The Vula

"The vula will never be outclassed in their field: music. When you hear a banjo play you will hear soul! When you the string of violin, you will hear melody! When you ear the guitar, you will hear art, you will hear the guitar speak words of poetry and longing and loss. On occasion, literally!" - Matija Saša Lučić, a spiritologist from Cathqouile university, in his memoir Hidden Corners

When talking about the Vula, it's important to make a single distinction: who they are, and who they were. Before one landmark event, the Vula were the tribe under the Vulaeun spirit, a spirit characterised by it's links to sound. The vula are manifest in a control of sound waves. Many put this towards an artistic persuit, the vulaeun territories becoming quickly famous for technically impressive musical performances across all continents. Others put it other means - some focused in manipulating sounds already being emitted, silencing their volume or amplifying it. And some put it towards the properties of sound it's self, learning to manipulate the waves to accecntuate or even manifest the play of an instrument or voice.

Spirits compete for space, however. And the Vulaeun spirit was the latest in this cycle. The Vulaeun Fires, otherwise called the Violin Fires or the Wailing, was a storm that swept the region 13 years ago. Lasting 10 months, the fires destroyed what was once a vibrant and song filled culture. Now, most Vula are displaced: nicknamed "Endlings" - the last of their kind. When the Endlings pass, so will the Vulaeun spirit, sinking back to another unarchored, minor spirit.

Most vula are scattered across the contient now. Many stayed in Drasuna, occupying Ihan Ae settlements or even fleeing to the northern Ice Flats. Some took to Carth until Cathquoile closed it's borders to them. Some took to Yulca - it's not exactly unusal to witness the nomadic ry tribes be accompanied by a vula, still strumming their guitar or playing their fiddle. Many fenwyn settlements also opened their doors, and some even entered politics - a vula is a foundational member of the Dawnbreakers.

Some stayed close to home, however. The Vigil was set up in the Audian Mountains, a region that used to have rocks that would "sing" when struck. After the fires, the rocks lost their resonate quality, but were largely untouched by the storms effects. The Vigil now consists on Vula that plan one day to return into the ash-fallen wastes and resettle their home: but for now help eachother recover from the fires and establish themselves back in the world, reuniting long lost loved ones, and heal old wounds.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The vula were - next to the Ihan Ae - the most convientional spirits. Some of them markings on their body from instruments, the fernheads on the end of violins, the frets along an arm. But largely, the vula are humanoid. Genreally they are taller, and slightly lighter. The one differenciation is in the palm of the Vula's hand lies a hole - and inside, where others may have ligaments or blood vessel, the vula have a hollow space. This is where their amplification comes from, and when using their powers a small glimmer made be seen from it.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

"Since they were scattered, vula have become nuisances. Never trust a line communication! Innihan knows who you're talking to anymore - could be anyone! Could be anyone at all!" - Nelli Vadimir, most recent victim of a prolific vula scammer that has settled in the Ihan Ae capital, utilising it's long distance communication device Lines.

Some of the vulaeun may create an ambient rise in volume around them, but unlike many of the perceptions of them, they do not have increased perception to sound. Many however are more tune sensetive - devolping perfect pitch is a lot easier as a vula, and many vulaeun musicians are said to be able to detect tones far easier. This additonal auditory memory also allows many vulaeun to become mimics, replicating sounds they've heard before from memory. Some use this to replicate key, some use this to pull off new acts in plays, and some use it to pull off elaborate scams.

Cultural Pulls:

Phonetically and culturally, the Vula pull from Spanish, Costa Rican and Puerto Rican.

Lifespan

80yrs

Average Height

1.8 - 2.3m

Average Weight

55 - 90kg

Other Links:

Wastelands

The wastelands are what are left of the Vula's old territory. Some have tried already to reclaim, and one or two small hamlets have began to venture back into the wastelands. But largely, they remain unoccupied. Some have claimed children born in the Wastelands are now something different, something changed... Something denser. Their flesh rock.

The Vigil

The Vigil is an organisation that has occupied the Audian Mountains. Now based around reclaiming the Wastelands, a lot of vula's regrowth efforts are situated with the Vigil. They now occupy several points in the Audian Mountains, and often send out travelling groups to offer aid to other vula who have settled elsewhere.