#machra-la

Oh gods, how can you destroy Machra-la, kill Lazuli and bring back Shayari in one post you monster? T.T I mean without detailing story and unfurling the destruction of people involved? Now all I am left with is imagination. Do you realize you create whole parallel universes like this? :D

Then imagine what the inside of my brain looks like, with all those possibilities and another hundred to keep track of at every single turning point of the story! XD I have parallel universes to last me a lifetime in here!

But imagination is good, imagination is great, do let me know what you come up with! XD

The island of Machra-la is formed by an ancient dormant volcano, so should I ever wish to rain fire and brimstone all over the place, I could. I don’t think I will, but... I mean... it could happen...

And again, Lazuli’s death, I haven’t decided yet! Maybe he’ll get bitten by a rabid squirrel and die from infection, or slip and drown in his own lotus pond, or maybe he will manage to snatch one of the objects of power and live forever as well, who knows?!

Shayari, though... Shayari is well and truly dead, no doubt about that. And yet the chance to have Rannon talk with him one final time (in a dream? a vision? something?), the real Shayari as he actually was, not the distorted and disappointed ghost that haunts him in the dark... I must admit, it’s one of those scenarios I entertain myself with from time to time. And by entertain, I mean ugly-cry to the point I have to blow out a crap-ton of snot and then look like something puffy and dead the next morning.

The conversation plays out a bit differently every time, but it always starts with the gentle phrase

“You have grown tall, little brother.”

Alright!

In Machra-la, there are three gender-castes; Mahea, Rakoi and Wenn (spellings have changed over the years and are still up for debate, so…).

They translate roughly to The Refined, The Rough/Coarse and The Balanced.

Maheau/Maheaya/Mahea (m/f/neutral) are the Refined - they will wear make-up and perfume, carry themselves in a very elegant, sweet and elaborate manner, wear lots of intricate jewelry and very fine clothes. Quite often they would be expected to be bottoms, to put it crassly, but that’s definitely not always the case. Any person of any gender could present as Mahea, but being naturally pretty helps; they are expected to be beautiful, sweet and entertaining.

Narcissus, Ebenholtz and Crow are epitome Mahea.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Raku/Raki/Rakoi are seen as the Rough (as in rough-hewn, unpolished). They don’t dress up, they don’t wear make-up, they’re practical and straightforward and trustworthy (as much as you get in Machra-la). Salt of the earth. They’re more often workers, but you can find them amongst nobility as well. The epitome “tops”. (Among courtesans they’ll often be styled with lots of bare skin and some furs and skins and maybe a bit of tribal paint. Sodangerous and fierce!) Again, any gender can present as Rakoi, but it helps to have some physical strength, stature or just major Big Dick Energy.

Dagger would considered Raku these days, I think. Quite possibly Maqaxha could have styled Raku as well, if he hadn’t been blinded and broken.

Then the Wenn/Wuen, the balanced, are those who fall in between the extremes. Those who wear just a touch of make-up, or finery but no cosmetics. Lazuli is considered rather balanced, although he swings a bit more towards Maheau with his jewelry and touches of eyeliner and eyeshadow.

(Wenn/Wuen is an Itishi concept of balance, that runs through all things, not just Machralese gender-castes. An equilibrium between opposing forces that makes up the world.)

The Kayalanians visiting Machra-la would initially all be considered Rakoi, since they’re so comparatively stark in their looks. Quite a lot of people would agree it’s a bleeding waste not to put some elegant make-up on the young King’s lovely face, though, he certainly has the looks to make a magnificent Maheau.

To underline again, in Machra-la, all these genders and castes blur together, and it’s more important which group you present as, than what body-parts you happen to have.