⬰♮⇴    M ᴏ ʀ ɪ ’ Q ᴜ ᴇ ꜱ ꜱ ɪ ʀ    ⬰♮⇴

ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴏꜰ ɴᴇᴍɪɪꜱᴀᴇ

“ᴏʟ ᴢʜᴀʜᴜꜱ ᴅᴇʟʟᴀ ᴅʀᴀꜱᴠᴇɴ ɪꜱʜ'ᴏ, ᴠᴇʟ'ᴅʀᴀᴠ ʟ'ᴠᴀᴇɴ ᴅ'ʟ'ꜱʜɪɴᴅᴜᴀɢᴏ ᴄʜᴇ'ᴇʟ ᴅᴏᴇʀʀᴜꜱ ᴜʟᴜ ɴɪɴᴅ ᴏʀɴ ꜱʜᴀ'ɴᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴʟ'ʀ, ʟ'ᴠᴇɴᴏʀꜱʜ ꜱꜱᴏʟ'ʀɪꜱꜱ ᴀʀᴇɪᴏɴ ᴊᴀʟ ʟ'ᴛʜᴀᴄ'ᴢɪʟᴇɴ.”

The Mori’Quessir (more commonly simply referred to as “Mori”) are a cavern dwelling race created by Nemiisae in the likeness of Zanunder, elven son of Malin. Primarily from Descendant interaction have the Mori’Quessir come from Helviiryn,- a once massive, bustling trade-city beneath Almaris that now sprawls to its surface thanks to the Ritual of Eternal Night darkening the skies to their comfort. These Helviirynu Mori’Quessir are closely related to the traditional, larger Menocressu ethnicity of Mori’Quessir but possess distinct cultural differences. Where the Menocressu Mori are steeped in tradition and faith, The Helviirynu Mori are a melting pot of all Eos-based Mori’Quessir cultures, their territory often a central hub creating intersectionality for divided houses and disparate warbands.

After the Descendant’s restoration of Felyndiira Mierillis during the contract of Fᴏʀɢᴇᴅ ɪɴ Bʟᴏᴏᴅ, Mori’Quessir relations with Descendantkind had come to be rather warm and amicable. With repeated exchanges of good faith back and forth, Felyndiira Mierillis had found it acceptable to permit Mori to traverse the surface for leisure and living. With their matron’s blessing the Helviirynu Mori’Quessir have come to live among the Descendants.  

Helviiryn flourished in ancient times under Felyndiira Mierillis, though living memory for some Mori’Quessir, who turned a small trading outpost into an economic hub sprawling an entire continent. Despite this golden age it was succeeded by what is now one of the greatest mysteries across Eos for no tale tells a convincing truth of the city’s fate. Without a definitive date or explanation one day Felyndiira was gone and in her absence Helviiryn crumbled in an unknown societal upheaval where the great houses tore at each other and withered within unknown years to decades. Even though some Mori’Quessir have lived through this history their memory of the event seems to have been forcibly taken from them; even speculative stories fail to make impact. No written text of the time survives nor do dated items and artifacts. Known retrospectively as the Eclipsed Age, it is a commonly known yet difficult truth of Helviirynu Mori society.

The Eclipsed Age was succeeded by the establishment of Clan Xalyth who by political cunning, rich connections with other Mori’Quessir cities beneath Eos, and pure luck, managed to establish a century of rulership within Helviiryn safely. Laying siege to Almaris after the disturbances brought by Fayrus sul-Mauth (more commonly known as the Great Worm of Gashadokuro), the Ritual of Eternal Night was successfully conducted as all surface-life was driven from Almaris by Clan Xalyth. Though a great victory by the Mori’Quessir, the Descendants had only one place they could venture - beneath the earth. Sacking, looting, and razing Helviiryn as they left to Aevos, the city was left in ruin as once again an age of darkness fell upon Helviiryn.

Felyndiira Mierillis’ return was rapid and cloaked in events both calculated and of happenstance. Freed during the events of Apotheosis from Tor Azdraeth’s cells, she pacted with the Descendants of Aevos in a contract forged in blood. Dividing and conquering the Mori’Quessir clans one by one, Clan Xalyth fell when Vicarra Xalyth surrendered her crown to Felyndiira Mierillis, securing her rule. Ever since, Helviiryn has rebuilt and steadily reconquered its once mighty foothold to a paradise beneath the earth once more. Ruled by a brutal, hyperviolent tyrant who possesses a prowess with dark magicks unrivaled by any other ruler, Helviiryn flourishes beneath the carefully weaving fingers of fear and fate as Felyndiira grows an empire once more. An empire that now seeks to, amicably, make its way upward upon Azuras.

⬰♮⇴

[ Cᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ ]

All Mori are driven by the cultural pressure but more than anything are steered by their own emotions. In their eyes lacking influence, station, and respect amount to failure. This unpleasant fact motivates even the lowest-stationed Mori to be all that they can be. To say that these creatures of the dark are without emotions is to demonstrate plain ignorance but a sentiment that is perfectly understandable to any who has been under their ruthless treatment. In fact they are acutely reactive and possessed by their feelings. A certain composition of emotions are more dominant than the others though the strength varies in degree on an individual basis. Nonetheless all of these traits are ingrained in Helviirynu Mori from their first breath to their last.

⇴ Sᴜᴘᴇʀɪᴏʀɪᴛʏ - All Mori are possessed with righteousness in their Immortal Mother’s Blessing, knowing her protection and guidance is omnipresent as her chosen. To them her boons of darkvision, poisons, spider-speech, and more are indicative of their greatness to which all other species are lesser. In their thinking the lesser creatures are justified to be jealous and hateful for they will never measure up.

» Not only are they the chosen people of a goddess but the most significant; the weaver of fate, master of evolution, inescapable death, and scourge of weakness. Nemiisae exploits all vulnerability to teach strength and as such the Mori wholly believe no race can compare to their birthright. Fundamentally, Mori’Quessir are unable to see Descendants as equal because they themselves are creations of Nemiisae rather than splinters of the Creator; the Aspect of Death’s chosen fae given mortal form in the shadow of Zanunder, himself a scion of Malin. 

⇴ Mᴀᴛʀɪᴀʀᴄʜʏ - A primary feature of this race’s supremacy complex is bound in gender. While a slave is a slave, broadly women are more prized in the spirit of reverence for their almighty Goddess and the essential role of motherhood.  To them, strange and backwards are the numerous mortal creatures which uphold any directly patriarchal norms.

» Mori societies are matriarchal, clans are matrilineal, and pairings are commonly matrilocal; women are more prioritized and power is most commonly - sometimes exclusively - entrusted to them. As such female Mori almost universally make up their elite classes of priestesses, royals, clanmothers, and property owners where men are relegated to be attendants, vavasors, house custodians, and servants respectively.  Leadership roles heavily skew female. This power dynamic plays directly into the hands of women who perpetuate it to further their own ends while men toil beneath it whilst any subversions draw judgments. A male Mori of noble birth is still regarded above those of lesser castes but will always be socially eclipsed by his sisters, a shadow beneath which he may be stifled or neglected whereas craftier males might relish in being dismissed. While males suffer from this societal norm they uphold or otherwise participate in it.

⇴ Eɢᴏᴛɪꜱᴍ ᴀɴᴅ Hᴜᴍɪʟɪᴛʏ - Like a nest of spiderlings, the children of Nemiisae fight amongst themselves with a disturbing lack of mercy. Because the Mori have the perception that they are a superior race this pride compels them to act arrogantly towards others whenever possible and when it’s not they stew until lashing out to compensate for shame or to soothe their own flaws, rarely willing to admit fault.

» Such a lash will only be targeted at those of a lower station than themselves for fear of punishment from anyone of a higher rank: an essential factor in their hierarchical society. As such they rarely have faith in one another, always having to rely on their own wits and skills to survive. They continue to believe that they can or they'll succumb to the predation of other Mori who, just like them, are trying to scramble up the social ladder. The weak are meat and the strong do eat. The brutality of their societies commonly spawn fear, rage, jealousy, paranoia, and despair.

» There is a Mori expression, “ᴀ ʙᴏᴡᴇᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ʟɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟɪꜰᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀɢɢᴇʀ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ.” Such embodies their stance on humility, a necessary skill in their cutthroat world. Confronted on equal or lesser footing with a being of greater power will send Mori into mental math analyzing how to yield as little power as possible while not abasing themself into humiliation but will do what’s necessary to survive. The dead don’t get revenge, only regret.

⇴ Sᴜꜱᴘɪᴄɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ Cᴀᴜᴛɪᴏɴ - Of all the races the Mori have a notorious reputation for treachery and deception. Unlike other cultures, a devastating betrayal is to be greatly admired and only those that fail in the attempt to deceive are truly punished. Despite their sense of superiority the Mori are gnawed upon by a great fear and live every day in suppressed terror for their lives.

» They fear the priestesses, slaves, their very food. Treacheries abound and worse than death they fear being humiliated; no matter how small and worthless their position, to be usurped is social annihilation. Station is power and strength and thus life. They have lived with this fear ever since they were born and as such it’s a natural element of their everyday life. So much so that they have adapted far better to it than most could comprehend, they can face death and gamble everything they own for just that one extra bit of power without as much as blinking. Instead the fear manifests through paranoia and distrust to others, never letting anyone come close enough to actually grow fond of them.

» Because of the unshakeable sense that everything may be a trap or a means to their humiliating end, the Mori have developed the communal habit of calculating risks. Only those with a deathwish put themselves into situations likely to turn against them and tactfully Mori rarely fight for anything or anyone other than themselves. They respect observation and deduction for it is the wisdom of evolution their patron goddess embodies. For a greater cause like serving the word or path of Grandmother Moon or the survival of their house some Mori are known to take immense risks but only the most fanatical fight fearlessly.

⇴ Mᴀʟɪᴄᴇ - Another Mori expression is, “ᴀ ꜱᴍɪʟᴇ ʙʀɪɴɢꜱ ᴛᴇᴇᴛʜ.” Malice is closely intertwined with their pride and one of the most dominant feelings that resides in all Mori. They are quick to resort to physical communication to get their point across; through fist or steel if needed. Anger is often known as Mori's closest companion.

» The emotion is considered both normal and inevitable, but a Mori's reaction to it falls in one of two camps. Some believe that anger itself is a tool: red-hot rage gives you strength to persevere over your foes. Others believe that anger should be cool and calculating: Hiding it will give you more opportunities to take vengeance. Most Mori tend to borrow from both schools of thought as the situation demands, but none would argue about the outcome: revenge.

» Revenge is an art form among all Mori. It comes quickly or takes centuries. It can be long and excruciatingly painful, or deadly swift. All Mori alike appreciate well-executed vengeance, even when they are the targets. There are as many flavors of revenge as there are Mori themselves. It has been noted that Mori establish a preferred style at an early age, using this as a kind of signature and warning to others. Some prefer to use the techniques of their enemies in order to place the blame on others, but this in turn becomes their own style, and they learn to look through such deceits to find the responsible party. The malice borne of their Mother is a pillar in every Mori society.

⇴ Vɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ - In Helviiryn, the Eclipsed Age brought on untold centuries of turmoil. Allegiances forged and broken within a day, kin turning upon kin, plots of years unfolding each and every turn. Even by Mori’Quessir standards the level of practical survivability and opportunistic sadism found in Helviiryn was found unsustainable. These Mori were not mad but driven by - if not founded on - the idea of constant improvement. If not for the purpose of tempering themself then merely to be better than the next.

» This quest for strength cuts deep and not always literally. A Helviirynu Mori would find themselves not mindlessly brutal but explicitly, intentionally so, practicing severity in calculated risks and analyzing their foes to inform their unraveling; they don’t simply kill but erode social networks, take belongings, insult ideals, and in all their torturous creativity probe for weakness. The state of no-limits total war has Mori to believe it natural the most direct and plain path is violence, a solution with no cost to ethics had they any to spare.

The Social Strata of the Mori’Quessir are defined by their clans. Although there are countless clans of Mori’Quessir, extreme few hold power between their individual holds. One’s clan birth often defines the nature of their upbringing, and their life beyond. Social status and clan often supersedes merit in most Mori’Quessir civilization; potential as what one may exploit from the name from bears recognized as what one may bring to the table. Helviiryn, for some time, has been a notable trading hold for some time - with so, the roots of clans have been deeply embedded into it. Despite the apocalyptic destruction brought unto them by the descendants of Almaris, there has been some power shift - though old blood does tend to run thick in times of chaos. 

[ C ʟ ᴀ ɴ   T ᴏ ʀ ᴀ ᴛ ʜ ]
ᴍᴀʀᴛɪᴀʟ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ, ᴡᴀʀʀɪᴏʀꜱ ᴄᴜɴɴɪɴɢ, ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴏʀꜱ

The most orderly and straightforward clan of Helviiryn, Cʟᴀɴ Tᴏʀᴀᴛʜ is a clan built upon the strongest fighters and the best warriors. A respected bloodline that delivered order to lands near and far, Clan Torath controls near-all of the Mori'Quessir slaves within the Helviiryn Underdark as they are deemed the most stable with them. Clan Torath brings order beneath the stones when clans war or bicker, and are viewed with some disgust for their mercenarylike darwinist loyalty, but deep respect for their sheer prowess and unshakeable nature. Their leadership however is kept distant from the other clans, and often views them as incompetent to a unified goal- the clan system to them is a severe detriment to The Mori'Quessir, but a necessity for life underground. The clan would often be seen with the best gear, tools, and weaponry, given their long history of stability and wealth brought from chattel slavery. They struggle with instability, and in times of chaos, are prone to becoming isolationist and defensive to any who may seek to break that doctrine. They are seen as stern and cold by the other Mori'Quessir, yet are by far the most successful in their campaign history. 

Torathi Mori’Quessir may be more practical, straightforward, stoic, aloof, and cold compared to their other counterparts. They view most interactions as transactional, and are significantly motivated by material gain.

[ C ʟ ᴀ ɴ   T ʀ ɪ ꜱ ꜱ ɪ ᴅ ᴀ ]
ꜰᴇꜱᴛɪᴠᴀʟ, ʙʟᴏᴏᴅꜱᴘᴏʀᴛ, ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴᴍᴇɴᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇᴀꜱᴛɪᴀʟ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʏ

The Beating Heart of Helviiryn, Cʟᴀɴ Tʀɪꜱꜱɪᴅᴀ is most grounded in culture with The Mori'Quessir of the continent and often performs exuberant festivals underground. These can range from feasts, to bloodsport and festivals, to beautiful clothing and hedonistic faires. They tame exotic beasts from all over Eos and use them for whatever they may desire. They often will work alongside the mage-clans, if somewhat begrudgingly, to summon tailored beasts to tame and make their own. They often wear colorful regalia and armour, and use unique and exotic armor and weapons at their disposal. The most vibrant and varied of the clans, Clan Trissida will often defy orders from other than their own kind and seek to wreak havoc and reap glory wherever possible. They struggle with vanity, the clan often so consumed in their own greed they forsake all else.

Trissidan Mori’Quessir may be more flamboyant, excessive, garish, emotionally labile, and celebrant compared to their other counterparts. Their view is often complex; though they bear a significant bond with beasts, most Trissidan Mori’Quessir having a pet (or pets) of some kind, they view happiness as a form of control. If one is satisfied, they do not hold their sword; but instead, a drink.

[ C ʟ ᴀ ɴ   H ᴇ ʟ ᴇ ᴅ ᴀ ]
ᴛʀᴀᴅᴇʀꜱ, ʀᴏɢᴜᴇꜱ, ᴍᴇʀᴄʜᴀɴᴛꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʀᴛɪꜱᴀɴꜱ; ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡᴏʀᴋᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜɪɴꜱᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ

The most lowly viewed of all houses and yet the most numerous, Cʟᴀɴ Hᴇʟᴇᴅᴀ is the logistical lifeline of Helviiryn, and thus necessity has granted them privilege in a society which so dearly wishes to keep it from them. Clan Heleda would be the most grounded and conservative with their talents, which are mostly Mori'Quessir hunters, gatherers, thieves, guildmembers, and traders who have their own subcultures between. Clan Heleda seeks both further respect and advancement in Mori society at any cost. Often, Clan Heleda would be the most materially manipulative, viewing goods and services as transactional, and leveraging their own specific talents greatly. They struggle with disunity, where most of Clan Heleda find themselves working alongside one another only out of advantage and not brotherhood. 

Heledan Mori’Quessir may be more logical, studious, scholarly, greedy, and perfectionist compared to their other counterparts. They view themselves as tools and talents that, no matter how niche, are marketable; and that one must learn to make themselves useful. When one needs to sell tools, they do not rid themselves of the hammer- but the nails. And every Heleda seeks to be the hammer.

[ C ʟ ᴀ ɴ   X ᴀ ʟ ʏ ᴛ ʜ ]
ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄɪᴀɴꜱ, ᴀꜱꜱᴀꜱꜱɪɴꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ʀɪɴɢʟᴇᴀᴅᴇʀꜱ; ᴅɪꜱᴛʀᴜꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇꜱᴘɪꜱᴇᴅ

Once the most respected and prestigious bloodline, the royal bloodline, Cʟᴀɴ Xᴀʟʏᴛʜ once ruled through extreme fear and cunning. Backdoor politicians, they are renowned in their ability to successfully pin clans against one another for their own gain. Their modern day survival under Felyndiira is only due to their cleverness, something they were once without. Viewed as the most competent diplomats and master manipulators, their greatest weakness is and always has remained their paranoia. Clan Xalyth, even now deposed, bears a bitter pride to what was once greatness. Xalyth would often think exceptionally highly of themselves, with pronounced ego. The Clan as it is now is exceptionally broken apart and disunified, with a clan leader viewed as a puppet of Felyndiira - though, perhaps it is merely a ploy to prepare their vengeance. 

Xalythi Mori’Quessir may be more manipulative, bitter, venomous, and prideful compared to their counterparts. They would be exceptionally talented at reading individuals' emotions and intents, and would act upon those, even subconsciously, to be in their own benefit. Xalyth Mori’Quessir would often have an excess in ego, wearing gilded armour and weaponry, and excessive jewelry - taking great efforts to appear both regal and refined, even with their now lowly status.

The Mori'Quessir body is highly adapted to survive in its subterranean environment with excellent darkvision and innate resistance to poisons. The Mori are a hardy race with distinct advantages in living in the oftentimes extremely hazardous habitat they have settled in. Unlike their surface cousins, they have developed more compact frames. Mori tend to be quite lean, as they do not constantly accumulate fat for the hard times. The body efficiently leaches nutrients from the morsels of food they consume over a period of two days, leading to an innate lack of hunger. Because of the environment in which they live they have adapted well to limited food supplies and in general do not eat a great deal and the foods they do eat are generally not rich in so. Given they are not true progeny of Malin but rather shadows of his son’s image they are not beholden to the elven curse of infertility. Despite this, due to the hazardous environments their society creates and from a lack of class-related resources, varying strata of Mori struggle with high rates of youth mortality. 

⇴ Sᴋɪɴ Cᴏʟᴏʀ - Mori’Quessir are characterized by their dark, midnight-black skin. Unmistakable from Mali’ker, Mori’Quessir bear a skin color descended from the deepest caverns of the Underdark.

Tᴏʀᴀᴛʜ & Tʀɪꜱꜱɪᴅᴀ  - Dim navy to deep midnight blue-black.

Hᴇʟᴇᴅᴀ - Stoney mauve to dark obsidian-tinged purple.

Xᴀʟʏᴛʜ - Charcoal grey to unsaturated black.

⇴ Eʏᴇ Cᴏʟᴏʀ - Mori’Quessir eyes are exceptionally vibrant, even reflective in darkness, and run a spectrum varying on bloodline.

Tᴏʀᴀᴛʜ - Blanched grey to milky white.

Tʀɪꜱꜱɪᴅᴀ - Menacing rich amber to cold, cutting copper.

Hᴇʟᴇᴅᴀ - Ruddy brick to wine red.

Xᴀʟʏᴛʜ - Dusty indigo to rich violet.

⇴ Hᴀɪʀ Cᴏʟᴏʀ - Mori’Quessir hair contrasts heavily with their skin as they all possess white to rich silver locks of scaling variety of intensity and luminosity. Always exceptionally straight and fine, silk-like, it is customary for houses and career positions to confer dyes of varying significance. 

⇴ Hᴇɪɢʜᴛ & Wᴇɪɢʜᴛ - Mori’Quessir are naturally slim, tall, and athletic in their builds. Mori said to have grown overweight are nigh mythical between the realities of their diet and physical activity. Roughly similar to most of their Malin-descended cousins, Mori’Quessir are between 5’0’’-6’2’’ in height, and 120-195lbs. Even given their athleticism and divine forms, Mori’Quessir bear a strength comparable to all of Malin’s progeny.  

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

⬰♮⇴
 

Although most mental characteristics are listed above under Cᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ, Mori’Quessir are as variable as any natural Descendant in both severity of following their culture’s folkways and mores and how much they may present. However, the greatest difference to the Helviirynu Mori’Quessir is ᴛʜᴇ Bʀᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ Fᴇʟʏɴᴅɪɪʀᴀ, listed below:

[ Tʜᴇ Bʀᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ Fᴇʟʏɴᴅɪɪʀᴀ ]

With exceptionally acute and unique hemocraft, any Helviirynu Mori’Quessir given access to the surface by their benevolent tyrant is branded with her mark appearing as a small tattoo of a circlet which wraps around the neck. This brand ensures that the traits listed under Cᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ would never leave or denature from the Mori’Quessir; though they may soften in intensity or severity over time they would never under any circumstance disappear. This may cause Mori’Quessir at times to act irrationally rather than based upon emotions both developed and learned over time. Included in this is a total, infallible reverence  to Nemiisae, Zanunder, and Felyndiira Mierillis. There may be other gods, but these three are to be taken most seriously. While “reverence” may have a positive connotation, it may vary from each Mori to another. Some may view it as a respect of power, establishment, or magnanimity, others may view it as a deific measure, godhood, or worship. 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

⇴ Nɪɢʜᴛ-Eʏᴇ - [Passive]

Unaccustomed to living upon the surface world, Mori’Quessir are exceptionally disadvantaged by the blinding sun, a hidden intent of Nemiisae to keep her children close.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

⇴ Oʀʙʙᴏʀʀꜱ - [Passive]

Nemiisae’s shadow lurks in all dark places; as do her children. Mori’Quessir may commune with them, proof of their kinship.
 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

⇴ Tᴏxɪɴ Tᴏʟᴇʀᴀɴᴄᴇ - [Passive]

Mori’Quessir society is one founded on deceit and hidden blades - not only those found in forges and sheaths, but too the cup and phial. Over millenia have poisons been used in such excess, that only the most cutting edge, rare, and exceptional affect them.
 

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ: 

⇴ Hᴇʀɪᴛᴀɢᴇ - [Passive]

The most exemplary of the blessed, these Mori’Quessir are built in her spitting image - although they take Zanunder’s likeness, they take more of their mother than all else. Truly devoted to the one who granted them life.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

⬰♮⇴

Gᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ Lᴏʀᴇ Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

ⱒ Mori’Quessir require an accepted [CA] to be played, including children and offspring.

ⱒ Mori’Quessir are an Open CA and may be applied for by anyone so long as they are in good lore standing.

ⱒ Mori’Quessir, for any and all purposes, act uniquely as a race; taking no effects or implications as if they were elves. An example is muritor elixir, which blood of elves or Mori’Quessir would be unique to their own races, and not cross-applicable.

ⱒ Mori’Quessir are counted as altered souls, though not tainted.

ⱒ Despite their status as nontainted altered souls, Mori’Quessir would be unable to take “Holy” classed deific magics, even if theoretically compatible.

ⱒ Mori’Quessir possess [5] magic slots.

ⱒ Mori’Quessir, given the Brand of Felyndiira, are unable to denature; even Mori’Quessir who are born aboveground and bear no exposure to The Helviiryn Underdark are unable to denature culturally or physically.

ⱒ Mori’Quessir are unable to crossbreed or produce half-races.

ⱒ Mori’Quessir are hardcoded to possess the listed physical, mental, and cultural traits given The Brand of Felyndiira. Though the severity of these traits may range from quirks to total dominance of character, they would never leave or be replaced by traits considered opposite or contrary.

ⱒ Mori’Quessir souls return to The Fae Realm unless otherwise contraindicated by a lore’s soul-destination.

ⱒ A Mori’Quessir hailing from one of the listed clans may or may not take upon themselves the name of the listed clan. While they may claim regality or specialty in bloodline, the proper nobility and inheritance of the clans is [ST] only.

ⱒ A Mori’Quessir may claim whatever they may desire about their clan (if not a part of the listed clans), but such would not be [ST]-Sanctioned as “Official” or “Canon” unless within the lorepage. 

[ Cʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ Gᴜɪᴅᴇ ]

Making a Mori’Quessir can be both seemingly easy, and intimidating. Given you are here, you probably know about Drow from Dungeons and Dragons - truthfully, in the era Mori’Quessir were written in was one where LOTC was very much a mediascape of different things before it really captured its own identity. Mori’Quessir are a piece which kind of have been catapulted, given they haven’t gone under any real change since then, into the modern age. Kept simply though, Mori’Quessir are like any other race when you make a character. Design them, come up with some backstory, and go! Only here, you have some additional quirks, mannerisms, and lore-background that a character comes from that really helps shape them. No two Mori’Quessir are alike, yet they are distinctly always Mori’Quessir. 

» Mori’Quessir come from many different backgrounds. Some are born in high houses, others orphans left behind. Childhood as a Mori’Quessir is a very, very rough one. Mori’Quessir life may have glitz and glamor with silken dresses and marbled buildings, but they are very much still under constant threat. From other Mori, from cavern collapse, starvation, war, beasts from the dark, miasma, and so many more. Mori’Quessir are practical as having trades, survivalists, politicians, and artisans all living amongst one another in close contact. Your Mori’Quessir could start as low as a beasthunter or ruin-explorer, or even as high as a politician or tradesman of somekind. 

» Why you came to the surface is as well, up to you. Felyndiira (your benevolent queen) has given you, personally, access to the surface world. Something that has not been done for centuries. Are you someone she wishes to conveniently get rid of? Someone who sews chaos to the above? Someone who gave her money enough to buy your way up? Someone who sought escape and a new life? It all depends on what you would like to have. As mentioned with reverence, you do not have to like these figures (Felyndiira, Nemiisae, Zanunder) - but you do, with certainty, respect their power and authority. Even on the surface world they have that brand upon you that reminds you of who you are, and makes sure of that. 

» Some people may also struggle with some of the traits mentioned, such as an egotistic, materialistic and opportunistic mindset. Be creative - you don’t have to be this black and white easily readable character. Mori’Quessir are insanely complex, and it is by design that you don’t take these flatly at face value. You aren’t a caricature, you’re a character - when opportunity presents itself, you don’t have to immediately lash out. But you do have to consider it. You do have to think about it, and weigh those options, and potentially take it. Mori’Quessir are inherently by nature driven to this mindset; it is all your character knows, and their biology has quite literally predetermined these things for them. It should reflect in the roleplay. If Mori’Quessir were just blank slates, or had these traits encouraged but not enforced, they really wouldn’t be Mori’Quessir other than just having a lore-approved stamp on a forum page so dark elves can call themselves Mori. Be interesting, be unique, Mori’Quessir are both of these and require the player to utilize them with nuance and intrigue. Do so! And enjoy doing it.

» Here is a Mori’Quessir language translator, if in the case you are interested: https://eilistraee.com/chosen/language_mini.php

⬰♮⇴

[ Lᴏʀᴇ Pᴜʀᴘᴏꜱᴇ ]

Originally the idea of Mori’Quessir was humoured to potentially return during the 10th anniversary (Stealing Joel’s ideas), but was stopped due to the climate of the server and business of other projects at the time. However, I still like the idea - and especially after an exceptional path of spontaneously spurred, “correct”ly aligning choices in the Forged in Blood eventline (and successive eventlines across Aevos), I feel players have worked hard to make a warm political climate with The Mori’Quessir of Felyndiira’s Helviiryn Underdark. Given this, I think it would be fun for them to come back. There is some poor history with how they were used, but with some mental restrictions to make them more alien and unique compared to a descendant reskin, and some racial additions and traits to boot, I think they will make a good comeback. Ultimately, a goal too was to make a CA unique enough to stand on its own as a pseudo race, but also, something someone who’s read the Drizzt novels couldn’t just apply for without reading. Something drow inspired, rather than just drow. With that, I’m hoping for a niche, albeit fun and fairly open/freeform, CA people may play and add to the world that plays like a descendant with just a bit more redlines.

⬰♮⇴

Cʀᴇᴅɪᴛꜱ:

» SquakHawk - Writing
» Zarsies - Original Lore, Writing

» Vhorazu - Consultation, Fixes
» BobBox - Consultation, Fixes
» RaiderBlue - Consultation, Fixes
» Islamadon - Consultation, Fixes

» Pallodium - Formatting

【 A R M E D   &   D A N G E R O U S 】

War-chants ring out in the infernal tongue; as the seams of the High Hells tremor, nausea floods what scarce infernal things gather about the blooddrenched battlefields, consecrated within an inverted citadel- a cobbled-together aberration of masonry of some Hazmic architecture fused with that of a druidic battlement- both equally as corrupted and ransacked into a pastiche of a fortress. It stands inverted, propped upon a ceiling- gravity weighing down on all within, almost threatening to stretch their forms apart until they ripped in twain- yet they remained fixated on their task on hand, a foul rite that seemed to unfold in the silenced chambers.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

The sky is choked with ash and green,

A poison mist, a sickly sheen.

The Serpent stirs beneath the world,

His coils, a nightmare, dark unfurled.

He demands a feast to sleep again,

A harvest of the sons of men.

And so we stand, a trembling throng,

To end the day and end the song.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

Foundlings lay cloistered around an elevated monarch of the infernal craft. Ichor spilt in ritual chiding, as sacrosanct daggers were passed around from one peon to another. A glint of steel. A flash of light. Blood spilt blood, and chaos ensued. The bodies of the many crumple to the floor as if rubbish compacted for the heap, squelching viscera onto the stone that hangs above the inverted room. Their vessels writhe in pain as the weight of their own travesty shackles them, as they crunch to meagre carcasses one after another. And one by one, the cadavers seethed in plumes of reddened smog. The flesh lapsed upon their surface erodes. And there, amongst them all, stood a great, burning eye. It watched and it knew. It seized and it saw. It bared the soul and it howled, as feelings flooded into all.

[ᴛʜɪꜱ ʟᴏʀᴇᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅɢᴀᴍᴇ [ᴄᴀ] ᴏꜰ ɴᴀᴢᴛʜᴇʀᴀᴋ.]

A death to triumph them all. A soul twisted, marred- it may escape the fetters the pentacle has marred upon their flesh, as shackle and brand meld unto prison and viscera. Ascendance is a faux name for this action- for this is no true leap unto the above. This is the means to escape the inevitable, the creation of life from the draining nature of death. Paligenosis.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

Vultures are holy creatures.

Tending the dead.

Bowing low. Bared head.

Whispers to cold flesh,

“Your old name is not your king

I rename you 'Everything'.”

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

An infernal prince is ever-approaching their apotheosis, from the day the encroaching brand sets within their flesh and maleus scorches their soul. One who has reached the pinnacle of infernal wickery mortalkind bears but a sole means forth- the rapturement of their mortal ichor and ivory into that infernal. The greatest blasphemy- to eviscerate what remains of their soul, and from the ashes shed their mortality in whole.

Through surrendering what remains of their self to the High Hells of Moz’strimoza, their flesh is irreversibly marred and warped to reflect their soul-shredded apparatus- they become a Twisted King, an Inferi in its own right, and yet with bare fragments of that warlock which preceded them. They are often distinguished above other Inferi- greater beings, their hell-ridden flesh and soul furiously riddled with that which they are not- an apotheosis of flesh, yet not of soul.

Individuals who ascend into being Zar'akal are permanently rendered this way, with fundamentally no means to undo the transformation- they are eternally raptured into this sickening, twisted nature. Nothing can revert a Zar'akal into a mortal or even into any other [CA] whatsoever- it is an 'incurable' state of being. In the event that an individual gets a blacklist from Zar'akal, they are indefinitely shelved within Moz'Strimoza until their blacklist ends- or if it is a permanent blacklist, are irrevocably stuck within its confines.

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

The process towards Paligenosis is not one of simple sacrifice and determination- it is the making of an emperor from a prince, the crowning of a visceral monarch. Inauguration is a twisted ritual, one requiring a Zar’akal’s own dominion to proceed- or done through the sacrifice of a greatest kin in ritual slaughter.

The ritual of Inauguration may be undergone through two paths- one of Crowning, and one of Fratricide. Through the former, [1] Zar’akal must lead the rite- assisted by [2] T5 Naztherak- yet through the latter, more foul method, [5] T5 Naztherak must lead the ritual in tandem, in which one of them is willingly and brutally torn apart by the wrath of the High Hells- and their soul and flesh irrevocably exhumed into Moz’strimoza as penance for the creation.

The grounds of inauguration are often decorated and inscribed with means respective to the patron of the ascendee, fashioned with animal sacrifice and foul litanies of inscriptions to invoke their blessing. No matter the means of the crowning, the ritual occurs much the same- each participating individual must pitch forth [50] counts of Maleus within the ascendee’s flesh as they are sunk within a pit of sickly gore, brutally weaving it within their flesh- overcome by a slough of the crimson ichor and viscera as their flesh bubbles and seethes into the foul sanctum.

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

Zar’akal are no longer Descendants. They are no longer mortal, they are no longer true flesh and blood. They are no longer bound by the constraints of their descendant-flesh; they are indistinguishable from other Inferi, their Naztherak mutations heightened and their image hideously warped. This new flesh of theirs is impervious to the effects of malflame.

Their physical appearance reflects the truly monstrous nature of their being sufficiently- harrowed remnants of souls encapsulated in infernal organs and rakir. Mutated even more grotesquely than that of a Naztherak, they resemble large abominable beasts the likes are heard of only in nightmarish mythos. They can take a vast range of stature and appearances, from one to another. Some emerge as horned humanoids, while others are born as monstrous amalgams of their former selves in respect to the patron who has chosen them. Kings claimed by Kiiztria, for example, may emerge as serpentine hybrids, while Kings claimed by Kholidav may appear a hideous, rotting winged creature. To some degree, their shape should be vaguely in attribution to their patron- and they are never capable of mimicking another playable creature within their form.

They can emerge taller or shorter after their transformation, reaching a maximum of [8] feet and a minimum of [4] feet. Zar’akal possess a deeper pool of [80] maleus and lose the physical weakness obtained from the connection as a Naztherak, matching peak human strength and agility of their prior mortal race.. As well, the Zar’akal is capable of casting without a grimoire should they choose, wherein the emote of grabbing one is substituted for a different optional tell, such as a glow in the chest, roaring gouts of malflame embers, wisps of smoke, etc. Their blood is entirely replaced with genus-infused rakir, bearing a heightened [20] counts a week and able to expend [10] a day.

As a soul sacrificed for the sakes of the infernal, Zar’akal are utterly immune to the effects of all malflame- a blessing doled down to them as a convolution of their nature. A zar’akal finds no benefit from consuming nor applying alchemical compounds to their flesh, be it fluid potions, gaseous substrates, or grafted clay; however, potions whose effects are physical and non-internally affecting (blasting potion, tanglefoot, etc.) and those whose effects are intrusive to the flesh (flame oil, frost oil) still affect them.

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

The foul emperors of the hellish regimes are not immune to all that purges the world; they too, have crippling banes doled within the litany of boons that scourge and harrow upon their forms, some more severe than others. The many cruel benedictions their paligenosis bears permit them to be gruesome foes in their grand purges, yet those well-prepared or bearing forbidden arts can end a Zar’akal’s rancor before it truly begins.

Aᴜʀᴜᴍ / Hᴏʟʏ Mᴀɢɪᴄꜱ: No matter the means to the end, a Zar’akal is an inferi, albeit a greater one. The scornful wounds Aurum (and Argentum) inflicts and the divine magicks of the holy arts afflict them as if a Revealed Dark Creature, and armaments of such hit it as if they were made from steel- eliciting no additional physical harm to the Zar'akal, but causing severe pain to it.

Tʜᴀɴʜɪᴄ Sᴛᴇᴇʟ: Wounds inflicted by thanhic steel char away at a Zar’akal’s maleus and inhibit their casting- what remnants which taint their blood slowly burned away through their maleus and rakir, albeit wounding it massly. Cuts inflicted by thanhium or thanhic crystals within the bloodstream will prevent a Zar’akal from casting until the end of the combative encounter post-exposure, and burns away [5] counts of maleus per hit.

Tʜᴇ Hᴇᴀᴅ / Tʜᴇ Hᴇᴀʀᴛ: Although a Zar’akal proves stubborn in the face of death, their bodies’ composure relies on the constant flow of genus and rakir throughout their body and to their skull; the complete beheading of a King or stabbing of the heart, regardless of material makeup, will result in their immediate death- the most simple means of death. If their head is in any way severely damaged (e.g. if it is crushed, slashed open, incinerated to ash) by anything that would kill a mortal, it similarly will perish.

Fʟᴇꜱʜ ᴀɴᴅ Bᴏɴᴇ: The constitution of a Zar’akal is innately, still made of flesh and bone. They are capable of being wounded as any unaltered “normal” descendant would be. Although incapable of killing a Zar’akal, anything capable of damaging a mortal descendant is capable of damaging and inhibiting a Zar’akal as well; their ability to sense and move is still anchored on the health of their respective sensory organs and nerve endings, as well as their muscles, tendons, ligaments and the bones they cling to. A twisted king whose bicep is split open will lose the same capacity for movement in that limb as a descendant in the same situation; a twisted king whose eyes are gouged will similarly be blinded until their eyes regenerate and so on. 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

With their last vestiges of mortal mundanity cast away, a Zar’akal is consumed almost entirely by their Malice. Their newfound form brings with it the catalyst to their mental undoing, wherein the will to walk this accursed path has trumped their humanity. They are selfish to a fault, shedding the moral laws of man that hindered their goals. The primary malice is further emphasized, dominating the Zar’akal’s fractured mind, as well as their secondary malice to a lesser degree. The Twisted King may find they hear their Zar’rokul more readily now, or are merely broken and delirious enough to believe they do. Sleep is no longer a necessity for it, now capable of keeping awake for as long as they please without tiring or succumbing to side effects or fatigue, but they can certainly pretend to rest should it wish to put on a farce of humanity. The whispers and nightmares bestowed upon them by their patron do not fade, but instead, such a wretched thing might find comfort in them.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

And on the pedestal, these words appear:

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

A Zar’akal’s mentality is as complex as it is nuanced, and understood by few. While they are capable of putting on a front of goodwill and mercy, even the vested Naztherak themselves may struggle to discern the true, hidden motives of the King in times of wroth or apparent forgiveness. The faults and flaws that once lead him down this accursed path in the first place magnify to their absolute apex, swallowing him whole. Vices such as arrogance, jealousy, cruelty, vindictiveness, manipulation, etc. no longer simply linger in their mind in tandem with their once-virtues, but instead rise to the surface, unbridled, unchecked, and untempered. 

Among their circle, there are those who he regards with varying attitudes, individuals that play different roles within their sullen life. They are monsters with little regard for their once-kin, who they now see as souls to devour or playthings to manipulate- as greater ones, at that, they too view the lesser Inferi of Zarei, Zevn, and Zekul as naught but pawns and playthings for their cause. While the sentimental bonds they once shared with friends, family, and allies may become corrupted  and regarded as mere tools,  there are those capable of evoking varying attitudes from the Twisted King. They may expend protection and assistance to those in need, but it’s a far cry from true affection or loyalty. Instead, it’s a calculative move designed to ensure his own advancement and agenda, where conventions such as loyalty and trust are mere tools to be wielded and betrayal a threat to be guarded.

Some of his allies, perhaps out of denial for his macabre metamorphosis or foolish bravery, might refuse to keel over in the face of his wrath and accept the domination he seeks to employ over others, inspiring little more than wrath, for their insolence is a stain on his pride. There are those whose existence may invoke indifference, for their memory might grip the frayed edges of their mind, but are ultimately inconsequential to their desires, and those who are lucky even capable of inspiring a semblance of camaraderie from the King, should they find their intellect and prowess to rival its own. 

Rᴇᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ:

Living vessels of rakir, maleus, and genus melded into one from the remnants of their predecessor, a Zar’akal’s powers are greater than that of the mundane infernals, and too beyond that of the prince it once was- an emperor befitting of a regime must bear force and trickery accustomed to such, and thus it shall be. These abilities are inherent to all twisted kings, and can solely be utilized by their ilk, with each spell requiring instead the full emote count as listed.

[OOC NOTE]: Within the following two portions, there are abilities and rituals which may require OOC consent as an optional choice to undergo certain things– however, there is another way to gain consent for these without going about OOC mechanics. Individuals who willingly accept a Boon from a Zar’akal IRPly consent to all OOC-consent mechanics within this lorepiece so long as that Boon is still branded upon their body; as per Naztherak lore, they may merely scratch it out to remove that Boon, and hence also remove the OOC consent they can default to.

REBIRTH - [Noncombative]

The ascension to Zar’akal breaks the shackles binding a False Prince to the standard cycles of life and death. Now bound to the pentacle and their whims, a Zar’akal’s soul will be banished to Moz Strimoza upon the demise of their physical form. In these hellish planes the wretched soul thrives, mending itself of wounds sustained.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

FACADE - [Noncombative]

Through the meddling and twisting of their inner maleus, rakir, and the searing of their devouring litany into a foul pact, a means to lull descendants into false feelings of safety; the Zar’akal can temporarily take mortal shape by siphoning soul essence untainted by maleus. This form is not permanent, however. A reminder that true humanity is no longer theirs, nor will it ever be.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

POSSESSION - [3 Emotes] [Noncombative] - [15 Maleus]

A devious, deceptive method of demonic possession rumored in tales of yore, a Zar’akal can will their presence into another vessel, effectively seizing control of them not unlike a marionette, one they can wield and mock to their fickle purposes- yet at the caveat of leaving their mortal vessel prone to harm.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

DEVOUR - [3 Emotes] [Combative]

Similarly to the lesser inferi of the High Hells, a Zar’akal may clasp upon an individual’s flesh and exhume fragments of their soul from it– expunging and harvesting it to garner and replenish their stocks of maleus, or to harrow and corrupt the lesser brethren of the draconic.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

CRUNCH - [2 Emotes] [Combative] - [10 Maleus]

Anima and its portents have been seen time and time again to be capable of augmenting the physical– from the baleful apparitions of yore to the nephilim’s limb-augmenting incantations, such a capacity has been seen time and time again. Maleus is warped, twisted, yet in the end still is a substance of anima– and thus, a Zar’akal may utilize it to enhance their crushing bite or puncturing clasp.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

ANTECHAMBER - [3 Emotes] [Noncombative]

The hellish gate which most princes can procure is limited, undiscerning- moreso a tear within the world to leap from coast to coast than a true infernal rip, those limitations are superceded by a twisted king’s writ. They may wring forth a fragment of the high hells to manifest within the mortal world- using it as a showcase of the sickening depths of the beyond.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

APOPTOSIS - [2 Emotes] [Noncombative]

Through the utilization of their sickly forces, a Zar’akal can warp and blend their inner composition and bodily structure with the countless bounds of maleus and rakir that constitutes their tattered vessel- emanating a wash of hues which warps and meddles with those who benefit from a deific patron.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ:

With their body, soul, and mind all tampered and twisted into a form  of utter desolation and mania, what remains is chaos; chaos that can be mantled. Through the concentration of foul incantation and twisted writ, rituals can be harnessed- bringing out their true nature unto the world, or unto each other.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

It is only after that we understand what has come before, then we understand nothing.

Thus we shall define the soul as follows: that which precedes everything.

•• ━━━━━ ••𒋝•• ━━━━━ ••

RAZI RA’AKAL - [3 Emotes] - [100 Maleus]

Razi Ra’akal is a hefty ritual that calls upon the servants of Moz’strimoza, to aid in bringing back a twisted king to the mortal plane. Unlike the passive ability of Rebirth, the Twisted Kings, who are now too foul and distorted for the touch of healers and too spiteful to seek help from the Wilven Monks, must instead rely on the sickly rites of their coven to aid in bringing them back.

Mᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪᴄꜱ: