Category: Background

Vuzodep

The Vuzodept are desert-roaming persons whose origins begin in a kingdom called Vuzode. The kingdom was believed to be inhabited by monstrous beings. Little is known about Vuzode except that they waged endless war on the kingdom of Luft, and eventually a group of Vuzodept joined the people of Luft to end the war.

Vuzodept do not resemble the monstrous beings cited in ancient texts, however; instead, they look like bandeargen with darker and rougher skin, likely due to their time spent in deserts. Often, Vuzodep children have similar hair coloring to the bandeargen, as well. This suggests that Vuzodept may be a long lost tribe of bandeargen who chose to live nomadically in the deserts. Alternatively, they could be reject bandearg children, or it could simply be common for them to interbreed with bandeargen. The latter seems unlikely, since few Vuzodept have been found in bandearg settlements.

Little is known of Vuzodep culture except for their presumed nomadic nature, as they are rarely seen outside of deserts and markets. Their settlements or even houses have not been found, but occasional campsites are stumbled upon. Some traveling Vuzodept have mentioned being a “third sibling” as if it bore cultural significance, but refused to elaborate. These persons were noted to have significant magical abilities, suggesting that families with more children tend to have greater magical abilities. This is merely a hypothesis based on scarce information.

Smoke Dancers of Atlantis

In the great city of Atlantis, there is an exclusive training school for the smoke dancers. This elite entertainment group travels the world from the first day of autumn to the last day of winter. You can find them in theaters with crowds of hundreds or in the streets putting on a complete show for a single small child, though each smoke dancer chooses where they perform. They may tour with a large group of up to ten dancers, or an individual may travel alone.

Photo by Merlin lightpainting from Pexels

The winter cold is said to enhance their mystical powers. In the depths of the cold months, they can produce nearly endless amounts of smoke. Their control increases, allowing them to form the smoke into intricate shapes that they can never create in the warmer months.

There are many theories about the unusual nature of smoke dancers’ talents. Some people assume that the heat from the smoke creates fog, much like one’s breath on the cold winter’s morning, while others believe there is a more mystical explanation. Upon interrogation, no smoke dancer has revealed the source of their ability to control smoke. However, some people theorize that it is related to the air, water, or fire komorebi.