Tonberries

Legend says that a human Wizard, generations ago, spent a lifetime searching for the secret to immortality. He read ancient tomes, journeyed to forgotten ruins, and sought the wisdom of the most venerable sages. When all of his efforts fell short, he angrily asked his assistant what he was doing wrong. His assistant calmly told him that he wasn’t born a tonberry.

Tonberries have no natural lifespan. Tonberries live until they accomplish their life’s goal, called a Memoria. Each Memoria is different. Childhood lasts for ten years, at which time a tonberry is given the most important symbol of their culture; the Tonberry Lantern. While every lantern is different and almost all end up customized over the years, they all shine with the light of a magical flickering flame. The flame is tied to the tonberry’s life. Once they have achieved Memoria, the tonberry lives for another year, until the anniversary of the goal’s completion. This year is a time for celebration, full of festivals, travel, and incredible food.
Due to their incredibly long lifespans, tonberries are often pillars of their local communities, busying themselves with people. Tonberries are short, topping out at three and a half feet tall, almost always bald, and their smooth skin is almost always a shade of blue or green. Tonberry eyes are yellow and have a distinct glint at night. Robes and flowing clothing make up the majority of their styles, as the thick, finned tail makes pants more trouble than they’re worth. Food holds incredible importance in the life of a tonberry, preparation and consumption equal in their eyes. Tonberries pick their own pronouns and rarely elaborate beyond that.