Wisin

Those who practice esoteric exercises to invoke mijjit, the energies of the body, that allow them to control their own bodily growth and transformations. The original wisin were among the Kiwihla in Palhur, hence the terminology derives from their language.

Flesh for Flesh

In order to tap into the power of mijjit, the nommic energy of the body, one must give of the flesh. This means physical sacrifice in the form of cutting flesh or it means dedicated gathering of lost skin, hair, and nails. The former is used only for sacred ceremonies, initiation rites, and extreme occasions (such as during famines or droughts) where significant power is needed. The latter is more common, and the materials are always burned in a small ceremony.

Sacred Flesh

Different cultures identify different body parts as untouchable. Some view circumcision as a sacred rite, for instance, while others view it as mutilation (and some differentiate between bodily dimorphic variations). Most cut a small slice of skin from an upper arm or lower leg in ceremonies, while some will take a bit off an ear or even as much as a fingertip. The commonest form of flesh-giving, however, is simply body piercing. Whatever the rite is, whatever the flesh is, it is usually engaged when a person reaches maturity within their culture and has decided to become a wisin (or cultural equivalent). This initiation is what gives them the power to have control over the mijjit within themselves.

Nimusti

Wisin practice nimusti, which consists of seasonal changes to diet, special foods called wisawek (special grains, spices, and milk), and special exercises, along with occasional rites to re-engage themselves with the mijjit within. These latter are usually smaller rites of flesh-giving.

Exercise

In nimusti, exercise always begins with a ritual of cleansing and grooming the body, preserving hair, nail, and skin that comes off in the process in special pots. They wash with a mild soap, using pure water, and scrub with harsh stones that scrape excess skin. They shave specific parts of themselves (this varies by culture, usually either the face, arms, legs, or head). And a wisin always has trimmed nails. They then engage in extreme exercise of some sort:

• Running: long-distance or sprinting in significant quantities is the most common form of exercise used.
• Lifting: lifting extremely heavy weights, usually composed of common objects, is often used to complement running.
• Stretching: a vital part of every wisin's routine.
• Stillness: one of the hardest forms of exercise a wisin may use, standing or sitting in a single difficult position for hours is used to focus on single areas of the body.
• Swimming: swimming is one of the most potent, common full body exercises.
• Climbing: climbing is done in areas where mountain or tree is commonly accessible for the purpose.
• Repetitions: a broad category of repetitions movements or strenuous physical activities, which could include pull ups and sit ups and other common exercises.
• Obstacles: obstacle courses that engage multiple forms of exercise are used for more advanced wisin.

Wisin never use gyms or other modern structures, always focusing on outdoors exercises and as many common objects or natural resources to engage in their work as possible.

Diet

Wisawek is the diet of the wisin, which includes special grains, spices, and milk. They eat this as a form of gruel or porridge, usually, but they can be mixed with other foods in variations in order to expand the diet or alter flavors. They must eat some of the wisawek diet every single day to maintain healthy mijjit.

Growth

A wisin's practice does not have the same effect as normal exercise. Instead of strengthening their bodies, it simply feeds the mijjit within them, and then they choose how that mijjit is used. They do this by burning the flesh-given and breathing in the smoke before going to sleep. When they awaken, the changes they (usually lucidly) dream of take place. The more natural the change, the easier it is to effect. Common changes include

• Muscle building
• Growing height
• Building weight
• Strengthening bone
• Improving organ performance
• Self-healing
• Improving immune system
• Neutralizing poisons
• Toughening flesh
• Changing hair color or eye color
• Minor body shape changes (changing nose shape, lengthening fingers)
• Skin or hair color change

Changes always take place through a process of natural growth, meaning they take time from when they are begun. They happen gradually after initiation.

Form

Powerful wisin can alter their bodies more dramatically, even changing forms. This takes extreme measures. Some notable alterations include

• Growing extra limbs
• Growing new or extra organs
• Altering reproductive organs
• Stopping senescence
• Growing body parts not congruous with their species (wings for humans, gills for avians, etc.)
• Changing skin texture or composition (stoneskin, barkskin, etc.)
• In extreme cases, altering species

These are almost always temporary; permanent major form changes usually come with permanent loss of powers.

Transferal

Some wisin practice transferring their mijjit to another in order to alter another's body, usually for purposes of healing or blessing someone going on a quest. This process requires taking some of their flesh, mixing it with one's own, and both wisin and target breathing the smoke then resting. The target must also eat wisawek beforehand.

Inventory

Wisin use a few ceremonial materials.

Wisawek

The diet of a wisin includes grain called malomen, a form of mijjit-rich wheat; boiled milk called laboia, which comes from moose; and spices that include a special salt called siwan, a form of allspice called tipwabel, and a ground nut powder called skibon.

Pots

Wisin use stone pots that are made from red clay called mkwapska. They store hair, nails, and skin in these.

Variations

There are many variations of the wisin, including various cultural variations around the world and specializations among the Kihwila.

Cultural Variations

From around the world:

• Ahianiti: a central Palhuric wisin who works entirely as a sacred sex worker.
• Behanem: a Vimalan wisin woman who focuses on healing and helping women.
• Eji: an eastern Palhuric wisin in the mountains who uses their powers to perform ceremonial wrestling for entertainment.
• Namito: a wisin from Tenzanai who focuses on running so they can work as a messenger.
• Physiquere: a Galdish wisin who keeps a "perfect body" as part of being a celebrity.
• Thuqhuri: an eastern Palhuric wisin whose exercise is entirely forms of dance.
• Vaso: a central Jesenyan wisin who performs in a circus as a tumbler.
• Vazivazy: a Basurian wisin who performs as a sort of ritual clown in their culture.

Bearers of God

Members of a cult in Gyrah who practice the arts of the wisin but do so because they believe the mortal body is a reflection of a greater Divine body.

Specializations

Among the Kihwila:

• Mlikakan: a wisin who engages in hard labor as a form of exercise.
• Molsem: a wisin who runs with wolves and uses their powers to be a better hunter. They often take on wolf-like features.
• Msakwat: a wisin who focus on making their bodies strong enough to wield huge weaponry for sieges and major warfare.
• Nbizon: a wisin who specializes in healing others.
• Nodatekwkwat: a wisin who specialize in making kisawek meals.
• Pakholigan: a wisin who uses their body as a percussion instrument.
• Papwategan: a wisin who leads children in exercise games.
• Wsisekw: a wisin who uses their powers to peform extreme physical comedy.

Other specializations:

• Anatomer: a scientist who uses the powers of a wisin to study the body, or vice versa.

Similar Occupations

Other users of mijjit include

• Awaas: a zoanthrope who uses mijjit to take on the form of a bobcat. They are an elite scout.
• Bosqinchi: a wreslter in western Dabusen who engages in banditry to survive in the mountains.
• Burrnesha: a woman who sacrifices her body to own herself.
• Gizoba: elders among the Kihwila who are usually retired, older wisin.
• Hurler: a wrestler who specializes in throwing their body as a weapon.
• Nodam: a shaman who is attuned to their body.
• Preformationist: one who makes homunculi.
• Wrestler: one who uses mijjit to be able to fight with their body.

Societal Role

Wisin are considered sacred leaders in their own cultures. Outside of their own cultures, they are viewed as primitives with strange practices, usually, but do not face repression outside of national chauvinism toward their cultures.

Skills

Common skills include

• Sports
• Hunting
• Gathering
• Cooking
• Exercise
• Medicine
• Anatomy
• Biology
• Herbalism

Stats

Modifiers to base of nation/species:

PRO +1
ATH +3
STR +5
AWA / Perception +1
WIL +1
STH -2
PRS -1