Sorcerers
Sorcerers are a species of humanoid stem-mammal synapsids which are considered significantly more adept at using magic than others.
WARNING: This page has clinical discussions of sexual intercourse and anatomy starting at the "Genetics & Reproduction" section. No images are present.
THIS PAGE IS A HUGE WORK IN PROGRESS!! I am currently in the process of rewriting the entire article.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Physically, a Sorcerer appears to take on the typical humanoid shape with two arms, two legs, and a bipedal plantigrade posture. Most Sorcerers are much taller than stickmen - usually being at least 6 feet tall - and it is very common for a Sorcerer to have a coat of cat-like fur over their bodies. Among the known individuals, sexual dimorphism is a little different from that of a Stickman - Sorcerer women appear to be more muscular and strong, while Sorcerer men are effeminate and lithe.
Sorcerers are highly prone to extreme genetic mutations, which can lead to bizarre and unusual body deformations that do not otherwise impact their daily life.
Simple diagram showing ear hole location and a primitive earlobe mutation.
Sorcerers do not have brains, nor solid skulls - instead having a dense muscle and nerve-filled head with small vertebrae leading partially into it. With the lack of a brain or the central nervous system in their heads, the act of decapitation is not necessarily a death sentence for a Sorcerer and there have been a few documentations of Sorcerers living full lives without an attached head.
Simple diagram showing the internal head muscle of a Sorcerer's head.
Simple diagram showing eyes across seven Sorcerer individuals.
*3 in certain art styles
A Sorcerer's Code, detached from its body.
While Sorcerer's Codes can be removed from their host bodies, this is only possible through the work of another Sorcerer while alive or by flaying the body to physically remove it. The effects of code removal are severe, and lead to an effect similar to hypothermia, depression, and lethargy. Removing a Sorcerer's Code will not necessarily kill its body, but it is considered an extremely cruel and inhumane thing to do.
Sorcerers can absorb the Codes of other sorcerers innately, which will lead to arcane corruption of their magic and their mind. As they collect more codes, their magic will corrupt further, with the "point of no return" being hit at 7 collected Codes. During the corruption process, a Sorcerer's skin will darken and dry, and their arcane energy will gradually become more of a piercing red color.
While other beings can technically also absorb Sorcerer's Codes, the sheer amount of arcane and solar energy contained within one is capable of killing the body hosting them within hours if not minutes. This has led to many illicit organizations and groups making an attempt at "jailbreaking" Sorcerer's Codes, copying them, or making inferior bootlegs of them so stickmen and other creatures can get a taste of the enticing arcane power behind them without dying. Jailbreaking is a theoretically possible, but extremely difficult, process that can prove dangerous to the individual attempting it. A certain individual on Skoteinó Island has mastered the craft of making inferior bootlegs of Sorcerer's Codes, known as Draconic Codes, that give off eerie and terrifying arcane signals to any Sorcerer looking at a person using one.
A diagram of Sorcerer internal anatomy, including the respiratory, endocrine and digestive systems.
Physical Makeup
Sorcerers are mostly organic beings with high arcane energy. Like all organic life on Cier, their bodies are carbon-based and they breathe oxygen and drink water. Their blood is usually red, and their flesh [muscles, tongue, organs] can come in many colors, usually colors relating to the hue of their Sorcerer's Code.Colors
Sorcerers can come in nearly any color, though their coloration is usually vibrant with a bright hue. While they can have patterns and markings of many types, from splotches to spots to rings to stripes, many Sorcerers are also solid in color. The hair on their head most often is the same color as the rest of their fur, and some Sorcerers are known to dye it different colors.Head
Much like the Stickmen that Sorcerers were intended to resemble, Sorcerers have round heads with no visible nose, nostrils, or ears. While these features are not inherently visible, Sorcerers have low-set ear holes close to the lower-back of their jaws. Some Sorcerers have physical mutations that cause primitive ear lobes to form, though this is not common. It is also possible for a Sorcerer to develop horns or whiskers.Eyes
The eyes of Sorcerers come in any shape or color one can imagine. They often glow due to the high concentration of mana running through their bodies. Their irises and pupils can come in many unique and unusual shapes, some even taking on seemingly impractical shapes. A somewhat common physical mutation among Sorcerers is cyclopia, where the individual will only develop one functioning eye rather than two. Unlike in many other species where such a mutation is usually fatal, Sorcerers can function normally with cyclopia, with the only downside being poor depth perception.Teeth
Sorcerers typically have flat, straight teeth for crushing leaves, fruits, and nuts. Some Sorcerers may have pronounced fangs or sharp shark-like teeth; such mutations are typically the result of abnormalities in ancestors or deformations caused by a volatile arcane affinity.Hands and Feet
Like stickfigures, Sorcerers have dextrous hands with 4 fingers* and a thumb. These hands are adept at using tools and can easily adapt to clothing and items designed for stickmen. Their feet can be featureless boot- or hoof-like structures, with toe bones encased entirely in flesh, but some Sorcerers have separated toes.*3 in certain art styles
Bodily Fluids
Unusual for Cierian life is the high concentration of mana flowing through Sorcerer veins. With 35% of their blood being cells & plasma, and 65% being liquid mana, the current of mana is what does most of the work pushing blood through their veins in the absence of heart muscles. Sorcerer blood is considered dilute and alchemically inert due to low blood cell count, and it is incompatible for blood transfusions with other species. Sorcerer blood is notable for being very hot when fresh.Heart
A Sorcerer's heart is known as the Sorcerer's Code. It performs the essential duties of cognitive function, blood circulation, and mana concentration - it is a Sorcerer's brain, heart, and soul all packed into one incredibly dense and powerful object. The Sorcerer's Code is also the blueprints for Sorcerer affinities, and is the sole object that gives Sorcerers their signature high body heat and arcane signature. A Sorcerer is born with only one code, which grows and changes based on emotional events. There are three stages of growth, which give different abilities; initial "unlock", secondary "unlock", and a Code Decrypt. The intial "unlock" is a natural occurrence that happens simply by existing and growing up as a Sorcerer, being the innate potential of their affinity. A secondary unlock will happen after a strong positive event, giving the Sorcerer access to a secondary, potentially weaker arcane Affinity that will always be related to their primary one. Code Decrypt is an awakening that unlocks the true potential of a Sorcerer's Code. This awakening can be manifested through one Sorcerer's emotional journey, struggle, and resolution as they grow. Code Decrypt is a rare occurrence, taking immense mental fortitude and enlightenment to achieve. They take the form of a spherical, translucent, glowing object similar to a crystal ball. Sorcerer's Codes have a unique symbol suspended in the center of the object, which alludes to the Sorcerer's personal affinity. Sorcerers have the ability to project an arcane hologram of their Code, which emits light. Sorcerer's Codes are highly sought after by poachers and valuable to particularly wealthy individuals that seek personal power or gain.Organs
By far the most bizarre thing about Sorcerer internal anatomy is that of their internal organs, which resemble soft bones. Their organs are largely cartilaginous, with integrated muscle across their surfaces to allow for function and movement. It is unknown why Sorcerer organs look the way they do, but it is known that they do not seem to have any issues from their unusual anatomy, and may even be benefited by it. by SugarRatio
Genetics and Reproduction
Sexual Reproduction
Sorcerers have a typical bisex reproductive system, with effeminate arcane-focused males and powerful force-focused females as the social standard. Like most organic life, Sorcerers usually, and primarily, reproduce through sexual intercourse, with the females gestating and carrying their offspring. Male Sorcerers have a "stickman"-like penis, as designed by Trionfi during their creation, though they lack the stiffening baculum of the stickmen they resemble. Female Sorcerers have an unusual plus-shaped vulva, with the original purpose of the shape being unknown as it was not intentional through their creation. A female Sorcerer has a non-mammalian reproductive system, with a single ovary, a large arcane gland that concentrates mana into an eggshell, an oviduct, a uterus, a sphincter muscle, and a vagina. Sorcerers are equipped to frequently lay eggs, so instead of the cervix which is only present in mammals, they have a dense sphincter muscle which relaxes when laying eggs or giving birth.Asexual Reproduction
Unlike almost all organic creatures, Sorcerers are also capable of getting pregnant and giving birth asexually. Being only partially organic, another way for one to be impregnated is through exposure to extremely high levels of non-living energy, such as lightning bolts or high-density radiation. While it is common and the norm for an asexually concepted offspring to be born with extreme mutations and birth defects, it is considered a blessing for one to be born, as their magic will be powerful and special. This is also how hybrids with entities are born, but entity hybrids have decreased rate of mutation due to the energy being provided by a living source. Sorcerers born asexually through non-living conception will resemble a genetic clone of their mothers, alongside any extreme mutations that were result of the method of conception.
by SugarRatio
Code Genetics
A Sorcerer's Code will be a stable fusion of its parents' Codes. Sometimes it will take on properties of both at the same time, though sometimes the fusion may result in something entirely different and seemingly nonsensical, especially due to the high rate of mutation in Sorcerer genetics. Code genetics dictate many of the physical traits of a Sorcerer, and a healthy Code is typically a healthy Sorcerer.Gestation
Sorcerers are ovoviviparous, developing fully-formed eggs inside their bodies that - through gestation - become a solid organic fetus. They have a similar gestation period to stickmen, around nine months. The fetus develops inside the body with no placental attachment, and will remain inside the egg for most of the Sorcerer's pregnancy until approximately a month before birth, where it will absorb the egg that will then become its Sorcerer's Code. Sorcerers typically only give birth to one small, kitten-sized offspring at a time. They breastfeed their newborns with nutritious milk, but due to being stem-mammals rather than true mammals, Sorcerers do not have nipples and instead sweat milk through their breasts much like a real-world monotreme. Sometimes a Sorcerer may be born prematurely as an egg, where it is possible to continue gestating it by exposing the egg to high amounts of liquid mana. Premature Sorcerers are frequently more frail and prone to disease at a young age.Sexual Health
Pregnancy has adverse effects on Sorcerer health; while giving birth once or twice typically does not cause any lasting damage, it becomes increasingly difficult for a Sorcerer to get pregnant and give birth again after each pregnancy. Pregnancies after the first two will lead to a draining effect on the mother, which will weaken their magic and body and potentially lead to immunocompromisation. It is theorized that this biological system is a failsafe to prevent overpopulation due to the functional immortality of the Sorcerers. Sorcerers are known to have high libidos, if not the highest of all creatures on Cier. Sorcerers who have frequent intercourse are often considered healthier, with the males especially having higher arcane prowess with a happier and more fulfilling emotional state. Female Sorcerers with an active sex life will frequently lay 1-3 translucent arcane eggs once a month, which reflects their own emotional state and helps build muscle. It is possible for an egg to get stuck during this monthly cycle, which can be painful to the point of immobility. Despite how painful it can be, no Sorcerer has ever died of egg binding, and after enough time stuck inside the body the egg will be reabsorbed into the Sorcerer's blood. Reabsorption gives the Sorcerer a boost in arcane strength- however, it is typically considered taboo to do such a thing, and is not a common practice, especially not on purpose. Sexuality and sexual health is an important part of Sorcerer culture, to the point that strict monogamy, while not enforced at all in the first place in Cier, is essentially unheard of.Hybridization
Sorcerers are unique in the fact that they are the only species on Cier that is able to hybridize with both entities and organic beings. Every pure-blooded Sorcerer is a biological blank slate that can hybridize with any species on the planet. Being as they are, the limitations of organic or entity matter are not present in their kind, so their offspring potential has near limitless possibilities. However, upon hybridization, the offspring will proceed to be limited to the biological restrictions of the hybridized species. An organic/Sorcerer hybrid is incapable of breeding with an entity/Sorcerer hybrid under all circumstances, including Stork magic. A Sorcerer hybridizing with a star-like entity such as a Solarisapien or an Ivra'ak will create an ideal genetic path, and will create offspring that wields the cosmic strength behind its other parent's species.
Growth Rate & Stages
Egg - Newborn - Baby
As an egg, Sorcerers will almost always be unborn except in the case of premature births. They will be inside their mothers and developing with both mana and physical nutrients sent to them in the womb. While Sorcerer eggs are frail and delicate, they can still survive outside of the womb if kept submerged in a bath of liquid mana slurry. They are soft, with no hardened shell or outer membrane, and the developing fetus can be seen through the shell if it is removed from the mother in any way. From birth to two months, a Sorcerer is considered a newborn, and is at its frailest moment in its entire life. Newborn Sorcerers have zero grasp on their own magic, though it is there in some capacity, usually very weak. They are born the size of three week old kittens, and will grow rapidly in their first few months of life. During this time they are exclusively fed by breast milk or formula, and are near functionally useless. From two months to three years, a Sorcerer will be considered an infant, and continues to grow. As their tiny bodies grow, so do their dexterity. They begin to crawl shortly after being weaned at around 8-10 months. First words also tend to happen around this time, usually at the 1-2 year mark.Toddler - Child
From three to five years, a Sorcerer will be learning to walk and stand upright on their own, getting a better grasp on their language and the world around them. From five to eleven years, a Sorcerer is a child, and will have a fairly solid grasp on language. Sorcerer children very frequently have cat-like behavior, behaving similarly to felines in how they play and interact with the world and each other.Preteen - Teenager
From 11 to 15 years a Sorcerer is a preteen, and is starting to view the world in a more serious and less fantastical viewpoint. They will usually have fundamental mastery of literary and mathematical skills at this age. At eleven or so the Sorcerer will usually have at least decent control over their affinity, and may or may not choose to hone their skills in magic. This is the critical point right before puberty starts; at around 15-16, a Sorcerer will begin puberty and start developing the characteristics associated with it. Before puberty, Sorcerers are very androgynous and do not frequently display the dimorphism associated with their species. Female sorcerers frequently gain a lot of weight and muscle mass during puberty, and will keep this weight into adulthood.Young Adult - Adulthood
By 20, puberty will be waning and the Sorcerer will be legally considered an adult. They will not be done growing yet; Sorcerers continue to grow much more slowly until they are around 200 years old, usually gaining only a few inches in height during this time. Sorcerers will be fully mentally developed at adulthood, as well as having a complete and extremely solid grasp on their own magic. Starting at around 700 years, Sorcerers will usually begin to enter post-fertility in both sexes.Elder
Once a Sorcerer reaches the 1,000 mark, they will be considered an elder. Sorcerers of this age frequently grow long and luxurious manes, akin to those of a lion. It is an external symbol of their age. At this age all Sorcerers are post-fertility, and are no longer able to reproduce.Ecology and Habitats
Sorcerers thrive in hot, humid, and tropical environments, and are able to survive temperatures multitudes higher than a stickman can. While their internal temperature and thick fur means they can survive in most temperatures, they prefer staying in warm and lush areas.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Sorcerers are opportunistic herbivores, being able to eat any plant matter and any non-meat animal product such as eggs or cheese. Most Sorcerers are noted to become ill when eating meat products, especially pork. Some individuals have been noted to be able to eat and digest meat products with little-to-no adverse effects on their bodies; these individuals usually grow up eating meat as a supplement to their diet, and develop the gut flora needed to digest it. Sorcerers who consume meat as a staple or primary part of their diet have been documented to revert to a feral and aggressive state.
It is suspected that Sorcerer sensitivity to meat is a result of a sensitivity to taurine, which is a sulfonic acid widely distributed in animal tissues. Eggs and dairy, among other foods, also contain small amounts of taurine in Cier, but not enough to harm a Sorcerer unless eaten in extreme excess.
While most meat products can harm a Sorcerer and make them ill, some such as fish or other seafood are sometimes added as a supplement and/or treat to Sorcerer diets, and seem to have few-to-no negative effects.
Otherwise, Sorcerers are decently resistant to toxins found in food, especially toxins often used in stickfigure food for flavor enhancement, such as capsaicin and menthol.
Disease, Damage, and Disorders
Sorcerers have body temperatures so high that 90% of organic bacteria and disease will die when in contact with their blood. This, however, makes them susceptible to inorganic disease, especially Arcane Mania. Sorcerers have an incredible ability to survive nearly any non-Code damage, even going as far as to survive without a functioning head as long as they can breathe, eat, and drink. Despite this, they cannot regrow lost limbs or appendages naturally; Sorcerers do have the arcane technology to re-attach, re-grow, and replace lost body parts, but a Sorcerer who does not seek assistance for a large loss will not get it back. Large and deep wounds will leave scars, and they can suffer permanent damage just like any other organic creature. Sorcerers can have both mental and physical disabilities and disorders, with many of them analogous to those found in stickmen and other creatures.Behaviour
Emotional Commensalism
Sorcerer emotions have a strong effect on others around them, Sorcerer and otherwise. This is a method of intraspecies communication, making it very difficult for a Sorcerer to hide their emotions from others. The energy a Sorcerer's body gives off will influence the emotions of other creatures, with the strongest effect being that of positive emotions such as love and happiness.Stress Response
If Sorcerers are to be angry or stressed in some way, ink-like tears will form from their eyes and drip down their face. This ink is magical residue and can have strong properties if used in poisons. Stress will also possibly cause them to enter a feral and wild state, with their teeth becoming sharper and hair & fur spiking up like an animal's hackles raising, calling into their Cytile heritage.Additional Information
Social Structure
Sorcerer society and culture is highly based around community and communication. Sorcerers are highly social creatures, much like stickmen, and are not afraid to ask others for help or offer their own assistance for nearly any situation. They are a socialist society, focusing on making sure every individual's needs are met to the best of their ability. Sorcerers have a social hierarchy which puts the most abled individuals into the position of protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
At the bottom of the hierarchy are the inhabitants, who are individuals that are either unable to perform magic, have weakened arcane prowess, or are otherwise physically disabled and unable to work. They are cared for by the rest of their society, with their health and safety being prioritized so they too can participate and survive, as is their right.
Above the inhabitants are the thaumaturge, able-bodied Sorcerers of average build and adequate arcane prowess. The thaumaturge are the "working class" of Sorcerer society and perform most essential jobs such as maintenance, farming, or construction.
Archmages are a step above the thaumaturge, and are Sorcerer individuals with exceptional arcane prowess that take on the task of defending or protecting their society. They are equivalent to soldiers, guards, or knights, and are part of the Enforcement that keeps Sorcerer society safe.
Elders are highly experienced individuals, having many accumulated centuries of wisdom, integrity, and strength. They are often the ones that lead and command the Enforcement.
The King, Tarot, may hold the social role of his deceased father, but wields the title in name only as he chooses to be more directly involved with societal issues alongside the government of Khartes Trichier.
Sorcerer wheelchairs resemble real-world racing wheelchairs, but are modular to allow for smaller configurations.
Sign language for the deaf in Sorcerer society is widespread, and most Sorcerers who are not deaf will also know a fair amount of Khartes Sign Language, or KSL, which bears resemblance to the real-world sign language group BISINDO. KSL is not widespread outside of Khartes Trichier, being only used in small deaf communities of Cierian Sorcerers; most other Sorcerers in Cier would opt to learn and use Common Sign Language, the universal sign language used in most of western Cier. Deaf communities exist within their homeland, though are not as prominent as they may be elsewhere.
Tactile alphabets used by the blind in Sorcerer society consist of simple lines, and are usually written on paper using a thick, coagulating, gel-like ink that differs in both height and texture from the paper it is drawn on. Tactile scripts differ entirely from Braille in both the letters they represent and the way the letters are presented.
The tactile alphabet used by blind Sorcerers in Khartes Trichier bears superficial resemblance to Sundanese scripts. This image represents consonants.
While in the past, people with mental illness were much less well received and cared for, nowadays the social environment leans toward sympathy and empathy for those who are mentally ill. Thanks to the new government under Tarot, therapy and therapists are taken much more seriously. Therapists in Sorcerer society are now more common and are highly qualified for their jobs, going out of their way to provide for those who need it, especially the ones who have gone decades or even centuries without the help they need.
Birds colloquially known as Vestries make up a large portion of the creatures providing the job of service animals. This is due to their emotional intelligence, gentle nature, long lifespans, and easy care. They are strong, large, and social animals, easily trainable and willing to work in pairs or groups. They have been known to be trained for many jobs, including mobility aids, seeing-eye, hearing-ear, seizure alert and response, among others. Vestries can pull wheelchairs, carry medicine, retrieve items, and even run chores for their caretakers if trained to do so.
A female blue phase Vestrie wearing a UV-reflective yellow service vest, and carrying medicine in its pockets.
When it comes to the elderly who are no longer able to work or care for themselves due to illness or injury, Sorcerer society puts in resources to keep them comfortable, healthy, and active. These resources include arcane-oriented daily activities, such as games and exercises, and plenty of contact with their families or - if they have no family left to care for them - other Sorcerers who are in the business of caring for others. The elderly are a highly respected part of Sorcerer society.
Groups and Families
Due to the highly social nature of Sorcerers, it is extremely common for them to live in large family groups, much like the Stickmen they resemble. Some family groups as large as 10-12 individuals can live under the same roof. Since they share this trait with Stickmen, many Sorcerer-Stickman households can have large populations and even integrate other species such as dragons, Digidevils, and pets into the group. Families are not the only ones living in large groups in the same household, for large groups of friends and sometimes large polycules can also share the space for the same need of socializing and community. It is rare for a household with Sorcerers to be completely silent and still.Raising Children
The task of raising Sorcerer children is one that involves an entire community. Local communities will work together to raise children, sharing labor and resources with each other to ensure a secure, healthy childhood. In the past, this was not as huge of a responsibility. Many centuries ago, fostering or orphanages were near unheard of, but have become more common in recent history. Men and women both are expected to do an equal amount of child care, with more of the responsibility being put on the parent with a less busy schedule. As the child ages, they will be expected to contribute to their families by utilizing their magic the best they can and helping with chores and jobs requested of them by the family. When in public, children are expected to act positively and openly, with socializing being encouraged for the sake of growing and connecting with their childhood community. Schooling and education is similar to that of stickmen, being a communal classroom setting and grade system as Sorcerer children and teenagers age. Sorcerer schools focus more on important things to their biology and culture, including in-depth education on magic and the arcane. Sorcerers usually receive sexual education several years before puberty starts, learning about important parts of their biology and how children are born. This is considered a crucial aspect of their education and an appropriate biological study of themselves and of their species. The most socially acceptable time and scenario for Sorcerer children and teenagers to be outside unsupervised, such as to run errands, explore, or play with friends, is when they have a good understanding of their surroundings and of their magic use. It is not often for Sorcerer children to be out of sight of a responsible adult due to Sorcerer communal child-rearing, but in the rare case they are, a solid grasp on their own magic and knowing the way back home will be crucial for protecting themselves and staying safe.Disability and the Elderly
Sorcerer infrastructure and society is highly accessible to the disabled, with most buildings and public locations being built with the physically disabled in mind. Ramps and pulley-powered elevators are available for those with low mobility, and public locations are built with wide enough doors, rooms, and restrooms for those using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Mobility and sensory aids for all kinds of disabilities are developed and distributed to Sorcerers who need them, including wheelchairs, sight canes, hearing aids, and arcane augmentation of any of them to improve effectiveness and ease of access for disabled users. Wheelchairs for Sorcerers consist of a more streamlined, three-wheeled, kart-like appearance. These wheelchairs are built for speed and for maneuverability, as well as comfort and ease of use. It is not uncommon to see a Sorcerer in a wheelchair going much faster than the able-bodied Sorcerers around them due to how strongly built their mobility devices are.Domestication
Sorcerers have tamed and domesticated several species of animal, many of them being birds or bird-like creatures.
Vestries - Colligaves megapommum (Giant Fruit-collecting Bird) - A giant flightless bird frequently employed for physical labor or support for the disabled. These birds are extremely intelligent, one of the smartest species of birds ever discovered, and have a gentle and social nature that made their domestication quick; the first domesticated Vestrie was said to have been bred within ten generations. Domesticated Vestries come in many more colors than their still-living ancestors, with most of their bred colors consisting of blues, oranges, and yellows. They have long tails for a bird, with colorful and sweeping year-round tail plumage in both sexes that is often humanely cropped to keep the bird clean. Unusual for a modern day bird is their small wings and hand claws, which were atrophied from their ancestors as they were bred further.
Owlcats - Ursamimus minutus (Miniature Bear-Mimic) - Domesticated descendants of Grizzlyhawks, large bear-like saurischians distantly related to the fierce cabeça-de-tochas. Owlcats are very small and stocky animals, with a chubby and short-legged appearance that their thick feathers round out significantly. Owlcats are common pets in Sorcerer homes, being semi-social and affectionate enough to seek out physical affection from their owners and caretakers. They only reach sizes similar to those of cats, unlike their Grizzlyhawk ancestors which could stand eye-to-eye with Sorcerers of shorter height. Owlcats are obligate carnivores and prefer to eat fish and mice, which makes them helpful animals to keep down pests on farms.
Owlcats are beloved household pets and efficient pest hunters on farms.
Golvords - Gigacondylus bombyx (Giant silk-fist) - A member of the Tessambulaves (Knuckle-walking birds) clade, a group of saurischians which also include Owlcats and Grizzlyhawks. Despite the name, Golvords are not birds at all, instead being non-avian dinosaurs only distantly related to birds. Golvords are large, muscular animals with long and powerful arms that have found themselves being useful for several aspects of Sorcerer society, including physical labor and textile production. The long hair-like protofeathers down their spines and tails are extremely soft and strong, and are frequently sheared and woven into textiles for things like blankets, clothing, and stuffed animals. Golvord feathers fetch a high price outside of Khartes Trichier due to their rarity outside of Sorcerer society, and their caretakers frequently tie and braid their tails to keep them clean and untangled for shearing. They were domesticated many centuries ago, though many years before that they had already been harvested for feathers at little risk to the Sorcerers who sheared them as long as they were fed fruit they could not reach.
Golvords are gentle and amicable animals, but are very capable of protecting themselves with both their enormous taloned fists and their sharp beak horns. Few predators ever attempt to battle a Golvord due to the sheer strength behind their strikes. Sorcerers have utilized this physical strength to assist with plowing fields and harvesting crops and fruit in absence of high-tech machinery.
A male Golvord with a traditional tied tail, and an image of the same Golvord wearing a yoke and pulling a plow.
Khormuns - Otiosudon luteus (Russet lazy tooth) - A large dicynodont with long shaggy fur and immense milk production capabilities. Khormuns are lazy herbivores that lactate to feed their young and moisturize their eggs, which was selectively bred by Sorcerers to increase in production far beyond their usual amount. Domesticated Khormuns produce milk almost year-round after laying eggs, giving Sorcerer society an excellent nutritional supplement during times of low harvest. Khormuns are also helpful for digging up root vegetables such as potatoes and beets, with their large clawed forepaws making digging an almost effortless endeavor. While this physical labor is helpful, Khormuns are rarely motivated to assist in such an endeavor unless starving.
Milk harvesting and processing for Khormuns is different than that of a mammal or the crop milk producing birds in Cier. As Khormuns are stem-mammals and lack nipples or udders, sweated milk is collected from their bellies by tying hyper-absorbent Golvord-fiber fabrics around their bodies, affectionately referred to as milk bibs or milk bras. These bibs can hold up to a gallon of milk per sheet, and the humid environment of Khartes Trichier prevents severe evaporation over the course of the day. Once the bibs are collected, the Khormuns are allowed to dry before a new one is re-tied around their bodies, preventing bacterial infection or mold growth.
After collection, the bibs are taken to a large bucket or other container where they are squeezed dry. This process often involves a hand cranked clamp system to remove as much liquid as possible. After extraction, the milk is run through several filters to remove any dirt or fur in the liquid, and then boiled to kill off any bacteria. After boiling, the milk is safe for consumption and can be processed further into cream, cheese, or other dairy related products. Khormun milk and dairy products are described as having a very mild and sweet flavor, as opposed to the extremely strong and fatty flavor of the avian crop milk produced in Cier.
Khormuns are very lazy, docile, and beloved animals for their laid-back nature and cute appearance. Many Sorcerer farmers give their Khormuns patterned milk bibs.
Yuxees - Opignathus inanis (Fat flightless jaw) - A chicken-sized anurognathid domesticated by Sorcerers for egg production. Yuxees were domesticated several centuries ago and selectively bred to be flightless and potbellied, which allows for easier and more frequent egg production. Yuxee eggs are oblong, light blue in color, and soft-shelled, but are around the same size as that of a chicken egg. They will lay unfertilized eggs one or two times every day in good conditions.
Yuxees as a species are high-strung, scrappy, insectivorous animals, often eating large insects such as moths and beetles that they find on the ground or under rocks. They will chase and attempt to intimidate any threats, even ones several multitudes bigger than them, using a piercing shriek that most animals, Sorcerers included, in Khartes Trichier hate. However, to their Sorcerer caretakers only, they are docile, affectionate, and friendly.
Unlike most other Sorcerer farm animals, Yuxees tolerate long-distance transportation and can thrive outside of Khartes Trichier if kept in a very hot and humid location. This has led to them becoming popular animals on the internet, with many strange and cute videos of them being spread online.
Yuxees are bizarre looking animals and are a mascot for a farming company outside of Khartes Trichier.
Hirbas - Gyrinemis mageia [Magic pollen-thigh] - A species of large bee-like hummingbirds that extract mana and nectar from plants and process it into a rich blue honey. The honey is noted to be sweet but metallic in flavor due to high amounts of electrolytes, but in Sorcerer society it is most commonly used as a powerful arcane biofuel and fertilizer. Despite their cute appearance, Hirbas are vicious little animals. Their long curved beaks, evolved for drinking nectar out of deep flowers, are extremely sharp and can stab through even the tough skin of a Sorcerer and drain mana. As such, proper physical protection is needed for one harvesting wild Hirba honey, including a mask to cover the face, especially when dealing with larger and more aggressive flocks.
When harvesting honey from Hirbas, Sorcerers typically smoke the birds with lightly burning kindling twigs, which makes the birds lethargic and less willing to fight. The oldest comb is harvested from wild flocks first, leaving behind enough for the birds to drink without having to expend too much extra energy rebuilding the nest. Cultivated and domestic Hirbas flocks live in self-grown forests designed for highest quality of life and best production. These small sections of forests are known to be almost entirely overgrown with large trees and thick flowering bushes of multiple species, which the Hirbas pollinate by hovering into their petals and spreading pollen on their fluffy hind legs.
Hirba honey, alongside its high electrolyte content, also contains a large portion of near-purified mana in liquid form. This is the reason for its blue color. It is created when the birds mix nectar and mana with fatty cells in their crop, which gives it its thick and gooey consistency. Mana honey with higher amounts of mana is often thicker and more effective as a fertilizer, while lower amounts of mana will make the honey runnier, sweeter, and more appropriate as a food item. When creating the distinctive large triangular cells of their nests, Hirbas mix the fatty "crop milk" with preening oils secreted from glands under their wings, which hardens upon being exposed to cooler air made by wingbeats.
Traditional harvesting of wild Hirba honey is done with protective clothing, kindling twigs, and a distinct curved blade.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Common & Famous Exports
Sorcerers do have several very popular and common exports, many of them being mana-related due to how much their culture and civilization centers around the use of magic and the arcane. Hirba honey and Golvord wool are their primary animal-related exports, as Hirba honey is one of the only Sorcerer foodstuffs that manage to preserve for the long period of time it takes to reach the mainland and further. Hirba honey is famous for almost never expiring, and has been the source of many emergency sources of food and energy across the continent of Cier. The honey is also popular in foods for entities, due to its high mana content and slightly metallic flavor. While many consider it delicious and an excellent biofuel, it is an extremely expensive treat outside of Khartes Trichier and is only used in foods in small amounts to preserve it. Golvord wool is comparable to silk in its softness and versatility, but it stands out against silk in its strength and durability. While not nearly as expensive as Hirba honey, it is a luxury item only bought by the most wealthy of people, and can be dyed and woven into beautiful and comfortable garments. Golvord wool has also been notably useful in early astrophysics, being able to withstand high pressure and temperatures many other materials cannot. Enchanted tools and weapons are another popular, and much more accessible, Sorcerer product. Sorcerers are very good at enchanting items, being able to apply highly specific and customized enchantments to any item they desire. Most of these items will be enchanted as an aid for low-arcane individuals or blanks, or amplifying magical ability through weapons. Sorcerers specialize in forging short and medium-sized blades. Enchanted paper is in the same vein as the exported tools and weapons, with the paper from Khartes Trichier being high in natural mana. This paper is very abundant due to the use of Hirba honey to grow the trees that make it, and is beloved by wizards and mages on eastern Cier. It is ideal for binding spellbooks of all kinds. The enchanted paper is also used for temporary runes and glyphs, though such usage is discouraged due to how valuable the paper is in reusable spells. Patterned robes are a colorful and artistic export from Khartes Trichier, resembling batik in appearance and method of creation. These robes will glow when in contact with mana or when strong UV light is shined on them, having many hidden colors and patterns that only Sorcerers can see under normal conditions. The robes are a beloved part of Sorcerer culture, often being worn to special or even casual social events. Due to the handmade nature of them, they are the most expensive export to Cierians; a single robe can take weeks to finish.Geographic Origin and Distribution
Sorcerers are native to Khartes Trichier, or the Sorcerer Land, a once-hidden location within the lush, tropical Aetherian Isles. A vast majority of their population is within the Sorcerer Land, though there are also individuals scattered across the rest of Cier, with most of them being found in the southwest close to their homeland.
Average Intelligence
Sorcerers are sapient creatures with intelligence equaling that of a stickman and dragon. They are the most intelligent in the emotional, social, and arcane categories, with most of their cultural and societal development being based around those things rather than around technology.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Vision
Sorcerers have excellent vision akin to that of a stickman, with the major difference being the colors that they are able to perceive. While stickmen can perceive the most shades of green out of any color, Sorcerers can perceive the most shades of yellow and blue, even ones that stickmen cannot perceive. Sorcerers are also unique in the sense that they are able to see ultraviolet light, giving them a worldly perception not unlike that of a bird. Being native to a tropical region, the amount of plants, birds, and insects that glow under ultraviolet light makes this adaptation especially useful. Sorcerers consider themselves able to perceive emotional colors as well, which partially lines up with the ultraviolet spectrum as "emotional colors" are magic and mana, which are partially visible in ultraviolet. Some train this ability to be able to detect their surroundings in the dark. Sorcerers also have the trait of markings only visible under ultraviolet, usually consisting of stripes.
Hearing
Sorcerers have very sensitive hearing, and are well known to be jumpy and nervous around loud sounds. Sound-based weapons are proven to be very effective against them.Arcane Sense
Sorcerers have an innate ability to sense arcane energy around them, especially that coming from the Sorcerer's Codes of other Sorcerers around them. This is integral for intraspecies communication and recognition; being able to sense the energy coming off of other Sorcerers allows them to detect each other's emotions and react accordingly.Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Some parasites have adapted for Sorcerer bodies, taking advantage of their unusual biology to grow and proliferate in conditions that would kill other creatures of the same body shape.
Malum fructus, the "sucking fruit", is a parasitic plant that takes root in the heads of creatures with high arcane energy. It takes mana from living creatures to use as nutrients, and when infecting a Sorcerer, will grow roots deep into the dense muscle and nerve mass of their head. Sorcerers are one of the few creatures that can survive long-term infection of this plant due to their lack of a brain. Malum fructus spreads by influencing its hosts to give its fruits to other creatures, where it will be digested and processed in the bloodstream before taking root in its victim and eventually killing it. The only known way to remove Malum fructus from a Sorcerer host is intensive surgery, high-electricity laser removal, or acid removal.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Sorcerers are always named after birth, with no consideration of their name being taken until after they are born. Traditionally, a baby is named after the magical energy they emit. These names strongly allude to the magical and physical capabilities of the Sorcerer even into adulthood. A week after a baby is born and named, it is tradition for them to have their hair cut. This is a practice stemming from the belief that doing so would cause their hair to grow neatly. Such traditions are not performed for a Sorcerer who changes their name as an adult.
Changing one's name as a Sorcerer is culturally seen less as an official event and more of a display of self-expression, with changed names being viewed more as nicknames than "real names". While Sorcerers do not judge the changing of a name, changing one's name holds little ground legally in their society and birth names will still be used on all legal documents including birth certificates, identification, and in medical scenarios.
Some individuals who wanted to seek a true name change, such as to erase their deadnames from history, have done so outside of the Sorcerer realm using both external legal methods and name-related magic.
Beauty Ideals
Beauty and appearance are highly emphasized in Sorcerer culture, with one's appearance commonly being integral to how they are perceived. To a Sorcerer, eyes and fur are the most beautiful parts of their body; fur is especially expected to be clean, straight, and well groomed. Most of a Sorcerer's beauty and hygiene routine is based around fur maintenance. Unique and special eyes, with bright irises and unusual pupils, are also thought upon highly in Sorcerer culture. These eyes are a sign of emotional health, with a phenomenon being rarely observed of Sorcerer eyes changing to resemble that of a Cytile's when under emotional distress.
Some features are also considered traditionally ugly or unappealing, with such features including sharper nails or claws, uneven teeth, bodily asymmetry, and lack of common non-limb features; the strong mutations seen in asexually-born Sorcerers are an excellent example, with malformed faces and bodies with missing or extra teeth and eyes. Unkempt and messy fur is also seen as typically unappealing, alluding to personal laziness, but it is considered acceptable if it is on a Sorcerer who has a physically active job. Between men and women, Sorcerer women are more socially accepted to be unkempt and have uneven teeth.
In order to fit in with beauty ideals, Sorcerers stay clean and neat. Men more often wear body paint across their bodies, to make their fur and markings appear more appealing to others.
Beauty is emphasized in individuality. All Sorcerers are different and unique. As such, handmade robes and clothing will be tailored to the Sorcerer who wears them. However, during certain events, Sorcerers are expected to conform to a standard. Marriage, funerals, festivals, and births are social events where individuals are expected to connect in the form of standardized appearances and clothing.
Gender Ideals
Sorcerers have a distinct gender binary in their society, supported by their natural sexual dimorphism. The standard is for Sorcerer men to be thin and lean, and women to be fit and muscular. Women are known to typically be rowdier and bombastic while Sorcerer men remain calm, quiet, and composed. While not necessarily discouraged, men are not expected to be as emotional as women.
In Sorcerer society, women are more often expected to perform intense physical labor. They usually have occupations relating to farming, construction, masonry, carpentry, etc. Men, on the other hand, are commonly found in jobs that require use of the mind or of magic. Sports are usually played by women, though this does not stop men from joining them. Relating to their jobs, women typically wear tight-fitting clothing that frees up their limbs and men wear long, flowing clothing that covers most of their body.
Gender binary is not strictly enforced in Sorcerer society, as much as it is encouraged and as much as many older, more conservative or traditional Sorcerers may try to push conformation. Sorcerers are free to crossdress, perform jobs atypical of their presented gender, and enter roles they wouldn't be expected to enter. Androgyny, on the other hand, is more controversial; many individuals feel slight unease upon meeting those who present androgynously. It is tolerated, but can be hard to get used to or mentally overcome for those deep-rooted in traditional gender values. Once individuals know each other, however, this discomfort typically wanes.
Children are typically expected to start having an understanding of their own gender and identity at around three or four years old, when they will either be exploring this sense of self on their own or being taught it by their parents.
LGBT/Queer Identities
Sorcerer society has had a long and bumpy road regarding queer identities. Ever since their creation as a species and the very early days of their religion, queer individuals and identities were looked down upon or even shunned for religious reasons. Religiously, homosexual and transgender individuals were seen as a threat to the balance of their societal progression, which led to most if not all queer Sorcerers hiding their identities or being arrested or killed over them. Nowadays, under Tarot's rule, this religious ruling has been deemed deceitful and deceptive. Queer identities have become more accepted in recent years, though they may still struggle under the strong prejudice of some of their elders. As the general acceptance of queer identity grows stronger, so does access to resources and community regarding it. Hormone replacement therapy is in low supply as it currently is in the Sorcerer land, and transgender individuals will often learn magic to perform this task on their own bodies- however, as time goes on, more people are specializing in HRT and it is gaining more public support. Gender-affirming clothing and accessories are varied and in good supply, especially due to how crossdressing is not seen as a threat to most in the society. Queer individuals in Sorcererkind are less common than in stickfigures, though it is not considered rare by any means. They manage to connect in very small but prominent groups. Due to how many of their queer elders were estranged or outright removed from society, they have few left to teach them the history of their queer ancestors.Courtship Ideals
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Relationship Ideals
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Average Technological Level
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Major Language Groups and Dialects
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Common Etiquette Rules
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Common Dress Code
An adequate amount of modesty is expected of Sorcerers in public. All individuals are expected to wear appropriate clothing when not actively performing their respective occupations, with men more often wearing full-body robes. Women are not expected to wear robes as often, due to their innately stronger and larger builds that robes only restrict. When out in public, the abdomen, hip, and leg areas are most expected to be covered due to the sexualization of them in their culture. Legs are more sexualized on men, while the abdomen and hip areas are more so on women; women will typically show their legs more than men, and vice versa on other mentioned aspects.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Religion
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History
Sorcerers were by no means a natural creation of the world of Cier.
Their species began from the will of a Mage Solarisapien, an angel-like being from the stars, who was inspired by humanity and wondered to herself if she could create life as they do. She, Trionfi, took the form of a human nun and began to search for life in the wildnerness. After searching for life within the wild, Trionfi found a curious, lean creature called a Cytile which approached her to investigate. Using her power, Trionfi turned this creature into a humanoid sophont, later to be named as Ganjifa.
By Sugarratio
Trionfi chose Ganjifa as a vessel for life, out of curiosity and wanting to learn how life works in this strange world. Ganjifa agreed, though not with any human language. Trionfi decided she needed to educate Ganjifa, and happened upon a mysterious man in the woods who she assumed - based on his appearance - had vast knowledge on something. Ganjifa appeared to be very interested in this mysterious man, and approached him excitedly, leading to a pounce and tackle.
After removing Ganjifa from the mysterious man, Trionfi explained that she found Ganjifa lost in a forest, appearing to have lost his memories and only going by instinct. She introduced herself to the man, and the man returned the favor by revealing himself as Kado, an archaeologist. He told them that he was studying magic known as Soulfire, a powerful kind of mana taken from one's own Arcane Veil. Trionfi found herself inspired by such potent magic, and decided to create the Sorcerers.
She and Kado educated Ganjifa and taught him basic knowledge, raising him into an average person with him as the vessel of creation. Ganjifa and Kado developed intimate feelings for each other and entered a relationship, which proved to be against a promise that Trionfi and Kado had made. Trionfi threatened them in order to make them split up; Either Ganjifa would leave Kado, or Kado would leave Ganjifa, and the remaining person would create Sorcerers with Trionfi. Kado chose to leave Ganjifa's side.
Trionfi presented her belief of what life should be like as a religion, pushing it onto Ganjifa, who lived in a state of fear and misery. She gave him the strength to survive the thousands of years they would be together; a Chronokey, a treasured relic created by the elder dragon Aeon. She traded a coveted object for this Chronokey, developing a mutual trust bond with the dragon.
Eventually, together, both of them bred a new race now known as the Sorcerers. Ganjifa, having originally been a female Cytile who ended up taking the appearance and societal role of a man, wound up being the one bearing and giving birth to the Sorcerer race. With help from the legendary Stork, the Sorcerers were able to propagate and spread as a species. This led to the creation of the Sorcerer's land, a bustling medieval city hidden away in a magical dome with strict regulations of coming and going in and out of the kingdom.
by SugarRatio
Historical Figures
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Common Myths and Legends
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Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Dragons
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Scientific Name
Cytilia solarisoracus
Origin/Ancestry
The original sorcerers were born from two significantly different beings breeding and producing offspring. One was a mage Solarisapien known as Trionfi, and the other was a Cytile creature later to be known as Ganjifa.
Lifespan
Functionally immortal.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Average Height
7-8 feet
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