Family: Mermaid
Type: Giant
Habitat: Oceans, far reaches of the continental shelf
Disposition: Calm, stoic, hospitable, modest
Diet: Omnivorous, Spirit energy
Ägir (EH-jeer) are giants of the sea and protectors of the oceanic realm of Michiko. Sporting a humanoid torso and a fish tail, the average ägir is well above three meters long and has skin of a blue or greenish tint.
Tasked by Michiko with the safety of her realm, from the coastlines to the outer reaches, many ägir spend long stretches of time in solitude with at least one ägir assigned to a quadrant of the continental shelf at any one time. Though ägir stoically accept this lonesome duty they will gladly take an opportunity to interact with others. They may invite passengers of passing ships or seaborne mamono that have strayed nearby into their halls. An ägir’s hospitality is well renowned, and being given such an invitation is both considered a great honor and seen as a sign of good fortune by seafarers. Many seafarers and Michikona maintain a tradition of gifting a small trinket, such as a sea-shell necklace, to an ägir they encounter, which will be returned to their home temple upon completion of her assignment. Sometimes an ägir will also invite another mamono to join her as she undertakes her duty to lessen her loneliness.
While encounters with ägir are considered good fortune by most seafarers, they are the bane of Michiko’s enemies and those who would render harm upon her subjects. Mermaid poachers especially do well to fear their wrath as they are sure to be destroyed with utmost prejudice if discovered. When encountering particularly grave threats, ägir are able to assume a true giant form that can range anywhere from 15 to 50 meters in height, inspiring awe and fear in all those who behold her. In this form, she wields powerful magic to control the oceans around her. As this feat consumes enormous amounts of energy, such transformations are rarely heard of however and require long periods of recuperation after use. Assignments to a particular quadrant of the ocean typically last for a full year at least.
The largest concentration of ägir can be found in the Sanctuary of Resplendent Vigilance, a giant temple complex found beneath the waves, due west of the Isle of Blue Glass. This temple is separated into nine enormous sections or halls, and which hall an ägir lives in indicates to which area of Michiko’s domain her assignments will usually lead her. This place is also where most new ägir are born. Due to the often solitary nature of their assignments everywhere on the continental shelf, many ägir face even lower than average odds of chance encounters with men than the average Michikona. Because of this Michiko occasionally supplies the temple with human men, usually volunteers, to bolster the spirits and numbers of her loyal servants. To be offered this chance is considered a great honor among such men as are born and raised in Michiko’s underwater realm. Even among mamono, ägir suffer from a particularly low chance of conceiving a child and so anytime one of them is born is cause for great celebration in the temple. Perhaps to make up for that fact an ägir’s average lifespan far eclipses that of their smaller mermaid cousins.
Ägir are almost never observed on dry land, as their power is greatly diminished there, and even an invitation by a cherished friend will often be declined. Seeing one of them on land is a special occasion indeed, and it is considered a great honor by those she visits. Such a visit is sure to awaken the baser desires of opportunists however, as an ägir’s blood, similar to that of a mermaid, is a potent medicine and magical ingredient. Though unlike the blood of a mermaid, its potency is far greater and will never fade. Other than their husbands, few indeed ever get to experience the bolstering effects of their blood.
Most encounters between ägir and men occur in the Sanctuary of Resplendent Vigilance, where men will typically be married to three to five women belonging to the same hall, no more than half of which will ever be on assignment at a time. Most men who come to live in the temple in this way spend the remainder of their lives there, never straying far from their loving wives. However, if an ägir should chance across a man while not in the temple she will pursue him for herself and only herself. If such a union is made she will ensure that the bond between the two is forged from unbreakable links and she will henceforth prefer to never let him out of her sight. The man will enjoy her renowned hospitality every day and accompany her on her assignments.
An ägir with a husband of her own is also much more likely to spend her time not on assignments in other populated areas of Michiko’s realm to give her man the chance to experience all that the world underwater has to offer. Other mamono would do well not to flirt with an ägir’s husband, as they may find her calm and gentle demeanor to be replaced with stern anger at such an affront.
Name That Mamono: Ingrid
At 36 years old Ingrid is the youngest member of the hall of Hevring. Since turning 30 she has twice been assigned to watch over a quadrant of ocean close to the northwestern Kiokan coast. There she was able to form a few friendships thanks to a few smaller settlements located within her assigned quadrant. Ingrid has skin of light-greenish tint and long dark hair. At a length of 3.3 meters she is considered of average length for her kind, though she secretly wishes she was a bit smaller.
Encouraged perhaps by the youth of its protector, an enterprising pirate recently formed plans to threaten and extort a small community of mermaids living within Ingrid’s quadrant. In the ensuing confrontation Ingrid transformed into her true giant form and sank the small pirate flotilla in a storm of gales and waves. This act earned her a measure of fame among Michikona and infamy among the pirate freebooters and bought her an early release from her assignment. She received a commendation from Michiko herself and has been granted an extended leave of 10 years to recoup the expended energy.
After having returned the mermaids’ gifts to the hall of Hevring Ingrid has taken to traveling the most densely populated regions of Michiko’s realm in search of new friends and experiences. She has also taken a keen interest in watching from afar the goings-on in the various port cities she has come across. Secretly she also hopes to meet that special someone to whom she can give her all. Though she would never admit it she is self-conscious about her size considering that men tend to be significantly smaller than herself.
BLOOD GOLEM
Family: Golem
Type: Magic Material
Habitat: Mansions, ruins, towers
Disposition: Devoted, various
Diet: Blood, spirit energy, ambient demonic energy
Blood golems are artificial life forms created from the blood of their creators in a long and arduous process. In order to create a blood golem a sorceress primarily requires three things; a vast pool of mana, a human partner, and a substantial length of time. Creating a blood golem is an extensive investment of time and energy where the sorceresses' mamono blood and a human's blood are combined in a heavily enchanted vessel. Only a small trickle of blood may be added to the vessel every week before the sorceress needs to perform a series of complicated and time- and energy-consuming rites. There is no fixed quantity that may be added at one time, but should the sorceress grow careless and add too great a quantity at once she risks years of work being ruined. Since the precise quantity of blood added and the final mass of the golem are not exact quantities there is no fixed time frame for golem creation, but creating one would likely require no less than 25 and no more than 100 years. A blood golem is considered finished when it achieves sentience.
Few sorceresses, even among those who possess the knowledge, power and resources required, would consider beginning this arduous process as they are left vulnerable and unable to venture far from their homes for the duration of the ritual. Why then would anyone choose to perform this ritual? Once the blood golem has been finished it will serve the will of its creators without reservation. It is magically linked to them both and serves as a vast reserve of both potent mana and spirit energy which the sorceress can freely access. Therefore a powerful sorceress supported by a blood golem is a formidable force indeed.
Even after reaching a state of sentience it is possible to keep growing a blood golem, though the sorceress and her human partner are no longer obliged to remain stationary as the blood golem will no longer be confined to its vessel. Blood golems initially appear as amorphous blobs of blood that somehow hover in the air and only gradually take the shape of something recognizable as a living being. The shape taken depends strongly on the will of the blood golem’s creators and can be anything from a humanoid form to that of various beasts or even more obscure shapes. Just like its form is shaped by its creator's will, the blood golem’s personality and behavior will be shaped by its creator's desires and disposition towards it. Some may desire nothing beyond a familiar to serve them, while others may desire something more akin to a filial relationship. The golem’s abilities will similarly develop in line to suit the needs of its creators. Due to this some blood golems function more as simple servants or attendants while others may be more akin to apprentices and develop into potent sorceresses in their own right.
In order for a blood golem to become a fully fledged mamono her connection to her creators needs to be severed. This can happen if the sorceress, who serves as the focal point of the connection, consciously severs the link or if both of the golem’s creators perish. Only then will the blood golem develop true sapience. Within a few short months a blood golem free from its ties will naturally take on a beautiful female form, though some reminiscence of its former form will remain . The blood golem will slowly develop a fully actualized personality by further building up on the disposition shaped by her creators.
Like most mamono blood golems are attracted to humans in general and men in particular and, depending on their personalities, pursue any opportunities to mate that present themselves. Blood golems possess two primary ways of reproduction. The first is to combine themselves with the blood and mana or spirit energy of a partner. Using this method they can slowly increase in mass and eventually split in two, creating a copy identical in every way at the time of splitting. This method can be used even with a mamono partner, but since the blood of the partner used is different from that of their original creator it is an exceedingly slow method. The second way is to employ the same means used by their original creators and perform the formal ritual for the creation of a new blood golem together with a human partner.
When she finds a lover a blood golem will usually inject part of herself into her lover’s bloodstream, which will allow her to sense them wherever they are and even enable their partner to eat food that would normally be considered poisonous, as the blood golem is capable of neutralizing these poisons quite effectively. Having part of a blood golem circulating through their blood stream will also extend the partner’s lifespan and may even cause some degree of rejuvenation. If they are in close enough proximity this physical link can enable the blood golem to share her own reserves of mana and spirit energy with her partner or access a human’s spirit energy without the need for intercourse, though sex will always remain her preferred mode of receiving her lover's spirit energy.
Name That Mamono: Yavina
Yavina is the creation of an Amarantian countess, who was well known for her magical talents and deep learning, and her husband. While bound to their service she served as familiar, bodyguard, companion, student, and daughter until she was finally freed from service at age 100. Even when her bonds of servitude were severed Yavina did not desire to leave her master and mistress behind. In fact she only left when she was ordered to go out and experience the world for herself. She followed that command and enjoyed all that Arcadia had to offer for the next 16 years.
When rumors reached her ears of allegations made against her former mistress Yavina hurried back to her side, but she was too late. Her mistress had fallen victim to the scheming of a political rival and lost her life in the process. Saddened and enraged, Yavina prepared to take vengeance but was stopped by her former master, who was yet alive at the family’s keep in central Amarante. With Yavina’s help he navigated the Alnorian bureaucracy and legal system to keep his late wife’s estates from falling into the hands of her enemies. Following that hollow triumph Yavina retreated to the countess' keep with her master where she, along with a few other servants, stayed on as attendants and confidantes.
Nearly one thousand years have passed since then, and her master has long since shuffled off this mortal coil. Yavina still lives in the old keep, whose outside has fallen into disrepair, and keeps her vigil over the crypt where her master and mistress are laid to rest. During that time she had extensively studied her mistresses' works and notes and has developed into a powerful sorceress in her own right. Yavina has not interacted with the outside world in a long time and feels mostly apathetic towards it, but will not hesitate to defend her old masters’ household against intruders seeking plunder.
Cross a doppelganger’s skill with false appearances with a phantom’s flair for the dramatic and you have a noppera-bo (NAW-purr-ah-BOH). These rare ghostly mamono are a nuisance -- or rarely, an actual menace -- to the travelers who are their usual prey. Though she poses little physical danger a noppera-bo might mask the presence of or drive her victims into a more serious hazard. This is unfortunate, as noppera-bo aren’t usually malicious… but a girl has to eat.
A noppera-bo in her natural form resembles a human woman except for having no facial features, but most of the time she will appear to others in a disguise. Noppera-bo have the ability to create false faces; they can manifest eyes, noses, and mouths in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They are also able to change their skin color, hair style and color, and clothing -- noppera-bo go naked at all times, and any clothing they seem to be wearing is actually part of their bodies -- and can make minor adjustments to their size. It’s easy for a noppera-bo to create features for a generic face, but impersonating a specific person takes more effort. A noppera-bo has limited ability to scan the minds of people in her immediate vicinity in order to improve her acting performance; she can tailor her voice, mannerisms, and costume to conform to viewers’ expectations or blend in with a crowd. As ghosts noppera-bo can pass through solid objects or allow objects to pass through them, but they can be solid when they wish to be.
Like all mamono noppera-bo are able to feed on spirit energy, but they also need emotional energy. They frequent isolated areas and use their shapeshifting powers to appear harmless. When a traveler happens by the noppera-bo will put on a performance to draw that person closer -- pretending to be injured or lost is a common tactic. Once the mark is close the noppera-bo will reveal her true face (or rather, lack thereof) or assume a fearsome visage in order to scare the victim and feed on the resulting fear. The stronger the fear the more nourishment the noppera-bo derives from it; a good startle will sate a noppera-bo’s hunger for a day or two, while a full-on panic will keep her going for a fortnight, and that’s from a single person. More victims provide more fear for the faceless ghost to feed on. As a ghost a noppera-bo can’t starve to death because she’s already dead, but the hungrier she is the harder it is to remain solid. A starving noppera-bo is completely incorporeal.
There are a rare few noppera-bo who have learned to feed on emotions other than fear. Some follow armies to feast on the rage of battle. Others are traveling players who draw sustenance from the joy that a performance evokes from an audience. Most common are those who work in brothels -- usually as support staff rather than prostitutes -- to gain access to a steady diet of desire. But even those noppera-bo who learn to feed on other emotions retain the ability to derive nourishment from fear. They simply find other emotions more flavorful.
For a noppera-bo finding a human spouse -- husband or wife, they’re not picky -- is all about feelings. Those with a taste for emotions other than fear are attracted to people who feel those emotions deeply. Noppera-bo who feed on wrath are drawn to people with anger issues, for example, while those who feed on desire like humans with particularly strong sex drives. It’s different for noppera-bo who mainly feed on fear, however; for them it’s people they can’t scare whom they find irresistible. If a noppera-bo fails to scare a human on their first encounter she will become fascinated with that person and begin to stalk them. She will make multiple future attempts to scare her crush, and if she fails her obsession will turn into infatuation and she’ll begin wooing her target instead. She will flirt and cajole and offer sexual favors for as long as it takes for her target to give in (it’s not as if her biological clock is ticking…). If her beloved accepts her the noppera-bo gains the ability to feed on her sweetheart’s affection for her; whoever said you can’t live on love never met a married noppera-bo.
Name That Mamono: Kuranko (koo-RAHN-ko)
Plenty of people know Kuranko, just not by that name. She makes a circuit of a dozen villages disguised as an entertainer to feed on her audiences’ enjoyment. She uses three different false identities, each with a different act -- dancer, juggler, and storyteller. Kuranko likes her joy spiced with a little fear, however, so her dancing and juggling include lots of death-defying stunts while her oration features plenty of ghost stories (some of which she is a character in). She has been on the road for over 600 years and is happy with her life, but she’d really like a husband or wife to share it with. The problem is, with two emotions she feeds on Kuranko has two requirements to fulfill. So far all the humans she has met whose joy is strong enough to interest her have been spineless cowards, while the only humans she has met who are sufficiently fearless have been unbearably grouchy -- or worse, depressed. When she finally does find a spouse Kuranko says that person is in for a treat; this faceless girl has been studying “marital arts,” and she makes a point of practicing every night. So far no one has had the heart to tell her that really getting good at that stuff requires a partner.
tygertygerSep 2, 2023 9:58 PM
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