Velikiy

A velikiy (pl. velikiye, lit. "great one(s)") is an esotericist who uses the art of bol'shaya sila, the "greater power," as it is called, the wielding of the infernal energy razdavit'. Razdavit' is the energy of gaining strength by harming others, and a velikiy has the magical means to make this metaphor very direct, drawing strength from the pain they cause others.

Seals

In order to draw power from the pain of others, a velikiy must learn how to use certain seals, or marks, figures, sigils, which they mark into the flesh of their target. There are five different seals, each one a different symbol:

• Razrushitel' Ploti: the broken flesh, symbolized by Ф (f) with a diagonal (lower left to upper right) curved slash through it.
• Net Chuvstv: the weeping heart, symbolized by Щ (shch) with a trio of vertical lines in between the tines (making it a six-tined Щ).
• Zabyvaniye: the withering thought, symbolized by П (p) with a circle around it.
• Ne Buduchi: the scoured soul, symbolized by С (s) with a series of eight small dots around the curve.
• Polnoye Iskoreneniye: the unnamed, symbolized by Ю (u) with red dot within the circle.

The polnoye iskoreneniye is very rare and difficult to create, and most velikye do not know how to use it.

These symbols must be scarred, tattooed, carved, or otherwise permanently engraved into the flesh of the target. The velikiy must then have a korona seal marked into themselves. This is symbolized by a Х (k) with each leg of the Х having an oppositional diagonal through it (creating four Х's). Most velikiye use tattoos.

Slaves

Velikiye think of their targets as slaves (raby, sing. rab). In order to trigger a transfer of powers from target to velikiy, the velikiy must cause harm to the rab. The harm must correspond with the mark carved into the rab. Physical harm for the razrusihitel' ploti; emotional harm for the net chuvstv, mental trauma for the zabyvnaiye, metaphysical harm for the ne buduchi, or all four for the polnoye iskoreneniye. The harm caused must have a connection to the velikiy, meaning it must either be done directly by the velikiy or done with something or by someone they have ownership of or power over.

Animal Slaves

Many velikiye who cannot afford (yet) mortal slaves will use animals instead. Strength and olfactory senses from dogs, speed from rabbits, etc. Most commonly, they use snakes (see below), as other animals are seen as lesser.

Non-Living Targets/Objects

In order to transfer properties between two inanimate objects, the velikiy becomes the go-between for them, thus causing the "harm" to the target in order to empower the original. If they make a mistake and harm the original, the power can be transferred the other way, which is not possible when they are the original themselves.

Rule of Like Objects

A velikiy cannot transfer a power from plant to person, nor from stone to plant, etc. But they can do so from metal to metal, or from plant to plant, or from stone to stone. This write up assumes the velikiy is of a mortal species that is animal, rather than plant (dryad, radande, fluer), fungal (myconian), or mineral (crystal folk or some mechanoids).

Crowns

The main symbol of the velikiy is their korona, or crown. A powerful velikiy will have a crown made from steuerungium (empowered if they can) that has been linked to other metals (or jewels, if there are jewels in the crown) via their arts. Weaker ones just use steel. Their crown is usually ostentatious, as one does not become a velikiy without having an ego and bad taste. Their crowns, usually red in hue (being made of steuerungium or being dyed that way to imitate it), are sometimes called krovavyye obruchi (blood circlets, sing. krovavyy obruch).

Serpents and Skins

Velikiye are often servants of the Serpent Goddess, but even if they aren't, the root culture of the velikiye is that of Vesturia, where serpents are honored. The northern viper is the most common and dangerous poisonous snake in the region, and a velikiy will go out of their way to give themselves the venom, cold blood, strength, speed, perceptions, and agility of this viper. They will also wear snakeskins as part of their usual costumes, adorn themselves with symbolic snake eyes and tongues, fangs and bones. They will use their arts to make snakeskins as strong as armor. They often also keep empowered snakes as pets.

Cold-Blooded

It is considered vital that a velikiy have the cold blood of a snake. This makes the transfer of power easier, but it also means, since most velikiy live in cold climates, that they must also wear warm clothing in order to function. Heavy furs are worn by lesser velikiye, but powerful ones will have empowered their snakeskins in order to be warming.

Venom

It is not vital, but most velikiye want to have a venomous bite like a snake, and therefore, they steal that property from them. Thus, most velikiye will have a poisonous bite at power 10+.

Cultural Variations

In some other cultures, they have slight variations in preferred qualities, animals, or level of ostentation of their crowns, but otherwise they are much the same. Some other (plural) names include:

• Tromblui [Irish]: Cinn Iontach
• Western Ansulym: Celfuffern - specifically, they use their powers to make their paintings and other art better than those around them.
• Central Palhur [Maya]: Nimank U
• Western Dabusen [Kazakh]: Tamaşalar
• Undersea [Lovecraftian]: Ogndhotll
• Subcontinental Dabusen [Hindi]: Mahaan Vaale
• Urayme [Latin]: Magnates
• Southern Taggarus [Swahili]: Kubwa
• Eastern Palhur [Aymara]: Sirsuqina
• Tenzanai [Japanese]: Subarashī Mono

There are also these variations in Vesturia:

• Czarina: the ruler of Vesturia is always empowered by bol'shaya sila.
• Dushokradets: the elite, polyesoteric velikiye.
• Ispolnitel': an actor who has used bol'shaya sila to improve their abilities, often granted to them by a powerful patron.
• Istorik: historians of the Vesturian Empire who use bol'shaya sila to improve their minds.
• Obrabotchik: velikiye who focus deeply on the association with snakes, keeping them, making them empowered, becoming like them. An elite group of them, the Zhenshchiny Ada, are advisers to the Czarina.
• Pevchy dyak: singers who have been granted bol'shaya sila to improve their singing so they may sing for the Czarina.
• Rabotogovets: the slavers who supply velikiye, and also who use the powers to help catch and control slaves.
• Sledovatel': agents of the Czarina, secret or open police, who have been granted slaves.
• Strannik: rangers of the tundras and boreal forests of Vesturia who are empowered by bol'shaya sila.
• Strelec: vityaz archers.
• Vityaz: the warriors of Vesturia empowered by bol'shaya sila.
• Zloy sadovnik: velikiye who use plants instead of people as their slaves, creating powerful plants. Often viewed as "crazy forest witches".

Skills

These are common skill used:

• Snake handling
• Engraving
• Branding
• Brand making
• Animal care
• Hunting
• Trading/negotiation

Persecution

Some socieities have succeeded in banning this practice, but most class societies allow some variation of it in small doses, save in Vesturia, where it is central to the ruling class culture.

Stats

The typical velikiy will have the following variations from the base stats of their nation/species:

PRO +2
ATH +1
STR +2
AWA +3
WIL +6
STH +1
PRS +3

But many will have higher stats based on their slaves.