Mani
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The world of Dagda is populated by six sentient subspecies, the Raijin, Ryujin, Fujin, Svarog, Savitr and Mani. The final subspecies are amongst the most under-developed of the subspecies. The Mani are similar in aesthetics to the other subspecies of Dagda, elongated ears, hairless and a tail but their skin is pitch black with some stripes that reflect light. They are powerless, though it is speculated by Fujin scientists that the Mani once held the power of darkness.
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Homeworld
- Main article: Dagda
The world of Dagda is a small Terran planet, consisting of oceans, great continents and varied forms of flora and fauna. It holds several sentient subspecies that all share a common ancestor, they are the Raijin, Fujin, Ryujin, Savitr,Mani and Svarog, each separated by racial defined boundaries and countries. The three most prominent subspecies reside on the northern bound continent and minor islands, whilst the others live on the gold rich southern continent, which has a much more inhospitable climate and terrain.
Biology
Appearance
They are humanoid, possessing the simple two legs and two arms connected via a torso. The major differences between humans and the Mani is that no hair grows upon a Mani's body. Rather than hair they have a set of large tendrils which grow from the head and fall down in a similar fashion to hair except they are much thicker and made from fat and flesh. Their ears are also elongated, similar to that of a drow, but are also 'upside down', similar, perhaps, to certain species of dog. Like their Savitr cousins, the Mani have shorter tails than most of the other Dagdan subspecies as they only extend to the length of the knee and are simple in design, tapering to a small point at the tip. Their skin is coloured pitch black and, unlike other Dagdan subspecies, there is no variant skin tone. However they have lighter bands around their ears and tail which reflect when light is shone upon them. Due to their shorter lifespans than most sentient species, Mani mature at a much earlier age and are considered adults at ten years. Physically, and mentally, a ten-year-old would compare to a sixteen-year-old human.
Powers & Talents
The Mani have no powers, unlike many other Dagdan subspecies. Fujin scientists believe that the Mani once had power over darkness due to biological characteristics. They are, however, very agile and have keen, natural reflexes that could out-strip any standard human. They also have excellent eye-sight.
Biological Characteristics
Raijin, Fujin, Ryujin, Savitr, Mani and Svarog are all subspecies of Dagda. Capable of interbreeding, each subspecies is, however, very unique. Varying breeds of dog or cat would also be considered subspecies, for comparison.
The dark black skin of the Mani was once believed to be protection against the harsh light and heat of the southern continent, Eostre, of Dagda. However it soon became apparent to Fujin scientists, who study the world, that the Mani are nocturnal and their black skin is a kind of camouflage. The thin bands around the ends of the ears and tail reflect in the moonlight, allowing Mani to identify one another.
The power that they once had over darkness was only usable during the night hours. Photoreceptors in the Mani skin sense the levels of light and when the light is low, they will activate the energy stores within the Mani's body. These stores charge during the night and allow Mani to then use dark powers. However during the day-time these stores diminish, leaving a Mani very weak. This has meant that the Mani have always tried to sleep in dark places, such as caves or even dig themselves holes to sleep in. Yet, with time, this power became more of a hindrance than a boon and they evolved to loose the power. They no longer grow weak during daylight hours, but they are still a nocturnal creature.
Society
Culture
The Mani came to dwell in the caves, commonly called the Mani Caves, located in the south of Eostre. Previously they had lived in similar fashions to the Savitr and roamed as nomads after 'the herd', a kind of plains land cow, but they were now settled within deep, dark, dank caverns. These caves run deep and are a labyrinth of tunnels, caverns and small cave rooms. It is in these small cave rooms that most Mani raise their families. They navigate the caves by signs that have been chipped into the very walls of the tunnels and outside various rooms or caverns.
With such low numbers after the plague, the Mani developed a system of 'camaraderie', aiding one another without expecting return. The majority of Mani grow and cultivate a variety of plant life within the Mani Caves and the food is all given into a large storage to then be shared out. It is this that the Mani society revolves around. They rarely eat meat, but sometimes they will send someone out to steal plump, well-fed animals from within Svarog territory.
They also grow several varieties of moss, each with its own special property that could leave the smoker feeling relaxed, giddy, excited or even experience hallucinations. Mani enjoy nothing better than wiling away the hours smoking their favourite kind of moss. One certain kind of moss that grows in abundance in the cave system glows in the dark, allowing Mani ease of vision and lights them up by causing their bands to reflect.
They have a patriarchal system in which one male may take several wives. This is due to the low population number, a scheme in which to increase the Mani numbers, and the higher birth rate of females to males. The common number of wives is three, whilst a King may have as many as twelve. The King's advisers, likewise, tend to have at least eight wives to themselves.
As well as the theft of farm-bred animals from the Svarog, the Mani do occasionally steal women of other subspecies if the opportunity arises. These women are then made as wives to men of distinction, normally the advisers. The King will always have at least one foreign wife. These women are normally Savitr, who bear the most similarities to the Mani.
Technology
Other than the Savitr, the Mani have the lowest level of technology. They use hand cannons, much like the Savitr, for defence of Mani Territory, but they have little use for any other standard technologies that most subspecies would want. They do have some medical technologies, though most are unusual herbal kinds that often revolve around some variety of moss.
In stark contrast the subspecies of the northern continent, Hotei, have technology that rivals modern technology of Earth. Fujin explorers, seeking knowledge, have travelled to Eostre and met with the Mani and even traded with them. Certain explorers have become merchants and purposefully travel between Anemoi and Mani Territory to trade Fujin goods, such as tinned food or simple technologies, for moss and pipes to smoke it with. Moss is quickly becoming a big exotic seller in Anemoi.
Government
The Mani have a king, known as a lugal, who controls and dominates everything within Mani life. He holds a group of twenty as advisers. These advisers are considered as extensions of the king himself and are able to be treated like him and command other Mani like him, bar the king himself. The king and his advisers pass the laws and police the whole of Mani Territory, expecting fathers to punish their own families for any faults they find. With such a small population, the Mani are easily controlled by this simple system of government. The King appoints his advisers personally and they are often his friends from childhood, or whimsical friends. He is often quick to dismiss them also, though dismissal of an adviser means death. The passage of Kings runs father to son.
Class Structure
The king, who is currently Lugal Banona Flatucias, and his twenty advisers are considered the higher class of Mani, whilst the rest of the small Mani population are the under-class. The Mani are also very patriarchal and believe men have the right to dominate their women and families. The father's role is to raise strong boys and good breeding stock for others' sons. Men are entitled to several wives. This practice of polygamy is a means of increasing Mani numbers.
The King is likely to have twelve wives at a time, his advisers eight and other men three. However the King and his advisers hold all power and all others are at their disposal, including the under-class wives and daughters. This is the only time the under-class have been known to rebel against orders from the King and his advisers. Despite this, the act still occurs and fathers that resist are killed.
Language
In the past each country and subspecies would have had their own language, however the Fujin language has become the common tongue for the whole of Dagda. Even the subspecies of Eostre speak the Fujin language, having it replace the simple mode of communication that they previously used, not in the least due to the growing necessity for trade with the Fujin. However most subspecies still retain certain culturally specific words, or, as in the case of the Raijin, naming conventions. Place names also retain their original pronunciations, even if the spellings change to match the Fujin alphabet.
Like the Svarog, the Mani are so close-knit that they have just one kind of accent and dialect. This sounds, like other Eostre subspecies, like a Southern USA accent.
History
The Mani are considered to be one of the two oldest subspecies on Dagda. It is believed that they once held the power of darkness, just as other subspecies have elemental powers, but this power faded from Mani genetics due to evolution; a lack of need or hindrance came as a result of the power.
The Mani once shared the plains area of Eostre with the Savitr, the Savitr hunting the herd by day and the Mani hunting by night. Inter-marriages between the two subspecies had also been known as common practice. However a plague eventually struck the Mani, wiping out many of them. This plague didn't affect the Savitr and the Mani accused the Savitr of bringing this terrible death upon the Mani subspecies. Their numbers, however, by this point were so slow that the prospect of retaliation was far from the Mani minds. Survival was the aim.
They retreated from the plains and took residence in, what became known as, the Mani Caves. The caves were constantly dark, even during daylight hours, and helped the Mani to rejuvenate quickly, giving them more time and ease to heal and get over the plague. However they never left the caves and the mountain became known as Mani Territory, the Mani having settled in one place much like the Svarog.
Time passed and the story of the Mani became myth and legend to all of Eostre. The Savitr believed evil spirits dwelt within the Mani Caves. In truth this was because the Mani were prone to kidnap female Savitr or Svarog that neared their land. Even when the other subspecies stopped approaching the caves, the Mani began to scout out and steal women from their beds should opportunity arise.
This way of life went on for several centuries and the Mani population slowly grew from a handful to several thousand, still a small number for an entire people. Then the Fujin arrived on Eostre. The Fujin explorers were first to discover the Mani and make civilised contact. They learnt not to send women into their land, however, after several female explorers went missing. Despite this, the Fujin still began to trade with the Mani, including the exchange of moss which became a huge fashion craze in Anemoi, the country from which the Fujin originate. The Fujin also informed the Svarog and Savitr of the Mani's existence, which made the kidnapping of females all the harder for the Mani.
Yet, with the trade from the Fujin, the Mani have been able to better increase life expectancy and even births, through advanced medicinal practices. And the moss continues to sell well in Anemoi.
Relevant Characters
Player Characters & Other Major Characters
None.
Non-Player Characters & Associated Characters
Lugal Banona Flatucias
- Main article: Lugal Banona Flatucias
Lugal Banona Flatucias is the King of the Mani subspecies on the planet of Dagda. He is the ultimate ruler of his people and, as such, has been corrupted by this power. Yet he is, by Mani standards, a fair ruler that only abuses those closest to him. He rules with the aid of his advisers and has twelve wives, two of which were kidnapped from other subspecies. He believes in his own power and that he is right in all things.
Player Notes
I always wanted Dagda to have some 'primitive' subspecies, especially ones that had lost their powers, so the creation of the Savitr and the Mani began. I only had them as names and powers (albeit lost) for a long time, concentrating on the northern subspecies, which bore more influence over the character Taranis, whom the whole world was built up to characterise. I think the Mani are one of the most disturbing and creepy of all the Dagdan subspecies.
