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Dorobo :: The Great Plains - smitty - 01-15-2016 dorobo the great plains A wild expanse of life and grass, Dorobo was a great land of untamable cultures and uncultivated tribes. The Dry Season brought golden, dead grass as far as the eye could see. But the Wet Season, with its flooding rains and sky-branching lightning, brought life bursting from the soil. Hibernating toads erupted from their slumbers, leaves unfurled on long-dead trees, and rivers gushed on once-dry beds. Dorobo's population was scattered, organized in small tribal bands. Some tribes headed south to populate the Southern Forests and became the Debwani people; while others headed east and pushed the winged Korofi far into the Eastern Plateaus. Most, however, remained on the plains and simply survived on the feral land. Gods had existed in ancient times, but they had long-since faded to mysticism, superstition, and oral tradition. Remnants of these religions pervaded the culture, however, such as a stigmas against different colored eyes and the 'luck' of those those graced with two horns (as they were made 'in the image of the gods'). Festivals were celebrated both before and after the rains came, with stomping hooves and beating drums around crackling fires. Eventually, the need arose for a common meeting place of these scattered equines; a place to settle tribal disputes, discuss predator's hunting habits, share safe birthing grounds, and the like. Thus, every other rainy season, selected members from the tribes travelled to this 'meeting place' to argue, discuss, debate, and exchange knowledge. And so, as time passed, it became Makutano, the capital of Dorobo. The Rise
Makutano grew roots, establishing itself as a the Great Pillar of Dorobo. It became consistently inhabited, with tribes rotating out representatives however often they deemed necessary (more often for the wise tribes of the west, less often for the wild tribes of the south). Though it was a grand city, it was not heavily populated for most of Dorobo's citizens still existed on the Plains, as they had for millennia. Makutano's roots grew into branches, branches gave birth to leaves whispering of other lands. The hornless Debwani in the Southern Forests had sweet, succulent grasses all year long. Why was the great Dorobo starving on dried stems in the Dry Season? And the savage, winged Korofi in the Eastern Plateaus were rich with metal ores. Why was the strong Dorobo still fighting predators with wooden pikes? So the wisest of representatives created an army— but not in name, for the many tribes of Dorobo would never have agreed to such a thing. There was no need to wage war and spill blood over year-long succulent grasses. The tribes had survived as they had for as long as time could remember— why change? Thus, Makutano's Representative Council created the Banderi: Watchers of Dorobo's borders. There existed an 'invading predator' from the Southern Forests, the Council informed all the herds, and thus the Banderi was necessary and welcomed. The culture shifted, as the Banderi recruited the strong, young males of Dorobo and marched through the Southern Forests. They eradicated this 'predator,' but also conquered the small, primitive, unhorned forest tribes. Suddenly, the Great Dorobo and its Great Pillar had succulent grasses all year long... and the 'predator' was no longer anywhere to be found. The eyes of Makutano turned east, to the Plateaus and their ores. The greedy jaws had been opened, and there would be no sating this hunger. The Fall
Makutano's greed did not go without victims of both the conquered and Dorobians. The greatest of empires is no more than the sum of its greatest citizens. And when a great man is moved to vengeance by the greed of an empire, he can bring it to its knees. Thus, the Elephant General, family lost to this corrupt war, discovered, with the aid of a Poisoner, a Lioness, and other rebels, the truth of the Banderi's March. And so, bent on destruction and trusting few, he whispered in influential ears, warmed the right sheets, and laughed in the powerful circles. He learned of the Banderi's plan to take the Eastern Plateaus. But the Pegasai of the Plateaus were a violent and ferocious nation, unlike the small and primitive equines of the Southern Forests. The winged ones were organized, ready, and willing to take on the Great Banderi. Thus, the General bled out Dorobo's secrets to the Eastern Korofi savages, who eagerly drank the lifeblood and became thirsty for more. They descended on Makutano, destroying the nation as the Great Pillar fell. After the Fall
The Fall was a bloodbath that overflowed outside of the Pillar. Tradition warfare between the Banderi and Korofi warriors devolved into guerrilla attacks as the Debwani took advantage of the chaos and began to avenge their losses to the Banderi's earlier marches. Though the Plainsmen were great warriors, they were outnumbered by the Debwani and outflanked by the aerial Korofi. Pandemonium reigned as Dorobian tribes defended themselves, slowly being pushed north by the Debwani and west by the Korofi. Now an uneasy calm has settled over Dorobo, occasionally broken by small (but violent) skirmishes between the three races. There is no unity and the plains are more dangerous than ever. Cultural Details
Characters from Dorobo
Adoptables
Create Your Own
Anyone is welcome to bring a character from Dorobo! Keep in mind that the characters are naturally-colored and based on African wildlife (so be sure your character isn't the same as one already in Helovia!)Dorobo's Plains are dominated by Unicorns, with variable sizes. Two horns are common, more than that do not exist. Their cultures range from more 'sophisticated' in Makutano to less civilized in the rural plains' tribes, with primarily Swahili spoken, though some southern tribes speak a mixture of Swahili and Hausa. The Eastern Plateaus are home to Korofi, a Pegasus race in Dorobo. See below for more information! The Southern Forests are home to the Debwani which are small, nimble, primitive Equines. See below for more information! The Desert Oasis city of Uumalah is home to a species and characters of all types. See below for more information! The Desert Nation of Qumox is home to elegant and beautiful equines, pegasus, and the rare unicorn. See below for more information! If you would like your character to have a Dorobo-history with a current Helovian character, please PM that character! You may also check below for a current-character relations chart. :D Resources
Existing Character RelationsSwahili Dictionary Swahili cultural references Swahili Proverbs [Dorobo is intellectual property of smitty (Ariel Smith)] RE: Dorobo :: The Great Plains - smitty - 12-08-2016 debwani the southern forests
To the south of the Plains are thick, dark forests filled with life and death, mists and roots. The brave, early Dorobian tribes that ventured into these ancient trunks did not lose their awe of the gods or the mysticism of their culture, unlike their fellow Plainsmen. However, these southern tribes did loose their horns and their size, for both were hindrances for moving through the thick forest. Horns became tangled in vines while large statures were not nimble enough to dart between trunks while running from predators. Also, to further blend into the forest, nature selected heavily striped bodies and large, sensitive eyes. These large, Debwani eyes chosen by the Mother are said to be able to see into the Spirit World, and this is why they retain their beliefs. The Mother Tree
As these nimble, striped Debwani moved deeper and deeper into the trees, remaining alive relied as much on instinct as it did luck. Poisonous plants and insects, predacious creatures and shrubs; even the very mists, shadows, and earth seemed to hunger for the Debwani peoples' blood. It was a hard and terrible time for the small, striped creatures—their numbers dwindled to a small, scared tribe despite their adaptions of stripes, no horns, and dilutive size for surviving in the forest. In defeat, the Debwani began to leave the thick trees, slowly migrating back towards the Plains—they could not stay in so dangerous a forest. But the Debwani were a proud people, and despite its dangers, the forest had grown to become their home. So they stalled amid the large, safe roots and massive canopy of an ancient ɗan ɓaure, or fig tree. With heads bowed and knees prone, they pleaded to their ancestors and to the Debwani the forest had claimed—both tears and prayers soaking into the roots of the ancient tree. The intensity and unity of the Debwani carried from their prayers, to the ancestors, to the godsar—pulling spiritual life into the very canopy and roots they sheltered beneath. And so Uwar was created, or the Mother Tree. Her roots pulled up out of the earth, creating a home for the Debwani and sheltering them from any dangers. Fruit budded from her limbs, giving sweet and life-giving nourishment. Clean and un-poisoned water pooled in her large leaves for her children to drink. The Debwani rejoiced, staying beneath their Mother Tree until their numbers repopulated, eventually spanning back into the forest. But now, with the protection of Uwar, their ancestors’ spirits, and the gods, they could survive the forests’ dangers. Burned in War
The quiet Debwani people's isolation did not last, however, for eventually the Dorobian Plainsmen began to covet the rich resources of the forest that the Debwani had come to master. So war began to ravage the small, striped race; fires burned the small clans and trees they called home, creeping further and further towards their Mother Tree. Until one day the unthinkable happened: flames began to lick up the trunk of their beloved Uwar. What was created by desperate need of a unified people was now destroyed by greed and lies. Eventually the attacks dwindled to guerrilla warfare, once a few Debwani tribes began to fight back. However, the damage was done, and now the Debwani are cast adrift in their cultural identity, having only the charred skeleton of their Mother Tree left. Cultural Details
Debwani Characters
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The Southern Forests are home to the Debwani which are small, nimble, primitive Equines. They are generally heavily striped, and very few have horns! They speak mainly their native tongue (Hausa), and are usually more superstitious or God-fearing. Resources
Hausa DictionaryRE: Dorobo :: The Great Plains - smitty - 12-08-2016 korofi the eastern plateaus
Another race existed in Dorobo, quite different from the Plains-borne Dorobians. It was said a colt was born, so savage and fierce that the gods took away his horns in fear of what he might do with such weapons. But instead of tempering this colt, the loss of his horns enraged him. So he turned on the gods, ascending the mountains and trampling their tops to flat Plateaus with his infuriated assault to the heavens. So brutal was he that he made the gods bleed—and two drops fell upon his shoulders. Hatred and yearning to attack the gods that took his horns caused wings to sprout from the bloodied drops, and so he ascended to a divine throne by sheer savagery and might. Another god, both wise and ancient, wondered: if this creature could do such things as a mortal, then what fearsome things could he do as a god? So the wise god created more in the creature’s image—just as barbaric and winged—and made these creatures the savage new god’s wards. However, the cunning old god sowed a fierce independence in this race so that the winged creatures would never entirely come to heel beneath the savage god. An ever-busy god could not rise up against or attack the others of the divine court. And so the Korofi race was born: savage, fierce, and solitary. No horns adorned their brow, but wings sprouted form their shoulders. They inhabited the hilly eastern lowlands, for even they feared to enter the mountainous domain of their barbaric patron god. Their violent independence allowed only small familial clans to form; any larger groups destroyed themselves with bloody clashes. So when the larger Dorobian tribes began to spread into these hills, they easily pushed the smaller Korofi sects further East, into the harsh mountains they had resisted to claim. Carved of Savagery
The Bahitaari clan, seeing how easily these Dorobian tribes thrust them from their lowland homes despite being wingless and not nearly as savage, recognized the need for unity to strengthen the Korofi. Though each Korofi individual was savage and strong, when fighting divided they were easily defeated by the unified earthbound race. Thus, the wise but fierce leader of the Bahitaari founded the city of Bahari in the most hospitable part of the plateaus he could find. What began as a crude city of stone slowly, over time, was carved into a thriving city. Layers upon layers were carved out of and added to the city, creating a labyrinth of streets and homes. Each era possessed its own rock layer (and thus color) as it was created. However, it was as difficult to unify the fierce Korofi clans as it was to carve hard stone. The many familial clans broke out in to war, often staining the rocks red. However, eventually too little blood was available to be spilled, and clans began to bond together in the city. Tempered by Time
Of these many, bloodthirsty clans, twelve Houses survived the bloody jostling for power within the growing capitol city of Bahari:The Mopeli house is said to be the closest to the Bahitaari clan, being both cunning and quietly lethal. Of all the houses, the Mopeli demands the most respect as it is the most dangerous. The Senzaok house works closest with Mopeli, for it upholds the laws of Korofi. They deal out savage justice in Bahari, and are fatally quick to pass deadly judgements. The Kahare house survived because of its ability to create fierce and artful weapons from the metal ores found in the plateaus. The Gasela house's survival came not from its brutal savagery, but from their deadly command of fire—and willingness to use it without hesitation against their enemies. The Qhayi house is forever wreathed in mystery, though they claim the closet communion with their savage patron god. None could bear to destroy the Jola house, for its overwhelming opulence and beauty commands the admiration of even the fierce Korofi. The final house of Hadebe exists by sheer wit and ruthless guile. Rashly unafraid, the Hadebe House thrives on conflict and often fabricates deadly games in Bahari. A tenuous balance of power between the twelve houses keeps a delicate peace between the Korofi in Bahari. Although the nomadic clans outside the city often have bloody squabbles. Tested by War
Eventually the Dorobians returned to fight the Korofi, seeking to take from them once again. However, this time instead of their land, the Plainsborne sought the jewels and metal ores the mountains gave them. But the Makutano were thwarted by a vengeful Dorobian General who sought to end the Plainsmen's greed, and thus revealed the Pillar's plans and weaknesses. So the Korofi, finally and eagerly embracing their barbaric spirit, attacked and fell the Pillar—some unable to curb their ferocity and attacking even the small Debwani.However, now that the Korofi savagery is no longer repressed, Bahari is an even more dangerous place to be. Cultural Details
Korofi Characters
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Create Your Own
The Eastern Plateaus are home to Korofi, the only Pegasus race in Dorobo. They are patterned after African birds (raptors, passerines, etc) and their culture is more barbaric and ferocious that the Plains or the Forests. Bahari is their capital and only civilized city, and was established by the Bahitaari house which later dissolved into other houses, forming a very feudal social system. Seven Familial Houses survive today: Jola (House of Opulence), Hadebe (Tricksters), Senzaok (Laws), Mopeli (Dangers), Gasela (Fires), Qhayi (Mystics), Kahare (Arms). Both Afrikaans and Swahili are spoken equally in Bahari, while primarily Afrikaans is spoken outside of the capital. Resources
Afrikaans DictionaryRE: Dorobo :: The Great Plains - smitty - 12-08-2016 uumalah the pleasure oasis
Nestled far to the east, just as Dorobo's wild plateaus give way to endless desert, is an oasis filled with all of the world's pleasures: Uumalah. Ruled by gold, there is little loyalty to be found in the city--though riches, luxuries, and pleasures abound. If You Build It
Uumalah began as a small trading town that was 'the doorway to the east.' Mostly Korofi (with the occasional Dorobian or Debwani) would trade their ores, jewels, pelts, and plants for any number of useful and strange Eastern commodities. However, there was one man, known only as the Father, who saw an opportunity in this small, oasis town. He was as tall and dark as the night he owned, and he came into Uumalah beneath its the cover of blackness. The Father brought a small harem of his ‘daughters’, young mares lured away from nomadic desert and Korofi clans by his silken tongue and promises of luxury in the Oasis City.rise of darkness But the Father, by spreading wide the legs of his daughters and breaking his promises in the dead of nights, slowly spread his influence of power every nightfall in Uumalah. So the the town grew, more merchants lured by the promised pleasures—all the while bringing luxuries of their own to trade. The Father built whore houses: lavish, large, and filled with lovely youth. There was always a supply of beauty to those who passed through the growing city. They Will Come
And so The Father came to power in Uumalah, because all the gold and riches ran through his houses and all the city’s business took place under his roofs. He built many houses and paved the city center with gold. But loyalty doesn’t exist in power built on pleasure, so his whores bought information with the bodies, information the Father kept and used against those more powerful than himself…until none were left, and he was the most powerful. The Father kept his pet daughters close to him, only selling to highest bidder and raising their pleasure-begot children to further his powerful hold on the city. Sons became cogs in the city’s machine while daughters seduced the officials with long limbs and sensual promises. And all came to heel beneath the Father’s greed. covered in gilt Until one daughter, whose soul was more vengeful than the Father’s was dark, rose against him on the day he chose to break her himself. In a rage that made the oasis waters run red, she and other Daughters massacred many of the unsuspecting Merchants. However, when these vengeful Daughters fled the city, they took with them the uprising. And so, after smoothing gold leaf over the blood-stained streets, the Father viciously brought his whores the heel, and regained a renewed, depraved and savage power over the Pleasure Oasis. Cultural Details
Characters from Uumalah
Adoptables
Create Your Own
Being a commerce city, Uumalah is home to a myriad of character types and races! Feel free to create any type of character you'd like. If you need a little direction, here are some archetypes:
Resources
Arabic dictionaryUumalah names female names male names words and phrases [Uumalah is the brainchild of both Eris and myself!] RE: Dorobo :: The Great Plains - smitty - 01-02-2017 qumox the moonlit sands
Beyond the plateaus and Uumalah's oasis stretches a desert for as far as the eye can see. This sea of sand is the ancient nation of Qumox, a land of fiery equines and gentle moonlight. A full moon shines on the sands every night, save for one month of the year, where no moon gleams from the heavens. Qumox is know for its uniquely pale and hard gold, the beauty of its people, its lavish palace, and the intense blood feuds that oft stain its hot sands. Birthed of Moonlight
In the desert where the Sun is King, the Moon is Queen—and she grew tired of her lonely, evening kingdom. The Sun's rays were too bright, his light too overpowering to keep her company at night. Though angry and proud, the Sun was not heartless, and he felt his Queen's misery acutely. So the Sun attempted to keep his lady company in the night, but succeeded only in scorching what few shrubs and wildlife she had under her watch. Thus, in both shame and exasperation, the Sun turned his face from the Moon, leaving her in absolute darkness. Despite leaving her to her lonely sorrow, the Sun still felt his other half’s pain. So he created a creature of blazing beauty: the pegasus. Flighted and bright, these winged horses were the Sun’s gift to the Moon to keep her company at night. However, these fiery creatures were created of sunlight and craved the day’s warmth. They needed the heated air and winds to loft their wings; and so they strayed from the Moon’s nights, instead choosing to flap their wings in the Sun’s kingdom. Again, the Sun (now at a loss) turned his from from the Moon, and she grew more and more sad and tired in her dark loneliness. So great was her sorrow that she began to cry, and three of these tears fell on the sands. So acute was her loneliness that creatures sprang from these drops: two mares and a stallion. No wings adorned their shoulders, but their spirits were calmer and more aligned with the Moon’s nightly kingdom. And so, no longer alone, the Moon became happy. The Sun, feeling the happiness of his evening lady, returned and a time of peaceful bliss lasted over Qumox. The fiery winged and beautiful equines intermingled, and all was well—until the Sun began to grow angry and jealous of the great and unconditional love the Moon had for her creatures. And for the third time, but this time from jealousy, the Sun turned his face from the Moon. Though no longer alone, the Moon grew to miss her King terribly in the perpetual night he left her. So again, for the second time, she cried. But these were tears of penance and longing for the Su, and they coated the desert’s highest, largest dune. From this deluge arose gold, shiny and created in the likeness of the Sun, but from the moon so it retained a pale luster. The winged ones, seeing their Queen’s sorrow, brought the gift of penance to the Sun, who accepted the beautiful substance as contrition. Once again, all was well in Qumox… for a time. Bloodstained Sands
Eventually, some lineages gained more gold than others, and they built a lavish and wondrous palace from which to govern and rule Qumox. Jealousy, sewn deep in their fiery natures by the Sun, began to overwhelm those lineages who had less gold and resided in the dunes rather than the great Qumox Palace. So blood feuds broke out, staining sands red and flooding the Palace’s pale gold floor with ruby liquid. The Moon, with her gentle nature, was heartbroken and withdrew from the bloodbath. The Sun, in both guilt and disgust, left their children to console her. However, the Sun glares angrily down at Qumox every day, making the sunlight harsh and hot so that their creatures know the Sun’s judgement. And the Moon sadly stares every night, giving gentle hope that the fighting will abate—however, one month a year her sadness grows too great and she turns her face from Qumox. A brief peace lasted after the abandonment of their deities; the Qumox people attempting to regain their favor through penance. However, when attacked by raider bands for their gold and losing their winged daughters to the Father in Uumalah, unhappiness and fear gave rise to the blood feuds once again. And so the fighting continues, a bloody vying between lineages for the ‘divine power’ to rule Qumox from the Palace and control its vast riches. Cultural Details
Qumox Characters
Adoptables
Create Your Own
Qumox has mainly fine-boned, beautiful Arabian-built equines. Some lineages (those of the Sun) have wings, but these are mostly extinct due to The Father stealing away the daughters to Uumalah. There are no native, pure-blooded Qumox with horns. However, intermingling with Uumalah's traders and various raiders has given horns to some! Resources
Arabic dictionaryfemale names male names words and phrases |