Scathacor

Overview

Scathacor, known more simply as "Scarecrows" by the collective mortal populace of Haven, is an extremely sparse and diverse Construct Inomeni race that herald from the plane of Witherhollow, housed within the Realm of the Dead, Thanalasteria. Crafted by the Divine Pevolta, Deity of Autumn, and Abundance. Scathacor act as his heralds in the world of Haven, ensuring that the collective peoples of the planet continue to offer praise to the Pumpkin Lord for his granting of bountiful harvests throughout the season. Alongside this, they will often act as unseen guardians to the natural bounties his domain encompasses, protecting the hard-earned cultivated boon of select laborers from animals and other pests which may wish to devour or destroy it. The name "Scathacor" translates from the Typhonian word describing one which is "Born of Threads," in reference to their appearance of straw and thatch stitched together in a bipedal frame.

The Scathacor are particularly charged with defending Pevolta's domain from the encroachment of his neighboring deity, Samhcnaith, the Divine Goddess of Withering and Scarcity. Often wielding weapons associated with cultivation, such as scythes and sickles, the Scathacor within Thanalastria frequently engage in battle with Samhcnaith's own progeny, who often take the form of the Cailleannach, a force embodying the withering, and eventual scarcity born from Autumn's eventual fade into Winter. These clashes are not merely physical ecchanges, but symbolic battles that reflect the cosmic struggle between abundance and scarcity, growth and decay, as the energies of life and death intertwine in a delicate dance marking the shift of seasons.

Despite their rarity, Scathacor are famed the world over by the collective races for their function as guardians, born of the necessity to defend the needed foods grown by cultivators during the harsher season of autumn. As such, Scathacor is held in great esteem across the world, with their visage adoring numerous pieces of cultural art and iconography, as well as inspiring the idea of the common scarecrow, which is often created to replicate their physical appearance. Alongside being revered for their protective properties, the collective Scathacor serve as a symbol of horror, as their function is one of fear, with their visage often appearing in art meant to bring terror to the viewer.

Near collectively, the Scathacor race is often associated with the holiday of "Feynoch Morrow." Feynoch Morrow itself is a holiday celebrated the world over on the night of the 30th of Autumn Wind, in observance of the God Pevolta, offering praise and worship for his function upon the world. During this day, the number of Scathacor which walk the world often increases due to the substernal incline of arcane energies originating from their home realm, as throughout the month Thanalastria reaches its highest amount of influence over the Mavimyst.

However, not all Scathacor are associated with the day of Feynoch Morrow. Some, like the subrace of the Fainnlaith, have converted themselves to the ways of Pevolta's enemy, Samhcnaith. These Proseltellian Scathacor appearance changes in accordance to their new overlord, and are associated with the holiday of Drualacht Eave. Drualacht Eave itself is a globally recognized day of celebration in reverence to the Goddess Samhcnaith, intentionally made the day after Pevolta's own Feynoch Morrow on the 31st of Autumn Wind. In contrast to this day, Drualacht Eave celebrates the scarcity of food and resource soon to be born from the oncoming Winter, keeping in perspective to not take for granted times of abundance.

Physical

Appearance

The physical appearance of the Scathacor is one of a kind amongst the collective sapient races of Haven, appearing as a shambling, bipedal form of thatch, straw, and hay, crudely stitched together with thread and strings. Typically standing at a height of six feet (1.8 meters) tall, though some can reach heights in excesses of nine feet (2.7 meters). Despite their tall stature, however, due to the nature of their bodies, Scathacor are quite lightweight, often only weighing meager Upon their bodies, numerous accouchements of tattered clothing, most typically being an over-shirt of some sort, and a wide-brimmed sun hat, as well as other articles of clothing often associated with farming cultivation.

Outside of the universal structure that all Scathacor share, various other parts of their bodies can be dependent as to the method in which they were created, with some possessing several sets of extra limbs, or other modeled directly after other Havenborne races. Their attire also varies greatly from individual to individual, ranging anywhere from thatch, straw, and hay stitched together, to an array of varied and sometimes extravagant costumes, such as a traditional farmer's ensemble, or even that of masquerade suits one would typically see at wealthy shows.

Varieties and Subraces

Hayescoth

Scathacor have displayed three distinct racial forms they can adopt, having begun with the "Hayescoth" variety, the portrait-perfect definition of a "Scarecrow." The original form of Scathacor crafted by Pevolta, the first of their number was personally stitched together by the deity, using simplistic wicker, threads of cloth, and straw which dominate most of the Witherhollowan landscape.