Ekilibri

 

Ekilibri

The ekilibri are a small species native to the Jungle areas of their Kua.  They are Arboreal in nature and nocturnal, the deep darkness below the canopy, meaning that for many ekilibri, day and night cycles are mostly meaningless.  For ekilibri, dye has taken the place tattooing found in many human cultures, status, job and caste are all denoted through patterns painted onto their fur.  For Human’s, these dyes are vivid but simplistic patterns.  To the ekilibri, the colours are almost blinding, reflecting light in the higher spectrums which their eyes are particularly suited to perceive.  Ekilibri have a complex, caste-based social system.  Individual ekilibri are always aware of where they are placed in relation to each other, there is no confusion in ekilibri society when one ekilibri meets another they instantly know each other’s relevant position in the social hierarchy.  

As a nocturnal species, ekilibri is highly adapted to low light conditions.  They use screeches and high pitched calls to communicate with each other in the darkened jungles, with hearing in the high-end range as well.  However, they are also comparatively short-sighted compared to humans, long-distance vision is of limited value in the jungles of Kua.  Dense growth means that for an ekilibri, open space is a rare and usually unpleasant experience.  Exposed in the open an ekilibri will feel vulnerable, their relatively limited vision, combined with a lack of ready escape routes, make an ekilibri anxious and panicky!  Oddly, ships and space stations will make an ekilibri feel surprisingly relaxed, as such places tend to small tight spaces, with many escape routes. 

Society

Within ekilibri society, the relative status of two individuals will define almost all elements of interaction.  For instance, who eats first, who gives way on the branch, who is sent first into danger and most importantly who mates with whom are all determined by caste and status.  An ekilibri infected with dangerous human ideas of equality is an outcast within their society.  From the lowest to the highest all ekilibri find certainty in the knowledge of caste and status.   Tribal relationships are also considered important, whether you are part of one clan group or another can influence a range of different behaviours.  So human activities, like enforced labour in a plantation, disrupt these structures, causing the affected ekilibri to either attempt to establish new hierarchies or simply to move into open conflict with each other.  Violence between ekilibri, almost unheard of within the clans is common on the plantations dues to a misunderstanding concerning status between two ekilibri.

Within the clans, ekilibri caste is determined at birth, an ekilibri born into the scavenger caste will forevermore be part of that caste.  A child of the High One, intercessor to the Mother Tree for the clan, will command the tribe in her parens absence and be expected to take the role of High One should their mother die.  Within the caste, however, personal achievement can change one's status concerning members of the same caste.  For instance, Hu-Ma-Na, Scavenger caste member who returns with a human tech that assists the clan will be considered higher status than Sa-Va-Na, who has failed to find anything of value for the clan through the last fall of waters.  When the two encounter each other on a branch, Sa-Va-Na will step aside to allow Hu-Ma-Na to pass. However, both will make way for the High One.  Ekilibri status is in part social, however, there is evidence that biological drivers, for instance concerning mating, also play a part in reinforcing behaviours.

Beliefs

The ekilibri have no interest in the faith of the Icons, they are, in the words of the Church of the Icons, outside of the gaze of the Judge.  For the ekilibri, The Mother Tree, the living avatar of the Jungle is the core of their beliefs.  The Mother Tree gives all and takes all, her children, the great trees of the Jungle, protect and nourish the ekilibri.  For every clan, there is a range of sacred places scattered through their territories, which all members of the clan know.  Access to rites and sacred spaces within a clan is determined by Caste, each caste has its own sacred ceremonies which must be conducted in certain places and times.  For an ekilibri, the jungle is alive, a place where the physical and spiritual are interchangeable.   Dyes and decorations are also used during ceremonies, a Caste member undergoing a key rite of initiation will be covered in specific decorations only visible to the ekilibri in the moment.

As a clan’s lands are sacred, every ekilibri knows the start and end of their place intimately.  An ekilibri in their clan lands is never lost.  They know exactly where they are in an instant.  If an ekilibri was blindfolded and moved miles from their starting point, they would instantly know where they were as long as it was within their clan lands.  Interestingly an ekilibri taken out of their lands will rapidly work to understand their new home (as long as it is not another clan's lands).  So an ekilibri will become familiar with every part of a ship they are on, locating choice hiding places and escape routes.

Silver furred ekilibri, so valued by humans as pets, are an oddity amongst the ekilibri, they are casteless.  Silver fur is considered both a blessing and curse as the ekilibri with such fur find it harder to mark their fur with the dyes so vital to other ekilibri.  When a silver fur is born within a caste, it is raised by the high one, to serve as a messenger to other clans.  Its fur marks as one who has been chosen by the Forest to pass amongst all ekilibri without regard to status.  A silver fur may talk to a high one without regard to status, it may also pass across one clan's territory into another’s without concern.

Human Interaction

For ekilibri, human interaction is incredibly complex and confusing.  They are constantly seeking visual cues concerning humans.  As many humans lack clear colouration and markings concerning status (noting the use of tattooing amongst Zenthians is an outlier), an ekilibri will often connect status to clothing.  However, the fact that Humans change clothing frequently makes an ekilibri feeling like its constantly seeking an anchor point that does not exist.  As a result of human, technical superiority and physical size to ekilibri, many ekilibri assume all humans are high status but will still struggle with sudden changes in clothing and appearance.  Human interaction with ekilibri, therefore, tends to be highly confusing for both parties, for an ekilibri status and caste is all, for many humans, even those focussed on status subtle nuances in status have no practical meaning leading to endless misunderstandings between the two species.

Castes

For ekilibri characters, Caste replaces Icons.  An ekilibri born into a specific caste receives a Talent at character creation in line with the following list (see follow-on post about character creation). 

• High Ones: - Leaders of the clan and intercessors to the Mother Tree. A member of the high ones is expected to lead the clan in negotiations and daily life. 
• Dye makers: - A dye maker is the owner of rituals and chosen by the Mother Tree to mark the members of the clan with the sacred markings. 
• Hunters: - Hunter’s hunt on behalf of the tribe, finding game and foraging for food to ensure that in the hard times the clan will be able to thrive. 
• Artisans: - Artisan’s build the structures of the clan, creating places of safety from the predators and developing the assets of the tribe. 
• Scavengers: - The Scavengers gather good and materials on behalf of the tribe, 
• Silver Fur: -Travellers and messengers between the clans, casteless and yet valued despite that.