DemonKitten
Handler of Souls, Destroyer of Hearts
The World Of Zao
This will be a discover and explore roleplay that will have random events set up by GM. There will be many NPC and I will be looking for one other person to control NPC. This is something that you can build so if you created a Lycos that was raised in a Pack than you would prepare information on that pack including who is alpha and what not. They are now considered NPC under your control, unless you see one you want to remove from NPC status. People are welcome to add to existing NPC Clans and what not, if they would like.
This roleplay will hopefully reach all points of Zao and leave us with a fully created world before this roleplay ends. The ending will be well...I can't spoil the fun can I.
This roleplay will not take place until a couple more weeks. Summer time for me.
Where are we?
If you didn’t think to google translate, Zao means Animals in Greek. Zao is located in the Galaxy of the Southern Pinwheel. This Planet is a very lush and vibrant planet with two major oceans, many rivers and lakes, many different environment types. Zao’s two major bodies of water are called Enas and Dyo. Enas largely covers the southern part of Zao and Dyo the northern. There are also many Tribes, Clans, Kingdoms, and so on and so forth on this planet. Zao also contains one major mountain range called Gi Ton Lofon or land of hills (Zao people are clever). This is home to one of the largest and long surviving pack of Lycos Zaonian, but you will learn more about that later.
History Time
There is something that stands out on Zao and it is the animals of Zao and their people. It is said that hundreds of thousands of years ago an animal and a Zaonian combined themselves into one, but you can read more about that in the Fairy tale lore. Zaonians have since than diverged into many sub-species of themselves, usually following the path of their parents and home. Zao has always been a decently peaceful place, but for too long they have remained separate and hidden from others, some even tossing out their young that do not follow in their footsteps. They rely too deeply on their community, forgetting that Zao is a community itself. The City of Mutts or Meigma (means mix) has always been keen on bring together the world and all its people, but everyone is stuck in their ways and ignores the council that runs the city. The world is no longer peaceful though. These creatures called the Trelos have started to destroy cultures to extinction, corrupt the land they walk on, and transform the animals into rabid beast.
This is where you come in. You have been called to Meigma with a cry for help. Most of you are keen to run away from the trapped life you have lived, some wish to stay in their village, but are pushed by some unknown force, and others have nowhere else to go. You aren’t really sure why you were chosen, just that you received a letter from a pigeon telling you that it was your destiny. Perhaps it has something to do with the Trelos or perhaps it’s something else. All you know is that you’ve never felt so alone.
Zaonians
Zaonian’s speak can speak many languages in the world, but Greek and English are the widely used. (I’d make my own language, but that would take years) They are a very diverse looking humanoids that can look similar to the animal they mark or as normal as someone you might see. Some Zaonians have longer life spans than others, some to the point of immortality, but weaknesses they all have. Zaonian people are categorized in sub-species by the animal they mark. From there you just call them by the type of that animal like this: Zaonian Lycos Wolf. Here is a starting list (more will come. If you don’t see it, suggest it and I will add it).
- Lycos- are wolf or dog like subspecies (including fox) (no breeds that look human made) that are very close to their family. They are raised with high family values and undying loyalty.
- Gata- whether house cat or Tiger these are the ones most likely to be seen outside their clans. Lion like Gata are the only ones that rely heavily on a hierarchy.
- Ouranos- are birds like ones that can vary very much depending on the specific bird.
- Alepou- these are your small, predatory animals like ferrets and raccoons (red panda here)
- Arkouda- are bear like creatures of all sorts except Koala, because it isn’t a bear.
- Sakoula- are your pouched animals like koala, kangaroo, and sugar glider.
- Troktiko- these are your rodents, if you need to know if yours fits just ask.
- Moura- are your small bug or plant eating mammals like ant-eater or porcupines
- Oples- are any of your hoofed species.
- Nero- are your dolphins and whales. Any large mammal of the ocean
- Psari- are your fish wither predator or prey (including shark).
- Erpon- these are your snakes and lizards, esc.
- Amfivio- are your turtles and newts
- Mythikos- these are the animals that do not fit with the normal places like chimera or dragon.
Traditions
At the age of 8, most Zaonian children meet eyes with their destined animals. This is the one tradition that stays the same throughout Zao. On their 8th birthday they are sent out to meet their destined partner forever. As soon as your eyes meet, you start to transform. Some children are raised with a particular animal to be their destined animal, others just wander upon it. Most animals stay with their Zaonian child, but sometimes a child is just given a gift and the animal leaves.
