Info about Skinwalkers
Jul. 24th, 2013 09:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cinereoargenteusBasically, all the useless info geeky old me has come up with regarding Skinwalkers, their language, and their culture.
Skinwalker History
To know how Skinwalkers came about, it's best to give a brief overview of the world at large. About five hundred years ago, there was a golden age upon the world. Magic flowed freely and people learned to harness it from the time they were born. With a snap of their fingers, they could summon anything they wished and travel from one side of the globe to the other.
Then the magic began to dry up. At first, it was dismissed as just idle gossip, then sneered upon as merely being a symptom of the privileged, yet lazy current generation. By the time it became a full-blown "energy crisis", it was too late. The magic was almost entirely gone, save for small bits of it here and there, accessible only through crude conduits. Society broke down very quickly. Governments couldn't control the panicking people. Cities burned, fingers were pointed as to whom to blame, and many died in the chaos. When the dust settled down, the golden age was gone.
People were forced to give up their previous easy lives and eke out a living as best they could. Most banded together in small groups, families and friends that agreed to protect each other come what may. Some gave up using magic entirely, not willing to spend their days with the endless struggle of trying to harness it again. Others were stubborn, seeking the glory days.
At present, the territory where Garrett's clan of Skinwalkers live is called the Western Front. It's a strange terrain, jumbled up from the sculpting magic used upon it long ago. One can find just about every type of climate that one could think of: deserts, farmland, mountains, valleys, an ocean, rain, snow, sun, and everything in-between.
Skinwalkers are descended from a group of magicians who were skilled in shapeshifting. They used to be able to shift into any animal, any time, anywhere, without needing any sort of conduit to contain the magic. When the magic began to drain from their world, they were one of groups hit the hardest. They couldn't access their magic at all, and in a world where that was all you used, it made them helpless. Eventually, they discovered through trial and error that through a combination of blood magic and the inherent magic found in animal pelts, that they could shapeshift, but only one animal at a time. After about a two hundred or so, their culture had developed into the Skinwalkers. Garrett's clan has been around for longer than they can remember, and the golden age is about five hundred years in the past at this point. While all Skinwalkers have one hide during their lifetimes, it is possible to becone a TwoSkin or even a ThreeSkin through hard work, but no one can match the level of magic used during the golden age.
The prophecy of the AllSkins was developed from the old knowledge of the shifters from the golden age. The knowledge that someone could transform into any animal developed into a myth in the clan of someone who could do just that. They would be a leader that would come forth and combine all the small familial clans into one, bringing forth an age of prosperity for all Skinwalkers. Garrett's father was this prophesied leader. His ability comes from a gift to harness much more of the magical energies that all Skinwalkers use to shift.
In terms of where they sit on the magical scale, they're quite low, considering they only have one type of magical abilitiy. Since each term means something different, the scale goes something like this, from lowest to highest. Normal< Skinwalkers and Rath < Magicians (Ceseeans) < Witches/Wizards < Sorcerers
Skinwalker Lingo
Okay, OOC time. I’m constantly experimenting and trying to make Garrett’s speech sound more natural. At the same time, I am not a linguist like J.R.R. Tolkein, and I’m not one of those writers used to coming up with an entirely different language like Richard Adams. So be completely honest with any critique. Let me know if something sounds too fake or if I got a foreign word wrong. If Garrett is talking in incomprehensible word salad, let me know.
Now, IC time. Things to note about Garrett’s speech in general. The Skinwalker language, known merely as The Tongue, is their own version of argot, a secret language that shares some similarities with English but ultimately has its own words and definitions. Originally used by Skinwalkers as a way to communicate without outsiders knowing what they were saying, it has evolved into its own language at this point. Garrett can understand some English, known as Common in his world, and indeed some words of The Tongue are based off English, but ultimately his grasp of the language is quite stunted.
Due to having a human brain but animal instincts that are in the now, he has a great deal of trouble with present/past/future tense and where to put S's in his words, since there aren't a lot of S's in Skinwalker Tongue. When speaking, he has an accent, though speaks just as fast as when talking in his own dialect, sometimes making his words nigh unendurable to outsiders. He doesn't mind if he's told to slow down and repeat himself. He gets told that often enough by his own family.
Units of measurements
Cubit: The length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, a cubit is used when measuring people and buildings.
Leagues: Used to measure long distances instead of miles, a league is equal to about three miles.
Score: Used when describing a large group of people or animals, a score equals twenty.
Seasons: Used to mark the passage of instead of years, Skinwalkers refer to the four seasons as reference instead of years. Skinwalkers rarely know how old they are, with such short units of time measurement.
Skinwalker words and their definitions
AllSkins: A prophesized “Chosen One” that is said to be able to shapeshift into any animal and a natural leader of the people. He finally came into being one generation before Garrett’s. Since the term AllSkins was around long before he came into being, it used to be popular, and still is among the older generation, to swear by his name. “By the teeth/tail/eyes of the AllSkins!” was a popular way of saying something akin to “Oh my God!” Garrett doesn’t use the phrase at all, since swearing by his father seems a bit too weird.
Baquir: A word that literally means "Answer", it is a proposition used when answering a question.
Buga: Buga is one of those words that has taken on multiple meanings. As a noun, it means a person, usually used as a term of affection. I.E. “Where’s be that buga?” Buga can also be used as an exclamation, usually repeated. It this case it expresses surprise or frustration I.E. “Buga, buga, buga!”
Ceseean: A corruption of the word magician, which is also if less frequently used. A magic-user who is still low on the totem pole. Magicians can only use a few basic spells.
Darkwoods: The good place to go after you die. There’s no suffering, but no joy or intense emotions either. It’s pretty much Limbo, a place where shadows roam the dark trees for all eternity.
Durmoh: A curse word that means "shit."
Ent: Means "are".
Hellgates: The bad place to go after you die. A typical Hell, you burn and suffer for all eternity.
Jzut: This a short word with a long meaning. At its most literal, it means "Danger!" For a Skinwalker, this is the moment they listen to their animal instincts, the ones that tell them they are under the gaze of a predator. Every inch of them becomes alert and on-edge, ready for fight or flight at a moment's notice. The brief hissing of this word lets every Skinwalker within hearing distance know that there is a threat in the immediate area and that it needs to be dealt with now.
Kavro: A neutral word referring to anyone who is an outsider.
Lawk: Refers to a Skinwalker who has shifted and is going about as their animal.
Myrah: Fate. A word often used in conjunction with reading a person's fortune.
Muirwood: A species of enchanted trees that act like a giant battery, soaking up magical energy. It’s very special and very rare. Garrett is lucky enough to have a staff made out of it.
Qet: This means "Who" or "Whom."
Qobeh: "Why" or "But why?"
Que vesa: An expression roughly meaning “What?” or “Huh?”
Qwell: Want, used both to want something and as a question.
Rath: The Rath are a competing group of local tribes. They access magic through the tattoos on their bodies and faces. Each Rath tribe has different tattoos and abilities. They're one of the main competitors for resources and food. Due to some complicated cultural shenanigans, there's an intense hatred between Skinwalkers and Rath.
Ranjah: Literally means vermin. It's a severe insult among Skinwalkers. If used, it's guaranteed fighting is ahead.
Rumproaster: An immature insult, referring to someone so dumb they’d fall right into a fire if they stood next to it.
Sorcerer: Once the most common form of magic-user in the golden age, a true sorcerer is now hard to come by, though many charlatans claim to be one. A true sorcerer can access all the magic that the world still possesses, performing great spells with ease. They are feared by Skinwalkers as the strongest predator in the world.
Skinwalker: Pretty self-explanatory. Skinwalker refers to someone who shifts back and forth. If you ain’t got a skin, you ain’t a Skinwalker.
Tif: A term of affection used to describe a half-sibling’s mother, if they aren’t blood-related. Still confused? Simply put, Garrett would use it to describe his other sibling’s mothers, tacking their name onto the front of it. For instance, Leonidas’s mother would be Tif Lucy.
Treewalloper: Another insult, this one referring to someone so dumb they'd fall right out of a tree if they tried to climb it.
Unk: Similar to Tif, used to describe a half-sibling’s father, if they aren’t blood-related. Garrett doesn’t use this one, since he and all his siblings share the same father. Also used for honorary uncles. Garrett uses it more sparsely, only using it to describe his Unk Owen.
Ves: A stronger form of “What?”, usually said in an angry or frustrated tone. It implies that the speaker doesn’t understand after already trying to several times.
Vilway: An enemy of the clan.
Witch/Wizard: A witch or wizard is more adept at using spells than a magician. Most of them make a living by imbuing objects and weapons with magical properties.
This is a lot of words, so I've come up with some basic sentences to give an idea of how Skinwalkers communicate.
Que vesa en eet? What is it?
Baquir jzut (The answer is) Danger!
My Tif Lucy 'n my modre ent lawking. My Tif Lucy and my mother are shifted and walking about.
Ves ken Ay?! Where am I?!
Ay ken Garrett, son a' the AllSkins. I am (literally I can be no other) Garrett, son of the AllSkins.
Ay taint 'fraid! I ain't afraid!
Quell t'go huntin'? Want to go hunting?
Rath ent vilways. Rath are enemies.
Skinwalker Etiquette
A crash course in what things will make Garrett either think you are a godless heathen or make him follow you around forever as your eternal puppy fox.
1. Eat only food that is served on your plate.
That’s right. No second helpings. Why? In Skinwalker culture, food is hard to come by. Everyone eats a ton, because magical energy to compensate for shapeshifting only covers so much, so the clan is always on the hunt for more. It's the reason they're so nomadic in nature. Consequently, portion control is a way of life. Garrett is used to eating exactly what is served onto his plate, and that’s that. If you try to force more on him, he thinks you’re insulting him, basically saying he’s a pig who’s eating more than his fair share. The way around this, which is used during Skinwalker holidays like feasts and commitment ceremonies, is to put all the food down and let everyone serve themselves potluck-style on their own plates.
2. Shake wrists, not hands. Also, relax your posture.
One that is common to some cultures, Skinwalkers don’t shake hands. They shake wrists, an easier way to tell if someone is concealing a weapon. Body language is key when dealing with an animalistic culture, which is why a stiff or uncomfortable posture makes you seem suspicious, like an animal showing aggression.
3. Gifts are very, very special.
This one ties into the nomadic nature of the clan. Nobody owns a lot of possessions because they move around constantly. If a gift is given from one Skinwalker to another, it signifies that there is a deep and personal connection between the two of them. If a non-family member gives one, it’s practically a guarantee of romance. The gift given, usually handmade or infused with a bit of personal magic, is expected to be kept and used until it is worn out or lost. Something simple as a bracelet can be worn for the rest of a person’s life. Since this is a hefty gesture, it’s not to be taken lightly, either as the giver or as the receiver.
4. Headbutts = Love
No, not the kind of headbutt used in combat. Kissing, while still a common gesture, isn't considered to be the big, romantic, sweep-them-off-their-feet move like it is among regular humans. For Skinwalkers, the ultimate sign of love and trust is rest one's forehead against the object of their affection's forehead. Eyes closed, they can remain like that for minutes on end.
6. Tattoos are used for magic
Garrett has instinctive fear and dislike of tattoos. In his world, they are used as conduits for magic. The rival groups known as the Rath have clan markings on their face, marking their allegiance and what sort of magic they can use. Among normal humans, such as ranchers, it's not uncommon to have a few small tattoos somewhere on their bodies, that allows them to access small bits of magic, such as minor telekinesis or weather spells.
Skinwalker History
To know how Skinwalkers came about, it's best to give a brief overview of the world at large. About five hundred years ago, there was a golden age upon the world. Magic flowed freely and people learned to harness it from the time they were born. With a snap of their fingers, they could summon anything they wished and travel from one side of the globe to the other.
Then the magic began to dry up. At first, it was dismissed as just idle gossip, then sneered upon as merely being a symptom of the privileged, yet lazy current generation. By the time it became a full-blown "energy crisis", it was too late. The magic was almost entirely gone, save for small bits of it here and there, accessible only through crude conduits. Society broke down very quickly. Governments couldn't control the panicking people. Cities burned, fingers were pointed as to whom to blame, and many died in the chaos. When the dust settled down, the golden age was gone.
People were forced to give up their previous easy lives and eke out a living as best they could. Most banded together in small groups, families and friends that agreed to protect each other come what may. Some gave up using magic entirely, not willing to spend their days with the endless struggle of trying to harness it again. Others were stubborn, seeking the glory days.
At present, the territory where Garrett's clan of Skinwalkers live is called the Western Front. It's a strange terrain, jumbled up from the sculpting magic used upon it long ago. One can find just about every type of climate that one could think of: deserts, farmland, mountains, valleys, an ocean, rain, snow, sun, and everything in-between.
Skinwalkers are descended from a group of magicians who were skilled in shapeshifting. They used to be able to shift into any animal, any time, anywhere, without needing any sort of conduit to contain the magic. When the magic began to drain from their world, they were one of groups hit the hardest. They couldn't access their magic at all, and in a world where that was all you used, it made them helpless. Eventually, they discovered through trial and error that through a combination of blood magic and the inherent magic found in animal pelts, that they could shapeshift, but only one animal at a time. After about a two hundred or so, their culture had developed into the Skinwalkers. Garrett's clan has been around for longer than they can remember, and the golden age is about five hundred years in the past at this point. While all Skinwalkers have one hide during their lifetimes, it is possible to becone a TwoSkin or even a ThreeSkin through hard work, but no one can match the level of magic used during the golden age.
The prophecy of the AllSkins was developed from the old knowledge of the shifters from the golden age. The knowledge that someone could transform into any animal developed into a myth in the clan of someone who could do just that. They would be a leader that would come forth and combine all the small familial clans into one, bringing forth an age of prosperity for all Skinwalkers. Garrett's father was this prophesied leader. His ability comes from a gift to harness much more of the magical energies that all Skinwalkers use to shift.
In terms of where they sit on the magical scale, they're quite low, considering they only have one type of magical abilitiy. Since each term means something different, the scale goes something like this, from lowest to highest. Normal< Skinwalkers and Rath < Magicians (Ceseeans) < Witches/Wizards < Sorcerers
Skinwalker Lingo
Okay, OOC time. I’m constantly experimenting and trying to make Garrett’s speech sound more natural. At the same time, I am not a linguist like J.R.R. Tolkein, and I’m not one of those writers used to coming up with an entirely different language like Richard Adams. So be completely honest with any critique. Let me know if something sounds too fake or if I got a foreign word wrong. If Garrett is talking in incomprehensible word salad, let me know.
Now, IC time. Things to note about Garrett’s speech in general. The Skinwalker language, known merely as The Tongue, is their own version of argot, a secret language that shares some similarities with English but ultimately has its own words and definitions. Originally used by Skinwalkers as a way to communicate without outsiders knowing what they were saying, it has evolved into its own language at this point. Garrett can understand some English, known as Common in his world, and indeed some words of The Tongue are based off English, but ultimately his grasp of the language is quite stunted.
Due to having a human brain but animal instincts that are in the now, he has a great deal of trouble with present/past/future tense and where to put S's in his words, since there aren't a lot of S's in Skinwalker Tongue. When speaking, he has an accent, though speaks just as fast as when talking in his own dialect, sometimes making his words nigh unendurable to outsiders. He doesn't mind if he's told to slow down and repeat himself. He gets told that often enough by his own family.
Units of measurements
Cubit: The length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, a cubit is used when measuring people and buildings.
Leagues: Used to measure long distances instead of miles, a league is equal to about three miles.
Score: Used when describing a large group of people or animals, a score equals twenty.
Seasons: Used to mark the passage of instead of years, Skinwalkers refer to the four seasons as reference instead of years. Skinwalkers rarely know how old they are, with such short units of time measurement.
Skinwalker words and their definitions
AllSkins: A prophesized “Chosen One” that is said to be able to shapeshift into any animal and a natural leader of the people. He finally came into being one generation before Garrett’s. Since the term AllSkins was around long before he came into being, it used to be popular, and still is among the older generation, to swear by his name. “By the teeth/tail/eyes of the AllSkins!” was a popular way of saying something akin to “Oh my God!” Garrett doesn’t use the phrase at all, since swearing by his father seems a bit too weird.
Baquir: A word that literally means "Answer", it is a proposition used when answering a question.
Buga: Buga is one of those words that has taken on multiple meanings. As a noun, it means a person, usually used as a term of affection. I.E. “Where’s be that buga?” Buga can also be used as an exclamation, usually repeated. It this case it expresses surprise or frustration I.E. “Buga, buga, buga!”
Ceseean: A corruption of the word magician, which is also if less frequently used. A magic-user who is still low on the totem pole. Magicians can only use a few basic spells.
Darkwoods: The good place to go after you die. There’s no suffering, but no joy or intense emotions either. It’s pretty much Limbo, a place where shadows roam the dark trees for all eternity.
Durmoh: A curse word that means "shit."
Ent: Means "are".
Hellgates: The bad place to go after you die. A typical Hell, you burn and suffer for all eternity.
Jzut: This a short word with a long meaning. At its most literal, it means "Danger!" For a Skinwalker, this is the moment they listen to their animal instincts, the ones that tell them they are under the gaze of a predator. Every inch of them becomes alert and on-edge, ready for fight or flight at a moment's notice. The brief hissing of this word lets every Skinwalker within hearing distance know that there is a threat in the immediate area and that it needs to be dealt with now.
Kavro: A neutral word referring to anyone who is an outsider.
Lawk: Refers to a Skinwalker who has shifted and is going about as their animal.
Myrah: Fate. A word often used in conjunction with reading a person's fortune.
Muirwood: A species of enchanted trees that act like a giant battery, soaking up magical energy. It’s very special and very rare. Garrett is lucky enough to have a staff made out of it.
Qet: This means "Who" or "Whom."
Qobeh: "Why" or "But why?"
Que vesa: An expression roughly meaning “What?” or “Huh?”
Qwell: Want, used both to want something and as a question.
Rath: The Rath are a competing group of local tribes. They access magic through the tattoos on their bodies and faces. Each Rath tribe has different tattoos and abilities. They're one of the main competitors for resources and food. Due to some complicated cultural shenanigans, there's an intense hatred between Skinwalkers and Rath.
Ranjah: Literally means vermin. It's a severe insult among Skinwalkers. If used, it's guaranteed fighting is ahead.
Rumproaster: An immature insult, referring to someone so dumb they’d fall right into a fire if they stood next to it.
Sorcerer: Once the most common form of magic-user in the golden age, a true sorcerer is now hard to come by, though many charlatans claim to be one. A true sorcerer can access all the magic that the world still possesses, performing great spells with ease. They are feared by Skinwalkers as the strongest predator in the world.
Skinwalker: Pretty self-explanatory. Skinwalker refers to someone who shifts back and forth. If you ain’t got a skin, you ain’t a Skinwalker.
Tif: A term of affection used to describe a half-sibling’s mother, if they aren’t blood-related. Still confused? Simply put, Garrett would use it to describe his other sibling’s mothers, tacking their name onto the front of it. For instance, Leonidas’s mother would be Tif Lucy.
Treewalloper: Another insult, this one referring to someone so dumb they'd fall right out of a tree if they tried to climb it.
Unk: Similar to Tif, used to describe a half-sibling’s father, if they aren’t blood-related. Garrett doesn’t use this one, since he and all his siblings share the same father. Also used for honorary uncles. Garrett uses it more sparsely, only using it to describe his Unk Owen.
Ves: A stronger form of “What?”, usually said in an angry or frustrated tone. It implies that the speaker doesn’t understand after already trying to several times.
Vilway: An enemy of the clan.
Witch/Wizard: A witch or wizard is more adept at using spells than a magician. Most of them make a living by imbuing objects and weapons with magical properties.
This is a lot of words, so I've come up with some basic sentences to give an idea of how Skinwalkers communicate.
Que vesa en eet? What is it?
Baquir jzut (The answer is) Danger!
My Tif Lucy 'n my modre ent lawking. My Tif Lucy and my mother are shifted and walking about.
Ves ken Ay?! Where am I?!
Ay ken Garrett, son a' the AllSkins. I am (literally I can be no other) Garrett, son of the AllSkins.
Ay taint 'fraid! I ain't afraid!
Quell t'go huntin'? Want to go hunting?
Rath ent vilways. Rath are enemies.
Skinwalker Etiquette
A crash course in what things will make Garrett either think you are a godless heathen or make him follow you around forever as your eternal puppy fox.
1. Eat only food that is served on your plate.
That’s right. No second helpings. Why? In Skinwalker culture, food is hard to come by. Everyone eats a ton, because magical energy to compensate for shapeshifting only covers so much, so the clan is always on the hunt for more. It's the reason they're so nomadic in nature. Consequently, portion control is a way of life. Garrett is used to eating exactly what is served onto his plate, and that’s that. If you try to force more on him, he thinks you’re insulting him, basically saying he’s a pig who’s eating more than his fair share. The way around this, which is used during Skinwalker holidays like feasts and commitment ceremonies, is to put all the food down and let everyone serve themselves potluck-style on their own plates.
2. Shake wrists, not hands. Also, relax your posture.
One that is common to some cultures, Skinwalkers don’t shake hands. They shake wrists, an easier way to tell if someone is concealing a weapon. Body language is key when dealing with an animalistic culture, which is why a stiff or uncomfortable posture makes you seem suspicious, like an animal showing aggression.
3. Gifts are very, very special.
This one ties into the nomadic nature of the clan. Nobody owns a lot of possessions because they move around constantly. If a gift is given from one Skinwalker to another, it signifies that there is a deep and personal connection between the two of them. If a non-family member gives one, it’s practically a guarantee of romance. The gift given, usually handmade or infused with a bit of personal magic, is expected to be kept and used until it is worn out or lost. Something simple as a bracelet can be worn for the rest of a person’s life. Since this is a hefty gesture, it’s not to be taken lightly, either as the giver or as the receiver.
4. Headbutts = Love
No, not the kind of headbutt used in combat. Kissing, while still a common gesture, isn't considered to be the big, romantic, sweep-them-off-their-feet move like it is among regular humans. For Skinwalkers, the ultimate sign of love and trust is rest one's forehead against the object of their affection's forehead. Eyes closed, they can remain like that for minutes on end.
6. Tattoos are used for magic
Garrett has instinctive fear and dislike of tattoos. In his world, they are used as conduits for magic. The rival groups known as the Rath have clan markings on their face, marking their allegiance and what sort of magic they can use. Among normal humans, such as ranchers, it's not uncommon to have a few small tattoos somewhere on their bodies, that allows them to access small bits of magic, such as minor telekinesis or weather spells.
