the-world-of-ignavus

[the-world-of-ignavus]

Finally managed to come up with a word I like more/as much as 'camp' so that'll be some editing I have to do.

now if anyone can recommend something better than 'mender' I'm all ears. I keep hitting the road-block that is me separating the spiritual aspect from the clinical one.

An 'omenseer' is the one who picks up on signs littered throughout the world but anyone can be an omenseer, it's an appended title (hence some of the healers having the title 'Chosen') but the average doctor isn't an omenseer

[the-world-of-ignavus]

The Greenwood Empire - Roles and Positions

Part 1 - Generals | Part 2 - Specials

Now in addition to the divergent roles that came from the general roles of the Empire, each of the individual factions have developed some roles that exist exclusively within their own ranks to bend to their own structures, territory requirements and social customs. You may have noticed some interesting places of overlap or void within the roles of the factions - this is from their histories.

Fenn Caesars - Due to a series of tragedies and unfortunate events regarding leadership, Fennyield healers found themselves repeatedly responsible for leading the faction and through equally tragic and suspected malicious circumstances, found themselves appointing their cubs to succeed them. Eventually, one mender called Littleflowers didn’t even bother to appoint a new leader and instead, went into The Spear in an attempt to seek their additional lives and when they received them, appointed their son to take succeed them. Since then, healing in the Fenns is exclusively the domain of the caesar.

Fenn Attendants - To be responsible for both the healing of injured or sick factionmates and also the overall leadership of a faction is a heavy job, attempting to do both of those jobs on top of raising cubs is… a lot. And so attendants are those responsible for the assistance in raising, training and caring for a caesar’s cubs. This is especially after an heir is chosen out of them and the caesar will focus most of their attention on them. Attendant is a strange role, both incredibly high in rank given how close they are to the caesar’s family and hardly more than a glorified servant.

Fenn Executioners - Swift and decisive action is one of the things that the Fenns can agree with the Gales on and when it comes to punishment, they’re particularly harsh. The Fennyield work to ensure their troubles are even perceived by the other factions, extending into those who commit the most serious of crimes. To show the aazoli their commitment to correcting that mistake alongside as a silent show of respect to the other factions, the worst criminals are put to death before the entire faction by an Executioner who is not allowed to perform any other form of killing and are made to wear a ‘glove’ over their forepaws outside of executions. These moggi also take on the duties associated with a diplomat in another faction.

The Gales admittedly look very strange next to any of the other factions, missing several ranks alongside a few strange divisions. Their territory is unusual compared to the other faction’s, the only one with only sporadic tree-cover and wide, open fields surrounded by other non-Empire lands with an actual trade-route running through their land and they were forced to chance to meet this challenge.

Gale Caesars - Caesars in the Gales are broken into two - the Sun and Moon - reflecting the divide between their valorants themselves. The Heathstalkers and Deepstalkers once went to war with each other, only a few spans after their faction was founded regarding a sense of inequality breeding when a moggi from either side would become a caesar. Eventually, peace was established through a truce and one moggi on either side stepped up and went to The Spear - much to their surprised delight, they were both granted lives. Now the Sun Caesar oversees the Heathstalkers and all associated tasks while the Moon Caesar oversees the Deepstalkers and all their associated tasks.

Gale Escorts - With a wide expanse of treeless territory that must be regularly crossed by Empire-moggi and outsiders alike, the Gales needed a way to secure their own territory from intrusion. This resulted in escorts who have a series of posts throughout their land, constantly patrolling the borders for anyone trespassing and walking them to wherever they need to be. Escorts also serve as scouts and messengers with many of them choosing to become diplomats later. 

Neither the Shorerisen nor the Stormborn have changed or added many ranks in comparison to either the Fenns or the Gales, each only adopting two new somewhat minor ranks of their own.

Shores Starkeepers - The Starkeepers were formed after an unfortunate event with between a starspeaker cadet and the starseer of the Gales named Currantclaws. The starkeeper reacted violently, killing the young cadet who’d received no training. In the wake of this horror, all Starspeakers are now assigned a Starkeeper, a moggi who is meant to guard and protect the speaker with their lives and even after a speaker retires, the keeper stays by their side. It’s a very distinguished and honorable role that marks a moggi as more or less outside of their faction’s ranks.

Storm Legates - Line of succession is a deeply important to the factions and especially the Stormborn. A sporadic series of events throughout their history brought to their attention the need to make their faction capable of functioning even if both their lieutenant and caesar are incapacitated. ‘Legates’ are essentially the lieutenants of the other roles in the stormborn - when a General retires, their legate will step in to take over. It’s so ingrained in their culture, that becoming a legate is one of the unofficial qualifications to become the faction’s lieutenant, showing tangible proof that one can organize and manage their faction-mates, plan for the future and step in when things are shaky. This redundancy ensures that it’s actually very hard to disrupt the operations of the Storm as there is always someone else to step in. 

[the-world-of-ignavus]

The Greenwood Empire - Roles and Positions

Part 1 - General | Part 3 - Other Roles

GUARD POSITIONS

The role of the guard varies from faction to faction, it’s importance leaning heavily on what dangers a faction faces. An exception to this is the Galespun - the responsibility and duties of the guard-role have been mostly placed on the shoulder of the escort rank, with the more sporadic, small duties being picked up by their faction-mates. Another exception are the Shorerisen moggi, whose guard role became merged with their rank, divers who are the ones who most commonly stumble across large predators and are thus, taught more advanced combat moves.

Slayers - Because the Stormborn ‘s territory borders the Vastweld, they are the ones forced to face the worst of the predators the Greenwood usually sees. With a fairly humid general climate the thickest brush and tree-cover, black bears, major boars and enormous stranglers are known to lurk among the borders or even cross over with the intent of targeting young cadets during the winter when prey is harder to come by. This is on top of the story of the Unresting Souls that are said to lurk within this forest. Slayers are taught about the various forms of predators and easily provoked prey, learning to chase off the more easily intimidated creatures and are looked upon by all factions with a degree of marvel for their more impressive acts.

HUNTER POSITIONS

The hunting role is easily the most variable rank within the Empire given that each faction’s territory differs enough to require different hunting styles. As members of each faction adapted to their new territory, they rapidly became specialists that struggle to hunt properly outside of their own land.

Heath and Deepstalkers - Within the Gales, the role of a hunter is divided into two roles: those who hunt above-ground and those who hunt underground, often working in pairs. Deepstalkers enter the burrows created by tunneling creatures to drive them from their dens above ground where their Heathstalker partners can take over and chase it down - it’s not uncommon for Heaths and Deeps to form bonds with those who they work with the most often. On their own, Heathstalkers are the ones who target flying birds and lizards while Deepstalkers will dig out buried nests of lizard eggs or ground squirrels.

Divers - Originally just a hunter’s rank, divers specialize in providing their faction with all of the aquatic prey that the Shorerisen are known to favor. They’re capable of holding their breaths longer than other members and long lines of them typically have the sleekest, longest sail-fins,  for diving to the bottom of the river retrieving shells, crayfish and various water-minnows. They also target the eggs of water-birds and some, small aquatic mammals.

Murkers - With so much brackish, slightly acidic water the Fenns have developed a role specifically made to catch prey in the depths. Murkers have learned to unearth shrimp and mud lobsters that bury themselves in the mucky silt alongside shelled creatures that attempt to stick themselves to the roots, careful to avoid the occasional barracuda, whiptail-rays and surprisingly aggressive catfish while in pursuit of the few, stubborn fish that swim through the branches.

[the-world-of-ignavus]

The Greenwood Empire - Roles and Positions

Part 2 - Specials | Part 3 - Other Roles

There are many roles and positions that allow the Greenwood Empire to operate properly and everyone - from the smallest cub to the most ferocious valorant - has a contribution. This is a concept so ingrained into the very foundation of the Empire that things that would usually be considered merely personal traits (age for example) are also placed within the rankings of the various positions in the faction. While there are many divergences, many roles that branched off to better suit the factions for their own culture and territory, there are a collection of positions that are held within all of the factions though the specifications and names it’s called often vary.

The first few roles are often considered the four most important:

Caesar - The overall leaders and guides for each of the factions, widely considered the ‘faces’ of the Empire given their word and instilled behavior is what the outside sees. Every ‘proper’ caesar has the blessings of the aazoli and the approval of at least one of their previous faction-mates. All factions have at least a caesar, though their responsibilities (and the number) vary. [No Variants]

Lieutenant - The second in command to a caesar, a helper to better manage the wide territories and effectively act as a caesar’s cadet. Lieutenants are meant to succeed their caesar in case the worst happens and steps in when their leader is otherside indisposed. All factions have a lieutenant style-role. [Variants - Heir, Moon and Sun Lieutenant] 

Diplomat - Where we begin dividing power, the diplomat does not have an formalized authority the way the caesar and lieutenant do but the faction will often defer to them anyway. Meant to organize meetings between factions and the outside world to handle deals and treaties, every faction is required to have at least one diplomat equivalent role although there are typically at least two - the diplomat and their cadet. [Variants - Starspeaker, Executioner]

Starmender - Those who follow the calling of healing to and ensure that a faction can recover from injuries and illnesses incurred over time, those who are Chosen are also usually sensitive to the omens and whispers of the aazoli. A faction is generally considered incomplete without at least one healing role at all times. [Variants - Caesar, Starspeaker, Starseer]

From there, there are the more general positions - these are roles that are more personal in nature and almost every moggie in a faction will have held these roles at least once.

Instructor - A sometimes overlooked aspect of the Empire, Instructors are meant to train and in a sense, pseudo-raise cadets into proper valorants. Not everyone has (what a faction considers) to be the necessary disposition to properly train a cadet and instill within them the values of the faction. It’s a somewhat prestigious rank given that most versions of the valorant’s charter requires an individual to have trained a cadet to be named lieutenant. [No Variants] General - While the caesar handles overall duties and a lieutenant manages the smaller duties, Generals keep track of their specific ranks like an overseer. Generals are expected to monitor the training of cadets, hold meetings between members of their own ranks to ensure quality and report any issues, concerns or problems to their lieutenant and caesar. Generals are also usually summoned for their rank-expertise in times of war or when a diplomat needs an inside mind. Cadet - A rank that contains both the youth and those who are merely learning a new skill, a cadet is a moggi meant to be focused on acquiring the skills and ideals fundamental to a faction. ‘Cadets’ are generally moggi between the ages of 6 to 12 moons, though some can be assigned early and those who are re-pathed are often training late. Nester - A moggi who is nursing or caring for their own cubs and have been effectively removed from active duty. A Nester’s primary duty is to bond with their own cubs and oversee their growth with the help of a nesthand that would allow them to recover from the strain of giving birth. Nesters typically return to active duty roles when their cubs are anywhere from three to six moon old.

Cub - The youngest members of the faction, anyone beneath the age of six moons by default although some are held back in this rank. A cub’s only job is to enjoy their lives, embrace the values of their faction and thinking about what role they would begin to train in upon being assigned an instructor. 

Then there are the roles taken after the completion of training - the lifeblood of the factions and what keeps them running. These positions are what most will think of when they hear ‘valorant,’ and make up the bulk of a moggi’s life:

Guard - The protectors and fighters of a faction that are typically responsible for border defense and are the moggi sent on war patrols. Guards are also the primary defense against the various large predators that inhabit or cross into Empire territory. One of the most popular ranks among cubs due to the glorified nature of legendary fights and the higher chance of entering the Garden of Heroes due to incredible exploits.

Hunter - Those who provide food to the faction, hunters can catch far beyond the basics of small rodents and the occasional bird; trained in the art of hunt they learn to track migratory patterns of prey, the nesting habits of local birds and any plagues or sicknesses afflicting them. The most skilled of hunters are granted the honor of becoming one of the hunters to bring down major prey to be dispersed and shared during the Kirkyard Meetings.

Denwright - Crafter and decorators, the denwrights are responsible or the various technologies in the Empire - from simple baskets and bowls, to fences, to den construction and so on. They’re a rank often forgotten about when cubs are considering their pathways given the lack of glory but denwrights are considered the most creative minds a faction can have. 

Nesthand - Those who find their calling in caring for cubs and their parents, Nesthand is considered the most understated rank despite its importance, made to memorize the prefixes and suffixes standard to each faction alongside their meanings and association to provide to prospective parents. They care for orphaned cubs, are wet-nurses for moggi who are struggling to produce milk, give parents breaks and also act as assistants to the starmenders during labor. 

These positions of the empire are where most of the divergence in the roles of the factions begin, where the most branching off and specialization occurs. After that however is another position:

Veteran - The rank for any valorant that has finished their service to their nation and will now live out the rest of their days in a form of peace. Given it's something of a catchall term for those relieved of active duty, most veterans - especially recently retied ones - will have a secondary duty as they slowly transition to a life of relaxing, many of them preferring to continue being active in some way.

[the-world-of-ignavus]

Greenwood Empire - The Eternal Falls

“With all the evils you’ve committed Redfray, bind-breaker and mad-tom, may you be caught in the tide of life and dragged clear over the Falls.”

The afterlife for the Greenwood Empire is depicted as one, enormous mountain-side that contains the River of Life. It cascades down the various levels, creating various pools to be enjoyed or abhorred by the spirits that live around them. Each of the levels (excluding the Abyss) have tunnels that lead deeper into the Eternal Falls, opening up into the various territories that spirits live out their lives in. 

There are five levels in the Eternal Falls and the better a life you lived, the higher up you come into the falls.

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The Garden of Heroes

The highest and most sought after level in the Eternal Falls is the Garden of Heroes, said to contain only the greatest and bravest that the Empire have ever produced. It’s a peaceful place the closest to the origin of the River of Life, filled with various warm pools of water that are always teeming with small fish. The ground is covered in lush, soft grass with small, brilliant flowers and delicious berries in easily accessible places.

Moggi of the Garden are free to travel in and out as they see freely, capable of traveling directly to the Garden through tunnels that seem to shift and move to accommodate their destination. Garden moggi also have the distinct difference of having God-Forms, retaining the appearance of power and regality possessed during the final burning of their lives though they can turn the form on and off at will. 

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The Elysian Meadow

The level below the Garden of Heroes and where most decent souls end up in the afterlife, the Elysian Meadow is littered with rivers and streams of various sizes as the River of Light branches and splits New souls enter the Elysian Meadows at the bottom of the rivers from the living and swim their way to the top, climbing out of the various streams where those who are close to or fond of them are usually drawn for their birth. While there are no official borders in the Meadows, cats often divide themselves among the territories that they prefer the most.

The Elysian Meadows is full of gentle blue grass that grows up to a cat’s hocks with the spaces between the rivers being somewhat moist. The wettest of locations is the Rebirthing Streams, a place where most of the rivers and streams run alongside each other creating a marshy, waterlogged area not unlike Fenn territory is in the living world. There are scattered collections of woodlands, often only big enough to happily satisfy one or two families though cats have remarked that each patch grows a little in size with every new face that chooses to stay. 

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The Glade of the Undecided

On the level beneath the Elysian Meadows is the Glade of the Undecided. The glade has tunnels from all parts of the Eternal Falls allowing cats from all parts of the Eternal Falls to enter and moreover, there are tunnels within the glade that lead outside of the falls making it a perfect gathering place for those who wish to meet each other from other walks of afterlife. The Glade of the Undecided also contains The Pool of Memories, a massive lake that when doven into, can allow a cat to relive the lives of the various cats who have perished.

The Glade of the Undecided is for cats with a complex history or warring heart - it’s not uncommon for those who have been manipulated into committing horrible crimes to end up in The Glade until they can decide whether to walk their own paths or to continue following their manipulator farther into darkness. Spirits tend to to be washed down the River of Life and left on the shores of the glade where they will be confronted with a Reckoner - a cat whom had a profound connection to or influence on the spirit in question. Often these will be cats whom the spirit has committed some sort of crime of transgression against. Reckoners will lead their spirit into the Pool of Memories, showing them how that spirit affected them in their life and forcing them to reflect on how they behaved - some cats, depending on the conflict and affect have multiple Reckoners.  Some cats come away from their meeting with the Reckoners a changed, remorseful cat and are allowed passage into the Elysian Meadows while others who remain stubborn and steadfast and washed away, falling into the Canyon.

That said, the Glade is also where cats who’ve finally seen the error of their ways and find themselves remorse can emerge from the Canyons, now content to roam through the tall grass and sparse trees mostly on their own. 

The Glade is also where a caesar will start the hunt for their additional lives, using the many tunnels to access the various spirits that could be hiding for them. 

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The Canyon

One of the lowest tiers in the Eternal Falls and where the River of Life starts drying up, the Canyons are where the cruel scum of the earth members of the Empire are washed ashore. Here the plants are in a perpetually dead state, with red grass and blackened bushes like a fire swept through ages ago. There are still flowers here, various little blossoms speckled throughout the dried, sandy land and diseased looking prey lurks through the brush. The Canyons are also the only place where there are ‘predators’ - that is, shadowy beasts that often take the forms of wolves, boar, elk or even snakes to chase the most unfortunate souls until they’ve collapsed from exhaustion. Spirits that die within the canyons to one of the shadow-beasts do not die and reform elsewhere to continue the eternal nightmare.

As the canyons are meant to be a place of remorse as much as they are a punishment for one’s actions, those who encounter others aren’t forbidden from staying close. In fact, it’s communicating with other individuals who have been banished to the Canyons that often births the meeting-your-maker moment of realization in these cats and implores them to seek some form of redemption or at least allow guilt and shame to take hold of them. These cats can often be found within the tunnels of the Canyon, trapped and unable to cross the invisible border that would free them. Those who have truly felt remorse and have a desire to change in their hearts will be released to The Glade so that they may begin the next steps to redemption.

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The Abyss of the Lost

The darkest and most miserable place in the Eternal Falls… a place often not even talked about with cubs and that many even forget exists, The Abyss of the Lost is for spirits who have past the point of ever being redeemed. Time in the Canyons can change a cat if they remain trapped in their own hatred, prejudice and malice for other lifeforms. Their bodies tend to grow larger in size though they begin steadily losing their mortal shape to the point where no form of miasma or energy can disguise their horrid inner selves.

The Abyss is the lowest part of the Eternal Falls you can reach, requiring that a cat actually finds themselves dragged from even the Canyons by the shadow-beasts and tossed over. It is a completely desolate land of hardened ground and red sand with nothing but sheer cliffs in every direction - the bottom of the Falls. Spirits of the Abyss are known as The Banished or The Lost and they often spend their entire afterlives climbing back up the sides of the Falls in an attempt to reach the Canyons once more or violently fighting one another.

Every once in a while, one of the Banished received assistance from a canyon dweller in returning to their own stomping ground - it rarely ends well for the spirits trapped there.

[the-world-of-ignavus]

Healing and Medicines: Intravenous Therapy (IVs)

Due to how I handled the Cinderpaws/Ember situation, I realized I needed a way to treat a cat who is unconscious for long periods of time and is unable to receive food or water or nutrients. That led me down the path of doing a little bit of poking my head into the invention of the IV.

I'm not going to even pretend to fully understand the entire process, but I think I have a general schematic for it.

For the needle, I am using a reed or a bamboo rod that is dipped in gold to prevent splintering or the worse of the absorption on the tip. It should be noted that in Ignavus, the Tayilivina have hollow quills that could be used similarly and probably have been albeit, the barbless varieties are preferred because the barbed ones would tear up the skin badly even if it would hold it in place.

The bag would be a simple waterskin pouch or a cleaned animal bladder, given I confirmed the existence of leather tanning and stuff already, though if anyone else has a better idea, I'm open to suggestions. The first one created in real life was made with a pig-bladder and a quill.

The flexible tubing will be made of natural rubber which can be tapped from trees, poured into a mold with a solid golden rod in the center that is later removed to create the opening.

[the-world-of-ignavus]

Empire Names: THE DISGRACED - MARKED AND CURSED

In addition to the names granted to valorants in the name of the gods to display honor and greatness, there are also a set of names that can be used to exhibit punishment and make it clear to others that a moggi has committed some form of crime. The Marked are often those who’ve broken an important rule of the guidelines and have thus because Bindbreakers.

BILE - Vile

A name affixed to those who turn their backs on the story of Piyothima the Lost Cub and commit a betrayal or cruelty against one’s own littermates though it has also been been for someone who has committed a crime against Mayazzo’s teachings to a lesser degree than an outright bindbreaker. Although, this title is often used as a softener, within the borders of Tayilivina given their prioritization of Mayaazo, this is considered a very serious mark.

BITTER - Sour

A name affixed to those who have turned their backs on Mayaazo’s teachings and are neglectful, aggressive or abusive towards their kin. As she holds a domain in revenge and is known to be fiercely protective, the entire Empire is always on edge when it comes to crossing Mayaazo’s line.

BLEAK - Laze

A name primarily given posthumously to ineffectual and uninvolved caesars, a remark on their lack of effort in assisting their faction in reaching greatness. It is very rare that this affix is given to a non-caesar but such reasoning could be from valorants who lead half-hearted battles, lecturers that don’t teach truly or even diplomats who do not put their all into a deal as Aloŕazo demands. 

FESTER - Scorn(ed)

A name mantled upon those who turn their backs upon the word and wisdom of Milolazo - cowards and traitors are the primary reciprocants of this heavy burden of a name but it can also be placed if someone is agreed to be the complete antithesis of a valorant of the Empire. This is one the most serious marked names a moggi can receive and often, those who receive this name have their claws or their canine teeth removed.

PEAK - No Alternatives

A name assigned to those who fall into the pawsteps of the Banished One, the old leader of the fallen faction, acting with cruelty and selfishness at every potential turn. These are often granted to caesars who abuse their powers or neglect their responsibility to ensuring the survival of their factions.

REND - Splinter

A name assigned to those who have offended Nichazo, committing acts such as breaking oaths and grave-robbing. Nichazo also holds a particular distaste for false prophets using their name to enact policies or rules in direct contradiction of their teachings.

ROT - Wilt

A name forced upon those who turn their backs upon Tayaazo and her lessons who most frequently end up being fallen healers - those who choose to use the power of healing to further harm, manipulate or extort those in need of their services.

SMOTHER - Cruel

One of the most commonly affixed marks after 'Waste,' used to identify a moggi who themselves have not done any true wrongdoing or crime but have stood by or accepted evils happening around them often to attain some form of benefit for themselves or because it would be inconvenient to them to speak up about them.

STAGNANT - Still

One of the most commonly affixed marks after 'Waste,' used to identify a moggi who themselves have not done any true wrongdoing or crime but have stood by or accepted evils happening around them often to attain some form of benefit for themselves or because it would be inconvenient to them to speak up about them.

WASTE - No Alternatives

The most commonly given affix for a moggi to shoulder, ranging from a temporary mantle of shame to an extremely serious indicator of wrong-doing, this is given to those who turn their backs on Kaŕozo's lessons and overhunt, needlessly take another creature's life or eat more than their share during a famine. Natisilapo takes this to a new level with a solidified system of how the 'waste' affix is applied, to who and for how long.

[the-world-of-ignavus]

The Olden Tongue: Kinsmur

From the exploration squad that left the mountains that would one day become the Greenwood Empire came the language of Kinstalk - a language still spoken by the Saultkin and their not-so-far neighbors and the Seiskin in the modern day. But this language came into contact with the various lone-travelers located at the base of the mountain - mongrel and moggi alike. This contact resulted in a few more changes that truly began the first changes towards what would one day be known as the language of the Greenwood Empire and almost surprisingly to some, the language of the nomads.

Sound Changes

Word final consonants (barring fricatives) are lost

Intervocalic /θ/ become /h/

Word final /e/ opens to /a/

Intervocalic voiced velar plosive /g/ is de-voiced to /k/

Word final vowel clusters simplify to the second vowel

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Phonotactics List

Onset - n s h f y rr r m k sh ny w th v t p

H Clusters: hr hw 

Nucleus: rr r w f v s n ny h sh ch p m t

Final Vowels - a i o u

Vowel Clusters: aa ii

Coda - f v s sh

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Word Order

Primary - SVO | Subject Verb Object

Ma haka in rriti “I hunted the bird”

Secondary - SOV | Subject Object Verb

Noun - Adjectives | Narru nara (river white (white river))

Noun - Number | Lo yu (rocks two (two rocks))

Noun - Genitives | Maa fes fiwa (whisker of mother (mother’s whiskers))

Noun - Relative Clauses |

Adjective - Adverb | Serrifi (strongly)

Yes/No Particles  | Post-Sentence

Question Words - Post-Sentence

Proper Noun - Common Noun |

Modifier Order 

Modifier Example

Compounds | Noun-Adjective (forest = tree.place)

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Noun Cases

The budding display of noun cases that had begun in Kinstalk became official here:

Accusative (-ko): In paa’ra haa in maŕoko (the dog carries the cat) Locative (-fa): In paa’rafa na in maŕo (the runs towards/at the cat) Instrumental (-osa): In paa’raosa erra thi sho (the dog smells with/using their nose)

Alongside picking up a handful of cases from the nearby forming and deconstructing Republics:

Genitive (-no): In paa’rano hwi (the dog’s elk/elk of the dog) Ablative (-va): In paa’rava na in maŕova (the dog runs away from the cat)

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Tense and Aspect

Though Kinstalk had managed to evolve both a distant past and a distant future, but sound changes cause a little bit of conflict. When word final consonants dropped, the near-perfective and imperfective became the same, as did the near future.

This example uses the word, yesa (to sleep) to demonstrate this new-found information

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Developing Honorifics

Contact with the Republics and the local Cabal - alongside nomadic packs - has encouraged a sense of respect and authority to sink into the pronouns used by the speakers of Kinsmur. For now, they’re mostly imitating the system that had already formed by the Republics, creating three levels of respect - lower, equal and higher.

Unlike the Republics and Cabal who have developed a firm honorific system, Kinsmur is currently using the augmentative (his-) to denote greatness or importance when they wish to speak as if they’re above someone. 

Hisma - I/me, of great respect vs. Ma - I/me

And a diminutive is used to make the words smaller and less severe:

Wima - I/me, of no threat vs. Ma, I/me

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[the-world-of-ignavus]

The Greenwood Empire: The Five Sacrifices

The Greenwood Empire are a ferocious and powerful group that celebrates and glorifies the struggles that come with living attuned to their ways, to the point that orbiting around the solid laws of their charter and faction specific cultural expectations are the Five Sacrifices.  A valorant’s life is all about sacrifice and so, there are five expected sacrifices said to be looked upon favorably by the aazoli.

1. The Sacrifice of Preference

The smallest tier of sacrifice and considered one of the first that anyone in the Empire learns as a cub. The Sacrifice of Preference is often encouraged in the form of sharing prey, nests or even den-space with the understanding that joy and happiness being expressed by another is enough to satisfy any desire that could be used to express selfish behavior. 

2. The Sacrifice of Need 

The first of the harsher sacrifices of the Empire valorants, the second sacrifice is to give up some form of bodily need for another to preserve their life or simply because it’s obvious they need it more. This is often expressed through caesars who allow themselves to go hungry while their faction eats during a famine, water granted to other factions during a drought or sharing herbs during some form of outbreak. 

3. The Sacrifice of Honor

The third sacrifice of a valorant is to lay down your morals or values, to cross some form of personal line or belief in the name of a brighter future for another or to prevent one that you care for from having do as such. The Mimaŕanil role of the Executioner exists specifically for this reason, with the executioner dirtying their own claws and muzzles with the blood of someone unable to resist in exchange for their caesar’s claws and paws staying clean though this is not exclusive to them.

4. The Sacrifice of Freedom

The fourth sacrifice is to relinquish your choices or desires for the greater good - not just a sacrifice in honor of one cat or even a few, but rather a sacrifice for the good of an entire faction or even the empire as a whole. This can take many forms such as surrendering to a foreboding enemy for the continued survival of your patrol, giving up opportunities for a mate and cubs, or in the case of a Calling, the sacrifice of what you’d prefer to do with your life in exchange for the averting of a faction-wide crisis. 

5. The Sacrifice of Life

The one true sacrifice all valorants are expected to make from the moment they earn their full names and onward, even after retirement - the Fifth Sacrifice is that of one’s life. Life in the Empire is far from easy, willfully turning away from certain ‘easier’ solutions and living between the horrors that emerge from the Vastweild, pirates and raiders, alongside their horribly bloody history - the chances that someone will die in battle or from illness or famine is far higher than a peaceful death in sleep. And this is the sacrifice meant to be honored and celebrated.

[the-world-of-ignavus]

in the mood to con some langs

[the-world-of-ignavus]

If anyone is interested, I'll probably be doing word of the day again with the various languages of Ignavus though this time, I might try to include the various versions of the word and what it means in the other languages!

I discovered via Strelles that tumblr has a link-number limit so instead of a masterlist of words, I'll just link the previous and next words

[the-world-of-ignavus]

The Languages of Ignavus (WIP)

While there is a world-wide lingua franca in the world of Ignavus after the Great Connection, the various creatures of the world hung on to their various languages to differing degrees. Please keep in mind that I took no linguistic classes nor do I study languages in any deep capacity - I'm just someone willing to watch/listen to a large pool of YouTube videos for a few months so this isn't exactly perfect

| | | |

Mowglish - The original language

Empire Langs - Kinsmur | Weta

Regency Langs - Old Mogglish | Middle Mogglish | Modern Tema

Republic Langs -

Cabal Langs -

Nomad Langs -

| | | |

[the-world-of-ignavus]

Empire Names: The Blessed - Godkin

On rare occasion, the gods descend from their place beyond the Eternal Falls and disguise themselves as mortals to see the world anew. During these times, there’s the possibility that a demigod - a child sired between the disguised god and the mortal they adore - is born, bearing a mixture of mortal and clearly godly features. These names are derived both from the names granted to the combined traits of specific gods with mortals and the very names of the most prominently remembered demigods themselves. Though less eye-drawing than names granted specifically in the image of the gods, godkin names are said to still draw a lot of attention and put a substantial amount of pressure on a moggi’s shoulders. 

BENGAL - Ocelot

One of the more general ‘catchall’ terms for those suspected of godly descent, referring to the moggi seemingly draped in divine traits. From wide, round eyes, braided bands and strips of distinctive rosettes, it seems that every god had left it’s marking on these moggi. As such, this name carries the meaning of god-spawn or a more broad association of blessed. It’s alternative, ‘ocelot’ typically refers to smaller or weak looking cubs, with the hopes of granted them great power and strength.

BREEZE - Gale

A name for those who seem to have been made in the image of Natesilapo’s founder, Breezecarvings with long, leggy chocolate fur with black spots dappled across their bodies, a long spinal mane and a whipping tail. This name carries the meanings of free and abrasive. 

CARACAL - Serval

A name that supposes evokes those of Ether’s kin with their short and thick, solid coats, black ears with wide paws and large hindlegs. There is no specific coat color associated with this name, but those of a bronze or dusky color are more likely to receive the suffix - this name carries the meanings of accepting and sprightly. 

CHEETAH - No Alternative

A name that supposedly evokes those of Mayaazo’s blood, with their long slender legs, distinctively mantled spines and most pointedly, the black tear-like marks streaking from the corners of the eyes and wrapping around their muzzles. There is no specific color associated with Mayaazo, and the name is thus usually evoked by clarity of pattern. This name carries the meanings of nobility alongside agile and quick-witted.

ETHER - No Alternative

A name for those who appear to be of Ether’s descent, created in her image with a warm cinnamon coat, long and slender legs, with a distinctive white spot on their ears and a lighter underbelly. This name carries the meanings of virtuous and benevolent.

FENN - No Alternative

A name for those who seem to have been made in Mimaranil founder, Master Fenn’s image with a dark canvas seemingly striped with orange and gold streaks of sunlight, long and curled claws - especially ones that are too long to be properly sheathed - and carries the meanings of independent and patient. 

JAGUAR - No Alternative

A name said to evoke those of Waving Shores’ bloodline, with large stocky bodies, dark and distinctive rosettes with a lighter overside and particularly, powerful seeming jaws. This name becomes more likely if a cub has the same short and glossy, water-resistant coat. This name carries the meanings of strong and swift-footed.

LION - No Alternative

A name said to evoke those of Azaazo’s blood, referring to the large manes guarding their necks and bellies, often with golden pelts and brilliant orange eyes. As Azaazo the merciful is most well-known for her sacrifice of plucking her eye to burn as the sun, this name is also given to those with a distinctive eye-color, eye scarring or are blinded. This name carries the meanings of mercy and protective.

LYNX - No Alternative

A name said to evoke the blood of Olympia’s kin and especially the entourage of moggi who accompanied her when she spread medicine to the empire, usually indicated by a naturally short tails, long-tufted ears, spotted underbellies and large paws. This name carries the meanings of healer and compassionate.

OLYMPIA - No Alternative

A name for those who seem to have been created in the image of Tayaazo’s own precious herald, Olympia referring to a short, thick golden brown coat with large paws, a short tufted tail, long feathery cheeks and most specifically a distinctive pale-ish splotch on their foreheads. The combination of short fur except in key places is often what gets this name chosen. This name carries the meanings of champion or prophet and savior. 

SHORE - No Alternative

A name said to have been made in the image of Palanarra founder Waving Shores, with a large cool blue body with a pale underside, distinctive and dark rosettes dappling their pelts and especially if they also possess his long and large, full spine sail. This name carries the meanings of exalted and welcoming. 

STORM - No Alternative

A name given for those said to have been created in the image of Rumbling Storm, founder of Tayilivina in the form of a massive mane going all the way down their belly and up to their chins, small rounded ears, large paws and often with marbled swirls among their flanks. This name carries the meanings of virtuous and courageous. 

[the-world-of-ignavus]

Empire Names: Purely Divine - General

At the most prominent and recognizable of the affixes handed out the Greenwood Empire to valorants are names that directly invoke the common tongue variants of the major gods of the Empire’s mythos. These are among the most highly regarded names to receive and almost no one is born with them. In general, a moggi is renamed with a divine affix if they’re serving that god particularly truly, or as a means of granting them additional strength if they were a sickly cub. Because of this, divine names are near exclusively meant to be used as prefixes.

BRAVE - N/A

Directly invoking Milolazo’s common name, this name is most often granted to heroes of war. Considered the one who established the baseline rules for separating an Empire Valorant from a common street thug, the name is held in high regard. There are almost no valorants known for this name.

MOON - N/A

Directly invoking the common name of Nichazo, this name is primarily granted to heroic diplomats, those who’ve managed to avert wars. They’re often secret keepers that prioritize the peace and wellness of their factions. Natisilapo uses the name as a suffix specifically for their second caesar who traditionally oversees the deepstalkers. 

RIVER- N/A

Directly invoking the common name of Narrazo, this name is often granted to those whom are confirmed to be prophets and particularly skilled starspeakers within Palanarra. 

SLY- N/A

Directly invoking the common name of Kaŕozo, often granted to the most skilled hunters in the Empire. Traditionally, Sly- is granted to hunters who save their faction from some sort of famine or catch a particularly impressive prey such as taking down an eagle, a deer-stag or a hog-boar in honor of their skills. Some hunters are even given the privilege of outright changing their binding to Slybound in recognition of their efforts. 

SUN- N/A

Directly invoking the common name of Azaazo, who is the most forgiving of the pantheon regarding having her name used and as such its the most commonly seen name, often granted to skillful leaders and nesthands for their kindness and mercy to those too weak to look after themselves. 

SWEET- N/A

Directly invoking the common name of Mayaazo, the most vindictive and vengeful of the aazoli, a contradictory sort of name granted to the harshest of the gods. That said, its also a name of comfort and loyalty, the burning fire of a parents’ love - this name is often given to nesthands who show their dedication to their wards not just through raising them, but through fangs and claws too. 

TREE- N/A

Directly invoking the common name of Tayaazo, this name is often granted to particularly skilled healers - especially those who come from the outside much like the ancient herald, Olympia herself.

WISH- N/A

Directly invoking the common name of Aloŕazo, the most whimsical and flippant of the the aazoli, making it incredibly uncommon to be handed out. It is primarily granted to those who survive extraordinary circumstances such as wildfires, coming back from the dead or have accomplished great feats of talent. 

[the-world-of-ignavus]

Empire Names: The Ancient - Outside Gods

Within Empire mythos, there are a few names, a few beings that are every bit as long lived as the gods themselves with powers to match albeit, they are not specifically members of The Aazoli and often act as antagonistic or peace-claiming force in the tales they’re part of. The Outsiders are rarely looked at with aggression or anger, and are often viewed as forces of nature - aspects of the very world itself given life through its interaction with their gods. These Ancients are often treated as beings to be appeased or guardians of special divine locations on the earth itself.

ANACONDA - Boa, Leopard, -strangle

A name invoking one the Strangler who liberated the Mimaranil founder, Fenn from the cruel claws of the first tyrant emperor by granting her one of its skins so that she would be capable of turning into a serpent and melting into the shadows. A rarely granted name given its carried meanings of savior and adaptable. Its suffixed form -strangle is only granted to those seemingly chosen by the aazoli themselves and thus means successor or the chosen.

COUGAR - Puma

A name invoking the immortal Faerie Queen, trickster and guide of the wild world. A being said to be as ancient and knowing as the Aazoli themselves, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Azaazo with her flames diminished. This is an uncommon name as it’s very rare for the Empire to want to intentionally draw the eye of faerie queen and so, this is typically reserved for cubs born during Godless Days - specific times, areas and circumstances where the Aazoli have no power. This carries the meanings of ethereal beauty and trickster with the undercurrent connotation of being blind and deafened to guidance from the aazo often referring to moggi who must carve their own destinies.

CROCODILE - No Alternatives

A name invoking the Devourer who rests with a starspear through its chest, a being of great hunger said to never be satiated no matter how much it eats. This name is most often granted to the youngest cub in a litter during a famine, with the meaning gluttonous or survivor to encourage them to grow. 

WOLF - No Alternatives

A name invoking the Outsider, father of mongrels who was said to have united with the Aazoli to defend the mortal lives below from the legion of the Abyss. This name is primarily granted to dark gray or even black furred cubs, although Natisilapo and Tayilivina are known to grant it to new members. The name means outsider or charismatic and is meant to grant them the additional protection of The Outsider in the face of the harsher judgment of the Aazoli due to having diluted valorant’s blood.

WOLVERINE - No Alternatives

A name invoking the Peacemaker, the lone wanderer who is said to speak the million tongues of the world’s creatures and has been known to take mortals under her tutelage if she believes they deserve it. This name is often granted to cubs dedicated to expanding their own knowledge or eager to learn, and means studious and wise.

[the-world-of-ignavus]

Madness of the Storm: Ch3 - Unease

A raging storm is a balm in a drought, but one that rages continuously… that's when the destruction wrought is the worst.

Onset Census - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

“Well done Petal, keep your eyes on your opponent!”

“Reach, try rolling with the blows instead of tanking them!”

Both cadets gave cries of affirmation circling each other for a moment before launching themselves towards each other once more.

Pumastrike had slowly fallen into a routine over the passing days, bringing Reach around the territory borders and introducing her to all of the most important landmarks before bringing her to the Old Basin for battle conditioning and spars. Sometimes she traded conditioning for basic hunting lessons, ensuring that she could at least catch a mouse or a squirrel to sharpen her cadet’s skills in stealth which Reach seemed to enjoy. The longer she spent training Reach, the more comfortable she became with having someone that looked up to her, that cared about her opinions and relied on her to teach them correctly. She understood the will of the aazoli decreeing that any caesar who wished to rule, should first have the experience of training a cadet now. It was a world altering sensation, realizing that you had someone so young and small who depended on you - whom would echo your ideals and act on what they assume to be your will.

It was the first time she’d ever truly considered what being a caesar must be like.

It must be so stressful, she remembers thinking at the end of her first day.

She watches Reach perform a few perfect dodges, her little cadet was shaping up to be a quick study in the ‘not getting hurt’ department though she was more surprised by Petal. Embarrassed as she was to admit, she’d made a few assumptions about the young molly given her shy and quiet demeanor - she’d thought that Hawkfray would likely be spending the first half of her training convincing her to throw her blows like she meant it.

Proving her completely wrong however, the young molly was the aggressor in the situation. It was like a flip had switched in her head, turning her from demure and soft into something that would probably scare off even a starved rat. 

The spar ended not long after this realization, with Petal taking a bold leap towards her sister who dodged and retaliated with a swipe. Rather than perform a dodge of her own, Petal lunged forward slipping just out of the way of the outstretched paw, launching her paw directly into the molly’s chest. Reach squealed as her paws left the ground, her sister lightly gripping her sides then slamming her directly into the ground. 

“Aurgh-” Reach gasped, trembling on the ground in pain.

“End! Petal wins!” Hawkfray called out immediately, getting to his paws to stop the spar physically if he needed to.

Immediately, the mental switch flipped again and Petal - panting hard, her paws spread a bit wide to support her new weight - flattened her ears and peered over her shoulder, offering a meek expression.

“Did I do alright?” she asked her instructor hopefully.

“Alright? Petal that was wonderful,” the tom laughed, ducking his head to nudge her proudly. 

“I feel like a tree slammed into me,” Reach groaned in agreement, slowly pushing herself to her paws. Once she stood, she gave a fierce shake, dislodging the soft sand trapped within her pelt from the impacts against the ground and offered her sister a friendly nudge. “What even was that move? Pumastrike didn’t teach me that!”

“That move is the difference between an ordinary guard and a lieutenant,” Pumastrike said, only half-joking as she moved forward to lick down the messy spines of her cadet. “I tried that move once when I was a cadet - sprained my paw and landed myself in Blackbirdleaves’ care for half a moon.”

“Woah,” said Reach, shocked.

“But I saw you use it in our last border scuffle with the Regency,” Hawkfray said, offering her a grin of his own. He glanced at the two cadets watching them and added, “Pumastrike is the fiercest valorant this faction has seen in a while - with Slateflower due to retire any day, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was selected as the next legate.”

“I’m just working hard like any proper valorant would,” she said, though she felt herself preen a little with pride. It was nice to find her time and effort put into bettering herself recognized by her faction’s own lieutenant. It said good things about her career that Hawkfray was essentially already claiming to look to her as legate. Still, she had to be careful not to let the praise go to her head - if she let her skills falter after this, she could find herself being overlooked by a younger moggi who worked even harder. It wasn’t uncommon after all for a lieutenant's cadet to succeed them and Petal was already proving herself to be a skillful fighter.

When the two cadets had dislodged enough sand to be feel comfortable again, the two valorants led the way from the Old Basin and back into their forest. The training grounds weren’t all that far from the barracks themselves, something to assist in allowing the cubs to watch the training sessions in preparation for their own training days. 

“Alright,” Hawkfray voiced as they slipped into the main clearing, flicking his tail towards the den on the corner. “If you think you need to, head over to Blackbirdleaves to receive muscle salves but otherwise, head straight over to the veteran’s clearing so you can begin your history lessons.”

“Yes Hawkfray,” the two cadets chirped, and Pumastrike was proud to watch them both bravely bypass the mender’s den to go to the rocky cavern of the veteran’s den.

“I think I’ll get a nap,” Hawkfray said, his jaw parting in a wide yawn. “I agreed to replace Heavyscar on tonight’s moonpeak patrol along Palanarra.”

“Do you think they’ll make a move?” Pumastrike asked with concern.

“While they already have the Suncairn?” Hawkfray shook his head in the negative, arching his back a little bit to loosen his muscles. “No, The Styrman isn’t a fool - he’ll hoard those stones all snow-season. But Mousetongue says they’ve been dealing with a small party of bandits that were recently chased out.”

“On the Western side?” Pumastrike inquired, a little baffled. It wasn’t impossible for bandits to come from that direction but still, it hadn’t happened before in her lifetime. 

Hawkfray chuckled at her expression, “Pirates. As the snow sets in, they’re starting to target more snow-season rations. It probably isn’t something we’ll have to worry about but it’s always good to keep a careful eye on things.”

Pumastrike nodded slowly, processing the information - it was a little embarrassing to have allowed their other neighbors to slip her mind in the wake of this war against the Regency.

“Well I’m going to see my cubs,” Pumastrike asserted after a moment of consideration. She still had quite a bit of energy thrumming through her, a desire to head back into the wider forest that she quickly deferred for the moment. “Then I’ll head out for a hunt I think.”

“Isn’t that what Weaselslash is for?” 

“Yes but I never pass up a chance to beat him in his own trade,” she winked, earning a laugh from her lieutenant as he padded off to join the rest of the valorants in their den.

The molly chuckled to herself, trotting toward the nursery with slightly hurried steps from her eagerness. She had gotten better and more confident about leaving her cubs to train and perform her duties as a valorant, but she doesn’t think she’ll ever fully relax until they’d been assigned their own instructors and were capable of defending themselves against their enemies. Especially given Hawkfray’s attempts at dissuading his father from this war with the Sun Regency being so slow-going.

She gave a gentle meow of greeting as she slipped in, whiskers twitching with pleasure as her cubs squealed with delight and charged toward her.

Her only son - Hawk - was the first to reach her, medium furred with hs father’s brown coat as he skittered to a halt in front of her with his tail standing straight up with joy. A moment later, he rammed his face into her legs and rubbed his cheeks against her legs. He only took a step back as his sisters Honeyfruit (a medium furred, cream and gray molly that resembled Pumastrike) and Spiceberry (a little chocolate furred molly that the older moggies say looks like her father) caught up them.

“Ma!” he squealed happily.

“You back!” Honeyfruit cheered. 

“I’m back,” Pumastrike agreed, ducking her head to touch noses with her cubs. “For a little bit - I’m going to go hunting and I wanted to see what you wanted.”

Her cubs all exchanged disgruntled expressions and she suppressed the laughter that wanted to bubble out of her muzzle. Her attempts at weaning her cubs had been semi-successful, in that they were willing to take a few half-hearted bites from the fleshy meals that she retrieved for them. But just because they ate it didn’t mean they liked it, all three of them screwing up their faces dramatically with every little bite they tried to take. She’d asked the nesthands about it but she’d been reassured that it was a normal reaction, that cubs tend to be a bit disdainful of the big change from milk to solid prey but as they got older they’d be more receptive. 

And privately she couldn’t wait - their teeth were getting bigger and sharper and she she was tired of being accidentally nipped.

“I wanna mouse,” Hawk decided after a moment, a sentiment echoed by Honeyfruit.

“I want a sparrow,” declared Spiceberry.

“To eat or to play with the feathers?” Pumastrike asked, amused.

“...I’ll eat it,” the cub said reluctantly. She offered her a hopeful expression, “Can I still have milk too?”

“Of course,” Pumastrike purred. Beebright said that attempting to force cubs to only eat prey would only turn them away and that she suspected her three little comets were a lot closer to being fully on solids than they appear. If she just kept giving them the option of ‘both’ eventually, they’d find milk gross - especially when it started upsetting their bellies. She looked at her last daughter encouragingly, “What about you?”

Honeyfruit looked between her siblings, her tiny ears flattening as she thought extra-hard about what she wanted.

“Mouse too,” she decided.

“Of course sweetness - I’ll be back before you know it.”

“You’re leaving?” said Spiceberry devastated, looking up with big sad eyes.

“I have to get your food.”

“No! I’ll drink milk instead!”

“Spice…”

“No!”

A pelt brushed gently against hers and Pumastrike was relieved to see Beebright, evidently woken from her nap by the pitiful cries of her cub. It didn’t change the fact that she felt like the worst mother in the entire world as she backed out of the nursery. She knew she was wearing her feelings on her pelt when she stepped outside and Whitejay paused, listening to the insistent wailing of her daughter.

“My Sycamore was the same way,” she said sympathetically. “She’ll get better about it.”

“I feel terrible,” Pumastrike admitted heavily. “Mayaazo must think I’m horrible.”

“Or that you’ve been a very present mother,” Whitejay corrected. “Something hard to do when you already have a cadet. Spiceberry will calm down when she realizes you will always come back for her.”

“Are you sure?”

“Sycamore couldn’t wait to sleep in the cadet’s barracks once she was five moons old,” the older molly confided. “This is your first litter, it’s normal for you to feel so attached - but as long as you come back for them, Mayaazo will know your love for them is true.”

The russet and cream furred molly took a deep breath, steadying herself with the reassurance of the nesthand. It was nice to have someone older confirm that Spiceberry wouldn’t grow to resent her when she was trying so hard to be a present mother.

“...I’ll go hunting now,” she decided, straightening up a little. “The sooner I leave, the sooner I can come back.”

Whitejay offered a pleased expression and with a light nod of acknowledgement, ducked into the nursery.

Pumastrike moved at a brisk pace towards the garrison’s entrance, slipping into the wider forest. She wasn’t hunter by any stretch of the imagination (she preferred fierce, loud attacks under the eyes of Azaazo to prove her ferocity) but any moggi could catch a mouse. Admittedly the sparrow would be a bit harder but mostly because the steadily setting cold made birds less and less commonly seen. 

She opened her mouth, taking in a small breath of air, allowing the scents of the forest to brush against the roof of her mouth. It took her a couple tries to remind herself not to filter out the extraneous scents of prey like she normally does, the wind funneling the smells of the various targets directly into her mouth.

Finally one of the scents felt closer than the others and she set off, clambering down the ridge.

She kept her steps light and careful, orange eyes carefully scouring the undergrowth for any sign of even the faintest movement in the leaf litter. Just because the wind was blowing towards her, didn’t mean she had all of the advantage - mice were skittish creatures, and another predator could easily send her quarry diving for cover.

She picked her way towards the Suncairn - if there was prey anywhere, it would be near the large stones providing hidey holes for them. 

She launched herself forward when she heard the skittering of tiny paws, landing firmly atop a startled mouse before it could retreat to the brush.

Got you! She thought victoriously. Although, now she wondered what had scared-

Her ears twitched as the scent of Palanarra abruptly strengthened in the air, her eyes drawing up to the sight of a creamy ginger molly wandering along the bank of the river. She dropped her mouse, hissing angrily which drew the now spooked looking molly’s attnetion.

“What are you doing so close to the border?” Pumastrike growled.

“We have possession of the Suncairn this snow-season so I could ask you the same,” the molly snarked, her own fur bristling for a brief moment. Her pretty blue eyes narrowed at the mouse resting between Pumastrike’s paws, pointing accusingly. “You’re poaching.”

“You don’t even eat mice,” Pumastrike scoffed.

“True,” said the palanarra molly flippantly. She lowered her head, seemingly uncaring of aggressive guard only a few stones across from her. Sure, Pumastrike would have to scale the towering stones and cautiously edge her way across the rapids but she could do it if she wanted! She could be a serious threat! “It doesn’t matter much to me. I’m full and well-fed so my cubs will be fine.”

“Cubs?” Pumastrike echoed, feeling a bit guilty for the way she lost so much of her hostility but surely Milolazo would understand? She was a new mother herself, with three precious cubs waiting for her back home. Now that she was looking, she could see the gentle curve of the molly’s belly, protruding out like her own had only a few moons ago - she couldn’t imagine getting into a claws-out fight, risking the lives of the little ones in her swaying belly.

“Our Speaker says I’ll be in due in a moon or so,” the palanarra molly said, seeming just as eager to boast about her cubs. Her paws kneaded the ground anxiously, “I can’t wait to finally see them - and for them to stop kicking me.”

“Like they’re fighting a whole battle in there,” Pumastrike joked.

“You have cubs too?” the molly inquired.

“Two mollies and a tom,” the guard said proudly.

“Congratulations,” said the ginger molly, sincerity threaded through her tone. “Rival factions or not, I hope all three of them grow up to be valorants to be sung about.”

“Thank you,” Pumastrike said, a bit touched. “I hope your cubs are all born safe and healthy.”

The molly gave her chest an anxious lick, “Me too. One of the other queens… her cubs were all born still.”

Pumastrike winced, she had been terrified when little Hawk hadn’t been breathing when he;d first been born and had feared the worst. Luckily, Blackbirdleaves confirmed that he’d just had a bit of birthing fluids caught in his little nose and throat - when it was cleared out, he’d squealed so loudly he woke up his siblings once more. But some poor molly hadn’t received that breath of relief.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said honestly. “I’m sure Mayaazo kept them comfortable as they rose.”

“I feel terrible for hoping I don’t turn out like that.”

“It’s normal to hope your cubs are born healthy,” Pumastrike pointed out lightly, electing to change the topic. “How’d you convince your faction to let you leave the nursery by the way? When I was a moon from cubbing, my mate practically shed himself bald every time he caught me in the forest.”

“I snuck out,” the other molly admitted bashfully, scuffing her paws through the gravel. She hesitated seeming to debate with herself for a moment before admitting softly, “...my cubs’ father is one of your own.”

Pumastrike paused a bit surprised. She hadn’t noticed any tom lingering on the border or even around the Suncairn for the warm-season - maybe it had been a sweet-season fling? Though Pumastrike was loyal and committed to her mate, she could admit that Palanarra moggi could be really handsome. Even the molly in front of her likely would’ve made her stop in her tracks and do something stupid as a young cadet - a single sweet-season fling wouldn’t be the craziest thing she’d ever heard of. 

“...just keep it away from our storm for a while,” Pumastrike cautioned her. 

“You won’t tell?” the molly asked, relieved.

“It’s not like you’re breaking any of the charters,” the muscular guard said, offering a shrug. That was what mattered really - so long as no charters were being broken between the two of them, there was no point in informing her storm while he was still so hostile to everyone. Of course she did make a mental note to inform Hawkfray - this molly was probably the Palanarra scent he’d been worried about brushing the borders. “Why not meet at the Kirkyard?”

The molly slumped a little bit, “...we used to, but lately he says he’s been busy. I haven’t even gotten to tell him I’m pregnant yet.”

“He’s probably on a lot of patrols,” Pumastrike was quick to reassure, pushing down the brief flash of indignation that temporarily took flame within her. Her faction was already struggling to keep up with the demands of their caesar, and one of her faction mates was neglecting his mate? Everyone knew that Mayaazo took the responsibilities of a parent very seriously and if their faction ended up cursed because of some lame tom, she’d have something to say about it. “There’s a KIrkyard Meeting in a few days, maybe you can convince your caesar to let you attend and you’ll see him then.”

The molly gave a little laugh, the tenseness in her shoulders unwinding for a moment, “I can try but it’s like you said - I’m practically being held hostage by my faction.”

She straightened up, “I should be heading back to camp now, before they send a search party.”

“Thanks for the talk, I feel a bit better now - may Mayaazo watch over your cubs and Milolazo guide you towards glory!” The pretty ginger called, giving her long, tapered tail a friendly wave towards her and turned to venture deeper into her faction’s borders. 

“And may Mayaazo guard you verily against Tayaŕuthima’s many agents and allies,” Pumastrike replied, turning to make her own way back into the forest. 

She still had one more mouse and a sparrow to find.

/ / / /

Weta Translations

Aazoli - gods (god-PL)

Empire Culture

Ateŕitho - The Messenger Wind, minor god of the wind, merchants, freedom, communication, recreation and of course, messages. As one of the most relaxed of the Greenwood Thimali, he’s said to send messages on the wind for mortals to hear.

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[the-world-of-ignavus]

Empire Names: Noble and Sacred - Animals

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Another method of invoking the gods without directly using their names is granting a cub the name of a god’s sacred animal. These messengers are often forbidden from being hunted outside of very specific, religious instances, and are widely recognized to carry desired traits for a cub to develop. A few of these sacred animals however are encouraged to be hunted, often considered to be a challenge left by the gods themselves for mortal-kind to pursue. 

BAT - No Alternative

The sacred animal of Nichazo, often referring to a specific breed of all white bats that inhabit the chest-cavity of the Devourer and are said to deliver messages from the Eternal Falls. This name as such is often used on generally light furred moggi, encompassing everything from white, to cream, to light gray to even pale tan moggi. It carries the meanings of herald and dreamy. 

BOAR - Hog, Tusk

A sacred animal of Mayaazo, said to be simultaneously a punishment for those who break her laws and a challenge for only the bravest of hunters, referring specifically to a large, black furred breed of boar with a distinctively bristled mantle and long, slightly curled tusks. This name refers to dark brown or black furred cubs, those with overbites, or simply the largest cub in a litter. This name carries the meanings of frightening and fierce - and given how they appear in myths, it also carries the undertone of vengeful and righteous. 

BUTTERFLY - Moth, Swallowtail

A sacred animal of Narrazo, that is often used by him to draw the attention of mortals and speak through them, usually referring a special breed of metallic blue butterfly with black edges and white spots. As a result, this name often refers to brightly colored moggi with distinctive markings or bright coats, even more often with glittery coats. This name then carries the meanings of clever, bold and sensitive to omens. 

CARDINAL - No Alternative

The sacred animal of Azaazo, this name is referring specifically to the brilliant scarlet red of male cardinals rather than the softer, gentle gray of the females. This name often refers to a moggi who is bright red or orange all over, though occasionally with black markings like the animal itself. This name carries the meanings of striking and bold.

CHIPMUNK - No Alternative

A sacred animal of Tayaazo, often referring to the tiny brown creatures with blotchy white spots down their backs and shortened tails. This name often refers to moggi who are blessed with marbled coats and distinct, bi-coloring. This name carries the meanings of calculated and crafty. 

CROW - No Alternative

A sacred animal of Nichazo, seemingly granted almost sapient intelligence by Iwiloya as a gift of thanks for the protection of their kin. This name is often given to all black or at least very dark gray moggi and those with relatively sharp features. This name holds the meanings of intelligent and tricky, with connotations of irritating and loyal given a flock of crows is liable to swarm and attack a predator that attacks one of their own.

ELK -  No Alternative

A sacred animal of Aloŕazo, crafted and sculpted to be a dangerous hunting challenge between Howlingsky of Tayilivina and Saberheart of the Peakrise to determine who the greatest hunter in the Empire was, referring specifically to a large blonde-elk with gray and white antlers like it was stalking around with birch branches for antlers. Moggi granted this name are often the largest of their litter and are physically imposing - among Tayilivina, it’s often granted to cubs with the longest quills. This name carries the meanings of imposing and blessed. 

FIREFLY - No Alternative

A sacred animal of Milolazo, birthed to light the way and guide the eyes of mortals, this one specifically referring to the herbivorous variant that lights up a gentle blue and primarily lives around the mouth of the Devourer though in the warm-season, they rest in the Kirkyard. This name is often given to brightly colored moggi or at least those with fairly distinctive markings, and carries the meanings of alluring and soothing. 

HAWK - No alternative

The sacred animal of Kaŕazo simultaneously a challenge and a watcher, soaring over mortals and picking off any who aren’t vigilant while reporting back to Kaŕazo what they see of mortals - refers specifically to the particular breed of ruddy-brown hawks with brilliant white tails and gray legs. This name is often granted to cubs from long lines of hunters, brown cubs or merely those with a white tail. This name carries the meaning of observant and threatening.

SWAN - No Alternative

A sacred animal of Narrazo, considered a warning to the Empire about moderation regarding hunting in the river, said to have chased an Ancient member of Palanara into the ocean for poaching eggs his caesar had declared off-limits. This is referring to the specific large, white-feathed birds with gray legs, and is thus often given to white or at least light gray cubs with long limbs. It carries the meanings of ferocious and elegant.