Calderans
The Calderans are a mysterious, resilient race native to the volcanic moon of Caldera. These small, rock-like beings are born from the molten earth itself, with skin as hard as stone and eyes glowing like magma. Their connection to the moon’s fiery core gives them the ability to withstand intense heat, and they have adapted to thrive in Caldera’s extreme environment. Guardians of their moon’s secrets, they are fiercely protective of its sacred grounds and hold a special reverence for Mohtarr
, the trickster god who claims dominion over Caldera. Though they appear stony and aloof, the Calderans are known to be wise, riddle-speaking guides to those brave enough to cross their paths.
Notable Calderans include Gneiss.
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Agnorak, Braxor, Cragthon, Cindralis, Emberis, Fyrann, Ignithas, Lavagarn, Malgor, Molthar, Pyraxia,
Raukhan, Scorvul, Searix, Skarvix, Thermolos, Torruk, Vulkorr, Volkana
Culture
Common Etiquette rules
Etiquette among Calderans is rooted in respect for nature and their surroundings. When entering another Calderan’s home or sacred space, it is customary to offer a small gift—often a polished stone or glowing mineral—as a sign of goodwill. Greeting others with a nod and a subtle rock-based gesture is preferred over verbal communication, as they believe words can disrupt the harmony of their volcanic environment.
The Calderans also find grand gestures, such as bowing to be unnerving. When meeting with Leisl Siannodel, she found that they prefer the stony nature of her homeland of the Shadowfell.
Foods & Cuisine
Calderan cuisine revolves around rocks and minerals, the cornerstone of their diet, carefully selected for their flavors and nutritional properties. These are often accompanied by hearty dishes crafted from the planet’s resilient flora and fauna.
Charhorns, large bovine-like creatures, provide Charhorn Milk, a warm, metallic liquid that is the only consumable liquid on Caldera, and their meat, often cooked until charred, serves as a common protein source.
Ember Beetles are used in two distinct dishes: their scallop-like interiors are prized for their tender texture, while their heat-resistant chitins are boiled in Charhorn Milk to create a savory soup.
Blaze Hog meat, which spoils when cooled, is typically preserved as a jerky using crunched up minerals. Fresh Blaze Hog Meat is a delicacy reserved only for those who raise the creatures or those who have much to trade. It is generally too hot for humans to eat.
Gravestalk Root, a rock-like vegetable growing from cavern ceilings, adds a hearty element to meals, its tough exterior hiding a fleshier interior inside.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
When a Calderan is born, the event is celebrated with a ceremony known as the Ignition, symbolizing the new life’s connection to the moon's core. Family and friends gather to sing ancient songs while encircling the newborn with warm, glowing minerals, believed to imbue the child with strength and vitality. A portion of the family’s ancestral stone is given to the child as a token of their heritage.
Funerary and Memorial customs
When a Calderan dies, the tribe takes their body to the nearest volcano and chucks them in.
Historical figures
In 70 3E, The Chosen Nine evacuated a tribe of Calderans and their livestock to a volcano on Illon before destroying Caldera.
Later, in the Fourth Era, the Calderans and their livestock moved to Odrus, as it was much more inhabitable for them. The Calderans split into two distinct subspecies, each evolved for their new homeworlds, Illonian Calderans and Odran Calderans.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Calderans consider rockiness to be beautiful, and as such find smooth skinned humans to be quite ugly. Unique patterns etched into their stone-like skin, resembling lava flows, are seen as marks of beauty that tell the story of one's life and experiences.
Gender Ideals
Calderans have no concept of gender and tend to use the wrong pronouns when dealing with other species.
Courtship Ideals
In Calderan culture, courtship is a slow and deliberate process marked by mutual challenges and riddles, reflecting their reverence for Mohtarr. Potential partners engage in playful competitions that test their wit and strength, with successful outcomes leading to deeper bonds. Once a couple is deemed compatible, they may participate in a ritual dance around a lava pool, symbolizing their unity and fiery passion.
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