Sombra (The August Few)

Name: Sombra Age: unknown (old. Been around since before the construction of the Underbirth) Species: Kivouachian Gender: Male Height: 17 feet Eyes: a solid glowing amber, from the sclera, to the irises and down to the near invisible pupils Hair: a great white mane, from the top of his head down to his back, tattered but still bearing volume. Fur: mostly grey brown

Known as the Grand Architect, Sombra is the sole male descendant of Freyda. Despite Kivouachians being immortal and not prone to aging, Sombra looks very old. His subordinate is Quinn, the Voice of Records.

One of the greatest scholars of history. The first descendant of Freyda and only son. Brother to Lady Locket and Winifred.

Sombra helped to plan the construction of most of the Underbirth and is the architect and proprietor of the Witchen library, a city sized library with sprawling water ways with ferrying boats, railways with rattling train rates, vast arches and bridges connecting it all together, containing vast centuries and millennia of Kivouachian history, culture, art, science, etc.

Personality: His voice was an olden thunder. Sombra, the Grand Architect, was the very definition of beastly, towering above others at seventeen feet. His face distorted with impressive malleability; akin to a goat if aged far beyond natural life, the symmetry of youth corroded like a wall of rock. A layer of shabby fur buffered his fleshy, freckled skin from the elements. From his chin dangled strands of white beard, a similar shade to that of his ears, drooping and worn. The folds of his face were trenches portraying a battlefield of laughter, sorrow and fury. Below his fluffy white brows of sprawling hair were two amber eyes, pupils lost within their intense radiance. From atop his head, down his crooked back, grew a great white mane, tattered but generous. Antlers of a fierce kind sprouted from his head, sprawling and relentless. His entire back was a forest of twisted horn, adding another seven feet to his height. They stood as cold black branches, petrified with age. One had been snapped in some long-ago conflict revealing ringed layers from ages past, a living record of encrusted time.

Mossy bioluminescence clung to his antlers like a comfortable friend, like the cobwebs of some magical spider. Two meandering tails dragged behind as he paced back and forth before the desk. His attire was Sombrarian, and it clung to all but his hands, feet and head. His broozz coat was a heavy display of crimson and basil, trailing down to the ankles; the left side was comprised of red materials while the right was a mix of greens. Intricate patterns gave personality to each side with blooming shapes and ranging shades. His trousers were black, secured by a thick, brown leather belt from which a vast collection of keys rattled. A brown waistcoat dressed his torso, fastened with dark belts. The top of Sombra’s chest boasted a good amount of grey hair, untamed, thinning only at the start of his throat, which wobbled as he spoke.

Cool Old Guy: Sombra is the oldest of the siblings and is not without his wit. Gentle Giant: Outside of chewing Nathanial out in his introductory scene, Sombra is repeatedly shown to be a gentler soul than his sisters. He is also the largest of the Descendants at seventeen feet, Locket at twelve, and Winifred at nine.

• Grumpy Old Man: Despite his kindness, he is quite grumbly. His introductory chapter is him yelling at Nathanial for allowing Methusa's tax hike to go through, although it is clear it's out of concern rather than malice. Sombra: "You must not allow yourself to become your predecessor. I remember having similar convserations with him, shortly before he pushed through that preposterous currency programme, costing him his life!"
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: He is the blue to Winifred's red.
• Sibling Rivalry: Him and Winifred are shown to not get along in the slightest.

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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 Underberth.

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. Locket is a black kiv with a white mane with red tips, sprawling and curling red antlers, four elongated ears, green eyes and a rigid, but fair outlook on life. Twelve feet tall, not including her two foot antlers. She also has many small tails that sway together like kelp.

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. Winifred is a stout, muscular and thick kiv of nine feet with large, blade like, sprawling golden antlers. Her fur is white with golden stripes. She has golden claws, fangs and eyes and a pair of elongated furred ears. She has a firey and no nonsense personality.

Freyda: A great beast of ancient Kivic legend. Stark white with twenty horns of varying sizes adorning her head and eight ears. Her horns and claws were used to rip and tear without discrimination, moving about the Kivic wilds (madness frontier and blackenrend) 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.

Some basic laws: 1st Law Article 1 - Act of Objective Infrastructure “All government facilities and authors of law must commit only to what is true and objective. The infrastructure of law and regulation must be mechanical, without bias, and without private/subjective/individual moralities. Laws and regulations should do little to intrude upon public freedoms. Laws and regulations should encourage striving, competition, and innovation. Above all else, public autonomy must be unconstrained, never to be nullified by government force, unless outwardly destructive.” By Grand Voice Locket

2nd Law Article 1 - Law of Free Speech “All individuals are free to express their ideas, no matter how curious or controversial. Nothing spoken may be punished under the law unless confessing to a crime.” By Grand Voice Locket

3rd Law Article 1 - Act of Violent Self-Regulation “One may instigate combat, and kill, so long as the justification for the conflict is provably intellectual in nature. Justification will be dictated by the initiator's continued existence. Should the actions of the initiator lead to Yolshen intervention, or resentment by their fellow constituents, then the initiator will be destroyed by those elements previously mentioned. The destruction of an unjustified initiator of violence is a justified act of violence.” By Grand Voice Locket

5th Law Article 1 - Act of Government Self-Regulation “Government sectors are not exempt from the Act of Violent Self-Regulation, Article 1. Government agents are not entitled to protection should their work be deemed incompetent by staff or public review. Only under the condition as listed by the Treasons Act, Article 5, should an inquiry be held.” By Grand Voice Locket

9th Law Article 1 - Law of Impartiality “Bribery, coercion, and blackmail, is strictly prohibited within government sectors. Those guilty of such practices are to be disregarded as their impartiality cannot be assumed. Thorough inspections may follow.” By Grand Voice Locket

3rd Law Article 2 - Right of Assumed Innocence “Individuals and their trades are not to have guilt assumed by Yolshen agents until evidence, beyond reasonable doubt, proves otherwise. Destruction of unwanted individuals may be carried out by the public aided only by Yolshen agents should a breach of lawful contracts be proven. Yolshen agents may not force upon any individual punishment that is not within the interests of public self-regulation.” By Grand Whisper Winifred

7th Law Article 2 - Violent Protest Crime Act “Riots and violent protests are strictly prohibited. Should constituents fail to manifest their thoughts in a way that is not destructive, Yolshen agents will intervene. Those who violate VPCA are to be detained for public self-regulation or destroyed if non-cooperative.” By Wexle, Voice of the Yolsh

11th Law Article 2 - Yolshen Right of Inspection “The storing of illicit materials and chemicals will be met with Yolshen punishment. Employers found guilty of this practice may be destroyed. Employees are to be removed from site until innocence or guilt can be determined. In situations void of evidence, defer to Right of Assumed Innocence.” By Grand Whisper Winifred

16th Law Article 2 - Law of No Compromise “Yolsh may not enter into deals with those suspected of criminal activities. Suspects are to be investigated via objective methods. Those guilty of crimes, beyond reasonable doubt, are to be immediately destroyed. Any Yolsh who is compromised must be removed from the investigation.” By Wexle, Voice of the Yolsh

2nd Law Article 3 - Right to Employed Accommodation “Individuals employed by any trade exceeding industry class C must be offered accommodation on site. Offers of accommodations may be rejected by the employee, and unique arrangements may be written. Unique arrangements must be agreed upon by both parties in writing.” By Grand Architect Sombra

3rd Law Article 3 - Law of Mutual Fulfillment “Before closing trade negotiations, both parties must be jointly satisfied with the exchange of goods, services, and contracts. Fraud, forgery, deception, theft, duplicity, or anything put forward found provably false, may result in the lawful termination of agreement, contract, and exchange.” By Rodger Penny, Voice of Tax

7th Law Article 3 - Liquidation Ownership Policy “Buildings made available via business liquidation are to be pursued through official government channels and granted to new owners by contracts signed by an overseeing Whisper.” By Oliver Cost, Voice of Material

14th Law Article 3 - Right to Refuse Inquiry “Bookburrows, and all trades entangled, may provide Yolsh with any credentials requested for official investigation, but reserve the right to refuse in the absence of a warrant. If asked, Yolsh must record their command and provide an authentic identity and signature.” By Oliver Cost, Voice of Material

15th Law Article 3 - Regulations Act 102 “Individuals, Freelance or otherwise, must subject all new chemical and material constructs for review under equal conditions as stated in Poisons Act 94. The unlawful distribution of unregulated chemicals and materials may result in the destruction of associated products, trades, and individuals.” By Grand Voice Locket

2nd Law Article 4 - Lawful Foreign Detainment “Foreign entities do not fall under Locket’s Law and are to be taken to the highest Yolshen authority for examination. Forced detainment is applicable if entity is hostile. Laws of Foreign Policy must be observed at all times.” By Salazar, Voice of the Frontier

4th Law Article 4 - Rite of Parley “In the matter of war, negotiation must always be considered and accepted in the interests of conflict resolution. Terms may be put forth and rejected, however, open dialogue must always be pursued when available. Should foreign forces fail to meet demands, offer viable agreements, or abandon their quarrel, then a lethal response may be considered.” By Salazar, Voice of the Frontier

14th Law Article 5 - Legal Ownership of Bodily Remains “Any individual who renders another braindead, under the Act of Violent Self-Regulation, may claim ownership of all bodily remains. Bodies left by Yolsh, or those without a claimant, are public property. Ownership disputes are to be settled between claimants.” By Grand Whisper Winifred

23rd Law Article 5- Right to Private Testing “Any individual within the privacy of their building may freely synthesize, test, and study chemical compounds, so long as those compounds are not illegally stored, distributed, or comprised of (or result in) illicit products.” By Methusa, Voice of the Hammerlow

1st Law Article 7 - The Dark Law “Entry into the Astral Watchmaker, or any Songtower, without official authorization is strictly prohibited. Disappearances related to the Astral Watchmaker are to be immediately reported. Under no circumstances is deviation from set pathways within Mandosian space permitted. Unknown sounds, figures, and pathways, are to be reported to the highest local authority.” By Grand Voice Locket

5th Law Article 7 - Law of Intrusion “The seizing of land or architecture without proper permission is strictly prohibited. Trespassers are not entitled to protections if found by constituents or Yolsh.” By Grand Architect Sombra

7th Law Article 8 - Transport Sanitation Code “Railways, waterways, and streets, are to be inspected regularly for debris that may cause undue disruption to travellers. Travellers should report obstructions to the nearest Yolshen Officer, Captain, or General.” By Brewerton, Voice of Transport

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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.

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.

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Song tower - to measure Kivic time: A Songtower was truly the crown of most city wards, tall structures boasting the finest displays of Kivic engineering. The townships of the Underbirth were vast, and due to the sheer size potential of these population centres, each was graced with a family of Songtowers, planted equidistantly across the landscape, above and below. These towers of time would come in many formations, styles and sizes, depending on their geography and Architects.

Some Songtowers were woven together with gilded materials, complex mechanisms hidden behind the flesh of white marbled stonework. Up the body were round windows, teasing an intricate interior, and across the form were carvings of the most exquisite kind. These chiselled hieroglyphs chronicled historical events, the passage of time pushing toward an untold future of blank smooth stone yet to be honed. A Songtower had seven faces, each one displaying the current time through mechanisms of shifting colour and shape.

The rhythmic ticks of a Songtower could be felt and heard by any within close proximity: the Kivic minute. The bells sounded every seventy ticks, their music elegant, each sequence unique to the time: the Kivic hour.

After forty bells came the chime, a longer, harmonious performance: the Kivic day. After one-hundred chimes came the next of the seven tones, a far grander sound: the Kivic month. And seven of these tones made the stanza: The Kivic year.

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.

OOH-LA LA-OOH: War and marching chant by Yolshen soldiers and battalions. Only used when large groups are on parade/publick march or chanted to intimidate enemies.

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.

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.

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.