Eaters: Difference between revisions
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{{qud quote|When the Eaters lived and skirred the stars, they visited the worlds of a thousand thousand different beings, and those beings likewise visited our own world.|&WThe Black Glass&y|noindent=true}}{{tocright}} | {{qud quote|When the Eaters lived and skirred the stars, they visited the worlds of a thousand thousand different beings, and those beings likewise visited our own world.|&WThe Black Glass&y|noindent=true}}{{tocright}} | ||
The Eaters were | The {{name}} (or Eaters of Earth) were the inhabitants of Qud in the days of the [[Sultans]]. They may have been a singular society, or the term may be a modern one applied to all prior civilizations. Their legacy persists through the {{favilink|ruins}} and [[artifacts]] they left behind, as well as memorials such as the {{favilink|Tomb of the Eaters}}, {{favilink|statue of implanted Eater|statues of implanted Eaters}}, {{favilink|statue of Eater|statues of Eaters}}, and {{favilink|hologram of Eater|holograms of Eaters}}. [[True Kin]] are often considered to be the direct, unmutated descendants of the Eaters. | ||
== Society == | |||
The {{name}} were extraordinarily technologically advanced, capable of interstellar travel<ref name="prism">{{favilink|Amaranthine prism}}</ref> and able to create marvels such as the [[Relic|relics of the Sultans]] and the [[Sultan masks]]. They engaged in extensive [[Mutations|genetic manipulation]] and usage of [[cybernetics]]. Their capabilities seem to have declined over the Sultanate period, with remnants of the earlier Sultans being more powerful than those of the later Sultans. | |||
Their society was apparently highly stratified, with the [[Tomb of the Eaters]] separating graves into several tiers based on social class and {{favilink|becoming nook|becoming nooks}} refusing to apply cybernetics to anyone other than aristocrats. "Saad" was a title for those of high rank<ref name="shomer">[[Rainwater Shomer/Conversations]]</ref>, such as {{favilink|Saad Amus}}. | |||
The term "Eaters of Earth" may refer to destructive, extractive tendencies of the civilization. [[Mayor Haddas]] mentions in conversation that they "ate Earth and belched freight at the stars", and [[Ezra]] "was their stomach."<ref name="haddas">[[Mayor Haddas/Conversations]]</ref> | |||
They were part of a coven of interstellar societies, and imprisoned [[Ptoh]] on the coven's behalf.<ref name="prism"/> However, they apparently fell at odds with the coven at some point, as [[Resheph]] discovered that "the misdeeds of the elder saads and sultans" had convinced the coven to curse the earth with plagues. | |||
== Becoming Nooks == | == Becoming Nooks == | ||
Revision as of 21:34, 23 September 2021
When the Eaters lived and skirred the stars, they visited the worlds of a thousand thousand different beings, and those beings likewise visited our own world.
— The Black Glass |
The Eaters (or Eaters of Earth) were the inhabitants of Qud in the days of the Sultans. They may have been a singular society, or the term may be a modern one applied to all prior civilizations. Their legacy persists through the 
ruins and artifacts they left behind, as well as memorials such as the 
Tomb of the Eaters, 
statues of implanted Eaters, 
statues of Eaters, and 
holograms of Eaters. True Kin are often considered to be the direct, unmutated descendants of the Eaters.
Society
The Eaters were extraordinarily technologically advanced, capable of interstellar travel[1] and able to create marvels such as the relics of the Sultans and the Sultan masks. They engaged in extensive genetic manipulation and usage of cybernetics. Their capabilities seem to have declined over the Sultanate period, with remnants of the earlier Sultans being more powerful than those of the later Sultans.
Their society was apparently highly stratified, with the Tomb of the Eaters separating graves into several tiers based on social class and 
becoming nooks refusing to apply cybernetics to anyone other than aristocrats. "Saad" was a title for those of high rank[2], such as 
Saad Amus, the Sky-Bear.
The term "Eaters of Earth" may refer to destructive, extractive tendencies of the civilization. Mayor Haddas mentions in conversation that they "ate Earth and belched freight at the stars", and Ezra "was their stomach."[3]
They were part of a coven of interstellar societies, and imprisoned Ptoh on the coven's behalf.[1] However, they apparently fell at odds with the coven at some point, as Resheph discovered that "the misdeeds of the elder saads and sultans" had convinced the coven to curse the earth with plagues.
Becoming Nooks
Becoming nooks are, like much of the advanced technology left in Qud, relics of the ancient Eater civilization which once ruled over the planet.
They allowed the notably trans-humanist civilization to install cybernetic implants and will still do so for True Kin due to their close genetic connection to the Eaters. Mutant players attempting to use a becoming nook will be turned away, as they are “no aristocrat”.
Literature and Lore
- The recall story of the
amaranthine prism has numerous references to the Eaters, and describes them as beings who "skirred the stars" and "visited the worlds of a thousand thousand different beings".
- The recall story of
Stopsvalinn includes the following reference to an Eater warden:
Borne by Harem, who claimed descendancy from the Eater Yish, Warden of the Cross and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Cone, who patrolled the rows of ancient Qud with his fellow Knights Conical, and on whose arm Stopsvalinn is told to have evoked such dread that riders drew their chariots to a halt at the mere vision of it.
- The conversation with Mayor Haddas includes references to "Eater-ancient" carved reliefs, and Haddas claims to have lived during the time of the Eaters.
Svenlainard, Trophy Hunter refers to himself in conversation as the "Eater of Game", which appears to be a reference to the Eaters.
Items and Descriptions
- Statues of implanted Eaters are described as "a monument to the coupling of machine and folk."
- The
Eaters' nectar injector is a rare item that enhances the body, and appears to be sought-after by the Putus Templar, who often carry them. - The flesh of the
elcatl mushroom is referred to as 
Eater's flesh - The world map tile description for the Tomb of the Eaters refers to the Eaters as "Eaters of the Earth"
- The
reliquary description refers to a "slump-shouldered Eater" - The
recoming reliquary is described as a container "to house the earthly gear of a High Eater returned"
Additional Speculations
- Some of the items that can be commonly found in the reliquaries of the Tomb of the Eaters, such as
brain brine, seem to gesture toward the habits and tendencies of the Eaters. - Saad Amus, the Sky-Bear has a striking resemblance to one variant of the Eater statues and holograms that can be found throughout Qud. Was he related to the Eaters, or perhaps once an eater himself, before he was cryogenically frozen in the distant past?