Land of Spices

Once the Herald of Change—a champion of civilization and symbol of societal endurance—Burning Spice Cookie, now jaded towards history's ceaseless cyclicality, prevails over the war-torn Land of Spice with abandon. He craves reducing nations to ashes purely for the thrill of it, all the while disregarding his own safety and the safety of his lackey, Nutmeg Tiger Cookie and his militant followers. No longer is Burning Spice Cookie revered as the great and all mighty conqueror he once was, but feared as the ultimate bringer of Destruction—the granter of ends.

Burning Spice Cookie wields the power of Destruction, a corrupted side of the Virtue of Change he once held. He was the original owner of Golden Cheese Cookie's Soul Jam, being stripped of it upon his descent into villainy. Burning Spice Cookie is a vision of raw strength: he is a very tall, hulkingly muscular Cookie with a massive upper body and reasonably thick legs, giving him a top-heavy build. His dough is a rose-terracotta tone peppered with umber tattoos like tiger stripes. His hungry eyes, poised under a furrowed brow and lined in black, curling lashes, burn with fire in jasmine slit pupils and cooler red sclerae. Below lies a wicked grin of sharp teeth set in tarnished gold. Sinuous brands border his eyes symmetrically in pointed fronds as another sits at his forehead, acting as the base to his two grand antennae. They erupt in stinging tongues of flame and likely represent his twisted divinity and power, as they come from his Ajna chakra where Shiva has his third eye.

Burning Spice Cookie's hair is exceedingly long and drags on the ground beneath him. Its matted mass is an all-encompassing void of black compared to his otherwise fiery tones and sprawls away in wild strands.

The Great Destroyer wears little clothing and armor, conveying his confidence with such a lack of protection. His chest is bare save for his fire red, triangular Soul Jam, being emblematic of his status as a Beast and signaling to all his strength. It is flanked by fiendish, heath markings similar to those on his face. The one true garment on Burning Spice Cookie is a pītāmbari (Sanskrit: पीताम्बर) dhoti (Hindi: धोती), a silken, saffron yellow cloth attributed to Vishnu (Sanskrit: विष्णु)/Krishna (Sanskrit: कृष्ण) in Shaivism (Sanskrit: शैवसम्प्रदाय); it wraps his legs and is accompanied by a separate, ruby red waistband-loincloth hemmed with orange and secured with a golden buckle. Any extra adornment on his body is scant—a single bracelet coils around his left wrist and two slight plates of armor with a single spike each sit on his shoulders, all three elements being rendered in pale gold. When he reaches 2 stars, he now gains a halo. It is orange smoke behind him and above his head. In 4 stars, the halo has 3 small fires. And on 6 stars its now a scorching flame. It also adds a Dharmachakra wheel beneath it.

His weapon of choice is a menacing parashu (Sanskrit: paraśu) that stands even taller than its wielder. Its double blades curve like searing flames—one larger than the other—and stem from a red-hot starburst insignia. These blades can be shattered and restored at the Destroyer's will, seeming to be made from pure energy (or at least representing Burning Spice Cookie's power over Change). The axe's base is a long shaft with numerous sharp bevels, while the entire weapon glows with hellish heat and takes the colors of warm igneous rock and flowing magma.

As the Beast of Destruction, Burning Spice Cookie's behavior exemplifies such, with his first act upon regaining a physical form being sending an army after the current owner of his lost half of his Soul Jam. Most of his actions are to starve off his boredom and satisfy his deep lust for carnage. To the Great Destroyer, both past and posterity have lost their meaning, if they ever had one to begin with; the only worth left lies in the power to extinguish the world's lemmings that clings to inconsequential lives. Something else he finds entertaining is a good battle; he waited eons for an exciting fight with the one holding his other half and didn't care that he regained his Soul Jam until he had a more challenging, novel conflict with her. In truth, he craves what he views as true change; utter domination over an enemy does not thrill him, for he has experienced such a scenario countless times. However, being truly challenged or even defeated seemed to relieve his emptiness as it was genuine change to the status quo of him being undefeatable.

In his realm, Burning Spice Cookie rules over the Wild Spices with an iron fist, striking fear into its inhabitants, especially less combative tribes like the Kulfi. His generals and soldiers, in return, pledge unwavering loyalty to him, knowing that opposition or failure of their duties can lead to their demise at his hands. Burning Spice Cookie does not show any sympathy to those who suffer because of him, seeing them or their suffering as meaningless, nor does he care for the well-being of Cookies under his command, and is exemplified to have no reserves of mercy for those in his path of destruction. He destroys ally and enemy alike without hesitation, seeking to eliminate all and put an end to the cycle of existence. This intense desire for thrill and brutality rages to the point that Burning Spice Cookie does not even care whether he wins a battle or not, laughing maniacally when faced with imminent death at Golden Cheese Cookie's hands, something he could also desire as it means the end of the cycle of never-ending change. Burning Spice Cookie is largely based on Shiva (Sanskrit: शिव), a principal Hindu deity who is one third of its Trimurti (Sanskrit: त्रिमूर्ति) and the focus of its Shaivism (Sanskrit: शैवसम्प्रदाय) subculture. Burning Spice Cookie likely is derived from more fierce, wrathful interpretations of Shiva.

The base Trimurti personifies the concepts of creation, preservation, and destruction through its three deities Brahma (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मा), Vishnu (Sanskrit: विष्णु), and Shiva. These deities perform their attributed task not necessarily out of explicit benevolence or malice, but to uphold the laws of the universe and reality. Though "destruction" may have a negative connotation to many, Hindu Brahman (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मन्) slates it as a neutral truth, as creation cannot exist without destruction. Shiva's titles of the "god of destruction" or even "the Destroyer"—simply one who destroys—relate directly to Burning Spice Cookie's power over Destruction and own title of "the Destroyer," though Burning Spice Cookie's brand of violent, indulgent carnage turns Shiva's neutral dissolving of aspects of the universe (and sometimes equivalent creation) on its head. Fire in itself is often a symbol of destruction, and thus some iterations of Shiva have noteworthy power over fire much like Burning Spice Cookie; an example of this is the Nataraja (Sanskrit: नटराज), an archetypal icon of Shiva which depicts him as a cosmic dancer holding fire in his hand, representing his control over destruction.

Nutmeg Tiger Cookie is a tiger-Cookie hybrid (inspired by a tigrocentaur) with tan brown dough; she has narrowed and intimidating eyes with red sclerae and black slit irises. Her eyelashes and outer eyes are colored white, with black eyeshadow. She has maroon stripes on her face that are slanted and end near the middle of her face. At the top of her forehead, she has a maroon diamond shaped symbol. She has red, unruly, top neck length hair with black streaks. She has maroon stripes on her arms along with her torso and chest. She wears a black, sleeveless, cropped poncho along with a golden ring that has a red gemstone with a black oval at the top and two lines on each side that went straight then slanted. It was around her chest. A golden belt separates her Cookie upper body from her tiger lower body. She has red fur and black stripes on her tiger body. She has a tear drop shaped golden shield with the same gemstone in the ring imbued in the middle of the shield.

Having grown up in a war-torn wasteland where those with strength can lead their tribes to survive, Nutmeg Tiger Cookie believes that only the strongest deserve to have authority, as reflected in the way she and the other Wild Spices serve Burning Spice Cookie without question. But while others serve him out of either fear or opportunity, she serves him out of pure loyalty and admiration, was willing to take back half of her master's Soul Jam from Golden Cheese Cookie, whom she and the other Spices view only as a thief. Nutmeg Tiger Cookie's unwavering convictions had been infamous among the tribes even before Burning Spice Cookie's arrival, however, which allows her to command even the greatest gatherings of Wild Spices with only a word. She believes that all tribes should share in her unquestioning belief in the value of strength, and tolerates not even a single action to the contrary from even the lowliest of Kulfi. She also loves taking care of plants, but that's a huge secret.

Pepper Pangolin Cookie is the head of the Pepper Pangolin Tribe of Wild Spices and a follower of Burning Spice Cookie. Cowardly, overly proud, and perhaps slightly incompetent, this Cookie leads the Spice Swarm to Golden Cheese Cookie after being defeated by her and gullibly convinced that she is not who he was looking for.

Saffron Buffalo Cookie is the head of the Saffron Buffalo Tribe of Wild Spices and a follower of Burning Spice Cookie. This Cookie is dogged in his pursuit of Golden Cheese Cookie and her Soul Jam, believing success in the task will grant him his lord's favor.

Cilantro Cobra Cookie is the head of the Cilantro Cobra Tribe of Wild Spices and a follower of Burning Spice Cookie. She is a clever, conniving, and brutal leader who values Burning Spice Cookie's rule largely for the opportunities it creates for her and her tribe. As of the events of Wings of Eternity, she presumably has been crumbled by Burning Spice Cookie in his careless pursuit of Golden Cheese Cookie.

Cilantro Cobra Cookie has a chalky green dough color and similarly-colored eyes with black slit pupils and large black winged eyelashes. Though her upper half is that of a Cookie, her bottom half is a forest green snake tail with a cilantro sprig tip. She wears a white top that resembles a flower at the bottom. She has scant floral markings on her body, specifically around her eyes and on her right arm.

Cilantro Cobra Cookie's hair is styled in a leafy bob with a sort of cilantro side ponytail. She wears three sprout-shaped hair clips near her central bangs.

In the midst of all the spice and chaos, a gentle heart shines! Young Kulfi may be the smallest in the Kulfi Village, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in boundless kindness and curiosity! Though he has never ventured out alone—his village constantly warns him about the dangers of the outside world—this little Kulfi remains open-hearted and friendly. Always the first to offer a cup of cool lassi to a parched traveler, he dreams of the day he will grow big and strong enough to go on the adventure of a lifetime!

Elder Kulfi is the aged, mild-mannered leader of the Kulfi tribe of Spices, having expertise in magic. Upon first meeting Golden Cheese Cookie and Smoked Cheese Cookie, he is forced to drive them from his people's settlement out of fear of Burning Spice Cookie's retribution for assisting the enemy. Later on, he comes to realize that the two care for him and his people more than Burning Spice Cookie ever did, and he does what he can to help them defeat the Great Destroyer. Kulfis are monkeys.

The entire thing is based on Hindu culture, as is the orange and red color scheme.

The Land of Spices contains the kulfi village, the Forest of Aromalice, turmeric pig badlands, the cilantro cobra forest, the soft naan hill, a desolate battlefield, the cliff of lost blades, the lassi springs, and of course, Burning Spice's temple. Inside the temple is the bird cage (prison), the hallway of victory, the canyon of the abandoned, a courtyard enveloped by darkness, the audience hallway, all the way leading to his throne. Covered by weapons, this throne has stood here for thousands of years. The temple is covered with stone murals depicting burning spice and his tribes. This land is also prone to Spice Smog. The land slowly turns from lush green to deep orange the farther you go, hinting that destruction will always follow. This also may indicate where the most battles take place.

The Pepper Pangolin tribe consists of the Pepper Pangolin Soldier, Grenadier, And Officer. Its is led by Pepper Pangolin Cookie. It is a docile and loyal tribe. Their dough is brown/dark brown.

The Saffron Buffalo Tribe consists of the Saffron Buffalo Scout, Summoner And Shaman. It is led by Saffron Buffalo Cookie. It is a critical and aggressive tribe. Their dough is purple.

The Cilantro Cobra Tribe consists of Cilantro Lizard Soldiers, Slingers, Cilantro Cobra Fighters, Swordsman, And Officer. It is led by Cilantro Cobra Cookie. It is an all-rounded group, but the females are seductive. Their dough is green.

The Nutmeg Tiger Tribe consists of Nutmeg Tiger Swordsman, Rider, Lieutenant, And Dual Swordsman. it is led by Nutmeg Tiger Cookie. It is a loyal and aggressive tribe. It is considered the strongest tribe. Their dough is orange/red.

There is one more tribe, called the Peppercorn Tribe. But this tribe is very weak and expendable.

Other animals who are not in any tribe are the Saffron Scorpion Stingers, Ginger Battle Horses (the nutmeg tiger riders ride it,) Star Anise Moth Soldiers, Star Anise Moth Artillerists, Pepper Ostrich Soldiers, and a giant Turmeric Boar.

There is a statue of what ancestors claimed to be Burning Spice Cookie before his return. It is called the Avatar of Ruin. It is a statue with a wolf, eagle, and pig head. They say it comes to life when a fierce battle happens. When it does, it can do these attacks: It can smash its weapons, which is a scimitar, hammer, spear, morning star, and a sword, shatter the ground, let out an ear-piercing roar, and bring the ground to lava.

so the backstory and past of burning spice is when long ago, when the lands were new and bountiful, Burning Spice was called the Herald of Change. Once did he bring about the growth of kingdoms and nations, shaping the course of their antiquity. Once he was a founder and ruler of kingdoms long forgotten yore. Once was he was the defender of civilization, created to protect the world that had begun to grow with his guidance. For his achievements and accomplishments, he was hailed as a hero, and cultures had sprung up around his identity. He was praised, cherished, celebrated, and beloved; he was elated that he was recognized for doing his duty. Alas, such creations were not meant to last, and so they've become history. Those who had idolized him and those who he had loved had long since departed. But not for the Herald, for he was eternal and would see this cycle for many eons. The cycle continued on while he became stagnant, his work now repetitive. Thus, he grew tired and soon had enough of the cycle's everlasting repetition. With age and death being no hindrance, he had all the time in the world to do everything he could possibly do to satisfy his aching heart and mind.

Yet, all the roads he had taken led him to one conclusion; Destruction. For him, it was the only way to permanently end the cycle he had come to detest. And so, the Herald of Change transformed into the Great Destroyer, his virtue now corrupted. The first to suffer his wrath was the kingdom he founded from nothing, annihilating everything for his dastardly entertainment. Yet, pieces of the Herald remained, albeit now distorted. His knowledge was now used for havoc, using it to destroy kingdoms and to foster the chaotic culture of the Wild Spices, where violence is commonplace and rules over all. His vocabulary and mannerisms, proper then and now, would strike fear into whoever was unfortunate enough to hear. Many saw this as a betrayal of his original purpose, but he saw it as a renewed endeavor. To destroy everything so nothing can rise from the ashes.

The whole land deprives on one thing: WAR. As Burning Spice is known for being ruling these lands, starting wars, and engulfing this land with the tides of change, all of the tribes have fought and spent their entire lives here. Burning Spice even sees the violence around and treats it like beauty.