Sclera
Ever since Lucidity fell from the sky and crashed into the savage currents of The Gaping Ocean, the island has been haunted by a race of lumbering monsters, characterised by their one central eye, grasping back tendril and insane hatred of magic - The Sclera. Thought to be descendants of Beholders (although the exact origins are unknown), these savage people share many of the same traits as these aberrations, such as their nullification of magic and their insane paranoia.
These delusions once grew so dire that they once attempted to destroy the very concept of magic, just in case someone tried to use it against them. Their awesome intelligence combined with the delusion fury put them at odds with the Kep Barna, who have engaged in conflicts with the Sclera since Lucidity was still part of the Far Realm.
However, once the The Drifting Temple was lost, many of the Sclera were lost with it, leaving them an endangered species. The remaining Sclera, knowing that their race was doomed unless they learnt to adapt, underwent a cultural reset, learning to control their more sadistic urges and become more amiable to dealing with the other races. However successful this was has yet to be seen.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Sclera are a bulky, humanoid shaped race. They average around 6 to 7 feet high, and weigh about 250 to 300 pounds. While they often vary in terms of skin tone, height and weight, they all share a few characteristics; a single eye with anti-magical properties, a large tendril based on the lower back, and a series of gaseous sacs just under the skin that allows for limited levitation.
Genetics and Reproduction
Despite supposedly being born from the fevered nightmares of The Lucid Dreamer, Sclera reproduce in a very similar manner to other humanoids. However, their pregnancies last for ten months, and Primal Sclera parents often deposit their child into a communial nursery as opposed to raising them themselves. This may be due to their paranoia, believing sharing their secrets with their children may lead to their own demise somewhere down the line. Modern Sclera, however, take on more traditional parental role.
Growth Rate & Stages
Sclera age rapidly when on Apa Axas. They reach maturity at the age of 8, and are considered young until they reach the age of 15. On average, they will live up to 65 years.
Ecology and Habitats
Sclera are well adapted for the maddening environments of Lucidity. Their magical nullifaction abilities allow them to carve out a specific niche that allows them to almost ignore all but the most dangerous effects of the Far Realm Incursions. Prior to their decimation after the fall of the Drifting Temple, The Sclera were able to build the largest and most advanced society on Lucidity, only falling due to the intervention of several heroes after Lachsman's failed endeavour to remove magic from Apa Axas.
Behaviour
The behaviour of Sclera usually depends on the time-frame in which the individual is found, which can be divided into Primal and Modern Sclera. The Primal Sclera were Sclera present before the fall of the Drifting Temple, were paranoia and isolationist, going so far as to only appear in public in intricate masks. The most important facet of a Primal Sclera’s life is their mask, which is used to shield their face from others (lest they steal their souls) and is adorned with boastful carvings and images that show off the Sclera’s life. They were gifted a blank mask at a young age and they often found themselves obsessing over it and decorating it with news of their endeavours. Modern Sclera have embraced their cultural guilt, and have tried to replicate the more accepting views of the other races, actively repressing their more paranoid delusions and attempting to adapt to an everchanging world.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Most creatures with the same innate paranoia as the Sclera are isolationist and dangerous, often killing even members of their own species out of insane and irrational fear. However, the Sclera desire for attention and paradoxical need for companionship force them in a strange form of society, where they band together for protection, rather than any form of affection. As such Sclera society is a meritocracy, rife with treachery and violence. The leader of the Sclera is often the strongest, and their will dictates the rest of the community. As the strongest Sclera are often the most deranged, this often leads to powerful Sclera communities becoming increasingly dangerous as they gain more confidence.
Crime is common in Sclera settlements, due to their more self-involved nature, and punishment is swift and severe. The hurt party is often allowed to choose and deal out the punishment they see fit against the accused, and, as Sclera are usually bloodthirsty and violent, this often results in a torturous death. In fact, some Sclera actually enjoy having crime committed against them, as an excuse to deal out punishment. While crimes such as theft and murder are looked down upon, neither are as extreme to the Sclera as magic use, and any Sclera mages are usually executed in a strange ritual known as the Forsakening, a process that involves the removal of the mage’s eyes and a ritualistic beating to death.
After the lost of their capital stronghold, the Drifting Temple, the remaining Sclera were left destitute and alone, lacking any other allies. To remedy this, many of the remaining Sclera were forced to adapt, overcoming their more distrusting natures and tolerate, and even accept, the help and culture of other races, although they are still often treated with distain and even outright hostility.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Sclera are increasingly rare, even in Lucidity. However, a few have managed to spread across the Seven Kingdoms, although they are often seen as monsters, and still prefer to wander in the more isolated regions of the world.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Sclera, particularly the Primal variant, have an obsessive and adverse reaction to magic. The origins of this hatred are unknown, but the Sclera innate attachment to the Far Realm and their connection to the Beholders lead many to theorise that this hatred is merely a facet of their paranoia, as they may view magic as one of their few threats to their existent. This hatred manifests in their biology, as both their singular eye, and back tendril have magical nullfication and siphoning capabilities respectively.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
The naming conventions of Sclera began as fairly primitive, consisting of a single syllable first and clan names. The first names were often guttural sounding, and would represent the Sclera words for their concepts such as Darkness, Conquest and Fate, in an effort to make the Sclera seem more intimidating to other, possibly treacherous neighbours. However, their clan name remained a secret between families, and was only used in private, lest the name gets used against them.
After many of the Sclera were lost when the Drifting Temple vanished, the survivors trained themselves to be more tolerant of other races in an effort to survive. As such, they learnt that nobility often appreciated titles and family names, they would invent their own in an effort to be taken more seriously. In fact, they make so much effort, that they will often have two syllable first names and a double barrel public clan name to see more elf or human-like as possible.
Primal Sclera Shown Names: Creck, Nax, Flem, Ame, Dow, Nuum, Yim, Weer, Wrex, Calne
Primal Sclera Clan Names: Sanius, Dri’ick, Tasu, Brook’n, Za’na, Yoom’mo-o, Wreex’a, Yimyimna, Colo’Naish, Anka’to
Present Sclera Names: Dravish Greenspire, Galen Eyespike, Seben Hornhelm, Percy Greatflame, Simone Lakewhisper, Arctich Harrierwave, Wendell Featherwing, Ashen Fluxweather, Lexa Hornbreaker
History
The origins of the Sclera are a hotly debated topic on Lucidity, even between themselves. While many agree the alien monsters known as Beholders had something to do with it, many disagree as to how these strange creatures fit in with the Sclera. These connections are not unfounded, as the Sclera indeed share many similar traits with the Beholders. The gaseous air pockets enabling levitation, the large central eye that interferes with magic and an insane paranoia that borders on obsession that characterise the Beholders are also present in the Sclera, to a lesser degree. Whereas the Beholders can float indefinitely, nullifying all magic just by making eye contact and cannot co-operate due to their own insanity, the Sclera can become temporarily buoyant, can nullify magic with practice and can exist in communities, although this is mainly for self-defence and keeping their enemies close than any form of neighbourly love.
Despite this, the Sclera do have attributes that are unique to them, namely a lack of eyestalks, and a large tendril on the Sclera’s back. This tendril, its base starting on the upper back, is kept hidden from most, particularly in the company of other races. The eight foot long appendage has multiple uses; exchanging information between Sclera silently, as a sensory organ, and, most notably, in combat, direct contact with the end of this tendril can drain a target of their magical potential, an act that makes them a bane of spellcasters.
Historical Figures
Few Sclera become notable outside of their own species, due to their xenophobia and secretive nature. However, their spirtual leader, the warrior known as Lachsman waged war on the concept of magic itself, with the aid of the The Travesty Shubb'Ki, which lead to the destruction of the Drifting Temple and the decimation of the Sclera in general.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Other species tend not to get along with the Sclera, and they mostly tend to agree. However, the Sclera possess a particular hatred for Kep Barna, who they have historically fueded with for generations.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
65 years
Conservation Status
After the destruction of the Drifting Temple, the Sclera have become a rare sight, even in their native lands.
Average Height
6-7 feet tall.
Average Weight
250-300 lbs.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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