Zithraeli
The notorious Sea Slavers. The great Shadows of Sorkelige. The mysterious Zithraeli are a long-forgotten, primordial race that have existed for time immemorial. They are among the very few surviving antediluvian races found among the world of Veska. They themselves have lived long enough to witness the creation of The Qlippoth. Countless civilizations have rose and fall over the course of history. Several apocalypses have befallen Veska, extinction events that lead to the dying of thousands, and yet, the Zithraeli have withstood this test of time. They remain deep in the ocean, hidden away from the other races in isolation.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Zithraeli resemble enormous, long eels with six eyes at the front. Two eyes line either side of the face, while a central eye remains at the middle, just above the upper two eyes. Their mouths open into a tunnel of countless razor sharp teeth that grind and rotate through the flesh of their victims. Bony pseudo-arms are found resting along the sides of these holes, which grasp and shove meals into their mouths. They resemble sharp pincers capable of grasping and pinching any stray bits that might fall from their food.
Their bodies continue growing over time; across the remainder of their body are bioluminescent spheres that develop across each side of the body. Although the Zithraeli are capable of seeing perfectly in the dark, the lights are actually designed to allow their subjects to see as they please.
The Zithraeli are wreathed by a mane of thick, writhing tendrils resting beyond their head. Two of these tendrils end with lamprey-like suckers designed to begin the process of creating their special mucus. The remaining tentacles are noted for their capability of literally distorting the flesh they make contact with through mucus secretions. Any flesh the Zithraeli touches is capable of being shaped through the mucus, which allows them to twist and bend physical bodies to their desires.
Lamprey Mouths: The Lamprey mouths are actually not for feeding; but for creating a greyish slurry that their body produces for the sake of creating a special mucus. The mouths have sharpened toothy plates that hook and root into anything they connect with. From there, a special, lance-like tongue spears the victim before predigestion fluid drains the subject into a pinkish slurry. This slurry is taken off to a unique organ that converts the flesh into their mucus.
Mucus: Zithraeli Mucus is their most iconic -- if not horrifying trait. The mucus is capable of sifting through any bit of organic matter their tentacles touch, which allows the Zithraeli to burrow their tentacles through prey, or shape the flesh to their devising. Flesh shaping can range from nonlethal to lethal. Zithraeli are all exceptionally skilled at this, but the elders of Zithraeli society are called Sculptors, for they are the ones who are charged with shaping and manipulating the creatures they've subjugated to their will. The mucus used is capable of rapidly changing itself into any bit of flesh the Zithraeli desires, which allows them to add further mutations or changes to their subjects. It is this mucus that also allows the Zithraeli to alter their own forms at a whim, though they vastly prefer the forms they take.
Brains: The Zithraeli has two brains. The primary brain is designed to provide its basic functions and activities, much like any other brain. The other, however, is known in their language as the Elder Mind. The Elder Mind is responsible for serving as a repository to all memories that the Zithraeli gathers throughout its life cycle. It is capable of remembering everything much like watching a movie, with complete photographic detail of every event it witnesses. Coupled with immortality, most Zithraeli may grow spiteful as a result, for they can remember every slight or harm done to them in graphic detail.
The Zithraeli also liken the Elder Mind to a stomach. This is because much like a stomach, it feeds upon knowledge. Should a Zithraeli feed upon a brain or creature with a mind, the Elder Mind actually absorbs the knowledge and bestows it to the Zithraeli. It is a custom -- an expectation, for Zithraeli to devour each other whenever one dies out of respect, for the sole purpose of storing their memories within the Elder Mind. This incredible power is what links many Zithraeli together, allowing them to absorb and learn the thoughts and memories of all Zithraeli before them. As a Zithraeli grows older, the Elder mind expands; a bony plating guards it along the Zithraeli's back.
Speaking Organs: A Zithraeli does not speak through its mouth. Instead, it has a special orifice that creates a burbling noise that they can amplify or change at a whim. These complex burblings make it impossible for others to speak their language. However, their incredible psionic powers allow for them to speak through telepathy as well.
Their bodies continue growing over time; across the remainder of their body are bioluminescent spheres that develop across each side of the body. Although the Zithraeli are capable of seeing perfectly in the dark, the lights are actually designed to allow their subjects to see as they please.
The Zithraeli are wreathed by a mane of thick, writhing tendrils resting beyond their head. Two of these tendrils end with lamprey-like suckers designed to begin the process of creating their special mucus. The remaining tentacles are noted for their capability of literally distorting the flesh they make contact with through mucus secretions. Any flesh the Zithraeli touches is capable of being shaped through the mucus, which allows them to twist and bend physical bodies to their desires.
Lamprey Mouths: The Lamprey mouths are actually not for feeding; but for creating a greyish slurry that their body produces for the sake of creating a special mucus. The mouths have sharpened toothy plates that hook and root into anything they connect with. From there, a special, lance-like tongue spears the victim before predigestion fluid drains the subject into a pinkish slurry. This slurry is taken off to a unique organ that converts the flesh into their mucus.
Mucus: Zithraeli Mucus is their most iconic -- if not horrifying trait. The mucus is capable of sifting through any bit of organic matter their tentacles touch, which allows the Zithraeli to burrow their tentacles through prey, or shape the flesh to their devising. Flesh shaping can range from nonlethal to lethal. Zithraeli are all exceptionally skilled at this, but the elders of Zithraeli society are called Sculptors, for they are the ones who are charged with shaping and manipulating the creatures they've subjugated to their will. The mucus used is capable of rapidly changing itself into any bit of flesh the Zithraeli desires, which allows them to add further mutations or changes to their subjects. It is this mucus that also allows the Zithraeli to alter their own forms at a whim, though they vastly prefer the forms they take.
Brains: The Zithraeli has two brains. The primary brain is designed to provide its basic functions and activities, much like any other brain. The other, however, is known in their language as the Elder Mind. The Elder Mind is responsible for serving as a repository to all memories that the Zithraeli gathers throughout its life cycle. It is capable of remembering everything much like watching a movie, with complete photographic detail of every event it witnesses. Coupled with immortality, most Zithraeli may grow spiteful as a result, for they can remember every slight or harm done to them in graphic detail.
The Zithraeli also liken the Elder Mind to a stomach. This is because much like a stomach, it feeds upon knowledge. Should a Zithraeli feed upon a brain or creature with a mind, the Elder Mind actually absorbs the knowledge and bestows it to the Zithraeli. It is a custom -- an expectation, for Zithraeli to devour each other whenever one dies out of respect, for the sole purpose of storing their memories within the Elder Mind. This incredible power is what links many Zithraeli together, allowing them to absorb and learn the thoughts and memories of all Zithraeli before them. As a Zithraeli grows older, the Elder mind expands; a bony plating guards it along the Zithraeli's back.
Speaking Organs: A Zithraeli does not speak through its mouth. Instead, it has a special orifice that creates a burbling noise that they can amplify or change at a whim. These complex burblings make it impossible for others to speak their language. However, their incredible psionic powers allow for them to speak through telepathy as well.
Genetics and Reproduction
Zithraeli are hermaphroditic. They do not reproduce normally, but instead randomly reproduce at around the age of forty. Zithraeli reproduction is simply a new part of their life cycle; they often liken it to 'ridding themselves of youth', viewing the age of forty as the beginning of adulthood, with the child being their youth manifest. During this time, a gland swells with children in a womb-like organ. The Zithraeli generally retreats deep into an isolated area before excreting the womb, leaving the 3-6 young to free themselves from the flesh using their tendrils.
Zithraeli are born inheriting pre-programmed memories into their Elder Mind at birth; they thus are born with all the knowledge necessary to speak the Zithraeli language, and retain most of the memories from their parent.
Zithraeli are born inheriting pre-programmed memories into their Elder Mind at birth; they thus are born with all the knowledge necessary to speak the Zithraeli language, and retain most of the memories from their parent.
Growth Rate & Stages
Zithraeli are literally capable of functioning as adults at birth; though a Zithraeli is not considered an adult until they have children. Typically, this is around the age of forty. Despite that, the Zithraeli never really stop growing. As a Zithraeli grows, a bony carapace slowly begins to thicken and broaden over their back, acting as a special casing that protects the Elder Mind.
Ecology and Habitats
The Zithraeli dwell deep within the ocean, far, far from the reaches of any civilization. There, they create cyclopean towers and spiraling, monolithic cities. Close to none have ever had the opportunity to see a Zithraeli city and return to speak of it, leaving their kind to be unknown among the world above.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Zithraeli are technically omnivorous, and capable of eating just about anything they like. Despite that, they're incapable of taste and thus generally do not have a proper cuisine or set of dining that they prefer. Instead; Zithraeli generally prefer to consume sapient or intelligent creatures. This is because their memories are capable of being assimilated into their Elder Mind, allowing them to further learn of things as they devour and nourish themselves upon both the body and mind of their victims.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Zithraeli social structure is rather simple. It follows a pyramid of three;
Zithraeliach: (Zith-ray-lee-ack). Lord of all Zithraeli, and antediluvian God of all things dwelling within the deep. Zithraeliach is the only antediluvian god that still lives to this day; to the Zithraeli, all Gods and faiths are seen as falsehoods, for Zithraeliach not only rules them all, but he predates them as well. Zithraeliach is truthfully the only thing who's beginning remains unknown to the Zithraeli, and he is thus considered the only thing worthy of having divine status, aside from themselves.
The Eldest: The Eldest are a council of Zithraeli that are formed from the six oldest living creatures. True to their name, the Eldest are comprised of the most ancient and wise of the Zithraeli; they make their home in their profaned capital. They are generally followed out of reverence rather than status, for their great age leads to not only vast wisdom, but phenomenal power.
All Zithraeli are born into their wisdom, and thus, there is no social caste of note.
Zithraeliach: (Zith-ray-lee-ack). Lord of all Zithraeli, and antediluvian God of all things dwelling within the deep. Zithraeliach is the only antediluvian god that still lives to this day; to the Zithraeli, all Gods and faiths are seen as falsehoods, for Zithraeliach not only rules them all, but he predates them as well. Zithraeliach is truthfully the only thing who's beginning remains unknown to the Zithraeli, and he is thus considered the only thing worthy of having divine status, aside from themselves.
The Eldest: The Eldest are a council of Zithraeli that are formed from the six oldest living creatures. True to their name, the Eldest are comprised of the most ancient and wise of the Zithraeli; they make their home in their profaned capital. They are generally followed out of reverence rather than status, for their great age leads to not only vast wisdom, but phenomenal power.
All Zithraeli are born into their wisdom, and thus, there is no social caste of note.
Average Intelligence
It goes without saying that the Zithraeli are obscenely intelligent. With minds that are capable of expanding as infinitely as their age, and brains that only grow the more that they feed and gather information, none are capable of surpassing the Zithraeli in regards to intelligence.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
A Zithraeli's mind is so potent and powerful that they are capable of projecting their will through the silver, central eye. This eye, in their tongue, is simply called the Mind's Eye, and allows them to project their thoughts, whims, and memories into reality. This makes the Zithraeli masterful illusionists, allowing them to effectively create any image they desire, so long as they know of it. These illusions are also capable of simulating scent, smell, and touch.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Zithraeli names are unable to be spoken with the human tongue, for they speak with a series of burbling and syllables that are exhibited by special holes found throughout their body.
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