Shemèin
The Shemèin are a fallen subspecies of the once-divine Valorèin, born from the willful embrace of the Curse and severance from the light of It'slémwé. While the Valorèin are defined by their sacred Bonding and radiant connection to the the Mother and Father, the Shemèin exist as a tragic inversion—unbound, spiritually deaf, physically deteriorating, and devoted to the voice of the imprisoned god Malis.
They are immortal, but decaying. Powerful, but fractured. And above all, they are desperate—either to find redemption or to rewrite the cosmos in their cursed image.
Origins
The Shemèin were originally Valorèin who remained unbound—those who never completed the Sacred Bond and resisted union through The Ûlèum. In moments of agony, despair, or exposure to Malisik corruption, these unbound chose to embrace the Curse rather than resist it.
This decision is utterly foreign to the Valorèin soul. It requires a fundamental spiritual collapse, a rejection of the Mother and Father, and the deliberate severing of one's path to It'slémwé.
Thus, the Shemèin are not merely altered—they are self-forged apostates.
Biology and Appearance
Shemèin possess a striking and terrifying appearance:
- Coal black skin
- Glowing red eyes
- Pronounced canines, especially visible during rage or laughter
- Black, viscous blood that resembles raw petroleum
Eventually Artificial circulatory fluids are required due to advanced degeneration
Over time, their bodies become increasingly synthetic. Many require full cybernetic augmentation to survive, often reducing them to little more than a consciousness within armor.
They cannot:
- Feel the Vistrum
- Form The Bond (Valorèin)
- Perform the Ûlèum
- Hear the Call of It'slémwé
Society and Culture
Shemèin live in massive Ecumenopolis—planet-spanning cities devoid of nature or light. These cold hives worship Malis and his prophet Malismorai, their temples towering like cyclopean stadiums. They purge worlds of all life to make way for their mechanical dominions.
They are militaristic, hierarchical, and merciless. Every Shemèin is either a warrior, a cybernetic priest, or a tool.
They are known to wield Super Weapons and have obliterated planets like Ûblai in attempted purges. Only divine intervention, such as from the Valorèin Royal Navy, has prevented total extinction events.
Redemption and the Zekarin
Despite their fallen state, redemption is possible. A species known as the Zekarin were once Shemèin who rebelled against the Malisik during the Zekarin Rebellion. Their plea to the Divine Parents was answered, and the Naa'ôna rescued them, sheltering them within the Stars until their spirits could be cleansed.
Now, the Zekarin walk once more in the light of It'slémwé, proving that even spiritual death is not final.
Relationships and Role
Shemèin are almost exclusively allied with the Malisik and the Malisik Inquisition, where they serve as scientists, generals, and enforcers. They are revered by the Malisik, feared by the Free Species, and pitied by the Valorèin.
Many worlds have standing "kill on sight" laws for Shemèin.
Notable Shemèin
- Zakar Golok – Grand Inquisitor who led the invasion of Ûblai
- Merith Oren – A fallen hero who chose the Curse to survive and lived with the burden of slaying his rampantly cursed beloved, Talèna Zurdon
Countless other Inquisitors, warlords, and whispering prophets
Philosophy and Devotion
Though their ideologies vary, most Shemèin believe:
- The Divine Law betrayed them
- Malis offers freedom and vision
- Malismorai speaks truths denied by the Divine Family
Their faith is not always fanatical, but it is consuming. To be Shemèin is to exist in constant spiritual hunger—for justification, for validation, for the sense of belonging they once knew.