Dalton (The August Few)

Name: Dalton Age: unknown Gender: Male Height: 5'5 Species: Kivouacian Occupation: Yolshen warrior, Captain of the Yolsh

Yolsh = Kivouacian law enforcement and military

Appearance: Dalton has an anatomy that sort of resembles a big pit-bull with a couple panther-ish and ram-like traits included in as well. His fur is mainly pitch black, some strands on his arms and legs ending in silver or white. He has two black ears with long tufts of red at the tips that usually curl upwards instead of down like most. He has a furry dragon-like snout tipped with two small horns pointing up to a row of more much smaller horns that gradually get longer as they trail up his forehead and over his eyes. He has two much larger horns on the top of his forehead that curve more up towards the sky. Most noticeably, he has two hollow ram horns that come out from each side of the top of his head which end at a very sharp curve next to his cheeks. His left horn is split at the ends, burnt by Wexle during a past fight in the Madness Frontier. He has a long wiry black and red-dotted mane starting from the back of his neck all the way down to his skinny waist. Two diamond shaped red splotches are over his eyes, which are oddly the same colour as his sclera (eyeballs). His eyes are a sickly yellow color, accompanied by the signature Kivouachian, star shaped pupil, allowing him superior colour vision. During moments of intense emotional stress, Dalton's eyes seem to roll into his head. His mouth is lined with large pointed teeth, perfect for ripping into the flesh of his victims.

Dalton has thick, muscular shoulders giving space for a huge barrel chest that was likely useful in his days of combat as a soldier. About 13 or so bone-like spines jut out of his sides, some straight and some curved. His back is covered in large dark red spots, abruptly getting smaller as they reach his waist. The lower half of his body is longer, thinner, and smaller than the front, but his thighs still appear capable of giving a good kick. Shuck has two front paws with five toes, each quipped with thick hooked claws while his back legs are equipped with huge powerful hooves. At the end of his body is a fairly sized rod-shaped black tail that doesn't seem to move much.

Rank and look accompanied: Dalton was a Captain of the Yolshen Order, marked by eight golden stripes, four to each shoulder. These markings were not a natural formationand vanished upon dormant service. Eight was his number, eight of theultimate ten. These markings were made in tribute to Winifred, founder of the Yolshen Order and chiefest in Locket’s arsenal of politicians. Dalton thought of Winifred often, but it was for Wexle, Voice of the Yolsh, Winifred’s prized student, and successor, that he now payrolled the streets.

Personality: Dalton was born in the Madness Frontier, which makes him tougher than most. He seems to have thick skin, and is extremely hard to tick off or annoy. When he chooses firm loyalty towards someone, he can be quite ruthless towards his foes, reigniting an old fire that most probably wouldn't want to feel the wrath of. Dalton usually has a very comedic, vulgar attitude and has a personality of what Ludwig considers to be an old "joke." He curses and uses odd mashups he creates on a whim in an attempt to make others laugh, which usually doesn't work. He's quite laid back and self-aware, having no issue in getting personal or having a good time with his friends to ignore bad situations. Dalton is also very intelligent and loves to do math or play challenging and complex puzzle games like Chess.

Background Dalton was born in the Madness Frontier, long after the Locket's Law was in place. Growing up in those bizarre lands made him tougher than most and an unmatched navigator of the Frontier. He fought his way into the Underbirth and terrorised the Kasino for a short while. Soon after, his blood lust became noteworthy and he was recruited into the Yolsh fighting force where he served under Hayden and then eventually Wexle.

Dalton quickly became famed for his combative abilities and was soon apart of Wexle's personal posse. He would frequently be sent into the Madness Frontier as an enforcer of Locket's Law. Despite the larger Cities being the main Kivouachian hubs, there were many smaller settlements scattered throughout the Frontier. The shanty town of ‘Joy’ was one of many, built upon the body of Locket's mother, Freyda. Dalton would regularly inspect these settlements, not for illegal activities as they were impossible to quell in the Frontier, but rather to search for runaways who fled justice and had not yet been sentenced by the court. One of these runaways was Fleisher who Dalton captured and brought before Lucy Lacemaker for sentencing.

Extra: Has a cockney accent

Kivouachian Abilities: Immortality: All Kivouachian's are immortal due to their cellular structure and the ability to control the length of their own telomeres, because of this they cannot die naturally of age. The only way a Kivouachian can die is if their DNA is damaged and left un-mended. Usually the damage directly to the brain or burning them with fire causes true death.

Physiology: All Kivouachians have cross or star shaped pupils. All Kivouachians have three belly buttons. All Kivouachians have three hearts inside their body.

Bodily excretions: Kivouachian's bodies can only produce sweat, tears, drool, blood and/or vilt. Kiv never need to use the bathroom to relieve themselves.

Regeneration: Kivouachian's are capable of regenerating skin, limbs, tissue, and other body parts. Even dismemberment is of little threat to them. Only if the parts missing have been eaten, burned or dissolved do they not heal fully.

Transformation: Kivouachian's have the ability to rewrite their own DNA and density at the flick of the wrist, giving them the freedom to re-create parts of themselves whenever they'd like to whatever they'd like (ex; Wexle's arms turning into blades when she fights, Lucy Lacemaker turning herself into a swarm of flies, etc). However full control over this is hard and only Yolsh go through training to master this ability fully. Most commonly kiv may run the risk of getting stuck in a changed form if their DNA or genetics are too weak to support such drastic changes.

Contortion/Rottulation: Sometimes Kivouachian's were dismembered at the head for whatever reason it may be; sometimes for pleasure and sometimes for play. But all have the ability to stay alive for extremely long periods of time without the head. Of course this becomes invalid once the head is eaten, burned, severely damaged or dissolved, but if not - they are simply unconscious. Those with weak genes will usually die after a couple thousand years without their heads on, and most will need aid when it comes to actually putting it back on. But there are the rare, lucky few (ex; Lucy Lacemaker) who's heads will naturally return to their bodies without help. This being an extension to being called Waking Dead, a being who is conscious even with their head detached. Rotulated bodies are often used as either decoration or as comfortable furniture in various facilities, more often used in Laugh houses and Dollhouses. After all, a nice and warm, soft body can make for a far more comfortable chair than plain wood and linen.

Dollfaced: When a Kivouachian is rendered unconscious (forcefully) or during Rotulation, when the head is severed from the body, the eyes will roll up and the long, Kivouachian tongue will spill from the mouth and hang limp. The dolls and Dollies (performers of Dollhouses), have practiced to mimic this expression at the discretion of their clientele. It is a sign of complete submission when done voluntarily.

Kivouacian genetics: All Kivouacians are functional hermaphrodites.

Reproduction: Gower: Universal reproductive organ—opening ("Mound") or pseudo-phallus ("Front-Tail"). Vilt-sacks ("balls") internal/external. The Gower is always covered in a small patch of fur that matches colour to its owner's fur.

Reproduction requires a Vessel (Rotulated body) infused with Vilt. This is stopped by head reattachment.

Lore and Universe: The Kivouack is a realm of swirling fractal chaos that predates the Big Bang and our current universe. Its inhabitants, the Kivouachians (commonly shortened to "kivvas" or "kivs"), are highly intelligent, monstrous, yet bizarrely sophisticated creatures who built a grand civilization out of absolute objective truth, brutal survival, and complete competence.

Douser: Aquatic based Kivouachians. Their physiology is adapted for under water living. They have their own Inkhouse and libraries, however, their writing is all made by carving into stone tablets that won't wash away with the waters they live in. Few Dowsers ever wear clothing outside of some simple jewellery, but many are able to come up onto land and shift their gills over to lungs and experience the dryer parts of the Underbirth.

The Society: Based inside a city known as "The Underbirth," their government completely rejects morality, subjective virtues, and mercy. Instead, they function under total natural, industrial, and cultural selection. All violent crimes are legal, and the concept of family does not exist.

Outside of the city: This space is referred to as the madness frontier. Many wild, drifting flowers, plants and other things make this space their home. Sprawling rivers, lakes, impossible trees, vast mountains and even an entire ocean lay somewhere beyond the first edges of the madness frontier.

Trade: The economy of the Kivouach was based on fair trade, in items, trinkets, consumables and services. Empty currency had been abolished during the trade revolution.

Characters of note within the Kivouachian world: Sombra - Sombra, the Voice of architecture of the Kivouac. Sombra is the eldest sibling to Locket and Winifred, the three of whom share leadership positions in their home world of the Kivouac.

Locket - Lady Locket, the Grand Voice of the Kivouac (grand leader). Locket is the second eldest sibling to Sombra and Winifred, the three of whom share leadership positions in their home world of the Kivouac.

Winifred - Winifred, the grand Whisper, second in command to Locket and the creator of of the Yolsh (the law) of the Kivouac. The golden queen. Winifred is the youngest sibling to Locket and Sombra, the three of whom share leadership positions in their home world of the Kivouac. The most violent of the ruling siblings. Her former Whisper, Wexel, took on the mantle of voice of the Yolsh and answers only to Winifred.

Freyda: A great beast of ancient Kivic legend. Stark white with twenty horns of varying sizes adorning her head. Her horns and claws were used to rip and tear without discrimination, moving about the Kivic wilds and snapping up every creature she could in her hunger. All trembled with fear under the dread empress's reign. Though empress none of them called her. They called Freyda, Monster. The beast that was the forebearer to Locket, Sombra and Winifred.

A creature that the three siblings slew in the war of the ladies and brought about the rise of Lady Locket. And the Kivouach, the Underberth was built apon the body of the fallen titan and civilization was brought about. Few ever speak Freyda's name our loud. Even in modern days it was a name that inspired fear.

Sombra and his siblings work within the Paradigm court. A sprawling building of various architecture that dominates the Thumme. Inside this artificial mechanical and scientific wonder of a structure, lies the court house for the Paradigm court, the sprawling estate for the Grand Whisper (Locket), a separate estate building for Winifred, the Grand voice, and beyond that, a sector dedicated for science, study and architecture with high towers for Sombra, the Grand Architecht. And even further vast sectors for scribes, information storage and workspaces for staff and lower ranking Whispers laid. Along with accomodation for all the staff and some kitchens.

The Thumme is a central, mars sized, man made planetary body that floats/anchors within the centre of the Kivic Underbirth. Three artificially contrasted "rings" orbit the Thumme and each is a separate sector dedicated to the government bodies while also hosting space for gardens, trade etc. The city itself is a sprawling, spherical shell with it's own gravitational gravamassa to keep everyone from falling or floating off.

Connecting this vast city together are Mandosian corridors. Stitches in space time that can shave hundreds of miles off of travel. It's how one can get around the city without it taking literal months.

The Underbirth is perhaps the size of Jupiter, maybe more and built apon the world of the Kivouach. Beyond which sits the Glazze, a pale and almost colourless expanse of peaceful glades, trees, small rivers and such with flicks of moving flowers residing there.

Beyond the Glazze lies the Madness frontier. The home of the Kivic wilderness.

Additional Terms:

"Ooh la": a native term used to express excitement or great appreciation over something or even said in satisfaction.

"Wa la wa": a native colloquial term that roughly can be applied to a few meanings such as: "it is what it is", "what the hell", or even an expletive of no real meaning, sometimes said in outrage or in resignation.

Blackhall: the name for an anonymous private investigator. Sometimes freelancers or Ex Yolsh.

Inker script: a standardised means of writing. This is the first kind of script that Kivouachians learn to read and write. Equivalent to human block text. Mostly used for mass printing or used by inexperienced inkers and interns at Bookburrows who have just started out.

Personal hand: a Kivouachian's personal handwriting style. This is mostly used by professionals. Heads off state, heads of businesses, organisations, highly experienced inkers and their directors.

Erillion: a precious mineral mined from the very mountain ranges outside of the Underbirth. This metal mineral is used for all kinds of trade: jewellery, construction, mechanical mechanisms, instruments, chemical components, cutlery, machinery, steam engines, netting rigs, scaffolding, etc. basically anything that's needs to be made out of metal, it is made from Erillion.

Flower species (kiv flora): Roundheads, squareheads, lightthrashers, blackslashers, and wide-faced halosailors. Each of varying colour, shape, scent and taste.

Fruit (native to the kiv): Bloodfruit (red), Hash fruit (yellow), Bawler berries (blue). (And a variety of more common fruit)

Grit: smoking tobacco, usually made of Kivouachian square head flowers

Gritpipe: smoking pipe

Voice: Term used for the head or leader of a certain sector or organisation.

Whisper: Term used for the second in command, or the right hand to a Voice.

Yolsh: Kivouachian law enforcement and military. Soldiers are called Yolsh or Yolshen. The Yolsh never wear clothes, save our of necessity for pockets for carrying things during meetings in the paradigm court, and they were singles out by the golden strike markings apon their body. The more strikes, the higher the rank.

Inker: term used for the Kivouachian journalists.

Ink house: news house or paper press. Home to journalists/inkers and their managers/directors. Ink houses are also functioning paper mills and many even produce their own ink.

Starklook Inkhouse: Starklook Inkhouse is the most prominent Inkhouse in the entire Underbirth. They always get first pick with stories and news from the Thumme or trade. It's head Editor is Felix.

Chop shop: Kivouachian butchery. Functions like restaurants that mostly focus on meat based meals like roasts, broths etc. (Kivouachians are usually obligatory cannibals and most meat comes from Fowlers, immature Kivouachians. Although many kiv eat various other things.)

Laugh houses: Equivalent to a tavern or an inn where both drink, food, entertainment and even lodging can be found. Laugh houses can have their own dollies employed as more as music or singing entertainers and several trade business with chop shops for meat for meals. Laugh houses can also brew their own alcohol and often have signature drinks. The proprietor of a Laugh house was called a Minstrel, and waiters were called Jesters.

Kivouachian alcohol: The oldest form of alcohol is Grin, a thick and black liquid that's bitter and burns on the way down. Pucker is a sour based alcohol and usually clear or faintly coloured by what it was brewed with, and various other flavours of wines, ciders and whiskeys now exist. Several native flower species are used as cordial ingredients, such as round head flowers for sweetness, square head flowers for bitterness, and triangular head flowers for sours. Honey mead is of the rarer varieties and highly sought after.

Bathhouses: facilities with warmed water, soaps, private pools and incense for relaxation and cleaning.

Bookburrows: Function as central trading hubs and libraries. Materials of varying types and certain services can be bartered through bookburrows for other facilities like jewelers, perfumers, ink houses, laugh houses etc. Some Bookburrows produce paper and ink to supply to smaller ink houses or to be used for their own books and documents. A kiv needs to have their appearance and abilities registered with a Bookburrow in order to be eligible to apply for jobs at other facilities.

Dollhouses: facilities aimed at entertainment and pleasure. Dollies sing, dance, play instruments, put on plays or do numerous things as entertainment for clients. Including pleasure work. These facilities can also offer food and drink and even rooms when a client pays for and takes on the services of a Dollie (can be either male or female).

More standard facilities such as Jewellers, Tailors, Blacksmiths, wood carvers, Masons, and many others exist. Some such extra facilities are tobacconists and perfumers who harvest native Kivouachian flower species for smoking, for incense or for perfume infusions and soaps.