Ardem / Devoted but Lecherous

For centuries, the Ardem tribe has been the most numerous in Meority thanks to their immense desire for… procreation; and if not for the low fertility rate of their eggs, it would have been extremely high long before the current age. It comes from the fact that Ardem enter mating season about every other month, during which a faint scent of cinnamon and fruits wafts from their sweat and pheromones. While growing appetite and infatuations may warn about approaching leap in carnality beforehand, it became routinely for sistren of other tribes to expect minor delays or halts in some systems and infrastructures during these weeks.

This is not to say that outside of these days, Ardem are not sexually active – after all it was the Ardem Engifted who founded Slime and Tentacles Doctrine, and their engineers design various pleasure machines – but at least they are sober enough to be remarkably diligent and endeavorous members of society, committing themselves to making up for “wasted” time, never afraid to take on responsibility or difficult tasks, performing to the best of their ability. For Ardem, laziness is inadmissible both in bed and at work, so they expect each other (and other tribes) to give their all in every aspect of life, or face systemic contempt and scorn. In thought, it is presumed that Ardem want to uphold societal stability for own good, so that they can continue to dedicate themselves to the things they enjoy the most in their free time, without worsening the benefits and qualities of life we have achieved over centuries of progress.

Except… there is another way in which Ardem channel their prurience. As passionate as they are for sexual pleasure, it all comes down to a mental response from physical and psychical sensations, be it receiving or giving, and a minor re-wiring can easily turn the desire for lust and procreation into a frenzy of ruination. A mental switch that converts any Ardem into a vicious berserk who revels in carnage and seeks for pain.

The confrontation face-to-face with the Ardem warriors in such state always terrified other tribes: with razor-sharp blades on their fast-striking tails, and piercing claws and fangs, they swiftly shred their victims in the carnival of flesh; not bothering if they are mangling themselves in the process, for their brain shuts off any physical discomfort – even if the blades and hands are broken, and the earth is soaking wet with their own blood, leaking from bone-shattered limbs – with a smile they will hunger for more pain, their own and the foe’s. The most terrifying thing is to realize that such amorous and seductive people as Ardem can turn into bloodthirsty creature not out of hatred or envy, nor to protect the dearest to them, but for the sake of pure pleasure.

During less peaceful times of our history, some nations have counted their Ardem citizenry to be a major war asset, managing military campaigns according to mating seasons and population size on each side. However, the most disastrously infamous battles occurred when both side would sent their numerous Ardem against each other, which only resulted in a combined wave slaughtering every othertribe sistren around – for Ardem berserks do not attack one another as long as they can sense the presence of another prey.

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As a result of their highly promiscuous lifestyle, the Ardem immune system is untouchable by venereal diseases (which are so few and innoxious among other tribes anyway). They are generally bisexual and do not shy away from any relations with sistern of other tribes. They as well don’t hold conventional notions of family – when ready for a long-term relationship, usually in their mid-years, Ardem form a group of a dozen or more mutual spouses called Garappe, where together they share one bed, parent responsibilities and household-financial concerns... but especially bed. This include the othertribe sistren who have dared to live in Garappe – entangled in a web of endless love, it is a great challenge to survive emaciation, exhaustion and tortures of pleasure during Ardem mating seasons. In such relationships, Ardem do not resort to outside affairs and dalliance: flirtation is acceptable to find new spouses to share with the rest of Garappe, but they are expected to be faithful to the rest of the relationship from now on, with the sole exception of participating in Carnal Rites within the Libidant Guilds, with the rest of the familiar congregation.

Ardem are comprised of four distinct genetic groups: Ardem De are the most common and most lustful of them all; Ardem Va are truly vicious – they often turn to the violent side of their inner nature instead of procreation, spending their time hunting down the Cults of Envy or Jealous Beastiary, hence they are a genetic minority; Ardem Al are sanguineous in a different way – they are fascinated by the feeling of pain and prefer very rough and extreme activities for the body and mind, so if you don’t make them moan in the pleasures of agony... then it will be you; Ardem Do are the shy ones (for Ardem) – their sexual drive is not as licentious, the mating seasons are shorter, and they can even commit to a single partner for a long-term marriage.

Unlike many other tribes, instead of the commonly structured nose with nostrils, Ardem have four spiracle-like orifices on their necks with “nasal” cavities surrounding the trachea tube before joining with it slightly above clavicles. The respiratory system, however, is still connected to the pharynx for voice modulation via airflow. Below the primary eyes are two smaller ones, capable of seeing ultraviolet light. With the exception of the head, Ardem are absolutely hairless. The syringe-like fangs are designed to quickly deliver a substance from venom glands in one swift bite, and in the case of Ardem, this is an aphrodisiac fluid: compatible with most sistren tribes but highly potent and thence dangerous.

The spinnerets are located on each wrist under the carpus, and are typically segmented into three orifices, each producing its own filament. The silk glands are on the inside of the forearm and between bones. Combining the filaments from both arms can produce a silk thread strong enough to support the weaver's weight, and when Ardem completely empty their silks glands they can produce a thread of such strength forty times longer than own height. For more precise web work, Ardem use their nails to separate and move the filaments.

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Ardem adore all bodies – because the body is art. Comfortable with openly exhibiting own beauty and sensuality, they, as a widely spread tribe, set an example that sistren tribes quickly followed, and eventually the Expressions of the Body have been seen as meritorious since before the preserved history (within reasonable suggestive limits, of course, unless Revealing is imposed by religion or status). Expressions of the Body is the Ardemial founding philosophical principle – not sexual lust, but aesthetic love and appreciation for the bodies granted to us by our Allmother, as arousing and hot as She intended. Our flesh is made of Her flesh, we should not be ashamed of our bodies nor hide them, but present them in all their beauty, for each other to admire. This also means the duty of ours is to keep these bodies healthy and fair as they were given – a healthy spirit in a healthy body – a joyful mind in a gorgeous figure.

Evidently, until the middle of the Age of Crumbling, Ardem walked practically naked in good weather, wearing just sandals and a loose scarf to hide from the suns, but over time, other tribes also influenced them, and Ardem realized that clothes shall be, but not to conceal our bodies, no, they believe otherwise – the clothes are first to emphasize and complete our gorgeousness, like adding flair and spice to a hot dish.

There was no peculiarity in Ardem migration patterns during the Age of Crumbling: their rapidly growing population would settle in every new land that was discovered. Ancient ruins all over the Northern Continent suggest that even back then the Ardem already devoted themselves to faiths in Her Bottom and successfully captivating other tribes to join. And despite the forbiddance established by the Hegemony during their tyranny, Ardem kept praying in secrecy for two millennia.

After the Church of Thighs was established, and the second Angel of Love was pronounced as a Matriarch of Thighs in the first century AA, the Ardem flock to the Northern Continent, where the Teaching of Thighs is widely spread, and avoid the Realms of Bosom, where it is less welcomed. Though, Ardem Va find the Bosomian Fortress Cities more hospitable to satisfy their berserk predisposition.

Each Sacred Tribe worships its own Aspect, but Ardem are so passionate and dedicated to the Angel of Love and Her Church of Thighs that they all believe themselves to be her spouses and are not jealous each other. As well it is hard to find any Ardem goods and services which are not adorned with the Runes of Love or the Trigons of Hips and Thighs.