GUIDE DESCENDANTS OF THE DEPARTED — deity-worshipping cannibals on a volcanic island

[axiom]

DESCENDANTS OF THE DEPARTED

INTRODUCTION

Upon this volcanic island three kilometers off the mainland lives a carnivorous society. Mainlanders call them cannibals. They call themselves the Descendants of the Departed.

The Descendants of the Departed embrace the cyclical nature of existence. Death is but a gateway to rebirth. Destruction paves the way for creation. Birth ends in death. And nothing created, no matter how lovely the art form, is eternal. Thus, their two deities, Requiem of Creation and Vayu of Destruction, represent this duality. 

Mainlanders call them cannibals because they devour their dead. This ritualistic act is believed to transfer the karma of the departed to the living. By ingesting the bodies of their loved ones, friends, and worthy individuals, they ensure a favorable reincarnation. To allow a worthy individual to rot wastes this karma and, possibly, means their loved one or friend may reincarnate as a not-sentient coconut crab. Thus, the Descendants of the Departed believe in an eternal cycle of souls and the act of cannibalism assists in this cycle.

However, they also recognize the power of Vayu, the destroyer. When one of their own is deemed unworthy of rebirth, they perform a solemn ceremony, casting the body into the molten magma. This act symbolizes the soul's annihilation, freeing it from the constraints of the physical realm and granting it a final release.

The Descendants of the Departed believe in the interconnectedness of life and death, of creation and destruction, of the ebb and flow of energy which shapes the world. The Descendants view themselves as guardians of this delicate balance and strive for harmony between Requiem and Vayu.

TERRITORY

The territory of the Descendants of the Departed live on a tropical island, simply called the Big Island, born from an active volcano. In fact, the volcano is still active and often erupts. Currently, the Descendants of the Departed are recovering after a recent eruption, which has wiped out most of the island's montane and submontane forests. Thus, is very little vegetation to be seen across the land. Most notably, the distant volcano stands out among the abyss of darkness. Upon looking closer, onlookers may find openings across the land leading into caves. Truly, what lies below is an enigma.

STEPPING STONES — If a creature wants to journey to or from the Big Island (without swimming or flying), they will need to hike over three kilometers of obsidian stepping stones. These slippery rocks jut out of the sea and are hot to the touch and cooled by the waves crashing over them. Many Descendants view navigating the Stepping Stones successfully as a major event marking the transition from child to adolescent; however, many youngsters (and even more strangers to the island) have slipped from the stones and become lost to the sea. Swimming, therefore, is a required skill for any aspiring cannibal.

BARRIER REEFS — The Big Island is surrounded by pockets of reef. Some of these reefs brush right up to the Big Island's cliffs or beaches. Others are further and deeper out. During lean times after the volcanic eruption—such as now—the Departed will get most of their protein from fishing in these reefs, primarily: grouper, tuna, and amberjack. Thus, these reefs are a critical part of any Departed's apprenticeship. 

BLACK SAND BEACHES — Countless beaches are upon the island. Most have black sand, because the island is made up of obsidian and other volcanic rocks. One of the more popular beaches, located right outside the main entrance to the volcanic cave system, is a peaceful stretch of ocean with three kilometers of walkable sand. The Departed call this Main Beach, and it's an excellent spot to relax or swim.

HAWIT RIVER SYSTEM — The island has an interconnected bunch of rivers which are collectively known as the Hawit River System. When rain falls on MNT Halelevu, the rainwater ends up in the Hawit and often causes flash floods elsewhere on the island. Without rainwater, many of the Hawit's lesser rivers and streams begin to dry up, but the main river branch (Hawoo River) seems to be fed from an underground and unmapped source. Descendants avoid swimming in the Hawit River System; the ocean is often warmer, less temperamental, and has tastier fish. However, Descendants without the skill to pluck fish from the Barrier Reefs will find noodling for catfish to be easier, aside from the risk of flash floods.

MNT HALELEVU — The volcano is located in the north western point of the island. Some caves come out of its bottom and side, along with active lava tube.

THE RIM — The rim is the highest part of the volcano. When a member passes away, members drag their corpse to the rim to rot. When completely decomposed or the has flesh turned into ashes due to the heat, the family members go up to the rim and take their bones to cherish.

REQUIEM'S FANG — Upon the volcano's rim is an obsidian boulder. This rock has existed as long as the Descendants have lived on this island, surviving many cycles of eruptions and earthquakes. As such, this rock is often used for meetings. Because it is made of obsidian, many pharaohs choose not to stand upon for meetings, lest Requiem judge them unworthy. The volcano's lava is only a slip away.

BLOOD FALLS — Where the volcano meets the ocean, blood-colored water runs. This water is drinkable and tastes slightly metallic. Inside the volcano are blood-colored hot springs, but the way to reach them is through a tight squeeze and navigating an underwater passage, so only creatures with "high merit" (as Meteor likes to say) can make the journey to enjoy the hot springs. 

MNT HALELEVU'S FACE — The westward face of the volcano is a field of tagimaucia flowers. Volcanic soil is supposedly rich for agriculture, but only tagimaucia flowers have been able to thrive on the volcanos. Nobody living can remember a time before the tagimaucia flowers took over the westward volcanic face.

CAVE SYSTEM — The cave system is located underneath the island's surface, ranging from the shore to the volcano's side. These caves are also widely known as inactive lava tubes.

COMMUNAL AREA — While higher ranks often have their own caves for themselves and their family, regular members have the communal area. The area is in the direct middle of all the caves. Many members use the communal area to spend time with others, while others come here to rest during the night.

DOCTOR'S CAVE — Closest to the fighting pit lies the medicinal cave. Doctors live here and provide assistance to the wounded. Doctors who are not medical specialists do not need to live here, but they can.

INQUISITOR POINTS — There are three places of religious significance within the volcano: the surface's edge, the volcano's bottom, and the cave's beginnings. At each of these points, large golden bells are hung. Anyone can ring these bells to gain the attention of an inquisitor. This is usually done to receive spiritual guidance.  

UNDERGROUND TRADING — In a chain of openings within the lava tubes, Descendants can set up trading posts and shops. There is no limit on what can be sold. Talk about an underground black market, huh?

FIGHTING PIT — To keep themselves strong and train apprentices, the Descendants of the Departed uses one of its largest caves as a fighting pit. The fighting ring is surrounded by a thin river of magma that lights up the surrounding area and exhausts opponents due to the oppressive heat. Along with this, there is an assortment of weaponry kept outside of the pit for training, tournaments, and raids.

SACRIFICIAL LAVA POOL — In the deepest part of the cave system lies a lava pit, rumored to be the source of many of the created lava tubes or caves as all points eventually connect to it. This lava pit is used for sacrificial rituals to Vayu. Enemies are mainly deposited here to avoid their unworthy souls polluting the reincarnation cycle.

OBSIDIAN ISLAND — To the east of the Big Island is a slab of pure black rock. Nothing grows here. And it is completely flat. It is visible from the Big Island, and anyone who ventures here would be visible from the Big Island. Mostly, the Departed ignore this island, but youngsters occasionally swim here to prove their survival skills.

VIPER ISLAND — Between the Big Island and the mainland is another, smaller island filled with thick submountain forests and bush vipers. These bush vipers can kill a rhino with a single bite, and seem to predate on birds (and other curious creatures) who fly from the mainland to Viper Island. During lean times, such as now, the Departed may venture here for prey and to take plants to repopulate the volcanic island's forests, but the vipers are aggressive. The Departed do not care if the vipers are sentient; the vipers have never tried to leave their island, and the Departed are glad they keep to themselves. 

COCONUT ISLAND — Between the Big Island and the mainland is another, smaller island filled with palm trees and coconut crabs. These coconut crabs feed on each other and any explorer unlucky enough to land on this island. During lean times, such as now, the Departed will venture here to take a bounty of crabs and to harvest palm trees to replant upon their home island. However, occasionally, a coconut crab has been known to reach the size of a rhino, so even experienced coconut crab hunters are respectfully wary of Coconut Island.

TRADITIONS

The Descendants of the Departed  focuses on dark traditions that honor their deities. The group focuses on two deities in specific. One deity focuses on the skies above, while the other represents the hell below. To honor them, they preform rituals.

REQUIEM, DEITY OF CREATION — The skies and lip of the volcano are the domain of Requiem. When Requiem is appeased, the climate is stable and everyone prospers. — Reference

DEATH RITUAL — When a member passes away, their body is cannibalized with priority given to the family and friends of the desceased. Any bit of the desceaesd left is carried to the top of the volcano as an offering to Requiem.
SACRIFICES TO CREATION — Every creature in the Descended is expected to hold "merit:" a combination of intelligence, courage, and loyalty. When anyone demonstrates one of these three feats, they may carve themselves a reminder of this event or receive such a carving from another Departed. This carving is left at the lip of the volcano, to prove to Requiem the worthiness of that Departed's life.

VAYU, DEITY OF DESTRUCTION — The volcano's contents and underground features of the island are controlled by Vayu. When Vayu is out of balance, earthquakes are sure to follow. — Reference

SACRIFICES TO DESTRUCTION — Enemies unworthy of being cannibalized are taken to the sacrificial lava pool to satisfy Vayu. With no goodbyes in order, the bodies are then dumped into the lava pool. Vayu is no god of the underworld; Descendants believe Vayu destroys a creature's very soul. This destruction of an unworthy soul is thought to appease Vayu.

RIGHT OF PASSAGE — In order to go from a child to an adult, the children are required to participate in the fighting pit. Their opponent will be a captured npc enemy, not a fellow Descendant. Regardless of age, if they defeat an opponent in the ring, they are immediately considered a mature warrior. They are then ready to participate in raids, wars, captures, and more. While this fight is not required to be to the death, children are encouraged to aim for the kill instead of letting their opponent yield.

This tradition also goes for joiners. New members to the Descendants of the Departed do not have full member status until they complete a right of passage fight. Unlike the members born in the Descendants of the Departed, joiners must kill their opponent to prove their merit. 

This is expected to be written as a one-shot with the opponent as a captured npc. The right of passage is considered clear once Meteor responds and approves of your character's victory. If the opponent is killed, your character has first dibs on cannibalism.

SEASONAL TOURNAMENTS — Seasonal tournaments begin sign-ups on the first day of the season and are later performed within the fighting pit. Participants are restricted to Militia and up. The tournament works in bracket style, pairing up members and ascending through the ranks as they win. These fights are not to the death, and there will be harsh ic punishments from Meteor if there are deaths or maimings. If your character manages to win the tournament, they are assigned a special rank for the season and are given privileges for the duration.

BODY DISPOSAL — Deceased enemies and members are used in multiple ways. Such as:

CANNIBALISM — Cannibalism is normal within the Descendants of the Departed. Due to their lack of vegetation and animals, the group often feeds on other sentient animals. Cannibalism is respectful. Anyone "unworthy" is not cannibalized and, instead, thrown to the lava pools where it is believed that Vayu destroys their soul. What makes someone worthy? A combination of intelligence, courage, and loyalty, which Meteor refers to as "merit."

BONES AND SKULL MASKS — Nothing goes to waste. After cannibalizing a Departed or other worthy creature, the bones of the dead are repurposed. Many members of the group use the bones as repurposed weaponry or armor. Meanwhile, the skulls are used as masks for wartime.

FALL HARVEST — On October 1st, the Fall Harvest begins for the Descendants of the Departed. On this day, they begin preparing for a feast that occurs on the last day of October. The feast includes indulging on rarities found on the mainland, corpses of the legendary sentient animals, and more. Depending on when autumn starts, this may also overlap with the seasonal tournament.

ECLIPSES — While it's often a once in a lifetime occurrence for many, the eclipse symbolizes perfect alignment. This is when the above and the below come to together all at once, enough for the dead to appear before their eyes. With the encouragement of the dead, the Descendants of the Departed preforms their most important rituals. Each eclipse has a different theme depending on its name (such as a blood moon), but all eclipses include rituals, sacrifices, and emphasis on merit.

RANKING

PHARAOH — The leader of the Descendants of the Departed. Their word is law and is not to be ignored. They are in charge of declaring all out war, assigning raid targets, promoting/demoting members, leading traditions.
Meteor Prometheus — roleplayed by Axiom

VIZIER — Viziers are directly below the leader and are the heirs to leadership. They are in charge of hosting consistent raids, managing battles, and overseeing tasks for members. If there are two and no decision made by the Pharaoh before the Pharaoh dies, the viziers will fight to the death.
n/a — roleplayed by n/a

INQUISITORS — Split into two separate ranks, one assigned to Requiem and the other to Vayu. Inquisitors are the group's direct connection to their gods. Trained directly by the leader, the inquisitors get to know the caves or the island's surface front to back depending on their assignment. They are said to have a close connection to their god and are guides for the Departed to understand the afterlife: rejoin reincarnation via Requiem's ritual cannibalism, or have your soul devoured and destroyed by Vayu. Understandably, most Descendants choose Requiem for themselves and Vayu for their enemies.
Dead Eye of Vayu's Destruction — roleplayed by Orion
Vale Malus of Requiem's Creation — roleplayed by Axiom

DOCTORS — Doctors are the medics, therapists, mediators, and useful noncombatans. Mainly, they heal the wounded and are expected to to be mediators of conflict within the Descendants of the Departed. If there are too many Doctors during lean times, the least valuable of their rank might be cannibalized—or, commonly, volunteer themselves to be cannibalized for the wellbeing of their fellow Descendants. Viziers and Inquisitors often start as Doctors or Templars.
Knox — roleplayed by Ghost
Xanti Xiu — roleplayed by Axiom
(unlimited number)

TEMPLARS — Templars are the senior combatants of the group. Members may be promoted to this rank after success in the fight pits, success in raids, or other demonstrations of courage, loyalty, and combat skill. Viziers and Inquisitors often start as Templars or Doctors.
Chernabog Greatwing-Eos Australis — roleplayed by Dio
Nikolai “Kole” Pendragon — roleplayed by Sykes  
Rhode Anthos — roleplayed by psy
(unlimited number)

MILITIA — The base rank. Everyone willing and able to participate in combat and the daily struggles of staying alive are automatically part of the Militia.
unlisted, unlimited number

NEOPHYTE — These outsiders have not completed their right of passage fight. They have reduced rights within the group, such as being open to violence or abuse at any time. Raids cannot be led by these members, nor can they participate in the seasonal tournament. Often times, they'll be used as servants and are under the leader directly for everyday tasks.
unlisted, unlimited number

ALLIANCES

The Descendants of the Departed currently has no allies or neutralities. All groups are open to be attacked. 

LAWS OF THE LAND

— The Pharaoh's word is absolute. Disobeying their word is under punishment of death.
— Raids can be led by any Descendant, but requires Meteor's approval. Don't be shy! Meteor likes approving raids.
— All acts of violence are on the table. Cannibalism, slavery, maiming, killing, and more.
— With prior grievance and mutual disrespect, Descendants themselves are up for slaughter. However! Senseless violence, like maiming or killing in the seasonal tournament, is not permitted. Descendants can do whatever they want to captured npcs and not-allies
— All BoB rules apply OOCly and ICly.