Basharma

The Basharma (pronounced bah-SHAR-mah) are a group of magma giants who reside in the volcanic uplands of the islands of Phersu, especially on Lauchume, Teiraru, and to a lesser degree Ulpaia.

Location

Basharma giants almost entirely live on the larger islands of Phersu. Very few can be found elsewhere, either on the many smaller isles of the archipelago or elsewhere in the Wounds, but evidence of their megalithic shrines indicates that the Basharma, or a related giant people, once resided on Varameno as well.

Physiology

Unusually, the Basharma giants appear to be able to draw energy directly from sources of heat, partially but not entirely removing their need to eat as long as they remain in places of high temperature.

Culture

Religion

In the religion of the Basharma, stones themselves are divine, a form of sacred primordial essence composed of earth spirits. Unlike other earth-worshiping faiths of the Wounds, such as that of the Beating Heart, the Basharma do not consider volcanoes to be holy, though lava and magma do hold esteemed positions as the malleable forms of stones, the state before the spirits solidify and gain their identities. They worship in great megalithic shrines constructed at high elevations on their island homes, within concentric rings of massive stones arranged in spiritually significant ways. The Basharma have shamans who serve as religious leaders, but a shaman's authority does not extend beyond their local shrine, as they are thought to have no rapport with the spirits of other locations.

Society

The Basharma have generally amicable relations with the Zabarshu elves of Phersu, as well as with anyone else who may come to visit their islands. They do not, however, have all too much contact with other peoples. The giants prefer to remain in their rugged volcanic lands, away from the coasts, and therefore many who stop by Phersu are not even aware of their presence.

Architecture and urbanization

For shelters the Basharma use still-living trees. Palms growing close enough to others are bent and lashed together, with their canopies serving as a roof to keep out the rain.

While Basharma communities can be relatively large, concentrated around certain volcanoes at any given time, they are also inherently transient. The giants move between the volcanoes that are the most active, and therefore might suddenly abandon a home where they lived for months or years in favor of relocating elsewhere on their island, where they rebuild anew.

Food and cuisine

Despite their size, the Basharma need little food to survive as long as they remain near the heat of their volcanoes. They typically only prepare meals for ceremonial feasts or when traveling. In both cases animals from across their islands are hunted for meat.

Burial practices

Deceased Basharma are returned to the volcanoes, where they are slowly consumed by lava, as even their natural resistance to high temperatures is not enough to protect them in cases of complete immersion. In doing so the Basharma believe the heat of the dead is released to nourish the living - their funerals are very communal affairs that everyone who knew the individual in question seeks to attend.