Art | The Stone Philosophic

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“Coming through the game trail, we suddenly happened upon a small meadow adjacent to a pond. The trees on all sides of the meadow had been clothed in a shimmering silver cloth, or so it seemed. The finely spun cloth seemed to encroach upon the center of the meadow from the top of the trees such that a clearing some 100′ in diameter at its base opened up to the sky for only about 30′ at its top. The cloth cast no shadow upon the scene, seeming instead to illuminate the entire place with a bright silvery light. Vines had woven themselves throughout the silver cloth, and different colored flowers emerged at intervals from the vines. A few small strands of the vines stretched from the canopy down toward the center of the pond wherein a small cluster of lily pads floated peacefully. Koi played about in the crystal clear waters, and dragon flies buzzed to and fro.

Across the meadow, we heard a voice; “We will have your names, please…”

Taragen Saliéss, Explorer

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Appearing as a hybrid of a giant spider with a torso much like that of a human or an elf, Arachnid Centaurs appear to be a tremendous paradox. To many, their spider bodies are inherently discusting even frightening, and yet their humanoid bodies are consistently beautiful. In any event, these strange creatures are always surrounding themselves with objects of great beauty, much of which they create for themselves. From their clothing to their dwelling places, everything resting long in the company of one of these creatures seems to become that much more pleasant to behold.

Seldom does one of these creatures get far in life without taking up certain artistic skills. Arachnid Centaurs are also known for their devotion to nature, and few endeavor to create anything which would long outlast themselves. The ideal of beauty for one of these creatures is closely tied to nature. Given a choice, an Arachnid Centaur will almost always use natural materials to create anything of interest to her.

Arachnid Centaurs are not particularly friendly to intruders. They will typically use a variety of stratagems from traps to hidden trails to keep outsiders away from their places of dwelling. If that fails, an Arachnid Centaur may or may not take the time to assess the intent of an uninvited guest. Those sharing interests with an Arachnid Centaur may well find themselves at home with these creatures for a time, sharing skills and learning from one another, but an Arachnid Centaur will in time make it clear that it is time for guests to move on. Those with little interest in art of nature will survive the encounter only if the Arachnid Centaurs trust them to leave peacefully (usually with the understanding that they are never to return).

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Riparian Variation: Some Arachnid Centaurs are native to riparian settings. These creatures typically reside in swamps or at the edges of remote lakes and slow moving rivers. They are otherwise much the same as their land-loving cousins.

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“The world contains nothing within which a Tsidatsidi could not find beauty, nor anything the beauty of which she could not reveal to others. Give her a burlap sack and she will hand you back the finest of dresses. Shatter a glass and she will use it to sculpt the very light of the sun. Cut your finger and she will paint with your blood a rose of such beauty that you will soon forget the pain that birthed it.”

– Pali Gundith, Merchant

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These creatures appear as brightly colored humanoids, but upon closer inspection it becomes clear that they are actually plants. The skin of a Tsidatsidi is smooth. The internal structure of her body is a highly pliable form of wood, and her blood is in fact a clear sap.

As it turns out, an individual Tsidatsidi can change her color patterns over a night of sleep. Individuals use this ability as a form of artistic expression. Most Tsidatsidi will adopt a distinctive personal color motif and explore its variations for some time before moving on to something new. If a Tsidatsidi is slain, the color her entire skin will fade to green, a fact which lends the color special significance among this kindred. To a Tisdatsidi, Green is the color of death. Few members of this species would allow themselves to go purely green without adding at least some splash of color.

Due to the changes in coloration, it can be somewhat difficult to recognize one of these creatures amongst her own kindred, but the task is not impossible. (Treat as a target of 20 on a Mental Task Roll for any other Kindred.)

Tsidatsidi are born with a love of visual arts and a gift for producing them. Tsidatsidi will create something beautiful whenever given the opportunity to do so, often producing great works of art out of odd materials and placing them in the strangest of places. It matters little to one of these creatures whether or not a work of art lasts. When the notion strikes, a Tsidatsidi will happily create something with even the most transient of material. No member of this kindred would think it an objection to a piece of art that it had not been made to last. So long as the artist survives, a Tsidatsidi will remind you, there will always be another piece of art to replace those that deteriorate.