The Mur of Shalvys That Was
Anatomy:
The Murfolk are a mammalian species of bipedal human-kin hailing from the verdant archipelago nation of Skadia in the Southern Oceans, isolated form the nearby continental drift. Most Mur stand to a height of six feet tall with bother genders featuring broad barrelled chests, thin waists, long and powerful limbs with wide hands and feet, and extensive fin like appendages forming upon their forearms and legs. They resemble human's for the most part in terms of form however make several notable deviations in basic physiology due to having acclimatised to a more aquatic culture and environment.
They possess a unique body shape that accommodates a developed respiratory system within a barrelled chest. This cavity is primarily designed to contain the enormous pair of lungs and powerful heart all of which is protected by a thickened rib cage. Complimented by heavily oxygenated blood allows them to remain submerged for extended periods, some Mur claim to be able to hold their breath for upwards of forty minutes though in combat situations their exertions limit this time drastically.
Their skin can present itself in various shades of blue and green, depending on locality and hormonal balances, and secretes a thin layer of natural oils that is permeable to water allowing the Mur to keep their skin moist. All Mur also possess a second layer of transparent black eyelids which remain closed while the allowing them to swim rapidly through salt water as well as preventing becoming sun blinded when they surface after prolonged submersion.
Throughout their lives Mur develop hardy and durable appendages including fins and tails which aid their powerful limbs in controlling their underwater movements.
Muscle forms in sheaths upon their bodies and densely so due to their conditioning under water which make Mur decidedly stronger than the average human male and better suited for labouring work. It is also worth noting that the gender of a Mur is not always immediately obvious despite their lack of clothing because their sex organs, including the breasts of a female Mur, are not always external to the body and manifest during breeding seasons and times of arousal.
Culture:
The Mur form communes centred around areas of natural abundance usually inland where waterways are present or along the coasts where a myriad wealth of flora and fauna can be found. Such communes are semi-autonomous settlements collectively ministered to by River/Lake/Harbour Masters whose function is to ensure the safety of the general populous, productivity of industry, as well as the free flow of trade to various other settlements. This title tends to hereditary and is typically passed on the worthy clerk or dock hand whose efforts are considered laudable.
The general underlying concepts of Mur culture centre on prosperity and unity and as such the Mur see works that benefit the people as a whole to be worth pursuing with the fullest of their efforts. As a maritime and agricultural society the position of labourer, farmer, and gamesman are treated with due respect for the craft of cultivating/raising/hunting of natural aspects of the world.
Given their natural inclination for the oceans and waterways it is no wonder that unique aesthetics manifest themselves in Skadiian art and literature. The foremost of these aesthetics being the ‘whorl' which primarily appears in their intricately woven textiles and fabrics. The most common examples of such are the Maera and Aklae which represent the only forms of clothing the Skadii ever wear. This also extends into literature and poetry where sentences and phrases tend to take on a cyclic nature flowing into one another.
Within Mur society neither gender has specifically designated roles though it is usually observed that the female of the species has become established in the upper echelons of the social structure due to their matriarchal pantheon.
Arcana/Magical Engineering and the Authorities:
[Pending Revision]
Religion:
The systematic beliefs of the Skadii-an Mur are perhaps the least understood part of their culture though perhaps make up the most fundamental part of their lives. The Mur subscribe to a vast, matriarchal pantheon of various deific figures which they both do and do not believe exist. These ‘deities' are commonly used to personify important cultural ideals or perhaps explain or express concerns of a lack of knowledge on a subject.
That being said they pay homage to the deities of their ancestral homeland of Shalvys from which the pantheon originally hails as if they were forms of ‘grand spirits' while lesser spirits and manifestations of their deities exist in the natural world.
Spirits are attributed various aspects and facets each with differing meanings and interpretations, as well as a domain over which they rule, allowing them to exist in various different senses and to convey a wide variety of meanings. Shrines and Temples are maintained by the various adepts, and High Priestesses, receiving varied levels of care dependant on their position within the Covenant, who both accept and determine the worth of the gifts presented.
Such beliefs are also used in a practical sense with the Mur having incorporated the offering of specific tributes to the spirits on various occasions to represent the bounty of their people, as well as to pray/ensure fair weather, or cement their own position within society in relation to their Calling or to the Passions.
The primary Guardian Spirits as they are worshipped are…
Kalya, She of the Oceans who is the Whorl, and Grand Spirit of Prosperity, Creativity, Fertility, and Love.
M'kke, She of the Winds, Grand Spirit of Inspiration, and Authority, Strategy, and Victory
Rohe, She of the Stars, Spirit of Light and Navigation.
Hina, Spirit Healthy Birthing, Weaving, Shells, and Glyphs.
Vinneter, He of the Storm, Grand Spirit of Wrath, Warriors, Sexuality, and Textile Crafts
Laho Laonua, He of the Depths, Grand Spirit of Passing, Trade, Secrets, and Stories
[Rohe and Hina are often portrayed as the same Spirit]
There is a creationist mythos however it is not often spoken of, and only at Festivals where particularly talented Singers, Musicians, or Story Tellers are called to present it.
Politics and Leadership
The prevailing system of governance within the Sy'Thal Isles can best be described as a “centralised autocratic minocracy punctuated by smaller more regional meritocratic minocracies” despite primarily identifying as a Principality.
Harbour Masters serve as local governors serving as a focal point for the concerns of the citizenry and ensuring trade and the daily ministrations of the citizenry are seen. Central to this structure is the governing Mur who is bestowed the suffix-name of ‘Shalvys', meaning literally ‘of Shalvys-That-Was' denoting their direct lineage to the ancient city state of the Mur, who functions similarly as a focal point. It is also notable that Mur do not treat this figure as a ruler so much as they treat them with great reverence as an advisor.
Positions of authority are typically hereditary in the sense they are passed down through to the next most worthy member of the commune. A Harbourmaster or Expedition Master will retain their title until they can no longer bring profit to their kin and with then pass on the role to a trusted Clerk or Pathfinder whom has been groomed to accept the role.
Architecture:
As a primarily maritime culture the Mur draw a great inspiration from their love of the oceans and river ways which is reflected in the prevailing architectural design of Skadia which produces graceful shell-like structures. Most can be categorized as the false angel wing, antilles glassy bubble, button, and augur though many other styles are present. The capital city of Errecist provides spectacular examples of such buildings suspended on platforms high above the lakes surface around the Coral Tower whose pinnacle is carved into the shape of a Grand Conch.
Marble is a highly prized construction material however is impractical along the coasts especially during the storm seasons where such structures are quickly eroded away by the violent tides and terrible winds.
These design features were continued in the construction of the Trade Embassies in Burtgun and Settlements along the Souther Artugan coasts though reflect the examples of local shells rather than those of the Skadiian Isles and are constructed with what materials were present or able to acquired from the immediate environment.
Language and Accent:
The language of the Murfolk is a lyrical language called Avai'i which possesses an innate symmetry when considering patterns of speech, spelling, and punctuation. In addition to this Avai'i has a heavy reliance on vowel sounds and most words both begin and end with the letters a,e,i,o, or u.
As a result the initial difficulties the Mur had to overcome while learning the Common Tongue was immense and saw them listening to the Common Speech of sailors from the ocean depths giving rise to he universal rumour amongst sailors of the existence of Mermaids, a rumour that has since been systematically disproved with the emergence of the Murfolk.
The Mur continue to struggle with the limitations of the Common Speech due to their thick, lyrical accents and the foreign languages asymmetrical patterns of speech.
Customs:
There a three common customs that have been observed within Mur society and though many more exist they are kept mostly within the Mur communes as relatively private observances.
Iue Ma'aliakki, otherwise known as the Breath of Life, is a ritualised greeting typically performed by representatives of two parties meeting for the first time though also may be performed by all members of a group making the acquaintance for the first time. Both parties share an intimate moment where they place their foreheads and noses together so that they may look into one another eyes and exchange breath.
This gesture is symbolic and can also be interpreted as the sharing of both party's souls.
Sav'u, best known as the Shipbond, is an ancient custom from the days of Old Shalvys That Was that represents the obligation of the Mur to share the fate of any other people whom they offer the gifts of the Seas to. This custom is the sole province of the Artugan people, whom are the only group the Mur have encountered that were previously unable to navigate the oceans, and is more than a simple sharing of technology. It encompasses a sharing of the Grand Spirits of the Oceans and Storms, Kalya and Vinnetir.
Though the Artugans profane the Shipbond by binding the corpses of their Ancestors as Bowspirits instead of carving them and allowing the Ocean spirit to enter them Shuri'den'shalvys and Sia'tri both accept that the Shipbond requires give and take on their side of the cultural divide as well.
The final custom is the Mur penchant for naming those individuals who command great power or respect in their eyes. The names follow strict conventions and are universally accepted by all Mur.
Gender Roles in Mur Society:
Due to the matriarchal pantheon of Grand Spirits that comprises Skadiian spirituality female Mur tend to find themselves able to advance into the upper echelons of society as spiritual mediums, cohort commanders, and craftsmur of great renown (due to their more delicately formed hands) while men often find themselves as the captains of vessels, traders, farmers, or salvagers. However no such cultural tenets prevent either gender from finding employment in any specific role and male Mur can earn positions of power or respect as Harbour Masters.
Military:
The military forces of the Sy'Thal Isles have not every seen a modern conflicts and have not truly faced the threat of war in over two hundred years
For the most part the main bulk of the Skadii military was unused to conventional warfare and possessed little in the way of formal military training.
Anatomy:
The Murfolk are a mammalian species of bipedal human-kin hailing from the verdant archipelago nation of Skadia in the Southern Oceans, isolated form the nearby continental drift. Most Mur stand to a height of six feet tall with bother genders featuring broad barrelled chests, thin waists, long and powerful limbs with wide hands and feet, and extensive fin like appendages forming upon their forearms and legs. They resemble human's for the most part in terms of form however make several notable deviations in basic physiology due to having acclimatised to a more aquatic culture and environment.
They possess a unique body shape that accommodates a developed respiratory system within a barrelled chest. This cavity is primarily designed to contain the enormous pair of lungs and powerful heart all of which is protected by a thickened rib cage. Complimented by heavily oxygenated blood allows them to remain submerged for extended periods, some Mur claim to be able to hold their breath for upwards of forty minutes though in combat situations their exertions limit this time drastically.
Their skin can present itself in various shades of blue and green, depending on locality and hormonal balances, and secretes a thin layer of natural oils that is permeable to water allowing the Mur to keep their skin moist. All Mur also possess a second layer of transparent black eyelids which remain closed while the allowing them to swim rapidly through salt water as well as preventing becoming sun blinded when they surface after prolonged submersion.
Throughout their lives Mur develop hardy and durable appendages including fins and tails which aid their powerful limbs in controlling their underwater movements.
Muscle forms in sheaths upon their bodies and densely so due to their conditioning under water which make Mur decidedly stronger than the average human male and better suited for labouring work. It is also worth noting that the gender of a Mur is not always immediately obvious despite their lack of clothing because their sex organs, including the breasts of a female Mur, are not always external to the body and manifest during breeding seasons and times of arousal.
Culture:
The Mur form communes centred around areas of natural abundance usually inland where waterways are present or along the coasts where a myriad wealth of flora and fauna can be found. Such communes are semi-autonomous settlements collectively ministered to by River/Lake/Harbour Masters whose function is to ensure the safety of the general populous, productivity of industry, as well as the free flow of trade to various other settlements. This title tends to hereditary and is typically passed on the worthy clerk or dock hand whose efforts are considered laudable.
The general underlying concepts of Mur culture centre on prosperity and unity and as such the Mur see works that benefit the people as a whole to be worth pursuing with the fullest of their efforts. As a maritime and agricultural society the position of labourer, farmer, and gamesman are treated with due respect for the craft of cultivating/raising/hunting of natural aspects of the world.
Given their natural inclination for the oceans and waterways it is no wonder that unique aesthetics manifest themselves in Skadiian art and literature. The foremost of these aesthetics being the ‘whorl' which primarily appears in their intricately woven textiles and fabrics. The most common examples of such are the Maera and Aklae which represent the only forms of clothing the Skadii ever wear. This also extends into literature and poetry where sentences and phrases tend to take on a cyclic nature flowing into one another.
Within Mur society neither gender has specifically designated roles though it is usually observed that the female of the species has become established in the upper echelons of the social structure due to their matriarchal pantheon.
Arcana/Magical Engineering and the Authorities:
[Pending Revision]
Religion:
The systematic beliefs of the Skadii-an Mur are perhaps the least understood part of their culture though perhaps make up the most fundamental part of their lives. The Mur subscribe to a vast, matriarchal pantheon of various deific figures which they both do and do not believe exist. These ‘deities' are commonly used to personify important cultural ideals or perhaps explain or express concerns of a lack of knowledge on a subject.
That being said they pay homage to the deities of their ancestral homeland of Shalvys from which the pantheon originally hails as if they were forms of ‘grand spirits' while lesser spirits and manifestations of their deities exist in the natural world.
Spirits are attributed various aspects and facets each with differing meanings and interpretations, as well as a domain over which they rule, allowing them to exist in various different senses and to convey a wide variety of meanings. Shrines and Temples are maintained by the various adepts, and High Priestesses, receiving varied levels of care dependant on their position within the Covenant, who both accept and determine the worth of the gifts presented.
Such beliefs are also used in a practical sense with the Mur having incorporated the offering of specific tributes to the spirits on various occasions to represent the bounty of their people, as well as to pray/ensure fair weather, or cement their own position within society in relation to their Calling or to the Passions.
The primary Guardian Spirits as they are worshipped are…
Kalya, She of the Oceans who is the Whorl, and Grand Spirit of Prosperity, Creativity, Fertility, and Love.
M'kke, She of the Winds, Grand Spirit of Inspiration, and Authority, Strategy, and Victory
Rohe, She of the Stars, Spirit of Light and Navigation.
Hina, Spirit Healthy Birthing, Weaving, Shells, and Glyphs.
Vinneter, He of the Storm, Grand Spirit of Wrath, Warriors, Sexuality, and Textile Crafts
Laho Laonua, He of the Depths, Grand Spirit of Passing, Trade, Secrets, and Stories
[Rohe and Hina are often portrayed as the same Spirit]
There is a creationist mythos however it is not often spoken of, and only at Festivals where particularly talented Singers, Musicians, or Story Tellers are called to present it.
Politics and Leadership
The prevailing system of governance within the Sy'Thal Isles can best be described as a “centralised autocratic minocracy punctuated by smaller more regional meritocratic minocracies” despite primarily identifying as a Principality.
Harbour Masters serve as local governors serving as a focal point for the concerns of the citizenry and ensuring trade and the daily ministrations of the citizenry are seen. Central to this structure is the governing Mur who is bestowed the suffix-name of ‘Shalvys', meaning literally ‘of Shalvys-That-Was' denoting their direct lineage to the ancient city state of the Mur, who functions similarly as a focal point. It is also notable that Mur do not treat this figure as a ruler so much as they treat them with great reverence as an advisor.
Positions of authority are typically hereditary in the sense they are passed down through to the next most worthy member of the commune. A Harbourmaster or Expedition Master will retain their title until they can no longer bring profit to their kin and with then pass on the role to a trusted Clerk or Pathfinder whom has been groomed to accept the role.
Architecture:
As a primarily maritime culture the Mur draw a great inspiration from their love of the oceans and river ways which is reflected in the prevailing architectural design of Skadia which produces graceful shell-like structures. Most can be categorized as the false angel wing, antilles glassy bubble, button, and augur though many other styles are present. The capital city of Errecist provides spectacular examples of such buildings suspended on platforms high above the lakes surface around the Coral Tower whose pinnacle is carved into the shape of a Grand Conch.
Marble is a highly prized construction material however is impractical along the coasts especially during the storm seasons where such structures are quickly eroded away by the violent tides and terrible winds.
These design features were continued in the construction of the Trade Embassies in Burtgun and Settlements along the Souther Artugan coasts though reflect the examples of local shells rather than those of the Skadiian Isles and are constructed with what materials were present or able to acquired from the immediate environment.
Language and Accent:
The language of the Murfolk is a lyrical language called Avai'i which possesses an innate symmetry when considering patterns of speech, spelling, and punctuation. In addition to this Avai'i has a heavy reliance on vowel sounds and most words both begin and end with the letters a,e,i,o, or u.
As a result the initial difficulties the Mur had to overcome while learning the Common Tongue was immense and saw them listening to the Common Speech of sailors from the ocean depths giving rise to he universal rumour amongst sailors of the existence of Mermaids, a rumour that has since been systematically disproved with the emergence of the Murfolk.
The Mur continue to struggle with the limitations of the Common Speech due to their thick, lyrical accents and the foreign languages asymmetrical patterns of speech.
Customs:
There a three common customs that have been observed within Mur society and though many more exist they are kept mostly within the Mur communes as relatively private observances.
Iue Ma'aliakki, otherwise known as the Breath of Life, is a ritualised greeting typically performed by representatives of two parties meeting for the first time though also may be performed by all members of a group making the acquaintance for the first time. Both parties share an intimate moment where they place their foreheads and noses together so that they may look into one another eyes and exchange breath.
This gesture is symbolic and can also be interpreted as the sharing of both party's souls.
Sav'u, best known as the Shipbond, is an ancient custom from the days of Old Shalvys That Was that represents the obligation of the Mur to share the fate of any other people whom they offer the gifts of the Seas to. This custom is the sole province of the Artugan people, whom are the only group the Mur have encountered that were previously unable to navigate the oceans, and is more than a simple sharing of technology. It encompasses a sharing of the Grand Spirits of the Oceans and Storms, Kalya and Vinnetir.
Though the Artugans profane the Shipbond by binding the corpses of their Ancestors as Bowspirits instead of carving them and allowing the Ocean spirit to enter them Shuri'den'shalvys and Sia'tri both accept that the Shipbond requires give and take on their side of the cultural divide as well.
The final custom is the Mur penchant for naming those individuals who command great power or respect in their eyes. The names follow strict conventions and are universally accepted by all Mur.
Gender Roles in Mur Society:
Due to the matriarchal pantheon of Grand Spirits that comprises Skadiian spirituality female Mur tend to find themselves able to advance into the upper echelons of society as spiritual mediums, cohort commanders, and craftsmur of great renown (due to their more delicately formed hands) while men often find themselves as the captains of vessels, traders, farmers, or salvagers. However no such cultural tenets prevent either gender from finding employment in any specific role and male Mur can earn positions of power or respect as Harbour Masters.
Military:
The military forces of the Sy'Thal Isles have not every seen a modern conflicts and have not truly faced the threat of war in over two hundred years
For the most part the main bulk of the Skadii military was unused to conventional warfare and possessed little in the way of formal military training.
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