<em>In the far off reaches of the Kimari desert stands a tower of obsidian stone, surrounded by the capital city of the Kimari people. This tower does not stand alone, a giant stone mountain standing erect out of the ground towers ever so slightly above the obsidian pillar. Some strange force seems to manipulate the shadow this rock casts, for instead of following the movements of the sun, it always focuses on the tower. Covering the part of the city which stands between the two colossi in a perpetual state of twilight.<br/><br/>This tower houses the Lord who rules these lands and the Kimari who live in them. It was the first Lord since the Medon dynasty that has been able to keep the lands in stable political situation, enforcing trade relations with surrounding countries. The many rare and valuable products of the Kimari lands are traded at regular intervals even though their people are considered strange and unwelcome. In times past their trading parties have often been driven back into the desert which serves as the border of their lands, often with good reason. The means by which their Lord has recently enforced trading rights include threats, bribes and only in part honest diplomacy, making for tense stability at best.<br/><br/>The general layout of the capital city, makes it seem as if it is in fact one large house. Every small building is interconnected, and the ground floor has at least several hundred entries and exits. Hallways are used for all sorts of common practices such as pottery or the manufacturing rope and hunting tools. The genetic traits inherited by the Kimari and the pigment patterns that show these traits more than often predetermine what kind of occupation a Kimari takes. These occupations seem always to better the group or race as a whole, instead of our specialist workers who sell their masterpieces. Just as procreation is a group effort for them, so is the hunting, the pottery, the masonry and even music and dance to ease the soul's worries or to celebrate a successful hunt.<br/><br/>The black pigment patters, often resembling large and sometimes full body tattoos, show rank and function as said before, and are corresponding to the Kimari's genetic traits. Though these pigment patterns also double as heat collectors, which direct the warmth from the sun across the skin all the way down into the body where the collected energy is stored and used for physical tasks and the working of the organs. The common iris colouration for a Kimari newborn is red. Though a limited set of deviations on this exist outside the purposeful mutations. Some are born with Dark green irises, some hazel brown, and of course the purposeful yellow and black form of the nocturnal huntresses. Light mutations of certain types and ranks carry slightly deviating genetic material to better suit their specific tasks. Examples of these include toughened skin for warriors, deviating eye pigments for enhanced nocturnal sight in hunters and more variations. <br/><br/>The ears of a Kimari are able to pick up sounds far below and above our audio spectrum, and their vocal cords are advanced enough to produce these tones in a several ways. This allows for the unique way in which the Lord's Chorus makes music, which uses magical stimuli to create wonderful combinations of sound and emotion. <br/><br/>The hair colour of nearly all Kimari is red, though there are exceptions. Some Kimari, mostly the hunters have darker hair, or even hair colours that border purple and even black. The genetic traits common to witches, the branch of the Kimari race with the most aptitude for magic and rituals, also have a deviant hair colour. Their complete lack of pigment is the cause for their snow white hair and even their colourless eyes.<br/><br/>The bone structure of these humanoid creatures is quite similar to ours, though the materials that make up the bones themselves are far more flexible. Sturdy and resistant to tearing apart even under heavy stress, these bones are perfect for those who prefer agility over base strength.<br/><br/>Reproduction and impregnation does, unlike as is the case with us, not require a member of the opposite sex. The chances of a male child being born with this particular race is estimated to be one in a million. Making for an virtually entirely female population. Their genetic traits however have provided them with a solution to this. When a sufficient amount of heat or magical energies, or possibly a combination of the two, is present, a spark of life can be ignited by focusing these energies inside the womb. The amount of energy that is needed is estimated to be roughly equal to fifteen days of direct sunlight. Since this energy is normally used for day to day tasks, it is almost impossible for a Kimari to become pregnant on her own, which is therefore a unheard of practice. Their reproductive organs are similar to our own, though the Kimari vagina is used primarily as the birth canal. Pregnancy is due to all this a group undertaking for the Kimari, where the one chosen to bear a child is taken care of by a set group of close friends and sisters. This group helps and aids the soon to be pregnant Kimari before and during her pregnancy, providing her with food and comfort to ensure a healthy birth.</em><br/><br/>"So that's how the scholars describe us then?" An voice asked in a tone bordering between annoyed and disappointed. Miria had been looking over her sister Zjasha's shoulder as she copied the carefully preserved parchments. Now that her sister was finished she finally thought it appropriate to comment on the work of the Medon Scholars. Repositioning the loosened threads of her long red hair under the golden band keeping it together in a tail behind her head, Zjasha sighed as she fingered the upstanding edge of the jewellery. It had been a gift from their Lord for her hard work, though circumstances prevented it be granted personally. In fact, she had been diligently working on translating this particular scripture on their Lord's request.<br/><br/>"They just don't know more than the base facts, which is a blessing..." She sighed. "If they knew about our curse, and the shadow magic... Do you think they wouldn't have tried to exterminate us all?" Not exactly worried about this right now, it did its best to cover her thought of the future with a grim veil. Zjasha looked up at her sister, just having stepped back to take her familiar argue stance. Her head up and looking to the side, her arms crossed pushing up her full breasts and her foot tapping a steady rhythm.<br/><br/>"Our Lord has spoken with their Kings and Queens right? He is the embodiment of our curse, and he's even managed to make them trade with us, as our ancestors did with their ancestors when we were all just tribes." Miria was quite confident about her point. She had seen their Lord more than once and had as all of the Kimari felt their connection with him, the curse, and the twisting shadows in the darkness. It would all work out now that their Lord was here. It wouldn't be perfect, she realised that all too well. Kimari would still not be accepted outside their desert lands, and there would be more sad messengers informing them of travelling Kimari killed by raiders or worse, caught by slavers. Though they lived in relative peace now. No more armies marching into their lands, no more raiders daring to enter their borders. The obsidian tower would stand strong and show everyone that the Kimari are not to be trifled with.<br/><br/>Zjasha sighed, wondering whether she should make a retort or just leave it at that. "We might not be at war any more, though we're still not at peace." Her eyes spoke more than her words, and her sister realised not only that she was right, but that there was no need to continue to bicker about something they couldn't change. "You're right, but enough about that. Let's bring this worthless description of our race to the Obsidian Tower. I'm sure our Lord will be pleased to receive it." Zjasha just nodded, rolling the brand new parchment into a leather tube for protection before walking out the door behind her sister. The shadows cast on the floor not driven away by the new sunlight slithered off unnoticed, and up in the highest reaches of the Obsidian Tower their Lord looked up and softly spoke an order to one of his servants. This night would be a dark one indeed.<br/><br/>The shadows in this part of the city were creeping up, always seeming alive as they sped across alleys when the flickering of the torches allowed them. Always active, the eyes of their Lord. In a way a part of him, as all Kimari had come to accept. The two sisters saw many of their kind preparing for the night. And even a pack of huntresses setting out. Their spear-like weapons held high, in the eyes of these sisters they were so strong. Formidable women, able to take on the Knights of the human kingdoms or even the beasts of the desert. Their light clothing always adorned with pelts of fur and teeth to show their victories. And in this starlight, their eyes reflected a bright yellow.<br/><br/>There was something off, Miria noted, her eyebrow raising in suspicion. These Huntresses weren't moving, it was unlikely for them to waste time, and they seemed fully prepared. She placed a hand on her sister's shoulder ever so lightly, indicating without words that she was going to take a look. No objections voiced, that was enough to take off. Though what started off with a hasty steps in the group's direction slowly transformed into a full stop as she saw what had happened. One of the huntresses, lying on the floor. Her body ravaged, violated, raped. Cuts clear across her skin and her clothing torn to shreds revealing her athletic form, no real damage, but it was clear what had happened. She had been used.<br/><br/>A dark jolt in her soul pulled her face up, and forced her to look away. The members of the group were standing silently besides her sister. Allowing her the time to find her own strength to get up. Though their eyes and expression were clear. There would be no outside interference. Miria understood perfectly, hurrying back to catch up with her sister. A grim calmth settled over her. She knew exactly who had done this, and what had caused it, and that it meant that she, nor her sister, would be victims this night. The look on her face betrayed what had happened, and Zjasha simply looked down as they resumed their route. She would be visiting the sole man in the Empire tonight. Their Lord and Master, the sole person who could have done this to a fellow Kimari. And she could not blame him, in fact, she was glad that he had raped one of her sisters this night.<br/><br/>He had taken an unimaginable burden on his shoulders when he manipulated the dark magicks inherent in the entire Kimari race, and forced them all inside his own mind, body, and soul. It had changed him, forcing him to do acts like these. The lust for torture and violence had become so strong, that he could not help himself for long. Though because of that, the rest of the Kimari were freed from the curse. He was a sacrifice, he had made himself a sacrifice. And Zjasha, Miria, those huntresses, and all their other sisters, were indebted to Him. She was glad, that he did not suppress his urges tonight. They were more than a mortal could handle. And she was sure that the huntress who endured his passions, was proud. Just like the volunteers are, just as those who are taken will become.<br/><br/>She smiled as she looked up, facing the base of the Obsidian tower, His home and Sanctuary. There were sacrifices that had to be made, and she wished deep down in her soul, that it had been her instead of the Huntress. Not because she desired to be used in such a manner, but because she did not have heart to volunteer herself. The burden of a Sin that belonged to an entire race, could not be borne by one man. All Kimari would share it, in their own ways.