Shaman (major)

Guardian

Cheloniartifex defensor practiced herbivory, passivism, and site compassion as the highest attainable virtue. The Guardians were assigned to protect temples and nurseries, but never to offensively attack another living creature with out just cause.


Guardians are officially chosen around the fourth life stage, at about twenty years of age. Physically larger, with a prominent frill and protruding horns, potential guardians are usually identifiable at birth. Once training begins, Guardians shave the feathers from their foreheads and paint their brows deep red. With experience, decorative symbols of honor are affixed to their frills, horns, and draped across their neckline.


Gender is not a determining factor for selection or for success. However, with in the sixth stage of his or her life, a Cheloniartifex would reach sexual maturity. At this time, many male Cheloniartifex leave the to tribe to find a mate; abiding by the ritualistic great journey, known as the Reieze. A tribe is put at a defensive disadvantage when too many Guardians are temporarily lost to the Reieze, but it is understood that friendly males from another tribe should arrive in time to assume the empty Guardian posts. An elder father Guardian will enter a form of semi-retirement during his tenth life stage, by assuming the role of a Guardian Mentor to instruct the next generation in the art of tribal protection.

Minor Shaman

It is believed, that the average life cycle of the late Cheloniartifex defensor, may be defined by fifteen distinct stages. Each stage would have spanned approximately five years.

The first fives stages, were collectively referred to as the “Understanding.” Cheloniartifex hatchlings were taught to explore their surroundings, and to discover how their world worked. As a hatchling began to develop individual traits, he was groomed to fulfill the role in which he was predicted to be most fruitful. Shaman, guardian, healer, councilor, scholar, cultivators, craftsman - every member of the Cheloniartifex society was equally valued for the services he or she provided. An ambitious individual would often volunteer to fill more than one role once mastery of his original role was attained. The responsibility of care giving for the very young, elderly, or ill Cheloniartifex, was divided as evenly as possible between tribal members. Each member was aided by another, no matter what task he took on. The Cheloniartifex stood strong, as they built their legacy upon a sturdy network of respect and cooperation.

Cranial study: juvenile

Hatchlings began the path toward enlightenment following their fifth year. Guided by minor Shaman, youth spent early morning hours struggling to master the art of meditation and reciting the wise words of their ancestors.

Arribada

Myth states that the last eggs laid at the Arribada nesting site, now stained a deep shade of claret, were permineralized in a matter of days following "The Awakening." From the distance this lonely site appears to be a crater, circular in shape. No life may flourish with in the nest, but rich foliage crawls ever closer.  

Drowning Temple (sketch)

Each month the Butter Bomb Tree (Prunus butyrum) bears highly aromatic, large spherical fruit. The golden peel is easily penetrable and freckled with large oil glands. This hefty, though fragile berry will explode on contact upon falling from overburdened limbs, revealing a soft, velvety pulp, milky juices, and one smooth seed. Filled with rich fats, the flesh of the butter bombs provides anti-inflammatory benefits and will strengthen one’s heart. The bitter ovate leaves are believed to contain regenerative healing properties as well. This cherished Rosaceae only grow along sacred river banks, bursting from crumbling temple walls as pure water trickles continuously to the roots.

Temple Wyrms

As hungry, sick and even greedy creatures attempt to gain the healing power of the butter bomb tree by consuming it's creamy fruit and crisp leaves, a great bringer of balance, the Temple Wyrm lurks below. Camouflaged as twisted branches and temple stones, the beast waits patiently in the shadows to swallow the trespassers whole. Before the temples had drowned, the wyrms were no where to be found.