Curnias

From the ashes of burning wood, from the wounds of flayed tress, from the tears of torn fruits, let the purifying resin flow, so its power may light the spark of the Amber Suns.
~ Excerpt from the Litany of Immolation

Often regarded as primitive savages, the Curnias are a subspecies of Ikona that inhabits the vast rainforests within the tropical regions of Cenorad.
Being survivors of the Second Spring, all Curnias suffer from a magical disease known to them as Siugnu or the "Claws of the Amber-Butterfly", which causes the growth of thorn-like amber shards within their flesh.
While the Curnias initially suffered heavily from their affliction, they managed to discover a method with which they could contain the worst effects of their affliction. This method consists of the creation of so-called "Amber Suns", which are pools filled with rejuvenating liquids made from various plant saps and resins.
By taking a bath within these pools a Curnias is able to temporarily suppress the effects of his affliction, making the maintenance of the Amber Suns a vital part of their culture and society.
In order to acquire the necessary amounts of plant saps required to keep the Amber Suns functioning, the Curnias hunt and cultivate a vast array of different plant species, which they then ritually sacrifice within their Altartemples to quell the neverending thirst of these lifesaving pools.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Like all Ikona the Curnias are of a slender built and possess an uncanny beauty.
The Curnias can be distinguished from other Ikonas by their copper-colored skin markings, their amber-colored eyes, and their silky green hair.

Biological Traits

Siugnu, Claws of the Amber-Butterfly
This affliction causes the growth of sharp-edged amber shards at various locations in and outside of the body of the affected individual.
Due to this, even the slightest movement made by the individual results in the creation of numerous injuries, as the amber shards dig deep into the flesh of their host.
Due to the perpetual presence of hundreds of small injuries the skins of the Curnias are strewn with scars and practically soaked in the smell of fresh blood.

Genetics and Reproduction

Money might not grow on trees, but children most definitely do.

Given that the events of the Second Spring destroyed most if not all of the artificial wombs their Ikona ancestors relied upon for their reproduction, the Curnias were forced to return to the "animalistic" ways of reproduction.
Yet given the substantial amount of time that their kind had been neglecting their sexual reproduction, the Curnias' natural birth rates were barely able to keep up with the horrendous death rate caused by their new affliction.
Therefore the Curnias quickly set about to develop an alternative to their bloodstained reproduction, which resulted in a procedure known as Musealg Amsit'pab ("Amber Baptism"), which allowed them to convert other species into Curnias, by encasing them in a tree and flooding their bodies with shamanic energies.
Over a time period of 20 to 30 years, this procedure gradually changes the cellular makeup of an encased individual into that of a Curnias, as their cells are replaced by plant cells, which are then shaped into almost perfect imitations of Curnias cells.
Once an individual's cells have been converted to an acceptable degree -which can be seen by their trees starting to bear fruits-, their "Conversion Tree" is then chopped down and split open, revealing the freshly converted individual.
While these so-called "Forestborns" are technically no true Curnias, once they underwent their mandatory re-education, they are practically indistinguishable from "Wombborn" individuals.
Additionally, due to their birth being inevitably tainted by the stain of blood, no Wombborn Curnias would ever reveal the circumstances of their birth, meaning that most Curnias don't even know that the option of a "womb birth" even exists.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Good food isn't made, it's earned.
~ Curnias Proverb

The dietary habits of the Curnias are dictated by the Odro-Anec, a partially religious food ranking system that ranks various types of foods into different tiers. While independent of the social hierarchy, the various tiers of the Odro-Anec are generally associated with specific social classes.
Therefore distinguished members of lower social classes can be rewarded by being allowed to consume foods from a higher tier and high ranking members of society can be punished by being forced to consume food from a tier that is beneath the associated tier of their class.

Rogid'ni Orac ("Lost Meat")

The lowest tier of the Odro-Anec, which encompasses all types of raw and uncooked meat including the flesh of other Ikona. To consume any food of this tier is considered to be one of the gravest breaches of taboos and strips the perpetrator not only of any and all social ranks and reduces them to the same level as a mere beast.
The food of this tier is therefore only reserved for the worst of criminals during the last days before their execution, but in the cases of truly monstrous crimes, a Curnias might be sentenced to a so-called "Blood meal", during which he will be feed with blood extracted from various blood-drinking insects.
Even the threat of being subjected to such an abhorrent ritual is enough to cause all but the most depraved and insane Curnias to voluntarily strangle themselves.

Sullun Sutid'noc ("Without Spice")

The tier associated with the lowest members of society and nobles that have truly fallen from grace, as any noble that consumes food of this tier might never again reclaim their title.
It encompasses mostly mushroom-based foods and cooked meat prepared without any spices, which could cover the blood-taste of the meat.
In addition, it also includes very few plant-based dishes, which are made from low-quality plants. An example of such a dish would be Odicex, a watery soup that is made from crop waste and fallen leaves.

Mutsoc Sullema ("Flavored Flowers")

The third tier of the Odro-Anec, which is characterized by various dishes made with a heavily spiced and blood-drained meat called Rodin. In addition to Rodin based dishes, this tier also contains a number of lesser food plants such as smooth lianas, bark grass and, Blue Tayraweed.
The highest quality plant that members of this tier are allowed to consume is the so-called "Starseed Senna", whose white-yellow flowers have become a symbol of pride for the lower class citizens that are normally associated with this tier.
For the members of the upper tiers, the flower has instead taken on the role of a mark of shame and penitence, as the consumption of a Starseed Senna is generally associated with nobles that are temporarily exiled from their city-state and forced to survive multiple years on their own within the unforgiving jungles before being allowed to regain their lost status.

Snera Xurf ("Desert Fruit ")

The fourth tier of the Odro-Anec, which is characterized by a nearly meat-free diet and the consumption of various non-meat animal products, such as milk, horn, and unfertilized eggs, which are all intensely process and refined with various spices and herbs.
The only meat-containing dish of this tier is called Acirac and is made from strongly dried strips of meat, which are heavily spiced and served together with a variety of dried fruits.
This tier is generally associated with the middle class as well as upper-class citizens that committed minor crimes and which are publicly humiliated by being forced to consume a bowl of Acirac, which is therefore also known as "Lordshamer Bowl".
A special privilege of this tier is the monthly consumption of the dried remains of sacrificial plants that have been drained of their resin in order to fuel the Amber Suns of their respective city-state. During special festive day members of this tier might also be allowed to consume small pieces of freshly sacrificed plants.

Silibon Sutillem ("Lords of Honey ")

The second-highest tier of the Odro-Anec which is generally reserved for upper-class citizens. The dishes of this tier are made without any traces of meat and are made from a variety of high-quality plant parts, fruits, and vegetables.
The preparation of these dishes is highly elaborate and can take hours or even days. In addition to the finest plant-based ingredients, the dishes also contain small amounts of high-class animal products such as pearls and river sponge thrones.
The most prestigious of these ingredients is the honey of the Goldthorn bees, which due to its amber-like color is seen as a representation of the sacred resins that fuel the Amber Suns.
Therefore the act of being allowed to consume even a single drop of honey is synonymous with being elevated into the ranks nobility. Due to this lower-class citizens that even attempt to consume honey, without the explicit permission of the rulers of their city-state, are executed by being barred from ever entering the Amber Suns again, causing their demise by the rampant progression of their affliction.

Abreh Erarov ("Leaf Eater")

The highest tier of the Odro-Anec, which is reserved for the highest and most prestigious members of society. The dishes of this tier are exclusively made from freshly sacrificed plants of the highest quality, whose natural properties had been further enhanced through the use of shamanic rituals.
As expected of the food served to the rulers of a species full of gourmets, the preparation for these dishes have more in common with highly elaborate arcane rituals than mundane cooking and are only performed by highly experienced members of the upper class, which have to undergo strict abstinence for three days prior to the begin of any food preparation.

Rotop ba Xarots-Aniser ("Drinkers of the Ideal Resin")

A mythical tier of the Odro-Anec, which stands even above the majesty of the Abreh Erarov. The only dish within this tier consists of the Xarots-Aniser, the Ideal Resin, drawn from the stem of the Last Sacrifice.
As the Curnias have yet to create or hunt a plant that is able to fully cure them of their affliction, no living Curnias has ever been elevated into this tier.
Instead, the most accomplished and revered members of their society receive this tier as posthumously honor by being encased in amber and buried within an Amber Sun, which from that day on is forever associated with the name of the hero resting at its bottom.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The social rank of a Curnias is primarily determined by how much they contribute to the acquisition of suitable sacrificial plants, which are required to empower the Amber Suns of their respective city-state.
While each city-state has a different method to determine the exact value of an individual's contribution and often places heavy emphasis on specific plants and ways to acquire them, they generally rank their citizens into five different classes.

Erivres Aref ("Serving Beasts")

The lowest social class, which consists of any Curnias whose profession involves frequent contact with any kind of blood, such as surgeons, butchers, warriors, and bathing-assistants that clean other Curnias prior to the bathing within an Amber Sun.
As the Curnias consider blood as the vilest substances in existence, the members of this class are seen as irrevocably tainted by their profession and are therefore unworthy to contribute any sacrifices to the Amber Suns.
Due to this, all members of this class possess an eternal sacrificial dept towards their city-state, which forces them into a slave-like servitude towards the higher classes in order to pay for this debt.
While their debt can never be fully repaid, members of this class that perform their work to the satisfaction of the higher classes might be given special privileges such as additional bathing times within an appropriate Amber Sun or dishes that contained minute amounts of finely ground dried roots.

Annep Itin ("Feathered Climbers")

The lower class citizen of a Curnias city-state generally encompasses all those whose work only indirectly aides with the filling of the Amber Suns.
This includes artisans, craftworkers, architects, and traders, whose primary function in society consists of assisting the higher classes through the creation of objects required in their work, such as mineral fertilizer, stone beaks for arrows, sacrificial debarking knives and wound-holders made from polished copper.
The name of this class refers to the two most striking features of its members. That being the various feathers that are bound to various parts of their bodies and whose coloration indicates not only their profession but also the higher class individual that acts as their patron.
The second feature is the fact that the members of this class only access the living and working spaces of the higher citizens by climbing along the outside of the various Castel-Pyramids in order to not sully the consecrated floors of the inner halls with their unworthy touch.
While this type of movement might not be the safest method of movement, the Curnias can generally rely on their river gliding ability to prevent more serious injuries should their grip on the smooth stones of the pyramids fail during one of the many tropical rainstorms.
Due to their bird-like appearance and the fact that especially younger nobles find it quite entertaining to shove them from the pyramids once they delivered their goods, the members of this class are also known as "Pyramid-Birds".

Satinirt Arreca ("Threefold Incense")

Also known as the "Bearers of Blessed Smoke" the Satinirt Arreca are the middle class of the Curnias city-states, which are generally divided into three subclasses known as Rotara ("Farmer"), Rotanev ("Hunter") and Rotatem ("Priest").
They represent the first social class that directly contributes to the filling of the Amber Suns, with the Rotara growing and cultivating various plant species within their Pyramid-Gardens, the Rotanev hunting the rarest and the deadliest plants of the rainforests and the Rotatem performing the complicated sacrificial rituals required to empower the Amber Suns.
While all three subclasses are highly regarded in all city-states, one of the subclasses is often seen as slightly more prestigious than the remaining two subclasses.
As a sign of their office and the literally lifesaving service they provide to their city-state, the members of this class always wear a small copper or stone bowl filled with burning incense, whose exact composition offers those who are able to deduce its complex aromatic notes detailed information about the various deeds and honors of its bearer.

Xetroc Nemalev ("Bark-Veils")

Forming the upper class of society, the Xetroc Nemalev form the nobility of the various city-states that rule over contingents of various middle and lower class citizens.
Like the members of the middle class, they are also divided into three subclasses corresponding to the three ways in which the Amber Suns are filled.
Like with the subclasses of the middle class, the prestige and influence of these subclasses vary considerably between the various city-states, with some city-states even demoting some of the subclasses to the upper ranks of the middle class.

Rebmu ("Hounds of the Green Hunt")

The Rebmu are the nobles of the hunt, which preside as Archhuntersses over one of the various hunting lodges of the city-states, which are tasked with the hunt of suitable sacrificial plants.
These lodges constantly compete with each other to track and acquire the most exotic, dangerous, or beautiful plants, which are subsequently brought before the altars of the Rotatem.

Xefitnop ("Master of Sacrifices")

The Xefitnop are the Highpriests of the various Altartemples that oversee and regulate the sacrificial rituals required to empower the Amber Suns.
Like the lodges of the Rotanev, the various temples not only specializes in specific ways and types of sacrifices but also viciously try to outcompete each other through the creation of even more complex and grander sacrificial procedures.

A'iraipot ("Shaper of Flowers")

The A'iraipot act as the Lord-Gardeners of the various Pyramid-Gardens that produce the finest sacrificial plants, which are either hunted by the Rotanev or directly sacrificed by the blades of the Rotatem.
In similar fashion to the lodges and the temples, the various gardens are also highly competitive and strive to excel other gardens by growing plants of such sublime smell, taste, and color that merely glancing at them can cause lesser species to freeze place while marveling at their beauty for days or even months.
The overall name of this class is based on the common practice of the nobility to cover their faces with veils made from Riversong leaves and semi-transparent stripes of carved Sweet Bark in order to shelter their eyes and nose from the sickening sight of the lower classes.
Another function of these veils is also to hide the bloody tears of the nobility, which are the only clearly visible manifestations of their afflictions.

R'eup etsi Los ("Child of the Suns")

The highest rank within the city-states of the Curnias. Depending on the exact type of rulership within a city-state, this rank may be only given to a single individual, a small council of powerful nobles or to all members of the ruling political party.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

If you can't beat your enemy you can still wear his shame as an accessory.
~ Shuzhi, Yinmoujia Trader

The shards of ambers that grow within the flesh of the Curnias are a sought after resource for the creation of various pieces of jewelry. Due to each shard possessing an individual pattern of blood inclusions, they are often referred to as Crimson or Vein Amber.
The Curnias themselves use the shards for the creation of so-called "Roads of Shame", on which the shards of all those Curnias who succumbed to the ravages of the Amber Butterfly are publicly displayed.

Facial characteristics

Like all Ikona their faces are perfectly symmetrical, yet due to scars caused by their affliction, this is usually far less noticeable than with other Ikona sub-species.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Due to their close connection to the currents of the Green River, the Curnias can primarily be found within the rainforests of the A'irtap-Basin and the cloud forests of the Anotal-Islands.
The greatest settlement outside of the tropical region is the mythical city-state of Ey'dan, which is presumed to be located far beneath the glaciers of the Frozen South.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The base five senses of the Curnias are keen and well developed, with their sense of taste being the most advanced of their natural senses.
Their extrasensory capabilities are primarily focused upon the perception of the currents of the Green River, which allows them to sense the vitality of a plant from hundreds of meters away.
The Curnias use this ability to great effect during their hunts for living plants and the magically assisted cultivation of sacrificial plants.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

The names of the Curnias consist of three components, which are refered to as X'ylac ("Bud"), Solf ("Flower") and Mu'mop ("Fruit").
The X'ylac part of their name is largely based on the name an individual possess before being transformed into a Curnias.
In the rare case where an individual didn't possess a previous name, the bud name is generated either from a noticeable physical trait, such as eye and hair color or from a common preconception about their original species.
The Solf part is based on the name of one or more species of animals or plants and is given to all Curnias that have been fully integrated into the society of their respective city-state. The higher the rank of an individual the nobler the organism which serves as the basis for his flower name.
The most exalted of these organisms are the so-called "Named Creatures", which carried the name of famous heroes and mythical individuals of the Curnias. To carry the name of a Named Creature is considered one of the greatest honor within the society of the Curnias and is a privilege that even the rulers of the city-states have to earn.
The Mu'mop part of a Curnias name indicates the number and quality of sacrifices that an individual has contributed to the Amber Suns of their city-state.
Given that only members of the middle class and above are permitted to acquire sacrifices, the members of the lower classes carry no "fruit-names" but instead end their names with either Ailix'au ("City's Hand") or Su'vres ("Servant").

Major Organizations

Sevenfold Alliance

Being a major power within the A'irtap-Basin the Sevenfold Alliance is a collation of seven city-states located alongside the banks of the Aimmamonu lake.
The Alliance is lead by a council of three "Sun children" stemming from the three primary cities that initially founded the Alliance before being joined by the four minor cities of the surrounding area. Each of the cities specializes in a different part of Curnias society, with the three central cities representing the more prestigious elements.
The seven cities are primarily described by the role they play within the alliance and are therefore widely only known as the City of Temples, the City of the Hunt, the City of Gardens, the City of Servants, the City of Birds, the City of Flames and the City of Children, with only a few individuals knowing the true name of the various cities.

Beauty Ideals

No scars, no treachery, no mercy for the butterfly.
~ Curnias Proverb

For the Curnias there is nothing of greater beauty than the triumph over the ravages of the Amber Butterfly. Due to this each and all physical characteristic and personal traits that indicated a triumph over their affliction are seen as marks of true beauty.
The most exalted mark of beauty is the absence of the hideous amber shards caused by their affliction as well as the lack of the disfiguring scars caused by the emergence of these shards.
While the members of the highest social classes are able to remove these shards by simply taking a bath in the most powerful of the Amber Suns, so are the members of lower social classes forced to use so-called "thorn-files" to file their shards down to an acceptable length.
A more extreme method often employed by members of the lowest classes consist of forcefully ripping the shards out of their flesh and covering the resulting scars either with their clothing or colorful pastes made from plant and animal parts.
The second most highly regarded trait within a Curnias is the acquisition of sacrifices for the Amber Suns, as this act is seen as a direct attack at the Amber Butterfly and additionally offers those worthy enough to bath within the Sun a chance to triumph over their affliction.
While each hit against their eternal nemesis is seen as a sign of beauty, those who are able to provide sacrifices of exceptional quality and thereby deal great damage to the nature of the Butterfly are regarded much higher than those who only cautiously scratch at the surface of its baleful wings.
The third major beauty sign for the Curnias is the loyalty of an individual to their respective city-state, for only through the collaboration of the city are the Curnias able to empower the Amber Suns.
Therefore all those who work against the will of the city (meaning the will of those currently in charge), work not only against the interests of their entire species but directly aid the Amber Butterfly in its baleful work.
Due to this, the act of high treason is an unforgivable crime that marks the perpetrator as an enemy of all Curnias, which can even lead to temporary peace agreements between warring city-states in order to better coordinate the hunt for an I'gav ("Sunless traitor").

Gender Ideals

While the overall society of the Curnias doesn't differentiate between males and females and instead focuses on the sacrificial contributions of a specific individual, so are various professions strongly influenced by a so-called Mulp'mexe ("Ideal"), which besides other things also instructs what gender the "ideal" occupant of a specific profession should have.
This Mulp'mexe is generally based on either the first or the most exceptional occupant of this very job.
While jobholders of a different gender than the ideal of their chosen profession are not unheard of, so are they very often highly specialized in a specific aspect of their profession. This specialization is often to such a degree that they themselves become a sub-ideal for this specific aspect.
While each city-state possesses a sheer mindboggling number of ideals and sub-ideals, so are there still a few major ideals that are revered and recognized by nearly all city-states. The most prominent of these major ideals are the ideals of the Huntress, the Gardener, and the Priest, which correspond to the three paths in which a Curnias may acquire sacrifices.

Al'uben-Xudart ("Mist twine"), Ideal of the Huntress

While not the first female Curnias to take up the mantel of the Huntress, Al'uben-Xudart was certainly the most triumphant hunter in recorded history.
Besides her unparalleled tracking abilities and remarkable skills in reading the currents of the Green River, she also displayed an almost animal-like ferocity during her hunts, regularly returning covered from head to toe in the sap of slain plants.
Her favorite weapon was a massive hunting bow called O'ure ("Root-Eater"), which possed such enormous penetrating power that it allowed her to directly target the roots of her prey, felling even the mightiest of pillar trees with but a single shot.
Various replications of this weapon are still used today by high ranking hunters during ritualistic hunts of the fiercest of sacrificial plants.
Al'uben-Xudart was last seen when she entered the Cloudsinger Valley on the hunt for an almost mythical plant known as the "Acheronian Flower".
While it is presumed that she perished within the stifling mists of the valley, some still hold the hope that the Ideal Huntress might one day return from her eternal hunt.
In honor of Al'uben-Xudart dedication in the hunt for the Acheronian Flower, many huntresses smear the ashes of burned flowers into their hairs and leave small offerings of arrows at various spots all over the rainforest.

Rotineg Xu'lab ("Father Goldcorn"), Ideal of Gardener

Once a mere crop-shaper, Rotineg Xu'lab became one of the earliest and most revered ideals by whose example the deeds of all Curnias which tread the path of the Gardener are measured.
While he created a multitude of different plant species, none of his creations had such an enormous impact upon the society of the Curnias as the Sunc'yc-teosinte (" Swan Maize ").
With each of the numerous tumorous seeds serving as a reservoir for the energies of the Green Rivers, Swan maize is one of if not the most powerful sacrificial plant an Amber Sun can receive.
In fact, many of the oldest and most powerful Amber Suns were originally ignited with Swan maize offered by Rotineg Xu'lab himself.

Aiv'uder Submyroc ("Flayed Flower"), Ideal of Priests

The very first Curnias to ever perform a herbal sacrifice, Aiv'uder Submyroc is by many Curnias regarded as a near-mythical messiah, who lit the spark for the glorious re-emergence of their species.
Given his mythical status, only a few information about Aiv'uder Submyroc can be considered as true, making him one of the most leaning and easiest idols to follow.
In fact, not even his true gender is known, which therefore allows both males and females to equally tread upon the resin-stained path of the priest.

Relationship Ideals

I love the way in which she carves open the exposed flank of a sacrificial plant and the way in which the splattering resin covers her skin.
Which naturally is a far more pure form of love than the animalistic behavior of your kind.
~ Sufur'la A'htlac, Longcoat Huntress

While the Curnias -like all Ikona- have a notable tendency to become egocentric narcissists, they are nevertheless are able to form long-lasting friendships. This type of camaraderie is especially common for the members of the various hunting lodges as their dangerous work is perfectly suited for the creation of "fire-forged" friends.
Romantic relationships, on the other hand, are exceedingly rare, and usually only happen between individuals that already shared such a connection prior to their transformation into Curnias.
While such relationships are therefore frequently regarded as needless leftovers of their past lives, the involved individuals are generally left to their devices, as long as their relationship doesn't interfere with their regular work. The one exception to this stance are cross-city state relationships, which are seen as outright treasonous and therefore universally have to be conducted in secret.

Average Technological Level

Regarded by many as a primitive attempt to remake the superior spiritual technology of the old Ikona empire, the technology of the Curnias is surprisingly advanced and more than capable to match itself with the technology of seemingly more advanced species.
One of the reasons for this deadly misconception is the fact that the Curnias possess two strictly separated branches of technology that are used for two distinct purposes.
The so-called Ser Surup'mi ("Item of Impurity") denominates weapons and tools, which are used for all tasks involving the interaction with non-plant organisms, such as fishing, cooking, and war.
Due to the disdain, the Curnias possess for all such tasks, these objects are made of relatively poor quality and lack most of the intricated designs and embellishment normally found on Ikona objects and weaponry. Given that these objects are the ones most prominently seen by those interacting with the Curnias, it is no wonder that even other Ikona mistake the Curnias as a species of primitive savages.
The other branch of their technology is referred to as Murcas Mutirem ("Sacrificial Benefaction") and incorporates all the various tools used in the acquisition of botanical sacrifices. Given how vital the acquisition of sacrifices is for the Curnias and how highly they regard this act, it is no wonder that even the simplest ritualistic dagger is a master-crafted piece of art.
While the appearance of these objects might still give off a primitive vibe due to them being exclusively made from plant-based material, they all possess qualities normally only found in supremely made pieces of metalwork.
The main reason for this is the ability of the Curnias to use the currents of the Green River to shape the properties of various plant materials such as bark, wood, or leaves to be more suitable for their purposes. One of the most well-known examples of this botanical technology is Su'poryp ("Resin-Bronze") a metallic substance made purely from various plant saps.
Just how deadly the "primitive" technology of the Curnias can be, could be clearly observed during the disaster of the 11th Harvest-Expedition sent by the Vitreous Empire, which resulted in the loss of three whole legions of effigy-warriors and their accompanying strategist.
During the various engagements of this campaign the Curnias masterfully combined their own technology, with the innate deadly nature of their homeland. Countless warriors were torn apart by Wolfteeth Fishs, succumbed to the hallucinogenic poisons of Inamorata Flowers or simply starved to death within the Smoking Maze, without the Curnias even firing a single of their obsidian-tipped arrows.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The primary language of the Curnias is called Murtcele, the Amber Tounge. It is highly similar in writing to the Omres of the old Ikona empire but possesses significant differences in pronunciation.
The huntresses of the various hunting lodges use a simplified version of this language, known as Sunmyh'ronev ("Hunting song"), which they use during their hunts. The words of this language are rarely fully spoken but instead are "whispered" over the currents of the Green River in order to facilitate communication over long distances.

Common Dress Code

The dress code of the Curnias follows a class-based ranking system, which is codified within the so-called Odro Itcima. Each of the various tiers of the Odro Itcima is centered around a characteristic dress, on which all clothing variants of this tier are based.
While most of these cloths may appear simple and primitive, even the most basic of dresses are made with exquisite skill and style as even the lowliest of Curnias possess pride and self-importance otherwise only found in kings and gods.

Si'tsev Aetrocs ("Dress of Shagreen")

The characteristic dress of the lowest social classes, the Si'tsev Aetrocs is made from the salt-tanned hide of various jungle animals such as Vipergators, Mangrove hagfish or Ripper deers.
As the leather still retains a faint smell of blood, the Curnias regard the wearing of this shameful clothing as downright disgusting and tried to limit their exposure to it as much as possible.
Due to this one can easily deduct the social standing of a lower class citizen, based on just how few items of clothing they are wearing.

Si'tsev Amul'p ("Dress of Feathers")

Made for lower class citizens, the Si'tsev Amul'p is made from animal parts that are considered to be less stained by the blood of its former owners, such as claws, horns, hairs, and feathers.
Especially feathers are a highly sought-after resource, given that their highly diverse colorations mirror the beauty of blossoming flowers.
Due to this, the various lower-class professions can generally be identified by the colorations and pomp of their feathered headdresses.

Si'tsev In'irt ("Dress of Three")

The typical dress of the middle class, the Si'tsev In'irt is made from pieces of burned wood, bands of ash-stained linen, splinters of charred herbal wax and various gemstones made from polished honey coal.
Most of the materials used in the creation of the dress originate from the personal incense burners each middle-class citizen carries at their person, making each dress a highly individual and personal piece of clothing.
In addition to this basal dress, each citizen of the middle class also possesses a so-called En'gisni ("Mark of Paths"), which is a further piece of clothing that identifies the way in which an individual acquires sacrifices for the Amber Suns of their city.

Garb of the Huntress

Curnias that treat the path of the Huntress, wear a so-called Alloba ("Cloak of Fallen Leaves"), which is a cloak made from the leaves of each plant the owner of the cloak hunted during their career.
In order to preserve these leaves over their long lifetime, the Curnias treat the leaves with specific herbal oils infused with the energies of the Green River, which not only give the leaves a brass-like tint but also allows the Curnias to use them to hide from the perception of their prey-plants.
Given the sheer amount of leaves even a small plant can have, even the coats of new and inexperienced Mulugas ("short-coat") huntresses can reach multiple meters within a few years, and the cloaks of Xaviv ("Longcoat") or Ocar'd ("Serpentcloak") elite huntresses are of truly enormous proportions.

Garb of the Gardener

Curnias that walk upon the path of the Gardener, wear so-called Selatigid ("Gloves of Cosseted Roots") which are gloves woven from the root hairs of each plant they raised within their respective Pyramid-Garden.
Like the leaves of the Huntress's cloak, the root hairs are also treated with preservation mixtures and lifegiving enchantments to guarantee their prolonged service on the hands of their master.
While it takes an absolutely enormous amount of root hairs to create a glove piece that even covers a single finger, so are the Curnias very talented and determined gardeners, which enables novice gardeners to earn their first full glove within a few decades of intense labor.
As a gardener increases in skill and prestige so too increases the size of their gloves, until their two gloves connect with each other and forms of a small top referred to as an Acirol ("Pruinose harness").

Garb of the Priest

Curnias which choose the path of the Priest, wear a so-called Su'etlab ("Belt of Flayed Trees"), which is a belt made from the bark of the plants they sacrificed for the Amber Suns of their city.
Unlike the En'gisni of the other paths, the Su'etlab is not specifically treated with conservative oils, but rather receives this treatment as a byproduct during the sacrifices performed by their owner, which also causes each belt to possess an individual marbled pattern formed from spilled plant saps.
As the number of sacrifices performed by a priest increases, so too increases the number of their belts, until they form a skirt-like robe referred to as a Munirac ("Splatter Skirt").

Si'tsev Xer ("Dress of Lords")

The highly prestigious dress of the upper class, the Si'tsev Xer is an evolution of the En'gisni worn by middle-class citizens and therefore comes in three distinct versions corresponds to the three paths in which the Curnias acquire sacrifices for the Amber Suns.

Regalia of the Archhuntress

The version worn by the Archhuntresses of the various hunting lodges is known as Ailad'nops ("Singing Coat") or Setcarh'patac ("Vestment of the Blossoming Serpent") and represents a marvelous derivative of the Alloba worn by regular huntresses. It is made from thousands of petals stemming from the most exquisite prey-plants the deepest corners of the rainforests have to offer.
Besides the rarity of their components, the Ailad'nops also differ from regular Alloba's due to a special semi-arcane weaving technique which is used to create them and which allows the petals of the coat to directly interface with the currents of the Green River.
The characteristic song-like sounds -referred to as "Riversongs"- which are generated during this interaction are the cause for the name of these coats and also serve as an individual identifying feature for each Archhuntress.
While the Curnias revere these "song"s as glorious hymns of the hunt, so view the living plants of the rainforests these songs as a baleful omen for they herald the arrival of an Archhuntress and her hunting parting.

Regalia of the Lord-Gardener

The Lord-Gardeners of the Pyramid-Gardens, wear a so-called Sugelirolf ("Smoking Cuirass"), which consists of an augmented Acirol whose root hairs have been replaced with chatoyant threads made from the stamens of various delicate flowers grown with partially-arcane methods.
Due to the methods of their creation and the considerable shamanic powers of a Lord-Gardener, these stamen permanently emit small amounts of pollen, which create a cloud of iridescent beauty around the owner of a Sugelirolf.
In order to prevent their dresses from creating full hayfields of flowers wherever they go, most Lord-Gardeners wear a pair of insulating evening gloves -referred to as Sucsum Xel'lop ("Moos thumbs")-, which are made from green seed-eater moos, whose ravenous appetite strongly diminishes the pollen cloud surrounding the Lord-Gardener.

Regalia of the Highpriest

The Highpriests of the different Altartemples wear a so-called Eramir'cal ("Weeping Dress"), which is an improved version of the Munirac worn by high ranking priests, made from the hulls of the most high-grade fruits sacrificed within each temple.
Due to the lifegiving forces of the Green River these hulls never fully lose their sapful nature, which causes them to "weep" small droplets of sweet plant saps with every movement done by the wearer of this beautiful dress.
In order to prevent their Eramir'cal from creating a fragrant river of plant saps, the seam of the dress is fringed with pieces of Aignops-wood, whose sponge-like structure absorbs the "tears" of the dress. These wood pieces are regularly exchanged and used as incense for important sacrificial rituals.

Si'tsev Allest'eracim ("Dress of Scintillant Stars")

Worn only by the rulers of the various city-states, the Si'tsev Allest'eracim is more a work of art than a mere clothing article.
In fact, it is not even something considered as clothing by many other species, as the Si'tsev Allest'eracim is made solely from multicolored drops of viscous plant saps that are painted directly at the taintless skins of the city ruler, whose shamanic power keep the drops in a permanent semi-solid state.
Due to this semi-solid state, the drops can freely move over the skin of the "Sun Child", allowing them to create ever-changing patterns of dazzling beauty with but a simple gesture.
As each drop not only reflects the light of the sun but also glows with an innate reflection of the Green River, even the darkest of nights can do nothing to diminish the astonishing beauty of this most marvelous of dresses.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Oitag'rup ("Embrace of the cleansing sun")

The Oitag'rup is the single most important ritual within the culture of the Curnias and of vital importance to each and every member of their society.
It is a highly ritualized bathing procedure that is able to temporarily suppress or even revert the effects of Siugnu. The focal point of this ritual, are the various types of Amber Suns created and maintained by the sacrifice of uncountable amounts of plants.
The effectiveness and duration of this suppression are directly linked to the strength of the Amber Sun in which the ritual was performed.
While the exact strength of an Amber Sun can vary widely based on the quantity, quality and, type of sacrificial plants used to empower it, it generally falls within one of five classes corresponding to the five major social classes of the Curnias' society.

Oita'cirpa Sirgit ("Sun of Beasts")

The Amber Suns used by the lowest of citizens are barely more than cubs filled with the spent resin of other Amber Suns that has been mixed with squashed beetle shells and pulverized minerals in order to give it a brown-orange color, interstratified by dark red blotches as well as an intense copper-like smell.
Due to this treatment as well as the limited amount of resin contained with them these Amber Suns are barely able to keep the Claws of the Amber-Butterfly at bay, resulting in hundreds of sharp-edged resin shards to grow all over the bodies of the unfortunate individuals deemed unworthy to use any of the higher ranking suns.

Oita'cirpa S'meih ("Sun of Storms")

The Amber Suns used by lower-class citizens are also known as "Swirling Suns" and consist of a quickly rotating resin-filled cylinder, which sprays its purifying content over the individuals kneeling before it.
While this would theoretically be sufficient to at least slow the progression of their affliction, various leaves are placed on the skins of these citizens prior to the beginning of the ritual, in order to lessen the effectiveness of the bathing ritual.
This is done as a form of symbolic punishment of the lower class citizens for not directly aiding in the filling of the Amber Suns and causes their affliction to manifest in clearly visible ways, which the affected individuals tried to hide behind the pomp of their feather dresses.

Oita'cirpa Ammalf ("Sun of Flames")

The Amber Suns used by middle-class citizens consist of multiple fountains from which streams of stifling hot resin erupt at irregular intervals. As the heat of the resin prevents longer exposure to the cleansing streams, the Curnias instead circle around the fountains along a network of serpentine paths laid-out with the ashes of sacrificed plants.
Depending on how good an individual is able to match their movements with the eruptions of the fountains, a single walk along the Serpent's path is able to remove all but a handful of amber shards from the body of a Curnias, allowing them to easily hide them beneath their elaborate clothing.

Oita'cirpa Eregrets ("Sun of Tears")

The Amber Suns of the upper-class are luxurious bathtubs carved from the wood of silkwood-trees that are highly filled with freshly drained plant saps, allowing the Curnias to submerge most of their body within the honey-colored bliss.
Above the bathtub, an assortment of sliced fruits, roots, and leaves hang suspended by linen threads and drip "tears" of life-giving resin directly onto the noble below them.
Given the outstanding quality of the handpicked sacrifices used to fille these bathtubs and the sheer amount of time, the nobles spend within their bathtubs, practically all signs of their affliction are removed with only a handful of small resin shards located beneath their eyelids remaining.

Oita'cirpa E'arret ("Sun of Soil")

Also known as the "Crowning Suns" the Amber Suns used by the ruler of the city-states are enormous pools filled to the very brim with the resin of thousands of plants and glow with the undiluted power of the Green River, rivaling even the light of the true Sun for those who are able to perceive the energies of life in their true form.
Due to this, it is no wonder that even a few drops from this pool are able to temporarily completely suppress the affliction of the Curnias.
While the Curnias view these pools with great reverence other lesser species regularly mistake them as pools filled with molten gold, which tempted many states and organizations to undertake expeditions into the A'irtap Basin in the search of the mythical Gilded City.

Common Taboos

The Curnias absolutely revile blood, as it reminds them of their affliction and the fate that awaits them should they fail to keep it in check.
Due to this, the physical contact with even minute amounts of blood is regarded as a grave breach in social etiquette and those found guilty of this "crime" are punished heavily.

History

Hated be the Butterfly, with his wings of amber.
Damnd be his Claws, who draw the accursed liquid.
Praised be Principal Sun, whose ray cleanse the flesh.
Lauded be the sacrifice, whose resin nourish its power.
~ Excerpt from the Song of the One Sun

Claws before Dawn

The time directly after the Second Spring, during which the first Curnias were created, following the emergence of their characteristic affliction. As the early Curnias were unable to combat the progression of their affliction, they lived their short and painful lives completely at the mercy of an uncaring affliction.
Due to the fumes released by the funeral pyres of the death attracting whole swarms of "Tyrant Butterflies", the image of the butterfly became inseparably linked with their affliction, leading to the emergence of the myth of the Amber Butterfly as the primary adverser of all Curnias.

The Principal Sun

The discovery of a resin filled basin within the ruins of the once-proud city of Avlis'syra marked a turning point within the history of the Curnias, as the resin of the pool was not only able to halt the progression of their affliction but even reveres it.
How exactly the basin and the salvific resin within it were created is still a highly debated topic within Curnias' society, which has caused the outbreaks of at least two wars between multiple city-states.
But regardless if the basin was created by an overloaded shamanic totem, an eccentric gardener, or via divine intervention, all Curnias can agree on the monumental importance of this Principal Sun on the history of their species.

The Green Hunt

Roughly 150 years after its initial discovery, the power of the Principal Sun began to wain, which once again unleashed the rampant terror of the Amber Butterfly into the lives of the Curnias.
Yet while the reprieve gained by the power of the Principal Sun had not been long, so had it been long enough for the Curnias to discover how to create similar pools and how to recharge their powers by sacrificing various plants to the newly formed Amber Sun.
Due to this discovery, the total collapse of the Principal Suns a few years later did not cause the extinction of the Curnias but instead lit the spark for the beginning of the Green Hunt, which still continues to this day.

Common Myths and Legends

Sumit'lu-Arcas ("The Last Sacrifice")

One of the most well known but also most polarizing myth told within the city-states of the Curnias the Sumit'lu-Arcas tells the story of a sacrifice so great in power that it would forever cure the Curnias of their affliction and permanently destroy the Amber-Butterfly.
While the exact manner in which this sacrifice might be acquired changes with each retelling, countless Curnias have dedicated their entire life to the search for this mythical price.
The project by many considered to be the closest to actually acquire the Sumit'lu-Arcas, is the so-called "Golden Tree of Natacu'y", which is a tree entirely made of distilled amber, whose intense shamanic glow has given the city-state of Natacu'y the nickname "City of the Ever-Sun".
The reason for the controversial nature of this tale is the fact that some Curnias view mere the suggestions that a single sacrifice, no matter how great, could ever be enough to fully avenge the suffering and humiliation their species had to endure beneath the claws of the Amber-Butterfly, as borderline heretical.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Given that the Cra rever the act of bloodshed with almost the same enthusiasm with which the Curnias loath it, the Curnias absolutely abhor the Cra.

Theme song

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Ikona

Lifespan

Theoretically biological immortal, yet due to their affliction the average lifespan is reduced to 300 - 1,400 years, dependant on the individual access to an Amber Sun.

Average Height

1.54- 1.67 m

Average Weight

50 - 60 kg (appear lighter due to their river gliding ability)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Their skin is of a light greenish tone, which forms a nice contrast to their copper-colored skin markings.

Geographic Distribution

• A'irtap Basin