#icrade

“Fear the cold.”

Stone Elf (Homo vitalis ssp. karakata)

This subspecies of elf is specialized for life underground. Sometimes called dark elves or cave elves, their body plan differs slightly when compared to the other elf subspecies such as swamp elves. They do adhere to the jellyfish-like appearance of other elves, but are generally shorter than their surface-dwelling kin, possibly due to the limited space of the winding caves they inhabit. They also produce a slippery mucus-like substance on their skin, which allows them to more easily navigate dangerous or claustrophobic caves. Their skin tones cover the breadth of the colors of stone - grey, black, brown, tan, and more. Many communities of stone elves are also bioluminescent - the product of many generations of cultivating glowing cave moss as a food source.

Stone elves, being adapted for life underground, require some adjustments to live on the surface, as many do in modern Icrade. Their eyes are very sensitive to light in order to see in dark underground environments, and are ill suited to sunlight. There are some solutions which alleviate this problem, however. The most widely accessible of them is a strip of semitransparent cave kelp tied around the head and over the eyes, which effectively filters out the harsher light. There is also specialized eyewear that serves the same purpose, but such pieces are less widely available.

Swamp Elf (Homo vitalis ssp. traskag)

Swamp elves were the progenitors of the elven ability to rejuvenate - they were suffused with the primordial vitality of the Uadra Swamp when they made it their home. All elves, regardless of their subspecies, carry this vitality with them still. If ever there was a progenitor species to the varied elves of modern Icrade, it likely most closely resembled swamp elves.

These elves generally have skin in shades of brown and green, sometimes with mottling for better camouflage. Many view swamp elves as uncivilized or wild, living outside the bounds of society, but this is largely inaccurate. It may be insular and somewhat obscured to outsiders, but civilization does exist in the swamps of Icrade. Swamp elves dig great pits to farm crayfish, snails, and mud crabs. Cattails grow in soil enriched by the ground shells of these animals, as do rice and dewberries and other plants of the world’s wetlands. Their cities are wide but not tall, traversed most often by boats through the marshes.

Elf (Homo vitalis)

Elves are set apart from most other mortal species by their extraordinary longevity, gained through their odd rejuvenation process. They are able to revert themselves into a juvenile state to avoid dying of old age. Biologically, elves are considered immortal, which may make their classification as mortals confusing. However, the actual likelihood of an elf living forever is miniscule. This biological immortality does not prevent death from any cause other than old age - an elf can still easily contract a fatal illness, die in battle, ingest poison, or trip and break their neck.

The elven process of rejuvenation takes between three and five days to complete. The frequency with which an elf requires it varies by individual, but the average is roughly two hundred years between each rejuvenation. During this process, a significant portion of the elf’s body mass is sloughed off to form a gelatinous cocoon-like structure and the remainder is repurposed to form a juvenile body. Some memories and learned abilities may be lost during the rejuvenation process.

Ektacite (Anthrorigomis mortalis)

Lowest among demons. Least of the leeches. This is the lot of the humble ektacite, though most other mortals simply call them demons. Among their demon kin, they are the only mortals, but they are also the only ones free from the purpose imposed upon all leeches (detailed below). Ektacites are the most humanoid of all the leeches as well, but they are clearly set apart from humans and other mortals by appearance - each has some clearly visible demonic feature. The most common of these are horns or antlers on the head, but they can include many other features like skin in unusual colors, compound eyes, chitinous plating over the skin, digitigrade legs with claws or hooves in place of feet, clawed hands, visible tusks or fangs, malformed or vestigial limbs like wings or tails, and more.

Like all leeches, ektacites originate from the flesh of Maimed Jur’gemith. As pieces of his flesh separate themselves and gain awareness, they are compelled to enter the world of mortals and take from its inhabitants to restore their progenitor. These leeches drink the blood, thoughts, souls and luck of mortalkind, and as they return to Jur’gemith, he is slowly healed. However, such practices are not without cost - Jur’gemith was forced to take in mortality alongside these restorative essences. To keep himself pure and immortal, he was forced to split off more pieces of himself, these containing the mortality he wished to separate himself from. These pieces are the ektacites, the mortal demons. They cannot rejoin with Jur’gemith, so they are freed from the purpose of all other leeches, yet still they feel a leech’s hunger - for blood or wealth or knowledge or any other desirable thing. It is their choice alone if they pursue it.

Hello! If you’re reading this, you will likely be connected to a biomachine in the near future. This can be intimidating, but there is no cause for alarm. Biomachines are well understood and, when operated responsibly, safe. However, they can also be dangerous when used improperly or by an untrained operator. Reading and committing to memory the information provided in this short informational document can and will save your life.

Section 1: Pre-Connection

To connect to a biomachine, you must first undergo a moderately significant surgical procedure known as a khikomechostomy. This procedure creates several tiny orifices at various locations on the body: the backs of the hands, the forearms, and upper arms, along the spine, and on the backs of the thighs. These orifices, referred to as ‘sockets’, are lined with a thin layer of chitin. You should not attempt to connect to any biomachine for at least two weeks after the khikomechostomy is successfully performed.

If you have already had the aforementioned operation performed, and you have been through the appropriate waiting period, please continue to the next section.

Section 2: Connection

Before connecting to any biomachine, it is recommended that you carry out a simple process to ensure safe and effective connection.

First, identify the connection point. With small biomachines, such as firearms and other handheld objects, look for a circular point clearly marked out in bright red. If you touch it with one finger, you may feel small and thin moving beneath it. This is the connection point. Do not interact with it yet. If the biomachine is larger in size, such as a stone burrower (‘worm-rig’, colloquially), it may have a dedicated control area, usually located towards the front. Locate a shallow, recessed alcove in one wall, which should contain a hanging harness. Allow the co-operator in attendance to help you into the harness. Do not attempt to put the harness on alone.

Second, determine how many sockets the connection will require. Small-scale biomachines usually require one or two sockets. As a general rule, any biomachine greater in mass than your body will require all sockets to properly connect. (Please note that the previous statement may not apply if you are a gnome, goblin, or halfling.)

Third, begin the connection process. If you have located the clearly marked bright red point on your small or handheld biomachine, gently but firmly apply pressure to it with one finger. A thin tendril, capped at the end with a tiny, needle-like chitin point, should emerge from beneath the surface of the machine. Be sure to examine the tendril as thoroughly as you can before it attempts connection. It should be slightly translucent and pale in color. If it appears red or inflamed, immediately set the biomachine down and distance yourself from it. Do not attempt any further connection with it. If the tendril appears normal, allow it to climb your arm - it is attempting to find a compatible socket. Do not make any sudden moves or attempt to guide the tendril with your hand. Once it has detected a socket, it will attempt to insert the needle-like point into it. If you feel a sudden chill in your arm after the insertion is attempted, do not panic - the connection has been successfully established.

For larger biomachines, once you have successfully attached the machine’s harness to your body, locate the connection and disconnection pheromone containers. These are usually made from either metal or glass with a removable lid or stopper, filled with clear liquid. Both should be clearly marked and within arm’s reach. Pick up the connection pheromone container, remove the lid or stopper, and gently waft the air above it away from your face, then replace the lid or stopper and return the container to its original position. Several tendrils should emerge from various origin points in the alcove and attempt connection. Any movement during this phase may damage the tendrils, making operation difficult or impossible. There may be some discomfort as connection is established. You may receive sensory input from organs and limbs not currently present on your body or feel urges to perform impossible actions. Ignore these to the best of your ability. If you are receiving the aforementioned sensory input without any discomfort, the connection has been established properly.

Section 3: Disconnection

For a small or handheld biomachine, to disconnect, apply gentle pressure to the skin around the socket into which the tendril(s) is inserted. The tendril(s) should retract immediately and return to the biomachine. If it does not, do not attempt to pull the tendril(s) out immediately. Instead, apply firmer pressure to the skin surrounding the socket. Only if this fails should you attempt to pull the tendril(s) out. Grip each between two fingers and pull, steadily increasing pressure until it disconnects. Note that this can damage the biomachine, so do not attempt reconnection until you are sure it is in proper working order.

For large biomachines, inform the co-operator in attendance before you attempt to disconnect. Then locate the disconnection pheromone container and repeat the process performed with the connection pheromone: remove the lid or stopper, waft the air away from your face, then replace the stopper and container. The tendrils should disconnect on their own quickly afterwards.

If you have become unable to control your own body and inform the co-operator in attendance, do not panic. If it is safe to stop all biomachine movement, do so. If it is not safe, immediately move to a safe area and stop all movement. The co-operator in attendance will disconnect you manually and help you remove the harness.

Section 4: Post-Disconnection

Disconnection from smaller biomachines usually does not present difficulties. If you notice any swelling, pain, or inflammation around the socket used to connect to the biomachine, seek help as soon as possible.

Disconnection from large biomachines is known to present complications. These are all normal and, when handled properly, are not dangerous. If you feel dizziness or disorientation after disconnecting, immediately find a safe, stable location to sit and wait until these sensations fade. Once you feel comfortable moving, get yourself to a familiar, safe location as soon as possible. You may begin to feel one or more of the following symptoms:

- Headaches

- Nausea or vomiting

- Visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations

- Cravings for abnormal foods

- Recall of events that have not occurred

- Lowered awareness of surroundings

- Insomnia

- Loss of appetite (can occur simultaneously with food cravings, leading to inability to keep food down)

These symptoms are collectively known as ‘connection sickness,’ and while they can be difficult to deal with, they are manageable. If you experience any of these symptoms within several hours of disconnection, immediately find a safe place to sit and allow the symptoms to pass. This may take multiple hours. Do not attempt connection to any biomachine until all symptoms have completely subsided.