The Kuhifadi

One clever animal rose above its origins, becoming more while thinking of ways to outwit the nocturnal predators, finding more use for the magic given freely by the sun. The Kuhifadi share a name with the all-important sun-membrane, as that is what their civilization is based on.

The Kuhifadi as a people are dark, almost blue skinned, with transitions to a golden, sun-baked color around their membranes, of which there are many. There are Kuh scattered around the body, though mainly on the hands, feet, fingers and toes, chest, back, cheeks, top of head, and under the eyes. Where animals simply process extraneous heat from the sun, the Kuhifadi continually search for new secrets to their magic. Their Kuh leaks magic in the visible spectrum, making a charged Kuhifadi’s form literally glow, but the Kuh can be covered with a special type of black-out fabric that stops any solar leakage. While most Kuhifadi are dark-skinned, some lighter-skinned people exist in very northern and southern longitudes. But all have thick strands of hair, growing mainly on the top of the head and a few other places. There are several Kuh on the tops and sides of the head, so hair does not grow there, and Kuhifadi generally don’t let their hair get long enough to obscure the Kuh.

The Kuhifadi spend most of their lives unburdened by concepts of what gender roles a particular person may play in society. When anyone can shoot a beam of fire at a rampaging night-beast, or sooth an unfortunate burn, there is less pressure to say some members are not suited for combat, and others not suited for raising children. In fact, when deciding to reproduce, a couple or trio must absorb a lot of energy through their Kuh first. They then trade energy from a special regenerative Kuh in the lower belly. The energy release is quite pleasurable both for the “Releaser(s)” (he/him) and the “Gatherer” (she/her) The Gatherer then gestates a child within that special Kuh until the membrane ruptures and releases the child in a font of energy. This is the only Kuh with the ability to heal after rupturing, allowing a Kuhifadi (normally they/them pronouns) to have more than one child.

The concept of the Kuhifadi mage comes from reproduction as well. So the story goes, a Gatherer early in prehistory, after her child’s death, tore another of her Kuh in grief and was surprised at the ray of light that shot forth. Though Kuh had been ruptured before in combat or by accident, it was always a chaotic occurrence. The deliberate mutilation acted as a focus for the early Gatherer to control the magic. Other genders grasped the idea and so the mages were born. This is also the source of rumors that mages never engage in procreation or sex for enjoyment.

Mages concentrate solar energy within their body and keep it from leaking by “locking” it in Kuh through a meditative process. They process the magic for a long time in their Kuh to build up their power, and non-locked Kuh can be used for the small magics that all Kuhifadi can do, but in order to practice large magic, a mage must ritually destroy the Kuh where energy has been stored, releasing all the power at once. The destroyed Kuh is incredibly sensitive to light thereafter, meaning the mage must cover themself to keep from being in constant pain from the sun.

Many modern Kuhifadi ignore or let their abilities fade in favor of the mages who train to be many times more powerful through shrouding their bodies and concentrating sun energy. There are many rumors about the sect, including celibacy, blinding, pale white skin, ritual mutilation, deviant behavior, and so on. Few of these characteristics have even been proven.

As for other parts of their culture, the Kuhifadi tend to build above ground or on stilts to avoid the ever-present nocturnal predators. They prefer to be in the sun whenever possible, replenishing their reserves of magic. This leads to open, flower-shaped floor plans, and traditionally guests are brought to the highest point of the dwelling as a measure of ensuring their safety. Most receiving rooms and guest areas are located at the top of buildings.

Kuhifadi have never worn a lot of clothes, except as needed for protection and modesty. The more opportunities for their Kuh to gather sun energy, the better, and often animal leather will include the membranes of that animal, strategically placed so the Kuhifadi’s Kuh can still receive sun energy. Sewn or otherwise fabricated cloth will also include added animal membranes or plant membrane equivalents.

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