Cheotrisis

Description

Cheotrisis is the goddess of change in all its forms. In general, she tends to be a benevolent goddess, but her priests teach that the necessity of change is not always to the good of people. She is often known as the triple goddess, for she appears to her followers in one of three guises. In all three of them she is vaguely associated with concepts like destiny and Karma, but her true priests teach that destiny is a fallacy. More often than not, people favor one of her faces over the others. Her three faces are known separately as Shuun of the Seasons, Milna, Lady of Growth, and Gaitan the Chaotic.

Shuun

Shuun represents the face of cyclic change. She is present in the turn of the seasons, the cycle of birth/growth/death, the ebb and flow of the tides, the sweep of the stars across the sky, the migrations of the beasts, and the faces of the moon. She is a patron of farmers and healers. Her symbols are the wheel with three spokes and the serpent swallowing its own tail. She is closely associated to the Moonlady, and somewhat associated with the gods of justice and the wild.

Milna

Milna represents the face of linear change. She governs the search for enlightenment, the evolution of cultures, the act of creation, the pursuit of perfection, and the path of the traveler. She is a patron of teachers and craftsmen. She is often a demanding goddess, but she is rarely unpredictable or unreasonable. Her symbol is the winding road. She is seen as a patron of culture, but often in competition with the God of Magic, rather than in cooperation with him.

Gaitan

Gaitan represents the face of random change. She governs the chaos of a war, the change of a dynasty, the path of a tornado, the race of a fire, the crush of an avalanche, and the whimsy of luck. She is a patron of gamblers, and rebels. She is often a terrifying mistress, even when she her interference is a beneficial. Her symbols are the starburst and the axe. A popular saying has her pulling the chariot of the God of War into battle.  

Religion

Church

The followers of Cheotrisis believe in a number of theologies and are organized into innumerable congregations. Cheotrisis chooses clerics from all her followers and rarely clarifies points of dogma, so theologians have been unable to rally around any one mythology or point of view. A few of the most notable followings are those of the Orthodox Church of the Triple Goddess centered in Krislath, the Fourth Age Stoics, the dionysisian cults of Gaitan, and the agrarian magic/worship cults of Shuun. The Orthodox Church of the Triple goddess is a conservative, highly political, rigidly structured organization similar in feel to our Byzantine-era, Eastern Orthodox Church. The fourth Age Stoics are a group deemed heretical by most followers of Cheotrisis. They worship mostly in secret, and they are loosely organized. They believe that the god of Justice is the another aspect of Cheotrisis, that we are in the fourth age (not the third), and that the principle of Karma governs their destiny. The cults of Gaitan are independent, insular groups of followers found in numerous places throughout the land. Many of them are cults in the modern sense of the word, with twisted, charismatic leaders totally controlling their fanatic followers. Although not all of the cults are like this, they do have a macabre, colorful history of kamikaze assassins, suicide pacts, and instigators of cultural overthrow. In stark contrast to these are the agrarian cults of Shuun. They are as scattered and independent as the cults of Gaitan, but tend to be led by Shamans who must demonstrate a deep understanding of the land (or sea) and human nature in order to pass their apprenticeship.

Creation Myth

Before the birth of the wolf, and the cat, and the eagle, Before there were trees in the field and rocks in the meadow and stars in the sky, there was the Creator. And the Creator cried in the emptiness, and from his tears was born the goddess of the goddess of Change, through his eyes came the goddess of the Moon, and out his mouth flew the goddess of the Wild. From his fingernails grew the god of war, and out of his hair flowed of the god of magic. In this age, the first age, the goddess of change had but one face, and this was the face of Milna of progress, for all things were new, and the gods joined together to create every beast and every tree and every puddle. And together they created the all things in the world. As dusk fell on the last day of the first age, Milna gave birth to Gaitan. And as the sun rose on the first day of the second age, and as Gaitan was pulled screaming from the womb of her mother, the world erupted into the chaos of the warring gods. The moon hid and the earth groaned and the seas lashed out in their furious cacophony. And in that transformation Gaitan sneered at the pitiful remnants of the peoples that perished in their untold numbers. But one day, Gaitan saw a couple who could understood and gloried in the upheaval. She caused the earth to throw them into the air and they flew like birds. She smashed them with lightning and they burned like the phoenix. She washed them into the ocean and they swam with the seals, and then she laughed, for she had never before seen so worthy a couple. And Milna, whose hand was hidden in this, laughed with her sister/daughter in joy at what she saw. And she spoke unto the couple and said, "You shall be our chosen people. We will bless you and your children with change and with The Change. Obey us, for you are our instruments." And Gaitan said," Endure us because we will never leave you." And from between the two sides of Cheotrisis came a third voice, which said, "Worship us, for you are our beloved." As the voice finished its speech, the couple could see a third figure that was Shuun. With the birth of Shuun, the second age ended and the third age began. Shuun walked the length of the world, and everywhere she went, time returned to its proper course. Wars ended, crops grew, the moon rose full in the sky, and the seas receded. Everywhere the world was reborn and the cycle began anew.

Holy City

The Holy City of Cheotrisis is a misnomer, since it’s not technically a city at all. A moving caravan of holy people, supplicants, students, pilgrims, traders, and support people, the Holy City is protected by the power of Cheotrisis. Any follower (and almost any non-follower) is welcome to join and study in the city. In an area roughly three square miles, no one can be injured without the permission of the Goddess. The area of protection moves of its own accord, the people have to follow it. Only the leader of the Holy City, who wears the Amulet of Change, can see the protected path. The leader of the Holy City is always highly revered, but his power over the city, and over the other followers of Cheotrisis, has varied through the years. Right now, the city is lead by a politically astute, very wise man. His suggestions are always implemented within the city and his associates have risen to power in many places. There is at least one order of monks who’re centered in the city. Their purpose is to seek wisdom and to teach any that are deemed worthy. It is a mark of honor to have received training from them, and many politically ambitious youngsters make the trek and apply for training. About half are accepted, and maybe a sixth of those complete it. Since it moves constantly, sometimes into areas far from civilized lands, the city can be a challenge for the supplicant to find. Any follower can pray for guidance from Cheotrisis and be gifted with an unfailing sense of the direction (as the crow flies) of the city. Unfortunately, the supplicant also receives a geas that impels him find the city and offer six months service to the leader of the Holy City. Most supplicants choose to find it by following rumors instead.

The Cheotrim

Physical Description

Collectively, the people of the goddess of change are called the Cheotrim. A Cheotra is a humanoid, but with many distinct differences that separate him from the other races. Until they hit puberty, Cheotrim are unremarkable looking humanoids with neutral (beige or grayish) skin, and eyes with no whites, only pupil and iris. Also, the Cheotrim have manes more similar to male lions than human hair, and which continues partway down their backs. They also have extremely large and mobile ears and somewhat oversize features. Upon reaching puberty, Cheotrim begin to develop distinctive markings and build that usually are associated with their totem animal. These distinctions cause a variance in appearance that is greater than in most races, with Cheotra developing features like feather crowns, zebra-like stripes, or sleek pelts. On average, Cheotrim weigh slightly less than humans, and males and females are about the same in size and strength. They are at least as varied a race as humans though, with normal adult weights ranging from 80-200 pounds, adult coloration varying from creamy ivory to midnight black, and adult skin type from downy to furry to scaly to smooth. The skin type variation and other distinctions tend to be somewhat subtle in most cheotra since the down, fur, and scales are small and fine. Also, they have the ability to change their shape, but only skilled specialists can do more than superficial changes of coloration with their natural shapes. The Cheotrim tend to be a physically diverse race. In scientific worlds, they would be described as having a high rate of genetic mutation. Thus, they have a higher than normal incidence of abnormals. In general these are split into three groups, the desirable abnormalities (resulting in psychic abilities, exceptional senses, resistance to disease or poison, etc.), benign abnormalities (such as antlers, tails, extra digits, hermaphrodism, etc.), and undesirable abnormalities (like misformed limbs, lycanthropy, epilepsy, etc.).

Shared habits

The Cheotrim are a diverse people, but they do share some traits. All members of society worship Cheotrisis, although some also worship other deities, and respect the wisdom of the Holy City (without necessarily heeding its pronouncements). Cheotra tend to be accepting of new ideas and well able to cope with unexpected situations. A disproportionate number of them are visionaries, explorers, artists, revolutionaries, and wanderers. Luckily for the stability of their nations, the Cheotrim tend to be practical, optimistic, and hardy. To outsiders they may also seem somewhat insensitive, opportunistic, and unpredictable. Since Cheotrim societies consider the ability to change as evidence of adulthood, members of other species who visit a Cheotrim clan may find themselves treated like children (protected and cherished, but not looked on as entirely capable or responsible for their own actions). A tribe of cheotrim is composed of people who have chosen the same animal as an alternate shape and who live together. Tribes often live with animals of their alternate form, and cheotra adopt many of the personality and societal traits exhibited by these animals. Thus, for example, wolf tribesmen tend to be loyal, determined, hardy, insular, and aggressive while otter men are gregarious, playful, unambitious and down to earth. Most cities, and some clans, are composed of different types of tribes that work together with varying levels of harmony. Clans are extended family units based on relationships of blood and fostering. Many clans are made of members of different tribes. Tribes exist almost exclusively in the area where their totem animal can live naturally, so you won’t find swan tribesmen in the desert. For practical reasons, few marriages occur between those whose totem animals are incompatible. So intermarriage between a swan tribesman and a river otter tribesman may easily occur, but the love between a snow tiger tribesman and a tropical dolphin tribesman is the sort of situation that fuels numerous tragic romance tales. Because of the opposition between the goddess of change and the god of magic, the Cheotrim are also intrinsically inimical to magic. They are resistant to magical effects, whether good or bad, and have difficulty using magic of any sort. Within a close radius, other people also experience a small amount of this effect. There are very few cheotra magicians, and those that exist either have grave difficulty performing spells, or remove the gifts granted by the goddess of change and are dedicated to the god of magic. These few determined magicians have neither the resistance to magic nor the ability to change, and they are outcasts, looked on with scorn by the cheotrim and with distrust by the elves. Cheotra have no resistance to clerical magic, however.

The Change

The cheotrim are gifted with the ability to change shape. This ability normally lies dormant until the onset of puberty. At this point the shape of the body becomes quite malleable to their will. By the time they gain this ability, a cheotra child would have already undergone several years of training and ritual to provide the mental discipline to maintain his current form. Without training and clerical ritual, the random (or anatomically unwise) changes that result from a lack of mental control result frequently in painful disfigurement and then death. The few extant cases of "wild" cheotrim surviving puberty consist of ones that are physically and often mentally disfigured and totally dedicated to the goddess of change. None have known to learn the control without intervention of other cheotra or the goddess. Some cheotra study the change within them and learn to harness it. These Adepts can learn to manipulate their bodies like malleable clay and even summon change to the world outside their bodies. Their powers are legendary and none are known to currently exist, but lesser masters are able to use their wisdom to heal themselves and make lesser changes to their appearance and physical attributes. Normal cheotra can only make the great change into their alternate form or the most minor of distortions to their appearance without danger, like changing the color of their skin and hair or slightly strengthening the calluses of their fingers. The change is natural, not magical, so it can not be detected with magic, and it only results in a physical change. The gift of Cheotrisis in the change is that the Cheotrim always retain their own mind and spirit when they change. She doesn’t grant any magical powers possessed by unnatural creatures, and she doesn’t grant any understanding of the animal. They need to learn how to walk (or swim, or fly) all over again in their new form. Also, any item worn around the body had better be of a decent fit around the new body, or they are going to have problems after they change. Any clothing will be ripped by growth or entangle a cheotra changing to a smaller form. If a cheotra is wearing chains, or is surrounded by material stronger than skin and bones, then their bones will be warped and crushed in the change. Cheotrim usually learn much of the proper animal behavior and communication from their clan tribe before they change. Sometimes, in clans composed of multiple animal tribes, the children gain at least a shallow understanding of several animals’ behaviors and communication. Almost all clans practice some form of fostering system for their children, so that thy can be exposed to different tribes before they make a life choice, so that they meet more potential marriage partners, and so the clans can gain allies. In order to enact a change, the cheotra needs three things: knowledge of the shape to change into, a physical totem of the shape, and communion with the goddess of change. After the first time a cheotra gains his other form, he only needs the totem. At least part of the totem must by in physical contact with the cheotra in order for him to change. While he is in the other shape, the totem is absorbed into the body. At all times, the cheotra has a directional knowledge of where his totem is. If it is ever destroyed, he loses the shape and some of his strength. Few people survive the attempt to gain a second shape. Luckily, these totems are blessed by the goddess and are extremely difficult to destroy. There are two methods whereby a Cheotra can call the first change, and they have different effects.

Method 1: Litiaeen

The first method is by far the most common way for a cheotra to gain his shape. In this method, the supplicant first constructs a sort of voodoo totem made of materials that signify the shape the supplicant wishes to gain. Then the supplicant undergoes a ritual in which a tribal shaman shares the knowledge of the form as given to the First Tribes (more on that below) by the goddess. In this communion, the youngster absorbs this information, and is blessed by the goddess (as many coming of age rituals). During the communion, the supplicant changes for the first time. The shape he changes into always reflects his birth form. So, for example, a large, dark, young man will become a large, dark, young wolf, while a small, pale, old woman will become a small, pale, old wolf. An aggressive person will take the form of an aggressive animal while a secretive personality will be reflected in a secretive form. In any shape, the cheotra retains his distinctive eyes, which have no whites and shift in color. After the first change the knowledge of the shape is permanently embedded into his consciousness, so he will never again need another to invoke the change.

Method 2: Metaeen

The second method is invoked much less often. In this method, the cheotra kills the animal he wishes to become. The pelt or feathers or other remnants of the body make up the physical totem he needs to enact the change. Eating the flesh and/or drinking the blood of the animal while in ritual meditation provides the knowledge of the form. In this method, the supplicant gains the shape of the exact animal he killed. The cheotra’s eyes look like animal eyes when in the animal shape. The shape will age, become injured, and heal as the cheotra subsequently does, however. The drives and desires of the other form affect the cheotra who choose this method however. It is common wisdom that all those who choose metaeen will eventually succumb to the drives of the form and lose that which makes them cheotra. The cheotrim who seek out this method either have misshapen natural forms, are members of a few wilderness/warrior societies, wish to take a shape that is not one of the First Tribes, are intrinsically anti-social, or are members of the shadowy spy cults worship Gaitan. Gaining your shape by this method however, is anathema to all the nations and tribes of the cheotrim. It is considered a religious and moral perversion akin to pedophilia is in our culture. A cheotra who gains his totem form by this method will be hunted for extermination by any other cheotra unless they are from the same cult. Even competing cults usually revile each other.  

The Tribes

The stories and histories of the Cheotrim tell that when the goddess blessed the First Couple, they so embraced the Change that they could turn into any form they wanted. The First Couple had five children and to each of the children, the first couple gave the knowledge of the spirit of the five families of tribes (the first children are the heroes of a great cycle of stories in the Cheotrim culture). Each of these children in turn had children, and each of these children learned the spirit of one of the tribes from their parents. The spirit of the tribe is the knowledge of the form that is passes on through the Litaeen ritual. The tribes and their traditional characteristics are listed below, grouped by family.

Hunters

Dogs(Wolf, Dog, Coyote, Jackal, Fox, Hyena) The Canines are strongest in the long hunt. They wear down their enemies through persistence. They are loyal, dependable, strong, stubborn, and good long term strategists. The form grants excellent hearing, smell, and long distance endurance. Note, fox tribesmen mate for life and focus their life around the nuclear family, while other tribes of the Canine family are pack oriented, reveling in group loyalty and strict hierarchy.

Bears (bears, pandas, racoons) The Ursines are the largest and strongest of the hunters. They are also less group oriented and more inclined toward solitary, introspective pursuits. They are generally slow, strong, gruff, and un-social.

Cats (Tiger, Lion, Lynx, Leopard, Cheetah, Ocelot, Jaguar, Jaguarundi) The Felines are the explosive hunters. They are proud, fierce, independent, crafty, and competitive. They have great speed and superior hearing and night vision. They are the best jumpers, and are good climbers. Socially, they tend toward harems or small groups, although many are solitary types.

Raptors (Eagle, Griffon, Falcon, Hawk, Owl) The tribes of the birds of prey are fierce hunters and fighters. They are not as well equipped for long distance travel as the other tribes of flyers, but they can still roam far and are gifted with superior sight and speed. They tend to be loyal, intense, intelligent, and quiet.

Weasles (wolverine, skunk, civet, mongoose, otter, Badger, Marten, Grison)

Crocodiles (alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gharial)

Travelers

Horses (Horse, Zebra, Ass) The Equines are the great runners. They are quite social and often playful, but they are fierce in defending their loved ones. They are large and strong and have good hearing and smell. The social group tends to be focused on harems.

Antellope (Gazelle, Antelope, oryx, Impala, Reedbuck, Dik dik) The Bovines are the leapers and climbers and powerful bulk of the hoofed tribes. They are gregarious, flirtatious, charismatic, and ambitious. Socially they tend toward extremely large and intricate social groups and revel in the interaction. Physically they have excellent danger detection, peripheral vision, and hearing, and many have sharp horns.

Cattle (ox, cattle, bison, buffalo, Yak, water buffalo)

Deer (elk, deer, moose, caribou, Duiker) The Cervids are the introspective guardians of the hooved tribes. They don’t provoke confrontations, but they are well equipped to defend themselves. They are proud, introspective wanderers who travel great distances. They have great strength and endurance, good hearing, and powerful antlers.

Camels (camel, llama, guanaco, alpaca, vicuna) The Camelids thrive on punishing conditions. They travel great distances in deadly lands. They are patient, enduring, grouchy extremists. They have incredible endurance and highly specialized skills. Their social structure is centered around protective caravans.

Waterfowl (swan, geese, storks, crane, flamingo, maribou) The swans are the great romantic figures of the cheotra. They are graceful, proud, and fierce defenders. They tend to socialize in small groups.

Runner Birds (ostrich, rhea, emu, casssowary, kiwi)

Foragers

Fowl (turkey, peafowl, capercallie, toucan)

Corbies (condor, vulture, raven)

Hogs (pig, boar, warthog, hippo, rhino, tapir)

Rodents (beavers, springhare, capybaras, porcupines, marmot, cavy, cane rat, bandicoot, wombat)

Turtles (turtles, tortoises, armadillo) Wise, ornery, patient,

Climbers

Apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons) The primates are large and powerful. They are excellent climbers and have great power and dexterity. They are by far the strongest of the climbers. They are generally very social, clever, and playful, although the gorillas are less curious and more serious. The gibbons are the master tree travelers. They are not large, but they can cover vast distances by swinging through the trees. They are strictly monogamous and loyal people, protecting their nuclear family very carefully.

Monkeys (monkey, baboons, lemur, macaque, mandrill, Drill) Monkeys are highly arboreal, excellent acrobats, and quite social. They are often pranksters and are extremely dexterous and have good night vision.

? (Racoon, Sloth, Coatis, Opossum, Kuala, Kangaroo, Wallaby)

Sheep (goat, sheep, chamois, Ibex, Musk Ox, Saiga, Chiru) Resourceful, gregarious, dodgers

Serpents Sensual, deadly,

Lizards Quick, resourceful,

Swimmers

Sirens (Sea Lions, Seal, Walrus, seacow, manatee)

Cetaceans (Dolphin, orca, porpoise, narwhale, beluga) Intelligent, playful, curious, and highly gregarious, but the friendly side they show to their families and when happy hides a powerful and deadly predator.

Seabirds (Pelican, Albatross, Frigate Bird, Cormorant, Penguin) They great fishers and long distance flyers. Pelicans are extremely social and revel in interpersonal interactions, while albatross are gregarious but spend much time alone traveling. These are the master storytellers of the cheotra. Socially, their societies center around large, loosely organized colonies.

Fish (Shark, Eel, Carp, Tuna)

? (Octopus, Squid, Manta Ray) Clever, silent, solitary, and often highly graceful, they along with fish, they tend to be the least comfortable on land.

Oceana

Political/Social Structure

Oceana is a term given to a loosely affiliate group of the tribes and clans that rule the great ocean. They are a highly migratory people that live mostly on boat caravans that roam the great ocean, with a few permanent settlements on islands.

Demographics

Geography

Historical Synopsis

Krislidath

Political/Social Structure

Krislidath is by far the most politically complex and sophisticated of the Cheotra nations. It is lagely urban in feel, with even rural areas receiving the mixed benefit of regular news, governmental intervention, and influence in national politics. There is little naivete or political innocence among the Krisildath population, although many are good-natured and well-meaning. Krisildath is ostensibly an empire but in practice run by an appointed bureaucracy. Local, city, and regional councils decide who is appointed to any given position in a regional level, and a national assembly chooses appointments at a national level. The councils and assembly are comprised of a mixture of dynastic, elected, and purchased seats, so you can inherit, earn, or buy a vote in the government. There are also some seats held by certain churches, some clans, and many trade guilds. They each have their own methods of determining who represents these bodies in the assemblies. The councils and assemblies also frequently pass new laws and regularly come into conflict with each other. In all, life in the mother of empires is a labyrinthian free-for-all of influence and intrigue that only a sadist or a Krisidant could love.

Demographics

Geography

Historical Synopsis

Brunth

Political/Social Structure

Brunth

Demographics

Geography

Historical Synopsis