Tatani

From Mizahar Lore

Tatani the ability to communicate with birds and eventually absorb what they see granted by Eywaat.

The Mechanics

When one begins to understand the language of the birds there is a strange layering of voices. The physical caws, croons and whistles are heard naturally, but the translation happens within the thoughts. There is a slight delay between sound and understanding, that begins to fade over practice. Once a bird has used the physical method to communicate and recognizes the marked one, the rest of their communication may transition to a purely mental form. At the second level the marked one can speak and be understood, at the third level one can transmit a thought and be understood. When a bird utters a concept that is not easily expressed through language, the internal translation will be a foreign sounding word. For example, a bird may want to express the bird word for the sensation of a feather falling out. This will register in the hearer's mind as "Flitherness".

A marked on will also begin to recognize dialects between species of birds. This will manifest in the internal monologue. A desert crow will have a rapid throaty tone, whereas a falcon from Kalea may have an abrupt and clear tone.

Appearance

The Tatani gnosis looks like avian inspired jewelry on the ear. When granted the gnosis, feather like shapes appear on the top of the pinna. With every gnosis, the adornment grows in length and vibrancy of color. Those marked claim the adornment has the texture of stiff feathers, but cannot be broken. Some "marks" have patterns reminiscent of bird's plumage.

A negative mark from Eywaat begins as a patch of flaky gray skin on the shoulder, resembling the molting process of a bird. It expands with every curse, eventually taking over the torso.

Mark Progression

Marked [Cursed] - 1 Gnosis Mark
	Marked: At this level, a marked one can hear the basic language of nearby birds. The more one listens, the greater their vocabulary becomes. While a marked one can hear most the language, they are unable to respond effectively or give anything beyond gesture based commands. Birds will understand the marked one's clear body language and expression, but only words strongly felt will be transmitted. Cursed: A cursed one has the ominous dread of being watched all the time, which is usually accurate. He is trailed by birds, eager to annoy and steal. If he stays in one place too long, hundreds of birds will gather around his abode. Occasional physical attacks from birds are unpleasant but not serious.
Favored [Despised] - 2 Gnosis Marks
	Favored: With the second gnosis, the favored one is able to freely communicate with birds within shouting distance. He can give commands and ask questions. A favored one understands concepts that are unique to birds and is thought of as a friend to them. In times of trouble, birds will respond to the favored one's voice, arriving from miles around to render aid. Despised: At this level, menace moves into aggression. Attacks become more frequent and harmful. Traveling become difficult unless the despised one is willing to battle any bird that could spy him.
Priest/Priestess [Adversary] - 3 Gnosis Marks
	Priestess/Priest: A Priestess of Eywaat is integrated into flocks, viewed with the same reverence as a fellow bird, often even as a leader amidst flocks. Fluent communication can be achieved from great distances. A Priestess will also begin to absorb the basic senses of a bird. They can discern wind currents, incoming danger, and have an uncanny ability to travel to recalled places without any map. A Priestess will also become more adept at solving difficult problems and begins to have a knack for seeing a simple solution when matters become convoluted. This is due to Eywaat's influence in the sphere of ingenuity. Adversary: Instead of waiting to spy the adversary, birds will seek him out to do him harm. Attacks become frequent and vicious. Eywaat's other sphere, ingenuity, begins to come into play. An adversary will have a difficult time with problem solving, especially in areas that require creativity.
Champion [Nemesis] - 4 Gnosis Marks
	Champion: Nemesis: