Llyranesi
|
| ||||||||||||||||
When the common man envisions the glory of the fae, they imagine the llyranesi. The llyranesi exude the glamor of the fey folk while also retaining strong ties to the world itself. To such outsiders, on the surface they seem carefree, capricious or even malicious at times, with an aloofness that renders them seemingly uncaring to the affairs of other races.
The llyranesi have largely focused on maintaining their ties to the Unseen and the Feywild with a single-minded focus that others might see as a sign of madness. Thus, they are as territorial as they are ruthless as they are ephemeral and mysterious. The result is that their seeming aloofness and dispassion towards mundane matters is often misunderstood and the intensity of their eyes often hides a thousand intrigues and perceptions and complex plans that can span centuries given their lengthy lifespans.
The fae, from devouring kelpies to the helpful brownies, spanned everywhere inbetween and this is in their blood as well.
Despite this, llyranesi can be quite attached to the other races, cultures and species, especially those they perceive as loving them or whom they themselves fall in love with. Such llyranesi marvel at the pace of the lives of those with shorter lifespans. At times these elves sport an almost melancholy sadness about them as if aware of the place of the sildanyar in the modern day world and fearful of the dwindling that seems to be plaguing their kind.
Physical Description
The llyranesi are generally shorter then men though their slender builds and tapering long pointed ears give them the appearance of height. Their eyes are wide and almond shaped and usually vibrantly colored. Skin tones tend to be of a lighter shade, sometimes being very pale. Some have observed a soft light that always embrace them, giving them a ghostly luminescent appearance at times but this effect is subtle and usually noticed only under intense scrutiny.
Their beauty exudes fae glamour, but their detached behavior often causes this beauty to seem cold and distant. They favor elaborate and elegant garments that speak of their rich heritage and their cultural history which in turn can cause them to seem overly arrogant as many llyranesi can recite the familial lineage of even the most seemingly mundane items.
Their coloration tends to, though not exclusively, reflect their "Dawn Elf" lgends, and places them at contrast with their cursed brothers and sisters, the mul'niessa, or Shadow Elves.
Society and Lands
Llyranesi society centralizes itself within the mist shrouded confines of the woods of Llyranost. This sprawling forest region is in the very heart of the Greatwood in north central Arcania. From here the Sildanyari Court rules over the entirety of the llyranesi, or so they would like to believe. The ruling family is the Son'doriel, and given the lives of most sildanyari, politics compared to other races may move at quite the slow pace. Many other houses exist...many of which are defined by purpose rather than birth, which again, is a function of their lives. A llyranesi may move between a number of houses throughout their long lives.
Many sildanyari who have tired of the isolation of the Llyranesi Courts have taken to wandering Gaea in nomadic bands that travel from civilized land to civilized land and occasionally settle down in various satellite realms centered around havens known as Manses. These Manses, usually ruled by a powerful llyranesi lord and his or her family, are often built in areas where the planar walls between Gaea and the Mirror Lands are thin, allowing them to access The Unseen and the Feywild in particular.
Many Manses are located in strategic areas, or near leylines, as a nod to the supposed oath their people took ages past, to guard the flow of mana from the agents of Taara, and other gods of Darkness.
The tie between realms is central to elven settlements for the establish connections to these other worlds that enable them work their magical wonders, ward their lands and build their cities. Estania is one such famous settlement, also known for its proximity to the Alexandros region and the central heartlands. It is also known as Mythwood.
Other Races
Many llyranesi believe themselves the true and rightful leaders of the other enlightened races, though they rarely point this out. They prefer to quietly allow other cultures to make a mess of things and then make note of their failings afterward. Other species find their behavior stereotypical of sildanyari arrogance and it is easy to forget the good and sacrifices that the llyranesi have made as they have many times joined the forefront of the armies of Light and often been targeted by forces of shadow that seek to ruin any semblance of good and beauty in the world.
Nevertheless their dismissive nature of other races is often simply a surface veil of their fascination and curiosity. They are particularly fascinated with humans, as should be noted given the number of half elves in the world.
Alignment and Religion
Llyranesi are emotional and capricious at times. Inwardly they are cauldrons of chaotic and creative energy but outwardly their extremely long lifespans afford them patience that even other sildanyari do not possess. Most llyranesi are good but they can veer equally towards law and chaos. Llyranesi possess a strong passion for sun worship and consider themselves the favored children of Eduriel Solis, which is their name for Daeus. Their monuments to this god and sprawling cathedrals of stone and glass are particularly noteworthy.
Adventurers
Llyranesi adventurers from Llyranost have in the past been somewhat rare though recent events have caused a larger involvement of the sildanyari in the affairs of other lands. For the most part, llyranesi who leave Llyranost are young, who desire to see the outside world and experience life at the pace afforded the younger races. Sildanyari from roving bands or the various hidden enclaves around the world tend to have more exposure via trade and travel, to other cultures and species and so are more likely to produce a curious elf with a touch of destiny and a desire to experience what the world has for them.
Llyranesi Elf Racial Traits
Llyranesi normally stand around 4 and a half feet to 5 and a half feet tall, and tend towards uncomfortably thin or slender when compared to humans. They mature at roughly the same rate as humans and half-elves, and are fully grown and developed in the same range of ages as those species. However, due to the depth of elven society, particularly Llyranessi society, elves undergo a rite of adulthood at a symbolic 100 years of age where they are accepted into greater society and take on those additional responsibilities. Elves younger than this are not considered childlike or adolescent but are not considered ready to partake in the complexity of elven society at large.
Llyranesi tend towards slightly taller than the mul'niessa or sylvanori.
The below numbers below assume an "average" person. That is, they probably have a strength and constitution within the 9-11 range. Higher physical stats will make these numbers go up. In other words, a character with 18 strength will weigh much more than one with 9. This site can be used to gauge weight though remember some races possess unique composition, bone structures, or even additional appendages and so on that may influence.
| Llyranesi Average Height and Weight | ||||
| Name | Base Height | Base Weight | Modifier | Weight Multiplier |
| Llyranesi, male | 4ft 3in | 100 lbs | +2d8 | x3 lbs |
| Llyranesi, female | 4ft 3in | 90 lbs | +2d6 | x3 lbs |
| Llyranesi Starting Age | |||
| Adulthood | Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer | Bard, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger | Cleric, Druid, Monk, Wizard |
| 110 years | +4d6 | +6d6 | +10d6 |
- Classification: humanoid (elf)
- +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, -2 Constitution: Llyranesi are nimble, both in body and mind, but their form is frail and hollow-boned.
- Medium: Elves are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Normal Speed: Llyranesi have a base speed of 30 feet.
- Low-Light Vision: Llyranesi can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
- Ageless: Elves do not suffer the ravages of age upon reaching adult hood and cannot be magically aged. However they still die when their time is up.
- Elven Immunities: Llyranesi are immune to magic sleep effects and get a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
- Elven Magic: Llyranesi receive a +2 racial bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance. In addition, elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Spellcraft skill checks made to identify the properties of magic items.
- Arcane Connection (Sp): Llyranesi with at least a charisma score of 10 can pick 2 level 0 spells, chosen from the wizard/sorcerer list, and using his total character level as a caster level, cast up these spells with a limit of up to 4 times a day. They do not need to prepare these spells, they may cast them in any combination up to their limit but they are subject to arcane spell failure. A llyranesi may not cast spells from the necromancy school via this method.
- Fae Insight: Llyranesi can perceive the truths and intentions of those around them better then most others. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Sense Motive checks.
- Keen Senses: Llyranesi receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception skill checks.
- Weapon Familiarity: Llyranesi are proficient with longbows (including composite longbows), longswords, rapiers, and shortbows (including composite shortbows), and treat any weapon with the word elven in its name as a martial weapon.
- Languages: Llyranesi begin play speaking Common and Sildanyari. Elves with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Celestial, Halfling, Khazdul, Mynsandraal, Yrch-Speak.
Character Options
Llyranesi Racial Feats
The below are racial feats for this race. All races receive a bonus racial feat at 6th level (when you level, send in a +request to staff). House feats and feat summaries may be found on the Feats page. Items with a * have had their pre-reqs altered to fit the setting (see Feats page). You must meet the pre-reqs for any racial feat you select.
- Elven Accuracy, Leaf Singer, Attuned to the Wild, Elven Battle Training, Guardian of the Wild, Mage of the Wild, Spirit of the Wild, Warden of the Woods (house)
Optional DM Rules
Ea's magic responds to its people. Wizards, sorcerers, the uncovering of Aspects are not the only ways in which magic manifests.
The following are options for any storyteller, for use in PrPs, scenes, backgrounds, and small stories. If some of these rituals come across as "didn't we always have--!??" that is part of why these are being offered: to illustrate just how active magic is in Ea. Also, just because there are no given mechanics for them does not mean they shouldn't exist.
These rituals and options are beyond the scope of any one PC working on their own.
They are meant to be used as story devices, and tend to require a story element, such as a visit to the sylvanori elders. In addition, they require the presence of more than one person from that community--they are NOT means to add to individual PCs' power levels. Finally, all rituals work according to story. Sometimes rituals sometimes work perfectly, and other times do so to varying degrees (that's just saying they are story-dependent, and not a means of power).
You are welcome to build on these ideas, or expand on them.
Ritual Magic
Edheliya Iya!: The original purpose of the sildanyari it is said, is as warriors of the light. Llyranesi may claim to have been their leaders. Regardless of actual truth, llyranesi in a group tend to draw the attention, and focus, of other sildanyari. Their orders may be heard through the clamor of battle, and it is said even muls get the urge to follow them. This is by no means a compulsion effect--it is more persuasive, and ticks muls off to no end that it's possible. Of course.
Elear Palantíri: The Llyranesi are an ancient people of great knowledge of the arcane and feywild. Through careful preparation, a group of llyranesi can meditate, and seek answers on these topics from the Feywild and Time Beyond. These answers are usually general or more suggestive in nature. This is sometimes referred to Eyes of Palantíri, which would translate to Eyes of Far-seeing.
Faroth-fea: As sildanyari live a long time, so do their magics. The sildanyari developed this ritual to trace a magic's owner or identify its source. The result is not always precise of even conclusive, but rituals such as this enable them to survive in a world ridden with magic.
Curuchuil: The loose translation of Curuchuil is 'life art,' though it loses much in the translation. A Curuchuil is collaborative piece of semi-mystical art that comes from strong emotions between two or more Sildanyar. Families usually invest in a familial Curuchuil, and to be cut out of the Curuchuil is to be rebuked from the line. Families are not the only ones to craft Curuchuil: this can manifest itself when two (or more) individuals share a particularly strong bond, even in some cases between enemies/opponents.
Curuchuil came about because sil experience emotions strongly, and at one time were creatures of the fae realm. Therefore, they more naturally mixed expression with the arcane and later sildanyari, though they lacked these ties, continue the tradition.
It is said they feel compelled to express strong emotion in ways they cannot with words, and over time a work of extraordinary qualities will take form. The actual form of the Curuchuil will vary. Llyranesi are often drawn towards expressions of art, painting and sculpture(or even larger, such as architecture or construction of great vessels), while Sylvanori will tend to the natural world, tending great trees or mystical groves into places of staggering wonder. Mul'niessa do not create life-arts, to Taara's endless frustration. Her attempts at triggering such have ended in horrors.
The Curuchuil of Son'doriel is one particular piece of sculpture that was started by the great-grandparents Queen Cherylindrea on their wedding day, and has been continued by generations of the royal family until it is a home within the great palace in its own right, a living, breathing work of Curuchuil and home dedicated to the love and unbroken line of generations. Conversely, when lords of various territories or families have been in bitter, unbroken conflict for centuries, with skirmishes across the borders and small-scale battles over the years in a stalemate, the Curuchuil they inspire stand as a monument to clashing wills and passions, gradually added to over years of frustrated attempts at diplomacy.
Sacred Objects: Llyranesi have been known to fondle old tomes.
Character Page Badges
Want to show off your Llyranesi pride on your Character Page? Use the following wikicode! (More badges here!)
|
|
| ||||||||||
{{Badge}}
{{Badge-Icon|Elf03.jpg}}
{{Badge-Content}}
{{Badge-Title|Llyranesi PC Badge}}
{{Badge-Entry|Family Name}}''All'' of the letters!
{{Badge-Entry|Role}}Your role, if any
{{Badge-Entry|Faith}}Your Faith
{{Badge-Entry|Politics}}The llyranesi are returning to the world since the Coming of Shadows by Taara. How do you feel about this? How are you involved or not involved?
{{Badge-End}}