Nesoi Symbology
Cave Symbols
Nesoi symbols are not random art but a multi-layered record system — part genealogy, part ecological logbook, part astronomical calendar, and part spiritual testament. Together, they encode the Nesoi’s cultural memory, survival strategies, and cosmic worldview, linking clan identity to the Allsong and to the wider universe.
In Fires of Hina, the Nesoi clan caves are covered with a vast range of symbols, serving as both spiritual records and practical guides. Here’s a summary of what appears across the caves and their general meanings:
Cycle markers – Circular and line-based symbols track Hina’s lunar cycles, Thalassa’s orbital periods, and storm-tide catastrophes. Some caves contain twenty-mark tallies for catastrophic “hell cycles” when moons and stars align.
Celestial symbols – Suns, moons, worlds, and constellations (e.g., the Pleiades, Procyon, Thalassa, Hina) appear frequently. These represent cosmic cycles, creation myths, and the ancestral connection of the Nesoi to star-beings and engineers.
Clan glyphs – Each matriarch leaves a distinctive paw- or fin-mark, often stylized into recognizable seals. These are genealogical emblems, recording leadership succession and clan identity.
Trial and survival marks – Symbols track crucibles (natural disasters, battles, hardships). They include shapes for tsunamis, fires, bolides, predators, and battles. Tallies mark the number of crucibles endured, recording resilience and life-span.
Ecological tallies – Icons of prey and predators (mantis squid, wiggles, spears, etc.) appear as marks of abundance or major battles. They encode ecological history into cultural memory.
Genealogical walls – Long tunnels of repeated matriarchal sigils show the continuity of Nesoi souls across lifetimes, inscribed in living biofabric that responds with light when touched, hinting at a metaphysical record of soul-journeys.
Sacred motifs – Light and shadow symbols, often tied to Z’yara the Lightweaver, mark salvation and refuge during tidefall. These embody the spiritual dimension of protection and ancestral presence.
Fires of Hina 