Herb Brides

Herb Brides (Травяные невесты, Твириновые невесты, Twyre Brides) are part of The Kin. While implied to be the females of the Worm "species", they nonetheless appear fully human. They communicate with the Earth and dance to bring herbs to the surface. Their dances are part of the obligatory Rite. Herb Brides know the lines, so when dancing Brides can bend and extend them — it's considered a sacred art in the Kin culture. Their clothes split open as they dance. While their main role in the community is to chase the herbs from below the ground and onto the surface, Herb Brides also act as midwives.

"Gatherers gather herbs. I merely live. I caress the Earth, I kiss the Earth, I nourish it with my warmth. Every night I run through the herbs naked and sing lullabies to them. Every night demands a different lullaby. Every herb demands a different lullaby. I know them all. I know how to make herbs lush."

While not as powerful as Mistresses, Herb Brides still posses supernatural abilities. They claim that the Sand Plague doesn't affect them the same way as it does others. If a Herb Bride gets infected with the Plague she will recover quickly unless the infection is too severe. In that case the Bride will die. However, a sick Herb Bride cannot infect anyone else.

Traditionally, herb brides are only allowed to couple with odonghs, and can be bought and traded between them. Their odonghs profit from them, since the Brides are the only ones who are able to nurture the herbs and provide a good harvest.