Species Name: Vieka Pronunciantion: Vieka [pl] Viekan [adj] Genre: Fantasy/Modern Fantasy Status: Semi-closed - ask for permission to create your own

Overview

Vieka are a powerful, magic-based species of feline dragons, originating from the dawn of Earth. They are shapeshifters that can morph fluidly between a massive feral and smaller humanoid form; allowing for a level of adaptability and capability not seen in many others of their world. While innately as diverse as any other species, many Vieka have fallen under the misguided leadership of Rweighl--a volatile tyrant of a leader who views other species as inferior beings. 

HISTORY

It is believed that, at the dawn of the planet, the Earth's spirit cherished all she had created, and created two guardians to protect and watch over it. These two guardians were the first Vieka--a pure white and pure black beast with incredible power and importance. From them eight others were created--the Originals--and the beginning of the Vieka species. These Originals expanded the species, believed to have had the ability to create Vieka from nothing at that time, and soon the species was thriving. 

But they were not the only sentient life on the planet. As time went on, the human species was growing as well, and becoming more powerful--more dominant. Humans feared the Vieka, and as humans do, sought to eliminate the threat they posed by controlling them. Vieka were hunted, had their horns sawed off to stunt their power, and were enslaved like cattle. For many decades, Vieka were glorified farm animals to humans--slaves of labor, powerless to resist. There were many attempts at escape, and many failures, resulting in the deaths of six of the eight Originals. Finally, it had been too much. The 'oldest' of the Originals, Rweighl, was so distraught over the loss of his sister, Efemaerel, that he miraculously regrew his horns and regained his supressed powers. The enraged frenzy that followed led a revolt that freed the Vieka from their captors, killing countless humans in the process. Ultimately, the Vieka retreated to the mountains, where the humans could not follow, and that is where they settled. 

But the conflict did not end there. Seething with so much rage, Rweighl was determined to destroy every shred of human life. It would be the beginning of a war to last centuries. Some Vieka would reject this conflict, including Rweighl's own brother, Aerudeyt, who fled to form a pacifist commune of his own. 

Culture

The Vieka are an incredibly spiritual species, whose entire culture revolves around their presumed origins.They worship two gods, the first Vieka, whom they refer to as the Black and White, as well as the planet's spirit, Gaia. There are countless ceremonies and holidays surrounding these beliefs, including the date of their origins, and the birthdates of each Original. They life among nature, often in expansive communities due to their feral sizes, built into mountains, or deep within forests. 

• Most Vieka are led by Rweighl, of the Originals, who has claimed his place as 'King' by force. He is a vicious, unrepentent leader who cares deeply for his kind, but is blinded by his hatred for humanity and his deep-seeded need for vengeance. His violence and, at times, unpredictability has resulted in some Vieka attempting to flee, but these deserters are often killed as punishment for their abandonment: always by having their horns torn off, and their bodies disemboweled. 
• While the Viekan capital is still in the high Moonvale Mountains after centuries, many colonies have developed elsewhere, as the Viekan control has spread. These colonies, under Rweighl's leadership, possess a unique symbol for their clan, and a leader elected by Rweighl to maintain order. From a young age, Vieka are indoctrinated to hate and despise humankind, as well as to resent other "lesser" species. 
• Due to a curse planted on the species by a human sorceress, Vieka can not have children without guaranteed risk of birth defect. While this was initially an intention to stunt the species, the Vieka have instead adapted to breed with other species, mostly humans, willingly or otherwise. Most often, a Vieka will find a partner to seduce, have a child, and then return to their colony to raise that child. There are still those Vieka who attempt to have families with each other, but many of their children, if they do not die very young, result in physical or psychological disabilities of some kind.
• This also results in a skewed view of family among the Vieka, as the majority only have one parent in their lives. This results in the bond between parent and child often being very close and very important, with a child's primary goal in their adolescense being to make their parent proud, in Rweighl's honor. To lose a parent is very difficult, even on a physical level (as it can be felt), and a Vieka is known to keep a memento of some kind, such as a tooth, horn, or even their parent's pelt. 

Physiology

• Build: 
  • The build of Vieka vary just as broadly as a human's would, while in their humanoid forms. They are often tall, due to their digitigrade leg shape, with the average range in heights, for any gender, being 6'-7', not including their horns. 
  • Their feral forms are quite large, and generally reflect their humanoid height, as well as their level of power. For example, a red-horned Vieka will likely be much larger than a purple-horned Vieka. A Vieka's feral form can be anywhere from the size of a sedan, to the size of an eight-wheeler truck. Their wingspans are equally impressive, generally reflecting their size. 
• Skin Tone: 
  • Skin tone for Vieka depend both on genetics and environment. For example, those born and raised in a wintery climate are likely to be far paler than those raised in a desert or tropical setting. Pigmentation is as varied as it would be in humans, and do not extend into unnatural hues. 
• Hair Color & Style: 
  • Hair color is very broad in color, from normal hues (brown, black, blonde), to vibrant reds, yellows, blues, etc. Generally, a Vieka's hair color is layered, with two complimentary hues growing naturally together, but with one more prominent than the other. These colors often reflect a Vieka's horn color, but not always. 
  • Styles vary as well with Vieka, with longer hair being more common among males, and shorter hair being more common among females. 
  • Vieka do not possess human ears. Instead, they have feline tufted ears seen even in their humanoid forms, with the same markings and coloration shown in their feral forms. 
• Eyes & Horns: 
  • The color of a Vieka's eyes and horns are always the same, but also represent their innate power levels, and the level of power they can achieve. This spectrum follows the spectrum of visible color, ROYGBIV, with the color red representing the most powerful, and Violent or deep/almost black purples being the weakest. There is also the possibility of pale pink/white, an incredibly rare color that denotes incredible, unpresendented power. While it is possible for a Vieka to surpass the color they were born as in their lifetime, it is rare, and generally takes decades. This is shown with mixed hues, such as green-yellow, or turqoise. 
  • A Vieka's horns also show their age. When first born, a Vieka's horns are tiny little nubs, which grow over the course of their development into a unique shape or style. As they age, they will sprout additional horn segments, with the oldest Vieka sometimes having upwards of 8 segments. Every Vieka's horns are unique to them, there are no two of the same design. Horns can appear cracked as well, but this is a sign of age rather than weakness or damage. If a Vieka's horns are broken or severed, their energy abilites are stunted until the horns regrow. If the horns are continuously removed, they are powerless. 
  • A Vieka's horns are always glowing, dimly when idle, and more vibrant when using their power, or during a moment of strong emotion. 
• Scars & Markings: 
  • Scars are held in no particular regard among Vieka, however are often seen among deserter Vieka. Those who have chosen to leave their clans will almost always have intentionally scarred their clan's symbol, tattooed onto their skin at a young age. These symbols are laced with sensory magic, allowing Vieka to find each other. To stay hidden, a deserter must scar the symbol to render the magic inactive. Since Vieka heal more thoroughly than humans, they usually must repeatedly scar themselves every few years.
  • Vieka possess natural markings on their skin in humanoid form, which directly reflect the markings of their feral forms. These markings are always natural, such as spots, stripes, or speckles remaniscent of markings seen in nature. 
  • Many Vieka also adorn themselves in ritualistic tattoos, reflecting their loyalty to their clan, and to the Vieka. 
• Aging: 
  • Vieka do not age physically, beyond the cracking and growing of their horns. Once they reach peek maturity, there is very limited change in their appearance, aside from a maturing of features. This varies, however, depending on the type of Vieka, as those that are not purebred Vieka will sometimes show signs of greying, or wrinkles, in later life. 
  • The Originals are virtually immortal, ageless after centuries of life. It is believed that the only way an Original will die is to kill them, as is the fate that most of them have faced throughout time. Purebred Vieka have been known to live upwards of five hundred years, depending on their strength and health, but many do not get the chance to live so long. Impure Vieka, those bred from humans or other species, live around 200-250 years. 

Key Points

• Hunger, to a Vieka, is a very crucial thing. A Vieka cannot go hungry for long, as it will trigger a state of frenzy in the individual, wherein they cannot shift out of their feral form, and can think of nothing but to feed. It is a state of extreme ferocity, wherein they will kill and devour any living thing in their path until their hunger is sated. As such, most Vieka ensure they always have some sort of food on their person when traveling, just in case. This is often used against Vieka as punishment--starving two Vieka out until they lose control of themselves, and then pitting them against each other or a loved one. Sometimes to the point of severe injury, sometimes to death. 
• Not all Vieka are raised in clans. There are those who choose to leave the clans, or in some cases, those born to other species who are raised among that species, usually in secret. There are also around a hundred Vieka who reside at Aerudeyt's pacifist commune, immune to Rweighl's wrath. Any who go there are welcome, and protected from harm.
• The energy Vieka possess, and emit, is more like light than fire. It is a solid, concussive force, far hotter and more destructive than fire, depending on the Vieka's power level. It varies anywhere from purple-horned Vieka, whose energy is about as hot as fire, to those of red energy whose is a dozen times hotter than fire. It is even rumored that Aerudeyt, the only existing Vieka with pinkish-white energy, has energy as hot as the surface of the sun. 
• Vieka have an incredibly keen sense of sight, smell, and hearing. They can perceive their surroundings of up to a mile away, sometimes further. This also can be detrimental, such as in the case of shrill or incredibly loud sounds, or pungeant/affective scents or substances. 
• The transformation a Vieka undergoes from humanoid to feral form is mystical in nature. Their body is consumed in white light and the change is near instantaneous. For this reason, its also possible for a Vieka to shift forms while clothed, and to remain clothed when returning to their humanoid form. 
• When a Vieka dies, their body does not slowly decompose. Instead, the natural energy they contain, which is controlled by their horns, slowly brims over and consumes them. As a result, a deceased Vieka, within just several hours, will dissolve into a fiery ash, leaving nothing behind unless it is removed from the body prior. Often times, during combat, or even a natural death, another Vieka will retrieve something from the deceased before they are gone completely--such as a tooth, claw, horn, or even a portion of the Vieka's pelt. 

Notable VIEKA

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Aspyn	Sumaer	Kohl	Rweighl
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Aerudeyt