Post by Starrupaste on Mar 23, 2020 5:41:55 GMT
The Montica Bloodline (See Virstalli Here)
A Virstalli woman ran across the open fields of the North, pursued by a group of men. Two arrows had struck her back and shoulder, but adrenaline kept her going as she dashed into the woods, hoping to find cover from those that pursued her there. Physically, a Virstalli is superior to a human, easily able to outrun or even overpower them, but she was wounded, and burdened by the child she carried inside her, a life that she was driven to protect at all costs. Her bare feet were torn at by prickly underbrush and her arms were chilled to the bone by the freezing air, yet onward she continued, her motherly instincts in full overdrive to protect herself and her young. As she ran further, and perhaps hopelessly into the cold wilds, she felt a presence and heard a voice, calling her name and urging her forward. It gave her pause. And when she stopped, the pain that was hot on her heels hit her like a truck. For a brief moment, she was numb, perhaps from the cold, but then aching pain from the arrows began to shake her entire body in painful flashes, the pain worsening with every twitch of her muscles, and the cold surrounded her, burning her fingers and toes with the threat of hypothermia. Her body began to shiver and shake, but once again the voice called out, pushing her forward.
“What you would give to protect those children is admirable, but your body can only go so far...Yes, I feel it is failing you. Come forward and I can restore you.” Exhausted and wounded, the woman continued forward. Lights from torches shone menacingly between the trees behind her as the howling from her predators grew closer, but onward she pushed. From her feet, to her hands and knees, she crawled forward until she was suddenly met with a break in the trees, tumbling into a grove untouched by frost, where thick underbrush and snow gave way to soft grass, a respite to her battered body. Before her stood a tree greater than any she’d ever seen, one which dwarfed others around it as it rose high into the sky, it’s branches disappearing into the clouds above, though outside the forest where she lived, never once had she seen such branches full of lush green leaves.. Such a contrast to the dead, silent forest around them. Its roots rivaled the size of the other trees, spreading outwards to create a barrier between the forest and the grove, and between it’s roots sat lakes of dark water unfrozen by the frigid temperatures, steam rising from their surfaces. The surrounding winter forest was quiet, but this area had a feeling of...serenity. Crickets sang and fireflies danced in between the grass, courting blissfully. As she lay there, breathing heavily, her vision began to blur. Her body was ready to give, but the voice spoke one final time, encouraging her forward as she strained to rise to her hands and knees.
“A pact we will make as Virstalli and partner, and remade you shall be. Your body will be reborn and so too will your children, and with your new body I shall lend you strength. You and your offspring will be my guardians. Come to my waters, and wood nor flint will harm you again, instead, they will be yours to mold.”
She crawled forward to the water’s edge and cast her gaze down to it, but her reflection did not show. Instead, in the darkness she saw streams and flickers of dancing lights, beckoning her in. She hesitated, as the call that pulled her towards the unknown below was suddenly unsettling and frightening to her, but when the lights behind her broke the edge of the grove, her choice was made, and she dove deep into the water...
….The Virstalli were a hardy Mythos, but surely they could not stay underwater for so long, and the men were patient. They waited patiently for their quarry until dawn, when they were certain she’d met her end in the water. Triumphant, they began to move back to their home, when the unmoving waters finally stirred, catching their attention. From the water rose the body of the Virstalli, but she was...changed. Her hair had now become white as snow, and her skin dark like the bark of a tree. From her head sprouted a rack of wooden antlers that stretched high into the sky, within its cracks the blood of the land flowed, and opening her eyes, they too had changed, from a deep hazel, to a stunning, fierce green. In her arms, she cradled twin children that slept soundly. At this moment, the Earth gave birth to a new race, and this Virstalli was Mother to it.
____________________________________________________“What you would give to protect those children is admirable, but your body can only go so far...Yes, I feel it is failing you. Come forward and I can restore you.” Exhausted and wounded, the woman continued forward. Lights from torches shone menacingly between the trees behind her as the howling from her predators grew closer, but onward she pushed. From her feet, to her hands and knees, she crawled forward until she was suddenly met with a break in the trees, tumbling into a grove untouched by frost, where thick underbrush and snow gave way to soft grass, a respite to her battered body. Before her stood a tree greater than any she’d ever seen, one which dwarfed others around it as it rose high into the sky, it’s branches disappearing into the clouds above, though outside the forest where she lived, never once had she seen such branches full of lush green leaves.. Such a contrast to the dead, silent forest around them. Its roots rivaled the size of the other trees, spreading outwards to create a barrier between the forest and the grove, and between it’s roots sat lakes of dark water unfrozen by the frigid temperatures, steam rising from their surfaces. The surrounding winter forest was quiet, but this area had a feeling of...serenity. Crickets sang and fireflies danced in between the grass, courting blissfully. As she lay there, breathing heavily, her vision began to blur. Her body was ready to give, but the voice spoke one final time, encouraging her forward as she strained to rise to her hands and knees.
“A pact we will make as Virstalli and partner, and remade you shall be. Your body will be reborn and so too will your children, and with your new body I shall lend you strength. You and your offspring will be my guardians. Come to my waters, and wood nor flint will harm you again, instead, they will be yours to mold.”
She crawled forward to the water’s edge and cast her gaze down to it, but her reflection did not show. Instead, in the darkness she saw streams and flickers of dancing lights, beckoning her in. She hesitated, as the call that pulled her towards the unknown below was suddenly unsettling and frightening to her, but when the lights behind her broke the edge of the grove, her choice was made, and she dove deep into the water...
….The Virstalli were a hardy Mythos, but surely they could not stay underwater for so long, and the men were patient. They waited patiently for their quarry until dawn, when they were certain she’d met her end in the water. Triumphant, they began to move back to their home, when the unmoving waters finally stirred, catching their attention. From the water rose the body of the Virstalli, but she was...changed. Her hair had now become white as snow, and her skin dark like the bark of a tree. From her head sprouted a rack of wooden antlers that stretched high into the sky, within its cracks the blood of the land flowed, and opening her eyes, they too had changed, from a deep hazel, to a stunning, fierce green. In her arms, she cradled twin children that slept soundly. At this moment, the Earth gave birth to a new race, and this Virstalli was Mother to it.
Montica Virstallius
Named after the first of their kind, Montica are a rare subspecies of Virstalli that have been bestowed magical properties by a connection with a sentient avatar of life. Instead of having a pact with one singular creature, they have, in a way, made a pact with the world itself, giving them mystical abilities relating to bending the earth’s materials around them, and extending their life force out of their bodies to create life from base materials.
They are just barely a race, and could be considered more of a group of families that make up their kind, with the first and origin family being the Montic. There are stragglers and a few who live in modern society who may be estranged family members, or those who took the Rites of Rebirth, but still they are a very rare and reclusive race, with some who are Montica living and dying, never knowing their own powers or heritage due to the nature of their pact.
Distinguishing features
Montica begin life appearing more human than most Virstalli, but what distinct features they do have are slightly pointed ears, sharper senses and pure white hair. These traits may not be there at the beginning, and may instead develop in them between the ages of 8 to 15, depending on how regularly they use and hone their abilities. As they grow older and take hold of their powers, their appearances can become more varied and radical. Some begin to grow horns that look akin to gnarled wood, the cracks and grooves revealing the Amanta within. They may sprout flowers or other shrubbery and plant matter on their body, or their skin may begin to shimmer like sand or snow in the sun, leaving gold or white flecks in their wake. They could even grow tails or other appendages, becoming completely inhuman in favor of animalistic or surreal appearances. Some even abandon their flesh and blood, instead taking on manifestations of elements, or crafting their own new bodies. Montica also live for VERY long periods of time, as their lifeforce never weakens and their bodies remain young and unnaturally beautiful. Most Montica instead choose to move onto the next life or reunite with Yggdrasil of their own will. The biggest weakness of a Montica is isolation from it's partner, as their powers can quickly grow weak if not within contact with it. This is hard to accomplish, considering their partner is everywhere, but can be accomplished through various means, and something as simple as living in a packed metropolis can weaken their powers bit by bit.
Their genes are heavily dominant and their offspring will typically take their traits, whether the Montica is mother or father. Initially, the other parent’s genes may show within the child’s hair or eye color but over time both may change to that of a Montica. Different Montica are attuned more closely to different aspects of nature around them, and their eyes will show that attunement.
Religious views
Montica do not view Yggdrasil as their god, they instead see it as the Father of their kind, the tree that connects all worlds above and below, and one of the many that breathes new life into the worlds and refreshes the old, preserving the cycle of Reincarnation. They believe that without it, the worlds would cease to be connected, life would be unable to reincarnate after death and would slowly die out, while their own kind would go completely extinct.
They do not see any beings as higher or lower than one another, even the Magicborn that others revere as Gods. To them, all of them are a part of the cycle that they preserve, and all will eventually die, return to Yggdrasil, and be born again. They view Magicborn and Gods as outsiders to the cycle, and the older of their kind have a distaste for them.
Culture
While it would seem that the placement of Montica around the world are few and far between, within their communities it is known that the largest of their settlements are built around Yggdrasil's offshoots that find their way into the world, which sit in secluded areas of extreme climates. Their architecture does not begin at their villages, but at the forests, mountains, terrain and animals around it, which i are usually reconstructed into forests that are bound to a Montica’s will. They bend this terrain to drive off unwanted explorers or people seeking them out.
They are not a very well known race, and prefer to keep it that way; They tend to be more secretive than most and seclude themselves in great forests of their own design to protect themselves. They are very tight-knit and seldom allow others into their communities, carrying the same belief of all of their kind being extended family and treat one-another as such. Because of their untimely creation during tension between Man and Mythos, older Montica tend to be biased and even somewhat aggressive and untrusting of Humans.
Newer generations have branched out and become less secluded over the years, some bringing others back to their homes and their culture, while others abandon it for more modern views and lifestyles, some progeny not even knowing that they are of the Montica Bloodline.
While some would consider them akin to Druids, living in settlements that live in harmony with nature without disturbing it, it is a little different. They live in harmony with the cycle of life, which includes death. They hunt for food, kill to protect themselves, and bend the land to their will to create large, complex homes to protect their people. They do not live middle-age like lifestyles with no technology, but rather they build grand, complex machinery all around their homes, shaping the landscape around into a living, sentient forest in order to remain aware of who enters, and keep themselves safe. Their culture and architecture stems from the roots of their family, with heavy Russian inspirations in their buildings and lifestyles, though this is mainly in the Montic family of Montica Virstallius. There are other families, each with cultures that expand from their own roots of nationality.
Montica Names
Traditionally, Montics are named after nature, but with some reborn Montica being integrated into their civilizations and societies, the uncommon, long, and often strange names relating to nature were often removed in place of more common names, differing from place to place, and instead these names were given as middle names, which were given around the age of five to eight, as it is around this time that their Montica genes began to shine through, and the true nature of a Montica becomes prominent.
Examples of True Names: Alyssum, Alchemilla, Amaranthus, Begonia, Chrysanthemum, Cornelia, Crocus, Issai, Primrose.
Abilities
Montica are a deeply ingrained part of the earth, people that manipulate and cleanse life force as Bonded to Yggdrasil. As an aspect of the forces of nature, many abilities that it holds, the Montica do as well, to a lesser degree.
Amanta
The “blood” that Yggdrasil has within itself, known as Amanta, is also held by Montica.They have no capability for magic, which allows their pools of life force to intermingle with their physical body, creating a physical life-force which replaces the blood in their veins, which can be turned into a nonphysical, energy form as well. It allows them to give life to inanimate objects that are bonded with them like a Virstalli is bonded to another creature. Additionally, if their bond is strong enough with an animal or person, they can temporarily connect to them, sharing their emotions and senses with that individual, or they can substitute that bonding with sharing their blood with them, but this bond wears off with time. Amanta is the basis of the skills and manipulation of the elements that a Montica has, and because it is exerted and used often in their crafts, they have a tendency to heal wounds a little faster than normal, and regenerate blood much faster than a human could.
Relics
Montica can mold the elements they hold power over like clay, creating living, breathing constructs that operate separately from them, which can be as simple as a tree, or as complex as a gun or even above. These objects are known as Relics, sentient artifacts as intricate as any machinery that can take on a variety of forms to fulfill a variety of purposes.
Relics, while alive in their own right, do not have souls and are an extension of the Montica they’re made from, and the instincts or behaviors they display usually directly mirror some aspect of their Creator. Younger kin are usually discouraged from making Relics at an early age; Unless a Montica has complete control over their emotions and instincts, a Relic can prove to be somewhat volatile, lashing out if their Creator feels agitated, unsafe or afraid. Over time, a Relic can develop its own personality and feelings and become a person in it’s own right, and for more complicated ones, a soul can be gifted to it to make it its own individual, but while it’s connection can weaken with it’s Creator, it will never truly fade, and it’s emotional state will always reflect theirs.
Bonded Form
Like other Virstalli, Montica can bond with their partner, becoming of one mind. For a Montica, this means becoming one with the earth itself. This gives them immense amounts of power, allowing them to render a hole in the earth with a single thought. However, this also has one crippling weakness-Yggdrasil holds nothing in mind other than balance. Should they disrupt balance, by killing too many or taking too much from the earth to create life, they will break with their partner. This power is only known to the more elder Montica, and even then, there is a high risk that they will never be able to unbond, completely losing their body in the process of this, their minds and souls becoming one with the earth. Though some can delay this return by creating another body for themselves. They rarely use this ability to destroy, and instead use it to create incredibly complex and intricate civilizations, leading to the strange and sudden appearance of forests, mountainscapes and other natural phenomenons to the outside eye.
Reincarnation
Death is not a foreign concept to Montica, they do not fear the next life. For those with the strongest of bonds to Yggdrasil, their connection of souls can carry through even into the next life. A Montica with a powerful connection to Yggdrasil will not have their soul taken from him unless taken by a particularly crafty being of higher power. Regardless of what they were born from in their next life, they will remain a Montica. This leads to them coming from seemingly nowhere in the modern world. Over time, like any Montica child, their traits will begin to shine through, and upon reconnecting with Yggdrasil again, they will regain the memories of their past life. If they live their life never connecting with Yggdrasil, the connection will grow weaker and weaker over their many lifetimes, before eventually severing. Oftentimes, Families who have lost a loved one too soon will seek their soul out their next life and return them to Yggdrasil.
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Other Racial Points
Reborn Montica
There is said to be a way to also become a Montica, should one seek it out. Reborn Montica are those that are accepted into their communities are allowed to take the Rites of Rebirth, where they must travel to a branch of Yggdrasil, an aggressively guarded secret among Montica, and willingly dive into the pools of life, into a place said to be held inside of Yggdrasil where life force and souls are cleansed, before being born back into the world anew. It is there where they must prove their worth and understanding of the balance of the world to Yggdrasil. Those who succeed will be reborn, their bodies cleansed and remade to mimic a Montica. But still, they are not complete, as they are without powers; They must then travel to a branch of Yggdrasil that they feel calling to their soul, to prove themselves to the family that guards it, gain acceptance and have their abilities bestowed upon them. Failure to find it means that Reborn Montica loses what abilities they have, and no longer have any of their old abilities, becoming no more than a normal human. However, failure to create a bond while within Yggdrasil has a far harsher punishment. Their bodies are destroyed, their life force is fed back into Yggdrasil, and their soul is moved onto the next life, possibly even trapped within Eternia or one of the Six Realms.
Repercussions of Power
A Montic who keeps themselves far away from plant life and nature, and does not use their abilities will begin to lose them, slowly but surely. A Reborn Montica’s body will begin to revert to how it was previously, but True born Montica’s powers will only become dormant. Those who are separated from their roots at birth will also have trouble developing and harnessing their powers early on in life.
A Montic who keeps themselves far away from plant life and nature, and does not use their abilities will begin to lose them, slowly but surely. A Reborn Montica’s body will begin to revert to how it was previously, but True born Montica’s powers will only become dormant. Those who are separated from their roots at birth will also have trouble developing and harnessing their powers early on in life.