Overview:



The Siikmaryi are a race that bears resemblance to demonic origins but moreso finds its roots in draconic nature. To call them a cross between dragons and any other race is incorrect, for there is scarcely an equivalent to compare them to.



The Siikmaryi are a primarily peaceful people, but in an isolationist manner. They prefer to stay alone, defending their lands and protecting it from harm with their veracity, but otherwise finding peace among themselves and ensuring the safety of their lands. To quote a saying in their tongue: “Peace is earned, not given, for moss grows where stones settle.”



The lands they reside in primarily are a jungled lands, providing large swathes of trees, though advancements have allowed them to clear or discover lands that can support higher society.





Physical Attributes:



The Siikmaryi, as stated before, are draconic in appearance. This is also tied in with their demonic traits that form a blend that’s more than a demon yet not quite a dragon, favoring a demonic appearance with draconic features on top.



Their skin will range through nature-based shades, such as greens, blues, reds, or browns. Their scales will be a contrast on either scale, from a bright silver, to a dark blue, or even black; they will never match the exact shade of the skin. Hair colors will follow a similar pattern as the scales, contrasting the skin.



Their height tends to be of a taller stature, from 5’10”-6’8”. Their weight tends to vary, as they have naturally lithe and lanky forms, but take to muscle tone quite easily due to their lifestyle and racial traits. Their muscular forms are never raw strength, though. Think Bruce Lee rather than Hulk Hogan: they are toned and strong, yet focus on quick reflexes and tendons, rather than brute force and muscles.



A Siikmaryi will bear draconic traits, but only specific traits. Scales are prevalent on their bodies, offering mild protection from cuts and damage, but it will never stop a blade or a trained assault. All of their race also bear long tails used for balance as well as combat, with some members having barbs on the end. Claws are always present, with some being thicker or stronger than others. Horns are also a constant with the race, but the shape of the horns can vary between styles, from short and nubbly, to long and pointy, to even curled and thick.



Cultures within the Siikmaryi often decorate their bodies with tattoos, signifying various accomplishments or titles within their society; a Siikmaryi without ink is a Siikmaryi that is a young child to the world.



Miscellaneous Information -



Their lifespan tends to go in terms of quite a few decades, but never more than two centuries. An average lifespan can reach into 120-160. Yet, an oddity with this race, would be the rate of maturity in comparison to their lifespan. Within ten years, maturity has been reached, in comparison to eighteen within humans. Yet, the prime of a Siikmaryi is considered to be through 50-70.



The Siikmaryi are versatile in reproduction. They are mammalian, despite their draconic appearance, and give birth to live children. Yet, they may mate outside of their race, producing a half-breed of offspring. These offspring will carry the maturity rate and lifespan of the Siikmaryi, yet only be capable of reproducing with their races (as in, the races of their parents).



The Siikmaryi speak their own tongue: “Siikmar.” It has a harsh yet smooth tone, like a screwdriver shot. This language is not difficult to learn, but it carries the same amount of effort as any other language would have. Some members of this species are capable of speaking the common tongue, as well.



Primary Culture -



The Siikmaryi are a varied people and as a result aren’t necessarily constrained to a particular culture or type of behavior. Individuals may always branch out, find new discoveries that cause them to act differently or are pressured by societal or personal influences that cause them to seek out a new path in their life. To put it simply: not everyone is the same. But, the main culture of the Siikmaryi does follow a set pattern of codes, guidelines, and beliefs; it is merely up to the individual how being raised under such (or perhaps under a different set!) influences their personalities and beliefs.



The Siikmaryi, to put it simply, are a theocratic people. These people believe in the God and Goddess that have influenced over them, as well as their children, the Celestials beneath them. In their love, the Moon and the Sun (Fengari and Ilios) birthed the Stars (Asteria), who all watch over the world beneath them. The Moon and Sun do not have such a constant eye on the people of its world, merely influencing its development as a whole. The Asteria are those that influence the growth of the people themselves, watching over and serving as not only messengers but servants of the Theiotita (Divinity).



The Theocracy is lead by a council, though the council is not equal. The Megali Pisiti (Grand Faith) leads the divine council underneath him or herself, titled the Symvoulio (Council), and numbering to an even eight. The Symvoulio are elected by the Megali Pisti, and the Megali Pisti is chosen through sacred rituals after the passing of the previous, performed by the council of the past Grand Priest. The Grand Priest may never come from the Council, to avoid the temptation of power from corrupting the word of the Divinity. This process takes the entirety of a week before the decision is finally made. It is common for the Grand Priest to be in positions of notice, power, and especially faith, but in rare cases, pious commoners have been chosen and to no burden to the people. The Grand Priest is rarely doubted unless severe misfortune is wrought upon the civilization. Only then will the Grand Priest be forced to step down, through peace or force, and his or her council shall amend the wrongful choice to appoint a new leader.



The Koinonia (Society) itself, what of the people below such grand temptations, such grand positions? They exist within a caste, serving their rightful place to please the Divinity. The castes are strict, as it is believed that birthright has placed the deserving within their own castes; the only way to move within castes is to move upwards through marriage, servitude, or great service. But first, the castes to be defined. They are the following:

The Megali Pisti - The Grand Priest/ess of the Siikmaryi. Serves as a beacon of faith and rule.

The Symvoulio - The Council. Serves as representatives of the Megali Pisti through both action and information, similar to the divine bond between the Asteria and the Divinity.

The Thriskos - The Devout. Serves as a lower caste of the Council, these are essentially the dedicated religious members of the society, giving sermons, teachings, and even holding judicial and economic positions of power. In fact, one must be of the Devout class to even qualify for a position of societal power: only city-specific or lesser positions may be held by the lower caste.

The Lampro - The Brilliant. Serves as a high caste of Society, they are the intellectuals of the society that have not been born into the Devout caste. They are considered to be blessed and given access to teachings that are beyond that which most members of society would receive. They hold lower positions of power and often handle foreign relations as well in terms of trade.

The Evlogimenos - The Blessed. Serves as an upper class of Society, these are individuals that have earned merit (great service) and proven their use to society in a way that has not only made them stand out, but has given belief that they are given the blessing of the Asteria to advance within society. This class is a middle-grounds for both the Brilliant and the Artisans, and the only caste that is given a choice to their duties, able to choose between both, and are effectively considered to be a part of said caste with all of the rights of the Lampro. A Lampro who has proven Axia (merit) will advance to the Thriskos caste, as they are considered both wise and blessed.

The Technites - The Artisans. Serves as a middle class of Society, these are the people that are the craftsmen of society. If the Lampro are considered the designers, the Technites would be considered the engineers that put it all together, and with a genius that isn’t to be taken lightly. They are definitely trained and even given access to some of the teachings of the Lampro to better their understanding.

The Ergates - The Laborers. They serve as the lower class of Society, laboring for materials or farming the lands, as well as processing said materials. Crops, wood, herbs, fishing, mining, this class of Society gathers the resources to build it.

The Sklavoi - The Slaves. The slaves to Society are the lowest class.. While also being the most versatile. They are always servants, yet their servitude may vary wildly depending on their abilities, the interest of those that would take them, and the choices they make regarding their availability. To simplify the point, the Sklavoi will always be slaves, but to which caste of society can vary depending on their choices, and it could be argued that slavery to the priests is better than slavery to the laborers.

The Sklavoi Cont. - Sklavoi are obtained in a variety of ways. Particular crimes will merit being thrown into the Sklavoi caste temporarily or even permanently. Outsiders will often be placed into the Sklavoi caste if they have caused aggression or provoked the Siikmaryi to capture them.



Moving within these castes is a simple and straight-forward affair only in the sense that you meet the condition, and you move on. You marry into the caste, simple. You swear servitude to an accepting member of a higher caste, you are considered Sklavoi for the entirety of your swear, but with the “benefits” of the caste you have sworn into. You prove your Axia (merit), you are considered blessed by performing a greatly beneficial task, action, or discovery that somehow benefits Society on the grand scale, and move immediately to the Evlogimenos caste, or the Thriskos caste in the case of an Axia Lampro.



Lastly, to define their sacred laws. Individual law codes may and will vary per city, but the sacred laws are never to be doubted, overwritten, or ignored. To do so is heresy, punishable by exile to the Sklavoi caste. The laws of the land are a sacred set of commandments from the Asteria, as follows:

The will of the Megali Pisti is sacred; only in times of turmoil and destruction will their word be doubted. In all other times, they have been given favor by both the Asteria and Theiotita. To doubt their will is heresy.

The Megali Pisti must come from the people, not the Symvoulio serving them, to prevent the taint of greed from clouding the will of the Theiotita. This is not to place doubt upon the Symvoulio, but to account for the sins and greed that comes with the plague of dark temptations.

The Siikmaryi should never claim life for pleasure or greed. To do so is a Kaki Amartia (Dire Sin), and worthy of the loss of life of the sinner.

The Siikmaryi should never steal out of greed. To do so is a Apali Amartia (Gentle Sin). To commit this sin will result in the loss of the hand used to steal, cleansing the sinner of their corruption. To steal out of desperation is a Synchoro Amartia (Forgiven Sin), resulting in a month of Sklavoi to the victim.

The Siikmaryi are to honor those that have blessed them with life, for it is the will of the Aesteria that they have been given such honors. It is sinful to disrespect those that have given life to oneself, but it merely a Synchoro Amartia, to be determined between family.

The Siikmaryi are to practice Synchoresi - tolerance, temperance, and kindness - for they are above the savages of the land who would practice hatred and vengeance. Naivety will not replace wisdom, but forgiveness shall replace vengeance in the desires of the Aesteria.

The Sklavoi are to be treated with respect reflective of the commandments. If they have been forgiven by the Thriskos, then they must be forgiven by the Siikmaryi below them, to act out against them is a sin.

A fresh kill or harvest is to be sampled raw by the harvester to ensure its purity for society. For a hunter, a bite of the quarry will suffice. For a farmer, a single crop (such as a carrot, potato) or grain will suffice - in the case of grain or similar unprocessed crops, full consumption is not required, chewing will adhere to faith.

In the bonding of love, no Siikmaryi shall stand above another in the marriage. Each lover within a marriage shall be treated with equal love, to covet or express jealousy is to birth the seeds of sin. To tempt envy deliberately is also sinful; the immature or unprepared heart should not take to engagements that they cannot endure. To split matrimony is not sinful, to be done under the eyes of the Thriskos, and ended with Synchoresi in heart. A heart embittered by betrayal will turn to sin, a heart calmed by forgiveness shall move forward with healed scars.

Do not act outside of one’s caste, for it will disturb the foundations of Koinonia. To act outside on impulse is a Synchoro Amartia, but to impersonate or cause planned action is considered Apali Amartia, to be punished by a month of Sklavoi to the victim caste, the specific assignment to be determined by the Thriskos. To repeat offense or cause dire damage to Koinonia is Kaki Amartia, to be punished by permanent Sklavoi or exile.



Finally, some basic, miscellaneous societal rules. These don’t fit into their own category but merely define certain aspects of Koinonia.

Polygamy is a very common practice. Many wives, many husbands, even Sklavoi can form large families.

The society itself is egalitarian: men and women are seen as equals in the eyes of the deity and even physically. Socially, this is rarely treated any differently, and anyone who would claim superiority through their sex.

Clothing will tend to fit to their jungle region: a lot of it is tightly fitting to avoid catching on natural flora or hindering their movement. Most clothing protects from the sun and rain, temperature is not as much of a concern so leathers, silks, and cloths will be more common than furs or wool.