Deep Demons
The Deep Demons of Stehreel are a blue spectrum race. One of five races of Hkahnihn, the Deep Demons were the second born in the beginning. They trend towards an average height of 219cm (7'2") and have muscular and lean builds for the most part, and their males are the lightest built men of the Hkahnihn. Their coloration ranges from very light and pale blues to dark violets and purples in skin tone, they have universally white colored eyes, and they are completely hairless. They possess four horns that protrude from the tops of their heads, two in front and two in back, and tails that are longest of all the Hkahnihn. They can be physically intimidating to the smaller Elven races, but are not nearly as imposing as other races of Hkahnihn.
Able to breathe the water of their home from birth, the Deep Demons also have the ability to feel where objects are in relationship to them, through vibrations in the water or even the air when they are on land.
Shown here are Irigal Bjornson, a stolid Protector of the Ymir Vanir, and Idonia Falkidotir, an errant Little Sister who went and trained at one of the land campuses of the Imperial Academy of Transmutation. Irigal is unerringly devoted to his duty, the Aesir of his School, and his wife Drifa whom he guards ceaselessly. Idonia is relearning what it is like to live beneath the waves in her culture after an extended absence from the water.
The Schools of the Nordrstraumr, denoted by the Trident Crest, is one of the four School Alliances of the Deep Demons. The trident on the crest denotes the Odinshame School, where it is said that all of the spears of office for the School Aesir came from.
The Schools of the Vestrstraumr, denoted by the Eel and Coral Crest, is the second of the four School Alliances of the Deep Demons. The eel on the crest denotes the Neffilheim School, said to be the eels of the Deep Demons. The coral on the crest denotes the Yggsadril School wherein the largest coral reef of Stehreel's seas is located.
The Schools of the Austrstraumr, denoted by the Shark and Cartography Crest, is the third of four School Alliances of the Deep Demons. The shark on the crest denotes the Mirehalla School, said to have a strong relationship with the sharks of their region. The cartography on the crest denotes the Cavarok School, the memory of the Schools.
The Schools of the Sudrstraumr, denoted by the Hammer and Serpent Crest, is the final School Alliance of the Deep Demons. The hammer denotes the Fjordenhammer School, the strongest and fiercest warriors of the Schools. The serpent on the crest denotes the Felmuggin School, where it said all sea serpents in Stehreel's seas come from.
An Aesir runs each of the Schools. The Aesirs were appointed after the Cataclysm. Each of their lines has continued unbroken since the Cataclysm; with youngest adult male of the family taking over for the previous Aesir when they fade. Below the Aesir in a School, all posts are responsibilities without much reward, and appointed by the Aesir. Duty defines a Deep Demon's life.
Because the focus of the Schools is on duty and responsibility, the social structure of the Schools is unique. There isn't a caste structure, or really any social strata at all. Everyone has their duty, assigned by the Aesir of their School, and they fulfill that duty. The specific duties may change, and members of the School can request movement to other duties, but otherwise individuals have responsibilities rather than families.
The Deep Demons are one of the most Patriarchal of all the races. The Cataclysm hit the Deep Demons especially hard; shifting continents and boiling waters killed a great portion of them. Of those that died, the majority of them were Deep Demon women, leaving the race with a gender disparity in the wake of the tumult. As a result, the men of the race have become extremely protective of their women. Any woman born to the Schools is assigned a Protector to keep them safe. Often this is the father of the girl when she is young, and then a brother when she comes of age, though it can be any male of her Pod that serves in that capacity.
The Deep Demons of Stehreel prize their tails. They are the longest tails of all the Hkahnihn races, and a proper Deep Demon takes exceptional care with their tail. Due to that focus, the Deep Demons have a practice of putting piercings in their tails in recognition of ranks earned and things accomplished. While some believe it smart to start from the tip and work their way back towards the base, and others think the reverse is true, there is no real standard for the practice.
The Ofraer Prestr are the spiritual center of the Deep Demons. Given over in worship and duty to the Nameless Kanatek, who they refer to as the Father of the Void, the Ofraer Prestr can be found in every School. A very strict and dour sect of clerics, the Ofraer Prestr sacrifice all things to worship their God. The average Deep Demon worships the Father of the Void and respects the Ofraer Prestr for their observance of duty.
Those who wield the power of Void energy, Nethermancer Warlocks and Clerics of Kanatek, are the favored Spark Wielders of Stehreel among the Deep Demons. As are those who wield control over water, like Aquamancer Wizards, who are both respected and feared below the waves of the seas.
Deep Demons are built around the principles of defense and protection. Since almost every male in the Schools will act as a Protector for a Little Sister at some point in his life, all classes favor disciplines that exemplify that protection. They do not really have a large army, yet every man down to the youngest trainee will take up a weapon in order to defend their Pod and their School.
This focus and army structure suits the Deep Demon philosophy on warfare, and compliments their natural mentalities. The Deep Demons are extraordinarily weak on offensive maneuvers, but it is commonly believed that no Deep Demon defense has ever fallen to direct assault. A group of interlocking Lancers can efficiently fend off a force easily twice their size with superb defenses and deft execution.
Here is a developer diary recorded by the creator of Stehreel. For more information on the Deep Demons, check out our facebook page!