There are two tribes that make up the whole of Reefside Holt; those that can breathe water as well as air, and those who can only breathe air.
THE WATER AND AIR BREATHERSThose who live in the water are quite capable of breathing air and living on land, lower extremities aside for those with out legs. They are more graceful in water then on land. Some look like normal elves, only with webbing between their fingers and toes, gills, and maybe web-like pointed ears. Some do have sea life lower bodies, i.e, mermaid tails, octopi, squid, sea horse, ect. It if lives in the ocean and an elf has seen it, they can ask a healer to shape them thus.
Back in the distant past, when Reefside first came to be; at first the elves were just altered to be able to breathe water. Eventually, observing the efficiency of the marine creatures, some asked for other alterations. In many, these alterations have bred true. Meaning that an elf baby could be born with a sea creature lower body as easily as legs.
The water breather’s live in a complex cave network far below the Vast Deep Water’s surface, with in a mountain range on the mainland. They are comfortable sleeping under water, on a dry bed, or in between. Sleeping arrangements would be per a particular elf’s preference or whim.
Most caves dwellings have two entrance/exits, one generally out to the sea, and another going back into the mountains they live in. Most every cave dwelling is connected eventually by a network of tunnels, caves, and caverns. A good bit is in or goes through water, but the majority, towards the back, are full of air instead of water.
There is one large Central Cavern that
all Reefsiders can congregate for general socializing or Ceremonies and Celebrations,
except The Final Dive.
Their diet consists of any marine animal they can successfully hunt or trap, seaweed and kelp.
Clothing would be made out of woven seaweed and any tough hided creature of the sea, as well as any shells found.
THE FINAL DIVEThe Final Dive is a celebration and remembering of the life of an elf that has died. Held at a place called Coral Point, the body is wrapped in a Ceremonial Net with places for tribe members to place Memory Stones.
Each tribe member will share a memory of the deceased in an open send to include
all Reefsiders. Then they will place their Memory Stone somewhere on the net shrouded body to signal they are finished and the next person is to go. The Memory Stones help weigh the body so it sinks when it is shoved off Coral Point.
Coral Point itself is a flat bit of coral that protrudes from the rest of the coral reef. It is a drop beyond the reef that no Reefsider has been able to explore. The last time a Reefsider did, it had been three Shape Shifters taking away three Healers, the first to have a Final Dive. They haven’t been heard from since, and in truth, none living remembers them.
*NOTE* The Final Dive is done under water, so of course the Air Breathers can’t be present, but they too share their memories (if they have any) of the deceased as well in the Ceremony. This is one Ceremony that the
whole tribe participates in.
THE AIR BREATHERSThe Air Breathers live beyond the water caves of the Water Breathers, in extensive cave, cavern, and tunnel networks. They are elves that refuse to be altered to live in the water.
Rock Shapers have shaped the tunnels and caves when needed. Like their water cousins they dwell in caves, the only difference being there generally isn’t water in the caves, or at the very least if there is water, it doesn’t take up the majority of the cave as a Water Breather’s would.
The Air Breathers have encountered Trolls, and are willing to trade, gamble or raid them for the things they have, depending on view at the time, need, and/or obnoxiousness on the Trolls' part at any given time.
Like the Trolls they survive on mushrooms and fungus, bats, sea animals found in water in the caves, and other cave dwellers. They also share in what ever the Water Breathers manage to catch or grow. Also the occasional animal that wanders too far in and gets lost.
Clothes are what they can raid or trade with the Trolls, and of course the usual things that the Water Breathers use as well.
Subject: Reefside Holt 
Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:13 pm
