Coeligian

The rainbow people.

Basics

• Taxonomic Order: Illittum

• Alignment: Celestial

• Energy: Radiance

• Lifespan: 300 years

• Diet: Fruit-heavy pescaterian

• Habitat: Tropical islands

Origins

When the rainbow serpents flew in the skies of the world, droplets of their blood spilled and formed the rainbows after storms, and from these droplets arose the coeligians.

Description

Coeligians appear to be mostly human-like beings in shape and size, but their skin and hair color ranges the entire spectrum of the rainbow. They have small antennae on their foreheads. They also glow softly, the same color as their skin. Usually, their hair color is a lighter or darker shade of their skin color. Those whose hair and skin are shades of different colors are seen as rare and beautiful. They have serpentine teeth used to tear the flesh of hard fruits and fish.

As they complete tasks for the rainbow serpent (if they so choose), they gain colorful stripes on their arms.

Animal Features

Some coeligians take on the features of radiant animals after they have completed some special task in life. The most powerful and rarest grow rainbow scales and feathers like a rainbow serpent. Others include

• Warriors sometimes grow the rainbow fur and panther claws of an iridal painter.

• Healers sometimes grow the fiery feathers of a zumrud-u anka.

• Fishers and sailors sometimes grow the teeth and rainbow skin of a yaku patiri rainbow shark.

• Travelers and messengers sometimes grow a rainbow carapace and extra legs like a satie harish, the shining centipedes of Mahad.

• Laborers sometimes grow large in size and gain the shining, tough skin of a naange ngabu, or sun hippo of Taggarus.

• Poets and writers grow the beautiful feathers and beak of a sakwie, the Reever Sea blue-grey tanager.

• Dancers and lovers grow the wings of the vannattuppucci painted lady butterfly of northern Vimala.

• Rangers and druids sometimes grow the glowing rainbow scales and tails of the berpendar biawak or glowing monitor lizard of Gamayaran.

• Hunters, shepherds, and scouts sometimes grow the rainbow fur and jaws of the kuri taika, or radiant thylacine, of the southern Island Bridge.

• Singers, musicians, and actors sometimes grow the rainbow feathers of the griv ti gout (the thrush made of the droplets of the rainbow).

These features may change as they grow or complete tasks or quests, but they never have more than one animal feature at a time.

Procreation

Coeligians reproduce with one another sexually. With other illittum (where size and shape cooperate), offspring follows the birthing parent's species. With adelfoi, the children are always adelfoi. With other species or nations, reproduction is only possible via supernatural intervention.

Powers

The inherent radiance within coeligians makes them glow various colors. This soft aura grows stronger as they are nearer to those in need, and they can discharge it using one of their various powers involving their task or touch.

Task

Every coeligian is connected to the rainbow serpent and may seek them out to gain a task, starting at the age of seven. They do this by using special teas to have a vision. The vision is a series of dreams, culminating in an interaction with a rainbow serpent. If they do this once, every seven years, they will gain a new task unless they have three tasks unfinished. If a task proves impossible to complete, they must petition the rainbow serpent in their dreams to relieve them of it. They do this by drinking the special tea before they sleep every night until they see the serpent. If the serpent refuses to forgive them and the task is impossible to complete, the serpent will then give them a larger task, a quest, to complete. Those who receive a quest always gain animal features to help them complete the quest. If multiple people are given the same task, they are encouraged to complete the task together.

Early tasks seem to be general, in that anyone can do them, but once a coeligian takes on a role in their community or has a job or otherwise becomes more specific and defined in their lives, the tasks tailor to what and who they are. Warriors get tasks related to fighting off enemies. Healers get tasks related to healing others. Sailors get tasks related to their boats, to giving people passage, or to warning others of dangers at sea.

As they complete tasks, they gain new powers which reflect the services they have provided, as well as a stripe on their arms in a new color.

Touch

The touch of a coeligian can empower people to complete a simple task, giving them physical or mental bonuses to do so for a brief period of time. Using this power uses up some of their radiance which must be replenished by doing something kind (and without esoteric assistance) for someone else.

Senses

Coeligians can sense when a person is tired physically, mentally, emotionally, or metaphysically.

Weaknesses

They are especially weak to quaestus.

Nine Nations

The Nine Nations:

1. 'Ahl al-Jana (Heaven's People, Arabic) in the central Island Bridge south of Mahad

2. Jurtramirpa (Rainbow People, corrupted Warlpiri) in the southern Island Bridge

3. Jiyivatapich (Rainbow People, Guarani) in the seas off eastern Palhur

4. Toba-o Yimba-e (Rain People, Fulah) in the seas off western Taggarus

5. Vanavmak (Rainbow People, corrupted Tamil) in the seas off subcontinental Dabusen

6. Anansakwi (Colorful Bird/Flower, corrupted Arawak) in the Reever Sea

7. Pelangrakya (Rainbow People, corrupted Indonesian) in the seas northeast of Dabusen

8. Aniwantanga (Rainbow People, corrupted Maori) in the southern Island Bridge

9. Laksyelmoun (Rainbow People, corrupted Haitian) in the Reever Sea

Culture

In the beginning there was a rainbow, which was also a serpent. Its blood spilled, and the colors of the rainbow fell to the ground and formed into the first coeligians. They lived at first on islands close to one another, but as they grew, they each sailed off to the far corners of the world, eventually forming the nine nations. They kept close to their own communities even as they met other nations, but slowly they exchanged customs, words, cuisine, and goods, expanding their own cultures. Eventually, some of the nations met with more powerful, dangerous nations; eventually, each nation met violence and oppression. Their original culture, customs, words, cuisine, and goods were lost to their oppressors. They mingled with other oppressed nations. They were ostracized, hated, and scorned by some; fetishized, infantilized, and stereotyped by some; revered and respected by a few.

The nine nations that evolved were

• 'Ahl al-Jana, "Heavens' People," who live in the island off the continent of Mahad; some call them the "wardens of heaven" because of their devotion to Tamkin, their goddess who is said to guard the gates of Heaven. There is no particular tendency toward any hue of skin or hair.

• Jurtramirpa, "Rainbow People," who live in the southern Island Bridge; some call them the "painters of the iridal light" because of their incredible works of art. There is no particular tendency toward any hue of skin or hair.

• Jiyivatapich, "Rainbow People," who live off the coast of northeastern Palhur; some call them the "weavers of the blue stone" because of their beautiful beadwork. They tend to have skin and hair in the range of blue.

• Toba-o Yimba-e, "Rain People," who live off the coast of western Taggarus; some call them "shields of scarlet" because of their shield-bearing warriors who go to face the most dangerous beasts. They tend to have skin and hair in the range of red.

• Vanavmak, "Rainbow People," who live off the coast of subcontinental Dabusen; some call them the "speakers of the black rose" because of their inspiring words and floral customs. They tend to have skin and hair in the range of indigo.

• Anansakwi, "Colorful Bird" or "Colorful Flower," who live in the Reever Sea; some call them the "guides of the yellow path" because of the assistance they give to travelers lost in their waters. They tend to have skin and hair in the range of yellow.

• Pelangrakya, "Rainbow People," who live off the coast of northeastern Dabusen; some call them the "sailors of the fulvous sea" because of their nautical customs. They tend to have skin and hair in the range of orange.

• Aniwantanga, "Rainbow People," who live in the southern Island Bridge; some call them the "violet shepherds of kindness" because of both their commonly kept livestock and their generosity and hospitality. They tend to have skin and hair in the range of violet.

• Laksyelmoun, "Rainbow People," who live in the Reever Sea; some call them the "green singers of radiance" because of their beautiful music. They tend to have skin and hair in the range of green.

It is said that they were driven to divide by tasks given to them en masse, eventually leading to cultural heroes to emerge as quests were given. Each nation's animal symbol is based on a cultural hero that was granted that form by the rainbow serpent:

• 'Ahl al-Jana: the Zumrud-u Anka (firebird) form was given to the hero Saqra al-Saaeid, who gathered the seven rainbow stones from the deep desert and brought them and the rainbow back to the islands, completing their legendary task.

• Jurtramirpa: the Yaku Patiri (rainbow shark) form was given to the hero Walyirri, who swam into the deep reefs and stopped the seas from rising when the great volcano erupted, completing her legendary task.

• Jiyivatapich: the Iridal Painter (iridal cougar) form was given to the hero A'tey, whose love for Michi Guyra led her to steal the secret of the bluestone beads from the gua'a (parrots), completing her legendary task.

• Toba-o Yimba-e: the Naange Ngabu (sun hippo) form was given to the hero Tokossuoum, who fought the cirgu (leopards) in order to keep them from eating the Lewru (Green Moon)'s children, completing his legendary task.

• Vanavmak: the Vannattuppucci (black butterfly) form was given to the hero Uyarntatu, who brought back a black rose from the great kings of the mainland in order to show their people that the mainlanders were not invincible, completing their legendary task.

• Anansakwi: the Sakwie (blue-grey tanager) form was given to the hero Arocoel, an elder who traveled the Ama'ori (Long Path) and brought back the knowledge that is still passed down through traditions today, completing his legendary task.

• Pelangrakya: the Berpendar Biawak (glowing monitor lizard) form was given to the hero Gelombang, who gathered the nine components of the perahu besar (great boat) so they could sail the more dangerous seas, completing his legendary task.

• Aniwantanga: the Kuri Taika (thylacine) form was given to the hero Kai Hipi, who protected her flock from 100 dangers, completing her legendary task.

• Laksyelmoun: the Griv ti Gout (colorful thrush) form was given to the hero Denye Vwa, who sang as well as the birds and thus spent a year as one in order to learn their secret songs, completing their legendary task.

And all of them honor Gulli Leydi, whom they consider the mother of all coeligians, whose task was to tie the rainbow to the ground, and whose form was legendarily the rainbow serpent.

The original cultures of the coeligian nations are matriarchal, classless societies that are nomadic among a set number of islands in their particular territories. A few such communities remain in each region the nine nations are in, but they are isolated and rare. In these communities, their cultures only vary by the particular practices mentioned above (some favor bead work, some favor music, etc.). They are led by a council of elders, raise children communally, barely recognize gender or marriage, and have no money. Roles in their communities are mostly fluid and shared by almost everyone, with the exception of certain specialized roles like boatwrights, warriors, and esotericists.

Common among all nations is the dream visions of the rainbow serpent which brings them each their tasks. Most tasks revolve around helping others. In their isolated communities, they usually are tasked with a general goal of supporting the community ("help with the washing," "keep the children happy," etc.). Those who get very specific tasks ("protect this specific boat," "acquire this particular stone," etc.) are considered special and take on special roles. In rare circumstances when a task is impossible to complete, they must use a special tea brewed of mushrooms and fruit (to alleviate the flavor of the mushrooms) every night until they see the rainbow serpent and ask for help. Only in the rarest circumstances are they not given help, and in those cases, the coeligian is given a new task that is much more taxing to complete. Some have suggested that this is entirely internal and part of a healing process, but those who communicate with rainbow serpents have found this not to be the case.

Each of the nine nations has their own slight variations on art, music, food, and festivals as well:

• 'Ahl al-Jana: art is often mosaic-based. Music features the oud, rababa, and riq. Food is heavy on figs, dates, and olives; and their primary festival is one of unity of the nine Divines, a deeply religious ceremony of prayer, fasting, and colorful celebration at the end.

• Jurtramirpa: art is the focus of their culture in some ways; it is varied and world-renowned in the right circles. Music is less important to them but still beautiful and largely based on wind instruments and droning rhythms. Food is heavy on quandongs, plums, limes, and pepper berries. Their primary festival is a communal dream-quest experience wherein they all contact the rainbow spirit and give her thanks.

• Jiyivatapich: art is mostly beadwork, using the bluestones of their islands. Music is mostly vocal and complex. Food is heavy on papayas, pineapples, guavas, mangoes, and yerba teas. Their primary festival is one of mourning for those lost to their oppressors, during which they express their love for one another in order to appreciate those who live better.

• Toba-o Yimba-e: art is decorated gourds and personal adornment, with heavy focus on red. Music uses hoddu lutes, tambi flutes, and bouba drums. Food is heavy on safu ("Taggaran pear") and bananas. Their primary festival is a recounting of all the heroics of their ancestors, dating back to Tokossuoum.

• Vanavmak: art is mostly tapestries featuring inspirational scenes and words. Music uses tholakukkarivu (percussion), thulaikkarivu (wind instruments), kanchakkarivu (gongs & cymbals) and narambukkarivu (string instruments). Food is heavy on carambola (star fruit), japani phai (persimmon), and ambarella (plums). Their primary festival is a gathering at the main river on their island and washing themselves clean of despair, sorrow, grief, regret, and loss for the year.

• Anansakwi: art is complex uses of natural materials (shells, wood, leaves) and paints made from rare minerals found on their islands. Music uses large drums, flutes, and brass instruments. Food is heavy on banana, mango, and coconut. Their primary festival is a months-long celebration in the late parts of the year (just before spring) that culminates in a day of massive, colorful celebrations (essentially carnival).

• Pelangrakya: art is mostly textiles, boat-making, and sculpture. Music is similar to gamelan. Food is heavy on durian, rambutan, soursop, and coconut. Their primary festival is an annual boat-race that mirrors the path Gelombang took on the first voyage their people took out of the dangerous waters.

• Aniwantanga: art is mostly carving and tattooing. Music uses shell trumpets, flutes, and percussion. Food is heavy on mandarins, lemons, tangelos, and grapefruit. Their primary festival is the shearing time, when they all gather to shear sheep and feast at the end of the day for a week.

• Laksyelmoun: art is less a major focus than music, though they do work in bright paints and decorations. Music uses guitar, marimba, and heavy percussion, especially steel drums. This is the main focus of their people, whose primary festival is a major singing contest during carnival. Food is heavy on plantain, cashew, and pineapple.

Among those who live as oppressed nations in the broader world, they retain much of their original culture while mixing it with the dominant cultures they live in.

Their cuisine is mostly fruit-based, and though they can and do eat meat (mostly fish), in their own homes they usually stick to their mostly meat-free diets (in fact, some families are fruitarian). They are well known for their sauces, which include many different tropical fruits, sugars, and alcohols. If the dominant culture allows, they maintain the practice of wearing very colorful clothing that clashes with their skin and hair colors; some places, especially where they are enslaved, prohibit their traditional sartorial customs. Their art and music is limited in most places by their oppression and lower economic status, but they still try to make time for both in their lives. Their art is bright, colorful, and evocative, and their music is rousing and inspirational, with variations based on region and common instruments. For painting, they tend to use colors that clash with their surrounds. Those in deserts use bright greens; those in deep forests use bright whites; those in tundra use fiery red; and so on. Poetry, literature, and theatre are also commonly practiced among them, but these tend to reflect their oppression and dominant cultures more than their traditional culture. Though their diet is mostly fruit-based, they often raise sheep for wool, goats for milk, and bees for honey.

Their tasks amongst the oppressed are not limited to their own people. They will often have tasks that urge them to help others outside their own. Because they are often discriminated against, this leads to problems at times, but they place the completion of a task above even their own lives at times. Only if another person's life is endangered by it or if the target of their task specifically asks them not to will they abandon a task (and then, only temporarily if possible). At some point in the life of any oppressed coeligian they are given the task of serving the struggle for liberation of themselves or all oppressed people. Sometimes this takes the form of direct action (hold a rally), education (teach others about oppression), or even violence (kill a slaver). Other times, it takes the form of defiance (be your gender in spite of the repression, declare your love in spite of its illegal status, refuse to cooperate in oppressive institutions, create art that rejects the oppressors' philosophies). And sometimes, it is far more subtle (give strength to this person at your job, bring food to this house on this date, leave a piece of art at this location). These are considered tasks of liberation, and they are especially honored among coeligians.

Whether isolated or oppressed, coeligian nations view their visions, tasks, quests, and animal features as integral to their identity. Those who refuse to have or reject the visions and tasks are not banished, but they are viewed as odd or obstinate. Those who embrace other religions often find themselves visited by other dream figures and given other tasks. Those who enmesh in other cultures end up with entirely different experiences, but the ability to access tasks remains As their personalities, cultures, or roles change, so do the tasks. Never will the tasks support exploitation or oppression, but they will become less attuned to the cultures of coeligian nations.

Coeligians come of age after their third task (age of 21 or so), and the completion of their third task is cause for celebration. In their island communities, these celebrations are usually held monthly to cover everyone who completed their third task, no matter their age. In oppressed communities, these celebrations are individualized and held with the extended family (if possible). Celebrations tend to include small gifts for those coming of age, food for the family or community, and music or displays of art. At the age of 140, after they receive their 20th task, coeligians in traditional communities are considered elders. The last 60 or so years of their lives are a semi-retirement wherein they stop the most taxing parts of their roles and focus on art, music, and enjoyment. In oppressed nations, families do their best to let elders retire, but often this is not possible.

The Lost Celeste Nation

It is said that some coeligians fled from oppression to live on Celeste Isle in Starfall. Led by two heroes, Hielan Durrow (who took on the features of a sheepdog) and Lutt (who took on features of a whale), a shepherd and priest whose quest were to bring a small group of coeligians to safety, they escaped an oppressive regime in the Albion region of Jesenranu and sailed west until they found, somehow, the celestial waters around the island, sailed them, and came to safety. Their culture differs as they have a post-class set of values instead of a pre-class set. They remember oppression and work hard to resist it, and they have more formal systems for education, occupations, and so on. This nation is called the Daoine Ildaite ("Rainbow People" in Irish). Their primary animal features are from common sheepdogs, and their diets are mostly apples, pears, cherries, and plums. Their music uses harps and bodhrans, and their art is carvings and drawings. Their primary festival is a midsummer feast.

Though they honor the rainbow serpent who gives them tasks and quests, they worship a figure called Neamh Mathair (Nyina W'ijuru), who has eleven Divine children (Aontaithe, the Laborer; Fhirinne, the Teacher; Maitheas, the Shepherdess; Ceartais, the Soldier; Comhionannas, the Judge; Cosanta, the Defender; Ar Dtus, the Elder; Pobail, the Representative; [Fuilline, the Caretaker; Cogas, the Healer; and Siochain, the Scribe).

Esoterica

Coeligians are beings of radiance and the originators of prismatic magic. All nine nations have skilled prismatic mages as respected members of their communities. They are also commonly wielders of the other radiant energies: tenyocan, euskepsia, euphony, euphotonia, euphoria, liberation power, and dumaqu. They are also devotees of miracles, though they cannot wield Elysian essence (nor can anyone). Other celestial essences are also commonly used, as are some aetherial powers - ikehua lyua pele, the bright, hasken fure, bijalee, ma’dhahabi, conflueverant, kiiric yihi, lahab al’qalb, true shadow, prasinofos, and tmakikan especially. Nommic energies, poioumenonic energies, and paradoxical energies are not unheard of. Shebvic energies are rare. Infernal energies are almost never used.

Religion

Coeligians worship rainbows.

To them, each color in the rainbow represents a different divine, and the united rainbow is represented by a Divine Rainbow Serpent. Every rainbow is created by the Prismatic Warrior. The colors are the Scarlet Warrior, the Fulvous Warrior, the Yellow Spear, he Emerald Singer, the Sapphire Lover, the Indigo Dawn, and the Violet Heart.

Their religion is a secret one among those who are oppressed, while those who are free worship openly. Among the traditional island nations, their religion varies slightly based on which Divine receives most favor:

• 'Ahl al-Jana: Tamkin, their goddess who gives them strength when they need it.

• Jurtramirpa: Wapirra (Orama Chromatos), their goddess who is said to create the rainbow bridges.

• Jiyivatapich: Nandejara (Hili Kar), their goddess who blessed them with the power to love.

• Toba-o Yimba-e: Sehil (Ixchicahuac), their god who blessed them with the courage to face great challenges.

• Vanavmak: Iraiteyva (KehinIreti), their deity who blessed them with the power of hope.

• Anansakwi: Lei (Lamba Chalane Vaala), their deity who guides them on the path to wisdom.

• Pelangrakya: Pedang Pelangi (Tagaputol Ng Kadena), the goddess who guides them to liberation.

• Aniwantanga: Harikoa (Baudicement), the goddess who gives them the gift of joy.

• Laksyelmoun: Deyes (Flussilied), the goddess who taught them music.

In all communities, even oppressed ones, coeligians still tend to see those who do not fit into the gender binary taking on religious leadership roles. In oppressed societies, they hide their priest/esses in elaborate ways, using esoteric glamours or complex costuming, so that they may be themselves in public whenever possible. The priest/esses take on a role of teaching the seven sacred practices, interpreting visions if there is no dream interpreter in the community, making the vision tea if need be, aiding and guiding in tasks, counseling, leading ceremonies, and supporting artists.

Art is considered a form of prayer by coeligians, and it is considered separate from the seven sacred practices, which are intended to guide people's behavior. The seven practices are

• Uplifting others: always do what you can to support others when they need you.

• Learning from experiences: for every experience, ask yourself (or others) what the lesson is.

• Sharing joy: if something brings you joy, do not hoard it, but share it with others.

• Be brave: do not let challenges deter you.

• Do not lose hope: there is always hope so long as we live. Do not let despair defeat you.

• Harmony: join others in song; be harmonious with your community.

• Share love: express your love for those you love. Never assume they know.

These are intended as guidance for daily behavior, but there are also seven special ceremonies to promote each one. These occur at different times of the year, depending on the nation. The seven ceremonies are

• Raising of the Hands: a ceremony wherein the community gathers, and everyone takes turns being carried by the others as they all sing, dance, and laugh.

• Sharing of the Lessons: a ceremony wherein the community gathers, usually at the end of the year, to share what they have learned in the past year.

• Joyous Respite: a ceremony wherein the community gathers, decides who amongst them should be given rest, and then performs their duties, responsibilities, or even tasks that day, while they rest and take in what pleases them. This happens about once every three months, and by the end of the year, everyone will have gotten a chance to take such a day.

• Sharing of Hearts: a ceremony wherein the community gathers, and some share what moments of bravery they have had in the past few months, while others share their difficulties and seek bolstering in their courage.

• Planting Day: a ceremony wherein the community gathers, bringing flowers (roses if possible, but it varies), and plants them in a place that has no flowers, to symbolize hope. On this day, those feeling their worries, grief, despair, sorrow, or so on write their concerns on small pieces of paper, which they place in the basket of flowers to be planted. The papers will be planted with the flowers, and the community leaders (subtly, quietly) read them, then make sure those concerns are addressed appropriately in the coming month.

• Raising of the Voices: a ceremony wherein the community gathers and sings (and plays music) together.

• Sacred Union: a ceremony wherein, during the day, families/communities express their love for one another by binding hands and speaking of what they love; children are given special treats that day; at night, adults gather around a bonfire to make love in the open (if they wish) or otherwise express their love for one another.

Furthermore, the ninth Divine, who guides toward liberation, is not represented in the seven sacred practices, as liberation is a communal activity. It is considered to be something everyone works on together, not as individuals.

Outside of the seven ceremonies, there is a weekly ceremony in praise of the rainbow serpent. The priest/ess stands before an icon or image of the rainbow serpent (a painting, mosaic, statue, drawing, mural, parade puppet, or other large representation) and blesses everyone as they come up throughout the day to bring a small token of appreciation (usually a piece of art or a brightly colored fabric or feather). At the end of the day, the offerings are taken to the priest/esses' home and blessed again, then placed in a special box. The box is opened at the end of the year, and the wonders therein shared with everyone, to be remade into new art in the coming year.

Gender

Traditional coeligian cultures respect a diversity of gender and sexuality. Gender is not connected to biology, but rather to personal expression (via art, clothing, body decoration such as tattoos and piercings, hairstyle, etc.) and social roles. Those who consider themselves feminine take on roles taking care of other people, such as healer, caretaker, gatherer, teacher, or guard (those who protect the community from other nations). Those who consider themselves masculine take on roles taking care of animals, plants, or other living things, such as planter, fisher, animal-tender, shepherd, goatherd, apiarist, or guard (to dissuade predators). Roles such as esotericists, warriors, artists, musicians, weavers, crafters, builders, sailors, etc. are taken by people of any gender. Roles such as priest/ess, rainbow-caster, or dream interpreter are taken on by those who do not fit into the masculine or feminine genders. Amongst oppressed nations, coeligians default to the gender roles of the dominant society, or live with the oppression that comes with being their true selves.

Marriage is unknown to coeligians in their traditional societies. Committed relationships exist, but there is no formal ceremony, contract, or declaration. Couples just form and stick together. Monogamy is considered unusual but not discouraged; most people have many sexual and romantic partners, often at one time. Parenthood is matrilineally traced; rarely does someone know who their father is. Same-sex coupling is common, and sex is a common part of religious and communal celebrations among adults. Sex is celebrated as a sacred but common rite. In oppressed nations, coeligian families follow the rules generally of the dominant culture, but they usually teach their children more traditional values of love. As such, they are taught to keep much of their romantic life and personal gender secret, and only live as themselves amongst themselves. Extended families commonly live together, and when marriages happen it is to conform to property laws of the dominant culture. Often, they do not marry for love or sex, but for establishing connections with other families. They then have other relationships (often not even living with their legal spouses) for sex and love.

Economy

Coeligians live in matriarchal societies without property or money, sharing everything between them. Oppressed nations in other societies are part of those class societies’ economies.

Military

Among the enslaved, they default to the military of their oppressor nations, though they culturally prefer to avoid service to those nations or countries that oppress them. They are assumed to be pacifists, but their actual objection is to being servants of their oppressors. They are willing to engage in violence to protect the oppressed. Among the free, a small force is kept in each community, prepared to defend them from outsiders, and there are guards specifically designated to fight off predators from their goat and sheep herds.

Coeligians in their traditional island communities favor spears, bows and arrows, atlatls and blowguns, slings, flails and clubs, and burning poi as weapons, though this varies by nation a little bit in terms of the design of each. Axes are used as tools, but rarely considered for combat. Fishing hooks and nets and special polearms used to cut high tree branches are kept as tools as well, but never used in combat except in times of invasion. Esotericists such as the rainbow-casters also protect the community in times of conflict.

Language

• 'Ahl al-Jana: Arabic

• Jurtramirpa: corrupted Warlpiri

• Jiyivatapich: Guarani

• Toba-o Yimba-e: Fulah

• Vanavmak: corrupted Tamil

• Anansakwi: corrupted Arawak

• Pelangrakya: corrupted Indonesian

• Aniwantanga: corrupted Maori

• Laksyelmoun: corrupted Haitian

Trade

Coeligians trade with anyone who comes to their islands, and they try to trade fairly - often being ripped off in their desire to be kind.

Occupations

• Birakih al’Manshuria: a mage who wields radiance via prisms to empower others.

• Chantè Emwòd: “emerald singers” whose voices are stunningly beautiful (harmonists).

• Dazzler: girls who dwell in the streets and wield rainbow magic via witchcraft.

• Druid: rainbow druids.

• Eajalat Qaws Qazah: rainbow-casters, mages who wield all radiant energies at once, known more broadly as “kaleidons” in other cultures.

• Erela: “red protector” or “scarlet shields”, brave warriors who defend the community from great dangers (similar to ocelotls, but with shields).

• Galeru: trans or androgynous riders of rainbow serpents.

• Gemmail: makers of prismatic stained glass.

• Haris Qaws Qazah: the rainbowguard. Elite warriors sworn to protect the rainbow serpents.

• Haris al’Quzhia: “iridal warden”, protectors of heaven.

• Hepara Puru: “violet shepherds” who keep their flocks happy.

• Iṇṭikō Pēccāḷar: “indigo speakers”, miraclemen who are skilled orators.

• Japi-Jarrimi: a student of the rainbow.

• Kaieke: an elder who is allowed to ride rainbow serpents.

• Kaipānui Moemoea: dream-readers.

• Makulay: resistance fighters among the oppressed nations.

• Miin-Yirrarni: bhats who trace lineages back to the rainbow serpent.

• Ngurrurlurlu: sending visions via rainbow dreams.

• Nyangu-Waji: shamans of the rainbow serpent.

• Pararri: iridal painters, rainbow painters, visionaries. Painting in radiant colors.

• Pelaut Yang Marah: “fulvous sailors”, those who sail the seas in defiance of the powerful countries around them. A variant of a tagapagpalaya.

• Raskol i Raun Long Sip: rainbowguards who work as privateers to hit enemy ships.

• Sakhib: a prismatic clown or fool, a riotous.

• Subule Peero: “yellow dog” or yellow guide, walker of the Long Path who guides others.

• Tejedor Hovy: “blue weaver” or “sapphire weaver”, those who work the blue beads. Lapidarists.

• Tunu Kai: maker of colorful, empowering food.

• Tururru: using clapsticks to connect to the Songlines in the southern Island Bridge.

• Warru-Ngarni: a ranger who walks on rainbows.

Outside View

In most countries, coeligians are viewed as manipulative, thieving, ignorant, and weak. They are among the species most targeted by slavers, subjected to violence in major empires, and run out of many communities. Their views of sexuality and gender are scorned by class societies, and they are viewed as dangers to children. Many think of them as stupid because of their culture of kindness and support, and others see them as easily manipulated and prey upon them. Their ability to empower others through touch is often twisted to be a form of manipulation, and as such, anywhere they are oppressed, they are discouraged from touching others.

Notably, in Agikaan and Stolzen, they are viewed as one of the impure nations, as the Agikaanis and Stolzenes believe they are lesser versions of the mafi girma genetically (there is relationship between the two species, but the eugenicist attitude is inaccurate). They are viewed this way or something similar to it in Insieme, Worow, Qahati, and Xilis. In Srisia, they are subject to constantly being used by others, their willingness to help others abused, to the point that coeligians fear to go there. In Furich Amol, Urayme, Tzuk, and Maskovy, they are considered slaves no matter what their actual status. In Vesturia and Deseria, they are killed on sight (the methods of using razdavit’ to drain slaves of power do not work on coeligians - it just kills them instantly--so they are considered worthless). In Mwyr Aeld, they are not often chosen as a body-type, but they are enslaved if they find themselves there.

Throughout Jesenya, Starfall, and Gyrah, they are viewed as a thieving nomadic community and run out of town by most. In Lyrilla, each court treats them differently, but the Kindly Court is the only one where they are welcomed and free

As nations who began in tropical or warm climates, they tend not to go to these colder countries willingly, anyway. They are common throughout the central island bridge, except near Abaddon, of course. In Taggarus, northeastern and subcontinental Dabusen, and around Mahad, they are more common, and thus, prejudices against them are more complicated. Those who trade with their island communities view them as either fair traders or easy targets. As individuals in the larger countries in those areas, they tend to face general national oppression - just not being the right species/nation to be privileged. In eastern Palhur, they are more accepted among other nations, though some still view them as a lesser nation. In central and western Palhur, they are less common, and tend to be viewed as odd outsiders.

They often face religious persecution throughout the world.

Coeligians have more positive relationships to some countries and nations. They are welcomed in Celeste Isle, Madziar, the workers states in Uruo and Unbul, the Freehold, by many Coleshi nations, by nomadic tribes in the Mahadi and northern Taggaran deserts, in certain areas of Palhur, in Lesedi, and among the mafi girma, nanmai, and transcendentals. Though coeligians' Divines employ angels, they do not worship or have many stories involving them. Instead, where angels would be in their legends and faith, the rainbow serpent takes their place. When actual angels interact with them, however, they do so with mutual respect.

Throughout every major coeligian culture, there is a driving belief in the liberation for all oppressed nations, and as such, though other oppressed nations may carry prejudices against them, they strive for liberation of and solidarity with them in return. A person fleeing persecution or danger is always welcome in a coeligian community or home.

Notables

• Gulli Leydi ("Navel of the Earth" in Fulah), Coeligian Manifest

• Lutt, the Veiled Priest

• Hielan Durrow, Ancient Shepherd, former slave who resisted colonial rule

• Atabey Yuisa, Flower of the Islands

• Saqra al-Saaeid, Rising Hawk, hero of the 'Ahl al-Jana

• Walyirri the Beautiful, hero of the Jurtramirpa

• A'tey and Michi Guyra, Lazy Girl and Little Bird, Lovers of the Blue Stone, hero of the Jiyivatapich

• Tokossuoum, Little One, the hero of the Toba-o Yimba-e

• Uyarntatu, the Rosebringer, the hero of the Vanavmak

• Arocoel, the Elder, the hero of the Anansakwi

• Gelombang, Wavewalker, the hero of the Pelangrakya

• Kai Hipi, Sheperdess hero of the Aniwantanga

• Dnye Vwa, Last Voice, the hero of the Laksyelmoun

Estimated Populations

• 'Ahl al-Jana: 1 million

• Jurtramirpa: 100,000

• Jiyivatapich: 1 million

• Toba-o Yimba-e: 1 million

• Vanavmak: 1 million

• Anansakwi: 100,000

• Pelangrakya: 1 million

• Aniwantanga: 100,000

• Laksyelmoun: 100,000

• Oppressed: 1,375,000

• Celeste Nation: 100,000

• Other: 625,000

Sample Stats

PRO 8
ATH 9
STR 8
AWA 10
WIL 9
PRS 12
STH 7