Dish Culture/History

General

**History**

Culture

Abilities

Original

## Known History

### Early Life

Dishes were small in number, but respected in world events. They were a rich people and their knighthood, the Calix Animi, were legendary. In Inky Extras Series Part 4- The Origin of Supers provides some more insight into early Dish Culture as it tells a Dish folktale meant to explain the supposed "origin" of The Supers. The hero of this folktale, Grail, seems to have been a important figure in Dish Culture as it is brought up how over the course of his journey he had accumulated many stories and powers. Seeing as The Origin of Supers is a folktale, and an incomplete one at that, it is unknown how factual it's contents are and if Grail was ever even a real Dish to begin with or just a folk hero.

Historically, each island had it's own unique system of government. For example, the Inkwell Isles used to utilize a hierarchy system but other islands did not. Even things such as holidays were not consistent between islands. Between the islands personal history and influences from the surrounding nations each island was practically it's own unique country. That being said there was connections between the various Dish nations. Cuphead explains that, during the height of Dish civilization, the islands would have competitions with one another in activities such as potion making and that there was lots of trade between the various islands. Each of the islands also had their own group of warriors and magicians to protect their nation (Ch 273).

### Notable Events

#### Ink Illness

A little over four thousand years ago, before the War, the world was ravaged by Ink Illness. A delegation of Dishes was sent out by King Kettle, the current Dish king of the time, to meet with the other races about a solution (Ch 216). The Dishes soon came together with the Angels, Demons and Micco races to create a cure for this terrible disease which turned out to be the Ink Machine. As their contribution to the machine, the Dishes created The Cup. (Ch 186)

#### The Angel-Demon War

During the Angel- Demon war the Dishes sided with the Angels (Ch 150) Dish knights participated in many battles against Demon forces over the course of the War. Part way through the War a Micco named Lukahd aka the Lady of Despair who had joined the Demons began to specifically target Dishes on the battlefield to kill and, the arguably crueler fate, of stealing their souls from their bodies. Lukahd would then use the Dish souls, as well as the souls from other races she stole, in order to perform inhumane experiments on them. Many of these captives ended up dead or, in the event the actually survived, with permanent scarring on their physical bodes and souls, trauma, and some even remained soulless for the rest of their days. Perhaps because of her specific targeting of their race the name the Lady of Despair seems to have become infamous among the Dishes, with her name and song terrifying even battle hardened knights (Ch 221)

At some point near the end of the War the last of the Demon's barriers fell and a genocide occurred. Many Demons rushed to hide evidence of the various crimes they had committed, such as killing the captives they were experimenting on. Many of these poor test subjects were successfully killed before their Angel allies could get through to save them. Those captives that survived this mass killing were able to eventually recover their souls thanks to the work of the Dish knights from multiple orders, who used a combination of their magic and the Demon's own notes to return the souls. However, it was only a small number of victims whose souls were able to be restored and it is unknown what happened to the other captives (Ch 221)

According to a scroll found by Black Hat in the current Devil's office it was a Dish that defeated The Devil of the time using the Lost Super (Ch 150) While the Dish who defeated The Devil died due to using the Lost Super this attack weakened The Devil enough for the Angels to capture him.

After the Demons were confined to Hell the DIshes also attended and participated in the Angel trials of captured enemies, acting as witnesses for the events they were present for. It was at one of these trials, the trial of Lukahd, where the Dishes were cursed by Lukahd along with the Angels and Micco. Lukahd's curse was, "From this day forward, the three great nations will suffer as the demons suffer. With each passing generation, your blood will grow weaker, hunted for your talents, abused for your eccentricities, your people shall fade until your nations are but a pale memory and your grandchildren’s grandchildren’s grandchildren live to see the last of your race die out in bitter agony.” (Ch 221)

Following the War and the MIcco Tragedy it was decided that the Ink Machine was to be dismantled. The Dishes were one of the races entrusted with hiding and protecting the Parts. Within Dish society this role was carried out by members of the Calix Animi (Ch 186)

### Today

As stated earlier, Dishes are normally found on island nations under the rule of a hierarchy. Of later dates, many of the royal families that led these nations have died off, many of the nations have joined mainland governments or practices. For example, Inkwell Island entered into an alliance with their neighboring country and now have a governor running things (Ch 273). A number of the Dishes proud history and culture has been lost to the sands of time, though relics and ruins still give a glimmer of the past they had. Several of the islands have shrunk over the centuries, great cities and kingdoms are buried under the waves.

Today it is rare to find an island that is only Dishes. Most have integrated into other cultures and mixed with the people that have moved onto their islands. Any Dish organization or group that remains from the old days or remnants of the Calix Animi, it is not publicly known. Cuphead says that, despite their hidden status, the Calix Animi are the closest thing to a ruling body the Dishes have in the modern day. That being said, they don't have the ability to make laws or any other usual governmental powers. They mostly handle magical threats and help out the Dish community however they can (Ch 273).

Some of the potions and charms that the Dishes used for their magic are still sold, though it is mostly for commodity since the magic is generally useless unless in the hands of a Dish with the liquid magic.

It is sad to see that most of the history and stories have become largely forgotten and lost. Most likely it was due to the events of the Angel-Demon War though it is believed that most of the Dishes were on the side of the angels so the reasons for the Dish nations to have deteriorated to the state they are today is largely as unknown as their ancient practices and social structures.