Manokits are a druidic like species that worship multiple gods and goddesses that they believe have created the life energy that has shaped the natural world. They are able to have traits that cannot be explained by evolutionary biology through these so-called “blessings”, that they achieve through rituals and offerings to specific idols they worship. Nobody, including the manokits, have truly seen these gods and goddesses: only a few artistic depictions of these idols exist that have been thought to be illustrated by the first manokits as they were created by these gods and goddesses: being the only ones to actually “see” the idols during the process of their creation. It cannot be confirmed if this statement is true, as this information is mostly passed down by word of mouth and artistic depictions.
Not all manokits believe they were originally created by these beings, but it is agreed upon that their blessings stem from the connection to these gods and goddesses. The main three idols are the two sister goddesses, Yuliasha and Elisan that represent the sun and moon respectively, and Melos, a god who represents the magic of sound. All manokits hold these three beings with high regards and utmost respect regardless of how obscure their origins are.
Early depictions of Yuliasha and Elisan seem to always show certain traits: such as Yuliasha’s vibrant colors and feather motifs and Elisan’s deep blues and mermaid-like tail. Sometimes Yulisha is depicted with wings, others with dorsal fins. Sometimes Elisan is depicted with dark stripes, others with extra large extravagant fins. Melos is sometimes said to have come from a regular beachdweller manokit, while others say he was always a deity. Different depictions will showcase different traits of their folklore, and each interpretation is as valid as the next. However, the interpretation of a manokit with wings has led to debate among some outside of the islands who have attempted to document manokit culture. It seems to be a common trait to showcase otherworldliness amongst folklore.
Manokit Deities
Yuliasha, considered the elder sister to Elisan and Melos, is most commonly represented by the sun, and has a domain over most of the mainland- within its trees, and mountains. It is said the wind rushing down from the hills, and rustling the leaves is her keeping an eye on her creations. She is as loving as she is cruel, as she is also represented by fire. These natural disasters are seen as a necessary process of life, from destruction comes the resources for new life to sprout from. From searing angry magma that erupts from the Earth’s core, quenched and calmed by Elisan’s seas and allowed to become the land in which the manokits inhabit. Yearly fires that sweep the islands allow the land to rest and provide new space and nutrients for meadows to sprout and forests to regrow stronger than ever.
Yuliasha
Yuliasha grants the tribal manokit subspecies the ability to mend nature and heal others. She also gifted the tribal manokits with the ability to shape-shift into a 'feral' form to travel faster across land, though this uses a good amount of their energy. This form is known as Holoholo- meaning “to travel for one's own enjoyment”. Yuliasha's magic is opposite her sisters and draws directly from the sun and allows her to bring vibrant life to the land as well as smokey disaster. Some say that when Yuliasha and Elisan are both pleased, rainbows emerge from the life giving rains that often creeps through the island chain.
Elisan is said to be drawn from the pale blue moonlight, her fins in constant ebb and flow of the oceans. Her powers allowed her to breathe life into the oceans; filling them with beautiful coral reefs. She is also able to direct the oceans currents, always teasing onto the land created by her sister. She is most commonly represented by the moon because of its power over the tides, and she is said to watch over her creations by living within the waters of the ocean, and the rivers which flow throughout their islands. The hurricanes are her rage, the squalls are her cries, and the spray of the crashing waves is her laughter.
Elisan
Elisan grants the beachdweller manokits their ability to breathe underwater, as her wondrous treasure trove that is the oceans is meant to be found and explored by others. She grants them stronger tails and the ability to almost reach out and push the water as if it were a solid object at moments. It is said most sea life are on friendly terms with beachdweller manokits because of the close ties these manokits have with their creator.
Melos is the god of music and pure emotions/energies that all living beings have. Commonly represented by the crystals darting the interior of the island's vast cave systems, gems often play melodies when a claw is rung against them. Melos is known more for the underground: where light no longer touches and sound is the only means of understanding the world around you. It’s said that when he created and expanded upon the underground cave systems which the arcane manokit subspecies call home, crystals with unique properties sprang up from the earth and grew outwards from his footprints. Any areas where he slept later became the crystal filled pools from which the arcane manokits draw their power. On moonless nights when the glow of Elisan cannot be seen; it is said that the glow which comes from these crystals is proof of Melos watching over his creations and their islands.
Melos
Melos had gifted the arcane manokits their ability to attune into the energy of nature around them, allowing them to twist the fundamentals of the natural world to help suit their needs. This ability is often called magic. Through rituals and spells that often sound like songs, arcane manokits can shift grounds, create flames, guide waters, and summon winds. This comes with balance, as Melos’s music is otherworldly and near incomprehensible to the living: controlling these magics is often difficult and come with costs.
Due to the elusive nature of the arcane subspecies, both tribal and beachdwellers have their own explanation for Melos’ birth. Some say that Melos was formerly a beach dweller who discovered a passageway that had opened up underneath the manokit's home island after a small undersea quake. While others believe he may have been a tribal who had simply gotten lost while exploring deeper within the mountains. While his creations know Melos to be the brother god to the sistors.