Some Notes on Dweller Society

The Dwellers come from a dangerous, jungle-like realm.  The creatures known as ‘terror-beaks’ also hail from this realm as terror-beak skulls have been seen upon peering through the door into the realm.  The door to the Dwellers’ realm is red fading to black (if memory serves correctly), and metal is apparently very rare in the Dwellers’ realm.

Dweller society is highly structured with each individual aware of his or her place and it is considered extremely rude to interrupt or speak over another while they are speaking; particularly if said individual outranks you.  Titles and positions are frequently taken through a show of might, rather than appointed, and the highest position within Dweller society is that of ‘King’.  To obtain the position of King, a Dweller must not only exhibit exceptional prowess and leadership abilities in defeating his rivals, but must also possess the famed great sword ‘Rattlespine’ and ascend to something called the ‘Pierced Throne’.  The current ‘King’ of the Dwellers is the Horned King, though the shaman ‘Prince’ Kourath Kel is attempting to challenge his rule.

The Dweller’s magic comes from one of twelve major or prime ‘totems’.  Although rudimentary information indicates that there are actually more than these twelve, the prime totems are the largest and most important in Dweller society.  At any given time six of the twelve prime totems are ascendant, while the other six are descendant; that is, their power waxes and wanes, possibly due to the actions of the Dwellers themselves or due to conflicts between the totem spirits.

According to Prince Kourath Kel, some of the currently ascendant totems are as follows:

(Please note, all spellings are approximated.)

Darien-Kaa, the ‘Many-tailed Jaguar’ - Prince Kourath Kel is a follower of this totem.

The Jaws That Devour - described as a huge, all-consuming hole in the earth

Anamon-Vy, the ‘Bonetaker’

Borok-Nin, the ‘Strider Upon the Deeps’

Githis-Cho, the ‘Eyeless Black Spider’

I (Mattie) am not currently aware of the name of the sixth ascendant totem.

Also according to Prince Kourath Kel, some of the descendant totems are:

Silith-Pal, the ‘Serpent of River and Sand’

The ‘Red-Eyed Bear’ - tricked out of ascendant status by Darien-Kaa

Dweller magic generally comes through association with a particular totem, or through the totems’ patronage in general.  The shaman Delzai of Kourath Kel’s camp is a practitioner of Dweller magic, but is not sworn to one particular totem.