Rescources

Tools & Trade

Battle Gear
Weapons
Most weapons the Nephite's possess or make themselves are created from bone, which is the sturdiest of the available resources under the sea they can obtain. Stone doesn't tend to cut well or hold up over time. However the scavengers often bring back steel, iron and other metal based weaponry from the human ships that sink and these are certainly desired about even bone since they are far more deadly. The only issue with metal based weapons is they may (depending on the type) weaken on a molecular level and they will go dull (a factor not easily fixed underwater but it CAN be done with the right tools, but one would need a skill for it). Of course the use of metallic weapons is far more feasable above the water.

Armor
The average surface dwellers armor doesn't make practical sense to the Nephites. The metal armors are extremely heavy and slow down even the best of swimmers and the leather based materials fall apart from the water. As a result they often prefer their naturally made armors, such as whale/dolphin hide, tortoise/turtle shells and bone. Above water the metallic armor types are still not heavily used because mobility is valued by the Nephites, but they CAN use them.

Necessities
Clothing
While Nephites still favor their undersea native materials a few have become fond of the land walkers cloth. The favorites are commonly silk and cotton, both of which hold up well in water over time. In terms of natural supplies they also use the same supplies they have for armor, as well as the scales of various sealings and they even make sheer attire from jelly fish membranes.

Jewelry
Standard jewelry exists, thanks to the scavengers as does the resources of the ocean itself. Most prefer shells and pearls since they are more 'natural' to their home. It is important to note that most things colored gold or silver in Nephite society are probably dyed that color since the metals are soft and do not hold to anything under the water over time.

Furniture
Usually furniture is crafted from coral, stone or enormous shells. There are rare instances of giant sealing bones being used for the task and the occasional land walker piece - the latter isn't favored since their furniture is often small (to Nephites) and made of substances (such as wood) that rot in the water or at the very least become unflattering to look at.

Homes
Crafted by coral or rock manipulating magics and built into whatever structure they were shaped from, be it rock ledge of coral reef. They never make a structure by breaking down nature, they simply opt to create dens within it. This results in a deep cave-den like structure to most of their homes and most doors are usually curtained off instead of using doors.

Tools
It isn't over-estimating to say 90% of their tools are crafted from bone with the remaining 10 being 'acquired' from downed human ships.

 

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The most common breakfast meals are: Clam, Oyster (equivalent to eggs to them), Seaweed (bacon or sausage) and Dulse (toast or oatmeal). Common dinners an dlunches are sea lettuce & wakame (just like our lettuce to them), meats (raw from various sealings), kelp & anacharis (fries or a basic side dish). Other additional foods are: Cabomba, sagittaria natans and water cabbage.

Drinks & Booze
Commonly they do not drink, for obvious reasons. However the Nephites have to 'guilty pleasure' drinks they can and do enjoy. The first is bottles/jars of expulsions from hydrothermic vents. This is a rarity since it requires dangerous deep sea travel, however it is very nutritious and tasty, sort of like a really good punch or fruit juice. The second is quite common: Toxins. Yes, they are poisoning themselves (aren't we all when we get drunk?) with various fish toxins at different 'grades'. A low grade toxin means there isn't much of it when you drink it (again this is contained in something or put inside of something your about to eat) and is pretty much like a beer or light wine. A mid-grade toxin is like a good wine or a basic liquor (rum sort of thing). A high grade toxin tastes nasty beyond all reason but will pretty much put a spin on your whole world for the night. Its the equivalent of tequila or premium vodka. There are theoretical 'higher' grades of toxin (called "perfect" grade) but usually taking them results in flirting with death since your taking completely pure and DEADLY toxins of your own free will.

Deserts
These are usually rarer things, which either require a keen eye to find or a trip towards the surface itself. Favorites are: Water lily (the petals), water shield, water caltrop, plankton, algae and angler fish.

© "Hallow Tempest" 2009. All elements of the website, and the story/RPG belong to S. Dolan, G. Schroeder and R. Simpson