Moghresian Dionae

Overview

Primarily concentrated within the Wasteland, Moghresian Dionae are a unique demographic within the Unathi sphere of influence. Crashing down on the planet and establishing first contact in the early 2450's, The presence of Dionae within Moghes became apparent to the Hegemony and the wider galactic community around 2460. Since then, Dionae have maintained coexistence with Unathi, primarily Wastelanders. They borrow heavily from Unathite culture, and use their unique properties to serve the communities they're a part of.

Demographics

Within the Oasis Clans

Since their discovery, Dionae have become a significant element within the Oasis clans’ way of life and culture. To the Oasis clans, Dionae are a gift that fell from the heavens, guided by the ancestors. They have ensured the clans’ perseverance, and promise a future where the land is verdant and free of radiation. Clan Dorviza are chiefly concerned with their cultivation, growing them in vast spawning pools upon which irradiated rubble and blood are sacrificed to further their growth. The spawning pools are cultivated differently, each with an emphasis on creating gestalts with different skill sets. If spawning pools are growing gestalts intended for other Oasis clans, blood from their respective clan members is supplied instead.

Throughout the Wastes

Dionae throughout the wasteland tend to be wild stragglers, either as diaspora from the Oasis or originating from the few collectives that the Oasis clans did not manage to gather. As they are inedible to Unathi, most are content to live and let live. Seeing a roaming wild gestalt is considered a sign of good luck. Folklore has it that if one can brave the pockets of intense radiation these beasts wander through on their treks, they can lead one to hidden treasure.

In the Hegemony

Dionae exist as a fringe population within the Hegemony, with most living in cities on the outskirts of the waste.They can be found in and around major cities such as Imas’hi, Sahltyr, Teht, and Res’Karum. Dionae that enter the Hegemony via the wastes are either wanderers seeking a new way of life, are cultivated by clans that purchase nymphs from traders and poachers, or come directly from the Oasis itself. Dionae that are affiliated with recognised clans are entitled to the respect afforded to being in one, and their role in society is contingent on the clan’s trade or class. Dionae that can’t or won’t affiliate themselves with a clan, such as those raised feral, are seen as untrustworthy but useful. Clanless Dionae such as these are usually stuck doing unskilled labor reserved for lower castes. Nobility almost never allow Dionae into their clans, and if they do, they are not eligible to inherit or own land. Only clans on the frontier of the Hegemony’s influence, and desperate enough, would consider it. Outside of that, the practice is unheard of.

Cultivation & Trading of Dionae

Captured by Unathi upon the discovery of their “healing” capabilities to Moghes following its’ nuclear cataclysm, Dionae have become a valuable commodity across the Wastelands – leading to their cultivation and subsequent trafficking. Depending on the Clan, Dionae may either be seen as gifts of incredible value – or even those comparable to other Unathi and therefore find themselves accepted as a member of the Clan as individuals in their own right – this does not negate that Dionae from Moghes may have had a significantly different “upbringing” as opposed to its other barky kindred.

Cultivation

Similarly to Dionae in the Nralakk Federation, there exist individuals who focus on the tendering of nymph pods referred to as Bz’tnzai, when translated literally into Tau Ceti Basic meaning “Growers”, using Bz’ntzai Realms which exist merely as places of high radiation where maturation of pods occurs much quicker. Through this practice, the lifespan and health of Bz’ntzai are plagued by the byproducts of radiation exposure slowly resulting in a decrease of Unathite Bz’tnzai but instead being replaced by Dionae who have either been trained or taught through consumption of the deceased Bz’tnzai on the methods of cultivation. This has resulted in an increase of the Mourning Mass being found across Dionae Bz'tnzai.

In particular, Clan Dorviza has become renowned through the Wastelands for their rearing of Dionae, and in particular, the methods they employ as to ensure a Gestalt is able to find itself managing the Wastelands, and its integration into the greater Hegemony; through specialising in the biomatter available to each cultivated Bz’ntzai Realms allowing “particular expertise” to be taught to Dionae subsequently also raising the value of the “commodity” where the Clan elects to instead gift or sell the Dionae as opposed to integrating them as a member of Dorviza. Oftentimes Clan Dorviza will utilize the Dionae as limbs – grafting them onto stumps where limbs existed previously, giving a new lease on life to those who previously found themselves confined to conventional means of living with their disabilities.

Though there exists purposeful cultivation of Dionae, there also exists natural cultivation, often by Dionae wandering the Wastelands electing to disgorge seeds in areas of particularly high radiation – recognising within themselves the possibility to clean the area as a way to offer assistance to the Unathi, but more so provide a stable and nutritious spawning area for the next generation of nymphs that its’ seeds will yield. These unkept cultivation areas often find themselves preyed upon by Siro circling overhead, or even Unathi that see an opportunity to capture and trade away the nymphs to ensure their survival as the Wasteland continues to grow and make life scarce.

Trading

Though there exist countless Gestalts that exist free of having been traded, there exist those that have had an upbringing subject to specific cultivation so that they may be traded away in exchange for particular commodities. This primarily occurs within the Wastes, with Clan Dorviza being the primary culprit for the advent of Dionae trading, there have been sightings of the trading extending into the eastern cities, in particular, Baandr, Res’karum and Mudki. However, the value is primarily dependent on what skills the Dionae has, with the continuously fluctuating value sometimes resulting in a Gestalt costing several Azkrazal and sometimes even just a few bottles of Xuizi Juice.

The trafficking conduct of those within the Dionae trade varies it primarily strays away from abusive treatment, mostly due to it resulting in less value gained when trading the Gestalt – where one has had their personality altered or injured to a degree that they no longer have usefulness to the one gaining the Gestalt. It primarily resembles as to how Unathi treat their domestic fauna such as the Tul.

Trading “Guilds” or “Clans”

Clan Dorviza is largely regarded as the leader of trading Dionae, utilizing those cultivated by its Bz’tnzai to those passing through the Oases – offering them as gifts to other Clans to ensure good relations and promote community among the population centres across the oases, but sometimes even exchanging them to get commodities that would otherwise not make their way to the Wasteland Clan’s little corner of the world, or in particular scarcity, such as S’erki Flowers or S’th Berries.

Reclaimers have been known to utilize the Dionae they have traded for to make more radioactive pre-war ruins safer to plunder, using the species' biological advantages of mimicry and soaking up of the dangerous elements to be able to claim riches that they assert as theirs. Outside of their use for scavenging, they have been also used to get into the nitty-gritty of the machinery utilized by the Reclaimers, oftentimes becoming engineers and members of the group as opposed to mere property, shifting into compartments that would otherwise cause a substantial loss of time for the Reclaimers had they had to search and eventually fix the problem.

Clan Vihnmes regularly utilizes their gifted Dionae from Clan Dorviza for menial work, and sometimes as glorified composters for the byproducts of their taverns – as well as their inns. Though rather demeaning, this is typically better than the hard labour that many Dionae found themselves put to work, cultivating or even maintaining what little agricultural sectors exist on Moghes – or moving large quantities of goods as glorified merchant wagons

Clan Ozeuoi takes advantage of the species’ ability to mimic shapes, structures, and knack for being able to learn from genetic material, to ensure their defences remain well-maintained and that their allies’ modes of transport see repairs where needed. Though their isolation has stunted the number of Dionae within the Clan, there still exists a number that seems to be consistently growing, with the Reclaimers making use of their existing relationship to pawn off any “unnecessary” Dionae to Clan Ozeuoi.

Clan Gawgaryn is also yet another group that finds themselves either stumbling on natural clusters or pillaging Dionae from their rightful Clans, to make use of them to assist in their raids and pillaging – in worse cases, as a way to taunt Unathi that they have kidnapped, claiming to throw them into cages of starved Gestalts with an insatiable hunger. Those that have been rescued, either through escaping or by being freed, sometimes reflect that there exist Voided Vocals and even Scarlet Scores within the confines of the Clan’s grips, offering a glimpse into the operations of Clan Gawgaryn that there exists truth of offering its unwilling or uncooperative hostages to starved Dionae.

Res’karum existing as a thorough-fare between the Zazalai Mountains has inevitably become a key player in Dionae trading, where within the city’s markets it isn’t uncommon to find Dionae being auctioned off to the highest bidder, with even peasants attempting to negotiate personal items with a willing merchant for a Nymph, sometimes entire livelihoods when concerning a Gestalt. Acclaimed as being “creatures of good fortune” due to their work in the Wastelands, and ability to be rather useful in almost any situation, some have found themselves becoming serfs to the peasants that acquire them – cleaning the home or even maintaining their grounds. It isn’t unheard of either for those chartered by the Guilds to make their way to Res’karum to purchase Dionae, where the Guilds induct them into their specialities – in particular, the Miner’s Guild due to the lesser necessities, really only needing ultra-violet lights reasonably provided by Hephaestus Industries, in order to perform mining work.

Spirituality

Dionae within the Unathi sphere of influence are primarily Th’akhist. Though this has to do mostly with their proximity to the Oasis clans, it helps that the faith is the most consistent with the nature of their being. According to Th’akhist belief, Dionae are functionally a vessel that is continually possessed by souls, instead of reincarnating their own. Multiple spirits can possess a Dionae, and they can come from anywhere. Barring a few niche exceptions, every Dionae mindtype is conceived of in this context. Because of this, a gestalt that performs great deeds or is generally beneficial to the people around them is considered to be possessed by virtuous spirits, and depending on the scope of their actions, dead heroes. Those that are a net negative, especially those that commit sacrilegious actions, are considered to be possessed by malignant spirits or demons respectively. In circles where the court of stars is respected, Aosr and Dalsalsko are considered the twin patron deities of the species. The highest form of sacrilege is the act of forcibly eating or merging with other beings, be they Dionae or Unathi. It is akin to stealing or destroying the victim’s soul. Among the Oasis clans, such acts are judged carefully based on circumstance. Even in cases where the gestalt is not completely at fault, and worthy of associating with the clan, they are almost always banished.

Blood and Meat consumption

Among the Oasis Clans, the sharing of blood has come to represent the covenant between these two species. This idea is expressed most often through meals: Unathi will bare their arms, so that the Dionae may partake in the dining experience. In exchange, the providing Unathi receives a subsequent rush of aphrodite from the gestalt. Blood for utilitarian purposes, such as learning, is met with mixed reception. Practical minds consider it a quick solution to quickly train up specialists. However, harvesting enough blood to gain knowledge without consent or going through the proper channels is considered a grave dishonor. It disrupts the sacred exchange of knowledge from generation to generation, elder to hatchling, ancestor to progeny. Outside of irregular circumstances, the exchange of blood for learning is only meant to occur between trusted individuals, close members of family or clan, Oasis clan spawning pools, or between a master and an apprentice. Unlike many other Dionae cultures, Moghresian Dionae have very little qualms about eating animal flesh, and have developed techniques of cooking meat to satiate without unpleasant blood-memories. Smoked and dry-aged meats tend to be popular. Between their culinary awareness and tradition of blood sharing during meals, Moghresian Dionae tend to have a better understanding of cooking for other species' compared to gestalts elsewhere.

Mourning Mass Dionae

In the early years of the wasteland, first contact was established between Dionae and Unathi by dropping corpses into the craters housing the dionae that crashed down onto the planet. While necessary in those times, Dionae that satisfy the conditions to be “mourning mass” mindtypes are a controversial topic, even within the Oasis clans. Since the original sacrifices, niche incidents of Dionae absorbing their hosts have become more and more frequent as time wears on: Dorviza workers falling into a younger, more ravenous section of the spawning pools by accident. Dionae limbs slowly subsuming their hosts; often at the hosts’ own volition, sometimes as a mistake. Opinions of these incidents vary, with clan Dorviza having the most relaxed approach, evaluating them on a case-by-case basis, with an assisting gestalt in order to help determine the truth from the Mourning Mass. In prior years, it always meant automatic banishment, but recently, some gestalts have been allowed to stay, with some even being retroactively pardoned. Clan Vihnmes remains neutral on the matter but will defer any clan members that suffer said fate to the Dorviza. Clan Ozeuoi, on the other hand, are by far the most sceptical of the process and banishes the members who befall this fate.

Mourning Mass Dionae, thanks to their cultural upbringing and superstitions, believe themselves to be the spirit of the host anchored in reality by their gestalt body. Carrying their old memories and mannerisms, they will typically integrate their old names into their gestalt title. This is always a disorienting process, and the new consciousness that results from this is usually out of touch with their new biology: They are extremely hesitant to split and lack an intuitive understanding of how to manipulate their biomass. Curiously, Dionae with this affliction can psychosomatically experience certain sensations, such as taste, but only in the context of things their hosts had encountered previously.

Voided Vocals Dionae

Manifestations of the Voided Vocals mind type are considered to be corrupted vessels containing the fragmented souls of the dead. Due to their propensity to continue eating the dead, they are often cited as being dark avatars of Dalsalsko and hunted for their corrupting influence. Only a slim minority within the Dorviza have entertained the possibility of creating a living ancestral repository using mourning mass dionae. However, it is considered an extreme view even from within the clan.

Honor

Inspired by their hosts, Moghresian Dionae have begun to adopt a parallel system of honour and social expectations. Though they are able to observe the tenets of universal honour, they are unable to fully carry out aspects of the Warrior's code and the Matriarch's code. To remedy this, Dionae choose between their own aspects: the Sentinel and the Chronicler. Most Dionae will typically move back and forth through the aspects as they age until they eventually settle for one as they come into being a Geras.

Unlike Unathi honour, Dionae honour is less concerned with personal reputation, and more with their role in maintaining the standing of their clan as a whole. All mindtypes are capable of adopting any code of honor. Mourning Mass Dionae are more likely to retain their old code of honor, rather than adopt a new one.

The Code of the Sentinel

The Code of the Sentinel is an analog to the Warrior's code. Gestalts that follow this path tend to concern themselves heavily with precedent and the security of the community. Dionae of the Sentinel are beings of action. Those that manifest this aspect are encouraged to have their actions speak for themselves, and to keep themselves candor and to the point. Because the Sentinel expresses itself through action, Dionae that follow this path prefer to work with their tendrils. They are also encouraged to lead and teach by example. Dionae of the Sentinel do not instigate conflict. Battle is well and expected, but only to the defence of a clan or cause. Bloodshed without precedent or for its own sake is honorless. It is hard to provoke a sentinel, but once disturbed, they are persistent and unyielding until the wrong has been righted. While they can be unyielding warriors, and stalwart bodyguards, they make for poor soldiers as a result.

The Code of the Chronicler

The Code of the Chronicler is an analogue to the Matriarch. Gestalts that follow it are concerned with accruing knowledge and wisdom so that they might help raise and advise new generations. Chroniclers are beings of contemplation and knowledge-seeking, preferring to watch and listen before speaking. Thanks to the dionae ability to acquire blood memories and share information between gestalts via merging, Chroniclers are able to hoard vast amounts of information, in a short amount of time, and are theoretically able to retain it within their clan indefinitely thanks to their lifespans. It is expected of Chroniclers to use their knowledge to enrich the communities they’re a part of, raise clusters of gestalts to independence, or advise patrons worthy of their expertise. It is generally taboo for a Chronicler to use their knowledge for personal gain, or to fuel their own private ambitions. It is instead considered appropriate to seek a champion to sponsor. For this reason, Chronicler Dionae have begun to pick up a reputation as being excellent advisors and administrators for one to have in the retinue of a lord’s court. Unique to the Oasis clans, Chroniclers are responsible for the mental and spiritual well-being of the Gestalts within their Clan. True to the name Chronicler, it is also their duty to archive the clan’s memories and have a reputation for being fantastic storytellers as a result