Unaligned Deneg

Spirit folk and terata under 4' tall.

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Deme

Small folk full of vital essence.

• Lifespan: 500 years
• Diet: Entrails and bodily fluids (of non-intelligent animals)
• Habitat: Mountains
• Socioeconomic Status: Privileged oppressed

Deme (dee-mee) are 4’ tall people with dark red skin, protruding bellies, and silver blood.

Deme have an innate understanding of their bodily humors. They know the balance of their humors, and they know inherently how to adjust them. They thrive when they are in balance, and they can transfer their vital humor to others, giving them health. If they give up all their vital humor, they can revive someone, but the deme will die within the year. They can smell the humor balance of others.

Deme live in the mountains in small communities where they focus on their bodily health. It is the prime part of their culture - knowing what to put in their bodies, how to exercise, and what they need to do to keep their livestock healthy. They herd sheep, goats, cows, pigs, and chickens. Their communities are generally assimilated into the broader imperial culture, but they prefer to elect their local leaders if and when they can. Their real leaders are the biggest herd owners.

PRO 8 ATH 9 STR 7 AWA 8 WIL 8 PRS 7 STH 9 ESS 8

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Gnome

Legendary, underground-dwelling devisers of systems.

• Lifespan: 80 - 120 years

• Diet: Aromatic mortal fare

• Habitat: Subterranean

• Socioeconomic Status: Oppressed

Gnomes appear to be 3’ to 4’ tall beings with large, hairy noses and ears. Their skin and hair color comes in a wide variety of hues. Their skin is often spotty or piebald, and their hair often sticks out. Their eyes kinda bug out. Their voices are often high-pitched.

Gnomes have an innate understanding of systems. How things interact and interconnect. If they observe patterns for longer than a few hours, they will be able to tell how things connect and correlate.

They can only do this for systems they can observe; therefore, they cannot understand the system of how atoms work without microscopes capable of letting them see them, nor can they understand the whole of the universe without powerful technology or magic.

Gnomes are compelled to put their knowledge of how things come together to use. Therefore, they often create devices or experiments, and these are often pushed to limits that cause disastrous results. They are immune to the consequences of these results if and only if they come to such disasters unintentionally and in the course of seeking understanding of greater systems.

Gez culture is about understanding how the world, as a system, works. In pursuit of this understanding, the gnomes of Shem experiment with machines, which they believe replicate the ways of the world.

Gnomish food is extremely aromatic. They love strong flavors. Spices, herbs, and alliums are very common. Capers are their favorite. Smelly cheeses and yogurts, soups, and fermented foods are very common. They pickle everything. Their music is rhythmic and complicated with time signatures that almost no one can replicate without their mechanical instruments. Their theatricals and radio entertainments are scientific and intricate, and their other art works are avant garde.

There are many gnomes in the region. They are among the oppressed and exploited for their technological skills. They are viewed also as nuissances.

PRO 8 ATH 9 STR 6 AWA 10 WIL 8 PRS 7 STH 9