Consequences of war, height discussion, Lunaisan hybrids again, and other random bits.
We were mountain people before the wars. As the fabric of the joint Human and Klamon society was torn apart the Klamon were pushed into the wilder places and they in turn pushed what Humans remained there out, fearing what the Humans might do if they left them alone. We lost our homes and sacred places and so did the Klamon. No one was happy with how the wars played out, but how do you make peace after all of that?
How do you find peace when one side completely demolished a city full of civilians with no regard to the number of innocent lives completely disconnected from the initial action? Three people died when the school burned down. Hundreds, thousands died in Holahth.
And then you had the reprisals. To their credit Klamon didn't kill indiscriminately. They targeted their destruction. Military targets, sure. They tried to disrupt the machines of war, but they also went after thinkers, inventors, the people who knew how to build things. They relentlessly sought to cripple human technology and understanding and did a good job of it. Humans went from the cusp of mechanical engines and electric power to nothing. Back to wood fires, charcoal, horses and oxen, nothing, all that knowledge wiped out.
"You shouldn't be here, Tafa. They burned the library because of me. Because of the idea of a Klamon among the Meim. I don't know what they would do if someone saw you here."
"I can take care of myself, Sray." He assured her.
She looked down at him. "No, you can't." She said, her expression making it clear there was no way to change her mind on that declaration. "Not with these constructs. I've tried"
He frowned back at her. "We can discuss that later. For now I am grateful you are alive and well." He hugged her again. "I can go home and be the ghost again."
Sray is pretty tall. I don't think she's six foot, but she stands no shorter than 5'8" and is most likely taller. At this point in the story she is the tallest one in her family, I'm not sure if Kallon catches up or passes her, I think he's a little more compact than his sister, takes a little more after their father. Kamenan Humans average a little taller than Ela'yan and Gollanan. Envanan are taller still. I think Johnus Pfyllat is an outlyer for Byajintoran people, he's just a big guy all around. The twins take after him.
Teigan and Kayrin are pretty much the same height. Janef is young, not sure where she will finish out at, probably not much shorter than Sray.
"Klamon have known of Meim for a hundred and fifty years, it isn't our fault they failed to realize it."
The Lunaisan Klamon hybrids have their own secret society of sorts and coded language they use. "The Family" refers to all of the hybrids. "The mothers" would be the founding mothers of the group, the women who had volunteered for the experiments and had the first generation of hybrid children. "The fathers" aren't referred to as much because they were non-present: the Klamon men who were abducted for the experiments.
Somewhere between 30 and 40 years after they landed on Lunais a group of the first generation went to seek out their fathers.
"How long can a war last?"
The natives of Lunais keep to themselves for the most part. Once they were more established the Lunaisan hybrids did trade with them and probably learned how to fish and sail from them. Whether the Lunaisan natives know they are hybrids or not I have no idea at this point.
Jina Pfyllat is a jewelsmith. She works in fine metals, gems, and stones. Jorgin followed in their father Johnus' footsteps and is predominantly a blacksmith, though he works in other metals as well.
They say the most loyal of the Meim are those who are from the lowest levels of society. Those who thought they were doomed to a life of scavenging in city streets or barely subsisting on the ailing family farm and were given knowledge and skills that allowed them to increase their station. What is the annual tithe when you owed them everything you had?