The Tentetsu Collective

The Tentetsu Collective is a society that lives on a series of floating islands, or Skylands, above the Isle of Midori Verlet. These lush, vibrant, cone-shaped landmasses are constantly shrouded in a protective, glowing mist.

This unique existence is a direct result of the Great Upheaval. The Collective’s people were once part of a larger continent, Onma, which was torn apart by the cataclysm. Their landmasses were ripped into the sky by powerful winds and tsunamis. Many perished, but a small group survived, including a contingent from House Brayeth-Gale. They were a people who had been abandoned and alone, surrounded by an unfamiliar glowing mist that obscured their view.

Over time, this isolation and spiritual energy caused the survivors to physically and magically transform. They grew wings and antennae, their features took on vivid colors, and their senses sharpened. They developed a deep spiritual connection with one another and a higher consciousness. The survivors discovered each other through this new connection and found a way to create new life, giving birth to children from a spiritual egg.

As they rebuilt, they created a society dedicated to harmony and community to ensure no one would ever feel the same sense of abandonment they had endured. Each Skyland now hosts a single town, known as a hive, where the people live and work together in perfect harmony, a shared sense of community that has earned them the name "collective."

Social Culture & Beliefs

The Tentetsu Collective is a society built on a profound connection to the natural and spiritual worlds, with a culture that values harmony, philosophy, and community above all else.

The Tentetsu are a peaceful people with a strong sense of the common good, which can feel like a hive mind to outsiders. This shared mindset is rooted in their philosophical nature and their affinity for Alluramancy, a magic that draws beings together in harmonious alignment. They communicate quietly, often using "we" instead of "I" to reinforce their collective identity. Their speech is full of abstract and philosophical teachings, which can be confusing for outsiders. They strongly dislike unnatural, arco-mechanical devices, preferring creations that enhance magic and beauty, such as healing tools or intricate art. Their most revered spiritual leader is the philosopher Merd Fiddle, who channels a higher spiritual entity named "Z".

The Tentetsu have no need for a single ruler. Their collective consciousness guides most decisions. Each Skyland appoints a representative to coordinate with others, but this person is not "in charge"; all authority and resources belong to the community.
Instead of laws, the Tentetsu follow a set of understood societal behaviors. Actions that disrupt harmony—such as slander, physical harm, or using Umbral magic on nature—are met with punishments of isolation. The primary punishment is the Cordon Vest, a magical garment that isolates the offender's spirit from the collective's shared harmony. If this isn't effective, the individual is exiled to The Lonely Archipelago, a secluded Skyland where they are forced into solitary confinement. For a people who are never alone, this isolation is considered the most severe and miserable punishment.

Tentetsu children are not raised with gendered expectations. They are given the freedom to choose their gender identity at age sixteen or anytime thereafter, or to remain agendered.
When a Tentetsu finds a life partner, they are called Reciprocals. Their bond is made permanent through the Symbiosis Sacrament, a magical ritual that intertwines their souls. This bond allows them to feel each other's emotions and even physical pain. Their method of reproduction is also unique. Two Reciprocals join hands, and their merged spiritual cells form an egg-like chrysalis. After about six weeks, a fully-formed Tentetsu, called a nymph, hatches from the chrysalis.

Tentetsu children are encouraged to explore various fields before choosing a profession that best serves the collective. Prestige and education are not as important as finding one's purpose within the community. The most valued professions include Child Care Workers, who are seen as the heart of the culture for teaching philosophy and semiotics through observation, and Hive Builders, who are critical to the maintenance of their unique stacked homes.
Their diet is primarily vegetarian, consisting of nuts, fruits, and vegetables. They highly value unique local delicacies like Pectarnauds and Tentetsu honey, and use Tentetsu lavender in many of their meals.

The Tentetsu live in tall, stacked houses called hives, which are built upwards to save space on the Skylands. Homes are single rooms with a large communal eating space. Their art is functional and made from natural materials like moss, vines, and woven goods. Moss is a common building material, acting as a natural insulator. They also create puppets and statues from natural materials, believing that these crafts can calm dangerous spirits and encourage them to take a Mortal form.

The Tentetsu People

Incarna

The Tentsei of the Collective are a distinctive and vibrant people. These are the long-lived, magical beings who inhabit the floating Skylands. They are at the heart of the Tentetsu Collective's spiritual and harmonious way of life. Guided by harmony rather than hierarchy, they define their identities in their own time.

Appearance: They have a fantastical, almost fae-like appearance. Their hair, nails, eyebrows, and even teeth can be brightly colored, with these colors often changing based on their mood or diet. Many have large eyes and wear large, eccentric glasses to accentuate them. Most Tentsei possess colorful insect wings, which they use to fly between skylands. Finally, most have antennae that vary in shape and size, much like fingerprints.
Lifestyle: They are known for their quiet, collective mindset and philosophical nature. Life for a Tentsei is about the good of the community, and they spend their days working together in their hives.

Mortals

The Mortals of the Collective live on the Isle of Midori Verlet, the lush island below the floating skylands. Mortals are primarily traders, fishers, and crafters, living in small towns on the island. They see the Tentsei above as benevolent, if mischievous, spirits. They maintain a harmonious relationship with the Incarna, acting as a crucial buffer and trading partner for the Skylands.

Appearance: Mortals generally have a more conventional appearance than the Tentsei. Their clothing, however, subtly reflects the magical influence of the Skylands. They often wear simple clothes made of natural fabrics like cotton or linen, but they highly value moth silk, which they use for special occasions and important garments. They frequently accessorize with natural elements like polished wood, woven vines, and colored stones.
Color Palette: Their style is tied to the energies of the land and the sky. They prefer a color palette of greens, teals, and golds, reflecting their connection to the Wyld and Astra Paradynes. These colors can be seen in their dyed clothing, accessories, and even in the thread used for embroidery.

Risen

The Yokai are former Mortals reborn through Alluramancy or the wild forces of Midori Verlet. The rituals for bringing a Mortal back is a closely guarded secret, involving wrapping the deceased Mortal in a cocoon of silk and moss.

Appearance: Yokai appearance varies wildly, from insectile humanoids, to mossy mushroom people, to vaguely humanoid turtles with puddles of water on their head. It is said among the Tentetsu that there are 10,000 different varieties of Yokai, each more varied than the last. The appearance of the Risen with improved Vestments depends on their specific form:
- Drone: Risen reborn through Tentsei magic, wrapped in cocoons of silk and moss. They emerge as beetle-like beings with shimmering green chitin, some with wings for flight, acting as devoted protectors of their hives. They are not conversational but are fiercely loyal and instinctually attuned to their community.
- Kitsune: Risen shaped by the natural magic of the Tentetsu isles, taking the form of a humanoid fox with many tails. They serve as caretakers of the natural world, maintaining balance and harmony.
- Tengu: Trickster spirits revived by the wild forces of Midori Verlet rather than Tentsei magic. Clever and bewitching, their faces resemble a large red mask with a large bulbous nose.
Lifestyle: Drones act as warriors and laborers, fully dedicated to protecting their hives and sustaining their community. Kitsune maintain the health and balance of nature, embodying a deep connection to the land and the Tentetsu isles. Tengu live tragic, solitary existences, wandering the world as enigmatic spirits, often luring the living and serving as haunting reminders of mortality.

Key Locations

Serenia (Primos Skyland): The capital of the Collective, a peaceful and well-ordered hive. This Skyland is home to the famous philosopher Merd Fiddle and the unsettling Quagmire of Belathon, where a rumored evil spirit is sealed within a stone jar.
Trissol Town (Tolboia Skyland): Known as the entertainment hub, Trissol Town is a center for shops and food. It's also the home of the influential healing guild, The Mystery of the Promised.
Tunton Skyland: This Skyland features tall, stacked hive homes and hosts an upper-level school that serves the surrounding Skylands.
Bexnan Skyland: Home to the inventor Harmo Viol, who created the Firefly Dirigibles. It is also home to Skyreach Gardens, a beautiful and peaceful place for meditation with a small, circular arrangement of graves.
Lonely Archipelago: A secluded Skyland used as a prison for the rare Tentetsu who breaks a major law. The loud cries of the isolated prisoners can be heard echoing across the water.
Bone-Dry Ait: A unique Skyland with no water. It is rarely used, sometimes for exile when the Lonely Archipelago is full, but it is rumored to be a secret meeting place for those who disagree with the collective.
Isle of Midori Verlet: The land below the Skylands, home to Mortal families who maintain a friendly, though distant, relationship with the Incarna above. It is a hub for trade and crafts and is frequented by visitors from other lands.