Lynx Tribe (Dune Specters)

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They may be of our blood, but our Limsan totem-kin have lost their way. We, the ascendant, must lead them through purifying flame. - X'rija, council elder.

[edit] Details Culture Rumors OOC Notes GENERAL INFORMATION To outsiders looking in, “Dune Specters” are a self-ascribed sept of nomadic Seeker of the Sun miqo’te with a thousand malm-wide streak of religious zealotry and a penchant for maximizing the proficiency of their warriors at all costs. Epochs ago, several vagrant Lynx families willfully relocated to the sands of the southern Sagolii on sabbatical, seeking spiritual enlightenment under that harshest conditions of Azeyma’s gaze. Their philosophy and their brood has festered in the blazing dunes since. Most Dune Specters other miqo'te encounter are members of the warrior caste, however, so Sunseeker society has painted them with that brush. For their part, the Tomb Rot have done nothing to stop this misunderstanding. If it keeps Drake, resource poachers, and Keepers off their heels and it occludes the true nature of the sept, all the better for them. APPEARANCE Dune Specters come in many shapes, sizes, and colors although most are incredibly physically fit due to a life of conditioning to defend against skirmishes and protecting territory. All born into the bloodline and not absorbed into the sept, however, possess the following traits: ■ Stubby tails. ■ Black-blotched, tufted ears. ■ Appearance inspired by the real life caracal wild cat. ■ Ghoulish pale eyes that seem to illuminate with a soft glow. ■ Slight sexual dimorphism; females tend to be short while males taller. CULTURE The sept roams the vast sands of the Sagolii, only settling in one place for a short period of time as to not dry up precious resources. There exists particular oasis or caves that they revisit often and it is not uncommon for them to roost at these particular locales several times a year. Due to their migrant lifestyle, members of the sept live an exceptionally plain lifestyle and do not cumber themselves with superfluous wealth or acquisitions. With their chocobo and drake-steeds only able to ferry a certain amount of weight at a time, they are predisposed to storing extra materials and useful possessions deep in caves for retrieval later in the year. CASTES The sept is structured into three castes with specific duties integral to survival and their ultimate quest for enlightenment. Be as it may that the whole system would topple if one of the triad should fall, the reality is that due to the emphasis on religion in this society one obvious caste is generally revered above the other two. Opinion varies from miqo’te to miqo’te: the members of one caste may consider themselves superior or perhaps pity the lower and speak out for them as essential to survival. There are plenty of members of the lowest caste that advocate they are the true unsung hero and that the “highest” caste is merely sitting on its laurels and will have a day of reckoning. ■ The Conclave: Also known as “the council.” This caste is composed of religious figureheads and their sycophants. Seeing as the purpose of the sept is driven by devotion to Azeyma, this caste considers itself a cut above the rest. Unfortunately, the current generation of elders that sit on the council governing the sept are predominantly arrogant and do not have the best interests of the sept as a whole in mind. ■ Warriors and Hunters: The primary duties of this caste is to advise the elders of the council on matters that pertain to defense of the sept as a whole as well as guide the warrior caste in its defense of its families. In truth, the council is simply holding the leash of a predatory caste of well-disciplined soldiers who may or may not obey any particular suggestion given to them. Wise council members choose to guide rather than command, else these predators turn on the leash-holder. While hunters are not exclusive to this caste, the best of the best usually are incorporated into this caste. ■ Laborers: This is considered the “lowest of the low by the other castes.” This caste is a collective of skilled craftsmen and back-breaking laborers. As it stands, there exists even sub-divisions in castes. One particular noteworthy instance involves whispers of an exclusive, elite task force of assassins that interweave the ranks of the conclave and warriors. These shadows of Azeyma are sent out to eliminate high interest targets that oppose the mission statement of the sept as a whole. Rare are they mentioned, only in murmur and rumor, for fear of retaliation or other members of the sept believing one has caught madness. MATING & BREEDING DIET In the unforgiving conditions of the Sagolii, one eats whatever happens along to survive. Snakes, reptiles, scorpions, birds, insects and small mammals prove easy prey. Gathered about enjoying a delicious meal together is a favorite pastime of these desert-dwellers, as it builds strong bonds between family and sept members alike. It’s easy to settle down around aldgoat meat and forget that you are a different cast than the one you are sharing a meal with. Animals that have a high fat content are specially prepared during celebrations. Water is a scarce commodity in the desert, as such, the sept siphons it from wherever it can. Waterholes, oasis, collecting morning dew; name it and it is done. When resorting to cacti for a source of hydration, members are advised to boil it before consuming it or mix in herbs to counteract the effects of the toxic acids and alkaloids. CLOTHING The nomadic lifestyle requires easy-care garments that also incorporate traditional fashion. Long robes shield the skin from the sun and elements, and when worn loose, offer a convection-style of cooling. Turbans or shrouds wrapped around the head prevent windburn and blasts of biting sand during the day while providing warmth when the temperatures nosedive at night. Linens tend to breathe the best when near the skin. Interestingly, black proves to be a popular linen color. When worn loose, the color absorbs body heat as opposed to white linen reflecting it back. RUMORS N P C Some of these rumors are untrue, speculation, or are greatly exaggerated. ◢ Common Rumors - Easily overheard. Use these freely! ■ "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec et leo lorem. Pellentesque tempus quam elit, quis molestie elit luctus non. Quisque ac massa et sem ornare tincidunt. Ut vitae rhoncus mauris. ." ◢ Uncommon Rumors - A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly or ask first! ■ "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec et leo lorem. Pellentesque tempus quam elit, quis molestie elit luctus non. Quisque ac massa et sem ornare tincidunt. Ut vitae rhoncus mauris. " ◢ Rare Rumors - Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using! ■ "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec et leo lorem. Pellentesque tempus quam elit, quis molestie elit luctus non. Quisque ac massa et sem ornare tincidunt. Ut vitae rhoncus mauris. " P C Feel free to add your own rumors to this section. ◢ Player Character Rumors - Some of these are more rare than others! ■ "Rumor." — Rumormonger. OOC NOTES OOC INFORMATION Player Notes: This sept of tribal miqo'te was founded by a couple of friends interested in the tribal scene in early 2014. It's just a bunch of friends havin' fun! While we welcome role-play from all walks of Eorzea, currently we are not accepting new members into the sept unless created by someone very close to us.

☀ INFORMATION ☀ » —————— ›☼‹ —————— « At-A-Glance ■ Sept Name: Unknown to outsiders. ■ Aliases: Dune Ghosts. Tomb Rot. Xealots. Pale-eyes. Dune Witches. Dune Sirens. ■ Type: Nomadic. ■ Territory: Deep Sagolii. Highlands. Goblet shrine. ■ Patron Deity: Azeyma. ■ Governance: Chiefdom. Dramatis Personae (PC) ■ X'shah Zinbhe: High Priestess & sept chief. ■ J'tehn Nunh: X'shah chosen right hand. Nunh. ■ X'kriss Tia: Champion of Azeyma. Defensive lead. ■ X'heshek Vizinh: Champion of Azeyma. Offensive lead. ■ X'kataya Razinh: Shrine attendant. ■ X'nim Vizinh: Shrine attendant. J'tehn's assistant. ■ X'khalara Haqqisekh: Hand of Azeyma. ■ W'lefay Sheqa: Shrine attendant. Priestess-in-grooming. ■ W'saheena Sheqa: Champion of Azeyma. Shrine attendant. ■ A'vraiya Tia: Hand of Azeyma. ■ X'yr Tia: Champion of Azeyma. ■ X'zavir Tia: Champion of Azeyma. ■ R'elira Saathi: Hand of Azeyma. ■ X'iryk Tia: Champion of Azeyma.