Pigments of Faith

In Calika, almost every tribe has its own beliefs. Some worship the ghosts of their ancestors, some the forces of nature, others believe in one, a few, or many gods. But they all have one thing in common: the spiritual leader of each tribe is preserving all the details on his or her body, by colourful pigments being pushed under the skin: as tattoos. Depending on the complexity of the religion, it is only a few large tattoos on the back, or for centuries of knowledge to be kept, it can cover the whole body.

by unknown, heavy mod by Tillerz

When the previous spiritual leader dies, the tribe elders reorganize and redesign the tattoos. Sometimes the beliefs changed and things get dropped, sometimes new ideas find their way in. Groups of tattoos, previously telling stories by several images, get combined into a single and complex pattern, telling the same story if you know how to interpret the pattern. The tattoos used to be in a single colour, but to allow more complex designs, additional colours were added.
Geertruud Smallbottom has been on the receiving end of one of these tattoos, due to some mix-up and misinterpretations of some religious leader.

Alana

Open full size

A world full of wonders.

Medium

Skin (as tattoo)

Type

Text, Religious

Location

Calika