#world dev

LORETOBER 2 - EYE

Ever wonder why I called it TeaFeathers?  Here's some details about the tea part of my story!  This work was created thanks to the support of my wonderful patrons on Patreon.  <3

https://www.patreon.com/Eskiworks

Tea Spirit

The Tea Spirit is the patron spirit of the Alecani, which makes its home in the widespread tea trees the Alecani keep in each settlement. Not to be confused with the Earth tea tree, this species of tree more closely resembles a larger form of the Camellia Sinensis plant;  from which green, white, and black teas are derived. It's a large flowering tree with leaves containing caffeine. The spirit itself resembles a large long dragon, or sometimes a worm at its smaller sizes, lined with foliage mimicking the tree. See concept art for more details.

The Cataclysm (I will detail this event soon!) stripped the Alecani of their patron spirit, The Great Song, but also gave them a new one; The Tea Spirit. This spirit has been with the Alecani for eons, as the little winged canines very early on found the brewed leaves of the tree to be a tasty and energizing treat. After the Cataclysm, the surviving Alecani stashed away one of the last remaining tea tree seeds, and brought it with them in their journey across the ocean to find a new home. The spirit attached to this tree made a pact with those Alecani; “If you take me from this burning land, and find me a home with rich soil and abundant light, I will watch over your people and bless them with gifts.” They did indeed find a land with rich soil and abundant light, and there the tree found a new home. It grew strong and tall, and the spirit grew stronger with it. Cuttings and seeds were taken and dispersed among the now growing Alecani settlements, and with them new little tea spirits were born.

In each Alecani village and settlement, there is a central tea tree and an accompanying spirit. These spirits are not actually individual beings, separate from the original Tea Spirit. They are a branch or extension of the Tree Spirit, like an aspen tree is an extension of the whole aspen organism. Destroying a single tea tree is more akin to cutting a branch off a whole plant; the plant lives on and can grow new branches. The “roots” of the Tea Spirit extend into the spirit world, unseen by corporeal beings.

However, the original tree is considered incredibly sacred, and it's death would be a blow to both the Alecani and the Tea Spirit. The location of the original tree has been purposefully lost to protect it. Its location, health, and safety are guarded carefully by an elite group called the Tree Guard. Only they know the way to the tree. They are a secret society comprised of investigators who suss out possible plots to harm the tree (or even harmless ones to try and find it), warriors who can defend the tree from anything, arborists who prune and care for the tree in its hidden home, and more. No one really knows who the members are, as they blend seamlessly into the fabric of society.

Gifts of the Tea Spirit

Tea The leaves of the tea tree not only contain caffeine, but medicinal properties if plucked at the right time, dried correctly, and brewed just right. More than just a tasty energizing drink, this leaf based beverage is central to Alecani culture.

Tsaka (seeds of the tea tree) The seeds of the tea tree are a large nut rich in protein and fats, an essential part of the Alecani diet. Before the Cataclysm, the tea tree would only produce seed pods in the fall, and they were much more sparse. As part of its gift to the Alecani, the tea spirit massively increased its host tree's seed pod production, sometimes fruiting more than once per year. If the tree of a village that has fallen on hard times is well cared for and the spirit given many offerings, the tree may fruit enough to feed everyone for a year or more.

Tea Syrup The sap of a tea tree has incredible medicinal value. It can be harvested on very special occasions and made into a light refreshing syrup, or a gnarl on the tree can be picked open to create gummy or hardened bits of sap to be chewed on. This particular gift is rarely given, as it puts the health of the tree in danger to harvest.

Spirit Sense Alecani, like most animals on their world, can see many of the spirits that live among them. However the Tea Spirit has elevated this ability for the Alecani, allowing them to sense (to some degree) even spirits who don't wish to be seen.

Spirit Speak Learning the language of spirits is something any sapient animal can do, though it's arduous to learn the intonations of many different types of spirits. Alecani have been gifted the ability to easily pick up on spirit languages, which allows them to speak to many different types of spirits. This ability extends to languages of corporeal beings as well, making them ideal translators.

Offerings:

More Patreon content for TeaFeathers!  This one was just waiting for me to add some final little details. Another powerful entity of my story!

https://www.patreon.com/Eskiworks

Forge Spirit

The Forge Spirit is the patron spirit of the Pylura; a powerful being that embodies the flame, and the crafting a keen individual can do with its heat. Sometimes called the Spirit of Primordial Flame, or the Wildfire, it is the most powerful fire spirit in existence. It appears as a bird of prey made from flame, with a black metallic cat skull nestled in it's head, similar to hematite. A trail of black metallic vertebrae follows, with a sparse ribcage in it's chest. It can shift it's form to suit its needs and mood, which may include; extra limbs (wings or arms, flame color, or even the space between it's black bones. It uses its black hammer, formed from one of its ribs and laced with red runes, to create spirit objects or special items for the Pylura.

While most of the sentient cat species of TeaFeathers are under the patronage of the Spirit of the Hunt, the small and humble Pylura sought a different path. Pylura, being the most diminutive of the cat species, had to find ways to survive and thrive by being more than just skilled hunters. The Forge Spirit saw this, and saw the cleverness of the Pylura in using fire to their advantage, and took the little cats under its wings.

In the tale of Pylos and Luria (the mythic Pylura siblings who brought fire to their people), it is said that Pylos was guided to the house of the spirits by embers spread by the Forge Spirit. Perhaps it was these metaphorical breadcrumbs made of spirit fire that piqued his curiosity, and lead him to where he would witness the hearth from which he took the fire (albeit accidentally).

There is a place the Pylura call The Eternal Flame, which is reputed to be the place Luria first captured the fire her brother brought. It is an ever burning flame surrounded by waterfalls, which has been burning since before the Pylura recorded its existence. Nothing can put it out. While there are other eternal flames in the land, this one holds a special place in Pylura culture. The Forge Spirit has been known to make appearances there, and accept offerings directly from pilgrims who travel to bask in it's light.

Gifts of the Forge Spirit:

Spark of Knowledge (Mark of Luria)

During their time as slaves to the Outer Cat Clans, the Pylura were not allowed to read, write, or possess books. The Forge Spirit gave them the advantage by allowing them the ability to connect with the collective knowledge of the Pylura via flame ritual. This is a skill that not all Pylura are good at, it takes practice. Elder Pylura who are particularly good at it can often be found lounging next to the communal hearth, acting as teachers and librarians

Unburned Whiskers (Mark of Pylos)

Most Pylura are flame proof to some degree, some more than others. The weakest of these gifts would prevent one from burning themselves on a cooking stove if they happen to be clumsy, and the greatest of this gift would allow them to walk through a wild blaze untouched.

Breath of Wildfire

Like the Alecani, many Pylura are magic users. The Forge Spirit's influence allows a great majority of these magic users to be fire elementalists of one sort or another. It can manifest as fire, lightning, magma, or other fire related magics.

Hearthwisps

The Forge Spirit created Hearthwisps, beetle-like domestic spirits of fire, formed from one of its black burning ribs. The Hearthwisps live in the cooking stoves and hearths of every Pylura (and by extension most Alecani), and act as fire keepers. They keep the embers hot when you can't tend it all day, and control stray sparks that might catch the home afire. A well kept colony of Hearthwisps can even aid in proper cooking of food by controlling temperature and height of the flames. Even when the stove is cold, they lie contentedly, waiting for the fire to be lit again.

Offerings:

TeaFeathers - Sa'Dimali Snake Wrangler

Work for the future TeaFeathers art book, funded through Patreon!  Here we have an Alecani hailing from the Sa’Dimali, a tribe of fierce desert dwelling Alecani and Pylura.  They have a close relationship with snakes.  Whether for food, companionship, or worshiped as earthly heralds of their revered snake spirits, they are a part of the Sa'Dimali's daily lives.

This individual is equipped with the things an Alecani needs to go hunting for giant snakes; water skin to stay hydrated, various anti-venom vials in case of a bite, catch pole to safely handle snakes, and of course a snake skull earring (whose hollow fangs double as the injection mechanism for the anti-venom).

Serpent Overview

Canine Clans Overview

I waffled for a long time about adding sapient canines into the world of TeaFeathers, but ultimately decided on going for it!  It felt oddly empty and one sided with the Alecani being the only mentioned sapient canines.  And in developing the story for these guys, I solidified the history of the world a bit better!  I can't wait to do more in depth studies of individuals from each society, complete with tattoos, costumes, other accoutrements, and better rendering.  :D

Unlike the Cat Clans, who are a unified structured society, the canine clans are only loosely allied.  They don't share a political system.  Their territories do overlap peacefully though, and they tend not to draw borders as tightly as the cat clans.  They do, however, compete for resources with the cats.  This competition has lead the domineering cat clans to hunt down canines wherever they find them.  They see it their divine right to be the dominant predator on the continent, and have actively hunted other apex predators to keep it that way.

For many generations, the canine clans dwindled under the oppression of the cat clans.  Until one day, a powerful spirit who saw their suffering, decided to adopt the canines into it's protection.  The Spirit of Subterfuge granted each canine clan a special boon, which would help them avoid the cats' wrath.

Foxes There are several fox clans that live on the continent of TeaFeathers.  The red foxes, gray foxes, fennecs, and arctic foxes. They are the most widely distributed of all the canines, and have the loosest borders. They were granted the boons of shape shifting and illusion crafting.  Being the smallest of the canine clans, they needed the most powerful protection.  With these gifts, they easily trick their opponents and avoid death.  

Coyotes Coyotes occupy a vast region of the inner portion of the TeaFeathers continent, namely in the desert and mountain regions.  Already tricksters by nature, coyotes were granted the boon of invisibility.  They accomplish this by stepping partway into the spirit world, wrapping themselves in the very material of the veil.  Doing so protects them from crossing over entirely, subsequently dying.  Coyotes are already very strong magic users, and this access to the spirit world makes them even more fluent in the ways of molding spirit energy into magic.

Wolves By far the largest and most physically powerful of the canine clans, the wolves range wherever coyotes do and much farther north.  The Spirit of Subterfuge saw this physical advantage, and decided to only grant them the boon of silence.  They can walk silently among cats, and communicate with one another without the cat clans hearing them.  This is done by banishing the sounds they make through the veil into the spirit world.  If you could travel through the spirit world, you would hear their footsteps and howls everywhere you go.  

Outer Cat Clans

The Outer Cats are a multi-species warrior society with a strict cast system, who once ruled the continent TeaFeathers is set on.  They enslaved the Pylura  for labor, entertainment, and food, ruling the continent with an iron claw.  Many generations ago when the Alecani made landfall and allied themselves with the Pylura, a great war ensued and they were driven to the most eastern portion of the land, connected to the main continent by a heavily guarded narrow land bridge.  There they exist at a fraction of their former power, waiting  for the right opportunity to take their former kingdom back.

Lions

Lions are the ruling class, a matriarchy where males are propped up as the figureheads while the females run the show.  They are the wealthiest caste of all, yet can still brawl with the best of them.  In a warrior society where your fighting prowess is the key to prestige and honor, it's common to see wealthy aristocrats fighting to the death. They have a penchant for wearing fanciful jewelry that shows off and accentuates battle scars.

Tigers

The true warrior class, the tigers run the military.  They're the largest of all the big cats, but they're typically not as bombastic and showy as lions.  Tigers can fill many warrior-like roles, ranging from soldier to local peacekeeper.

Jaguar

Jaguars are the Cat Clans' connection to the spirit world, a class of warrior priests.  The Cat Clans worship the Great Hunter spirit, which has granted their kind various hunter and warrior related boons.  Jaguar magic is punctuated by blood rituals and sacrifice, invoking the hunger and subsequent satiation of the Great Hunter's appetite.

Mountain Lion (Puma)

Mountain lions are the backbone of the Cat Clan society, filling a huge variety of labor roles.  They're extremely versatile, able to cover jobs ranging from craftsman to courier.  They are the most sympathetic to the Pylura's cause before and during the great war.  It's said the Pumas and Pylura have a shared ancestor.

Snow Leopard

Snow Leopards have a somewhat nebulous role in Cat Clan society. They were assassins and scouts during the war, occasionally filling the ranks of the military.  Now that the Pylura/Alecani alliance has control over the mainland, the snow leopards have isolated themselves in the norther regions of their land.  They often have peaceful interactions with the Fa'Dimali, and simply never tell their lion leaders.

Lynx