Damaya
Among the two clades - Damaya and Lashunta - Damaya are 95% female, making them the dominant clade within Lashunta's matriarchy. In fact, when most people refer to a Damaya, they mean female.
Whereas Korasha are compact, muscular, and hirsute, Damaya are tall, lithe, and majestic. Their personalities females are generally charismatic and commanding. They have reputations for being wise, but also manipulative.
From the Hall of Matrons on down to the meanest farmhold, Damaya dominate nearly all aspects of Lashunta society.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Like all Lashunta, Damaya have a pair of antennae growing from their brows, between 6" - 18" long. They may be as much as two feet taller than Korasha, but slimmer and lighter by as much as 100 pounds.
Additional Information
Social Structure
A Damaya lady of noble or gentle status may be known by the title ~Ile~, which will follow sufficially her first name. Thus: 'Vaeol-Ile', 'Zhasael-ile'. This courtesy title is accorded to matrons, military officers, Outriders, and heads of wealthy trade-houses. As a form of address, it is used as: ~A ile~ - "My lady".
A Damaya who is a senior member of a trade-house, the head of a craft-house, or a senior, accomplished craft-practitioner or artist is known as ~Lare~ - 'Mistress'. This may follow sufficially after the Damaya's first name. Thus ~Ane-Lare~ - Mistress Ane, or as a form of address: ~A lare~ - "Mistress".
Only female Damaya are allowed to serves as Matrons within a city's government.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
See Lashunta
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Damaya are described as 'tree-like' or 'bough-some', tall and slender like a tree, their hair and eyes reflecting all the hues and beauty of a tree's leaves and blossoms.
Gender Ideals
Female Damaya are expected to take leadership roles both at home and in the community. They are seen as charismatic and commanding. Male Korasha are expected to serve, both as mates, laborers, and warriors. They are seen as brusque, war-like, and also rash.
Male Damaya (~Damaeas~) occupy an ambigous, tenuous position in Lashunta society. They may be accorded higher status than male Korasha, though female Damaya may shut them out of positions of leadership and authority, unless they have influential families and friends who can support them. Korasha may grow bold and challenge them, which go poorly for the Damaya if it comes to a physical altercation. Many male Damaya immigrate to Qabarat, where they can use their resemblance to Elves to blend in anonymously.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
A pregnant or nursing Damaya may claim ~Difimae~ - Mother-Right at any Lashunta community, either at a temple or a private home. This will accord her immediate protection and hospitality. Some communities automatically confer priestly status to them.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Damaya serve as Shota-riding cavalry to perform their period of military service. Female Damaya may qualify to become ~Zheieve~ - Outriders, the knightly officer-class of the Lashunta military.
Common Myths and Legends
In Lashunta myth, Lashunta were born from Maeazuvire - the First Milk-Tree. The first Damaya was born from a teatwort blossom among her leaves.
Tess the First Queen was a Damaya. She mated with Shotaviras and bore fifty Damaya daughters, all whomof inherited the gift to psychically bond with Shotalashu steeds.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Damaya resemble Elves' in build closely enough that they can sometimes pass as Elves, especially with ear-prostheses and makeup to mask the more exotic Lashunta skin tones.
The word 'Damaya' comes from ~damaea~, the common-gender version of the word, which in Lashunta is used to refer to Damaya in general or in a plural sense. If one is referring to a specific Damaya, one most often uses the feminine-gender version: ~damae~. In instances, where one refers to a male Damaya, the masculine-gender version is ~damaeas~
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Origin/Ancestry
Castrovel
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Average Height
5'8" - 6'6"
Average Weight
120lb - 180lb
Average Physique
Tall, lithe, majestic, "tree-like"
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