I'm Sorry About This

I'm sorry about this

Welcome to a long one.

The Ciwan empire is the fastest-growing sloman power ever since the war of continents and the first to discover a form of gunpowder (thanks to their enemies being uniima lls who have been using it long before).

But even with that advantage (among slomen), the Ciwan armies are iconic for a different reason. That being the Kuiqua-trained units that Sun-cutters come from.

These units have traditionally existed for hundreds of years but are slowly just becoming a symbol for show because of the political and battling changes in the world. However, you will still see them from time to time ripping people to pieces.

Just like the majority of sloman military groups the unit relies on intense teamwork, they need constant communication and preplanned routes to deal with the opposing strategy.

The simplified average scene might look something like this:

In one unit of 30 members, three strikers (Sun-cutters) make a plan with their scholars and commanding Fire-catchers (Seconds leaders). After getting to the war zone they wait for their window in which some members spy or communicate with deeper army spies. When they know their target and best strategy they get in. The strikers use hand gestures, clicks, or whistles to save energy while the Seconds forward the orders to the rest with "ground's" (war language), wooden whistles see more use in very large units. Many times, however, often just seeing the movement of the sun-cutters is enough for the whole group to act.

Strikers will sometimes wait behind their heavies (Beasts) if their force isn't necessary (units can be as few as 5 members or as many as 50, the two extremes work very differently). Once the situation calls for it, they bullet their targets, often stabbing talons first and tearing muscles in a swift motion. This may happen multiple times as other unit members engage in direct battle with the target/s or disarm them with specialized tools. Kuiqua units both kill and capture, having healing supplies on their heavies if they need to make sure their target doesn't bleed out (or their own soldiers).

All members of the Kuiquan unit are priests of different levels but all are priests of the dead (ones that speak for their ancestors rather than gods). It's believed lands conquered with these soldiers present will flourish with life. Many former battlegrounds have turned into gardens and crop fields (hopefully they don't keep this up when landmines are invented).

To the image. What you see is a small variety of soldiers. Beasts and fire-catchers have other names and features in their armor that they are known for based on all their roles that can often switch between fights. Only Sun-cutters truly have one name.

Fire-catchers are also sometimes strikers in training and may move up if they prove themselves. Though, more often Sun-cutters rise from the ranks of regular taloned soldiers with enough talent.

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As mentioned in the image, Sun-cutters tend to be very prideful. Their helmets are an impractical mess that pushes their ears forward. A Ciwan Sloman's ears are very important to them and if they are damaged it's a career-ending event. Still, almost no strikers bind their ears, not wanting to be shamed for cowardness.

an ex-striker

here is the whole picture if you prefer it big

Btw, Kuiqua is the city Neal lives in. He has met or been arranged to meet these units multiple times since Neal himself is stuck classified as a fancy soldier. They are also not uncommon around temples, small talk is required.

Thank you for reading this far! Next I must answer the questions of biology. This has taken me 50 000 years.

(sorry u have to see them undressed)

This is not a final look but let's say there are some small changes to uniima. (There's very little practical change because these were already a thing, it just wasn't visually clear.) The hair has been like this forever but I never drew the bamboo feathers themselves so here they are.

So yeah, different plates/parts of the unii-skin have slightly different functions or store other things. The back of the neck contains many hard roots from which the node hair grows. The skin itself is leathery but flexible. Its biggest strength comes from the roots that function like osteoderms. Hard pieces like this are easier to see in older individuals whose skin is less fatty and more wrapped so they might look somewhat spiky at times.

The neck is another strong armor piece because it needs to protect multiple organs - primarily lungs/part of lungs. But in most individuals, the "roots" inside don't grow outside of the skin.

You can see here that compared to "islanders" (or coastal etc), "centrals" are pretty small and less bulky. One thing is that centrals are more arboreal than many other groups and being heavy makes climbing liiittle harder. Other ethnicities are also not the biggest fans of powered flight but it's getting around. I will talk in more detail and more informatively another time. I still need to do some sloman things. For now, enjoy the plate designing wip.

Have this snack while you consume information. Harvested in the morning.

Made a little personal character based off @yellosnacc ‘s world a little Uniima guy

Algaechh - follower of the "hand", master of speach and diplomacy (or at least that's what's said - they only speak like 4 languages).

They are from an island micro-state following the oldschool head rule. A strange mix of peoples down there on the landmass. The primary occupants are uniima c with Algea being one of the few exceptions, but faiths are more than varied.

In their community, they belong to the family/collective that rules this community with their "merchant power" which survives on the intercultural differences. Unlike most Foru states, this place uses currency in their daily lives, even when it starts clashing with some believes.

Algae doesn't spend too much time with their family, but they are loyal.

They just don't like their way of thinking.

Non-serious older doodle

my sweet boys-

gift art from the awesome @filurig!! you must follow him if you haven't