Nichovan (ne-KOH-vin)
Globally known as one of the Original Species, they are one of few who bother themselves with current affairs and do not live in seclusion. They have the ability to teleport short distances and alter their mass. Naturally non-bodied, this species of healers absorb the energy of physical matter that causes them to appear in physical form. In order to return to their natural “spirit” essence, they push their energy into healing the injured. It gives the nichovan a “high”. The more severely injured the victim, the better the nichovan feels when it heals them.
Some nichovan don’t mind the weight of a physical body but while in that state they are the most vulnerable to being killed themselves. Reproduction is not encouraged, rather, to stay out of situations that would hurt their physical body. Because healing is required for them to stay in their spirit form, no payment is needed. They will heal anyone, regardless of race and politics.
There is a limit to what damage they can heal based on how much energy they have at the moment; some types of injuries are not healable. Each nichovan has a preferred state of embodiment and will heal or not heal in a way that keeps them there. Most try to regulate their healing so they are always in a mostly spirit state, while others are entranced by the physical world and prefer to be fully physical most of the time as it allows them to be able to resuscitate. While in full physical form, they can fully resuscitate a dead person within a day of death. The shorter amount of time the patient is are dead, the more patients a nichovan can resuscitate. After one day, the soul dies and the victim cannot be revived. Any attempt after that involves bloodtrading which by default turns the body into a soulless species.
Once a nichovan reaches their spirit stage, they need to “recharge” into their body naturally or use a variety of methods to speed up the process.
- The atmosphere itself recharges them. This takes several days naturally (if they’ve expended themselves completely). For a regular nichovan taking minor cases daily, it is a net charge and they don’t need to worry about it. Energy changes in the atmosphere, like during thunderstorms, will increase the charge based on the severity of the storm.
- Certain stones give off higher levels of energy that power them like batteries. These are made into jewelry. Some nichovan will line their infirmary with the stone and sleep there to charge overnight.
- A powerful drink that is nasty tasting, brings about a semi-conscious state and is poisonous if made incorrectly. Three glasses within 24 hours can shorten the recharge time by half. The first dose needs to be administered topically (since they’re in spirit form, they "bathe" in it). Not a preferred method. Considered dangerous.
- A firefly-type insect, about the size of a mouse, that essentially shocks them with energy. It’s incredibly painful for the nichovan but they can be fully recharged in three shocks. Not a preferred method. Considered dangerous.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Their natural state is non corporeal but when heavily charged, they can take any form they wish but most prefer to blend in with the local inhabitants. They retain their speech regardless of form. In their spirit form, they are visible to each other in a vaguely humanoid shape that wavers like a mirage. When they are healing a patient, their left eye glows blue.
In the case of a demi-ko, they retain the body of the person they entered.
Genetics and Reproduction
Nichovan are ageless beings, not immortal but original creations from the dawn of time. They pride themselves on remaining pure. There is one method of reproduction that is deeply frowned upon but has been key in preventing their extinction.
Known as splitting, a nichovan can split its essence as a last resort to death. The process is symbiotic in nature, lasting from a few weeks to a few months, as the nichoven and its host adapt and, in most cases, heal from traumatic injuries.
The nichoven injects itself into their host, often as a resurrection of the host but not always; in some cases, the host is not aware of the change. The process is instantaneous but the effects on the host linger anywhere from several weeks to a few months. The host's mind fights with the presence of new language, memories, and personality, often causing the host to feel like they are hallucinating or having vivid dreams. However, they can access the nichoven's healing abilities immedietely. Over time, the nichoven collects itself and is ejected by the host's body, most often at the host's first full use of healing powers. The ejected nichoven is permenantly a spirt with off their memories, personality, language, etc, but their healing ability, mass-shifting, and translocation remain with the host.
This former host is thereafter known as a demi-nichovan or demi-ko. All offspring of two demi-nichovan will always be full-blood nichovan.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Additional Information
Social Structure
They have been around since the beginning of time. The cultural mentality is strict community, honor, loyalty, wholeness, and belonging. Anything outside their traditions and accepted practices is immediately suspected of betrayal. A nichoven who split from their healing abilities, and the resulting demi-ko, are viewed as being crippled, broken, "un-whole”, and no longer a pure member of the species. As such, they are treated with pity and disdain.
Many choose to shun split nichoven and demi-ko to maintain their own social status. Those balking traditions are considered traitors, and are disowned and banished. The rigidity of the culture and refusal to accept change means the community is steadily shrinking.Children born of two demi-ko are snubbed by elitists but acknowledged and allowed into the community under severe, and often demeaning, conditions.
Nichovi suffer under the moral quandry to remain pure while undergoing the shame of dying; to live is more honorable to die, but to live crippled is an insult to the purity of the species.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Some thrill-seekers will follow armies around to get the best "highs" from healing the worst wounded. Many take work as dedicated healers to rulers.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Their language is a series of whistles and clicks, sounding very much like bird calls. While demi-ko continue to communicate in their pre-nichovan language, they can also instinctively understand and communicate in the nichovan language to a heavily accented, semi-fluent degree.
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