Post by Gabrielle DuMinuit on Jul 7, 2007 15:48:50 GMT -5
Introduction to Elavie History and Physiology
The title Elavie applies to many different breeds and cultures in Nyeusigrube. Some groups willingly use the term; others would refuse to acknowledge any kinship with other Elavie or other Nyeusi in general. For the purpose of this essay, “Elavie” refers to all breeds whose ability to shapeshift descends, directly or indirectly, from the higher Nyeusi called Leben.
Leben is the child of two higher Nyeusi, Siete and Cera. He was born approximately 18,000 years BCE; the many experiments he has performed throughout his life are responsible for the near-dozen Elavie breeds. His earliest successful experiment led to the creation of tiger shapeshifters in 10,000 BCE in what is now China. Other Elavie include (in, as best as is known, order of age) the Desmodus; wolves; serpiente, shm’Ahnmik and avians; lions; cougars and leopards; Azteka; Pakana; foxes; Rajar; and osprey. Beyond the ties formed by breed, shifting environments and events have led to the rise and fall of alliances and empires, including but not limited to the Mistari, Wyvern’s Court, the Shantel, and the Allied Felis Elavie (see essays on cultures and organizations).
Cera’s relationship with Siete was an unlikely union with an even more unlikely result: Leben is the only Nyeusi whose lineage propagates through both immortal and mortal means. This advantage is considered the most pertinent reason behind the fact that elavie are the most commonly found mortal/immortal crosses in Nyeusigrube, even though elavie are the only nyeusi who ever “recover” and revert to pure mortality. An elavie's human/mortal system continues to recognize the immortal power as an invader throughout his life. The mortal power usually lags in strength when its body is fully mature, which accounts for the sometimes hundreds of years during which an elavie may cease aging; eventually the immortal power starts to lose its hold on the body, at which point aging begins again at a human rate. More frequent shapeshifting increases the body’s reliance and hence connection to the nyeusi power, increasing the lifespan. On the other hand, elavie who are raised human and never shift show very little distortion with regards to the rate of aging.
Elavie can interbreed with other elavie, with humans, or with Macht witches. When two elavie breed, the dominant elavie gene will alter the coding of the lesser, instead of allowing it to linger as a recessive gene. The only exceptions are in the rare cases of co-dominance (such as cobra and hawk) or where other magics interfere (falcon crossbreeds). Human genes on the other hand act co-dominant to any elavie gene; depending on the exact cross, a child may even be born who carries a recessive elavie gene but shows only human characteristics (see essay on elavie genetics for more). The children of Macht witches and elavie will inherit the Macht power as they would from a Macht/human pairing, but the elavie genes will also be inherited as they would be from an elavie/human cross.
Blood-to-blood contact between a human and an elavie will begin a process much like the start of a viral infection. Depending on how severe the exposure and how virulent the strain, the human immune system may completely overcome the elavie “infection,” even possibly forming a future immunity. If however the human system is overcome, the elavie infection will not only take over the body, but will alter the cellular structure of the host, including genetic information. Past that point, an infected individual will appear biologically identical to a born elavie. He will also pass on the elavie genes to any future offspring just as a born elavie would. Humans with recessive elavie genes are almost completely immune to infection by other strains, though simple magics or a severe blood transfusion from a same-breed elavie may bring the recessive genes to dominance.
The individual traits of elavie vary from breed to breed, and even between individuals. Shapeshifting is, of course, the most common denominator. Most elavie have two forms, a human form and a second (animal) form. Some, like the Azteka, naturally have multiple animal forms (jaguar and quetzal), and some crossbreeds may also exhibit multiple forms (children of falcons and outsiders, for instance, almost always end up with blended traits). Many shapeshifters also have the ability to take blended forms, though this transition is much more difficult for elavie with any human blood, and by modern day is almost exclusively seen among royal lines that have remained relatively "pure." Blended forms may include shifts as severe as the avians' Demi form (wings on a human form), the growth of fangs or claws, or even something as slight as the alteration of eyes or skin tone. The more subtle the change, the harder it is to achieve and hold, so many cultures regard this ability as a sign of strength (Mistari) or in some cases even divine favor (Desmodus).
Beyond the ability to shapeshift, many elavie also exhibit secondary characteristics, usually related to their animal forms. Serpiente and Rajar are cold blooded even in human form, whereas in human form the average avian body temperature is 129 F. Avians are also hollow-boned, and during adolescence, they grow feathers in their hair, usually at the nape of the neck. Breed-specific traits may also be personality-based, such as the Pakana's intense need for physical contact with others of their own kind. Some of these traits may fail to develop in children who are raised human and never prompted to shapeshift; for example, serpiente and avians who do not shapeshift frequently in the early years of childhood may never develop the ability to do so, as their bodies grow in a normal human manner and fail to develop properly to accommodate such a vastly different human form. Among other breeds, especially the cougars, hyenas and wolves, even a child raised in absolute ignorance will eventually shapeshift instinctively- often with disastrous results, either directly (harm to the elavie's self, or loved ones) or indirectly (a decline into depression caused by deception, or institutionalization by the self or others).
One of the most frightening threats, to any elavie, is the possibility of becoming lost in one's animal form. Most of the time, if this happens it is caused by a severe shock, or intense fear or pain that drives the human mind to hide behind the animal one. More rarely, the animal form is overused due to its convenience when human accommodations cannot be found, or when there is not enough food to feed the human form. Either way, eventually the human mind can erode, leaving a shell of an animal without the full, balanced instincts of an animal, or any sense of human morals or compassion. These feral elavie almost always eventually become dangerous and destructive. Once an elavie has become violent, recovery is unheard of. Even in the cases where intervention occurs early enough, recovered feral shapeshifters often fail to perfectly regain their human tendencies. The ability to speak is most frequently lost.
On Elavie Breeds
There are, in modern day, thirty-one distinct breeds of shapeshifter. These include four types of falcon (gyrfalcon, peregrine, aplomado, merlin), nine types of serpent (white viper, cobra, taipan, viper, python, red rat snake, black rat snake, emerald boa, mamba), two breeds of Azteka (jaguar, quetzal), four forms of avian (hawk, crow, raven, sparrow), two breeds of fox (arctic and red), three types of Rajar (spotted eagle rays, manta rays, and moray eels), tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, wolves, hyenas, osprey, and fruit bats.
The four falcon breeds are collectively called the shm'Ahnmik; they have existed as a single empire, under the falcon Royal House, for several millennia. The Ona, Empress, rules without question.
The nine serpents are collectively referred to as the serpiente; excepting the white vipers, they have followed the royal line of the Cobriana since their inception. The ruler is called Diente; his/her mate is called the Naga (female) or Nag (male), and the heirs have the title of Arami. The white vipers, Maeve's kin, most often belong to a group known as the Obsidian Guild.
The four types of avian follow the royal Shardae line, the hawks. They are led by the Tuuli Thea (queen) and her alistair (consort).
The jaguars and quetzals of the Azteka are led by their priests and priestesses of Malinalxochitl, who are also often called bloodwitches, and the tecuanime, a group of high-ranking traders.
The two types of fox, collectively called the Vulpes Elavie, live in individual dens each consisting of ten to fifty members. Each den is led by its Yahto, the (always male) single individual whose responsibility it is to remain aware of happenings in the outside world, and protect the den from human (and other shapeshifter) encroachment. Life inside the den is very restrictive, with very few rights granted to individuals, and even fewer to women.
The Rajar live exclusively around the island known as Devil's Lantern. They are the only type of elavie that was animal first, and given by Leben human forms. Their numbers swelled during World War II, when a boat full of Japanese, fleeing persecution and internment in America, was storm-tossed up on the rocky shores of Devil's Lantern. The thirty survivors moved onto the island, and later began to mingle and later intermarry with the inhabitants.
The tigers form the majority of the Mistari, another long-lived culture stretching in some form from the tigers' origins in China to modern day in Africa.
The lions' civilization in Africa fell to invaders shortly after they received their second forms. Since then, they have mostly been nomads, subject to the leadership of the lands they visit.
The cougars and leopards are both native to the Americas, specifically to an intermixed group of native people and European settlers.
The wolves originate with the nomadic tribes of early northern Europe. For most of their history, they have been known for their well-traveled ways and their far-reaching trade.
The hyenas, or Pakana, have as a culture split and recombined many times throughout their history, with the end result that none of their people know their kind's origins. Pakana are unique in that they are intensely drawn to other Pakana; even those who are human with recessive Pakana genes will instinctively prefer the company of other Pakana to humans.
The Desmodus existed as a single nation for several centuries, ruled by three kings from the Royal Caste and the priests of the Holy Caste, but the cohesion of their civilization fell apart in the eighth or ninth century. Individual Desmodus elavie still exist today, but they have no formal leadership.
Osprey are among the most modern shapeshifters. They used to be Unitarian Universalists. Go figure
(Information (c) Amelia Atwater-Rhodes)
The title Elavie applies to many different breeds and cultures in Nyeusigrube. Some groups willingly use the term; others would refuse to acknowledge any kinship with other Elavie or other Nyeusi in general. For the purpose of this essay, “Elavie” refers to all breeds whose ability to shapeshift descends, directly or indirectly, from the higher Nyeusi called Leben.
Leben is the child of two higher Nyeusi, Siete and Cera. He was born approximately 18,000 years BCE; the many experiments he has performed throughout his life are responsible for the near-dozen Elavie breeds. His earliest successful experiment led to the creation of tiger shapeshifters in 10,000 BCE in what is now China. Other Elavie include (in, as best as is known, order of age) the Desmodus; wolves; serpiente, shm’Ahnmik and avians; lions; cougars and leopards; Azteka; Pakana; foxes; Rajar; and osprey. Beyond the ties formed by breed, shifting environments and events have led to the rise and fall of alliances and empires, including but not limited to the Mistari, Wyvern’s Court, the Shantel, and the Allied Felis Elavie (see essays on cultures and organizations).
Cera’s relationship with Siete was an unlikely union with an even more unlikely result: Leben is the only Nyeusi whose lineage propagates through both immortal and mortal means. This advantage is considered the most pertinent reason behind the fact that elavie are the most commonly found mortal/immortal crosses in Nyeusigrube, even though elavie are the only nyeusi who ever “recover” and revert to pure mortality. An elavie's human/mortal system continues to recognize the immortal power as an invader throughout his life. The mortal power usually lags in strength when its body is fully mature, which accounts for the sometimes hundreds of years during which an elavie may cease aging; eventually the immortal power starts to lose its hold on the body, at which point aging begins again at a human rate. More frequent shapeshifting increases the body’s reliance and hence connection to the nyeusi power, increasing the lifespan. On the other hand, elavie who are raised human and never shift show very little distortion with regards to the rate of aging.
Elavie can interbreed with other elavie, with humans, or with Macht witches. When two elavie breed, the dominant elavie gene will alter the coding of the lesser, instead of allowing it to linger as a recessive gene. The only exceptions are in the rare cases of co-dominance (such as cobra and hawk) or where other magics interfere (falcon crossbreeds). Human genes on the other hand act co-dominant to any elavie gene; depending on the exact cross, a child may even be born who carries a recessive elavie gene but shows only human characteristics (see essay on elavie genetics for more). The children of Macht witches and elavie will inherit the Macht power as they would from a Macht/human pairing, but the elavie genes will also be inherited as they would be from an elavie/human cross.
Blood-to-blood contact between a human and an elavie will begin a process much like the start of a viral infection. Depending on how severe the exposure and how virulent the strain, the human immune system may completely overcome the elavie “infection,” even possibly forming a future immunity. If however the human system is overcome, the elavie infection will not only take over the body, but will alter the cellular structure of the host, including genetic information. Past that point, an infected individual will appear biologically identical to a born elavie. He will also pass on the elavie genes to any future offspring just as a born elavie would. Humans with recessive elavie genes are almost completely immune to infection by other strains, though simple magics or a severe blood transfusion from a same-breed elavie may bring the recessive genes to dominance.
The individual traits of elavie vary from breed to breed, and even between individuals. Shapeshifting is, of course, the most common denominator. Most elavie have two forms, a human form and a second (animal) form. Some, like the Azteka, naturally have multiple animal forms (jaguar and quetzal), and some crossbreeds may also exhibit multiple forms (children of falcons and outsiders, for instance, almost always end up with blended traits). Many shapeshifters also have the ability to take blended forms, though this transition is much more difficult for elavie with any human blood, and by modern day is almost exclusively seen among royal lines that have remained relatively "pure." Blended forms may include shifts as severe as the avians' Demi form (wings on a human form), the growth of fangs or claws, or even something as slight as the alteration of eyes or skin tone. The more subtle the change, the harder it is to achieve and hold, so many cultures regard this ability as a sign of strength (Mistari) or in some cases even divine favor (Desmodus).
Beyond the ability to shapeshift, many elavie also exhibit secondary characteristics, usually related to their animal forms. Serpiente and Rajar are cold blooded even in human form, whereas in human form the average avian body temperature is 129 F. Avians are also hollow-boned, and during adolescence, they grow feathers in their hair, usually at the nape of the neck. Breed-specific traits may also be personality-based, such as the Pakana's intense need for physical contact with others of their own kind. Some of these traits may fail to develop in children who are raised human and never prompted to shapeshift; for example, serpiente and avians who do not shapeshift frequently in the early years of childhood may never develop the ability to do so, as their bodies grow in a normal human manner and fail to develop properly to accommodate such a vastly different human form. Among other breeds, especially the cougars, hyenas and wolves, even a child raised in absolute ignorance will eventually shapeshift instinctively- often with disastrous results, either directly (harm to the elavie's self, or loved ones) or indirectly (a decline into depression caused by deception, or institutionalization by the self or others).
One of the most frightening threats, to any elavie, is the possibility of becoming lost in one's animal form. Most of the time, if this happens it is caused by a severe shock, or intense fear or pain that drives the human mind to hide behind the animal one. More rarely, the animal form is overused due to its convenience when human accommodations cannot be found, or when there is not enough food to feed the human form. Either way, eventually the human mind can erode, leaving a shell of an animal without the full, balanced instincts of an animal, or any sense of human morals or compassion. These feral elavie almost always eventually become dangerous and destructive. Once an elavie has become violent, recovery is unheard of. Even in the cases where intervention occurs early enough, recovered feral shapeshifters often fail to perfectly regain their human tendencies. The ability to speak is most frequently lost.
On Elavie Breeds
There are, in modern day, thirty-one distinct breeds of shapeshifter. These include four types of falcon (gyrfalcon, peregrine, aplomado, merlin), nine types of serpent (white viper, cobra, taipan, viper, python, red rat snake, black rat snake, emerald boa, mamba), two breeds of Azteka (jaguar, quetzal), four forms of avian (hawk, crow, raven, sparrow), two breeds of fox (arctic and red), three types of Rajar (spotted eagle rays, manta rays, and moray eels), tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, wolves, hyenas, osprey, and fruit bats.
The four falcon breeds are collectively called the shm'Ahnmik; they have existed as a single empire, under the falcon Royal House, for several millennia. The Ona, Empress, rules without question.
The nine serpents are collectively referred to as the serpiente; excepting the white vipers, they have followed the royal line of the Cobriana since their inception. The ruler is called Diente; his/her mate is called the Naga (female) or Nag (male), and the heirs have the title of Arami. The white vipers, Maeve's kin, most often belong to a group known as the Obsidian Guild.
The four types of avian follow the royal Shardae line, the hawks. They are led by the Tuuli Thea (queen) and her alistair (consort).
The jaguars and quetzals of the Azteka are led by their priests and priestesses of Malinalxochitl, who are also often called bloodwitches, and the tecuanime, a group of high-ranking traders.
The two types of fox, collectively called the Vulpes Elavie, live in individual dens each consisting of ten to fifty members. Each den is led by its Yahto, the (always male) single individual whose responsibility it is to remain aware of happenings in the outside world, and protect the den from human (and other shapeshifter) encroachment. Life inside the den is very restrictive, with very few rights granted to individuals, and even fewer to women.
The Rajar live exclusively around the island known as Devil's Lantern. They are the only type of elavie that was animal first, and given by Leben human forms. Their numbers swelled during World War II, when a boat full of Japanese, fleeing persecution and internment in America, was storm-tossed up on the rocky shores of Devil's Lantern. The thirty survivors moved onto the island, and later began to mingle and later intermarry with the inhabitants.
The tigers form the majority of the Mistari, another long-lived culture stretching in some form from the tigers' origins in China to modern day in Africa.
The lions' civilization in Africa fell to invaders shortly after they received their second forms. Since then, they have mostly been nomads, subject to the leadership of the lands they visit.
The cougars and leopards are both native to the Americas, specifically to an intermixed group of native people and European settlers.
The wolves originate with the nomadic tribes of early northern Europe. For most of their history, they have been known for their well-traveled ways and their far-reaching trade.
The hyenas, or Pakana, have as a culture split and recombined many times throughout their history, with the end result that none of their people know their kind's origins. Pakana are unique in that they are intensely drawn to other Pakana; even those who are human with recessive Pakana genes will instinctively prefer the company of other Pakana to humans.
The Desmodus existed as a single nation for several centuries, ruled by three kings from the Royal Caste and the priests of the Holy Caste, but the cohesion of their civilization fell apart in the eighth or ninth century. Individual Desmodus elavie still exist today, but they have no formal leadership.
Osprey are among the most modern shapeshifters. They used to be Unitarian Universalists. Go figure
(Information (c) Amelia Atwater-Rhodes)