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sparkindarknessTrying to get msyelf writing it again which means I need some world immersion to get my head back in the game and wake them all up
Current Camaalis issues:
Capturing of the Spark
A major issue that leads to contentious debate, this stems from 3 major truths: magical ability is lessening in the general population, magical talent and power is hereditary and Camaalis is risking its own extinction through inbreeding.
Camaalis has always inbred. They have always mated the most powerful magicians to the most powerful magicians. In the past they also tried to link like powers to like (whether compatible powers of 3 or compatible users of the same Power). Weaker Camaalis were only allowed to breed with the Vassal Families and non-magic humans while stronger Camaalis were expected to pop out as many children as they could manage by as many powerful partners as they could.
The problem is that the gene pool is narrowing with every generation. Cousin mates with cousin and even sibling mates with sibling in some notorious cases and has done for thousands of years until you reach the point today where each Camaalis can draw from 4 to up to a dozen blood familial connections with every other Camaalis. It has made Camaalis INCREDIBLY powerful compared to other wizards, I cannot exaggerate enough how much stronger Camaalis are than your average Concord or Vassal family.
But inbreeding catches up to you. Of course, Camaalis possesses powerful enough magic to rectify the most crippling liabilities while the baby is still in the womb or in early childhood. But more and more of these spells are required every generation and it becomes harder every generation to save the Clan’s descendents from their own broken genetics. It is commonly acknowledged that without the powerful magics of the Pillar of the Blood no Camaalis would survive to reach puberty.
This is a source of constant dread to Camaalis; all fear the day when the Pillar of the Blood’s magics will not be enough. When the inbred liabilities will be so severe that they cannot be mitigated. Camaalis is faced with a terrible choice - weaken themselves by introducing weaker magicians to their bloodline, or face extinction as they become ever more crippled by their inbred legacy.
of course, there is a rare third option. Sometimes, from sheer chance, random breeding or blessing of the gods/spirits/daemons a magician is born outside the Camaalis bloodline who is of Camaalis or near-Camaalis strength. The Pillar of the Flame will go to extreme lengths to convert these people to the Camaalis cause - to use as brood mares and studs if nothing else, the Pillar of Blood is desperate to have this influx of fresh POWERFUL blood. So desperate that extremists of both Pillars have stooped to kidnapping, brain washing and even mind control and invasive and involuntary sperm/ovum harvesting procedures to add these fresh genes to the tired Camaalis code.
Needless to say, this is deeply unethical and horrifying to most Camaalis who adhere to their strict code magical ethics... but the Pillar of Rods has yet to step in and mete out harsh punishments and restrictions... how far does survival of the Clan justify such extreme measures? It is a matter of no small debate and soul searching.
Sowing of the Seed
Rather less reprehensible than the Capturing of the Ember, but, in it’s way, much more heavily derided, the Sowing of the Seed is another symptom of the world’s declining magic. While the Camaalis’ magical talent is declining, it is nothing compared to the extreme decline that the rest of the population is experiencing both in power and number of magicians - including the vassal families. Camaalis know that magical talent is hereditary - so the logical way to increase the magical talent of the general population and the vassal families in particular is for powerful magicians to produce many kids. Or, as some of the advocates of Sowing of the Seed say, for Camaalis men to have sex with as many women as possible and produce many many many magically talented kids (Camaalis women, of course, are expected to save their child bearing - though not their sex lives - for Camaalis men to produce more Camaalis).
While logically this makes sense, in practice it leads to Camaalis men (usually young) shagging any vassal family that will have them (which is just about any given the devotion of most of the vassal families) and leaving a trail of single mothers (or cheating married mothers) with children who often have no small numbers of problems due to their inbred Camaalis heritage (needing considerably help from the Pillar of Flame).
While logically their theory is true and these children produced are magically powerful, it is at very least morally questionable. Those who confine their activities to the Vassal Families are criticised because some of the families have an almost religious devotion to Clan Camaalis (House Tuatha) and others are magically compelled to be positive or obedient to Clan Camaalis (House Crowley, Servants of the Outer Dark). To use these members for sex (and as brood mares) who treat you like a cult leader or who have their judgement magically compromised is rape in Camaalis eyes or very close to it.
Using mundane, non-magical women is seen as less reprehensible than using the vassal families (though leaving a single mother behind without any intention of helping with he child is looked upon as pretty damn shoddy anyway, at least the Vassal families have an idea of what is going to happen).at very least they are expected to inform the Pillar of Coins, Flame and Blood of the potential child so they can make some provision for the kid. More worrying is the habit of some to use magic to overcome contraceptive measures and even some accusations of outright magical seduction (which is nothing short of rape and utterly unacceptable by Camaalis standards)
Why haven't the elders stomped heavily on these less than pleasant practices? Well... they do work. These Camaalis descendents do increase the power level of the Vassal families considerably, some even producing potential Camaalis themselves. It works and... well desperate times do call for desperate measures.
Being a known “sower” will reduce your reputation and standing with most Camaalis (an added problem since it means some keep their activities secret preventing the child receiving necessary support), the extent depending on how vulnerable their chosen partners are and the methods of seduction used (also the type of partner. Someone who chooses people with a history of magical talent in the family is going to get an easier time than someone who chooses big breasted blondes)
The Vassal Families: Crowley
Traditionally, the Vassal Families are left to their own devices. Every House has it’s own cultures and traditions and methods and Camaalis traditionally values their diversity to such a degree that they are willing to tolerate outright ignorance and wrongful teaching among the Vassal Families. Non-interference except in extreme circumstances is considered the norm and nigh inviolate.
The most favoured and most successful and most effective of all the Vassal Families is House Crowley, who have used Camaalis’ powerful patronage and open rules to gain every greater magical might, knowledge and skills - all for the greater good of Camaalis and ensuring greater favour from the clan.
Except some Camaalis are now scrutinising House Crowley a little more closely and some, especially among the Pillar of Rods, are not happy with what they see. House Crowley believes in power and practicality. It does whatever it needs to do to get the job down and hungers for power whenever it can achieve it. Of course, all this skill and power and capability has been achieved by a... rather dubious moral compass. “The End Justifies the Means” is practically the family motto of House Crowley and increasingly even relatively minor ends are used to justify some pretty horrendous means. Camaalis are divided as to whether the magical compulsion for obedience and reverence placed upon the Crowley bloodline is sufficient to contain their excesses. Or perhaps even that the magical compulsion on the family may be the underlying cause of the excesses.
The Vassal Families: Tuatha
Second only to House Crowley in the eyes of Camaalis, the Clan has always known they could rely on Tuatha. House Crowley may be more powerful, more skilful and more determined and efficient, but none can match the sheer devotion of House Tuatha. Camaalis knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that there isn’t a single thing a Tuatha wouldn’t do or wouldn’t endure to serve the clan - they are loyal unto death and beyond if need be.
And that is very very disturbing. to modern sensibilities. They are an ultra fanatical, zealous cult that believes Camaalis are the living embodiment of the divine - which was very very useful in times past but modern Camaalis don’t want crazy cultists following them around with bright, fevered gazes treating their every word as holy writ. It’s frightening and severely discomforting, to say nothing of ethically utterly reprehensible.
It has to end, everyone is agreed (except for some die-hards who find them so very useful) but exactly how does one tell fanatical cultists that you aren’t really a god?
Current Camaalis issues:
Capturing of the Spark
A major issue that leads to contentious debate, this stems from 3 major truths: magical ability is lessening in the general population, magical talent and power is hereditary and Camaalis is risking its own extinction through inbreeding.
Camaalis has always inbred. They have always mated the most powerful magicians to the most powerful magicians. In the past they also tried to link like powers to like (whether compatible powers of 3 or compatible users of the same Power). Weaker Camaalis were only allowed to breed with the Vassal Families and non-magic humans while stronger Camaalis were expected to pop out as many children as they could manage by as many powerful partners as they could.
The problem is that the gene pool is narrowing with every generation. Cousin mates with cousin and even sibling mates with sibling in some notorious cases and has done for thousands of years until you reach the point today where each Camaalis can draw from 4 to up to a dozen blood familial connections with every other Camaalis. It has made Camaalis INCREDIBLY powerful compared to other wizards, I cannot exaggerate enough how much stronger Camaalis are than your average Concord or Vassal family.
But inbreeding catches up to you. Of course, Camaalis possesses powerful enough magic to rectify the most crippling liabilities while the baby is still in the womb or in early childhood. But more and more of these spells are required every generation and it becomes harder every generation to save the Clan’s descendents from their own broken genetics. It is commonly acknowledged that without the powerful magics of the Pillar of the Blood no Camaalis would survive to reach puberty.
This is a source of constant dread to Camaalis; all fear the day when the Pillar of the Blood’s magics will not be enough. When the inbred liabilities will be so severe that they cannot be mitigated. Camaalis is faced with a terrible choice - weaken themselves by introducing weaker magicians to their bloodline, or face extinction as they become ever more crippled by their inbred legacy.
of course, there is a rare third option. Sometimes, from sheer chance, random breeding or blessing of the gods/spirits/daemons a magician is born outside the Camaalis bloodline who is of Camaalis or near-Camaalis strength. The Pillar of the Flame will go to extreme lengths to convert these people to the Camaalis cause - to use as brood mares and studs if nothing else, the Pillar of Blood is desperate to have this influx of fresh POWERFUL blood. So desperate that extremists of both Pillars have stooped to kidnapping, brain washing and even mind control and invasive and involuntary sperm/ovum harvesting procedures to add these fresh genes to the tired Camaalis code.
Needless to say, this is deeply unethical and horrifying to most Camaalis who adhere to their strict code magical ethics... but the Pillar of Rods has yet to step in and mete out harsh punishments and restrictions... how far does survival of the Clan justify such extreme measures? It is a matter of no small debate and soul searching.
Sowing of the Seed
Rather less reprehensible than the Capturing of the Ember, but, in it’s way, much more heavily derided, the Sowing of the Seed is another symptom of the world’s declining magic. While the Camaalis’ magical talent is declining, it is nothing compared to the extreme decline that the rest of the population is experiencing both in power and number of magicians - including the vassal families. Camaalis know that magical talent is hereditary - so the logical way to increase the magical talent of the general population and the vassal families in particular is for powerful magicians to produce many kids. Or, as some of the advocates of Sowing of the Seed say, for Camaalis men to have sex with as many women as possible and produce many many many magically talented kids (Camaalis women, of course, are expected to save their child bearing - though not their sex lives - for Camaalis men to produce more Camaalis).
While logically this makes sense, in practice it leads to Camaalis men (usually young) shagging any vassal family that will have them (which is just about any given the devotion of most of the vassal families) and leaving a trail of single mothers (or cheating married mothers) with children who often have no small numbers of problems due to their inbred Camaalis heritage (needing considerably help from the Pillar of Flame).
While logically their theory is true and these children produced are magically powerful, it is at very least morally questionable. Those who confine their activities to the Vassal Families are criticised because some of the families have an almost religious devotion to Clan Camaalis (House Tuatha) and others are magically compelled to be positive or obedient to Clan Camaalis (House Crowley, Servants of the Outer Dark). To use these members for sex (and as brood mares) who treat you like a cult leader or who have their judgement magically compromised is rape in Camaalis eyes or very close to it.
Using mundane, non-magical women is seen as less reprehensible than using the vassal families (though leaving a single mother behind without any intention of helping with he child is looked upon as pretty damn shoddy anyway, at least the Vassal families have an idea of what is going to happen).at very least they are expected to inform the Pillar of Coins, Flame and Blood of the potential child so they can make some provision for the kid. More worrying is the habit of some to use magic to overcome contraceptive measures and even some accusations of outright magical seduction (which is nothing short of rape and utterly unacceptable by Camaalis standards)
Why haven't the elders stomped heavily on these less than pleasant practices? Well... they do work. These Camaalis descendents do increase the power level of the Vassal families considerably, some even producing potential Camaalis themselves. It works and... well desperate times do call for desperate measures.
Being a known “sower” will reduce your reputation and standing with most Camaalis (an added problem since it means some keep their activities secret preventing the child receiving necessary support), the extent depending on how vulnerable their chosen partners are and the methods of seduction used (also the type of partner. Someone who chooses people with a history of magical talent in the family is going to get an easier time than someone who chooses big breasted blondes)
The Vassal Families: Crowley
Traditionally, the Vassal Families are left to their own devices. Every House has it’s own cultures and traditions and methods and Camaalis traditionally values their diversity to such a degree that they are willing to tolerate outright ignorance and wrongful teaching among the Vassal Families. Non-interference except in extreme circumstances is considered the norm and nigh inviolate.
The most favoured and most successful and most effective of all the Vassal Families is House Crowley, who have used Camaalis’ powerful patronage and open rules to gain every greater magical might, knowledge and skills - all for the greater good of Camaalis and ensuring greater favour from the clan.
Except some Camaalis are now scrutinising House Crowley a little more closely and some, especially among the Pillar of Rods, are not happy with what they see. House Crowley believes in power and practicality. It does whatever it needs to do to get the job down and hungers for power whenever it can achieve it. Of course, all this skill and power and capability has been achieved by a... rather dubious moral compass. “The End Justifies the Means” is practically the family motto of House Crowley and increasingly even relatively minor ends are used to justify some pretty horrendous means. Camaalis are divided as to whether the magical compulsion for obedience and reverence placed upon the Crowley bloodline is sufficient to contain their excesses. Or perhaps even that the magical compulsion on the family may be the underlying cause of the excesses.
The Vassal Families: Tuatha
Second only to House Crowley in the eyes of Camaalis, the Clan has always known they could rely on Tuatha. House Crowley may be more powerful, more skilful and more determined and efficient, but none can match the sheer devotion of House Tuatha. Camaalis knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that there isn’t a single thing a Tuatha wouldn’t do or wouldn’t endure to serve the clan - they are loyal unto death and beyond if need be.
And that is very very disturbing. to modern sensibilities. They are an ultra fanatical, zealous cult that believes Camaalis are the living embodiment of the divine - which was very very useful in times past but modern Camaalis don’t want crazy cultists following them around with bright, fevered gazes treating their every word as holy writ. It’s frightening and severely discomforting, to say nothing of ethically utterly reprehensible.
It has to end, everyone is agreed (except for some die-hards who find them so very useful) but exactly how does one tell fanatical cultists that you aren’t really a god?