Iyvess
From Mizahar Lore
The Iyvess are the product of the joining of Siku and Laviku, and a uniquely aquatic subrace of the Dhani species. There are two variations of the iyvess in the form of the salt water and freshwater serpents, and each has unique traits and behaviors. Both, however, seek to find their place within Mizahar, one way or another.
 A saltwater Iyvess | |
| Height | Differs based on form. |
|---|---|
| Weight | Differs based on form. |
| Lifespan | 300-350. |
| Major features | Sibiliant Speech |
| Abilities | Unique Aquatic Adaptations |
| Population | SW: 500 FW: 75 |
| Most common in | Southern Suvan, Charbosi |
| Reputation | To be Determined |
| Racial gods | Siku, Laviku. |
| Racial bonus | either +10 Poisons or +10 Wrestling |
Contents |
Origins
It is hard to say whether it was Siku or Laviku was the one that seduced the other, and led to the birth of the Aquatic Dhani. Depending on who their children favor, the story will vary.
Some accounts say Siku was sunning herself on a rocky Peninsula off of Falyndar's coast when Laviku spied her and took interest in her unique and beautiful serpentine form. The Alvina of serpents waved off the Sea God's advances, forcing him to return day after to day to admire her beauty and bestow gifts upon her until she finally and almost regretfully joined his embrace.
Others say Siku was wounded on the coast after a spat with her brother Navre, and as the saltwater washed against her wounds the Serpent sent out a strange unearthly cry of torment. Laviku upon a great monstrous steed took the wounded demi Goddess beneath the depths of the Sea and tended to her wounds, wherein Siku fell madly in love with the powerful sea deity, and spent many years beneath the depths with him.
Either way the story ends the same, and with the creation of an Aquatic race of Dhani, unique from the original form that Siku and Caiyha had shaped into the Dhani. The children were born beneath the waves and dwelt largely within Laviku's influence until the Valterrian struck, and they found they could no longer breathe underwater.
The droves of Iyvess then found their way onto the coast of Falyndar knowing only a small bit about their land dwelling cousins, and were met with a rude and rather impolite greeting therein. Still recovering from the changes the Valterrian had racked upon their species as a whole, the Dhani there mocked and spit upon their aquatic relatives.
The Iyvess remained in Falyndar for some time, but grew to dislike the jungle and the Dhani of Falyndar more with every passing season. Soon their ranks became divided upon returning to the Sea from whence they had come, and leaving the jungle to see what the rest of the world had to offer. This division became more prominent as the Myrians drove back Dhani numbers and began exterminating the other races of the jungle one by one. Though the Iyvess could understand their relatives' anger and distress, many of them saw more attributes they could identify with in the newly dubbed Myrians than they could with their power-hungry cousins.
In the end, nearly all of the Iyvess went back to the sea. Some settled in Charbosi enjoying the company of the Charoda, others sought to explore the deepest reaches of Laviku's domain. By reconnecting with their God, the sea dwelling Dhani were able to teach their snakelings to morph gills, and after reflecting a bit on the savage warrior race that had run rampant through the jungle, the sea Dhani formed into nomadic bands of warriors traveling around the ocean, following schools of fish and largely ignoring any spot of land or the people who dwelt upon it.
The Iyvess that remained on land never learned to use their gills again, but traveled the width and breadth of Mizahar, never forming a nest of their aquatic brethren, but enjoyed traveling in small bands, or even alone, using their long lifespans to explore and learn about all the races of Mizahar. A very devoted race, the freshwater Dhani still respect Laviku as their father, but their faith focuses more on Makutsi and Zulrav as the heralds of fresh water and the storms that bring it. They have a different mentality than most any other Dhani of their race, improving many cities opinions of Dhani though almost none ever knew the uniqueness of the species within their walls.
Saltwater Iyvess
Appearance and Features
Color and serpent traits will vary based on which sea snake breed the Iyvess takes after in its youth. Some Iyvess have venom, others have long constricting bodies in which to encapsulate their prey. Regardless of these differing traits, however, all saltwater Iyvess sport gills in their Dhani and Snake forms. In Dhani form they have thick webbing between their fingers as well as under their arms. Their skin is far more rubbery until it reaches the base of their hips where scales are far more pronounced. Each tail tapers to a long thin paddle shape much like an eel's, allowing the Iyvess great speed and maneuverability below the water, and this trait appears both in Dhani and Snake form. The Saltwater Iyvess cannot travel on land in either Dhani or Snake form due to the nature of their scales which have adapted and transformed to provide optimal performance under the water. The only exception to this are those Iyvess based on the Sea Krait. The Sea Krait Iyvess still retain limited mobility on land where they spend time digesting meals, giving birth or resting from a long day at sea. They are however very slow on land; only able to move at 1/4 their normal speed while in Dhani or snake forms.
As well as their ability to breathe underwater, saltwater Iyvess eyesight has developed to accommodate the utter depths of the Suvan Sea where the serpents will occasionally dwell, hunting down giant squid and other large deep sea dwellers; it allows them to see in utter darkness, but this ability does not translate to their human form.
Iyvess, not caring too much for forming their human bodies, never bothered to form gills into this shape. Human forms tend to be taken on more for amusement, since the Iyvess can find no real use for them beneath the sea. Sometimes they will take them on to explore small islands in the middle of the sea, and when they do come up on land they enjoy putting on interpretive charades and making fun of land dwellers for the bemusement of their den mates.
Due to the Iyvess's dependency on the Sea, they cannot stay out of the water for more than a few days at a time. Arctic locations are not included, because while the Iyvess's rubbery skin allows a certain level of protection from the cold depths of the sea, they are not able to tolerate such low temperatures for long periods of time or areas where the water is constantly at such low temperatures.
| City Location | Climate | Survivable time Out of Water |
| Coastal | Tropical | 5 Days |
| Coastal | Mediterranean | 4 Days |
| Coastal | Temperate | 3 Days |
| Coastal | Arid | 1 Day |
| Inland | Tropical | 3 Days |
| Inland | Mediterranean | 2 Days |
| Inland | Temperate | 1 Days |
| Inland | Arid | 12 bells |
Culture
Saltwater Iyvess are well and truly nomadic, and primarily hunters and trackers. Though there are a few craftspeople among their ranks who form crude weapons, armor, and woven seaweed hammocks that they sling up between rocks to sleep in, the Iyvess as a whole do not have a trade to call their own. Instead they are constantly on the move, following one food source or another as well as Laviku's blessed currents through the depths of the Suvan Sea. Over the centuries they have fashioned numerous spots for themselves in which to stop temporarily, generally in a familiar reef or set of underwater caverns, and will spend time there hunting, staying for no more than a season at most. The groupings they travel in are called dens, consisting of 10-20 Iyvess. When these dens converge there is usually fighting and challenges set up to prove which den is superior to the other. Dens can be challenged for hunting grounds and driven off of them if a challenging group shows enough power and force to do so.
Despite this, however, most dens look forward to meeting up with one another because it means they can embark upon a Great Hunt. These can happen several times in a year, enabling the dens to go after large prey they wouldn't normally be safely be able to pursue, but when multiple dens converge on a single hunting ground it means even greater prey. These larger group hunts usually transcend the simple need for sustenance and becomes a search for a great Leviathan or deep dwelling monster in Laviku's realm. His guidance is always sought before such an event, for the Iyvess respect Laviku's monstrous children as deities in their own right, seeing them as greater siblings of themselves. More often then not, however, Laviku or one of his Alvina will gladly guide the Iyvess to a creature that is need of extermination, many being abominations made by foolhardy sorcerors upon Sahova or a product of wild and unruly djed in the ocean depths.
Dens are led by a single Chief. Unlike their other Dhani cousins, Iyvess do not believe that females are the superior gender. If an individual is strong, skilled, and ruthless enough to be chief of a den then they will become so, regardless of their breeding parts. Though challenges for leading a den can be brutal and bloody, there is generally a line of succession. A snakeling who has just mastered all of their forms cannot challenge a Chief or Chieftess, but veteran hunters who have led smaller scouting parties and landed the final blows in Great Hunts most certainly can. When a Chief grows weak or begin leading their den astray, a power struggle will emerge with several of the most veteran hunters of a den simultaneously attempting to become Chief.
Mating/ Reproduction
Beneath the surface of the Suvan, the saltwater Iyvess lead a harsh and unforgiving life. Hunters most often pair for life, latching on fiercely to their partner and protecting them through every trial. In the case of Chief this can cause issues within the ranks of the den as it usually creates a sort of dual leadership that is sometimes tolerated and other times negatively affects the synchronization of the group.
Despite their nomadic lifestyle, the reproduction and growth cycle of a Dhani requires a safe and unmoving spot to learn and grow within. Thus the Iyvess keep all their young snakelings within Charbosi. Generally it is the mother that will journey to the city first in order to give birth and care for them, but if in a partnership the parents will take turns between traveling with their den and staying with their snakelings. In return for allowing the Iyvess to raised their snakelings in relative safety, there is a permanent population of the serpents in Charbosi that help defend the Charoda from any harm. Though many Iyvess would not choose a stationary life alongside the peaceful Charoda, there are always enough snakelings that feel indebted to the Charoda as well as a companionship with the fellow aquatic race that always maintains a willing amount of volunteers in the city in addition the constantly shifting population of Dhani parents.
Religion
Saltwater Iyvess are loyal first and foremost to Laviku, his Kalvikasi a close second. Though they worship Siku as their mother, many of the saltwater Iyvess believe the serpent Alvina has forsaken them for some reason or another, rarely ever receiving attention from her.
The other main point of worship is Dira, a potent deity to which the Iyvess have much respect and to whom they always give thanks and prayer to before and after a hunt.
Though the Iyvess are rarely close enough to the surface of water to appreciate her, they also worship Makutsi as a fellow child of Laviku.
Psychology
The saltwater Iyvess look with a large amount of disdain upon the land dwelling races of Mizahar, of which they really know little to nothing about. They have many ideas about the races that dwell on land, however, including that they are weak in mind and body and rely more on others than themselves, and this attitude has kept them away from the shores for centuries; they are just as disinterested in learning more about their Dhani relatives as they are in any other races because of their history in Falyndar. They despise the Svefra, of which they have seen more than a fair few, believing that they are pretenders and not truly children of Laviku; if they were, they wouldn't spend their time on wooden structures that float upon the sea––they would be in it.
The Iyvess that live in Charbosi barter somewhat with the Charoda using found shells and other jewels of the deep, but apart from this, have very little idea of trade and wealth; it is a foreign concept to a race that owns little but the armor they take into Great Hunts and the woven hammocks they sleep upon.
Freshwater Iyvess
Appearance and Features
The freshwater variation of the Iyvess never truly reclaimed their birthright given to them by Laviku. They do not possess gills, but neither are they limited out of the water. Though all Iyvess prefer being submerged to on land, the freshwater can spend their time freely outside of it. Their Dhani forms are similar to that of the saltwater Iyvess, possessing webbed fingers and arms, but they are able to traverse the land in all of their forms. Their tails still end in paddles, but are narrower, and their scales are more in line with their land dwelling cousins. In addition to having lowlight vision which allows them to see in the relative depths of any pond or river, the freshwater Iyvess also possess the ability to detect vibrations and movements in the water, allowing them to feel and detect the presence of fish and other aquatic life beneath the surface of the water even if it is obscured or cloudy.
The freshwater Iyvess also have the ability to hold their breath for long periods of time beneath the water. This can be enhanced by focusing on the Endurance Skill:
| Skill Level | How Long One Can Remain Submerged |
| No Skill/Novice | 3 bells |
| Competent | 5 bells |
| Expert | 10 bells |
In addition, as other Dhani breeds can hone in on their nests, freshwater Iyvess have a similar ability with finding sources of freshwater. This skill is most distinct when it is directed to anything bigger than a small pond, for rivers and streams or smaller bodies of water, the Iyvess must be within a mile in order to sense it.
History
The freshwater Iyvess left Falyndar as their saltwater bretheren did, but by land, not sea. Their numbers were small, and first they traveled to Kalea, but found that none of the inhabitants their seemed to welcome their kind. When they first traveled to Ekytol the Iyvess were struck by the lack of water, and the utter foreign nature to the land in comparison with the Sea or the Jungles of Falyndar. This is where they discovered their gift for finding freshwater, and it was here that the race began to find themselves truly at home. The Chaktawe and Benshira both were very accepting and grateful of the gifts the Iyvess had, and it was here the Iyvess began to connect to Makutsi as the playful bringer of rains and sibling to themselves.
From here a few freshwater Iyvess remained in Ekytol, laying their eggs along with their bretheren there and settling into the desert, but most were unsatisfied with staying in one place. There were more cities to visit and more races to discover, and so they continued to travel onward. This brought them to Cyphrus and Syliras, and up as far North as the Spires. They Iyvess began splitting apart into smaller and smaller groups, and because they had no formal nest, their numbers dwindled where their saltwater bretheren grew. Because of the disdain they received from their Falyndar relatives, the Iyvess kept their identity secret, often hiding the fact that they were even Dhani in those cities that would see their presence as negative.
Culture
The freshwater Iyvess do not have a real culture to call their own. As the centuries passed their numbers became very small, even by Dhani standards, and those that remained were scattered across the whole of Mizahar, causing them to adapt to the cultures around them. They always prefer the water to land, and have a penchant for exploring the unknown, trying to unravel the mysteries of the world. Also, freshwater Iyvess do have a way to identify their fellows. This comes in the form of a tattoo in human form, or a discoloration of scales in Dhani or snake form, and in human form it will appear as a snake coiled around itself a single rain drop in the center of its coil, the location of which may vary.
Mating/Reproduction
The freshwater Iyvess have only maintained their small numbers by fostering their snakelings under the care of other Dhani in the nests within the Spires and Ekytol. They produce less young than most of the bretheren, perhaps a side effect of the Valterrian that they never recovered from, so the mothers will give birth within a nest, sometimes remaining to raise the infnats, but more often leaving and returning a half century later to teach the older snakeling about their true identity and heritage. Due to their rarity it is uncommon for Iyvess to run into each other. If they are male and female, the two will often copulate out of necessity and obligation for the continuation of their bloodline, though permenant pairings have been known to form.
Religion
One thing that almost all freshwater Iyvess have in common, is their faith. Makutsi is at the pinnacle of their worship, followed closely by Zulrav and Semele. Siku and Laviku are revered as distant mother and father figures, but the Iyvess have a wide pantheon peppered by the Gods, Goddesses, and Alvina of the natural and wild, which will vary from snake to snake.
Psychology
Unlike many Dhani they have a deep respect for life, and while possessing voracious appetites like all Dhani, are not particularly malicious and rarely look down on other races. They see their long lives and seperate forms as gifts in order for which to better see and learn about Mizahar as a whole, and see themselves largely as nomadic travelers trying to understand the world around them and their place within it.
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Out of character note: Starting as a Freshwater or Saltwater Iyvess requires special permission through the HD due to their rarity. Saltwater Iyvess start with the racial gnosis of Oceanus, while the Freshwater Iyvess start with the racial Gnosis of Raindancing, both can be recieved through the HD Saltwater Iyvess cannot start with fluency in Common, it has to be a second or third tier language. They can, however, be fluent in Fratava if that is desired. In addition special permission is required if one wants to play a half breed Iyvess of either variety. |
Active Iyvess PCs
| Iyvess | ||
 | Zydrunas | Freshwater Lie-vess, Eyktol-born |
 | Sezkero | A faithful, pacifist freshwater Iyvess from The Spires |
 | Ayosel | Freshwater Iyvess, inquisitive, rejoicing in being alive. From Zinrah |