Chama

*“IT IS THE BURNING LAVA OF THE SOUL THAT HAS A FURNACE WITHIN-A VERY VOLCANO OF GRIEF AND SORROW-IT IS THAT BURNING LAVA OF PRAYER THAT FINDS ITS WAY TO GOD. NO PRAYER EVER REACHES GOD'S HEART WHICH DOES NOT COME FROM OUR VERY OWN”*

Chama are lava elves who were created by a holy Volcano Goddess that emerged from the Volcano as soon as it erupted.

## Common phenotypes

**Hair Pigment**

*Black, Red, Obsidian, Orange*

**Skin Pigments**

*Ashy, Warm Tan, Obsidian Black*

**Lifespan**

*200 - 650*

**Height**

*5’10 - 6’2*

**Weight**

*180 - 240*

**Eye Colors**

*Orange*

## Anatomy, Appearance and Behavior

Chama look very similar in face and structure to other elves related to them. The key difference is the fact their skin is extremely ashy like, and their skin feels coarse and rocky. They have unique vibrant body lines that go all around the body. The Chama Elves use these birthmarks to determine many things as well as their rocky shell-like protrusions on their backs. Usually, this is a part of their caste system, as the shells have varying hardness scales. The hardest ones are considered a part of the warrior class, while the weakest ones are a part of the artisan and smithing classes. In between are usually mages, priests, politicians or other roles in the system. Though, despite the strength of the carapaces, the softest one is as strong as steel, and can be hard to penetrate through. The carapace, though, only covers certain parts of their bodies, and some areas are exposed to the skin to allow mobility. The carapace thickness depends on how hard it is, with the hardest one being the thickest.

An average lifespan of a Lava Elf is about 200, with some living to be even older depending on their caste. Lava Elves require large amounts of heat to survive. Though they can survive outside of their volcanic and lava filled homes, their powers diminish, as well as their overall strength. It is predicted that hot climates such as deserts or badlands are preferable, as they have more heat than temperate climates,

## Social structure

Even if they live in the Volcano, many accounts of them show that they’re in fact, quite intelligent, and are said to be skilled artisans, and metalsmiths. They are also said to value combat, especially against each other, and to test their metal against anyone they come across. Although they are very much intimidating from their eyes, their carapace and fearsome exteriors, they are actually peaceful, and prefer their isolation, mostly due to the fact they know their limitations once they set foot to more cooler lands. Interestingly, they have separate nations throughout the area underneath the world, but they have all been peaceful with each other, due to the little demand of resources and survival.

Chama are described as wearing no clothing, mostly due to the fact that lava will burn anything that comes into contact in their home. Oddly enough, they have magic to cool down certain parts of their cities, possibly to welcome the very rare amounts of ambassadors that visit and want to record them. Whether or not this is true Chama have no reaction to nudity when viewed, and seem to have very little interest in sexual desires. Chama can reproduce like any other humanoid, however, many Chama when they die, are thrown into the sacred lava channels that, where they would become reborn in the sacred lava pit, where many young Chama are seen emerging. It is recorded that they do a “birthing ritual”, which involves multiple Priests and Priestesses who conduct a magical ceremony to welcome back the realm of the living, effectively making them immortal, as the reborn Chama are said to retain memories of old Elders.

### **Traditions**

The Chama have a singular tradition in which they go to the burial of the elders and election. This is the Day of

### **Beauty Ideals**

The Chama don't necessarily have a is specific beauty standard they usually look for a mature, respectful, and strong minded person to become there spouse.

## Origins and History

Very little is known about the Chama, or their origins officially due to the lack of proper record keeping in books, or contact. According to the historians who had reportedly found a few, the Chama were created by the holy Volcano Goddess, and emerged from the Volcano as soon as it erupted. This is likely a reference to a huge volcanic eruption that occurred which could very well have been one of the reasons for the Elven Migrations.

Many Chama would go on to become some of the best metalsmiths and well known artisans, creating powerful obsidian weapons and armor, as well as producing theatrical plays..

## Religion

Most Chama believe in a holy volcano god which created the chama from the hot boiling magma…

## Architecture

According to records and writings, Chama seems to really care a lot about their hot home, by creating a series of tunnels and large caverns to fool travelers who would try to invade their home, and even created barriers to not give any ideas to try to flood their homes either. They would harvest the lava and build a large stone exterior in front of the Volcano where they were birthed from. However, as time progressed, more Chama began building their city more and more underground, rather than expanding.