So, there's an idea that I've been toying around with in my mind for a while now, both on my own time, and with other roleplayers in Discord. While the rewrite introducing the new Marayan subrace is yet to be done, I figured there wouldn't be any harm in dropping my own concept for it here. Best case scenario, it inspires something in the rewrite. Worst case scenario, it was at least a way to put my thoughts down on paper, so to speak.
Please note that this is a concept only, but it is written as though it were a lore entry. None of this is actually canon.
The Maraya have an overall "fae" aesthetic. Their overall goal is still world domination, but the two subraces have very different ways of going about this.
-~-~-~Differences Between the Subraces~-~-~-
The El Maraya are like the fae of the Seelie Court, who are generally light(er)hearted, and are more interested in establishing themselves as the councilors, bureaucrats, and lorekeepers of the world. They see themselves as superior to others in talents involving the mind, and are sure to flaunt this fact frequently. For the most part, they are more than happy exerting control vicariously through another, and do not mind playing the political game in the slightest. The El Maraya look like the Maraya we have currently, and are more likely to wear brightly colored, vain outfits, often fashioned from silk.
The Ka Maraya meanwhile are more like the Unseelie Court. They feel properly robbed of a world that rightfully belongs to them, and are very willing to exact their price on the others unfortunate enough to be nearby. The Ka Maraya (while subtle due to necessity) are more heavy-handed in their seizing of assets, making up a percentage of the burglars, pickpockets, smugglers, and assassins of the world. One might be happy serving as a scout captain or the head of some crime syndicate, but there will constantly be an urge in the back of their mind to take what they believe is rightfully theirs; just as their massive empire was taken from them.
Ka Maraya look radically different from the El Maraya. While the El Maraya were freed from their bestial forms from the effects of Zzarlo's Plague, the Ka Maraya for unknown reasons have actually evolved further away from the Nelfin-like shape, and as a result their insectile traits became exaggerated. Ka Maraya often have darkly-colored, iridescent chitinous limbs and chestplates. Many of them no longer have legs that resemble those of other races, but now look much like digitigrade hind insect legs. Their skin that is not chitinous is always dark, is normally a shade of navy blue, and their hair retains its bleached color from the effects of the Plague. Ka Maraya also wear silks, but prefer more mellow shades, and are more likely to want to conceal their form. However, some individuals choose to wear outfits that exaggerate it even more, as though to insult the El Maraya.
-~-~-~Dynamic Between the Subraces~-~-~-
The Maraya are known for their competitive nature among each other. This could not be more true than the relationship between a typical El Maraya, and a Ka Maraya. The El Maraya look at the Ka' as little more than monsters; like the molted carapaces of their Circcian past, which they so prefer to keep locked away and forgotten. The Ka Maraya see the El' as pretentious and shallow, and cannot help but draw comparison to the Nelfin, whom they particularly blame for the loss of their empire, and thus hate. However, the two races still both follow the Great Purpose, and have been known to begrudgingly work together in the interests of restoring their lost power. When working together in this way, the El' acts as the face of the two, working publicly to gain some position of power. Meanwhile, the Ka' is the hit-man; doing the dark deeds that would otherwise stain the El''s reputation.
-~-~-~Possible Abilities~-~-~-
In ancient times, the Meraic possessed potent mental abilities, which allowed them to bend the minds of their slaves, and rule with total control. While these powers have faded away from the 3000-odd years in stasis, the transition into Maraya have marked the first trappings of these abilities returning. Both subraces have access to a primitive form of these mental powers, and though but a candle to the roaring flame of their past potential, these powers are eerily potent in their usage today.
El Maraya possess the ability to "add" to a subject's mind. Specifically, they can create an image or scene in the mind of another person, with a startling amount of detail. If the subject is unwilling, then the Maraya can create a single stationary image in the subject's mind. However, if the subject opens themselves to the ability, then the Maraya can recreate any setting they wish in the subject's mind, essentially allowing the subject to re-live an experience that the Maraya had. The Maraya must have witnessed the image or scene themselves, in person in order for this to work.
Ka Maraya, inversely, have the ability to "subtract" from a subject's mind. Specifically, they can completely remove the perception of any one object from someone's mind, rendering it completely and utterly invisible to that person. When doing this, the Maraya makes it impossible for the person to see, hear, or smell the object in question. Most terrifyingly, the most common usage of this ability is the Ka Maraya erasing themselves from a potential victim's mind. Touching or physically interacting with the object however, will break this illusion. Furthermore, the object will be gone, but its effect on the environment will not be (Ex. an invisible boat will still leave a boat-sized indentation in the water's surface). The Maraya needs to be able to see both the subject, and the object upon casting the ability, and must be able to perceive the object somehow for the duration, even if only by hearing or smelling it.
Either ability demands roughly 70% of a Maraya's concentration (making combat infeasible), and any person can only be affected by a Maraya's mental powers once per day. This is not a result of the Maraya's fatigue, but moreso from the subject's mind growing a tolerance to the magic. As the ability is magical, the subject cannot be a Drowdar (but the object can be), and effects that would break the concentration of a mage breaks either illusion (I.E. a thirsty witchblood while the ability is being used).
Please note that this is a concept only, but it is written as though it were a lore entry. None of this is actually canon.
The Maraya have an overall "fae" aesthetic. Their overall goal is still world domination, but the two subraces have very different ways of going about this.
-~-~-~Differences Between the Subraces~-~-~-
The El Maraya are like the fae of the Seelie Court, who are generally light(er)hearted, and are more interested in establishing themselves as the councilors, bureaucrats, and lorekeepers of the world. They see themselves as superior to others in talents involving the mind, and are sure to flaunt this fact frequently. For the most part, they are more than happy exerting control vicariously through another, and do not mind playing the political game in the slightest. The El Maraya look like the Maraya we have currently, and are more likely to wear brightly colored, vain outfits, often fashioned from silk.
The Ka Maraya meanwhile are more like the Unseelie Court. They feel properly robbed of a world that rightfully belongs to them, and are very willing to exact their price on the others unfortunate enough to be nearby. The Ka Maraya (while subtle due to necessity) are more heavy-handed in their seizing of assets, making up a percentage of the burglars, pickpockets, smugglers, and assassins of the world. One might be happy serving as a scout captain or the head of some crime syndicate, but there will constantly be an urge in the back of their mind to take what they believe is rightfully theirs; just as their massive empire was taken from them.
Ka Maraya look radically different from the El Maraya. While the El Maraya were freed from their bestial forms from the effects of Zzarlo's Plague, the Ka Maraya for unknown reasons have actually evolved further away from the Nelfin-like shape, and as a result their insectile traits became exaggerated. Ka Maraya often have darkly-colored, iridescent chitinous limbs and chestplates. Many of them no longer have legs that resemble those of other races, but now look much like digitigrade hind insect legs. Their skin that is not chitinous is always dark, is normally a shade of navy blue, and their hair retains its bleached color from the effects of the Plague. Ka Maraya also wear silks, but prefer more mellow shades, and are more likely to want to conceal their form. However, some individuals choose to wear outfits that exaggerate it even more, as though to insult the El Maraya.
-~-~-~Dynamic Between the Subraces~-~-~-
The Maraya are known for their competitive nature among each other. This could not be more true than the relationship between a typical El Maraya, and a Ka Maraya. The El Maraya look at the Ka' as little more than monsters; like the molted carapaces of their Circcian past, which they so prefer to keep locked away and forgotten. The Ka Maraya see the El' as pretentious and shallow, and cannot help but draw comparison to the Nelfin, whom they particularly blame for the loss of their empire, and thus hate. However, the two races still both follow the Great Purpose, and have been known to begrudgingly work together in the interests of restoring their lost power. When working together in this way, the El' acts as the face of the two, working publicly to gain some position of power. Meanwhile, the Ka' is the hit-man; doing the dark deeds that would otherwise stain the El''s reputation.
-~-~-~Possible Abilities~-~-~-
In ancient times, the Meraic possessed potent mental abilities, which allowed them to bend the minds of their slaves, and rule with total control. While these powers have faded away from the 3000-odd years in stasis, the transition into Maraya have marked the first trappings of these abilities returning. Both subraces have access to a primitive form of these mental powers, and though but a candle to the roaring flame of their past potential, these powers are eerily potent in their usage today.
El Maraya possess the ability to "add" to a subject's mind. Specifically, they can create an image or scene in the mind of another person, with a startling amount of detail. If the subject is unwilling, then the Maraya can create a single stationary image in the subject's mind. However, if the subject opens themselves to the ability, then the Maraya can recreate any setting they wish in the subject's mind, essentially allowing the subject to re-live an experience that the Maraya had. The Maraya must have witnessed the image or scene themselves, in person in order for this to work.
Ka Maraya, inversely, have the ability to "subtract" from a subject's mind. Specifically, they can completely remove the perception of any one object from someone's mind, rendering it completely and utterly invisible to that person. When doing this, the Maraya makes it impossible for the person to see, hear, or smell the object in question. Most terrifyingly, the most common usage of this ability is the Ka Maraya erasing themselves from a potential victim's mind. Touching or physically interacting with the object however, will break this illusion. Furthermore, the object will be gone, but its effect on the environment will not be (Ex. an invisible boat will still leave a boat-sized indentation in the water's surface). The Maraya needs to be able to see both the subject, and the object upon casting the ability, and must be able to perceive the object somehow for the duration, even if only by hearing or smelling it.
Either ability demands roughly 70% of a Maraya's concentration (making combat infeasible), and any person can only be affected by a Maraya's mental powers once per day. This is not a result of the Maraya's fatigue, but moreso from the subject's mind growing a tolerance to the magic. As the ability is magical, the subject cannot be a Drowdar (but the object can be), and effects that would break the concentration of a mage breaks either illusion (I.E. a thirsty witchblood while the ability is being used).
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