Cannibalism in Welt

Cannibalism is the act of eating members of one's own species. This general definition is vaguely applied to the Weltan System, and is often broadened to include the act of sapients eating other sapient species, or species in the same genus eating each other. 
Cannibalism is practiced for a wide variety of reasons, be they cultural, religious, or for more practical applications such as a food source healthcare, summoning, or for benefits inherent to the ingestion of kin flesh.
Cannibalism comes in many forms in Welt, some species must consume their own kind in order to survive, these are known as obligate cannibals.
== Cannibalism amongst sapient races of Welt ==
=== Orcs ===
Orcs cannibalize, but only just after the death of the kin, due to a belief that this will make them stronger. Some females eat males, but not the opposite.
=== Subaqueous dwellers ===
Some deep sea dwellers cannibalize to recover Essence as well as for food. Strangely, the hearts of the more acrobatic climbers have HP restoring abilities as well. 
=== As a cultural practice ===
For the Dalmer, cloning effectively rendered the illegality of the practice moot in the empire. Some other races are innately cannibalistic, and invented civilization and law just so their species won't eat itself to extinction. Feasts occur in catacombs and houses of the dead, with or without undead participants. Cannibal cabals aren’t rare in Cosmopolitan Society. In certain societies the practiced is based on sex, where females eat males, but not the opposite. In some cultures, cannibalism is dependent on the consent of the soon to be eaten. An aspect that is oft forgotten by other cultures. 
The relation of sentients towards cannibalism is heteroclite in their approach and acceptance or not of the practice. In some cultures, cannibalism is dependent on the consent of the soon to be eaten. An aspect that is often forgotten by other cultures. In others, it is an element of celebration among fringe members of society, with feasts occurring in catacombs and houses of the dead, with or without undead participants. In some societies it is considered disgusting rather than immoral (why would you want to willingly drink any body fluids, especially someone else’s?). Within these societies it is begrudgingly tolerated, cannibalism is considered a step beyond vampirism in polite society and cannibal cabals aren’t rare. 
Some cultures embrace the practice as natural. Macabre arts are a natural outcome of civilizations that accept cannibalism. Including skincloth, greasepaint and others. Finally, some other races are innately cannibalistic, and invented civilization and law just so their species wouldn't eat itself to extinction.
==== Cuisine ====
Culinary cannibalism is a cultural practice as well. Stews, ground bone spice, chocolate bars, canned meats, Meaty bones, blood teas, entrail hamburgers, sanguine strawberry shortcakes and foie gras are all staples of the cuisine. For societies where cannibalism isn't normalized, the cuisine is colloquially known as "the meat that makes you hungry".
==== Art ====
Macabre arts are a natural outcome of civilizations that accept cannibalism. Usage of bodily products including skincloth, greasepaint and others occur in such cases.
=== Opposition to cannibalism ===
Some societies are opposed to the practice for different reasons. eCannibalism is considered a step beyond vampirism in some societies. In some societies the practice is considered disgusting rather than immoral (why would you want to willingly drink any body fluids, especially someone else’s?). Some species consider blood transfusions and organ donations to be vampirism and cannibalism respectively in their legal systems. 
== Effects of cannibalism ==
Research into the practice shows that cannibalism seems to give effects, both beneficial and detrimental to those that practice it.
=== Beneficial effects of cannibalism ===
The effects of cannibalism are few and far between when the risks are considered, there is precedent however, of net gains for those that practice it. 
==== Powers of the eaten ====
Some other races become stronger when they eat things stronger than themselves, with noticeable effects on personality, speed and reflexes for those that have cannibalized individuals displaying these traits. 
==== Gene memory ====
Eating corpses somehow gives genetic memories, but this is thought to occur only in essence infected individuals.
==== Demon summoning ====
In societies where demon summoning is integrated to the point of including essence transfer, some cultures eat themselves to recover essence in order to summon demons. Cannibalism also occurs in times of essence and food shortages. Strangely, in these societies essence causes the hearts of the more acrobatic climbers to have HP restoring abilities.
==== Cannibomancy/Thyestomancy ====
The ability to consume members of one's own species to create magical effects is known as cannibomancy. Usually the powers are enhanced strength, flexibility and agility, at the cost of morbid obesity.
There exist other spells linked to cannibomancy, such as gaining access to genetic memories, but this is thought to occur only in Essence users. Also possibly related to essence is that some cultures eat themselves to summon demons.
== Risks of cannibalism ==
For some other races cannibalism is slightly toxic. Orcs can cannibalize safely, but only just after the death of the kin before it goes cold.
As a food source
Cannibal foods come with severe defects to the advantages they give, the most common being morbid obesity and ghoulification among others, though this can be chalked to a lack of diversity in diets. Among favored ghoul dishes is stew, ground bone spice, chocolate bars, canned meat, meaty bones, blood tea, entrail hamburger, sanguine strawberry shortcake, foie gras, and many more.
Colloquially known as the meat that makes you hungry, cannibalism can have a multitude of effects on those that practice it. For some other races cannibalism is slightly toxic, in others it is intoxicating.
Some other races become stronger when they eat things stronger than themselves, this includes members of their own species. 
=== Ghoulification ===
Ghoulification is the general term for predatory behavior that leads to a member of a species becoming a beast. While ghouls are notably partial to decomposing meat rather than fresh meat, the term is generally applied to cannibals as a whole. 
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