The Candriunn - Deep Mountain Dwellers

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The Candriunn

1. Racial Description
The Candriunn are a short dwarf-like creatures. Their ears are large and extend horizontally out on either side of their heads. They have no eyes, however their facial structure is similar to that of a human - ie, chin, mouth, nose, cheeks, forehead - in the empty place where eyes would have been many of these creatures get tattoos that represent their tribe or themselves personally.
Their hair is often thick and curly and very fur-like. Hair grows from their heads, undersides of their ears and their elbows. It can be many different colors from greys to bright yellows depending on the individual. (This is thanks to their ability to manipulate things around them)
They have short hands, with thick, stubby fingers that have no fingernails. There are four fingers on each hand. Their feet are flat and long, with large talons on the tips of all six toes which, like their fingers are flat and stubby.
Tattoos and piercings are the norm in their society and many Candriunn can be found with piercings in places some might not think appropriate.
Their skin is often a very light grey, ranging to almost midnight black. This skin is almost impenetrable. Most average materials (wood, iron etc) are incapable of piercing the skin of a Candriunn. Only a special metal compound, created by using their magick, is capable of scratching their skin. Even though it looks wrinkled and thin like parchment. Some so thin that you can clearly see their veins and organs underneath.

2. Society
Candriunn live in tribes that are scattered through the mountains. Every tribe is connected by a small tunnel deep under the surface, all connecting over a crystalline underground lake. The lake is their main source of water for the tribes, but those that live near a water source tend to depend on that source most.
Tribes rarely come together unless under duress or during major events. Otherwise, they keep entirely to themselves. Many Candriunn live out their entire lives without meeting anybody from outside the tribe, which can be quite an extended period of time, given their lifespan of nearly 200 years.
Their cities are usually large and complex, favoring space and luxury. They often hold large markets that are open to the entire tribe to join in and tribal leaders offer up entertainment. They are known as a generous species, and anyone (if ever) lucky enough to visit a Candriunn market will see the extent of their generosity. Many Candriunn will basically hand out their wares without accepting payment. Commerce is not a major concept among these people.

3. Names
Most first names are derived from other tribal names, and almost always favor doubled letters, ie "CandriuNN." Their last names are given during a Naming Ceremony, during which the tribal leader bestows a fitting name on the Candriunn in question.

4. Gender and Sexuality
Gender and sexuality are non-existent. All Candriunn are of a singular "gender" and reproduce by removing their own flesh and transmuting it with ore. Mates and companions are common among the people, but reproduction does not need two individuals of the species.
The transmutation has, over the millenia, become a tribal event. This is called a Life Ceremony.

5. Diet
A Candriunn diet consists mostly of small mammals and rodents. Though they generally prefer meat, they are omnivorous. In their natural habitat, they tend to eat mushrooms and moss as sides to their meats.

6. Views on Magic
As far as they are concerned, magic does not exist. They are only aware of their own species and their abilities, which to them seem natural.
Many Candriunn will react differently to the abilities of those on the outside world, but in general they would react with curiosity. As they learn about other magic outside of their own, I imagine that they would try to learn the origins of this ability.

7. Style
Most Candriunn wear leather clothing. The style depends on tribal location and individual preference. Dresses and pants are a thing, and are merely worn depending on whichever the wearer considers more comfortable personally. Materials like cotton are not found in untouched tribes.

Body modifications and piercings are widely popular, many are linked to some special event in the Candriunn's life. For example, many bear scars from where they removed their own flesh to reproduce. Many accentuate these scars, and bear them as proud reminders of the children they bore.


8. Religion
Candriunn believe in what they can experience. The concept of a "god" is unknown to them, much the same as magic is an unknown concept.
The Naming Ceremony
A Candriunn is gifted a last name after finding their place in the tribe. For some this may come early, in their twenties, for others it may not happen until later in life. Many Candriunn have passed without a last name, only to be named post-mortem in respect to the passed.
The Life Ceremony
The Life Ceremony is a tribe-wide all inclusive celebration of life. It is called at the request of to-be parents who have gained the leader's blessing. It is a three day festival, ending only when the new parents present the child and announce their first name. The Life Ceremony involves the witnessing of the parent/s removing their flesh and then the transmutation of the material. The child is then 'displayed' in an open chamber in the middle of the main hall where many Candriunn bestow blessings on the growing child. Individual tribes have different approaches to the actual festivities, but most include markets, entertainment and feasts to celebrate the new Candriunn.

The Beginning Of The End
When a Candriunn passes, the entire tribe begins their mourning. A death ceremony can last anywhere from a day, to many months depending on the status of the deceased. All tribes have a series of unused tunnels and catacombs, where they reunite the deceased with their life material. During the mourning period, the family of the dead create a statue in the likeness of their relative, out of their transmuted body. Their statue is most often made of the material they were originally transmuted with during their Life Ceremony. For example, a Candriunn born from marble will be remembered with a statue of a marble. The likeness of the statue relies entirely upon the skill of the chosen family member.

9. Abilities
Transmutation:
Candriunn have the ability to take multiple 'ingredients' and combine them with sheer force of will to create something else. Most Candriunn will specialise in certain materials, ie metals or rock. This ability can be refined throughout their lifetime.

Unsight:
While Candriunn lack eyes they possess the ability to see through the eyes of other beings by using telepathy. When amongst their own people the Candriunn do not experience this. When exposed to other species, they are exposed to their "Unsight." Unless blocked by the telepathically inclined, a Candriunn is subject to the sights of those around them. For example, if a Candriunn met a human in a forest, the Candriunn would see the forest, exactly as the human does.

Hearing:
Due to being blind, their hearing is incredibly sensitive. They are able to map and navigate their surroundings merely by hearing the minute sounds in the atmosphere. Their hearing is similar in nature to a bat's sonar, except the Candriunn do not physically make noise in order to navigate.

Variable Immortality:
Candriunn are immortal up until 200 years, at which time their natural end begins. Due to their thick skin, they are practically impenetrable. Most average weapons will not be able to pierce the skin. They can, however, meet an early end when faced with poison or other ingested toxins.

10.The Unearthing
After hundreds upon hundreds of years, the Teraan tribe have opened their halls to the outside world. Resources have become scarce, and living creatures that were once abundant are now all but extinct. After discovering that the other tribes were suffering the same fate, the leader of the Teraan tribe made an unprecedented decision. To send some of their Candriunn out into the surface world to see if the cause lie there, and to find replacement resources.