Welcome To A Long One.

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.

Look at what I found while foraging for fruits outside.

Can't believe this is real. What a creature.

At this stage the critter is still covered with thin layers of shedding skin even over its crest and beak. It makes it quite shiny.

You can even see its mouth is starting to turn purple.

someone mentioned me in a reblog of this photo saying it looks like baby uniima, but when I finally got the time to do this the reblog was sadly gone

Smooth Helmeted Iguana (Corytophanes cristatus), family Corytophanidae, Costa Rica

photograph by Hans Hillewaert

An elder master performing one of many forms of a silent wing dance. The goal of this show is to appeal to the eyes alone, using movement and colors - making too much sound is seen as a failure in this specific style.

Some of the silent dances might try to confuse the watcher with fabric appearing as other body parts or wing flags that cover most of the performer. With uniiman arts, there are really too many variants to cover as their whole deal is to compete and innovate (but most often can still be categorized).

To some, the silent dance is more artistic than the loud one while others find it lazy not to play music with the body. It really is a question of taste.

Based on the crest drawings of this uniima it seems their show's purpose is to find 3 partners and create three lives. This however isn't because their dance or outfit is sexual, it is simply a show of skill with an additional message.

Random slug post before I finish my extremely procrastinated-on art.

But I have an excuse! (Christmas)

Kinda a slugsona design.

Gourmand but bigger and one that can barely even throw. Combat is 90% melee.

The claws are misleading, this slug doesn't scratch opponents as much as it crushes them and suffocates them.

It's also very slow if it doesn't roll (but can roll for veeery long).

Happy year that is new! Happy 24th year yeaaa! Happy year! Marry years!

First time I have ever done a year art summary. Until 2023 I just never had the mental strength, drive, medication or time to draw the way I do now. Not that I have many of these today but getting into worldbuilding and spec bio really helped me because I can draw whatever I want.

I can draw character art, thematic art, story art, biology art, explanation art, creature concept art, culture art.............

And all in the little neat package of one universe I get to care for.

Thank you for all the positive attention and happy moments. I also thank you a lot for 1500 followers. Sorry I didn't have time to celebrate the number yet. I'm so grateful.

I hope 2024 can be like this again. Love yall.

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