Saturday, December 31, 2011

Clan Notes: Green Flames


Clan Green Flame


Climate: Eastern most part of the world in dense forests
Clan Structure: The Green Flame dia and its two other ji clans are unique compared to the dia in drakkhani society. Why? Because they are the only dia groups that practice and heavily encourage the use of magic and magical craft.

These drakkhani inhabit forests east ward of the Kalijani and their territories. This was once high elf territory but over the centuries is became inhabited by wood or arboreal elves which are much more feral than the more ‘domesticated’ mountain elves. It’s also home to wild wood dragons, the only species of dragon that has not been hunted down to extinction, save the tundra wyrms of the far north where the Wintervale live.

The Green Flame has two other ji families that branch off from the main family. The Malachite dia lives north east while the Jade Claws live south of them. The Jade Claws often share territory with the monokiri or unicorn fauns that inhabit the woodlands. They trade with them often gaining materials that most other sapient races in Roannorra can’t obtain legally (hair, chips of alicorn…).

As previously stated they are clan of mages. While in general the clan operates much like a typical drakkhani dia (children are raised communally, there is a council of elders, and they migrate) however unlike the animistic traditions of most dia, these clans study high and ceremonial magic. The operate schools teaching elf and human alike on elemental spell casting. There are three main schools that they run. The main family teaches basic conjuration and elemental working. Jade Claws are more like druids. They use elemental magic to care for gardens, and use herbal working. Malachite is more ceremonial mages they use alchemy to enchant weapons and armor. They are also the only clan that writes down their tomes and spell working in the Common language; they often trade these books with human mage collages for their materials and spells. Their school have been regarded the hub of the magical world. Many young magicians and mages educate themselves by venturing to the Malachite school to hone their skills.

However there is a dark side. The Malachite often preforms human sacrifices. These are never witnessed outside of their main aerie and very few humans know about it. These sacrifices are a great honor to some humans who are often raised to be an offering to the High Goddess. The humans raised to be sacrifices are always orphans and are willing offerings.

The Green Flames have blue eyes and deep green to sage green skin. The have brown striping down their backs and arms; also they have bifurcated tails. A unique anomaly for drakkhani; horns and talons are dark yellow hair is brown or black. They also wear clothing, because of the various races they teach. It’s a not out of modesty but an act of comfort to the other races. In their own private aeries they are unclothed as usual. Their emblem is a green flame with a pentacle in the middle. Jade Claws have three flames and the Malachite have a seven pointed star instead of a pentacle in their flame.

The name Green Flame is play on their magic. The can use a spell to turn their fire breath, green for a short period of time.

Clan allies and foes: They are tense with the Sunwings west of them. But have decent relations with Glasswings. They are not fond of mountain elves but will educate wood elves and humans. They are not fond of human warriors.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Drakkhani anger displays

Xenoanthropologists have been recording several basic behaviors that are considered anger displays. Gestures that denote aggression, dominance or fear and are separate from the language of Drakk. These are all subconscious reactions that drakkhani do unaware. Much like how humans cross their arms or frown when angry. Many of these behaviors are unique to drakkhani and often hard to recognized by humans as signs of anger or fear.

Annoyance
Drakkhani can show annoyance very typical manners that humans display. Eye rolling is one of them as well as scoffing. However drakkhani have a few behaviors that are a bit different.

Eyelid flicking
If a drakkhani flicks their third eyelid, it usually means irritation or frustration. It's like a human blinking in surprise. It's often means "What? What? Huh?". Some scientists think it's like their version of eyerolling since that behavior was thought to be adopted by anthromophication.

Tail slapping
A drakkhani tapping their tail is another annoyance gesture. Like a human tapping their food. It also means impatience.

Snorting without steam
It's their way of sighing. A snort comes off as annoyed or irritated. Some biologist think it's also their way of also cleaning out mucus that can tar up their breathing passages. Congestion can be dangerous.

Horn shaking
A gesture signifying frustration and agitation. It's also a start of a threatening behavior.

Anger
Drakkhani have a library of gestures for anger and dominance. Here are a few.

Flashing of fangs
A quick smile is a dangerous and imposing. "Don't mess with me, I am in a FOUL mood" it says. A slow grin is less dangerous, though drakkhani show happiness with chittering and close mouth smiles. If a drakkhani flashes his fangs he giving someone a warning. This is commonly following horn shaking

Low hissing follow by snorting with steam\
Drakkhani snorting with steam is another anger gesture. Signalling that yes, I can breath fire. Hissing follows most of the time. Rarely would drakkhani growl oddly enough.

Clicking the back teeth quickly
"Back off! Go away" it's another warning behavior. It's often relayed with other fear behaviors than anger.

Flaring of wings
"FUCK OFF NOW!" It also says "LOOK HOW BIG I AM DON'T FUCK WITH ME" if a drakkhani flares his wings after several warning gestures. It's a bad sign. He will often breath fire or charge.

However, during the mating season, it also says. "Look how hot and sexy I am, I am big and strong, will you be my mate?" It's been concluded as dominance gesture.

Rage or Wrath
These behavior show and enraged drakkhani. Most of these have been observed and relayed by a distance.

Flame bursts
"YOU'RE DEAD" A drakkhani breathing short tongues of flame is an aggression warning. Next you'll be barbecued. Breathing it upwards however is something else 'THIS PLACE IS MINE SEE! I CLAIM IT."

Roaring
A challenge of war, often following fire bursts and before charging.

Flapping wings
This is actually a fear gesture, but drakkhani make this gesture when they know they are losing a fight.

Exposing one's phallus or clitoris
Scientists have been arguing about this for years. They have concluded from interviews and observation that the exposure of genitals is not sexual, one out dominance. Turns out that drakkhani when release a scent that is very overwhelming and musky when exposing the phallus or vulva. This often turns drakkhani way and makes then stand down. It's a warning and act of dominance.

Fear and Submission

Bowing head exposing the neck
"Ok I give up" it's defeat and relenting.

All fours head down
Same meaning stronger intensity "I am REALLY sorry"

Scratching with the feet
This is a fear gesture. It's says "NO! Leave me alone"

Curling wings around oneself
Hatchings do this behavior the most. It's a protective one. One that is replaced later by flaring.

Flying away
This is pretty obvious as a fear gesture when in combat.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

More on Drakk (nouns and gender)

Because language among the drakkhani is fluid and moving. Speaking Drakk is full body experience. One that can only be truly spoken with ear wiggles and clicking and growling. Here are a few nouns and some language rules.

Masculine and Feminine nouns

Drakk has very fluid gender in their language. A simple click or bah-to changes the gender of the noun. Most nouns however are neuter and lack a gender. Only nouns denoting a social class or a person have genders. Drakk has three distinct.

Word word genders
Male (Bj)
Female(Ka)
None (Ju)

Words with those sounds within them often denote the gender of the word. The only word that doesn't need that is "person" Jji. Jji is a fluid word that attached to another word or bah-to can mean any gender (eiojji) means "woman" or "egg layer" jjikati mean means "little sister". Jjibja means "little brother". Here is sentence example using jji

Example: English The clan has many women.
Drakk *short whistle* T'a dia pdd hu eio*click*jji*nod*
phonetically TAH DEEUH PITH EEYO CHI.

Bah-to in the start of the sentence is more like punctuation. It denotes the start of a sentence, the nod at the ends it. The word for person is "Drakhjji" DraKAHchi which then became "Drakkhani. The double K was the result of human influence and it has stayed. It roughly translates into Dragon People. Sometimes the word Drakh,refers to mountains than drakkhani. Which makes sense since the word for human and elf are refer to places. Human means "Plains people" Juajji elf means "Forest people" Silvjji. Later the word elf became "Silvi" a shorten version of the full drakk word. Now Jji is what drakkani use to denote a person. I or self is jj.

In regards to words that denote gender like mother or father they change from the "Bj" and "Ka" sounds. For instance the words Babitah means father. Replace "babi" with "maji" and you would have Majitah. Shorten both words babi and maji you have the diminutives, "daddy" and "mommy".

Here are few sentence to showcase each gender.

examplesEnglish: She broke her new spear.
Drakk *short whistle* nusuu ka trai srukka*teeth clack* *nod* (NU-soo KAH TRAH ser-RUK-kah)
Once again the bah-to at the end and beginning punctuates. The bah-to at sruk makes the "spear" instead of staff since they are the same word without the bah-to.

English He broke his new spear.
Drakk *short whistle* nusuu bj trai srukbj*teeth clack* *nod* (NU-soo BIJ TRAH se-RUK-bij)
The noun "spear" has the sounds "bj" and "ka" added to it, to show gender. Ka and Bj are also used as pronouns.

Here is a sentence that used the Ju or jj sound.
English They have many spears.
Drakk *short whistle* jj'te pdd*hiss* hu srukju*teeth clack**nod* (CHI-teh PITH HU ser-RUK-woo)

To denote a collective noun in a group jj is paired with 'te to show a collective ('te can also show other collective words like "us" "them" and "you plural") using a netural gender is common for sentences that show groups of people.

pronouns

I jj CHUH
You yr ER
We nna NAH
Them naa'te NAH-TEH
US yaa YAH
You All yr'te ER-TEH
They jj'te CHUH-TEH


Will continue how bah-to denotes and changes verbs later

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Clan Notes: Blue Fangs


Clan Name Blue Fangs

Climate Marshes and thick swampy areas

Clan Structure Xenoanthropologists have been studying the dense Southern Swamp for several decades. It's a massive ecological wonderland, with various species of animal and plants adapted for this unique environment. Many species of plants have been recorded that acted as a evolutionary links between their cousins up north. Blue Fangs have been a similar missing link.

Getting data from the Blue Fang dia has been very laborious. Naturally aggressive towards humans the only race they will keep contact outside of their own is oddly elves this is unusual as most of the drakkhani people have a long standing grudge against them. But the Blue Fangs lack that lingering hate among the, this was perfect for a mountain elf named Lichen Twobranch, a senior xenoanthropologist who took root with the dia and has been studying them ever since.

According to Dr. Twobranch, the Blue Fangs showed many vestigial behaviors and xenobiologist Dr Cranefeather, have had the honor of dissecting one and noticed a vestigial organ that dragons originally had several million years ago. This was a major fine in the field of xenobiology. Humans have been wondering for ages what caused the split between Draco Magnificant and Alfir Dracis. Many scientists have had several theories, many include a more scientific look at the drakkhani creation myth. One scientist suggested that drakkhani might not be related to elves at all, but were at one point some sort of synapsid, that was a kind of proto-dragon that moved on a different evolutionary path. The only reason they have similar genes and traits with the alfir species is because of a recent connection that caused that link-up. However, we're getting of topic.

The Blue Fangs have some left-overs from their prehistoric days making them the oldest dia known. They are considered backwards by most clans and thus, they are not well liked by most clans. However the main problem is not because of their “backwards” culture but because of their relationship with elves. This ends up being a major problem for most drakkhani because their own personal feud.

The clan practice many traditions that are very much the same as their cousin clans. However some traditions are considered “barbaric” by most of the northern dias. One of them is a from of ritualized mounting during the rut. A young man is held down as an older male grinds up from behind. This is only lasts a second and there is no phallus being exposed, never the less though most clans find this cruel and obscene. Humans on the other hand wonder if this was a proto-behavior done by dragons. A form of dominance mating. No one knows for sure.

Survival in the Blue Fangs is tough, they live in a dangerous world with swamp-wyrms massive river whales and sharks. They are not the top predators and live on a knife's edge. Most hatchlings do not survive until adulthood among the Blue Fangs, because of this, most hatchlings are supervised by older members of their creh until they are big enough to deal with the super predators.

The Blue Fang's emblem is the great fish, a staple among their dia, their main phenotype is green with sage mottling, they have fins in their head and tail horns are gray and they have brown eyes and hair. Common mutations have been, over bites and webbing. They are the only clan that have wings meant for both flight and swimming.

Clan allies and foes Most clans do not tangle with the Blue Fangs however it has been observed that they have some loose ties with the Greenflame and Sunwings.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Clan Notes: Downgust



Clan Name Downgust

Climate heavy mountainous regions and volcanic ridges

Clan Structure This dia is rather small, and like the Wintervale and the Sunwings they are skittish. However they are remarkable archers and skilled at hunting and tracking. They are the rangers of the Drakkhani people and make wonderful guides.

Living on the volcanic ridges prove to be successful for the Downgust. They share the territory with storm trolls, wild unicorn fauns and mountain elves. The volcanic ridge that they live on is often call the Dragon's Back by the elves for the various volcanoes that dot the area. Most of them are still active only one is extinct and that is the aerie for the Downgust.

Their clan is very typical for drakkhani society, however there is one difference. Females are often the warriors of the clan and are the primary rangers of the Downgust. They often leave the aerie during fall and serve the neighboring caravans by acting as guides through the treacherous mountains. The have a working relationship with humans and a very distant one with the mountain elves however they work well with the storm trolls that lurk around the deep crags.

They are fierce warriors and resourceful mountain-folk, they are the only drakkhani dia to have tamed highland gryffins as companions. The rangers often have them as working animals to guide the human nomads that live up north. Highland gryffins are part snowy-owl and lynx, they are clever and silent hunters. Many rangers have deep love for the taigas and deep forests, they are sensitive to their changes, especially shamans who are more like druids in the Downgust.

Downgust farm winter wheat and rice in the volcanic soil. They are the only clan that regurlarly trades with the storm trolls. Trolls often supply the clan with metals to forge and craft weapons with. In return the Downgust give the trolls tuu'ji a kind of liquor harvested from elderberries. Highly potent and a favorite of the trolls. They also learned from them to make specialized bows and arrows for the heavy storms that ravage the Dragon's Back. The Downgust and Stormwake clans often share territories, it's not uncommon for the Downgust to work with the Stormwake families. Their emblem is the tree descending arrows represent their arching and ranger-work. They have gray skin, amber eyes with dark blue horns. Hair is always white.

Clan allies and foes
They are fond of the storm trolls Stormwake and have a good relationship with the Wintervale if they head down south. They are cross with the Rautaun and very tense with the Yu'Taka.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Mutation notes with Drakkhani

The Drakkhani people tend to have variety of mutations with in their genome. Xenobiologists and xenogeneticists have located only a handful of genes that often carry this mutation.

Most mutations are superfical such as, hetrochromatic eyes, unique horns, skill mottling and so forth. Scientists have not located any severe health problems with these mutations. However their are few genes and clans that carry more severe muations

Gene Ce-127: Falon's Syndrome
This disorder is found with the Lunaughti clan the most. Also known as Drakkhani Chimerism, this is actually a misnomer. This is not true chimerism, but a genetic disorder in which the drakkhani is born intersex and has bizarre black and white mottling. They might also be deaf and have short wings. This is considered an rare disorder and a resssive trait found in only the white drakkhani within the Lunaughti clan. There is no cure for this disorder.


Gene FIHh-2 Mutation: Praxor's Disorder Praxor's disorder has many other names including: Praxor's Curse, Ignius Deformity and Traitor's Mark. Drkkhani with Praxor's Disorder are hatched without the glands or sac to produce the gases to breath fire, they can only glide short distances and often are hatched with respiratory problems for the rest of their lives.

Hatchlings with this disorder in wild dias are often ostracized by their clan-mates. In more modern settings they are often given prosthetic glans but they are often still mistreated by their clan-mates with prosthesis. The name Praxor's Curse is a reference to a cultural figure, Praxor a drakkhani who had his ability to breath fire taken away by their goddess Star Fang as punishment. The name "Traitor's Mark" is a reference to that.

Abner-Orion Syndrome This is a rare disorder that is found within the Blue Fang clan and thought at first to be an inbred trait. Geneticist now realize this was a throwback disorder and since the Blue Fang dia is one of the oldest dia known.

Abner-Orion Syndrome, AOS, causes the hatchling to be born with webbed frog like legs and a flatter paddle tail. Their wings are gone or merged with their arms. The are often born without their ignis glans (fire breathing organs). Unlike Praxor's, AOS is not considered a stigma. These drakkhani as many has realized are more at home in the water than their siblings and have that advantage however because of their inability to fly, these hatchlings are vulnerable to predators like swamp-wyrms and red-gilled sharks. Drakkhani cannot out-swim these predators and despite the mutation to be better adapted to the water, AOS hatchlings can't out swim them either. Many of these hatchlings die from these predators.

The have other minor health issues such as sensory processing problems and gastro-intestinal problems. Scientists don't know the gene for this syndrome.


Gene AE-12 Mutation: Pyrophoric Malproduction: Also gaining the name "Drakk Diabetes" this is a hormonal disorder that makes the organs to produce the hydrogen and boron malfunction causing irregularity of the production of hormones that tell the organs how much to produce the chemicals. Because of this, drakkhani either don't produce enough hydrogen from their meat and often crave large amounts of it, this is call Carnivorism. They often show other symptoms including obesity thicker bones and inability to fly. They also might produce too much boron causing respiratory problem

When a drakkhani isn't producing enough boron, they often crave nuts and vegetables and show Herbavorism. They might over produce hydrogen, this causes deformed wings and deformed glans. They might also have respiratory problems and have severe allergies towards fish and meat produces.

Doctors often catch this early in modern cultures and prescribe the hormone pyrocolic, which helps regulate the production of those gases.