Entry 1578
The Mia are a race
of humanoid subterranean dwellers having some resemblance to the common
rabbit. They are a hidden people living deep within the distant forests
beyond the border lands. Their exact location has yet to be confirmed
though there are rumors of their kind far in the west. Because of their
extreme seclusion and tight knit communities the Mia only on extremely
rare occasions have ventured out of their own lands to join the communities
of the Wealth of Races. Their exact numbers are completely unknown as
they are one of the fewest races to be seen in the Wealth of Races. They
tend to be meek and quiet leading some to believe, though falsely, that
they are a sub-intelligent species. Because of this the Mia are usually
forced to be slaves or pets to other domineering races. However, the Mia
seem to not adjust well to this imprisonment dying quickly for reasons
not entirely understood. As of yet we, the Unai the stewards of the Wealth
of Races, have encountered only one. From whom we, the Unai, have now
been able to write this report. Yet, gaining further knowledge of the
Mia and the greater inclusion of them in the Wealth is seen as possibly
yielding many benefits.
Society
The Mia are very devout
race with a rich history and tradition. Their society is based in ritual
patterns of growing and harvesting crops from their fields. The religion
of the Mia is a complex combination of ritual based upon cyclical events
and the passing on of stories which teach and influence the cycles. From
a young age the Mia are exposed to these rituals and traditions developing
a deep bond with the community. Every Mia is viewed as an integral piece
of the larger community. The passing of growing seasons and traditions
are all marked through communal gatherings where the stories are told.
The stories contain the lives and trials of mythic heros and the embodiments
of gods on the earth. Each story seems to contain wisdom on many subjects
from the relations between people to the proper times and methods of the
growing of crops. This communal time is said to be the most important
part of the Mia's life as the time when bonds are strengthened. The informant
often mentions this gathering as not only a gathering of the individuals
themselves, but of some larger body. We can only interpret this meaning
to be of some other conducive force or of the larger environment around
them. It should be said that the society seems strongly concerned with
the environment in which they exist as possibly an extension of their
community.
The Mia seem to be fairly primitive in matters of civilization. Being
an almost entirely agriculturally based society they do not seem to see
a need for larger institutions such as government or formal schooling.
Even a merchant class does not seem to be active, instead the community
works almost entirely on the bartering system. What does seem to be present
however, is a strong religious connotation which affects all levels of
society. The hierarchy of this religious tradition, if any, is not entirely
apparent.
The Mia as a society seem entirely untouched and devoid of interaction
from outside societies and races. This makes them fairly ignorant of the
larger world and also seems to affect drastically their resilience to
these outside factors. As can be judged from the few that have traveled
in the Wealth of Races it is a harsh change not easily being adapted to.
In light of this fact it should be brought forward that the Mia are not
a completely backward race having an extremely developed language including
a detailed writing system which seems to date from the beginning of their
existence. The importance of the act of telling stories must be a influential
factor on this portion of their society. The language itself is quite
beautifully melodic and captivating to hear even if not understood.
Another point to be considered is an amazing display of floral and fauna
knowledge specifically producing incredible results in farming and woodworking.
The Wealth of Races would do well to turn their attention to these our younger
brothers. May the Mia be wholly welcomed to the Wealth of Races and find
gifts and protection therein.
History
We can only guess
that the Mia are relatively new race on the earth as their small number
and relative seclusion suggests. As mentioned afore it is an intriguing
discovery that they seem to have developed outside of all the influences
of larger society. It must be admitted that the Wealth of Races still
has many distant lands beyond the farthest borders yet unknown to us,
however, to find such a pure society as the Mia is indeed unique.
In the nature of this situation it is impossible to use any local dating
system in attempting to determine the Mia's relative age. The only source
of use is the Mia's own semi historical book of stories, though not present
to us, is supposed to be divided into forty SHE, an approximation of an
entire cycle of life. This is of course impossible to use in determining
age, however, is useful in understanding the way in which the Mia see
their own time scale.
As the exact location of the Mia is also undetermined it is further impossible
to develop a greater knowledge of their historical background. According
to our one source the Mia are said to have twelve tribes branching from
a mythical mother. The characteristics of these tribes and their relations
however are not known.
The Madi - Religious Leaders
The basis of the society
is said to be the gathering of the community in the telling of the stories
of traditions and rituals. It is the so called Madi who are these relayers
of the stories, the beloved storytellers. The supposedly hold the highest
positions in the society as the delivers of the rituals which continue
the cycles. Universally respected and cherished the Madi are said to be
a nomadic element in the society receiving shelter and food wherever they
travel. Called upon for any number of occasions from births to deaths,
calls for rain, calls for the harvest, to even settling disputes between
individuals. The Madis role seems to extend even as far as serving as
a defender in times of crisis, though these occasions are supposedly few.
The training and development of the Madi is achieved through a long apprenticeship
of a young Mia, learning both the rigors of discipline as well as the
manner of the stories. It is said that the one institution the Mia possess
is the Monastery where the Madi gain their most precious gift, the written
language of the Mia. It is the Madi who are the most educated individuals
through studying the book of Mia containing the stories of old as well
as numerous volumes of the present ages.
Once the apprentice becomes a Madi they then are set out to lead the Mia
in their continual paths of ritual. The Monastery is also said to have
a council of Madi as the most wise and aged members of society. It is
upon their shoulders that the continuation of the society is said to rest.
Production
The Mia's main source of sustenance is grain and vegetables. They are
excellent gardeners to a caliber not yet achieved within our realm. Based
in ancient arts of growing rituals the Mia are somehow able to improve
the life cycles of plants to the point of increasing yields by two fold.
The nutritional values of these plants are also exceedingly poignant possibly
allowing the Mia to sustain longer days of labor. Further more the Mia's
longevity is something to be praised as the individual we encountered
had lived far longer than the possible life span for a species his size.
The Mia are also said to have an affinity with wood carving and forming,
again far surpassing any present quality in the Wealth. The techniques
involved in creating such incredible tools and ceremonial items can only
be speculated on by our own woodworkers. In understanding the process
it is said by our informant that a deeper knowledge of Mia rituals is
required.
Characteristics
The Mia are a small
race standing an average of 2 Li (2ft. 6in.) and are of relatively thin
stature. The most encompassing characteristic is their resemblance to
a rabbit, in lengthy ears and in facial features. Though upright the Mia's
legs still retain the power of their distant cousins, allowing them to
make quick sprints. In most other ways they resemble all other upright
races in the Wealth. History of the Mia Symbol Magic - A Recent Discovery
As for unique decorations the Mias most dramatic element is their colored
intersecting linear patterns scaling down their ears and onto their faces.
The patterns seem to usually only fill one ear or one side of the face
and are supposed to vary in color from individual to individual. The reason
for these markings is connected to some kind of initiation ritual into
the community.
The Mia magic system was constructed by one, Anfa, in a time long past. He was the first Mia to venture into the 'outer' world and encounter what was then called the Wealth of Races, under the care of the Unai. Although, Anfa was greatly impressed and delighted with what he found in this outside world, he eventually decided that this world would destroy the Mia if they were not completely cut off and protected from the worldly forces. As Anfa had studied a great deal while in the realm of the Wealth of Races, and become a master of many arts, including many magicks, he then concocted a system based on the traditional script and values of Mia culture to produce a magic so powerful as to lock the Mia away hidden in an impenetrable forest. This was accomplished by the harnessing the powerful forces of nature's cycles the Mia lived by and focusing them together into bound whole. These cycles were continually replenished by the sharing of stories and caring out of rituals that reinforced the natural bonds with the Mia people, a synergy. By speaking and performing the rituals the Madi ensured the proper focus and distribution of the mystic energy source Mia and each member of the community is a needed component in the maintaining the energy pool.
In the process of creating this powerful magic, however, Anfa also tapped into the same mystic energy sources that all magicks use and therefore also the same knowledge and skills known to all races were embedded in the magic of the Mia. Although truly unique in its form and structure, holding steadily to certain aspects of Mia culture, the magic of the Ancient Mia symbols were unavoidably entwined with the both the glories and vices of the power of the races. Consequently, the symbol magic of Mia was never as pure as Anfa had wished for the Mia people. Therefore Anfa decided to take even more drastic action by first mobilizing the Mia symbol magic with so much power to seal off the Mia people, but then hiding the secrets of the magic to his own people. He instituted the traditional Madi to maintain the cyclical flow of the Mia people and their land and with his death the secrets of Mia symbol magic and the outside world disappeared to them. The result was that the Madi themselves were only slightly aware of the magic they were performing in their storytelling rituals. Only the Elders among the Madi had a greater knowledge of the true nature of the Mia symbol magic, but even they were ignorant of its vast powers and ties to the outside world.
At the time Anfa sealed off the land of Mia there was a great drain on the mystic energy of the world. Furthermore, the Wealth of Races were quickly encroaching on the land of the Mia people. But with his flight and sealing of the land Anfa effectively isolated his people and in the meantime created enough rift in the foundation of the Wealth of Races maintained by the Unai to cause several centuries later the final fall and decimation of this once powerful and enlightened empire. In all consideration, at the time Anfa was a honored steward of the Unai, the empire was already much in decline and unable to regulate effectively its expansive area and races. Yet, this was also the time the Wealth of Races was most full of knowledge and resources of its people allowing Anfa and many others to receive such a grand education. However, this is not the purpose of our current chronicle and must be left for future study.