tie talismans and other trinkets to their wings while other simply leave them alone. The average wingspan of a Dovicarus range from one to three feet and are sensitive to touch, giving rise to the tradition in which many warriors sever their wings before the beginnings of great conflicts. The wings are also not completely feathered but usually a mix between feathers and fur.
The warrior tradition of severing wings began with the realization that when the wings were severed, the Dovicarus would go into a state of temporary incapacitation for about an hour. Unlike other parts of their bodies, a Dovicarus’s wings, once severed, do not regenerate within the normal 6 hours, but instead can burst forth into their original size after two days. Whether or not the wings are “released” is up to the individual’s discretion but upon release the Dovicarus will experience another period of incapacitation lasting for the same amount of time as when the wings were first severed.
Uncommon Role(s):
Cleansing Ones – These are Dovicarus that have died while burdened with the Mark of Heresy. Unlike a normal rebirth, cleansing ones are reborn and must live their life elsewhere on another plane or realm of existence until they are cleansed. The reasoning behind this tradition is the hope that the punished Dovicarus will learn respect for the life while living among the land bound. The cleansing ones usually appear as human infants on the doorstep of a family, orphanage, or temple so that it might be taken in and accepted to the realm it was placed in. The only hint of abnormalities the child might have is the Mark of Heresy that he or she will still bear. The horns of a cleansing one can begin to develop much sooner (usually around the age of 12) but unlike a normal Dovicarus, the cleansing one will only be able to live to a full potential of 113 years and the horns can only develop after the cleaning one has experienced injuries inflicted with a weapon or what is perceived as a weapon by the young Dovicarus. The mentalities of cleansing ones also develop much like that of any human, and thus develop much faster than a Dovicarus. Every other aspect of a cleansing one’s horns is the same as any other Dovicarus. ((Note: Cleansing Ones are not subject to the laws of Farinma because as a cleansing one, they do not truly know what they are, even if all their former memories filter back slowly in trickles. The wings of a cleansing one develop shortly after his or her horns begin to grow. Once a cleansing one dies or is killed, their spirit is recalled back to the monastery instantly.))
Personalities:
Children – As children, Dovicarus seem to almost have no personality of their own but instead retain a rather bland demeanor. The mind of a Dovicarus is very innocent at this stage and easily influenced by his or her caretaker(s). Around the age of 8 the children begin to act more like average human children.
Mark of Heresy and Heretics:
The Mark of Heresy resembles a crescent moon pierced with an arrow. The instant the horns of a Dovicarus begin to crack due to a crime committed against the Order, the mark will magically burn and infuse itself between the shoulder blades of the perpetrator. The mark serves a few purposes; the main reason is allowing those of the Farinman Order to track the Heretic. The mark is also a reminder of past failure but perhaps the most important reason for the mark’s existence is that it allows the recall of the spirit of a cleansing one to return to the monastery.
Heretics can attempt to remove the mark by accepting missions to live among the land bound for a number of years until they have gained a higher respect for the life of the land bound. Many heretics chose this option but because of how the land bound in Vyanm treat the Dovicarus and each other they often return with confusion and mixed feelings of the ones they were intended to watch over (behaviors such as stealing, murder, and other heinous acts based on the reason to support someone of dear value while other act with kindness and mercy only to deny it to another for being of a different color of skin.) Many of the heretics tend to be younger than 500 years of age and although rare, there have been times when those who are quite old within the Order become heretics.