Origin[]
The Kingdom[]
Mobius Zone 4149: Mobocan. The Year is 1540.
The planet Earth has recovered from the bio-weapon invasion by the alien race known as “The Xorda”. The planet has been terraformed as a result, with continents changing shape, and different peoples scattered across it. Just past the first millenia, everything had settled, with the population beginning anew. By the late 1200s, the anthropomorphic people (Mobians on other worlds) began to manifest: referred to as Mobocanans, with the human race referred to as Mobocanians, and the super humans (Overlanders on other worlds) who survived the extinction as Wanderers.
On the continent which would become known as Supreta--in a desert land--an Egyptian-like culture developed under the rule of the Mobocanan cats. This kingdom was simply called “Bast”, and it co-existed with other medieval-like kingdoms about the continent. In 1540, King Eres was walking about his kingdom in the night when he saw something rip through space and time: landing not far off. Alone, Eres investigated, and came to a canyon where he saw the object land, but it had been taken. Footprints were nearby, so he followed them until coming to two corpses hiding in the caves. One man had been stabbed, while the other was shriveled like a raisin, and his hand clutched tight to a black and white dagger with a sort of swirling black smoke around the underside of its blade.
Eres immediately understood that this weapon was too dangerous to touch with his own hands. He severed the hand of the corpse, and wrapped the hilt and hand with cloth: carrying it at arm’s length. On his way back to his kingdom, his guards had travelled in search of the object as well. Quickly he had them bring something to better contain the dagger without telling them what it was. He returned to his chambers where he personally examined the weapon.
For days, Eres would test its capabilities, allowing it to drain life from matter around it. It could feed off of fire, vegetation, and other people. When it was placed in the moonlight, it glowed, as if it drew power from that as well. One night, Eres fell asleep next to the dagger, and the moonlight went over it. The dagger somehow compelled Eres to touch it, and immediately, his mind was taken to this black and white void of a dream where a distorted figure stared back at him. He tried to communicate with the figure, but all he learned from it was a name: Daricha. Eres dreamed of his entire past: watching his memories flash before him, and then he woke up.
Days passed, and Eres found that the being in the dagger would not commune with him except in moonlight. He wanted to know why he wasn’t dead. The entity showed him the men who killed each other over the dagger: showing their past of weakness and lack of focus. The dagger knew that Eres was a king with power, and it was going to make him strong. Eres was incredibly cautious. Already, his people were calling him a recluse for the days spent alone with the weapon, and he was well-educated on the past conflicts of prior generations. He did not seek to be a conqueror, especially when his kingdom was not the most formidable. If he showed his hand too quickly, he would be killed, the dagger taken, and the cycle continued.
So, Eres kept the dagger at a distance: only grasping it when he was of need. When a threat was approaching, if gave him better sight and hearing. When he needed to end a conflict, the dagger allowed him increased speed as well as durability and strength, and when he was tired or wounded, the dagger healed him. However, the dagger was not altruistic. Eres wanted to heal his people from a plague. He held the dagger, and went to restore the life of a child using it, but the dagger started to drain the child instead. It was displeased with Eres, so Eres in his anger sealed the dagger away.
It was only years later when Eres had no other option that he took the dagger out again. He almost died immediately: the rage of the Daricha inside draining at his life force, but it did not intend to kill him. Eres remained strong of will, however, and insisted that he would only do as this dagger wanted--make some great empire--by his own will, and should the dagger kill him, his guards would make certain that it was not found for ten-thousand years.
The Daricha relented. Eres had it on his person often from then on, and through its power, his body permanently increased in endurance, senses, and even manifested new abilities. The dagger also showed Eres visions of some other world far advanced, allowing for technology to speed along. The Bast kingdom saw itself raise to greatness, which attracted the hostility of powerful kingdoms from around the continent. Despite how much the Daricha insisted, Eres only acted in defense, and never admitted where the power came from. He protected his hand without stretching beyond it.
Eventually, the dagger allowed Eres to die, and his heir would take up his rule. The Daricha intended to manipulate this one, and seemed to be successful as the younger man was ambitious and willing to conquer, but Eres had set plans for this. Specific aids were selected to keep watch, and when his son released the dagger and slept, he was killed.
Five generations passed from then, with the Daricha spirit eventually becoming known to the entire kingdom: most of which were heirs of Eres’ bloodline. They renamed the kingdom to “Bast Sedom” in honor of the name they gave their new species. Their bodies had bones of some organic metal, with exoskeletons just beneath the skin. They had psychic abilities and control over sound. They could adapt to environments and phase through matter. They worshipped the deity Daricha despite every ruler refusing to indulge the sometimes very vocal commands of the entity to travel out and take control of the world.
2093 saw rise to enough dedicated Daricha followers--most of which were super-powered black-furred versions who claimed to communicate with the entity mentally--that the king of that time made the decision to seal the dagger away for the safety of the world. There was fighting in the streets, with the Daricha entity reaching out and controlling many of the people, but without moonlight or anything else to drain from, its influence dwindled, though the abilities bestowed on the Bast Sedom did not.
In 2122, Bast Sedom had finally settled with many deaths but the kingdom intact. Unfortunately they were once again sought after by ambitious kingdoms. It was not difficult to stop the invaders, but knowing there would be more, Bast Sedom made the first decision to go out and wipe out the kingdom who attempted to overtake them. They left no one alive to rebuild, and took nothing back, but they knew this would not be the end of it.
In 2170, Bast Sedom used its advanced technology to prepare the entire kingdom… to submerge. All the citizens would be placed in chambers to preserve them until they would be awoken in a future time: hoping that there would be more civil people. They believed that the visions of the other advanced world were of the future, and that this meant the world would be more accepting. As they prepared, a nomadic people in the hundreds approached. They were called The Pretas. They were a growing people formed of three past cultures, who did not seek to have the kingdom, and were content to pass through it. However, Bast Sedom saw this as an opportunity to avoid their enemies coming and finding their submerged kingdom. They made a deal with the Pretas to give them the land they had built upon as long as they acted as the keepers for the submerged kingdom some couple miles below. The Pretas were not keen on the idea at first--content with their nomadic style--but they understood that this would not be a common opportunity: having fruitful land to settle upon where no one else had.
So, for the next hundred years, a skeleton crew of Bast Sedom remained above the surface as the entire kingdom submerged: acting as guides for this Pretas people as they built their own colony. When people came in search of the Bast Sedom, knowledge of the species was denied. When hostility broke out, the remaining Bast Sedom carefully helped to keep the odds in the Pretas’ favor. Eventually, the remaining Bast Sedom died of old age, and as generations went on, their people fell into myth and legend even forgotten by most of the Pretas.
The Country[]
3899
The country is now Supreta. Minutes before the new year of 3900, explorers discover something underground shifting in and out of their plane of existence. After some investigation, they track the source to a far-deeper spot in the southern states of the continent. There, they found a chamber radiating intensely, and once they managed to drill through, they found a vibrating white and black dagger. Unfortunately, after removing the dagger, everything began crashing into existence, with the underground in place being destroyed by the now reappearing matter from generations ago. The explorers were killed, but others came soon after to inspect what happened. The kingdom of Bast Sedom had reappeared under Southern Supreta.
The dagger was taken away to the capital of Supreta, and the Bast Sedom were uncovered. Only a few hundred were alive, with their ruler not as fortunate. Thankfully these Bast Sedom still had memories of the many years before, and insisted on their intentions to coexist peacefully. It took time for the people of Supreta to understand how a myth turned out to be reality. More teams were sent to investigate the old technology and architecture while the Bast Sedom were brought out to be slowly integrated into Supretan society.
News of the moon cats was kept from the public until the government could decide what specifically to do about them. Their mental powers intimidated people especially no matter how much the Bast Sedom insisted they were peaceful. They had to study the extent of these mental powers to develop proper defenses. The moon cats were kept in an offsite colony for years while this specific issue was taken care of. They considered steel plating in peoples’ heads, putting dampeners on the cats, and even this sort of sensory-heightening drug for people so they could resist mental invasion better. None of these worked how the government wanted, but they did discover a good use from the drug. As long as the population was given a modified version, they could at least detect better when one of these Bast Sedom were invading their minds, which would trigger a vibrating of the head. For any Bast Sedom who was found performing this act without license or consent, they would use dampeners on them.
Mass producing the drug was costly, but the Supretan government would learn that the effects were eventually permanent and could be passed down to generations. Even better, these Bast Sedom were almost completely honest with their intentions of peace. Only a select few acted rebellious as the species--gradually referred to by the nickname of “Banshee”--became part of the general public.
Being a supernatural and exotic people, the Banshees got a lot of attention, and a lot of that attention was unwanted. It didn’t take long for people to start seeing them as commodities: trophies they could win through flattery or illegal means. Unsurprisingly, many Banshees were victims of false accusations by those who wanted to take advantage of them, but the government regulation was prepared for this, and the legal system was quick to process a majority of the unjust circumstances. This was greatly to do with Supreta being a dictatorship with a great deal of privacy invasion to its citizens. They too saw the Banshees as something to use: as weapons against their enemy countries, such as Gei Si Heir. The government wanted the Banshees to become as patriotic and supportive as they could.
By 4050, Banshees were a large part of society, and the pride of Supreta along with another supernatural species known as the “Nictrela Wolves”: an experimental species made accidentally before the discovery of the Banshees. The Banshees remained pacifistic as a majority, but there was an increasing number becoming willing agents for the Supretan government.
The Refine[]
4109
Banshee Mobians and Nictrela had become a gradual hot topic. The Nictrela, after facing serious health issues and discrimination, created their own sanctuary country--Ytaris--which the two super power countries of Gei Si Heri and Supreta denounced as not a soverign nation, and insisted on it being broken apart. Banshee Mobians notably sympathetic the Nictrela, with many travelling to Ytaris in support. Not only this, but protests in Supreta and Gei Si Heir were becoming common, with Banshees becoming restless with their own restrictions and the public becoming more hostile to their superior genetics.
Gei Si Heir refused Banshee Mobian citizenship out of worry for them taking control of the country, and a long conflict was going on in secret between the two countries. Rumor was spreading about a super being in league with Supreta. This secret agent was responsible for gradual destabilization of Ytaris as well as hits on Gei Si Heir. In 4130, Nictrela, Banshee Mobians, and other singular supernatural beings were being more and more ostrichsized, with Supreta acting as the only safe area for Banshees exclusively. Many would call them “SAvanbRn” (Hellborn), with many taking on the name in their own elitist subgroups. Worse, issues between Supreta and Gei Si Heir were escalating, and despite the advantage of the Banshee Mobians, Supreta could not rely on them anymore to take on Gei Si Heir, as many had grown hostile to the government.
Unknown to the public, Gei Si Heir and Supreta struck a deal where aggressions would end, but the Banshee Mobians would be destroyed. In 4134, airships from Gei Si Heir invaded Supreta, and let out chemical weapons designed to kill Banshee Mobians. It was staged as an attack on Supreta, and millions of casualties occured over the span of a month’s purge. The Banshee Mobians fled into hiding, and as the dust settled, Supreta made a proclamation that all SAvanbRn were now illegal and to be purged on sight.
During the period of the Refine, however, a being appeared to aid the Banshees and the Nictrela. She was known as “The Red Knight”, some kind of glowing being of immense power who fought against the attackers, sending many Banshees away to different areas of the multiverse, while also providing aid to Ytaris. This Red Knight was believed defeated and/or killed in the Refine, but today, Banshees live in hiding on Mobocan or free in other areas of the Multiverse.
Biology[]
General Structure/Appearance[]
Banshee Mobians share a general mobian structure at first glance. They tend to be a few inches taller than the average mobian, but can be up to a foot taller in some cases. Very occasionally, you’ll encounter a “Dwarf Banshee”, which are not only short for Banshee height, but tend to be a half-foot shorter than most Mobians.
The body is structured with larger ears, and wide forearms and lower legs, with wide feet and hands. Banshee Mobians tend to have longer legs as well as necks, which vary. The eyes are shaped as crescent moons. The ears will have a single moon-curved loop that goes inward and points upward. Generally this stems from the inner wall rather than outer, but either can have the curve.
Banshee fur comes in a main color and then a stripe/underfur color. The main color typically is a grey or white shade, while the under-color is usually a darker shade of grey or blue. The underfur appears lining the ear-moon-stripe, the crescent-moon crowning the forehead, the chest and stomach, and the arms and legs: eventually coating the palms and feet. Their tails are typically wide and fluffed out but smooth, only going about 2 feet on average. Banshees also have circular points shown about their body called Pernum and strands underneath areas of their bodies called Wituls, which are addressed later in the Skeleton and Exoskeleton area.
Sexual Differentiation[]
One of the easiest ways to tell the difference in Banshees are the stripes on the torso. All Banshee males will have stripes that spread from the outer side of their arms and legs, eventually fading off at the hips and shoulders. All female Banshees will have stripes that spread from the inner sides of their arms and legs, and join together with the stomach and chest fur. Additionally, female Banshees tend to have lighter fur color and darker stripes/underfur, while males have darker fur and lighter stripes (though this is not guaranteed for all).
Skeleton and Exoskeleton[]
Banshee Mobians have a standard mobian skeleton in structure, but the element composing this is simply called “Banshee Metal”, which is its own unique white color. Not only is it resistant to magnetism, but it has reformative properties and can become flexible when in contact with Banshee Blood B. This Banshee Metal also coats the underskin of the Banshee Mobian body as a hidden exoskeleton: layered like scales, but being incredibly thin save for specific pores on the top of the Banshee hands, the hips, and feet. These indented spheres are often not in view unless the Banshee is known to use their powers often. They are referred to as “Pernum”.
Additionally, Banshee Mobians have specific thread-shaped protrusions underneath their arms, legs, at the back of their heads, and shoulder-blades called “Wituls”. These not only act to heighten vibration detection, but are used when flying. Wituls can grow quite large the more a Banshee actively flies and exercises them, but most have rather small Wituls,and tend to use them mainly in combat.
The durability of Banshee Metal varies, with Dwarf Banshees being known to have the most brittle bones. Because of how much mass is concentrated in and around the bones, the average amount of psi stress required to dent or bend the limb of a Banshee is between 30,000-40,000. Outliers usually only go as low as 25,000 or as high as 43,000. The metal will become more resistant when the Banshee body tenses through the Banshee blood lining and “activating” it in a sense.
Blood[]
Banshee blood comes into two types. A is a traditional red blood with all the varying levels of acidity and so on--though most Banshees tend toward a uniform type closer to O. This is the blood type regulating the body at large, but because of the intensity of the body, this blood type alone isn’t enough.
That is where Banshee Blood B comes in. This blue blood comes in a lesser supply, and is in itself generated by converting all unnecessary waste that doesn’t pass through the body already. The blood is sometimes called “Moon Milk” due to its texture and restorative properties. This blood acts to keep the body adapted to the different kinds of matter it comes in contact with. It is what allows the Banshee matter--metal included--to soften, harden, and adapt to cold and heat. When tense, the blood rushes about the body, and can be expanded to create oxygen even. The more B Blood the Banshee has, the faster they will adapt and convert whatever they consume.
This blood can become overabundant, at which point it will begin to seep out from the pores of the Banshee. If this is left to happen repeatedly, it will gradually create a hardening layer on the skin of the Banshee. This will very slowly develop into a full new exoskeleton of Banshee Metal. It is very rare that Banshees get this far, as it would require constant nutrition and lack of cleansing.
When exposed to outside elements, this Moon Milk will turn into a thick foam designed to clot injuries and rapidly heal the muscle and organs harmed. It is also designed to repair the Banshee Metal, but this takes much longer. A Banshee with a constant supply of Moon Milk can reform an entire square inch of the material in about an hour.
Organ Structure[]
Banshees have very typical organs for the most part, but inside their arms and legs--underneath the Pernum--are special container-like organs called “Pernumbur” which act like lungs and stomachs. They’re in the center of the large limbs, being about a half-inch all around. Waste and nutrients go through there once partially broken down via the normal blood, and are then rapidly converted into Moon Milk. Banshees can consciously change the job of these organs between breaking down content and expelling the Moon Milk to toughen their bodies, expel sound, and adapt to injuries. Because the Moon Milk is very oil and water with the rest of the fluids, it is easy to move other materials away from the Pernumbur as it is prepared for use.
The Eyes[]
Banshee eyes are structured differently than others. The Iris area is actually the pupil, which itself is highly resistant to light-based harm. The sclera area is more what the Iris would be for a Banshee Mobian, making the entire eyes once functioning muscle of sorts. The Banshees do not see with a hollow gap, however. There’s an invisible center inside the crescent moon of the eye where the moon tightens and loosens to better notice details. This is often done to see motion--mainly vibrations--but cannot zoom in.
Abilities[]
Vibration[]
The Moon Milk blood is able to be used for long periods of time, and even once expelled from the body, will leave the Banshee body with more than enough stamina. As such, Banshees use this to create vibrations they can expel outward. This can be to create a sort of sound force field around them, to levitate themselves for flight, to mimic noises, or create bursts of sound as a weapon.
Every time this is done, it passes through the Banshee’s body, and can cause a tingling sensation in the nervous system. Additionally, it shakes the bones in the body, and thus a Banshee needs to be able to keep their body stable and withstand discomfort whenever they do this. The amount of force Banshees can create varies depending on their pitch and intensity of pressure. On average, a Banshee can turn over a standard convertible car with a burst of sound, and reach up to 800 MPH propelling themselves, though most don’t attempt this for fear of losing control and their bodies being harmed in the process.
Mental Abilities[]
The safeguard for all Banshees are their mental powers. Not only does this provide Banshees telekinetic powers, but they can invade and control minds (though mental invasion and control is often very difficult for Banshees toward resisting opponents as well as those who do not also possess mental abilities). Mostly, Banshees use this to intensify their sound abilities: controlling where bursts of sound come from to the point of making hybrid constructs of the mental and vibrational. They also use this to help stabilize themselves, and can mute areas if they so choose.
They can sense mental signals around them, with a radius of about 1 mile on average, though this become more difficult the more people you have around. Many Banshees are even able to use their mental abilities to consciously control what areas of their bodies get priority, increasing speed of regeneration or strength in areas.
Regeneration/Adaptation/Absorption[]
As explained earlier, Banshees can adapt to their environments and regenerate. A well-rested Banshee can restore their entire body--save for the bones--in about three minutes. Even a completely destroyed Banshee brain will be restored complete with memories intact as long as some part of the body remains for the Moon Milk to power up (though it takes about a day for a Banshee to regain consciousness if their brain is destroyed). The more they are exhausted, the harder this becomes.
As such, some Banshees have learned how to directly absorb from the area around them. By making physical contact with anything possessing nutrients, Banshees can draw in and assimilate that matter. This is a very high-skill ability, however, and Banshees have to make sure they aren’t absorbing too quickly. Otherwise, their bodies will be crudely molded to the matter they are taking from, and it will take longer to process: leaving whatever limb they are using immoble until then. Sometimes this can be so serious that the Banshee has to sever the limb.
Density and Phasing[]
Banshees can increase their density by rapidly using the Moon Milk and mental abilities on their body: increasing durability multiple times over for a short period of time. However, phasing is completely different. It uses direct “Daricha Energy”, which concentrates the Moon Milk in the body and causes the body of the Banshee to become intangible. All that is known is that this is a direct intended side-effect, and requires minimal effort.
Moon[]
When in moonlight, Banshees gain additional stamina. No scientific explanation is known for this as they do not do the same for sunlight. Their eyes and stripes often will glow in the moonlight as well, and their abilities increase.
Weaknesses[]
An exhausted Banshee is highly vulnerable. Their whole body will be in pain until they restore themselves, even to the point of their bones scraping against each other due to the lack of Moon Milk Blood and mental concentration. Additionally, Banshees can go through sensory overload whenever they open themselves up. When focusing mentally, or on sound, anything that is too intense can stun them. They are not sensitive to louder or higher-pitched sounds, but they are vulnerable to having too much to focus upon.
Banshees may be able to adapt to heat, but they still don’t like it, and the hotter the environment, the harder it is for a Banshee to deal with it.
Finally, Banshees are rather dependent on their Pernum and Wituls, and should either be stabbed/penetrated or severed, the Banshee will go through intense pain and likely be unable to use whatever limb area was harmed.
Lifespan[]
The lifespan of a Banshee is dependent on their capacity to produce a healthy supply of B Blood. Once a Banshee reaches around 70, they begin to decay, and thus the Moon Milk Blood has to start working to keep their bodies strong. While the metal bones do not decay--at least not for a good while--the other body matter does. If the Banshee Mobian does not have enough Moon Milk to repeatedly feed into any slowing areas of the body, that area will gradually become permanently weakened. The decay process takes about 20 years before the Banshee would lose the ability to walk properly, and maybe 10 after that before they died. This of course increases or decreases based on blood regulation.
A newborn Banshee matures physically at a normal rate, but from infancy, they require constant consumption of food due to how dense their bodies are. At around 18 years old, the Banshee becomes fully grown.
Appearance[]
Banshee Mobians
Banshee Types[]
Vibra[]
These are the standard Banshee Mobians. They are usually a pale grey to white fur color, and will often have grey, slate, or occasionally blue underbody fur. Their eyes typically skew white or blue, but they can come in many other colors. A Vibra Banshee will have three crescent moons crowning their forehead.
Daricha[]
Called as such because of their heightened abilities: Daricha Banshees are far more powerful and prone to aggressive tendencies. They have black fur with white marks, and their underfur often turns in a moon curve pattern. Additionally, they tend to have even larger hands and feet. They have one large crescent moon crowning their forehead. Finally, their Wituls are usually quite long by default, looking almost like spines or quills.
Daricha Banshees vary in power and durability, but almost always are stronger than other types. They have faster regeneration, absorption, and adaptation, and can sometimes even project this Daricha Energy as a projectile. This energy can assimilate and absorb just about anything, but requires extreme concentration and supply of Moon Milk.
Some believe that Daricha Banshees can become possessed by the spirit of the Daricha entity itself. This is demonstrated through Daricha Banshees changing in behavior and even recalling memories from the original Bast Sedom kingdom. However, it is mainly believed that these are inherited traits and not an actual link to the spirit of Daricha turning off and on.
Milen[]
These Banshees are all but a myth: Banshees based in psychic powers as their main attribute. These are considered the most powerful due to just how strong their telekinesis and mind control can be. There is only one Milen Banshee known to this day.
Little is known about Milen Banshees in terms of appearance. They have five crescent-moons crowning their foreheads, and it is thought that their stripes/underbody fur is pink.
Dwarf Banshees[]
In addition to being smaller than other Banshees, Dwarf Banshees have larger ears, and some deficiencies, including that their ears are actually sensitive to sound despite having better hearing. Their bodies are less durable, and they cannot develop as much Moon Milk, making them exhaust faster and heal slower. Additionally, some Dwarf Banshees don’t even have crescent-moon crowns or stripes at all, but will often retain the moon irises.
Culture[]
Languages[]
Native Language[]
Historically, Banshees have a native language called “Rae reh Po sein Hars de Sho Reh Hars de Slee” which literally just means the word “Language”. Short term, it’s referred to by the nickname “Sedomies”. This language is quite unique in that it has the speaker pronounce every letter of every word as well as all grammatical symbols. During the Bast Sedom era, Banshees could easily communicate in this form because of their rapid speech and processing abilities. The language is almost always spoken verbally rather than written down, as it was partially created to be difficult to understand by foreigners. A written version of the language was disallowed due to it being easier to understand, and so word symbols were created instead.
Singskrit[]
The language of Supreta. This one was originally an amalgamation of multiple languages, though its main influence was Farsi, despite many assuming it would be Sanskrit. Over time, it evolved into a very different kind of language, but it did not include the same structure of the native Banshee language. Singskrit has its own alphabet for writing and speaking, and separates the hard and soft version of vowels. Additionally, capitals are not used to indicate names (at least when the words are translated to English). There is a grammatical symbol to indicate these, while capitals replace the hard version of vowels and other sounds.
Additionally, Singskrit has very few past or future tenses for words, and will instead clarify the tense before the word is spoken or written. Instead of “I ran” you would say “I did run”.
Other Languages and slang[]
Banshees native to the Supretan area will usually speak Singskrit, and not many still speak the native language. However, most have learned other languages as well, and prefer them to Singskrit, as it holds a negative connotation for them given the events of the Refine.
As for slang, Banshees do not retain many terms exclusive to their kind. Most have adapted to the cultures around them. That said, there are a few terms Banshees have for each other, though many are no longer popular, especially with Banshees who do not live in Mobocan.
- Gupe (goo pae): Which refers to Banshees who often modify themselves, using their mental powers to change their height, build, colors, and other cosmetic aspects. Gupe have a somewhat negative connotation for being indecisive and/or unsatisfied with themselves, but for those particularly skilled, they are given more respect for their ability to make impressive displays of themselves.
- Reenikt (Ree nikt): Using the slang word “Reen'' referring to grip, this modification is in reference to historic Banshee rulers who were reluctant to let go of the Daricha dagger during their reign. To call someone a Reenikt is a derogatory term for someone more loyal to the Daricha entity. Reenikts are considered power-hungry, selfish, and frankly evil. This term was created during the height of civil unrest in Bast Sedom surrounding the dagger, but became popularized again as oppression against Banshees in Supreta grew. Many took on the name to empower themselves as loyalists to Daricha, and a call to arms for their “birthright”.
- Reflector: The same in any language it’s used, this is a less insulting way to refer to someone more loyal to the Daricha spirit. Reflectors worship Daricha, and are often very educated about Banshee history. Some are aggressive and some are passive, and generally, they still hold that Banshees should rule the continent by birthright. Most Reflectors tend to be diplomatic, and seek control through legal means, but both Reenikts and Reflectors also tend to look down on non-Banshees, even in relation to the Nictrela wolves. Given how united many Nictrela have historically been with Banshee Mobians, even other Reenikts will often berate one of their own for not embracing what they consider their brother species despite Nictrela having no relation to Banshees.
- Firishikt (Fi rish ikt): These are Banshees who express admiration to the “Red Knight” of the Refine who saved so many of them. Many Firishikts have deified the Red Knight, some to the point of rejecting the Daricha spirit as their savior. Unlike Daricha, the Red Knight is associated with self-defense and protection while also appearing intimidating to one’s enemies. As such, this is the more peaceful of the two Banshee religions as well as the younger. Many Banshees respect the Red Knight but look down on those who hold the Knight to such a high pedestal. Many believe the Knight was a creation of the Melcro company associated with the Supretan government, or some kind of remotely-piloted robot. Reenikts especially dislike Firishikts, and some very educated Banshees believe that the Red Knight used the power called “Chaos Energy”, a historical enemy of the Daricha Spirit.
- Water Terms: Banshees tend to compliment or insult based on water body terms, and the context for each varies. Usually the size of the body of water will imply the intensity of the person, or their level of strength. If called a “Pond” or “Puddle”, the connotation is almost always condescending: implying minimal importance, intelligence, or skill. At the same time, calling someone a sea or ocean usually means you think they’re over-the-top in some way. A lake is usually the best middleground term, but it still depends on the context. If someone asks “How attractive am I?” and you say “An ocean”, it is a compliment. If someone asks “Do you think he is overreacting” and you say “He’s a lake at most”, it means you think they are being reasonable. Additionally, referencing a river often relates to a train of thought and/or someone figuring out an answer; a waterfall refers to an intense feeling; a wave often relates to the strength of a specific action or characteristic (usually in the moment); and references to clear or murky water vary. Finally, these terms have also been used to reference a Banshee’s cultural personality. Being called a pond or puddle implies you are uneducated on your people to an ignorant degree, being a lake means you are average and perfectly fine, and anything higher usually ranges from being very educated to fanatical.
Morality[]
Banshees have a mixed history of moral values. They’ve always had conflict between a Pacifist and Ambitious mindset. The prevailing culture of the Bast Sedom kingdom was isolationism and peace, with self-defense as a last resort. However, in the modern day, most Banshees have faced far worse discrimination and oppression, leading to many having a far darker outlook.
Today there are generally three kinds of Banshees: Pacifistic Survivors, who retain a docile and defensive nature, Aggressive Survivors, who believe in punishing enemies and seeking out justice, and Escapees, who are often removed from the trauma of past generations and are thus less inclined to either nature. Most Banshees who have escaped to the rest of the Multiverse have little to say about avenging their ancestors, and instead value the freedom they have. They aren’t always Pacifists, but they are not on average aggressive.
Nowadays, there are far more hurt and angered Banshees living in Mobocan than peaceful ones, and discrimination between the two types has risen. This has led to a great number of terrorist groups filled with Banshee Mobians who have let go of their Pacifist heritage, and often will be willing to harm whomever to achieve their goals. This is where the deity division often sparks from between the Red Knight and Daricha.
Religion[]
Moon Children[]
Most Banshees are very aware of where their power came from, and what the entity who created them intended. Daricha was able to make clear her desires through the Bast Sedom kingdom enough times that the government could not silence her calls to arms. As such, the Children of Daricha--or Moon Children--believe in the following.
- Justice by any means
- A sovereign Banshee nation
- Proactively seeking out any wrongdoing and silencing it
- The continuing evolution of their species to stronger forms
Some more radical Moon Children insist on supremacy, but it was clear even by Daricha at times that dominating the world, universe, or multiverse was not the intent: only to police it how she saw fit.
Red Knights[]
Being more recent, this religion is hesitant to deify the Red Knight, but there is still a doctrine insisted by its higher members.
- Actively seeking out those in need and defending them regardless of the circumstance
- Showing strength through defending rather than attacking
- Impartiality to who receives aid
Afterlife?[]
Banshees do not have a traditional belief on afterlife. Some believe that they will enter the realm that beings like Daricha come from, and others believe that they will become life for other beings, but there is no strong consensus.
Activities[]
Unsurprisingly, Banshees are very musical, and often will partake in singing and imitation of instruments. Their sound-based powers have led to two particular sort of sports.
The Imitation Game[]
The game to have survived across Banshee culture generally: this activity has Banshees demonstrate their vocal powers in copying sounds. This game comes in a few versions. The first has Banshees comparing who can sound the most accurate to a song, a person, or some other miscellaneous noise. Points are often awarded for pulling off multiple instruments or voices at once.
The second has Banshees having to guess who is making what sound with guessers being blindfolded. Points are awarded for accuracy as well as speed at guessing, but points are also given to those who can keep people guessing the longest.
Pulse[]
Sadly this game is no longer popularized due to being made illegal in Supreta. In this game, Banshees would fly about playing keep-away with a signified item--usually a box or ball--and other Banshees would have to use bursts of sound to knock the object out of their arms. The Banshee holding the item would have to cradle it a specific way so that it could be knocked out from under or over, and when possessing the item, the Banshee would only be allowed to move in bursts of sound while pursuers could move freely. Teammates would be allowed to guard the possessor from a distance to deflect sound bursts.
One wins the game either by holding on to the object for a collective five minutes, or longer than the other team can after a designated amount of time. The amounts are tallied at the end.
Other Activities[]
In addition to many musical activities, Banshees also tend toward beautification, and many would take roles relating to fashion. Because of their slow aging and durability, they pride themselves on attractiveness.