[World Building June 2017: Luxson Cluster] Day 3: People & Races
[Day 3 Prompt] 🌐 [Full Prompt List]
There are many sapient species to be found in the Luxson Cluster, native to the islands or otherwise!
Here we will focus primarily on the species that are indigenous to the islands, which includes: beatfoxes, de’moneres, centinels, combers, fungi constructs, masques, corvice, and the OBJ.
(Note: though the various species are drawn in grayscale, this is simply an artistic convention. Most species can come in virtually any colour combination .)
▶ Beatfoxes
Beatfoxes, also known as boxes, are canid peoples native to western Luxson. They were made in the image of the greater god XXI, and it is believed that their connection with the god has allowed them greater sensitivity to sound and music than the other species.
Beatfoxes are mostly urban-dwelling peoples whose cultures tend to value expressions of individuality and self-expression. They are considered to be a common species with simplistic physiology, making mass production of goods suited to them easier than for other species.
There are 5 major morphs of beatfoxes (pictured above). They are mostly defined by their coat-type, which are (from left to right): fluffy, wire-haired, soup, long-haired, and short-haired.
Fluffy: Beatfoxes with fluffy fur, soft features, and unusually stubby tails and ears.
Wire-Haired: Beatfoxes with spiky, coarse, or wiry coats of fur. Typically have sharp, angular features.
Soup: Slime-based beatfoxes the result of horror mutation; they are comprised entirely of a slime-like substance inside and out. Tend to find work as spelunkers or construction workers as their slimelike physiology makes them largely immune to injuries from falling.
Long-haired: Beatfoxes with thick coats of fur and long, pointed claws.
Short-haired: The most common variant of beatfoxes, recognizable by their rounded shapes and sleek fur.
Thanks to the beatfoxes’ ability to reproduce in litters, their populations have been able to stabilize since the surface horror attack. Their numbers made them important figures in the reconstruction efforts of Luxson, and to this day beatfoxes tend to be leading projects for the expansion and recovery of the island.
▶ De’moneres
De’moneres are rough-skinned, gargoyle-like beings made by the greater god Stope in his image. They are the only sapient species native to Monte.
The caste system in Monte is a relatively recent development, but one that has engulfed de’moneres culture almost entirely. The divide between the castes is deep and bitter, and to this day Monte is plagued by inter-caste violence. Which most de’moneres would view as a good thing, as displays of strength and prowess are considered points of pride and respect.
De’moneres can have differing horn lengths and variations, but most tend to stick within certain caste-determined standards. Having ones horn removed is a common punishment for violating caste or family laws.
There are 5 major morphs of de’moneres, with east being associated with a caste of the same name. From left to right in the image, they are: spades, clubs, jokers, hearts, and diamonds.
Spades: The second-to-lowest caste, distinguished by their small height ranges (2′6′’~5′), singular horns, and their spade-shaped tail tips.
Clubs: The middle caste, distinguished by their branching horns, middling height ranges (~4′7′’) and club-shaped tail tips. Tend to value calmer demeanours,
Jokers: The lowest caste. A joker is any de’moneres that either does not physiologically fit neatly into any of the other castes, or a de’moneres that has modified or removed their tail in any way. As such, there is a high degree of variance within the joker caste.
Hearts: The second-highest caste, distinguished by their taller height (~5′7′’), curved horns, and heart-shaped tail tips.
Diamonds: The highest caste, distinguished by their very tall height range (7′~12′), straight horns, and diamond-shaped tail tips.
The de’moneres diet consists of minerals, precious gems, carbon, and diamonds, though the latter is considered extremely valuable and potentially dangerous. The quality and purity of a given mineral determines its nutritional value for a de’moneres.
While a diet of low-quality minerals will result in a de’moneres with stunted growth, a diet of high-quality diamonds will induce an enraged and volatile state in the de’moneres that consumes it. As such, it is important for a balance to be struck between the two.
▶ Centinels
Centinels are large, centaur-like ungulates, made by the high god Fallow. They are one of many species that are native to Fallow’s Island.
Centinels are found in their largest concentration on Fallow’s Island, but they can be found all throughout the Luxson Cluster. Most centinel cultures were lenient in their attitudes, but generally valued strength, hard work, compassion, interpersonal relationships, and honouring Fallow.
Most centinels practice polyamory, forming many casual romantic relationships during their lifetimes. In order to navigate their complex social circles, most centinel cultures have very clearly defined systems of respect and etiquette.
Among the other species they are renown for their exceptional physical strength and endurance, making them highly valued as peacekeepers or physical laborers. Centinels are regarded as a force to be reckoned with, and are generally well-respected by the other species of the islands.
While many centinels resemble horses, there are a handful of other morphs that resemble other ungulates such as mules, sheep, etc. These other morphs are much, much rarer than they once were, and many can no longer be found outside of Fallow’s Island.
Centinels made up a large portion of the first-responders and front-line fighters during the surface horror attack, and, while their contribution to the war prevented an even more massive loss of life, it decimated their population. Worse still, many of the terrors and monsters found in the irradiated wastes of Luxson are believed to have once been centinels.
The centinels have a naturally low birthrate, and have thus never truly recovered from their losses in the war. While some have turned to artificial gestation in an attempt to boost their birth rate, most see this as a futile struggle against the slow death of their species.
▶ Combers
Combers are bee-like bipeds, made by the high god Fallow and are one of the many species native to Fallow’s Island.
Not much is known about comber cultures, as they are notoriously reclusive and disinclined to engage with other species. They are generally considered to be business-oriented and industrious, for better or for worse. Many of the other species see their migration to Luxson after the war as them abandoning the wreckage of Fallow’s Island for greener pastures.
Combers are typically around 4′ to 5′ in height, and boast two pairs of arms. While many morphs of Comber resemble the bees of earth, capable of producing wax, honey, and jelly, all combers lack stingers.
All comber are flight-capable, which has led to them both developing extremely unique architectural styles, and has made them valued messengers and postal workers.
Most of the combers population migrated from Fallow’s Island to Luxson and Monte after the surface horror attacks. They are considered responsible for the recent upswing in industrial work in both islands, and seem to have flourished in their new homes.
▶ Fungi Constructs
Fungi constructs are artificial beings made of fungus or wood that are created either directly by Fallow or by centinels under Fallow’s guidance. It is rare to find them outside of Fallow’s Island.
Primarily tasked with recording the history of Fallow’s Island and the teachings of Fallow, fungi constructs are regarded as spiritual creatures and are generally treated with respect by most. To murder or cause harm to a fungi construct is considered an act of pure ruthlessness and evil.
Most fungi constructs are companions or outright symbiotes to centinels, and the two species have deeply entwined cultures and practices. It is common to see centinels and fungi constructs form platonic or romantic attachments.
Fungi constructs posses bodies comprised of woods, vines, and fungus native to Fallow’s Island. They are capable of growing other plants on their bodies, or even partially regrowing lost limbs. Limbs that are too damaged to be successfully regrown are easily replaced.
Many fungi were destroyed during the surface horror attack and the terror plague, as well as their creators. As such, the art of creating many varieties of fungi construct have been lost. Despite this, t’s expected that they will eventually replenish their numbers over time as Fallow and its followers slowly create more.
▶ Masques
Masques are a raccoon-like species created by the high god Fallow, and are one of the many species native to Fallow’s Island.
Generally considered to be socially relaxed and laid back. Many masques made livings as hunters and weapons-crafters.
Masques boast very fluffy fur, and are naturally skilled athletes and acrobats. Competitions and exhibitions of physical prowess and gymnastic skill put on by groups of masques were once very common affairs.
Masques, along with centinels, made up the largest percentage of front-line fighters against the surface horror and terrors that plagued Luxson. As such, there are not many living or unmutated masques left anywhere in Luxson.
The extinction of the masques is considered by most species to be a sad loss, as they were distinguished for their extreme bravery during the war. While there seems to be no way for the masque population to make a comeback, what little remains is generally well-cared for, and shelter and resourced have been made readily available for them.
The only significant population of masques that remain live on Fallow’s Island; the communities that once existed on the other islands dwindled in size until they either dispersed entirely or were absorbed by those of other species.
▶ Corvice
The Corvice were a race of birdlike people made by the high god Anne in eastern Luxson.
The dominant corvice culture was historically defined by its dedication to the teachings laid down by Anne and her council. Hard work, intelligence, productivity, and striving for continuing advancements in science, medicine, and technology were deeply valued by most corvice.
Corvice were generally viewed as uptight and dangerously fixated on technological progress by the other species. OBJ tend dislike discussing the corvice and their old cultures, for semi-obvious reasons. De’moneres, meanwhile, tended to view most corvice societies with respect and valued them as trading partners.
There were many variants of corvice suited to different environments, with most being defined by their wing shape and function. Such variants include: bug-like wings, dragon/bat-like wings, feathery wings, fins, etc.
Corvice boasted the unusual ability to “shift” into a secondary, shadow-like form. While in this form their bodies are much more malleable and maneuverable, making them ideal for working in tight places or in locations without developed infrastructure. Shifting into this form for any reason unrelated to work was considered a strange waste of time, however.
The corvice, being a primordial, young species, were unusually susceptible to horror radiation. While a large portion of their population perished during the terror plague the corvice’s natural adaptability resulted in the majority simply mutating rapidly. These mutants would eventually be known as the OBJ.
Some corvice managed to escape the surface horror attack and the subsequent terror plague unmutated, but they are extremely rare and dwindling by the year. Most unmutated corvice are considered bizarre anomalies, and thus many corvice who remain in Luxson may choose to simply wear false OBJ heads in order to avoid public scrutiny.
While there are movements to preserve the corvice, there are simply not enough of them left to restore a viable population. For this reason, the corvice are considered functionally extinct as a species.
▶ OBJ
The OBJ are the current form of the corvice, after the majority of the species was mutated by horror radiation. Like the corvice, they are primarily found in Luxson; though most OBJ consider XXI to be their patron deity rather than Anne, as XXI took an active role in guiding the OBJ after the terror plague.
OBJ have similar physiology to unmutated corvice, with the main differences being that they have lost most of the feathers on their torsos, and that most OBJ have no proper skulls.
As their delicate slime internals are naturally exposed to the elements, OBJ have adopted the practice of constructing prosthetic heads to protect and contain this slime. Initially these head casings were simplistic geometric shapes, but after the surface horror was contained and the island had time to recover more variations were capable of being produced.
OBJ are a unisex species, with most individuals being capable of both bearing and siring live offspring. As individuals mutated by horror radiation will pass on mutations of equal severity to their own to their offspring, children born to OBJ parents are almost always OBJ themselves. An unmutated corvice child being born to OBJ parents is a highly unusual occurrence, and is considered to be a contributing factor to the extinction of the corvice.
While the majority of OBJ manifest their mutation as slime “heads” there are minorities who manifest their mutation in different ways (slime limbs, etc.)
▶ TCP
TCPs, short for Tiny Cat People, are very small, cat-like beings who were made by the high god Wax in the northeastern continent of Taverne.
TCPs are not native to the Luxson Cluster, but being one of the singularly most invasive species in Morbit, they are found throughout the islands in abundance.
TCPs do not reproduce. Rather, a TCP is created at a random place in the world whenever a living creature thinks of one. This has led to the TCP population exploding throughout the world, and has taken them far from their home zone of Hearth. Thankfully, TCP do not require food or water to live and produce no waste, which has lessened their potential destructive impact on the environment.
TCPs are incredibly diverse, and have a functionally infinite number of different morphs and sub-species known as types. These sub-species are peculiar, in that their appearance and capabilities all directly correspond to a specific given noun. (e.g.: A “lace”-type TCP will have a lace-like body, and will be capable of turning any object into a lace version of itself.)
These functionally immortal peoples are also extremely fragile, and can be killed almost as rapidly as they are created.
TCPs are highly social peoples, and tend to form colonies with other TCPs. As they typically measure only 1-12′’ tall, these colonies can boast a tremendous number of individuals and can be found virtually anywhere.
TCPs are naturally curious individuals and are prone to exploration and experimentation. They tend to get along well with other species, and their presence in the Luxson Cluster has revolutionized many industries. TCP can be found as common laborers in many factories, and are a large focus in Luxson Cluster media.
What involvement TCPs had in the war remains debated, as well as their general status as actual people in the Luxson Cluster.
The waves along RK Beach reach impressive height, certainly adequately high to give the beach-bather, attempting to cross the surf-line, pause, as, neck-deep in water, he watches a green goliath rear its huge head ten feet above him, pulverizing him unless he dives into its base in a hurry, this maneuver itself risky for it can lead to a broken cervical spine as his cranium strikes the hard sand of the shallow bottom. Be that as it may, these are relative lilliputs compared to the marine monsters that arc at the southern rocky sector of RK Beach where an abrupt transition of depth allows them to gain even greater heights, they literally smashing themselves to fine snowy smithereens on that inky immobile black rock. Southern sector of RK Beach,Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, June 14, 2019.
