Ars Arcanum, Qiocosti (Fan-made Shardworld with food and gift-giving magic)

[Cocoa he/him]

Qiocosti (CHEE-ōh-kōs-tee) is a minor shardworld with Endowment-aligned investiture. The planet is very tectonically active, resulting in an abundance of mountains, volcanoes, and islands, as well as plenty of fertile soil for plants to grow.

The Qiocosti cognitive realm is inhabited by Endowment-aligned splinters of Adonalsium, natively identified as "tsalatin" (singular "tsalatl"). Tsalatin are sapient, though as a general rule not notably intelligent or focused, similar to Nahel spren that have crossed over to the physical realm and are in the early stages of bonding a Radiant. There are five major groupings of tsalatin, though each of these groupings is not so much a 'species' as they are collections of slightly different 'species' with a host of shared traits and some differences. Each grouping of tsalatin is able to affect the world in a specific way, with minor variations on that theme for each of the sub-types within that grouping. Much like shards, tsalatin are bound by any oaths or promises they may make, and also cannot outright lie (but can be intentionally misleading).

Fire behaves unusually in the Qiocosti system, faintly strengthening the connection between the three realms (though not remotely close to the effect of a perpendicularity). Its presence allows a small amount of investiture to trickle through to the physical and cognitive realms, but also allows those in the cognitive to more easily interact with the physical and vice-versa. Fire in the physical realm also actively reacts to nearby tsalatin in the cognitive realm by changing color, with the resulting shade determined by which tsalatl is nearby.

The closest thing to an invested art on Qiocosti are the traditions of gift-giving between humans and tsalatin. On the side of the tsalatin, they will often use their natural talents to swing the fortunes of humans they have taken a shine to. On the side of the humans, they will often leave offerings of food outside their house, accompanied by a small candle or brazier to act as a beacon and a gateway for a tsalatl or tsalatin.

Oftentimes these offerings will go untouched, but if a tsalatl accepts it, they will 'consume' it, after a fashion. Food consumed by a tsalatl will become odorless and tasteless, and will do little to satiate hunger if a human eats it. Consuming food in this way lets the tsalatl experience its taste and texture, as well as a small measure of investiture drawn from the spiritual realm. Tsalatin can also detect the touch of those who prepared the food when they consume it, can use it to track and recognize them, and can teach other tsalatin to recognize them.

One very important note is that these exchanges are not transactional, and treating them as such instead of as gifts freely given between friends is a reliable way to ignite the temper of any tsalatl. A human can go for years leaving gifts for tsalatin with no compensation received. Similarly, a tsalatl who takes a shine to a particular human or group of humans or is moved by a plea for aid may use their abilities to grant them a boon without ever receiving a meal. Gifts are not always exchanged directly, so a tsalatin whose favor is won by an old woman might turn around bless that woman's granddaughter, for example. Tsalatin are also not restricted to using their abilities to grant gifts. A human who trespasses and disturbs the area where a tsalatl lives without appropriately placating them may be in for a very rough time.

The five major groupings of tsalatin, as well as their associated colors, what flavors they are most drawn to, the season they are most commonly associated with in folklore, and their abilities are as follows:

Popochetin turn flames a bright crimson, are associated with early and mid summer, and are drawn to spicy and pungent foods. They are capable of inflaming emotions, similar to a rioter misting. A popochetl boon may come in the form of the recipient receiving a burst of courage when she most needs it, or a target of their affections having their yet-unrealized reciprocation nudged forward. An offended popochetl may push someone to lose his temper at the wrong moment, or even wreak havoc on his personal relationships.

Nanaketin turn flames a deep gold, are associated with the monsoon season of late summer and early fall, and are drawn to savory or umami foods. Out of all tsalatin, nanaketin are the most attuned to the physical realm, and can most easily see into it and interact with it. While theoretically any tsalatl can appear in the physical realm as heatless ball of appropriately-colored fire floating in the air, only nanaketin can do so without expending a truly prohibitive amount of energy. Similarly, with a little effort, a nanaketl can make their voice audible to nearly anyone nearby in the physical realm, not just those with cracked spiritwebs or a strong connection to the cognitive realm. As a result, nanaketin are the tsalatin that humans most often directly interact with and befriend, and their boons often take the form of simple companionship or acting as scouts and guides.

Qiaqahotin turn flames a teal-blue, are associated with autumn, and are drawn to foods with richness and fattiness, such as those that incorporate a large amount of cream or oil. Their abilities are broad, but all revolve around the manipulation and understanding of language. A pleased qiaqahotl might provide inspiration to an orator or poet, or even go as far as to temporarily bond with a person traveling to a foreign land to act as a translator for them. A human who has offended a qiaqahotl might find themselves, in the worst of cases, suffering from a prolonged episode of aphasia or muteness.

Azakatin turn flames a pure white, are associated with winter, and are drawn to sweet and salty foods. Azakatin are capable of manipulating the physical forms of living things. Most commonly they are able to promote or hamper healing or the growth of plants, but that is far from the only ability that can be found among them. The Qiocosti story of the ugly but virtuous fifth daughter, who succeeded in a series of challenges where her elder sisters failed and in return was blessed with otherworldly beauty by an impressed azakatl is, if not strictly based in fact, at the very least a possible story.

Totoqitin turn flames green, are associated with spring, and are drawn to sour and bitter foods. Totoqitin are closer to the spiritual realm than other tsalatin, and both their boons and their curses take the form of precognitive dreams and visions. Of all tsalatin, totoqitin are the most capricious.

Edited December 27, 2021 by Cocoa