Character Name:
Ilo of the Mehrzad
Name Meaning:
Ilo is African for "light, joyous, sunshine" and Mehrzad is Persian for "children of the sun".
Character Position:
Shamash, Rook of the Sun. Chief's heir of the Mehrzad.
Birthdate and Age / Zodiacal Sign:
Born April 15, he's twenty years old.
Aries-Taurus-Capricorn -- Ilo is forceful, tempered by his quiet way, a stable, solid leader, and extremely confident, while needing to learn about seeing from others' perspectives.
"…there is a distinct layer of steely drive and determination. The aggressiveness and rough edges of Aries are softened and smoothed by the influence of Taurus. You can be an agreeable and polite person, with tactless behavior kept well in check. You have a curious way of appearing tactful even as you lay down the law and demand your way. There's a "sugar and spice" way of driving your point home, and winning. You have a powerful magnetic quality, coupled with a very strong will and determination for leadership. All Aries are natural leaders, but in this configuration, there is more stability and more of a solid base to the operation. You think highly of yourself, though you aren't one to make a show of this. Yet a pervading sense of your abilities is the foundation of your life. You're never likely to suffer from an inferiority complex. You need to learn to rule without dominating and to adjust your desires to the happiness of those around you." -- Michael McClain.
He is "serious, prudent, and patient", austere and quiet -- perhaps even
seeming aloof, with restraint and reserve. He's a workhorse expecting the
same from others, and he "climb[s] to the top in a very slow, sure-footed
way." His Capricorn ascendant isn't as spot-on as his Aries-Taurus combination
(he's not, for instance, insecure in the slightest), but it's still very close
in some aspects.
Physical Details:
Hair -- Ilo is bald but for the Mohawk. You heard right -- Mohawk. Bright and shiny, the color of polished copper, his hair is something to be seen (and stared at). It defies gravity by standing mostly on end (the ends do tend to flop over on top) without aid of anything added to it. Since it stays upright naturally, it lacks the stiff, hard look of forced Mohawks, keeping a soft, silky texture.
Eyes -- Not as eye-catching as his hair, Ilo's eyes are nonetheless pretty. They're a hazel blend of dark coffee, red, and gold, framed by long lashes a few shades darker than the hair on his head. Kohl smudges his eyelids and lines his eyes to help with the sun's glare.
Face -- Ilo's face is full, but very sharply defined. His features are very precise, almost chiseled, giving him a strong, hard look. He's reasonably handsome, his features well-proportioned and clean-cut, but it's really his character and other distinguishing aspects of his appearance that make him stand out.
Skin -- Ilo's skin is smooth cinnamon in color. Orange and yellow tattoos of stylized suns decorate the tops of both hands. On the nape of his neck is another sun, with rays of light extending downward across his shoulder blades.
Build -- This is where it gets really interesting. Ilo stands at an impressive 6'3" with all the hard, compact muscle packed on his frame to give him a build just over medium. His shoulders are broad and strong, his legs long and steady. Ilo looks powerful, and he is.
Carriage -- He has a way of looming. He's quiet, and doesn't call attention to himself in the way that he stands, but when he's standing near somebody else, his size and stature and sheer presence combine to create an effect of looming. Otherwise, he carries himself easily with a fair amount of agility for someone so big -- not unlike a big cat, really.
Attire -- Like the rest of his clan, Ilo doesn't worry overmuch about covering
himself up. It's a GOOD thing to feel the sun's rays on your back. Quite a
collection of necklaces decorate his neck -- an assortment of hoops and beads
and bones or ornaments hanging from leather thongs, until a fair portion of
his chest and most of his neck are covered. Around his biceps are thick bands
decorated with bone and beads, and along with the necklaces, are all that
covers his upper half. Ilo wears brightly colored kilts -- sometimes layered
to look nicer when events call for it -- wrapped securely around his hips,
none dangling quite to his knees. Ease of movement is important to him as
a hunter. His kilts favor the colors red, yellow, and orange, with splashes
of ivory and green. Around his ankles are bands to match the ones on his arms,
and he wears simple sandals to protect his feet.
Bloodtype:
O.
Gemstone:
Topaz (of the red-gold variety) has long been associated with the sun and various sun gods. The Ancient Egyptians said it was colored with the glow of the sun god Ra. The Ancient Romans associated it with their sun god Jupiter. In fact, topaz is sometimes referred to as "the gem of the setting sun". It's thought to provide clarity of sight and protect the faithful from harm. Surely there isn't another gemstone more fitting for Ilo.
Likes:
MEAT -- He's a growing boy! Okay, see, stuff that you dig up or pick off a branch is all well and good, but there is nothing nearly so filling as animal flesh. Ilo is a hunter. Taking down animals for food and their hides is what he spends a LOT of his time doing. Of COURSE he's going to like meat. Mmmm juicy.
Attention -- He may not call attention to himself, being a quiet guy, but make no mistake -- he eats that shit up. At the heart of it, he LOVES knowing he's doing right by his clan and that he's earning their respect and trust and affection. It's a nice little job-well-done. Of course, as a bleed-over, he likes attention of ALL kinds. When outsiders gape and stare at his appearance, he has a right good time at their expense. When people marvel at his strength, he feels pride. When people respect his diligence and duty, he feels good. Of course, most of this is totally INSIDE, mind you.
Stability -- Duh. Ilo likes things to stay steady. He hates surprises. He
needs to have firm ground under his feet. He likes his days to all go exactly
the way he expects them to -- that is, exactly the way they did the day before.
He likes for people and situations to make sense to him, to not throw contradictions
and confusion and chaos his way. He needs to have things he can count and
depend on, as much as he's the guy others count and depend on.
Work -- That's right, he LIKES to be working. He likes to have something to do, to have a goal to work toward, and above all, to feel useful and like he's accomplishing something. He especially likes to be out hunting, or pretty much anything involving physical exertion out in the warmth of the sun.
Kidlets -- Besides them being the future of the clan and all that, kids are just fun. He also doesn't feel like he has to ride them as hard as he does older people. He likes their energy and enthusiasm. He can't wait to have his own. Until then, he spoils everyone else's.
Test of wills -- Ilo will not usually goad someone into pitting his or herself against him, but he derives a wicked pleasure out of laying down the smack whenever someone thinks they're going to out-stare, out-stubborn, out-last him. Ilo has a core of STEEL, people. While you might think having people not recognize this fact would irritate him and ignite that temper of his, if anything he responds to it with placid patience, with the barest visible hint of amusement.
Dislikes:
Nighttime -- He likes what he can see. What he can see, he can handle. Nighttime freakin' SUCKS because the light that reveals all descends out of the sky, leaving behind nothing but darkness, and WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, all kinds of bad things pop up in the dark. He HATES not being able to see what's coming at him, and a fear of what may be out there beyond his sight has plagued him since he was a weester. YES THE BIG STRONG MAN IS SCARED OF THE DARK.
The Moon -- Ilo doesn't think very highly of the moon, see. As a bringer of light, it kind of SUCKS. It keeps shrinking in size, making it nigh-useless unless it's in its full phase, and even then the first hint of clouds covers it right up. The moon doesn't hold a candle to Ilo's sun, and as someone who's freaked out by the dark, it's just a little frustrating that the moon ain't helping.
Adventure -- It's not that he's against a little excitement now and again, but adventure for the sake of adventure irks him to no end. Look, you had better be focusing your time and efforts on the bettering of your clan or tribe, because if you are not, then you're a dirty rotten free-loader and after he's done beating the crap out of you, your ass is gonna be kicked the hell out.
Secrets -- Again: he hates what he can't see, and when people deliberately try to keep something from him that he should know, he gets REALLY REALLY upset. This includes any kind of lying or trickery or lying-by-omission. He cannot deal with what he doesn't know, and the idea that not only is there a LOT out in the world that he doesn't know, but people will actively try to keep it from him, seriously bugs him out.
Surprises -- Just like with secrets. His biggest fear is being attacked by something he wasn't aware of. If he can see it, no problem, but it's the UNKNOWN that he can't prepare for or meet head on, and that gives the big guy a serious case of the willies.
Storms -- In the dry part of the year they bring lightning that starts wildfires. During the rainy season, they bring so much rain that flash flooding is common. Ilo has seen enough of both in his time to really hate storms by now. They're something he can't fight against or even prepare much for. He hates feeling useless. Running for his life isn't much fun either.
Hobbies:
Hunting -- It's a responsibility AND it's a hobby. Who said you can't like your work? Ilo likes to get all jazzed up to go out and stalk down some wild beastie for dinner. He's not bloodthirsty… well, not really… and he's not out to prove his manhood or anything. He just likes the thrill of the chase and a job well done. ^_^
Dancing -- That is, performing in the ceremonial dances of his people, welcoming the sun at its rise and bidding it a goodnight at its setting. This is ALSO a job and a hobby all in one, but then, since Ilo's working all the time, is it any wonder he gets his hobbies from his work? Ilo isn't extremely graceful, but he knows his part well, and does honor by it, and he loves the big dances where the whole clan joins in best, because there's something about that many people dancing in time, each with their own part, the whole coming together seamlessly to honor something they all revere. It's awesome.
Bird-watching -- Bear with me for a moment here. There are a TON of really awesome-looking birds around on the savanna, and taking the time to enjoy the look of them is not something that interrupts Ilo from his work. They don't hunt the birds, since they don't yield enough meat to warrant the effort, so he can just enjoy himself admiring them. People assume he's admiring them for their stately grace or something when they catch him watching them, but really… he just thinks they look awesome.
Swimming -- Okay, not really, but he imagines that he'd quite like to swim! He eyes the bodies of water around his home wistfully, imagining how fun it would be if, you know, it weren't for all the predators lured by the drinking herds, and the crocodiles that live in it, and how muddy it gets from all the animals trampling through it…
String games -- Things like bronze-age versions of cat's cradle are often played by the youngsters of the Mehrzad, because it's a quiet game that keeps them out of trouble, doesn't waste precious materials, and teaches the kids dexterity and cleverness. Ilo, like a lot of the adults, still enjoys the occasional game, and when he has a moment of idle time while he waits for something, he'll often indulge himself. He always has some string on him for that very purpose, and he likes it best when there's someone else to play it with.
Boomeranging -- Another work-related task that he enjoys, Ilo spends a lot of his 'free time' practicing with one of his favorite weapons of choice. He's the foremost wielder of the boomerang in his clan, and he keeps that position by working with it often.
Personality:
The first impression that almost everyone takes away from meeting Ilo can be summed up as "BIG". His appearance alone is enough to foster that, but Ilo is also a man of enormous personality, something that reinforces his physical appearance and makes him seem about ten feet tall and strong enough to crush boulders with his fists. Ilo has a presence that can make a large room seem suddenly small when he enters. He can't ever be overlooked or missed; he's as obvious and eye-catching as… well, the sun in the sky.
So it may be a fair bit surprising that he's also a very quiet man. Ilo rarely speaks without purpose. When he does open his mouth, what he has to say is usually delivered in the bare minimum of words. He's economical with what he has to share. There are two reasons for that -- 1) nattering on and on is an absurd waste of time and energy when there are more important things to be done, and 2) the less he says, the more attention will be paid to what he DOES say.
Ilo is purposeful. As a leader of his clan, he keenly feels the responsibility of looking out for his people and ensuring their survival. Since he's been such an important figure since birth, that responsibility has been present all his life, which is to say that his sense of duty is ingrained deeply. Ilo is as hard-working as they come. He also expects those around him to put forth their best efforts as well, and does not tolerate wastefulness or laziness. Ilo is practical and survival is always first on his mind.
It almost goes without saying that he's mature. That's simply what comes of being a central figure for your clan from the time of your birth. Ilo took naturally to it, has never struggled for it, and never entertains notions of being anything different. See, Ilo is very steady -- like a rock, one might say. He changes about as often as a rock, too. When he's settled into a certain way of doing something, change is not something he regularly considers himself, and when he does come to see the necessity for it (often from an outside influence), it takes him forever to actually do the changing.
While that's obviously very frustrating for anyone waiting around for him to get with the program, and there are times when things suffer for his slowness, it also serves to make him EXTREMELY dependable. One never has to doubt Ilo. He's like clockwork, ridiculously predictable. One day is likely to be the very same as the next in his life, unless he's given specific reason to do something different.
If Ilo is one thing, it's sure of himself and his way of doing things. His is a deep, quiet confidence that is almost never shaken. When faced with struggle and adversity, he meets his challenges steadily and head-on, always sure that he may take a few knocks, but eventually he'll win the day from pure grit if nothing else. If Ilo is as steady as a rock, then he's as unyielding as a mountain. That includes being dangerously stubborn, too. He never gives up. Short of dropping a big rock on his head, he's not quick to listen to someone telling him to wait a minute. He may be slow, but once he's moving, very little can stand in the way of that momentum.
But then, Ilo rarely has reason to think he may need to listen to someone else. See, being born the heir to the chief not only gave him maturity and responsibility -- it gave him the notion that he knows all and sees all. That's simply part of what his station is about. Ilo is a judge -- one day THE judge of his people, and as such, watching and passing judgment have become key aspects of his personality. He cannot shut them off. As much as keeping his clan alive is his responsibility, so is keeping them honest and right.
Ilo is honest to a fault. He does not lie, he does not deceive or obfuscate or keep secrets or dance around an issue. He tells it straight and he tells it right, because the sun Sees All and does not look well on liars. Besides which, he relies on the notion that if he can see everything around him, then there is nothing that can ever take him by surprise, which means he should be able to meet any challenge that comes his way and eventually beat it. He lives by this and depends on it. So it's pretty clear that Ilo has zero-tolerance for any form of trickery or lie. Anything that conceals is his enemy. Of course, he's been around long enough to know not everyone follows the same rule as him; he knows there are forces present in the world -- whether the natural darkness of night or the evil-doing of twisted men -- that will hide things from him and put him in a dangerous, vulnerable place. He's always on the watch for this stuff, supremely suspicious and just short of paranoid.
But Ilo isn't just a big guy imitating a boulder. While he doesn't intentionally
strive to conceal any part of himself, he does manage to shock the pants off
people on a regular basis. You may have noticed by now that when Ilo thinks
or feels something, he's going one hundred percent, full-stop. Ilo is INTENSE
LIKE WHOA and almost incapable of doing anything halfway. It's never occurred
to him to do anything with less than full effort. Which is all well and good
when it comes to being dependable or honest, but Ilo is a man like any other,
which is to say he has less positive emotions to him as well, and they're
equally influenced by his intensity.
The boy has a temper. A BAD one. He has a very long, slow-burning fuse, which only makes it worse because when the spark hits the dynamite, no one is expecting it, especially when he's so quiet (almost serene!) otherwise. He is a dangerous man when fully angered -- he can resort to violence, and being a big man, this is a BAD THING for the people on the other end of his fists. Luckily, Ilo is a man who focuses his rage only on the person responsible, but it's not unheard of for people to be caught in the crossfire. He throws things, howls, hits, makes you wish you were never born. When Ilo is enraged, he burns with all the intensity of the sun, people, so for the love of Marduk, don't assume that quiet = placid.
Ilo overreacts. He sees the world in black and white with very little grey.
Remember, he's projecting his own sense of honesty and straightforwardness
onto the world around him, so he has little cause to stop and think about
the things he may not be seeing (beyond worrying about what may be creeping
up behind him in the dark ohgodohgod). What he sees, he responds to, and he
takes life -- and all the parts and pieces of it -- seriously.
He's a good man. He lives for his people and all that he does, he does for
them. He's honest, dependable, strong and confident and steady. He's soft-spoken,
choosing his words with care. Ilo is also predictable, slow to change, and
stubborn. He's suspicious of the world around him, and sees things in such
black and white terms that he's almost blind to the grey. His temper is FIERCE
and literally dangerous. He is all at once the giving, protective, guiding
aspect of the sun, and the burning, threatening, harsh side.
History
Ilo was born the first year of his father's tenure as chief -- when the man was sixteen. His mother was killed in one of the many flash floods the clan has to deal with when Ilo was only two. Before that and for quite some time afterward, his life was hardly extraordinary.
He spent his childhood learning the ropes of leadership from his father -- at the same time as Kirano was settling into being chief, himself. Ilo learned how to be a hunter to support his clan, learned how to judge a man, and grew quickly into the responsibility required of a future leader. He took to it quickly, the duty and hard work of the position suiting his character perfectly.
Many years passed, and Kirano still hadn't taken a new wife to give the clan its rising and setting suns. Kirano had been deeply in love with Ilo's mother and felt her loss deeply, and he let his love for her make him hesitate to do his duty by his people. When he finally did take a new wife and sired the twins expected of him, he was twenty-four -- eight full years after Ilo was born.
Ilo enjoyed having younger brothers to look after. He loved Rohanoravi's bright spirit as the entire clan did, and he loved the quiet, thoughtful nature of Yanaoravi, which hardly anyone knew about besides him. He and his younger brother got along excellently, but for the occasional unfortunate time when he'd lose his temper when the boy was around (Yanao being so sensitive, had a hard time coping with the rage Ilo was capable of). He looked forward to the time when he'd be chief with his brother by his side.
Kirano proved to be extremely strong and hale, outlasting many a previous chieftain and leading his people through a time of great prosperity. Ilo, being the incredibly patient man he is, could not find fault with his father for living so long, but Yanao was not having such an easy time coping. He was lonely, despite having Ilo's constant company, and because he was a boy who internalized everything, he began to feel eaten up inside.
Enter a band of 'traders' when Ilo was nineteen. Unbeknownst to him, one of these people served a powerful being called Marduk, and looked to spread discord amongst the peoples of the Earth so that his master could swoop in to solve all their problems. Yanaoravi, the obvious weak link in the clan, was approached in secret and gradually coaxed into believing that the cycle the Mehrzad held so dear was not the right way of things, particularly not when it made people like him suffer. The traders left without incident, but the idea had been planted, and Yanaoravi was given something to brood about.
Ilo didn't immediately notice the change in his brother, being that he doesn't
often see such subtleties, but as the year wore on, it became increasingly
obvious that something was wrong with the normally quiet-mannered boy. Just
as Ilo was ready to confront his brother directly, the traders returned, and
just days after they left, Yanaoravi disappeared.
It didn't take a genius to put two and two together -- the traders' first visit sparking the change in Yanaoravi and their second visit coming so shortly before he disappeared. That the setting sun was gone was devastating to the clan. Without him, the cycle couldn't properly continue, and the clan feared another age of winter would be upon them. The clan met, and the only course of action that seemed reasonable would be for someone to go looking for Yanao -- whether he'd been stolen or left voluntarily.
Kirano could not go, being the chief. Rohanoravi, being the direct link to the sun in its current phase could not leave the clan. Only Ilo, as the chief's heir could take on the search. The very next day, he set out across the savanna in the direction the traders had gone, knowing only that they were his best chance of finding his brother.
NPCs:
Kirano "ray of light" (father, 40-ish) -- The current chief of the Mehrzad
is an exceedingly jovial man… so long as everything is perfect and exactly
how he wants it. The chief is a demanding man, but to his credit, he does
it in the absolute best interests of his people. If he's occasionally harsh
and exacting, it's only because what he's demanding absolutely needs to happen
-- at least in his mind, anyway. As the man bearing the sole responsibility
of protecting and guiding his entire tribe, Kirano takes responsibility very
seriously. It's always business before pleasure. He does his best taking all
of his son's opinions into consideration, but he doesn't hesitate to exercise
his right to override what his son thinks and do things his own way. Being
so busy looking out for the good of his clan does mean he occasionally overlooks
the smaller details and occasionally becomes distanced from the human side
of things. Tall, strong, and dignified, no one could ever doubt Kirano is
a chief. He has the same brown hair as the twins, though he keeps his head
shaved, and his eyes are a striking amber hazel.
Rohanoravi "ascending sun" (brother, 12) -- As the rising sun, Rohan is
the star of the Mehrzad. Luckily, he's a mild-mannered, thoughtful boy, so
his important status hasn't gotten to his head overmuch. He's a sweet, bright
little kid with a big purpose that has given him traits of nobility, dignity,
and mysticism. He's incredibly sensitive and a ridiculously wide open book
about all his thoughts and feelings, totally unused to keeping things to himself.
He's also totally unused to not being important and respected and loved, so
used to being the superstar. He's mature, confident, and happy. He also takes
things completely on faith and doesn't question matters. He NEEDS routine
and hates for it to be disrupted. He's vulnerable and in need of guidance.
He has short brown hair styled with two long ear tails, and the same eyes
as Ilo.
Yanaoravi "falling sun" (brother, 12) -- Quiet and thoughtful, Yanaoravi
is a daydreamer. With little else to occupy his mind in his time of obscurity,
he's developed an active imagination. Yanaoravi is very mature for his age,
but very sensitive. He takes everything to heart and though by necessity he
has to be submissive to his older brother, he doesn't handle having bad attitudes
directed at him very well, and unfortunately he often catches backlashes of
Ilo's temper. Yanaoravi is sweet-tempered, most of his upsets remaining confined
inside. He's a good boy at heart, and keeps optimistic and hopeful. He's also
very lonely. He was the perfect prey for the Brotherhood. Identical to Rohan,
even down to their hairstyle, the key difference between them is that Yanaoravi
walks with the absent-minded relaxation of someone whose mind is constantly
elsewhere, lacking the poised dignity of his brother.
The Clan:
Geography -- The Mehrzad have called the savanna their home since before the Age of Winter. Situated south of the Great Desert, the rolling grasslands have a hot, dry climate, with all of its rainfall confined to six months out of every year. The rest of the year is spent in fire-prone drought. The soil is thin and porous, incapable of supporting large crops, but the grass and other small plants that are able to thrive are perfect for grazing animals, making the savanna rich and teeming in wildlife. The Mehrzad, as a result, are less stationary than clans who depend on resources that keep them in one place. The Mehrzad are not nomadic, but they design their shelters to be portable and easy to move quickly in the event of a natural threat like a fire, or if game becomes scarce in their area.
Economy -- Since large crops are impossible to sustain in their home, the Mehrzad subsist on what vegetation they can gather from nearby, what they can grow in small, carefully-tended gardens, and what they can hunt. Game is fairly easy to come by and the Mehrzad are excellent hunters. Living in the savanna is not supremely difficult for them, but it's far from being easy. They focus mainly on providing for necessities and worry a great deal less about fine crafts or trade goods. Consequently, the Mehrzad are a people who do not interact with other clans very often, lacking the motivation to trade for goods. What they do have to offer, however, is a wide variety of medicines made from herbs and plants found only in the grasslands of their home. Neighboring clans have, on occasion, sought these medicines and the resultant trade has given the Mehrzad access to goods they wouldn't -- or couldn't -- otherwise make for themselves. Similarly, when circumstances leave them in want of something they cannot provide for themselves, they have the medicines to fall back on, and trips have been made into the Great Desert to trade with the nomadic people there.
Appearance -- The Mehrzad are best known for being fast. Tending toward lithe, long-legged builds, the Mehrzad are both agile and fleet of foot, which comes in handy chasing down big game. They're born with light brown skin tones which usually darken with maturity after years spent out in the sun. Hair and eye color are on the darker side, and varied, with the eye colors being more varied than hair colors, though nothing so pale as blue will be found. Extremely tolerant of the sun's heat -- a necessity where they live -- and in the habit of feeling the sun's rays on their skin, the Mehrzad rarely dress to cover their bodies, preferring simple skirts, kilts, shorts, and loin cloths to cover beneath the waist, sandals to protect their feet, and wide strapless bands of material to cover women's chests. Their clothing is usually bright and colorful and cheerful, and they like to adorn themselves with jewelry either woven from plant fibers, or made from bone. Tattoos are a special sort of adornment, usually taking the form of the sun; in fact, most members of the clan sport at least one stylized sun tattoo somewhere on their body, and they're usually proud to show it off.
Religion -- Animistic in their beliefs, the Mehrzad respect and revere the spirits of the land and heavenly bodies and are very serious about treating those spirits well. Chief among them in importance to the Mehrzad is the sun, naturally the most dominant of natural elements in their everyday lives. Their worship and celebration of the sun has only increased since the Age of Winter, as they came to believe that it was the sun which was responsible for driving back the ice and snow to deliver their homeland back to them. They have come to regard the sun as a benevolent, watchful father, a protector and savior. The sun is also the high judge, all-seeing and all-knowing. It keeps them honest and just because there is no escaping its law.
Believing that everything in nature has a spirit, they also believe that in the case of the sun, that spirit can be personified in members of their clan. When their chief led them out of the foothills of the Crystal Mountains where they'd taken shelter, and back to their ancestral homeland on the savanna, the clan believed that the chief was acting as the sun, guiding and protecting them. In later years, that belief evolved into regarding the chief as the sun in human form, a direct human connection to the most divine of spirits.
The Mehrzad also place great significance in what they see as the sun's cycle -- the rising and setting of the sun each day. They believe that the cycle controls all life, so to speak. To their beliefs, the Age of Winter was an upset in that cycle when the sun set and was not allowed to properly begin anew. They believe the sun has three phases -- the rising sun, the sun at its zenith, and the setting sun -- and that each phase of the cycle has a spirit of its own that is expressed in human form.
The chief, as previously mentioned, is one such form. He represents the sun at its zenith, ever powerful and watchful, capable of great guidance and protection. It is from him that the clan receives the two other phases. The chief traditionally has three children. The first born is to be his heir. The second and third children are always twins, and it is in them that the Mehrzad see the rising and setting suns. They are the direct human representations of the cycle that is each generation of man.
The first born twin is the rising sun and from the moment he's born, it's his time to shine. He is considered to be the brightest, most brilliant figure ever to set foot on the Earth and he's treated better than royalty. Whatever the rising sun wants, he's probably going to get. He's allowed the freedom of someone who cannot possibly be restricted by or held back by mere mortals; only the chief, the sun at its zenith, can order him. He is the judge of the clan, possessing the wisdom and knowledge of the all-seeing sun.
During this time, the second born twin, the setting sun, lives in relative obscurity, never acknowledged as either son of the chief or brother of the rising sun. He lives his life at the side of the chief's heir, like a little squire of sorts, the chief's heir one of the only people allowed to be close to him.
When the chief dies and his son the heir takes over, the rising sun must give way to the setting sun, as this is considered the midpoint of a generation's cycle. It is now the setting sun's turn to shine and be the all-important central figure of the tribe and for him to take over that role, the rising sun cannot be present any longer. This means that at the chief's death, the first born twin is either exiled from the clan permanently, never to be seen again, or put to death as a sacrifice to the sun in the sky, the decision which it will be falling to the new chief.
The setting sun, of course, will eventually have his day as well, and this comes when the new chief sires the next set of twins. This is the beginning of the new cycle, and so the setting sun must… set. He faces the same two options as his brother before him.
Additionally, the cycle of each day is celebrated by a ritualistic dance that greets the rising sun and bids the setting sun farewell. The entire clan participates, forming a large ring in the middle of which dance three men -- the chief, either the rising or setting sun (depending on who is in favor) and a third man who dons a mask to represent the phase who isn't in favor.
Government -- As the sun is solitary in the sky, the leadership of the entire clan falls to one person: the chief, the living incarnation of the sun at its most powerful.
The chief comes from a bloodline that dates far beyond the Age of Winter, presumably to the very beginning of the Mehrzad's existence, at least according to their beliefs. The mantle of leadership falls directly from father to son. When the line of succession is interrupted by the heir dying or being unable to become chief for any reason, the present chief is expected to sire a new heir. The rising and setting suns will never stand as heir. In the extreme event that the chief is unable to provide a second heir before dying, the rising or setting sun -- whichever is in favor -- is expected to sire a child to accept that responsibility, keeping the chief's line in the same direct line of fathers and sons.
Though the chief holds ultimate power, he is advised by several other members of the clan. The wisest and eldest, the most skilled in their trades, and the rising and setting suns are chief among those who offer the chief their advice, though they form no official council. The rising and setting suns -- again depending on which is in favor -- are consulted on spiritual matters as direct links to the sun in the sky. If there is a great hunt to be held and the rising sun falls ill that morning, it would be seen as a sign that the sun would be unable to protect the hunters, and the chief would likely call the hunt off. Similarly, were the chief facing a hard decision on some matter, he might ask the rising or setting sun what their feelings on the matter were. Whatever they felt would be regarded as signs of how the great sun felt, and the chief would take that into consideration.
Though only men can be chief or the rising and setting suns -- and this because the Mehrzad see the sun as a male spirit -- it's not necessarily true that men are the only ones in power. Women in the clan have every bit as much of a chance to become the most skilled in a particular field, or grow to be the eldest or wisest and thus advise the chief. In man-and-wife partnerships, control is not given solely to the man. Those unions are considered true partnerships in which they must be equal and work together.
Special Skills:
Pardon sir, do you have the time? -- Ilo can always tell you what hour of the day or night it is. In a manner of speaking, he can 'feel' where the sun is at all times, and by considering its position relative to his location he can determine what the hour is. Ilo will never be caught by surprise by a sunset or sunrise, as he'll always feel them coming, and can warn anyone of their approach should that be necessary. He's the Primals' very own rooster. <3
This Way North -- Ilo never has to ask for directions. He always knows which way is east or west, and thus which direction north or south is in as well. Since he can feel the sun's position, he's also attuned to where it will rise or set, and since he knows it rises in the east and sets in the west, he always has those directions pinned down.
Feeling a little cool, actually -- Never one to feel the heat of the sun beating high overhead, Ilo carries on as if the temperature isn't positively scorching. He has a high tolerance for any form of heat, which is a very useful thing in his home. This does not extend to sticking his hand in a flame and not being burnt, however. He could withstand the pain longer than an average person could, but he would still come out of it with a burn just like anyone else. Shamash, likewise, has a high heat tolerance, even more so than his mundane form.
Henshin Item:
Shamash's henshin item is a disc of pietersite the size of the round space when one's pointer finger and thumb touch tips. Attached to a leather cord, he wears it around his neck where the disc hangs to his chest. His symbol is carved into it in bright gold.
Transformation:
Ilo clutches his henshin item in one hand and reaches skyward with the other as he shouts "Shamash Primal Power!" stridently to the heavens. He lifts up off the ground and a halo of light forms around him. Both arms lower slowly to his sides and his back arches. The henshin disc lifts off his chest, pulling its leather cord upward with it. It flashes a bright tangerine color, pulses three times, and then the light blossoms to encompass the man's floating body completely. Yellow streamers appear in the light and begin wrapping around his body, forming the pieces of his costume piece by piece. When fully attired, his henshin item flashes again and the light brightens while Shamash lowers to the ground. The light pulses once and vanishes suddenly, leaving him standing there with his two attending lights, fully transformed.
Colors:
Tangerine -- bright, sunny, Venus fuku orange -- and pale yellow. Tiny traces of bone-white.
Symbol
A filled in circle,
surrounded by a circle of boomerang shapes, arranged to look rather like the
rays of the sun.
Costume:
It begins with a wide, thick necklace around his neck, long, flat pieces of
bone laid vertically with a bright white disc set in the middle. Below that,
is a wide collar that sits on his shoulders, made entirely of small, delicate
bone beads. The beads are dyed in varying tones of pale, bright yellow, with
traces of bright orange mixed in; the collar stops at his pectorals. Large
armbands encircle his biceps, very similar to his bone necklace, but lacking
the central disc, and dyed orange-yellow. A kilt/skirt wraps around his hips,
its ends tattered and far from straight. The cloth is layered and pieced together
in varying tones of orange, his signature tangerine being the most dominant.
An inch or two below Shamash's knees are bands of tangerine-dyed leather,
from which dangle a plethora of tangerine scraps of cloth. He goes barefoot.
At all times, there seem to be two bright spots of light to either side of him, just beyond his reach. They never move, but always seem to be there nonetheless.
Powers/Attacks:
Shamash Sun Dogs --
Shamash extends his arms out parallel to the ground, stretching toward the bright points of light that always hover near him. He calls out "Shamash Sun Dogs" and the lights begin to pulsate brightly, forming tangerine halos. He slowly draws his arms upward and the lights follow as if tethered to his hands. By the time both arms are raised straight above him, the lights look like small burning spheres, bits of 'flame' dripping from them. Shamash then cries "strike!" and swoops his arms down, arcing to bring them straight out in front of him. The lights follow and shoot forward, as if from his hands, straight toward their target.
When the streaking lights hit their mark, they flash brightly and their halos shoot outward, dissipating. The target feels a very intense burning sensation, as well as being temporarily blinded from the light.
The lights are incredibly fast so very quick reflexes are required to dodge them, but they're also not that big, so diving out of the way is fairly effective if done in time. When the attack is finished, the lights reappear at Shamash's side. He can use the attack twice per battle. After the second use, the lights still return to his side but glow dimly.
Shamash Sun Pillar --
Shamash crosses his arms over his chest and tilts his head back to look straight up into the sky. He murmurs "Shamash Sun Pillar" and the lights to either side of him swoop upward until they meet just above his face. They combine into one light, and shoot up into the sky. A second or two passes and the air begins to feel very charged, when the light returns, shooting back down to Shamash. Behind it trails a pillar of tangerine light crackling with yellow and white sparks. The pillar crashes down around Shamash, with a diameter of four feet. He looks forward again and lowers his arms to his sides.
The pillar's effect strengthens and rejuvenates Shamash, taking away any weariness or pain he may be feeling. Actual wounds are not truly healed, but for the rest of the battle, he won't feel their effects. The pillar stays for a minute's time, during which he cannot be hit by any attacks -- physical or magical -- but also cannot strike against anyone. He can only use the pillar once per battle, and after he uses it, any hits he takes after that point will be felt.
On a side note, the pillar also serves as a fairly effective beacon, should he or anyone else ever be lost and in need of a point of reference. Of course, this also means that he draws the attention of any enemy in the area.
Weapon:
Shamash's weapon is a boomerang. Made of bone and being quite large to take advantage of his size, for such a flimsy-looking thing, it can do a great deal of damage when wielded properly -- and Ilo/Shamash definitely knows how to wield it properly. The tips are painted bright gleaming gold, the middle is painted pale yellow, and in between is tangerine with pale yellow and gold decoration.
When flung, a boomerang turns on itself, and when going fast enough, can appear spherical. With Shamash's boomerang being the colors it is, when it flight it looks quite like a -- you guessed it -- sun. A boomerang when thrown the right way also makes a return path, imitating the cycle of the sun that the Mehrzad believe in.