THE NKHYA'JRA

Horns go through a huge transformation as Nkhya'jrans age. A great example of this is that they are not born with their horns, but instead there may be sections on the head where horns are predicted to appear as the infant grows. The horns do not start to show until towards the during the first Tam'nýer—a''an week and break through the skin as bony nubs. At the end of the first Tam'nýer—a''an week and going on to the second is when the horn's texture will become more apparent (e.g. twisted, feathered, or multiple points.)

From birth to 5 Tam'nýer-a''n weeks (a total of 450 Earth days) horns are in their prime development. This also means that they are also the most fragile and can succumb to things such as Debasement; a cruel practice that is now heavily frowned upon, but used to be commonplace among Nkhya'jran children who were born into servitude by slaved parents. Debasement was literally cauterizing horn nubs, killing the 'wick' (the healthy growing inner workings of a horn), therefore stopping their growth beyond that point forever.

As Nkhya'jrans age, their horns will be one of the main ways of telling that a member of their race has become elderly as an individuals horns will start to resemble dry, old wood, but do not crack or split but instead will look more withered or eroded.

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Nkhya'jran Horns & Personality Types
While here on earth some cultures attribute personality types based on blood type, Nkhya'jrans do a similar thing based upon their horns. This is in thanks to how horn types and growth are not deemed by genetics and rather grow on their own in whichever way they so choose.

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*Please note that like your horoscope these are up to an individual to believe in them. Ergo, it is up to you and how you decide to make/write your character whether this applies to them or if it is folly.

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Bone Texture:
Developing bone textured horns, which is the most common, has a handful of things attributed to it. Albeit, the primary belief is that Nkhya'jrans with this texture happen to have an ability to listen. Whether it is to the dead Gods, authorities such as parents or magistrates, friends & family or to their own spirit (intuition) and inner voice, does not matter. It is the willingness to hear, listen and, ultimately, grow.

Feather Texture/Pattern:
While feather texture is rarer than its simple bone counterpart , horns with a feather texture represent endurance above all. They can bare the brunt of a storm and rise the next day. They are regarded as the strongest of wills, despite most assuming that bone would translate as this. Be warned, however, that while feather texture horned Nkhya'jrans may be survivors at their core, this does not mean that they will be great accomplishes. Some rise and are fuelled by survived traumas, others are merely survivors, believing that the world owes them something.

Curling (ram style):
Nkhya'jrans with this horn style are more likely to be headstrong with a stringent moral compass. What they feel in their hearts tends to rule them, making them as unmovable as a mountain. This also means that they tend to either be the most compassionate or ruthless individuals you will come across.

Vertical (gazelle-esque):
With horns that either stand straight up or vertical with a bend or notch tend to be rather quick tempered but easy to quell as they are ruled by their emotions. Almost bipolar in attitudes and behaviour unless they feel as though they have a purpose or calling, making being useful of the utmost importance for these Nkhya'jrans.

Branch-like (antler styled):
Free spirited with a tendency to be unruly. Nkhya'jrans with these types of horns also are more likely to be distracted as well as distracting, always finding new things to catch their eye. Ultimately, this makes them rather fickle and quick to treat everything as a novelty until they find and make a true home; a place that they can deign and design as their own. Only then do they seem to settle, gaining the ability to focus and complete major tasks though this may take years or never happen at all.

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Language:
The Ṅkhya'jra have a distinct language that they speak called ङ्ख्ढॠ · Ṅkh'dharī. While like the rest of Tam'nýer—a', the Ṅkhya'jra were endowed with the understanding of C'eröd, due to their conflicted history with the majority of the races, the Ṅkhya'jra live fairly isolated. This in turn makes the Ṅkhya'jra's main language Ṅkh'dharī, but they will speak C'eröd without a problem if they choose to interact with outsiders.

Religious Views:
It should be noted that despite Ṅkhya'jra being racist against all other races inhabiting Tam'nýer—a', they are inclusive of all the Gods be they a God of the Humans, Sk'älik, Khah', Giyu or Z'sa'Ză-'Bäa. This being said the driving force that differentiates the Ṅkhya'jra from the others is that they believe without a doubt that the Gods are still alive. This is shown through their seeking of artifacts that are tied to when the Gods ruled over Tam'nýer—a'.

Ṅkhya'jra also have innate abilities to communicate with these artifacts. Because of this, they are able to find them easier than any other race on Tam'nýer—a'. They believe that they have this ability and the other races have lost it due to their intermingling of species, weakening their connection to their Godly roots by essentially breeding the Gods out of themselves due to gross negligence. This negligence is what makes the Ṅkhya'jra angry, and want war for the land because they believe if they combine all the artifacts, the Gods will return and rule once more; the planet will be restored. Essentially a belief that Tam'nýer—a' will become their idea of a living Heaven, not merely a simple planet. They will attain a living, breathing paradise and true kinship with the Gods, inherently elevating their status, returning them to what they once were millennia ago.

Furthermore, taking into consideration the Ṅkhya'jran view and societal treatment of sex, it would not be a far stretch to claim that part of their religious views and practices is asceticism. Asceticism is a lifestyle with a distinct abstinence of sensual pleasures in order to gain an enlightened state, or other various spiritual states of being.

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धनीसवाद्छ · Dhanīsavādcha

Dhanīsavādcha, literally meaning 'through all things' in ङ्ख्ढॠ · Nkh'dharī, is a secret religious sect of the Nkhya’jran people, though it is secret for very good reasons, and considered a major insult and blemish upon their society as a whole. The reason for this is thanks to the extreme contrast between how normal Nkhya’jra society treat sex and sensual pleasures.

Nkhya’jran societal norm is that breeding, and therefore sex as a whole, as well as pleasure, is more of a robotic tradition. Breeder males and females are vetted and chosen, engaging in orgy like behaviour in order to keep up their populace. It is not about pleasure but rather duty. It is organized this way in order to free the people to pursue the Gods, artifacts of said Gods, religious enlightenment, in addition to focus rising as the prime race of Tam’nýer-a’.

Dhanīsavādcha, however, turns this all on its head. They worship the Gods through sensual pleasure and orgies. To the Dhanīsavādcha pleasure, be it sexual, or not, is the best way to communicate with the Gods. Think of it as being overtaken by rapture, and this rapture is only attainable whilst worshiping the Gods in groups. These clandestine worship sessions are usually done in the nude, as it is ‘without barriers’ to separate them from their makers, the Gods.

Ultimately, Dhanīsavādcha is a secret religious sect that consists of Nkhya’jran people who are either pious or unabashedly corrupt.

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Magic:
Tattoos
Tattoos of rune symbols, or God sigils have been in use for many generations on Tam'nýer—a'. Their applications vary, but all stem from a strong belief of drawing from the Gods' power and/or protections.

In the instance of the Ṅkhya'jra, tattooing is to depict to their peers which deity is the one they worship above all the others. By doing this, the individual will attain a certain prowess for whatever that God or Goddess symbolizes, e.g., a Ṅkhya'jra whose primary deity is VüƑ is a devout believer in Fate, and that everything happens for a reason. A follower of VüƑ, with his sigil, may be imbued with a profound amount of patience, or the ability to be calm in a moment of mob panic. Just as a person baring Sùrelï's sigil will have a higher proficiency with languages. This would also include numbers, as math is technically a language.

Blood magic
Using bits of dead or living individuals, as well as creatures, sometimes paired with the diverse flora on Tam'nýer—a' is a strong and binding magic, referred to as Blood Magic. Some magic can last years after the caster's death, and may require a piece of the original caster's essence if it were to be undone.

Because of this, one's essence is extremely valuable, most especially amongst the Ṅkhya'jra, going so far as being a type of currency between nobility families in their culture. If you are a Duke and a Lord owes you a favor it is backed up by either a thumbprint, a piece or lock of hair, blood, tears or skin embedded into a piece of hammered gold. The Lord can only earn back this piece of themselves by fulfilling their end of the bargain. As for the common folk currency is less of an issue as everything is run on a bartering system. However, above all, the highest price is a piece or filed off dust of a Ṅkhya'jra horn. This denotes slavery or ownership of another.
 

Who Performs the Blood Magic for Collateral Purposes?
It depends upon the individual, but it is only used when a debt owed is never paid back. Some may choose to wait until the person they hold a piece of is elderly and weak, or pass it on so that the family forever owes the other a favour. It also depends on an individual to practice blood magic or to hire someone..

Blood magic is usually viewed an emphasis to the motto "my word is my bond". It's insurance. And no, it is not looked down upon in Nkhya'jran society. Instead, it is the most common to them out of all the other races.

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Sexual Practices:
This also insinuates that all Ṅkhya'jra are sexually racist, as they only consider themselves good enough. Albeit, it is rare that Ṅkhya'jra mate at all, given their long lifespans, and seeing it as a distraction from their true goal (though they can breed if they choose to). However, to combat this, they may pick a 'female' as a breeding mare and her near permanent state of being a mother is her contribution as well as sacrifice to her people, being subjected to a grueling week of intercourse with multiple males, solidifying the odds that she is with child. Once she has given birth, she will receive three weeks rest and be put to 'work' once again, as a female is extremely fertile for only a month after giving birth. This system has proven quite useful as well, as everyone continues in their duties without distraction, those ruling need not bother with such 'trivial matters'.

Despite this breeding tactic, don't think that the process is merely an unadulterated gang bang. Each male that performs is chosen and is subjected to a vigorous screening process. If they are found to have 'faults' or deformities, they run the chance of being executed for having too many. The women are also chosen. They must come from a peerage family; the first born or last born daughter of an Earl, or Duke with a history of military, scientific, or political service. Historical familial service is required just as much as familial status; having a name isn't good enough. This feudal monarchical system is quite elaborate and is unknown to the other races of Tam'nýer—a'. This discovery would be surprising and most likely met with doubt and spark debates.

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Breeding and the Children it produces:

In terms of mass bred children, there are multiple ways they are dealt with. Some are raised by the government, and some are doled out to willing parents. However, if you are poor the government will not give you a child. If you are poor and infertile, you probably will never get a chance to be a parent. That's the sad truth of it. Only affluent people or notable members of a community will be granted children.

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Nobility are expected to breed. If you are noble and you have no heirs, your fortune and land get claimed by the Monarchy. If a nobleman is chosen to breed, none of those children are able to claim lineage. That honour is solely for the children of his that his family raises. In this case, lineage, power, rank - it buys you a certain freedom from scrutiny. Think of it as the opposite of Püertagœ.

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Pregnancy:
The term of pregnancy for the Ṅkhya'jra is 23-24 days, almost 3 Tam'nýer—a''n Weeks. Ṅkhya'jra tend to have 1 to 2 children per pregnancy. If a Ṅkhya'jra becomes pregnant with triplets, usually one is a stillborn.

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Reproduction: The Nkhya'jra can reproduce with themselves, Z'sa'Ză-'Bäa, Khah' and Humans.
 

कभत्रेष · Kabhatreṣa | Newborn Ritual

created by Sky

Kabhatreṣa, also referred to plainly as the Newborn ritual is more or less a protection spell over, well, newborns. As we have come to know them, the Nkhya’jra are a very magical and spiritual race and for some, this begins even at birth. Now it should be noted that this ritual is done solely by the guardians/birth parents of children being raised in upper class families and in higher positions of power. It is done within the first three Tam'nýer—a''n days of the child’s birth and done only by the guardians/parents of said child.

They’ll cut their finger and drag it across the child’s forehead, smearing the blood there. The child is then held close as the parent or guardian prays to the Gods to protect the child, to keep them free of ill-will and harm, and declare the child's official name. That being said, this is also regarded as a naming ritual because of that factor. The primary reason for this ritual, however, is because babies are viewed as the most vulnerable to magic and its influences, and this is done to protect them from magical harm & ill-will for the first few months of their lives. Upper class families do this to be sure that even if they have enemies, their children won’t fall victim to any ill-will their enemies may have.

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Diet:
The Ṅkhya'jra diet is mainly meat, comprised heavily of sea creatures, with fruits, and herbs. Though it may surprise you that the herbs are treated as a side dish all unto themselves, and not simply added to enhance taste. Raw fish, particularly raw Faeries of the Sea, soaked overnight with Dverī and then mashed with Zlytnoki is a common dish. As is fried up Zyţ covered IÞ'clet.

Homes:
Ṅkhya'jra tend to have open concept-like houses, where if there are doorways, there are no doors but large archways. The archways usually are decorated with streaming strips of fabric with written enchantments of prosperity and protection. Some even have bells that ring only if a person deliberately reaches up to trigger it. It is to bless that person in their comings and goings.

The major thing to note about Ṅkhya'jra homes is that they are multi-generational, housing uncles with nieces and nephews, to create a tighter bond between family and ensure that all is looked after. There is never a need to feel as though an individual of a house must struggle on their own.

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