Category:Clan Kalissa
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Contents
Clan Traits
Much like most Atlanteans, Kalissan tribesmen stand at a six foot average, with women approximately four to six inches shorter than that. Physically, both genders are built similarly to very physically active Landers - it is extremely uncommon to find any obese or underweight tribe members. The skin tones of Kalissan clansmen range from dark teal to light aquamarine, generally falling somewhere in the middle of the two. Their hair, most commonly, is a deep, dark green, sometimes ranging as far as black, or as light as seafoam. Eye color remains much the same as all Atlanteans, in a variety of shades including those that are exceptionally rare amongst Landers (i.e., orange, purple, etc). Kalissan Atlanteans have rough features, and it is not uncommon to see scarring and ritual tattoos on many of them. When smiling or otherwise talking, many members of the clan have elongated, sharpened incisors, especially useful for biting and tearing through fish and other sealife.
Simple, skintight clothes are relatively common, although many members choose to wear nothing at all. When in the presence of Landers, or outsider culture in general, however, it is considered polite (and proper) to wear at least a modicum of clothing. Should the visitors be inducted into the clan, however, such formality is no longer necessary. Much of their clothing is crafted of tightly knit kelp and seaweed, specially harvested by clan craftsmen. It is specially designed to allow ease of movement underwater. Heavier clothing, such as armor, is often crafted from large undersea crustaceans, or several layers of kelp knitted together to provide hearty protection.
Kalissan clanners generally craft their own weapons. The most common resources used are coral (in a variety of colors, although green is a clan favorite) and whalebone. Should the weapon in question need a sharpened tip, shark teeth are invariably used (though they must be replaced frequently). More exotic weapons that incorporate sea urchin spines, jellyfish poison and stingers, or other strange sealife are not unheard of. The most common weapons are harpoons, spears, tridents and occasionally, large war axes.
Clan members live to an average of 175 to 200 years, although it is not unheard of for some venerable members to have seen their 225th birthday. Kalissans reach maturity in their late teens (like most Atlanteans), but are considered youths until around thirty to thirty five years old, when they often move into their own abodes.
Clan Culture
Kalissan culture, though generally mundane, sometimes delves into the atavistic. Food is not always easy to come by, and trading with Landers is not always possible, so clan members have learned to make do with what they have. Although main food sources are fish, kelp, and anything garnered through trade with Japanese fishermen, Kalissans will also sometimes eat fallen enemies (after preparation, of course), which are generally Mole-Men that have emerged through the Mariana Trench. They are careful, however, to not offer such to visitors (especially not Landers). Cannibalism, while extremely rare, is not unheard of in times of clan duress.
The clan as a whole are ardent and devout worshipers of the Greek god Poseidon, king of storms and the seas. The clan shaman, Glaucus, regularly leads clan members in prayers and devotions to their oceanic patron, which often involve ritual sacrifice of large sealife, or, if luck should favor them in trading, cattle from Lander societies (although these are astronomically rare). The most common sacrifices are of large sharks, which they believe shows their strength of will and body to their god. Many clan members have tattoos that prominently feature tridents, the chosen symbol of Poseidon. Especially devout Kalissans often dedicate themselves to a life of emulating their deity as much as possible.
The spoken languages most common to Kalissan Atlanteans are: Atlantean, Japanese, and a pidgin mix of the two called Atlanto-Japanese (similar to Spanglish or Chinglish). English, while uncommon, is also spoken by several important elders. Roughly one-fifth of the population has the Gift of Atlan, and can breathe above and below water.
Clan Myths & Folklore
Much like any culture, the Kalissans have their own unique tellings of many 'life lessons'. Below are a select few:
- The Eternal Diver & Kallisto's Curse: As legend has it, there was once an astonishingly beautiful girl born to a loving couple of Kalissan tribesfolk. They called her Kallisto, after her stunning beauty. Although she was not blessed with Atlan's gift, her inquisitive nature as she grew older drew her closer and closer to the Landers she would often see from afar. One fateful day, as the story goes, young Kallisto met a charming Japanese man, and began an on-again off-again semi-romantic relationship with him. So beautiful was she, that the Lander could hardly bear to be away from her for any great length of time. His desire for her was eventually too much for his reasoning, and he kidnapped her from her ocean home, taking her back to land. Unhearing of her pleas that she could not breathe, she eventually suffocated to death on the surface. When the man returned to her village to bring her back to her people, her vengeful mother, a powerful sea witch in her own right, laid a curse on the Lander. His lustful, love-blinded ways would forever be his undoing - his soul and body were bound to the diving suit he used to bring her back. Forever would he walk the ocean's depths, longing for the love he had and lost, and the land he could never return to. Legend tells that he still wanders the seas to this day - hunting after Atlantean girls who dare stray too far from home and towards the wily Lander shores...
- The Seven Fishermen & Nykaios' Folly: The stories tell of a handsome, strapping young clansmen, blessed with the gift of Atlan, who often seduced and bewitched young Lander girls from their boats. He took them on wild, breathtaking adventures beneath the sea, and, when the stars were right, took them to his bed as well. Many obliged his oath of secrecy, and for a while, the young man got away with it. Many Lander women flocked to young Nykaios, until, one day, the father of one of the girls followed her out to sea. What he saw drove him to an insatiable rage. He gathered up a six other fathers, each infuriated beyond belief at the though of what their daughters and the Atlantean had done. Setting out in their fishing skiffs, the seven fishermen hunted down wayward Nykaios. The chase was long, brutal and, in the end, fatal. Pierced by the harpoons of the seven sailors, the Atlantean died on the waves, his blood mixing with the seawater of his home. The tale, told as truth, is a warning lesson to the amorous youth of Clan Kalissa. Be wary of the Landers, for their retribution is swift and unforgiving.
- The Coming of Leviathan: Perhaps the most grim of the folklore of the tribe describes a gigantic, abominable monster that circles the world, known as the Leviathan. So old is the monster that the legends state it was born at the beginning of the world, and has slept for eons beneath the waves. Even the slightest stirring of it's primordial being causes havoc on the surface world - some clanmembers postulate that these fitful stirrings are what caused the sinking of Atlantis itself. So long has Leviathan slept that his very being is infused into the sea floor. Volcanoes rise from his back, trenches sink into his flesh, and somewhere, his city-sized head slumbers. Should he ever fully awaken, the world would be sundered, torn to pieces and sunk beneath the waves. Strange weather will herald the awakening of the beast, and only one pure of heart and soul could possibly hope to return the chaotic monster to it's fitful slumber.
Clan Location
Clan Kalissa is located south of Japan, and is on the northern end of the Trench itself. It's relatively remote location helps in it's defense - few enemies that can threaten the safety of it's holdings exist near it's territory. It is roughly 11,000 feet below sea level, and were it not for the tribe crafting lanterns imbued with Keto's Flame, the village would be encased in darkness. As it is, the flaming lanterns that hang around and demarcate it's territory provide something of a beacon, illuminating the nearby water with pale light. Hunters often carry lanterns with them, although most have adapted to darkvision.
Surrounding the holdings, and considered part of their territory, is a semi-large coral reef (from which they harvest most of their coral weaponry), and three kelp forests, which are regularly maintained and pruned by clan craftsmen. These locations also are marked by clan lanterns, although many sections of both are left unlit due to efficiency. Several oceanic currents also pass nearby, from which clan members sometimes manage to salvage things, generally small wreckage or bits and pieces that have been carried along in the wake.
Clan members that can speak Lander tongues semi-regularly engage in trade with Japanese fishermen. The Kalissans offer rarities such as pearls, uniquely crafted jewelery, or sometimes portions of their fishing catches in return for Lander food and supplies - most often dried meats such as beef or pork, rice, unique fabrics (silk is a favorite) and medical supplies that are otherwise impossible to come by underwater. These items are kept in watertight casks, and stored in a specially created storehouse that has been drained of water, in order to keep things dry and in good condition.
Clan Politics
The clan is ruled by a Council of Elders, composed up of the eldest surviving members of the clan in general. Also including in decisions is the clan shaman, acting as a mediator, who elsewise remains separate from political dealings. The current Council is composed of five elder Atlanteans: Adelpha Zopyros, Lykaios Makolos, Tarasios Xevia, Demetrios Kalanthos and Acacia Vhakos. The current clan shaman is Glaucus Zopyros, the brother of Adelpha. Generally speaking, the elders agree on most issues, although as of late, Adelpha and Tarasios have been pushing for more interaction with Lander culture, while hardliners Lykaios and Acacia advocate nearly ceasing contact altogether.
Decisions handed down by the Council are absolute; all clan members are expected to obey them within reason. Disputes between clanners can also be brought to the attention of the Council, who then dictate a ruling between the two feuding parties - these too are absolute, and both sides are expected (and required) to cease conflict between themselves after a ruling has been adjudicated. The clan elders also operate as the military head of the clan when needed. In times of war or great conflict, a state similar to martial law may be implemented; orders are to be obeyed without question until after the situation has defused.
Kalissans share good relations with their home city of Atlantis. Despite being incredibly distant from it, they are generally supportive of Queen Mara, and have several times sworn loyalty to her throne, should she ever need them to come to her aid. They are on less decent terms with Clan Krosk, who are one of the largest barbarian clans under the sea. The few times the two clans have met (exceptionally rare, given the distance between them), they have butted heads in competition. Generally speaking, however, any Atlantean is welcome in the clan's territory.
Their relations with the surface world are, in a word, basically non-existent. Besides their sporadic contact with fishermen, most of the population of the Japanese islands are unaware of the clan's location. Even the tradesmen are met away from the actual holdings (generally a few miles, at the least), in order to keep the clan safe from Lander predations. Almost no Landers are aware of the exact location of Clan Kalissa - and those that do have sworn themselves to secrecy.
Lemuria is universally reviled.
Clan Enemies
- Lemuria: The most prominent of the clan's enemies, Lemuria has several times attacked them with small raiding parties of Mole-Men, who have dug lengthy tunnels that exit out into the side of the Mariana Trench. Most of these raids are carried out by Lemurian warriors attempting to test themselves in 'real' combat, and generally number no more than twenty five to fourty Mole-Men, with approximately five to seven Lemurian commanders. The largest raid, which had several hundred Mole-Men and four superhuman generals, was made in January 2013. Despite the danger of these raids, several clan members (including elder Lykaios) are secretly grateful for them, as it keeps their warriors on their toes and well trained. In rare occasions, it also provides an additional food source.
- ARGENT: Members of Clan Kalissa have come into contact with deep sea ARGENT operatives in the past. These interactions have almost been universally negative, with the ARGENT members oftentimes trying to coerce or kidnap the Kalissans. As it stands right now, the symbol of ARGENT, should it be seen on any Lander vessel or individual, is a sign for them to be either fended off or killed, as soon as possible.
- Karkaradons: The shark-like servants of Shadow Destroyer have occasionally been seen near Kalissan holdings. Both factions reacted negatively to each other on first contact, and have since adopted a 'kill on sight' mentality towards each other. Luckily for the clan, the Karkaradons seem to be mainly focused on their mutual enemy of Lemuria - which has spared them any notable focus from the extradimensional invaders.
Clan Members
Adelpha Zopyros, Clan Elder:
Adelpha was born to a pair of citizens of the legendary city of Atlantis. At a young age, her parents and herself moved out of the city thanks to the usurpation of the throne by Dargon and his allies. Her family took refuge in a distant clan holding, just off the coast of Japan - that of Clan Kalissa. At just about middle age for an Atlantean, Adelpha is one of the leading members of Clan Kalissa. A veteran hunter and skilled with both her coral war axe and hunting knife, the mother of Wavegirl is just as much a daunting opponent as her daughter is. Having lived with Clan Kalissa for most of her seventy-seven years, she is considered one of the clan elders, and is often called upon to mediate disputes or otherwise assist the chieftain in daily clan life. When not at home, she can often be found out in nearby kelp forests or coral reefs hunting large sealife with other clan members.
Like most Atlanteans, Adelpha has greater strength, speed and agility than most Landers, especially underwater. She is also blessed with the Gift of Atlan, which allows her to be one of the few members of the clan that engages in trade above the waves. She is exceptionally well trained in most of her culture's weapons, including harpoons, war axes, knives and other undersea weaponry. Most of all, she has had years of experience fighting in an undersea environment, and is very capable of taking advantage of that fact. Thankfully, the holdings of Clan Kalissa are relatively far from any real dangers. Adelpha speaks English, Japanese and Atlantean fluently. Unlike her daughter, Adelpha's skin is normal for an Atlantean, a rich shade of teal, smooth and unblemished by mutations. Her eyes are a vibrant seaform green, much like Mariana's.
Adelpha is a firm believer in increasing relations with the Lander communities that live near the tribe. In her eyes, if they continue to be xenophobic and refuse to adapt to expanding Lander influence, it is only a matter of time before they are forced to either evacuate or be destroyed by people that do not understand their lifestyles. As such, she is the elder most commonly seen interacting with Lander individuals.
Her first introduction to her daughter's friends led to them coining her Wavemom, a title she wholly embraces. At that same event, it became incredibly clear where Wavegirl gained her martial prowess. Her mother carved a swathe through the Mole-Man invaders, defending her home village with all the strength of a fully grown warrior. In the end, she also saved the life of Soldier Boy, pulling him free and away from a depth charge about to go off. In a later conflict, she battled the devious Steel Chimera, only barely losing in the process. Her life, however, was saved thanks to timely intervention from her daughter.
Chadeos Vhalakis:
Chadeos (who will from henceforth be called Chad) was born and raised in a different clan, one down near the coast of Australia. Slightly older than Mariana, he was trained in a similar environment to the young Wavegirl. He first met our intrepid heroine when she was traveling the world on her way to Atlantis. The two of them hit it off initially, leading to the both of them 'dating' for a while. The two of them spent a long time traveling the world, visiting all sorts of underwater marvels together - their first kiss was at the Great Barrier Reef (how romantic!). However, as all things must, their relationship soured as Mari soon realized that Chad was a bit of a self-centered ass. She 'officially' dumped him before they reached Atlantis, causing the young lad to head back home to his village, broken hearted.
At some point later, Chad headed north - towards Japan - eventually coming to a stop at the borders of Clan Kalissa. After proving himself to the clan members, Chad was formally invited to join the ranks. He hit it off with Mari's mom spectacularly (she doesn't quite get why Mari dumped him), as well as most of the other clan members. When the Renegades came to visit, Chad joined forces with them to battle the invading Lemurian forces. He proved to be a capable and deadly fighter, dealing death and despair to his opponents with a hefty coral war axe. He himself was responsible for saving Quick Shrike from a depth charge explosion, as well as pairing off with Victory to battle the horde. Later on, he and Powerbolt went on a secluded hunting trip - the details of which neither of them are spilling. None of the men of the Renegades seem to like the handsome Atlantean much.
Chad is, as he puts it, 'disturbingly handsome'. His physique is well muscled and toned thanks to a life of high pressure underwater environments. Unblemished light teal skin ripples over corded muscle, which he uses to deadly effect with a green coral war axe and barbed harpoons. His long, luxurious hair frames a devilishly handsome face. Pale green eyes stare piercingly out, as if they see into your very soul - but beneath them is often a genial, comforting smile (especially for the ladies). Chad is never without a helping hand and a kind word for those of the fairer sex, much to the dismay (and often distaste) of other men around him. Mariana, meanwhile, finds him detestable and a douche.
