please don't take

my sunshine away

Born in the jungles of Leo, Citizens of this group have one goal and one goal only: to build the greatest structure ever seen in Origin, capable of withstanding a mythic cave apocalypse. The Monolith. A place so pristine, you'd think it's a utopia. But don't be fooled-- just beyond those golden walls lies mystery, corruption, and death.

Led by the Chosen and their Advisor, Citizens believe a devastating cataclysm is coming to the caves, and only banding together will save them. Opinions towards outsiders are unknown, though they are very hostile towards agents of Order or Chaos, believing them to be bringers of the end times.

Aesthetic: ancient cities, gold, metal, dust, concrete, triangles

Common Archetypes: laborers, artists, farmers, musicians, craftsmen, power-hungry, corrupt, priests, loyalists, traders, lawful and neutral types ranging from good to evil

Group Spell: Feshnach's Boon -- Earth element-- Conjure a small amount of semi-liquid gold, which quickly solidifies after a minute. This material can be shaped into whatever the user desires, including weapons and tools.

1. Respect the Chosen. To not do so is to invite great misfortune.

2. Contribute to the Monolith. All hands are needed on deck if they are to survive calamity.

3. Do not harm your fellow citizens. Treat them like your siblings, or face punishment.

A pyramid 90 feet high and 200 feet long. The Monolith is best described as an "arcology," or self-sustaining city inside one building. Its shell is made from woven bamboo overlaid with polished creamy-gold bricks made of gravel, sand, volcanic ash and water. Small holes are poked through to ventilate. There are no visible entrances to the megastructure, but if one looked around they'll eventually find an underground tunnel leading inside, alongside a water canal connecting to the bay. The tip is capped in metal to symbolize their prosperity.

Inside is an open floorplan, with wooden platforms and decks connected by a series of slopes and pillars. Light is provided by a series of hanging baubles and glowing crystals, which twinkle like stars. Houses constitute one-room cells stacked along the walls, with the middle a free space to trade and set up shops. Some predetermined structures are listed below:

The Ground Floor is home to the Monolith's plantation that provide all its food. Rows of Zebra Squash and Silk Hair grow along an irrigation channel that connects to the ocean. Animal pens are arranged in neat rows along the walls, full of whatever lessers they can wrangle. Since the large harvest is almost always at a surplus, a cobblestone silo has been built in the corner to store excess food. Gembound are forbidden from taking anything from it unless they are starving.

The Temple of Feshnach is the second-highest building in the pyramid, and actually forms a floor all to its own. The ground is covered in a colorful mosaic depicting a golden figure of indeterminate species. Mettalic trinkets hang from the walls and ceiling. At the north wall stands a wooden sacrifice altar, and at the south are jars full of the oil of the dead.

The final floor is The Throne Room, which is surprisingly small given the tapering. Everything here is extravagant, from the silky curtains to the ornate golden throne the Chosen sits upon. Panels in the floor allow them to see everything that goes on below.

The following passage contains religious themes.

Beliefs: The core belief of the Monolith is that of Apocalypse. According to them, Order and Chaos are two evils tearing apart the world, and sometime in the near future they'll destroy it completely. Everything will die-- that is, except for those who follow Feshnach, who'll be led into a new and prosperous world. The Monolith is simply a structure believed to be capable of surviving the end times.

Feshnach: Who is this "Feshnach," exactly? Believers say they're a deity more powerful than even Astraea or the Hands, symbolized by metal and gold. They oppose both the Hive and Corruption and bring nothing but prosperity and peace wherever they go. It's believed the Chosen is, well, chosen by Feshnach themself to lead the Monolith. Gembounds are not required to believe in Feshnach, but it is a necessity to reach the rank of Chosen.

Feshnach is worshipped through the Temple, where believers can come and say their prayers or give a sacrifice at any time. Organized sermons are rare, but do happen occasionally after bad events.

Life and Death: Gembounds are raised without knowledge of their family, if they have any, in communal dwellings. This is believed to foster loyalty. When a gembound reaches four cycles of age, a small celebration is held with food and friends gathered around. If a Citizen dies, their stone is collected for resurrection and any Oil swept into a ceramic pot to be sealed and placed in the Temple.

The Arts: Artistry of any type is highly encouraged in the Monolith, though metallurgy, in particular, is highly praised. Most art revolves around depictions of Feshnach, the Chosen, or the Monolith itself.

Clothes: That Silk Hair mentioned growing in the farms exists for an important purpose: making fabric. This light, silky thread is colored a translucent white or cream and is worn in a number of styles. One may tie it over the head to make a veil, or over the shoulders as a cloak. The more affluent may embed it with precious stones or gold.

The Chosen and their Advisor lead the group, and are considered the ultimate word when it comes to law. There is only ever one of each at any time. Should the Chosen die, the Advisor becomes the new leader.

Citizens form the bulk of the Monolith, and encompass everyone from merchants to farmers to guards.

Goodcitizens are those who have proven themselves as exceptionally loyal or useful to the Monolith and are afforded special priveledges, like extra food, bigger dwellings, or sitting side-by-side with the Chosen during meetings.

Ungoods: as a punishment for rule-breaking or other devious behavior, a Citizen may be demoted to the rank of Ungood. Ungoods are forced to work in the fields and mine for metals until their tenure is up, which usually takes 2-3 cycles.

Other Punishments include exile from the Monolith and surrounding lands, or being sent away. That means the gembound is dragged away to the volcano by an Ungood and thrown in, sealing their fate...