Name: Hirumaa Age: 33 Height: 5'6'' Weight: 120 lbs, depending on which potion she drank last... Race: Enirri Role: Witch Doctor of the Nightshade Tribe Hobbies: Weaving magic, brewing alchemic potions, finding new reagents for both, communion with the spirits.
Deep in the Shrouded Woods vibrant forestry lies the wetlands that serve as the home for most Nightshade Tribes of the Enirii, an entirely female gathering of primitive wildlife that weaves both magic and alchemy together. Of the various Enirii tribes that inhabit the Shrouded Woods the Nightshade are known for being secretive, fickle alchemists and magic users who owe their nature to how they interpret The Green God, commonly referred to simply as 'The Green'. Each tribe of Enirii view The Green differently, and while the Nightshade are respected for exceptional alchemy skills, understanding of nature, and magical affinity these traits come with a significant downside. The Nightshade are known for being mischievous tricksters who genuinely enjoy the thrill of a good plot and scheme that makes it hard to trust at them at times. When dealing with a Nightshade it is not uncommon or unwise to always have the thought "What do they really want from all this...?" in the back of one's mind.
Enter Hirumaa, the Witch Doctor of the Nightshade Tribe. What is a Witch Doctor to the Nightshade you ask? Why, that means that she is the de facto leader of the Nightshade Tribes as a whole! Young for her race (that normally live to around 120 years old), her birth was felt across her whole Tribe and even at an early age she showed particular promise for magic and alchemy. Hirumaa brewed her first potion (without her Tribe's knowledge or consent) at the age of 9 after pilfering supplies from one of her teachers, and the potency of the concoction was a rarity in and of itself that most proper Shaman begrudgingly admitted was the best they'd ever seen. She then wove her first spell at the relatively young age of 14 on accident after drinking a potion (again without consent of her mentors), reconstructing her room into a gleaming, fantastical wonderland of sorts with no less than four woodland creatures having been conjured from thin air! Over the years Hirumaa's ability to construct new recipes was only hampered by her imagination, and imagination was one thing she never lacked... A troublemaker in her own right, it was not a rarity to hear that some local had been on the receiving end of her pranks and jokes, even if they were lighthearted and harmless in the end.
When Hirumaa came of age and the girl blossomed into a woman she was already being looked at with envy. Nightshade Enirii were always a bit more lithe and slim than their counterparts and among the Tribes Hirumaa was portrayed as the "perfect depiction of those trouble making Nightshades" by even those outside the Nightshade circles! A title that Hirumaa wore with pride, of course, given her slightly cocky nature. At the age of twenty four and under the tutelage of Nightshade Shaman, and some attention from the Witch Doctor at the time, Hirumaa proved that she had little left to learn from her superiors, becoming a Shaman herself. A high title for one so young, and it was then that she began her close relationship with the Witch Doctor of the Tribes. The two got along famously, fast friends from the gate and the Witch Doctor had never had a more studious, determined disciple. The relationship between the two turned heads, and made some jealous, but who could argue? Life continued on for another eight years until nature took it's course and the aging Witch Doctor passed on. A fond farewell and the loss of a friend taught Hirumaa much before she was naturally selected to take the role, heralded as the Nightshade Prodigy with the closest ties to The Green her Tribes had ever seen.
Nowdays Hirumaa can be found exploring the depths of her connection with The Green while looking out for her Tribes, protecting them from threats domestic and foreign... Woe unto ye who would cross this particularly virulent Witch Doctor, or threaten her people!
On a remote plane of existence lies an endless realm of untamed wilderness called the Shrouded Woods by its primitive inhabitants. Here tremendous primordial forests reign supreme, punctuated with jagged mountain ranges and sprawling plateaus. Crystal clear streams flow from countless peaks, carrying their nurturing water down into lush forests, which in turn transition into steaming jungles that brim with life.
The air of the woods is saturated with the supernatural. The laws of physics are but a rough guideline which the woods only follow if they feel like it. An almost tangible, vibrant energy fills every leaf, every blade of grass, and every creature in the woods. Plants grow unusually large and sturdy, often reaching gigantic sizes while sometimes even being as agile and intelligent as animals. Immense herds of fantastical beasts roam the forests, their guttural bellows echoing far through the trees. The rustling of the leaves mixes with the gurgling of the ever-present creeks, the sounds of hundreds of different creatures and the faint whisper of ancient nature spirits to fill the clear air, every breeze filled with a multitude of sounds. At night, a star covered sky spans above the shrouded woods, dominated by three large gas planet like moons: Naela the Blue, Khor the Red and Shaluu the Green.
The creatures in the shrouded woods age differently than one would expect. Instead of experiencing a common aging curve (in that they’re born weak, reach a peak of their abilities during adulthood and then experience a slow decline as they age), they steadily grow stronger the older they get. As a result, when a being in the woods dies, they are at the height of their power. Since there are never old or weak animals to prey on, and because creatures in the woods usually possess regenerative abilities, the predators of the woods are especially fierce and deadly.
Several species of exclusively female humanoids live in the Shrouded Woods, referring to themselves as Enirii. The Enirii live in small groups and simple villages, which often lie several hundred miles apart with almost every Enirii belonging to a certain tribe. These tribes are not tribes in a conventional sense however. A tribe sums up a school of thought to which its members adhere. So instead of a tribe equaling a single village it often encompasses a large number of communities in a vast region. The affiliation of an Enirii to a certain tribe is easily identified by the symbol tattooed on her belly. Although the mentality of the tribes can vary widely, they all share aspects of the same religion and believe in a nature deity called the Green God or more often simply 'the Green'.
Although human in appearance Enirii physiology differs from that of humans in a few aspects. All Enirii possess certain abilities and because of which they play a unique role in the ecosystem of the wilderness: all tribeswomen are able to conceive offspring with any other species in the forest. However bestiality is a shunned practice among most tribes, and so instead, the Enirii turn to another intelligent group of humanoids, called satyrs, for procreation. These tall, strong creatures are regarded as embodying facets of the Green and nature itself. A mix between animal, elemental, and spirit. Not only are satyrs extremely virile, their highly potent seed possess supernatural properties.
An Enirii that is with child from a satyr is temporarily filled with the eldritch power of the Green and gains the ability to magically manipulate and shape the forest around her, commune with animals and nature spirits, or even gain new insight into the hidden workings of nature. The strength of this nature magic, as well as the finesse with which it can be wielded, varies greatly from tribe to tribe. This magic is the foundation of all of Enirii civilization, the only reason why they can even survive in a wilderness full of monstrous predators. Because their magical abilities are limited to the duration of a pregnancy, the relationship between Enirii and satyrs is deeply entwined and complicated.
Surprisingly the offspring of an Enirii-Satyr union vary widely. Often times Enirii give birth to clutches of beast eggs, sometimes coconut sized plant seeds, or even cocoons of nature spirits. In a way they can almost be considered oviparous except for the fact that they give birth to live Enirii and satyr cubs. The birth of an Enirii is very rare however, and the birth of a satyr even more so. The Enirii believe that this variety of offspring is due to the Green balancing out lives that ended elsewhere in the forest, preserving an overall harmonious equilibrium.
Due to their need for satyrs, Enirii villages are often found in an area close to at least one satyr pack and because of this, satyrs that live near a certain tribe are often referred to as those tribes’ satyrs, although they're not usually as closely associated with a certain village as Enirii are. The exact relationship between Enirii and satyrs varies from tribe to tribe. In some tribes, they meet for the sole purpose of mating, while other tribes tend to form longer lasting relationships, or have a completely different social structure. Because of the variety of their offspring, most tribes don’t have a classical family structure. Young Enirii stay in their village until they come of age at around 19 years and have an average life expectancy of 120 years. After coming of age, they usually leave their village alone or together with other young women in order to travel to other villages, seek out their first satyr mate, or maybe even found a new village. Those who do not join other villages often return to their home after their first mating, although here too traditions vary among the tribes and villages. Young satyrs, on the other hand, are handed over to the nearest satyr pack after birth, where they come of age after just one year. Offspring that belong to different species, such as beasts and the like are released into the wilderness as soon as their maturity permits.
A normal gestation period lasts for about one to three months; Enirii lactation starts about two weeks into the pregnancy and continues until up to four months after giving birth. Due to its pleasant taste and high nutritional value, Enirii milk is a sought after drink and trading good among certain tribes.
The Enirii have excellent eye-hand coordination and are able to see well in twilight, but not in absolute darkness such as in a lightless cave. Their height is that of an average human woman. Due to the resilience and elasticity of an Eniriis’ body, they are able to easily withstand the physical stress of mating with a satyr, a process that would be dangerous, if not lethal for human women. Like most creatures that live in the Shrouded Woods they possess strong regenerative abilities and are even able to even grow back lost limbs, an ability that is direly needed in the Shrouded Woods, due to its numerous and merciless predators.
Enirii lore varies widely on what exactly the Green or Green God is. Normally, both female and male pronouns are used interchangeably when inhabitants of the Shrouded Woods refer to the godly power and while most tribes view him as a conscious, divine aspect of nature itself, others believe her to be an entity very much like them. In other words an Enirii or satyr that gained divinity by becoming one with nature. Again, others believe him to be a combination of the two former beliefs, or something else entirely and naturally every tribe is convinced that their own view of the Green is the correct one. No matter which, if any, theory is correct, one thing is certain: Some sort of powerful force permeates the Shrouded Woods and touches every being in it.
Some Enirii carry faint memories of events from ages past that have led them to believe that all life in the woods is bound to the realm in a circle of rebirth, a circumstance that many Enirii view as an additional confirmation of their religious beliefs.
Faith is a powerful force in the Shrouded Woods, so powerful in fact, that it often changes its inhabitants.
An Enirii's mental, and surprisingly even their physical development, depends heavily on the tribe they grow up in, or rather the beliefs she follows and which aspect of the Green she worships.
For example: Bloodroot Enirii grow tall, strong and likely have a tendency of being short tempered, while Greenleaf Enirii will develop especially wide hips and big breasts, and so on.
This development occurs regardless of her parents and depends solely on the tribe she follows. For example, an Enirii born from a union between a Greenleaf satyr and a Greenleaf Enirii may ultimately develop the traits of a Nightshade Enirii, should she grow up with the appropriate traditions. Satyrs, on the other hand, always take after their father in regards to appearance and demeanor with most Enirii attributing this immutability to their “elemental” nature.
In some places, the energies of the Green coalesce like rain water, but following wholly different paths and rules. In such 'touched' places, the presence of the Green can literally be felt. Depending on the tribe, however, every Enirii and Satyr experience this presence differently: While those of the Dimlight Caverns tribe, for example, might feel it as the hum of unseen crystals and a deep connection to the earth, members of the Bloodroot tribe might feel a rush of aggression and an urge to fight.
Enirii are much more sensitive to the Green than satyrs and can sense places where it's power is particularly strong. They also possess the ability to attune themselves to the life and land near them via meditation and can establish a rudimentary empathetic connection with their surroundings.
-Someone new has wandered into the Shrouded Forest! A fresh plaything for a mischievous young Nightshade~
-Hirumaa's natural curiosity and quest for magical experices has found her way from her home to some alien land where the spirits could be of immense help, or none at all.
-Explorers are seeking to exploit the Enirii and their vibrant land. Who will come out on top?
-Hirumaa has a special brew, and needs a test subject. You'd best hope to stay on her good side if you want that antidote...
-Enirii are capable of procreating with most denizens of the forest, and a curious young woman might be on the prowl for new prey.
-Hirumaa gets in over her head trying to harvest materials for her alchemy. Either with a creature of the forest, rare creatures from outside the forest, a plant she's not familiar with, or even a fellow Enirii.
OOC
The Shrouded Woods setting was introduced here by SugarySweetAlts! Many thanks go to them, and if you would
like more information regarding the Enirii, their tribes, the various creatures like satyrs, or the world world in general,
please refer to her character setting Shrouded_Woods, or ask myself or Sugary directly! If you are interested in joining
the Enirii Tribes, creating a satyr or other such creature for the setting, please contact Sugary for more information as to
who and what is available!
