Wraeththu
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The Wraeththu (pronounced ray-thoo) are a sci-fi post-apocalyptic hermaphroditic species which evolved from humanity in the Wraeththu novels, created by British science fiction and fantasy author Storm Constantine.
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[edit] Overview
The Wraeththu appeared amid humanity's downfall. Humans viewed them as nothing more than aggravating street gangs recruiting young men and inhabiting cities of North America (always called Megalithica in this story as old "human" place names are never used). The Wraeththu, however, are a new species, born from a mutation of unknown origin; Constantine implies an apocalypse, but the history is mysterious. They are destined to take over the mantle of rulers of the Earth. Their bodies fought off the environmental damage wreaked by human war and pollution well - much better than the human population they are swiftly replacing.
The first Wraeththu har (pl. hara) infected a human male with his blood and thus transformed the man into Wraeththu. The species spread via a blood-sharing procedure that came to be known as inception. Gangs of hara became tribes, which eventually began a war against humanity that resulting in Wraeththu's supremacy. Many human males and all human females die during inception, with the exception of the rare few which later became the sister race of Wraeththu, the Kamagrian. Late in the story, there are Wraeththu communities where the human community is protected, and human males are incepted after fathering a human child.
Wraeththu are true hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female sexual organs and appearing androgynous in general outward appearance. Although they appear superficially as a mix between men and women (no breasts, slim hips, but feminine body structure with no body hair or facial hair), there are numerous physical and mental differences between hara and humans. ["We fight like men, and cry like women."] One of the biggest differences is in the genitalia and reproductive organs. Unlike humans all hara have both male and female genitals, although they are more advanced reproductively and in the way that pleasure is felt. Hara have much more efficient bodily processes in other areas too, including digestion, regulation of metabolism (they cannot grow fat), and ability to process toxins, including alcohol, drugs, and poisons. Hara also have a much stronger ability to access and manifest magical abilities, such as telepathy, healing, psychokinesis, etc.
One additional notable characteristic of Wraeththu is their need for regular sexual intercourse, known among Wraeththu as aruna. Hara who are deprived of aruna suffer, as their bodies require exchange of essential life essences in order to run properly. Wraeththu even use aruna in magic, performing the ritual of sex magic, grissecon, in which aruna is used to work great acts of healing or the creation of magical weapons.
In the early years, Wraeththu did not have knowledge of their ability to reproduce. Hara are able to conceive during a special, elevated type of aruna, with conception taking place inside the Cauldron of Creation. The harling gestates inside a pearl and is born after a period of about two and a half months. The pearl is a leathery egg where the harling continues to develop for one to two weeks, at which point it hatches. Harlings develop far more rapidly than human children and are fully grown and sexually mature by the age of seven or eight, at which point they undergo Wraeththu puberty, feybraiha, and are introduced to aruna.
For more specifics on Wraeththu biology, see Wraeththu Explained.
[edit] Principal Tribes
- COLURASTES - The Serpent Hara, there's something of Medusa in them, their long hair are alive, and play a role both in seduction and in fighting. Beautiful and deadly, they live in caves, and are surprisingly advanced in herb lore and inception techniques.
- ELHMEN - A water-loving tribe who practise aquatic magic, dwelling in the mountains northwest of Ferike.
- FERIKE - A castle-dwelling tribe of hara, very learned and refined in literature and the arts, set in western Jaddayoth. Ferike are famed for their paintings and works of art, as well as their books and poetry.
- GARRIDAN - A tribe of Jaddayoth notorious for their poisons. Descended from the warlike Uigenna, they lack a rigid religious structure and stick to the old ways of Wraeththukind.
- GIMRAH - A tribe of Wraeththu famed for the swift horses they breed. They are more tolerant of the remaining humans than other Wraeththu, and have sheltered a small human community amongst themselves.
- FREYHELLA - Seafaring northern tribe of the eastern continent. Very proud, they venerate harish versions of the Norse Gods.
- GELAMING -A very enlightened and advanced tribe set in Almagabra, led by the Arch-mage Thiede. The beauty of their capital, Immanion, is legendary. Gelaming have mastered superior magic that allows them feats impossible for other tribes.
- HADASSAH - A highly social and easygoing tribe from Jaddayoth who are fond of drinking, brawling and entertaining guests, renowned for their hospitality. The complete opposite of the ascetic Maudrah, the gregarious Hadassah wear clothes of the brightest colours and adorn themselves with jewelry, scarves and tassels.
- KAKKAHAAR - Nomad, desert-dwelling hara, deft in magic (often black) and in commerce (often of hideous commerce). Their magic is powerful, they are understandably feared by other tribes.
- KALAMAH - The Cat People of Jaddayoth, Kalamah are a philosophical race that have sought to emulate the feline mind. Renowned for their beauty, cunning and grace, and their feats of architecture, they are inclined to be mercurial and vindictive if wronged.
- MAUDRAH - An austere tribe of hara who abide by a strict code of behaviour that governs every aspect of their daily lives, and the largest tribe of Jaddayoth. Usually clad in dark colours, they are either silver or black-haired. The Niz, an organisation similar to a priestly order, supervise the Maudrah's adherence to their laws.
- NEZREKA - Small, isolated forest tribe in Anakhai (country west of Jaddajoth)whose totem is the wolf.
- OLOPADE - Isolated tribe northeast of Almagabra, whose Archon, Phade, was once a collaborator of Thiede, who often still asks him favors.
- ROSELANE - A tribe of seers and mystics who dwell in the mountains of eastern Jaddayoth.
- SAHALE - Known as the Fire People, they are a tribe of underground dwellers who practise fire magic.
- SULH - Miystical, magical and learned, they are a very respected tribe, centered on the island of Alba Sulh, but spread all over Wraeththudom.
- UIGENNA - Feared for their savagery and wild ruthlessness, the Uigenna are one of the first tribes to appear from the original wraeththu group. Their ferocity is, however, equal to their disorganization.
- VARRS - Ferocious as the Uigenna, but much more organized and "civilized", they have conquered and submitted most of Megalithica.
[edit] Principal Cities
- IMMANION, magnificent capital of the Gelaming, located in Almagabra, Eastern Continent, facing the sea. At its center, on a hill, stands the luxurious palace of the Tigrons & Tigrina, Phaonica.
- FULMINIR, grim citadel, former stronghold of the Varr leader Ponclast, set in war-ravaged Megalithica. At one time unspeakable horrors were said to be common within its blackened walls.
- GALHEA, once a human town, current capital of the Varrs (now Parsics), in Megalithica. The ruling Parasiel family, led by Swift and his consort Seel, live in Galhea in a mansion known as "We Dwell In Forever."
- SALTROCK, an important town in the books, at one time was a settlement of secretive hara who wanted to flee from the Uigenna and the Varrs. It is located in Megalithica near a soda lake at the edge of a desert.
- FERELITHIA is a thriving, populous city in southern Almagabra, full of industrious, fun-loving hara and humans.
- SHILALAMA is the mystical mountain city of the Roselane, whose edifices are said to have been sculpted by wind in the rock.
- FREYGARD is the northern capital of the Freyhella tribe.
- OOMADRAH - Capital city of the Maudrah Tribe
- SAMWAY - Capital city of the Olopade Tribe
- IMBRILIM - Once a military and refugee camp, is now a Gelaming city in Megalithica
[edit] History in Print
Wraeththu first appeared in print with The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit (1987), followed by the next two Wraeththu Chronicles books, The Bewitchments of Love and Hate (1988) and The Fulfillments of Fate and Desire (1989). The Wraeththu Chronicles are first person narratives covering an important era in Wraeththu history; the narrators are Pellaz Cevarro (who eventually becomes a kind of king), Swift Parasiel (who grows up to be a tribal leader), and Calanthe (Pellaz' lover). In 2003-2004, this trilogy of books was re-released in revised editions published by Constantine's publishing firm, Immanion Press.
In 2004, a new trilogy, the Wraeththu Histories, launched with The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure, followed by The Shades of Time and Memory (2005) and The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence (2006). These books continue the original trilogy but have a different tone, with third-person narration, a more complex narrative structure, and more concrete details on Wraeththu's abilities and origins.
Wraeththu have also appeared outside the six-book series. In 2003, Immanion Press published the first "Wraeththu Mythos" book, Breeding Discontent, written by two fans (Wendy Darling and Bridgette Parker) and edited by Constantine herself. In 2005, Constantine released a new Wraeththu novella called The Hienama: A Story of the Sulh, separate from the storylines of the two trilogies. The book follows the story of a member of the Sulh tribe who seeks a hienama, or Wraeththu shaman, for training, and gets more deeply entangled in his education than he expected. In the summer of 2005, Immanion Press published another Wraeththu Mythos novel, Terzah's Sons by Victoria Copus; another Mythos novel, Rosa Mundi by Kris Dotto, is set for publication in 2006.
Wraeththu have also appeared in several of Constantine's short stories, published in magazines or anthologies. Of these short stories, most notable is "Paragenesis" describing in poignant details the very beginnings of Wraeththu, featuring the first Wraeththu ever, his sad infancy, his flight from home and how he discovered love and loss before giving rise to the new race. There is a Wraeththu fan fiction community, which exists primarily online; in 2003 a series of fan-written short stories was self-published by fans in a booklet titled Writers of the Storm.
In 2005 the German publishing firm Zauberfeder Verlag published Wraeththu: The Picture Book, a full-color album showing off the work of photographer Marja Kettner and a group of German fans who created costumes, jewelry and makeup to great a pictorial vision of the world of Wraeththu. Almost all the models are male; many of these same models also participated in the LARP described elsewhere in this article. Information on the book is available in German and in English.
[edit] History in Gaming
Wraeththu are the subject of a role-playing game, From Enchantment to Fulfilment, released in 2005 by Immanion Press. According to the publisher, the core rule book will be followed by numerous volumes detailing various aspects of the Wraeththu world, including individual tribes.
Game Reviews
In Dec. 2004, a live action role-playing game in Germany featured the first-ever Wraeththu LARP group. Information on this event can be found on the Seven Deadly Sins - Wraeththu web site. Later many of the players appeared in Wraeththu: The Picture Book, described under "Wraeththu In Print" elsewhere in this article.
On July 31st and August 1st 2004, a Wraeththu paintball event was in the USA at Realms of Ruin paintball field, Wilmington, IL (near Chicago).
[edit] Fan Community
Wraeththu has had a cult following since the late 80s when the series first appeared. The fandom is especially strong among the Goth subculture, although in recent years fans of slash fiction, anime and manga have also gravitated toward Wraeththu. Storm Constantine not only allows but fully supports fan fiction, to the delight of fans who have written and published many stories online, most of them hosted on the Forever web site.
Wraeththu have also inspired fan art, poetry, and several online communities and/or mailing lists. See the list of links at the end of this article.
In 2003 a convention called Grissecon, held in Stafford, England, was the first-ever Wraeththu fan gathering. Since then additional Grissecon events have been held as part of Lunacon (2004 & 2005), DragonCon (2004) and Feencon (2005). There are tentative plans for further events, including one in England in 2007.
