Smethyng

The **Smethyngs** are constructs bestowed with a soul via a complex ritual and split into two seperate physical forms: a uniquely forged weapon called a Birthblade and a humanoid form they puppeteer often referred to as their Visage, a reflection of the Birthblade.

The minerals used to craft a Smethyng have great meaning, as they determine various aspects of their physicality and abilities. This results in them being a varied species whose appearance, lifespan and biology differs per each group.

Smethyngs are said to hail from the far north, perhaps even beyond Casuara, and have since formed a diaspora due to migrations and other craftsmen learning of their creation rituals, with the descendants of the Reus giants ultimately forming a country of their own in the form of Thyngland on their peninsular mainland in Southern Casuara, in which they currently live together with the Qalos.

## History

### Creation

The Smethyngs were first forged during an unknown point in history by several clans of blacksmiths from the far north. The Thynglish people commonly believe that their inception was the result of an experiment with ley lines, spearheaded by a mad ruler. The process of creating a Smethyng is referred to as a 'Forging'. Being living weapons, their initial purpose was likely as servants in warfare.

There are tales shared amongst groups of certain clans treating the Smethyngs as companions rather than as disposable troops, for which their makers are commonly known for in oral traditions and ancient texts passed down into the present generation.

## Physical Details

### Forging

The process of creating a Smethyng is long and complex, with the formula for such known to be safekept by only a handful of Smethyngs in Casuara. It involves tapping into the ley lines deep within the earth itself and a continuous effort to forge a blade by a magically skilled individual under highly dangerous conditions. Beyond that, any known attempts at creating a Smethyng without knowledge of the exact formula have resulted at most in mindless, fractured blades, far too unstable magically to ever wield or form a Visage.

### The Visage

#### Reflections of the Birthblade

Once a Smethyng is forged in the form of a weapon, or in some cases another tool, it quickly manifests a humanoid form called a Visage alongside itself, which inherits most of the attributes of the weapon's design in multiple ways. For example, a wild and unusual handle design could result in various shapes of the Visage's hands being monstrous or twisted. Research regarding the specifics of such relations is largely non-existant, with certain ore types displaying certain traits more commonly than others.

The Visage, for all intents and purposes, acts as a standard humanoid-like creature that can bleed, speak and perform various complex tasks expected of most sentient beings. Sex is not present among the Smethyngs, likely due to their unique process of creation and lack of purpose for any semblance of traits representing such.

#### Eating

The Smethyngs' Visages are natural omnivores, and can occasionally be more predisposed to consuming pieces of minerals and metals, depending on the severity of impurities and lack of refinement in their Birthblades. Eating cannot alter a Smethyng's Visage in any meaningful way, aside from recovering fatigue and maintaining their physical senses.

Smethyngs can survive up to around 2 months without any food, being largely dependant on their Birthblade itself to sustain themselves in critical situations.

### Damage and Death

When a Visage gets hurt, the Birthblade does not take damage alongside it, and the humanoid form sustains damage as any other mortal would. If a Visage is mortally wounded and dies, the Birthblade enters a period of stasis, in which it cannot remain concious and slowly rebuilds a new Visage that, although similar, may possess new traits reflecting on newly gained knowledge or personality traits.

When a Birthblade is damaged directly, whether it be through natural erosion, combat wear or shattering, the Visage is directly impacted, displaying immediate signs of fractures and scars alongside the spread of more impurities on the body. When a Birthblade is shattered, the Visage dies with it. A Birthblade has to be repaired through a forging ritual not unlike its initial creations' in order to come back to life and be able to form a new Visage.

## Culture

### Thyngland

#### Gender

Not having any clearly defined and differing biological roles, the Thynglish Smethyngs socially organize themselves as one - with gender being a natural form of varied identity and presentation to them. Many have adapted words from cultures they have met, but a large amount of identities remain seperate from other beings' definitions of femininity and masculinity.

#### Death

Recycling and using the weapons of the deceased to create new life or reforge a Birthblade is seen as the greatest duty of the Thynglish Smethyngs. While great Temple-Forges are erected at sites of overlapping ley lines, smaller ones are constructed in most cities for the sake of preserving Birthblades that have been shattered or are in stasis. Cenotaphs with inscriptions of Smethyngs from the same lineage are layed out in large cemetary-like fields along the main roads and underneath in maze-like catacombs.

## Smethyng Types

> This section has temporary, but mostly functional descriptions.
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### **Rocky**

#### Coal

Their eyes glow in the dark. Their sense of smell is heightened.

#### Cinnabar

Their palms and feet constantly produce dust, spreading to all surfaces their touch as harmless grains of magic. Their tolerance to toxins is increased.

#### Lapis

Wild and twisting protrusions around their bodies due to being unrefined, which are extremely reactive to magic.

#### Quartz

Their skin hides a smooth, opaque and reflective surface beneath, being exposed permanently once a wound has been healed over.

### **Metallic**

#### Bronze

Afflicted with rust and increased corrosion. Their physicality greatly changes as they age.

#### Iron

Possess natural iron scales protecting certain parts of their bodies. Impurities can rust, weakening the Smethyng. Increased pain tolerance. Often mixed with different minerals and used as a base.

#### Gold

Extraordinarily frail, but easily repairable and malleable. Can learn to manipulate their own bodies in unnatural ways under high temperature.

### **Gemstone**

#### Amethyst

Impurities and wounds result in budding shards that can grow rapidly into clusters. They have sensitive hearing, which can detect a far broader range of frequencies than regular humans and the other Smethyng.

#### Emerald

Possess a second chance upon shattering, that glues their bodies and Birthblades back together, releasing rays of darkness that cascade within the gem. This dark rebirth exposes the Smethyng’s primal desires and exposes many jagged and dark shards from their humanoid body, deforming it into a monstrous visage.