- The Uchrit -
Government:
A very loose gathering of individuals, no one person stands above the others regardless of age or experience. They have basic laws, the general tenants that outlaw murder, theft, abuse, and other heinous acts towards their own kind.. But to outsiders? Well, their behavior isn't always as civilized towards strangers. There are 'Elders' that serve as council to those that seek it, information is shared readily and negative judgements are rarely passed on their own kind as this tightly-knit species bands together against all outside obstacles. When one, or a group of individuals, wrong the other Uchrit in some way they are called before their peers in their homeland and given a chance to explain themselves. It is the crowd itself that decides, calmly, what punishment is fitting of the crimes committed. If the defendant does not come to the summons they are deemed guilty and, again depending on the severity of the crime, their punishment will be passed regardless of if they are present or not.
Primary Language:
The Common Tongue, normally, but it can differ from person to person.
Native Lands Data:
Now native to the Yas'Min Desert these peoples have long thrived in the darkness of the night on the dunes, creating travel routes and defending them from the massive creatures that call this place home by utilizing their Chain-beasts and their magic. In this harsh climate they have founded a City called Val'Misca, open to the many species yes.. but also used to fund and fuel the true home of the Uchrit which rests in secret to the south of the Oasis City itself. The Cavern of the Fallen Gods is the true cradle of the Uchrit peoples, a place sheltered from the outside world that promotes free learning and expansion for the often-misunderstood species. A massive network of tunnels that touch the nesting grounds of Demons deep under the earth this is a place ripe with magic and potential Chain-Beasts for learning Uchrit, even those born without magic thrive in this hidden homeland. It is very, very rare that guests are tolerated in this place.. Only when vouched for by a Uchrit companion will they survive the visit.
Physiology:
Born of Human and Orcish descent the Uchrit greatly resemble their human parentage, certainly a bit taller than the norm but externally they could easily pass as a such. If not, that is, for their eyes which are prone to exotic 'glowing' colors and generally pale features. Internally they are far more akin to their Orcish heritage, boasting a strong/dense body composition and dual hearts. The thing is, unlike the Orcs, their secondary heart ( located exactly opposite of the left-heart ) doesn't function quite the same way. The left heart works constantly in harmony with the rest of the body, the right heart only beats when they channel the magic of their companions or otherwise activate their 'Chain magic'.. Helping distribute the stress of the energy and keep the body moving as they handle powerful and potent magic other species would faint from. Their nails are far stronger than one would expect and often can function as claws, be wary. Unlike other species they cannot reproduce with those outside their own kind, other Uchrit, and even then their pregnancies last for 13 months and often end in tragedy. Those young that do survive are strong and, with each generation of 'pure' Uchrit breeding more are surviving birth. Origin Uchrit, or those born of a true Orc/Human union, suffer from weak reproductive abilities. This species generally lives for 200-250 years of age and their heights can range from 5ft -7ft. While they are able to see clearly in the dark they struggle a bit in bright light.
Society:
The very spirit of duality, binding two elements into one, the Uchrit live as their nature demands and respect no one but their own kind. They gather knowledge through experimentation or experience and share it amongst themselves freely yet, to outsiders, they take their secrets to the grave without hesitation. They need only themselves and their Chain-Beasts to function, steadily building their numbers and culture as time goes on, and no choice of study is frowned upon regardless of how gruesome or heinous the other species may consider them to be. The only limitations are, as mentioned above, when it comes to the Uchrit themselves. They are by far one of the most accepting and peaceful people when it comes to their own kind and they work together to deal with issues readily. When transgressions do occur the offender is given the chance to speak before his or her peers, all judgements withheld until they have spoken their piece. Punishments are discussed by the crowd and, when one is agreed upon, implemented.
Additional Customs:
Marriage- Typically Polyamorous. The Uchrit are unique in the sense that they need others of their own kind to reproduce and with pregnancies so unstable... they do not believe in limiting themselves. Monogamy can happen and different sexualities are accepted readily, it is a personal choice.
Beliefs- The Uchrit believe that knowledge, any knowledge, should be free to study. It is very rare this species limits their own kind as they put a lot of value in the individual's character, fearing to repress themselves less they lose the chance to grow or adapt to new situations. Many Uchrit spend their entire lives seeking new knowledge, all for the sake of bringing back to their homeland to teach to the young ones of the new generation. New types of Demons found only in the frigid north? Or perhaps the detailed anatomy of the other species (regardless of how they studied that)? All knowledge is treasured to make the species stronger and their libraries, though still growing with every individual born, could honestly put the other species to shame with the depth and variety of information offered freely to those of their kind. These libraries are rarely seen by outsiders though, to date, a small sect of Qaish have earned the loyalty to visit them without risk.
The Sight- Uchrit are able to 'see' magic energy and, often, this is how they track down Chain-beasts to tame. Likewise they can track magic-users through this talent, if ever they had a reason to do so. They do not require Chain-magic to do this, it is just a natural part of their abilities.
Chain Magic - The oddly twisted union of Spirit magic from the Orcs and the adaptive nature of Humans this magic grants those imbued with it the ability to harness the power of demonic creatures. Also called Summoners, for their ability to 'bind' their bizarre pets into objects and weapons and call them out on a whim, the Uchrit that posses these skills are at risk of being corrupted by their own magic the more they bond with hellish beings. Oh, it is true one could 'bond' with spiritual creatures as well if the individual could find one to tame and chain to their will, but with Demons being far more common and even willing servants it is rare to find a 'Light Chain' user. The nature of the 'Chains' can vary from person to person, some can wield both 'Light' and 'Dark' contracts harmoniously were as others can only tame one summon beast in their lifetime.
Obviously the stronger the Chain-beast is the more energy and attention it will demand from it's Master so it is not uncommon to see Chain-Wielders with either many weak pets or only one powerful creature. Still, the more pets and types they bind.. the more strain it puts on the body and the soul of the Master. Chain-Beasts are loyal even if unwilling in servitude simply because their fates are tied to their Summoner's, if the mortal dies so too will those enslaved to them typically follow suit. There have been exceptions of course, 'Light Chain Beasts' or 'Sacred Beasts' have been known to live beyond their Master's lifespan.. But this has only happened with a Master actively chose to 'free' their Chain-Beast as they died. It is not uncommon for affection to form between Masters and their Pets and, while Chains can be broken, if the emotional bond is strong enough a Summoner can still maintain control of their Chain-Beast after the magic binding is dismissed. So when facing a Uchrit, always be wary. Uchrit have no personal magic of their own to speak of, they have to channel the magic of their companions as a conduit. If the Chain to their Beast is broken they cannot take the magic freely, the beast must make the choice to give it.. This is why it is so important for them to form emotional bonds with their pets. No Uchrit is born half-demon or with demonic powers, they are conduits for holy or demonic powers but remain purely mortal. Though it is rare one would do so they can actually 'chain' with other sentient species for brief periods of time, borrowing or 'shoring up' someone else's magic for various reasons. The 'Chain' has to be accepted from the other party willingly and it cannot last for very long.
Common Foods: They can ingest anything edible, highly adaptive omnivores with hardy digestive systems. As a peoples they do lean towards meat, some even enjoy dining on the other species of Si'Riat so beware.
Common Drinks: They are able to drink just about anything safely, even saltwater, and they naturally have a high tolerance for alcoholic beverages. Poisons still hurt, of course, though they take longer to work and do not last as long on this species.
