Sankta
| Race | Trivia |
The Sankta (both singular and plural) are a race in the world of Arknights.
Description
Sankta are humanoids with halos above their heads and luminescent "wings" of varying shapes and sizes on their backs. These make them reminiscent of the angels in the Abrahamic religions of our world. The Sankta's halo is a physical object, preventing them from wearing any tall headwear that would cover it (e.g. conical party hats) although they can still wear most headwear as long as it is not too tall.[1] Their halos and wings will diminish upon death, and diseases or birth defects could affect them.
As the representation of their race, their halos give them a sixth sense known as "empathy," which allows them to feel other Sankta's emotions when coming close to each other. However, the health of a Sankta depends on their halos. One significant empathy disorder illness, formally named non-pathological empathic impairment or commonlly called "Exile" or "Errari,"[note 1] could strongly affect their emotions and communication skills. It is predominantly found among Sankta who have left from their homeland for a long period of time and are unfamiliar with the Sankta culture. Although this does not bring harm to the bodies, it makes the patients confused when trying to use their empathy sense such as not able to understand one's inner feeling.[2]
Most, if not all, Sankta are born in Laterano. They are proficient in the usage of firearms, especially long guns (e.g. rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, shotguns), due to their aptitude in Originium Arts involved in using them, and a Sankta are authorized to own a "patron firearm" upon reaching twelve years old.[3] They are physically bound by "the Law" through their haloes.[4] Any Sankta who has a child with a member of another race will be guaranteed to have a non-Sankta offspring (e.g. the child of a Sankta-Forte couple will always be a Forte). The exception to this is when a Sankta has a child with a Sarkaz, where the child will have a weaker halo.[5]
Being forgotten in history, Sankta actually have a common origin with the Sarkaz/Teekaz coming from the ancient eras.[6] It was their first contact with the Law that granted them their Sankta traits, but their former traits still remain dormant in their genes, such as interracial breeding that allows their offspring to be part of the Law as in Cecelia's case. However, to the Sarkaz, the Sankta are viewed as "traitors" who chose to shed the blood of their sibling race, and the Sarkaz still curse their betrayal to this day.[7]
Fallen
A fallen Sankta (often nicknamed "fallen angel") is someone who has broken the Law. There are many ways to fall, but the most well-known is by using their patron firearm against another Sankta (i.e. harming or killing). Any fallen Sankta will no longer be treated as a true Sankta. The punishments of a fallen Sankta can include but are not limited to:
- Having a dimmer or shattered halo and wings.
- Regrowing their dormant Sarkaz traits (i.e., tail and horns).
- Losing their ability to use their patron firearms, or being "rejected" by them in their words.
- Losing their racial empathy ability.
Fallen Sankta are still subjected to their national laws as well. They could be banished from their homeland or be placed under constant surveillance by an overseer. They must not reveal their status publicly within their homeland. Thankfully, the current Pope Yvangelista XI is quite lenient with the fallen Sankta and even allows them to serve the government as long as their "crime" is not severe.
What causes a Sankta to fall is determined by the Law without clear definitions.[8] While the Popes make Commandments that are interpretations of the demands of the Law, the ultimate interpretation of whether or not a Sankta falls rests with the Law itself. One example of a difference between Commandment and Law is the Commandment that Sankta cannot shoot each other with their patron firearms. At one point, Andoain and Yvangelista XI actually shot each other with their guns, but they did not fall.[4] It is implied that this is because the Law needs both of them to continue the existence of the Sankta.
Notable
- Luciana Giallo
- Marcello Giallo
- Delfina (Hortus de Escapismo)
Of the above characters:
- Mostima and Fortuna are the only known fallen Sankta.
- Mostima became fallen because she was forced to shoot Andoain in self-defense during a mission in Kazdel that went awry.
- Fortuna became fallen after she fatally injures her friend Delfina during an argument which resulted in her patron firearm accidentally discharging.
- Andoain is the only known Sankta who was not born in Laterano; he was born in Iberia.
- As stated above, Cecelia was born to a Sarkaz father and a Sankta mother, but she is identified as a Sankta.
Etymology
Their name derives from the Esperanto word for "holy"/"sacred,"[9] with its root word originating from the synonymous Latin word, sanctus.[10] Alternatively, the name could also mean "saintess" in Swedish.[11]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Present passive infinitive of errō, "to go astray" in Latin
References
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