Malowari
Make Something Of Yourself
"It is the Seed that wills life into Salt. It is our sacred duty to see to its fecundity"
~ Ren, Malowari Sage
Deep within the recesses of the secluded Gaien Jungles lies the Seed of the World. Its sworn protectors, the Malowari, are transhumanistic druids that act as guardians of nature against those seeking harm. The Malowari live together in isolationist Circles, small settlements secluded by nature, lead by their eldest druids, called Sages. The Malowari actively seek to enhance their bodies, minds, and spirits through advanced scientific means. Cybernetic Implants, Gene Splicing, and Æthercite Integration are commonly practiced within the Malowari Circles.
Attribute Changes
The Malowari Birthrite grants a +2 Focus Attribute Bonus.
The Malowari are keepers of secrets long forgotten or locked away from time. They have access to lost realms of Technology, Magick, and Science and place great significance on knowledge and clarity of mind.
The Malowari Birthrite grants a -1 Will Attribute Penalty.
Malowari are often called Dreamers. This is because they sleep very soundly and often let their minds wander during a conversation. As a result, Malowari can be easily distracted from an objective of minor importance.
The Malowari Birthrite grants a choice:
+1 Power Attribute Bonus
-or-
+1 Skill Attribute Bonus
The Malowari openly embrace body modifications. They frequently install cybernetic implants to improve their physical performance and utilize genetic splicing to ingrain inhuman qualities within themselves.
The Malowari Birthrite grants a choice:
-1 Grit Attribute Bonus
-or-
-1 Charm Attribute Bonus
Unfortunately, sometimes modifications can reject, leading to permanent injury. Malowari are removed from the social machinations of the rest of the world. When forced to interact, they can at times be awkward or aloof.
Class Abilities
The Malowari Birthrite grants a choice:
Apothicine
-or-
Electronics
Your choice applies as an additional selection to your Studious Tenderfoot Class Feature.
Access to Resources
The Malowari prioritize the care of the environment, and the environment provides for the Malowari. Their Circles often host natural Food Forests, and they perform purification treatments to remove corruption from water and land resources. As a result, the Malowari live easy lives well furnished by the fruits of their care.
Beliefs
The Malowari are staunch environmentalists. If we do not care for the world, then the world will not care for us. They respond to poor treatment of nature, animals, or lands with disgust in minor instances and outright violence with more grievous transgressions. The Malowari are transhumanists, and as such, they utilize the Seed to alter their physicality. Cybernetic Implants, Genetic Splicing, and Æthercite Integrations are commonplace among the Circles. The Malowari are practicing dissimulationists. They actively seek out critical knowledge, techniques, and genetic data to seal away within the Seed from prying eyes and destructive hands with ill intentions. Something that the Sages could not safeguard would likely face destruction.
Climate
The Seed of the World, over which the Malowari stand vigil, is responsible for maintaining the atmosphere on Salt. Without it, Salt would release its atmospheric pressure, killing all life inhabiting it. The Seed is buried deep within the face of the planet and is the progenitor of the dense Gaien Jungles. It is hot and humid, with heavy rains and thick vegetation.
Education
The education of the Malowari is unique compared to other Birthrites, relying on Circle Elders called Sages to provide guidance and insight to the Youngers. The Malowari have artificially long lives due to their augmentations, leading to prolonged childhood and adolescent phases of personal development. In addition, Malowari Sages safeguard countless secrets, forgotten magicks, and malosophic discoveries within the depths of the Seed. With the knowledge at their disposal, the Malowari bear a significant burden of responsibility when protecting the planet's fate.
Fashion
The Malowari often wear simple woven fabrics or leathers that highlight their modified bodies. They frequently feature a generous showing of exposed skin, relying on their enhancements for protection instead. Malowari Garments are ethically sourced and never created at the expense of the environment.
Geographical Origin
The Seed of the World lies buried at the heart of the Gaien Jungles, within a mountainous cradle formed by the Dreaded Sisters, separated from the Dust to the East. The Malowari can foster a Circle anywhere in the Frontierland, in far-off, isolated locations where they live in the solitude of nature. They prefer dense verdant environments such as the Gaien Jungles, the Veiled Forest, or the Proving Grounds, but other Circles crop up as a small, desert oasis, a secluded mountain lodge, or in a hidden seaside cavern.
Goals
The goals of a Malowari are often aligned with the protection of the environment or the seeking of potentially world-altering research, secrets, or magick. A Malowari often takes interest in the specialization of a specific area of study that drives their motivations.
Grooming
Malowari grooming practices are unconventional. Their widespread use of augmentations allows them to implement unique cybernetics or genetic alterations to their body that are intrinsically sterile or self-maintaining, negating the need to bathe for most of the populace. The Malowari still enjoy the natural splendors of Salt and enjoy swimming in its rivers and lakes. A Malowari would enjoy a quiet walk through a wooded terrain while the gentle rains wash over them over a rinse in the tub.
Habits
The Malowari have developed habits rooted in conservation, self-improvement, and mutual respect. They do not often venture outside of their Circles without immediate cause. Undue interactions with outsiders can often be contentious due to differences in ideals. The Malowari take great effort to conserve the environment. This could manifest in the simple act of picking up debris or contributing to the long-term restoration of a polluted biome.
On the other hand, the Malowari become agitated by the destruction of nature or lack of respect for its inhabitants. The Malowari are the guardians of the Seed. They turn to tools of self-enhancement over those that would alter the landscape. They also utilize the knowledge acquired from the Seed to grant themselves Cybernetic, Genetic, or Æthercite enhancements to prevent those that would cause significant harm to nature and lessen their impact on the world.
History
After the fall of the Fonterra, the Progenitor Core rapidly descended to the planetside below. Upon a devastating, landscape-shifting impact, the Fall of Fonterra planted the Seed of the World. Surviving Apothics, Mechanics, and Researchers that worked on the Progenitor Core knew that it was of utmost importance to keep it operational after the impact, lest the terraforming crumbles, killing all life on Salt and dooming humanity to extinction. Once secured, the Seed was allowed to continue pouring energy into the planet. Protectors, who would grow into the Malowari, became secluded by overgrowth, flourishing from the Seed and out into the world. As the generations passed, the world at large has forgotten the Seed. Many would consider it a myth if not for the encounters with Malowari Circles outside of the jungles.
The Malowari would also begin to encounter those who would learn of its power to alter the world and seek to control this legendary structure. To ward off would-be destroyers, the Malowari turned to the secrets of the Seed for the strength to defend it. However, Hi-tech Implants, Genetic Therapies, and Bodily Augmentations turned the Malowari into powerful soldiers, arcane scholars, and resourceful killers. And so, the must Malowari remain vigil in their protection of the Seed, the environment, and Salt.
Language
The Malowari language is dozens of languages compounded together into a singular lexicon with a wide array of variants from Circle to Circle. Sages can be quite ancient and have plenty of time to learn and teach their Youngers the dialects of their companion Circles. Naming conventions of the Malowari Circles are simplistic. Malowari often lives in remote isolation, negating the need for any tribal or communal monikers. With such small populations, most Malowari adopt a single name that suffices in all of their dealings.
Politics
The Malowari purposefully keep themselves removed from global political matters and prefer not to engage with outsiders if they do not have to. However, egregious offenses against the environment or threats to the planet can often stir the Malowari to collective action.
Profession
Within their Circles, Malowari often work as warriors, scouts, greenskeepers, and researchers. Some will venture out to nearby settlements to offer their services, observe and interact with other locals, or encourage a less impactful lifestyle. Outside of the Circles, Malowari receive reverence for many reasons ranging from their overt intelligence, graceful appearance, or aloof personalities. The problematic aspect of a Malowari seeking work is finding an organization that meets their ethical standards. Nevertheless, Malowari have talent in spades and are a welcome addition to any Adventuring Company.
Relationships
The Malowari are incredibly long-lived due to their enhancements. This allows them to build deep, lasting relationships with their peers and families. For many, the Malowari in their life is their oldest, most loyal friend. However, if you genuinely wrong a Malowari, they will never forget it, and they will never fully forgive you without a reasonable attempt at redemption. The Malowari are known to hold long-standing grudges against entire organizations for the transgressions of a few of its members if they do not offer amends.
Religion
Excluding the Verdant Sect, the Malowari often find themselves at odds with Travelers of the Path. Most Travelers walk a Path that demands some manner of change, and that change is often at the expense of the environment. However, the Malowari can’t help but find themselves at peace within the secluded walls of the Verdant Temples among the lush, well-manicured gardens. The Malowari and Verdant have a history of working on campaigns together for the sake of the Greenwilds.
Social Caste
The Malowari do not differentiate much between the various social tiers of their society. The Sages are simply the eldest, most respected community members and do not hold any real social power.
Traditions
The Malowari have traditions that permeate through their Circles. For example, Sages and other senior Malowari will routinely perform a lengthy lecture called an Oracle. Oracles are meant for the improvement of the public. They are long oratory speeches and demonstrations of technique, skill, or knowledge meant to advance all within view. Malowari are also known to send exceptional members of their Circles in search of weapons of imminent destruction, a miraculous discovery, or world-shifting technology to add to those already safeguarded by the Seed.
Values
The Malowari have values that promote conservation, fecundity, and tranquility. The Malowari are keepers of the peace. They dislike discordant conduct and will address it immediately with swift but measured reprisals. They seek to maintain social calm and will respond to overt threats with ruthless violence. The Malowari understand the value of a secret and will often take confidential information to their graves if they can help it. It is not uncommon for Malowari to destroy the knowledge to achieve their goals. The conservation of life is of utmost importance to the Malowari. They will go to great efforts to ensure the protection of the land or ecosystem for the sake of all that inhabit it. They will actively plan to disrupt harmful operations that they encounter while traveling.
Vices
An adventurous Malowari may occasionally indulge in the more hedonistic qualities of life, but more often than not, they are preoccupied with more noble pursuits. The Malowari are not opposed to partaking in the more mind-altering aspects of natural supplements; most prefer the presence and peace of mind that comes with sobriety.
Wealth
The Malowari do not typically engage in economics more than necessary. They have no issue living off the land without impacting the wilds and have a consistent resource access level in their Circles.