Layikani - Firewalker

Moritz Bokelberg blinked and saw what he thought was the face of an African woman, something he had only seen in pictures in his homeland. Then he closed his eyes again and slipped back into unconsciousness. For days he walked among dry sand, desert plants and excessively high temperatures. Without water and protection, he was powerless against the climate and fainted. Moritz got luck that he was found by the travelers.

The male Layikani picked up the white boy and they took Moritz to their camp. Both had seen people with this skin color, but they were extremely rare on Layida. They wrapped the boy in a cooling blanket and gave him a thin milky liquid. It wasn't until the next day that the boy had recovered from the dehydration and slowly opened his eyes. He was happily beamed at by four orange eyes that were visibly happy to welcome Moritz back into life. The boy's look betrayed his irritation. The woman had red dots on her face and neck, which were connected by a thin web. The man had fewer and lighter spots in the same places.

"It appears this man has risen from the dead, but seems to have no idea where he is," said the Layikani. The woman nodded, while Moritz didn't understand a single word the man had said. Their language was just as foreign to Moritz as their appearance and this country.
The woman noticed from Moritz's reaction that he couldn't understand her and smiled at him. Then she pointed to herself and her companion and said, "Layikani." Moritz rolled his eyes again and went back into his twilight sleep.

Excerpt from the novel-

Fire Walker by Blue Fairy 74

Physiology

Layikani are a humanoid species native to Layida, the continent of fire. Their name means firewalker. With a body size of over two meters, they can only be surpassed by giants or trolls from the Earth continent. Their body weight is between 85 and 95 kg.

Layikani have dark skin color ranging from light nut brown to dark ebony. Their bodies are slim and muscular with some androgynous tendencies.

The hair is black with red-orange streaks. The colors of her irises and lips shine in different shades of orange. The eyes are surrounded by long eyelashes and the mouth is surrounded by a red rim.

The shape of their ears is slightly protruding to the side and slightly twisted, which many Layid women see as a flaw and like to hide under veils, hats or turbans.

At a Glance

Scientific name:
Wela LAYIKANI osmaedi
Common name: Firewalker
Line: Humanoid
Abstammung: Firewalker
Habitat: Layida
Life expectancy: approx. 100 years
Height: 2 m - 2.10 m
Weight: 85 kg to 95 kg
Skin:
Eyes / Lips:
Hair:
Firemarks:
Diet: Omnivorous
Sexual maturity: 12 to 14 years old
Pregnancy: 260 days - 1 infant
Language: Layidayala

Connection between Firemarks and Firemagic

An essential feature of the Layikani are fire marks that are located on the temples, the neck, between the shoulders and the collarbone. The color varies from yellow to light red, which is caused by a gene on the X chromosome and develops during puberty.
To this day it is unknown why these marks exist. So far, Layid scientists have only discovered that women are less sensitive to heat than men and that only female Layikani are able to symbiosis with a Jinitamba - Spark animal in order to practice fire magic. Men also have port wine stains, but these are significantly less pronounced and usually lighter because they only have one X chromosome. In women, the marks glow during sexual contact, the use of fire magic and increased impulsivity with releases of adrenaline.

Layikani

The life expectancy and appearance varies depending on whether it is a "normal" Layikani or a Layini ascended to a Layini or a Layijin descended to Layijin. Layikani have a life expectancy of around 100 years.

Layini

A female Layikani that a Spark symbiosis has undergone is called Layini and has a life expectancy of 70 to 80 years. Because of the symbiote, they loses their ability to conceive and bear children. Also sparking tentacles grow out of their heads and their hair is usually statically charged. In addition, the firemarks connect through a small thin network on the skin.

Layijin

Layijin are renegade Layini who have used too much dark fire magic. Over time, their pupils change from round to pointed, like those of fire lizards. They only have a life expectancy of around 50 years because the symbiote overheats due to dark magic, the tentacles burn up and the body, starting from the feet, is gradually consumed and turned into flames.

1 Layikani with firemarks

2 Layini with symbiont

3 Layijin

by Blue Fairy 74

Reproduction & Rearing

Layikani live around 100 years. They are sexually mature between the ages of 12 and 14. Most female firewalkers have their offspring between the ages of 25 and 35. A pregnancy lasts about 260 days.
Twin births are always fraternal twins. Layid scientists assume that after fertilization, a special chemical process prevents the cell clusters from dividing completely so that identical twins can be created. It is assumed that this is also triggered by the gene responsible for the port wine stains.
At birth, Layikani infants are around 50 cm tall and weigh around 25 kilograms. They are weaned from their mother after one year at the latest.
Until the age of about 12, female and male offspring live, play and learn together. Afterwards they are strictly separated from each other and prepared for their later life in society.

Way of Life

Layikani are thermophiles and therefore do not need protective clothing to survive on the Fire Continent. This allowed them to conquer the continent throughout history. Because of the fire marks, a society led by women has developed over the millennia.

There are women who do not see men as equals, but this is not the rule. Daughters are also not valued more highly than sons. Men look after the mother-in-law's farm, look after the children and are allowed to learn most professions that are not directly related to fire magic or religion and higher administration.

Firewalkers live in houses that are usually made of sand or volcanic rock. Many cities or important buildings can be protected by Jala, a volcanic gas. Layikani also use thermokinetic energy to operate all types of power stations.
They pay a lot of attention to their diet. They eat little meat, even if they are not vegetarians. Nevertheless, vegetables, fruits and grains make up a significant part of their diet. That's why there are hardly any overweight Layikani.

Development History

The origin of the Layikani lies on the shores of the western continent, when the lava of the Balaykala Mountains met the sea water and the bodies of the fire walkers were formed from the combination of lava and water. At least this is the belief of the Layikani, whose genetic origin has not yet been traced to any other animal or plant species on the continent.
Starting from the northwest of the continent, the firewalkers spread very slowly, which is why their cultures differ very little from each other and their Layidayala language has hardly changed and the Layikani can communicate with each other everywhere. They are also linked by belief in the fire gods with the three-faced sun goddess as their "queen" as well as matriarchy and the preservation of female power on the continent.