Clans of Newhome: Obsidian

Among those Kin who undertook the Exodus to Newhome, the Onyx Clan was the least represented of the extant Clans of the time. Few were surprised at this; the crusade to purge the No-Tails from the planet was called by an elder of their own Clan, and its purpose... the protection of the world they were created to defend... spoke powerfully to their souls. Even knowing that it was unlikely to succeed, very few of that proud clan of great warriors would turn their tails to their sacred Mother and flee into the stars.

But although only a very few of the Starfallen of Newhome were Onyx Clan, a new subspecies would arise which carried forward their talent for destruction and selfless courage in safeguarding the new planet. Covered with short black featherings which almost give the impression of shaggy fur when viewed at a distance (and getting close to one of this Clan against its will is a challenge indeed), their primary color was black, with white highlights, speckles and rosettes. The sacred stone known to humans as "snowflake obsidian" (see attached image) resonated with their being, and the Obsidian Clan arose.

Prior to official communication being established, one genta species temporarily named these mighty Kin "black blades", a fitting sobriquet. With a flick of their tails, they could impale or disembowel their prey with the sharp bladed spikes on the end. Their claws were long and keen as well, and their horns, which were a mere decoration on most Stellar Kin, were highly practical and dangerous weapons. When combined with the fact that they tended to be more muscular and massive than any other Clan on average, they are, at least physically, the deadliest of a very deadly species.

Interestingly, while the first members of the Obsidian Kin were proud of their bodies and would use them for destructive purposes if the situation demanded it, they were surprisingly defensive in their behavior. The world would soon learn that, as a group, the Obsidian Kin were the least aggressive. They would, of course, challenge others and claim territories, but once established, they rarely sought expansion and conquest. Instead, they tended to devote themselves wholeheartedly to the defense of their realms, showing little interest in the machinations of other gentas, Kin or otherwise. The Clan as a whole gained a reputation for being stolid and phlegmatic, uninterested in such things as entertainment, scheming, and conversation.

What they lacked in social skills and ambition was more than made up for by their outsized sense of honor and guardianship. Territories and communities taken over by Obsidian Kin often became quietly harmonious places where wildlife could thrive and the natural order would be upheld. Viewing technology as a certain path to weakness, Obsidian Kin tend to stamp out any such things in their territory quickly and decisively but without cruelty or rancor, as an able surgeon quickly removing a tumor to ensure the health of a patient. Though they often chose territories free of gentas, preferring the company of beings who speak with their actions instead of their mouths, the few genta communities which fell under their guardianship would often turn to a simpler, more harmonious existence with the local flora and fauna, shedding much (or sometimes all) of their clothing and complex technologies. Such gentas could rest safely in the knowledge that their Obsidian protector would keep their lands from being conquered by more aggressive and technologically advanced cultures, so long as they themselves were subservient to the natural order.

Obsidian Kin are rarely flighty or verbose, but despite this, they have rich emotional lives beneath their impassive exteriors, and some wise gentas have remarked that, despite the fact that their bodies are fully weaponized, their Minds are some of the clearest and most compassionate of all. Though they never crystallize it into words, Obsidian Kin express deep love and fondness for those under their guardianship in nonverbal ways. A famous painting of an Obsidian Kin and an infant lambkin (a mid-sized furry herbivore known for its tasty meat and docility) tenderly nuzzling each other, the lambkin trusting the Kin completely, has become famous among gentas worldwide, and is generally referred to as evidence that the Kin, despite being alien to the planet, do possess the same capacity for affection and kindness as any other genta, though some nativist factions call the image propaganda.

Having been hastily designed and created by the Ruiner, the Onyx Kin, though mighty, had a powerful flaw: the inability to dream, which would eventually lead many to mental illness and eventual suicide. The newer Obsidian Clan, too, has an interesting "flaw": a seeming incapability to use complex language. No Obsidian Kin yet (and it is admittedly early in their Clan's history) has ever used complex icons or symbols, whether mental, verbal, or physical, to communicate, nor has the use of mental techniques such as mindscreaming ever been utilized by an Obsidian in recorded history. Their ability to use complex grammatical language seems nonexistent; they are, in the words of a certain Luxa scholar, "linguistically mute".

 This does not mean that they cannot communicate, because they certainly can and do in ways both physical and mental, but their communication is usually done through the body; an Obsidian's actions will usually be quite enough to divine its will. If it must communicate telepathically, they will do so only through broadcasting a single pure image, sound, scent, or feeling to the mind of the other. If one were to inquire with any other Clan of Kin regarding what it wanted from you, it would likely reply using a string of symbolic thought-sigils: "I desire seven gross of bylavender starfruits in good condition for research purposes," or "I desire for you to leave my territory and cease all aggressive actions and intentions," whereas an Obsidian Kin would simply relay an actual picture of a purple starfruit or an image of you leaving its territory, respectively. They seem incapable of using symbols, abstract words, or grammar in any way, only sharing direct images and feelings without labeling of any kind, nor do they seem to understand or acknowledge any complex grammatical communication techniques, though they do seem keenly aware of the intentions of whatever is attempting to communicate with them via other means, and will find a satisfying non-linguistic way to relay their own desires and intentions.

In combat, Obsidian Kin can use any of the major energy manipulation techniques used by other clans, but rarely do, preferring to use their own bodies and natural weapons to deal with adversity. Most Obsidian Kin master nullification abilities which strip enemies of their energy and mental powers and then proceed to tear them to shreds with their powerful bodies and superior fighting skills.

While fools, even among the Kin, may call them mentally-stunted dullards, the Obsidian Clan alone may rest in the knowledge that they honor nature and their own bodies in ways which go far beyond words. Visitors to Newhome are warned not to judge these quiet sentinels of the wild in such a way. Though silent, the Obsidian Clan boasts some of the wisest and most honorable of all Kin on Newhome.

And they can, praise the Onesong, dream.

Beautifully.