The Water Kin

General Overview
“Let your mind be like the ocean. Vast, and deep.” Lord water

If you were to choose a single word to describe the water kin it would be ingenuity. The water kin are natural problem solvers. No matter what problem is thrown their way, the water kin will jump to solve it with a furious fervor. There is nothing the water kin love more than a challenge and succeed or fail, they are excited to try! Water Kin society is like a river, always moving forwards, always trying new things, always making new discoveries. Water Kin are problem solvers, to them, there is nothing more important, and more fun than overcoming challenges thrown at them. However, something important to remember is that Water Kin does not only value success. In fact, most water kin revel in failure. For failure, the most important lessons can be learned. No matter the outcome, putting in the effort and the bravery to try is always to be celebrated. What Water Kin hates more than anything is failure to try. To look for the easy way out, to try everything you can to not try. Do not use your mind to overcome your problems. This is abhorrent to the water kin. Water Kin society is a rather playful one. to keep their minds sharp, water kin play lots of games. These games are designed to keep water kin from becoming stagnant. Many communities will host their own small competitions, as well Lord water is known to issue many challenges to his Kin.

“It is the water of the puddle; shallow and stagnant, that is the foulest.” Lord Water

Birth and Childhood
Water Kin childhood is filled with lessons, and training disguised as fun and games. Young water kin are challenged to expand their thinking, and ingenuity by playing games and being given challenges. Some of these challenges are given by their families. But in many cases, Lord water himself will issue challenges and see who of his kin can overcome them. A pastime that many of the younger kin revel in! Young water kin are always encouraged, and while success is celebrated failures are celebrated even more so, so a child learns it's never bad to fail.

The Ritual of the Games
The coming of age ceremony for young water kin. Each year the water kin games are held. Where each young kin competes in challenges of both mental, physical, and creative nature. While a kin may place first in a single game. At the end of the games, no victor is declared. Every contestant is equally celebrated. For the day was not about any one of them, but them working as a community to work hard and try their hardest.

Love and Marriage
Water Kin romance is about experimentation, sure one relationship may work well for you, and perhaps you fancy a person. But you never know, perhaps someone else is the right person for you, perhaps you can ‘broaden your horizons so to speak. Water Kin eagerly seeks out all sorts of romantic partners and situations, to find which is the best for them. Some relationships are doomed to fail, some will last a lifetime. But regardless, all kin come out of their relationships the better for it. Kin often refer to relationships as filters, each time they go through one they become a little cleaner and more refined.

Death and Burial
Water kin tend to find the prospect of dying rather exciting. There's a question that can only be answered in one way, and many water Kin are ready to jump headlong in to solve that problem. That of course doesn't mean that Water Kin WANT to die. Just that they see it as a final and ultimate problem to solve, and don’t worry about what may come later. Most water kin wish for their bodies to be laid to rest in their favorite body of water. For when a water kin takes their final death, and they are laid to rest, they wish for their body’s to forever be one with the ocean. HOWEVER, it is not unheard of for water kin to use their final passing as an opportunity to play a game with their loved ones. Many will have a final challenge issued upon their death. With the victors often receiving some kind of reward. These challenges are considered a loving farewell and the last way to bring a smile to your friends and family.

Politics and Power Structure
Water Kin politics are surprisingly mundane. Water Kin society uses a democratic electoral voting system, to decide who will hold power. These elections are held once a year but can be expedited if a politician is particularly bad at their job. Politicians of water kin society focus on the issues that need to be resolved, and they understand there are only so many resources to go around. As such Politicians each campaign and share their ideas with the water kin, campaigning for their votes. The Kin with the best ideas is usually chosen… I say usually because in many cases Politicians will have ideas they cannot follow up upon. Kin like this often do not remain in office long.

Law, Punishment, and Crime
Water kin laws are always changing. Just because a law was one way in the past doesn't mean it needs to remain that way. Times change, values change, and laws should change with them. As such there are teams of water kin working to make sure water kin laws are always up to date. In most cases, Water kin communities deal with their own crimes. However, there are cases when a water kin commits a crime most heinous, murder and grand theft are an example. As such the kin will be brought before Lord water and he will decide the kins punishment.

The Curse of complacency.
The curse of complacency is the harshest of punishments Lord water can inflict upon his subjects. For water kin, the thrill of adventure, and problem-solving is their way of life. The curse of stagnation takes away the kin's ability to feel that joy and adventure. The kin can still feel emotions, but when they complete a task or discover something new, they will feel nothing. Additionally, they lose the drive to try new things. They no longer truly wish to learn and grow, what they are now is fine. Many kin inflicted with this curse will do anything to get back into Lord water's good graces. But I often find it impossible to think of anything successful.

Environment, Geography, and Cities
The water plane, like its namesake, is completely submerged in water. But of course, do not fret, Lord water knew this would pose an issue to air breathers, and as such the water is breathable by all. Despite being underwater, the waves and pressure seem to have no effect on most creatures. While fish and sea life may swim by as normal, for most walking in the water plane is the same as walking on the material plane. The bottom of the ocean in most places is crystal clear, and sea life and coral make up the natural flora and fauna. This however does not mean that every place in the water plane is so habitable. There are the terrifying whirlpool fields that can suck one down to depths unknown. These are the Deep places. Pits that drop so deep that none but Lord water himself can survive the pressure. Additionally, where the veil between the elemental planes is thinnest the other elemental planes influence the waterplane, creating strange and wonderful environments. Near the fire plane, there are the deep thermal vents, near the earth plane are the great kelp forests, near the air plane are the bubble fields, one of the few places above the surface. Near the plane of essence are the crystal reefs, where every color of fish imaginable swims. Near the plane of void is the trench, a deep place where the bodies of fish wash too.

The Reflecting Pool.
The home of Lord water is a chamber known as the reflecting pool. It is a chamber of stone that floats in the center of the impossible city. It was moved from its original home after Lord water lost a wager with a water kin. The chamber is a single room, with a steel door. The room is circular with a domed roof at the top. The main room is about a kilometer across, and the floor is a 2-foot deep body of water. With a 5 foot ledge across the circumference. Of course, this isn’t any normal water, for this water is the water that comprises the great Lord's being. In this chamber, Lord water can release his physical form, and allow himself to focus all his attention on his meditations. Those who truly please Lord water are permitted to come and float within the reflecting pool. It is their connected body to body with Lord water that one's mind can truly be opened to the great questions of all things.

The Impossible city.
The impossible city is the capital of the water plane and has a fantastical history. It floats within a place known as the absolute ocean. The absolute ocean is a place where there is no surface and no bottom. Simply water in all directions. As such it was considered impossible to build there for a long time. Long ago however there lived a Water Kin. She considered herself a master of architecture, She built the grand gates of the coral palace, she laid the foundations of the deep trench bridge, She had headed a hundred projects, there was nothing she could not construct. But in time she had become so overconfident she had stopped trying to innovate, simply reusing old designs that worked. Lord water would not have this. So He came to her and offered her a challenge. “So great an architect you are, As so I have a commission for you. Build A city in the absolute ocean.” “It’s impossible!” she protested. “There is no bottom to lay foundations, there is no surface upon which to float an artificial island.” Lord Water Scoffed. “You claimed there was nothing you could not construct. I see perhaps you have much to learn.” The water kin was taken aback, and mulled it over in her head for a moment. “4 days!” she exclaimed. “In four days I shall have the foundations laid, But if I do this I have a request. If I do this, you must move your reflecting pool to my new city, and it shall be the grand capital of the water plane.” Lord Water let out an excited bellow. “four days my child you shall have, I accept.” With a rush, he dissipated himself. The water kin smiled for she had already devised a perfect plan. On day one she set out for the fire plane! She Met Lord fire, and she gave him a passionate speech, requesting a great plate of iron, she told him of her bet with Lord water, and Lord fire bellowed. Excited to ruffle his brother's feathers, he granted the water kin this iron plate. On the second day, The water Kin traveled to the plane of Air. There she met Lord Air, She told him stories of how her new city would give people new places to explore and learn, all she needed from Lord air was for him to lasso the four greatest and lightest clouds. Lord air exited at the prospect of new places to explore, granted the water kin her request, In four cases of crystal, Lord air lassoed the great clouds of the air plane. So light were they that the crystal enclosures must be tied down, lest they fly away. On the third day, the water kin went to see Lord earth. She explained to him that the time was right to build this city. The other two Lords were assisting, and they would not receive another chance. All she needed from him was the heaviest boulder on the earth plane. Lord Earth pondered for half the day, and just when the water kin was sure he would think until her time was up Lord earth agreed. Lord earth gave the Water kin the great boulder and affixed to it a massive chain of bedrock. The pieces had been assembled now construction could begin. On day four the water kin assembled her workers. First, they affixed the chain to the bottom of the platform, Then upon the four corners, they affixed the 4 great clouds. With the help of 100 mages, they transported the plate to the Absolute ocean. There was a massive shudder as the plate fell into place. The mighty boulder plummeted towards the ocean's depths. The Great clouds rocketed towards the sky. And with a mighty SNAP, the ropes pulled tights… and then everything stopped. The water kin had guessed correctly. Lord fire's plate would hold strong as the Lord of fire would not want to look bad in his brother's eyes, and Lord Air and Earth would grant her items of exactly opposite weight, not wanting the other to outdo them. The plate was suspended perfectly in the air. The top held up by the Clouds moving towards the surface, and the boulder holding the bottom down! Her foundation had been built. Lord water approached with fantastical praise and admiration, “I stand corrected” He exclaimed, “you truly are the greatest of architects.” She pondered and smiled. “Perhaps, but even I have much to learn.” With a smile and a wave, Lord water was true to his word. The ocean currents carried the stone chamber containing his reflecting pool to the foundation of the impossible city, and there it remains to this day. A reminder that no matter how great you may be. You can always learn more.

Roleplaying Tips

 * 1) Water kin have green horns and face paint
 * 2) Water kin tend to wear flowy outfits, often depicting sea life.
 * 3) Water Kin are natural problem solvers and game players. Always try your best and never worry about failure.
 * 4) Be upset if people get too hung up about failing, or if people try to stop you from doing so
 * 5) Water kin love water, so go splash around in the rain a bit if you have the opportunity.
 * 6) A possible alternative playstyle is a complacent cursed water kin. These kin have committed some crime, so their desire to try things and joy they derive from adventure and success has been taken away. When playing this kind of water kin, you should act unmotivated and indecisive about all decisions.