Xijallar

The Xijallar are an advanced race descended from oceanic slimemolds. They are gelatinous in form and can grow to thousands of meters in size along underwater geothermal vents. They are commonly called the Shame of the Sea due to their grotesque appearance when they wash ashore, often partially devoured or decaying. The surface dwellers mistakenly believe that they are refuse that the ocean has rejected, deeming it unworthy of even being eaten by scavengers. The oceans of Fortis are far too violent and storm-ridden to allow for deep sea research, so no other races have seen the Xijallar, save for portions of them which have torn off during massive releases of seismic activity. Since they can reproduce by budding, these smaller pieces are able to form a new colony if they are fortunate enough to drift near another geothermal vent. More often, however, they are eaten by predators. Unbeknownst to the other races inhabiting Fortis, the Xijallar are both sentient and powerful magic users. In fact, they drive much of the destructive seismic and volcanic activity (as well as, by extension, the massive storm systems) of the planet. Derived from the molten core of Fortis itself, their magic gives them tremendous power, which they sustain by slowly tearing apart the tectonic plates to release more energy. If the Xijallar were to stop tearing apart the plates, their strength would wane until they were no longer able to pull them apart to get more energy and they would eventually die as they slowly starved from the lack of magic. On those very rare occasions when a smaller clump of cells, no more than a few meters in size, washes up on the beach, the alien and disfigured forms horrify the surface dwelling inhabitants. With their magic energy expended by searching for a new home, they are either dead or dying. For this reason, no surface dwelling race has realized that they are capable of utilizing magic. Stories have been told of the amoebic blobs reaching out to ensnare and devour anyone who strays too close, but this behavior is more likely explained as a gesture of desperation and sadness as the half-formed creature realizes it is doomed to die in a foreign place, surrounded by creatures who fear it as a monstrosity.

Culture

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Since they descended from slimemolds and strongly resemble them in form, the Xijallar have evolved so that each individual is a hivemind of its own cells. Communication between individuals is a form of magical telepathy that travels through the semi-molten asthenosphere that envelops the molten core. In this way, they form a network that sprawls across the ocean floor and they are able to coordinate the harvesting of geothermal energy in a way that preserves the stability of the planet's crust. Although far in the future, they are acutely aware that eventually there will be no more energy to harvest and they will all slowly starve while watching those dear to them endure the same fate. Thus much of their art is in the form of telepathic songs and poems focusing on the temporality of existence and the fleeting nature of both beauty and love. Their science and prose literature is deeply entwined, as the focus is on developing a new form of magic that draws from within themselves, which would liberate them from their inevitable decline and death. Although it is in the earliest of formative stages, there has been some progress among the Xijallar to draw energy from the power of their own thoughts. However, the prevailing belief is that this is merely a transformation of the telepathic energy that is conducted by the asthenosphere. Research and philosophical study is still underway.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Normally, the Xijallar reproduce by directly passing their genetic information to their chosen partner or partners, although there are accounts of loved ones finding portions of their partner after a seismic event and they were able to derive the genetic information that way. (No individual would ever consider utilizing genetic material from another without their consent, as it would be considered an unthinkable violation of social mores and grounds for exiling whoever did so.) The receiving partner(s) will add their own genetic material and form a psuedopod with the resulting combination. As soon as it has grown to an adequate size, the parent will retreat from a portion of a vent it is feeding off from and allow the immature individual to separate as it becomes established on its own. Familial bonds are considered incredibly important, since the creation of offspring is a very rare event. Given the tremendous sacrifice of vent access that is required by the parent to ensure that its child becomes healthy and strong, many individuals choose never to procreate.
When a portion of a Xijallar is torn off through accident, it is often lost to predation but occasionally it is able to establish itself at a new vent. This wayward child is instinctually driven to communicate and the parent will be actively looking across the seafloor for its telepathic appearance, often becoming severely depressed for a time if the child is never seen. On the rare occasions when the offspring is able to make contact with its family, they are welcomed with tremendous joy and excitement and taught the necessary information for survival and the continuance of its family's traditions in the arts.

Common Taboos

The major taboos of the Xijallar include denying previously established access to a geothermal vent, utilizing genetic material without consent, and - for mature individuals - failing to contribute meaningful thoughtforms to society.
Isolation is the only form of punishment among the Xijallar and it is a terrifying prospect for any individual to be sending messages out and to never receive a response. Young ones and those who do not follow the social code are temporarily isolated, but only the most heinous crimes result in the permanent isolation of exile.
Given the highly intellectual and interconnected nature of their society, most individuals who have been exiled choose to extinguish their sentience rather than face eons of isolation. By this, they are able to salvage some grace with those they have offended by no longer consuming from the finite supply of magical energy within the world.