Harvesters
Arrosé, the creator of Harvesters, may be the closest aspect of God left in this world. Not the twisted Ichor found in the pigs of Greywood or the mutilated bodies of Fey. Nor the angered and burdened Verve that has been abused by mages through the centuries. No - Arrosé is pure and as such, shares Gods long-lost wishes. They wish to experience all. The joy and excitement meant for life as well as trifles and sorrows and hurt.
Arrosé retains the power to grant souls. Not just to cleanse and reuse old ones, but truly breathe life into new ones. They know that they will come back and tell all they have heard, even if their physical bodies never do. And Arrosé will listen and live.
Harvesters know of this. They feel a deep urge to simply experience. It is a great honour to live a varied life and many travel to see as many sights as they can. They long to learn and pick up skills, you never know when tying sailor knots and knitting may be useful. And if nothing else, the great joy of learning makes it worth it either way.
But, as strongly as they feel to experience, when their life is coming to an end, all Harvesters feel a pull home. They want nothing more than to reflect and appreciate what they have lived through and to tell it on to the next. Those who can, make the pilgrimage back to the Silent Isles.
A traveler returning is a joyous occasion, one worth of celebration and feast. It is a touching sight to see all variations of sentient beasts sitting by Arrosé's water edge and listen to this wanderer returned. The sweet bliss of feeling the water hold you after you have retold all you know, is said to be the only joyous way to die. A deserved rest awaits them as they know the soul will experience once more.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Harvesters vary slightly in morphology. Some are the spitting image of the animals they descend from, choosing to walk on all fours. A through line of Harvesters seem be their limiting factor of only replicating mammals found in the Cradle. There has yet to be any witness of a reptilian or amphibian Harvester.
While a lot of Harvesters are the spitting image of wild beasts, some have evolved to exhibit more humanly features. The most common being changed front feet, mimicking human hands. Their back legs are left unchanged. Due to this feature, the Harvesters with modified hands, often walk on only two legs - similar to a Human stance.
Genetics and Reproduction
Harvesters do not reproduce like the animals they mimic. In truth, they lack all want to reproduce or partake in sexual acts. Harvesters are solely born on Arrosé's wish. Be it the beautiful waters in the Silent Isles or the hazy fog in the Mist Woods, some animals are drawn to it and are born anew. They are always welcomed heartily by the existing Harvesters. There seem to be no rhyme or reason to what animals get chosen, but some have theorized that when a Harvester dies anywhere, a new one is called to life.
Growth Rate & Stages
Harvesters, due to their strange birthing conditions, lack a stage of growth. Or well not truly. It happens during an animals life, before they are called upon by Arrosé, and lingers ever faintly in a Harvester's memory. If anything, the rebirth is shocking and takes months to get used to. This is what most Harvester's would consider "childhood".
Ecology and Habitats
Harvesters hail from either the Silent Isles, a mysterious archipelago south of The Council of Oars that once was a royal garden filled with exotic animals, or the Mist Woods, a foggy patch of forest deep in The Grey Woods.
Within the Silent Isles, it is a strange habitat. Harvesters share the islands with animals not yet reawakened. Unexplained, there is no violence on these lands. Possibly a feat of magic? Or Harvesters and the animals they share home with, are truly not violent creatures.
Furthermore, the Silent Isles hosts a curious architecture. Once upon a time, a beautiful lush exotic collection of plants and animals, held in some forgotten king or noble's name, is now overgrown and decrepit - repurposed for the animalistic needs. Seemingly everything needed is provided. There is food to be found and clean water from the fountain that is now submerged in Arrosé's water.
As Harvester's are birthed upon Arrosé's command, there is never a problem of overpopulation. While a new birth cannot be expected per se, there are always resources prepared.
Dietary Needs and Habits
All Harvesters are herbivores by nature, even the ones who one would assume to be carnivores. This is attributed to Arrosé's magical prowess, and has no side-effect within the specimens. Some choose to find more protein-rich sources, but all equally have a distaste for meat.
Biological Cycle
All Harvesters live out their growing years before the "rebirth", but live longer than their animal counterpart would. Beasts that would normally only see a few years, reach at least 30 cycles before their Harvester body gives out.
Some Harvesters choose to hibernate, as it feels natural, but it is not necessary and many opt not to. Changes to appearance, such as fur colourations, happens outside the Harvester's personal control.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
All Harvesters seem to have an instinctual understanding of Verve they cannot explain. This is not something learned, but innate. Many share the ability to perform a small magic act or two, be it light healing or convincing a plant to bloom early. Most though, do not stray further than their base understanding of magic.
The Harvesters of the Mist Woods seem to share an extrasensory ability to detect haunts and spirits. A select few are able to converse freely with them.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Harvesters lack surnames, as they have no concept of familial bonds. They are all children of Arrosé.
For chosen names, it is often picked by the ones around them, either based on a visual feature, interest or simply something that sounds fitting. Sometimes, a particularly strong-willed Harvester will decide one themselves (even if it is later in their life cycle), if they feel it describes them better. It happens as well that Harvesters pick up more Human names in their travels, if they find it suits them better or aids them.
Common Dress Code
Harvesters vary somewhat, but a common trend seems to be simply clothing meant to last. Harvester tailors in Geld are revered for their talents in weaving garb that lasts for decades. Their clothing is often tied onto the body, due to their somewhat odd physiologies. While undetailed, or unremarkable, blue tones are quite prevalent as a nod to Arrosé.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Harvesters value experiences above all. While they would not place someone in danger for it, many Harvesters may try risky things if they deem it valuable, be it fighting, substances or joyrides. Harvesters try to keep an open mind, and often to choose to listen first before weighing in with their opinions on any given matter.
A lot of Harvesters value wandering over the settled life, and even going so far as to claiming only the young, old and wounded should ever be still for long. As such, most Harvesters found in the Human Kingdoms are either part of some traveling troupe or caravan, or wandering on their own.
Common Taboos
Spitting or fouling water is seen as distasteful.
Common Myths and Legends
The Legend of the Mist Woods is one commonly told within Harvester circles (but not to other species out of fear of exposure).
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Humans
Harvesters have a complicated relationship with Humans, mostly depending on which kingdom they hail from. Geld, with it's accepting borders, welcome Harvesters due to their vast knowledge and skill, while Greywood and Iron Banks shun them due to their differences. Council of Oars view them as an interesting and valuable trading ally, but come off as too greedy to many Harvesters.
Fey
Harvesters and Fey have a distaste for one another. Fey look down upon Harvesters, often likening them to simple beasts and dull-minded. Harvesters in turn disagree with Konsearnan Fey for their unkindness and cruel ambition. Within other kingdoms, Harvesters and Fey may turn into fast friends due to their alienation. .
Documented Harvester Specimen
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