Feydragon
| Feydragon Fey-drag-uhn | |
|---|---|
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| Plural: | Feydragons |
| Scientific Name: | draco sapiens pauxillulus |
| Homeworld: | Ramath-lehi |
| Characteristics | |
| Height: | 0.69 m (2 ft 3 in) - 1.10 m (3 ft 8 in) |
| Weight: | 6.8 kg (15 lbs) - 27 kg (60 lbs) |
| Colouration: | Feydragons may be any colour at all. |
| Creation Notes | |
| You must choose a subtype of Feydragon (Kynnyn, Alanamsul, Azetsum, or Myshemd) for your character and it must reflect their physical appearance. | |
Contents
Description
The "fair folk" of Ramath-lehi. An ancient subspecies with deep ties to the magic they wield, Feydragons (often referred to as Fey), are as widely varied as there are many kinds of magic.
A Feydragon is always easy to tell apart from other subspecies of Pendragon, as they have distinct traits in their appearances. Most notably, the Fey are smaller; on average and when fully-grown, quadrupeds are no bigger than the red fox of late Earth, and bipeds are no taller than 1.10m (roughly 3 feet 8 inches). It is possible for one to be larger, but if the individual is not a hybrid with another subspecies then this is extremely rare. Fey often refer to Pendragons as tall, even if the Pendragon in question is considered short by his/her peers.
The Fey always have wings, and always have tail-flames. The only exceptions are if they were cut off, or something else happened to remove them. Fey wings are one of the most varied parts of their appearance; wings that would be biologically impossible, yet are capable of working, are not uncommon, and in fact are a good way of spotting a Fey. Aside from the tail-flame, the Fey's tail is more or less the same as a regular Pendragon's.
Nearly all Fey wear special tattoos, often related to their bloodlines and infused with Fromina. This technique was developed long before technology, and it continues to be used frequently, due to it being much cleaner and generally less painful and dangerous than regular tattoo artistry.
They age at the same rate as the regular Pendragon, but due to their smaller size, they have more frail bodies and are more likely to die of old age. Accidents which would leave larger 'dragons mildly injured have been known to fatally injure Fey; in particular the nioties are often in danger if they live in mainstream Ramathian society.
Feydragons Subtypes
" The beauty of the Fey is unspeakable
They fly swiftly beyond the trees and sky
Whilst I watch their children in the snow. "
- -- Anonymous poet
Most notable is that the Fey are divided into a number of different subtypes - being so magically attuned, this is not as surprising as it may seem. For simplicity's sake, and to save peoples' sanity, they are grouped into four subtypes: the Kynnyn, the Alanamsul, the Azetsum, and the Myshemd.
Kynnyn (commo[n])
Easily the most common of the Fey, and the most common in Ramathian society, the Kynnyn are often said to be the "everyman" of the subspecies. This is at least partly because the classification itself is used for multiple groups: the actual Kynnyn, Fey hybrids, and individuals who are no longer part of their original clans for whatever reason.
The "true" Kynnyn are said to have developed from hybrids or exiles. Regardless of reason, they generally hold little affinity to any particular element in magic - generalists, as opposed to specialists. Interestingly, this gives them the potential to become mages more powerful than any other of the Fey subtypes. This "jack-of-many-trades" quality also extends to their culture: they are taught to be multi-talented, with some clans having a mentality of taking even hobbies seriously.
"Mongrel" Kynnyn are made up of hybrids and Fey from other groups who abandoned their heritage. The practice of sending such individuals to live in Kynnyn clans is an old one, going back thousands of years, but with the Azypot [see History] placing Fey within Ramathian society, these individuals are often automatically labeled Kynnyn in official documents. And while a number of "Mongrels" have always objected to the practice, seeing it happen within bureaucracy has been a frequent source of outrage. Some "Mongrels" - as well as pure-blooded Fey from other groups - have been campaigning for a way to classify them differently, but with ancient practices and prejudices, there is no easy answer.
Alanamsul (elemental)
In terms of population, the Alanamsul are the second most common subtype of Feydragon, although there is a significant gap between them and the most populous (the Kynnyn). Despite this they are amongst the most well-known, and one of the most studied subtypes.
The Alanamsul are named for each clan's practice of worshipping one of the Numegola as a patron/matron deity, to the point that they refer to themselves as that deity's children. Their magical inclination takes after their "parent", and their appearance is likewise influenced, though to a lesser degree. (e.g. A clan that worships Reda would refer to themselves as Children of Reda, be inclined towards fire magic and pyrokinesis, and have fire-themed appearances.)
Their wings resemble those of insects, but are far more sturdy (having bone and muscle is not uncommon, these being the Fey). Other, rarer insectoid traits that occur from time to time include scales, antennae and (extremely rarely) compound eyes.
Azetsum (existan[t])
Very little is known about the Azetsum, particularly in comparison to the other types of Fey. In earlier times it was speculated that they were merely Alanamsul of Fromina and Tanastlasei, but studies have since revealed that this is not the case; physically and culturally, they are too different.
The Azetsum are popularly known as "angels" due to their appearance: they are larger than other types of Fey in terms of overall size, and their bodies are on average stronger and sturdier. They are always light in colour, though a fraction of the population also has markings which are darker in colour (e.g. white with black stripes). The wings of the Azetsum resemble those of birds, down to being covered in feathers. Perhaps most notably, they are regarded as nigh-universally beautiful and/or handsome by most of the Ramathian population, leading some to wonder if they were deliberately bred to be so attractive.
All this, along with a culture that centres largely on worship of Tanastlasei and Fromina, has given the Azetsum an image of kindly, noble and beautiful "divine champions" who struggle for the continued existence of Ramath-lehi and its people. In some regards, this is true; the culture of their clans ensures that some, at least, take on religious duties which may involve such actions. However, like with all other people of Ramath-lehi, there are those who approach these duties in a morally questionable manner.
Myshemd (nothing)
If the Azetsum are the "angels" of the Feydragons, then there is little doubt that the Myshemd would be the "demons". Often stereotyped as evil and nihilistic worshipers of Kytlekh, this viewpoint has changed and is still changing in the more educated parts of Ramath-lehi, thanks to research into their culture and history as well as individuals showing who they actually are.
The stereotype may come at least partly from their appearances. Generally, Myshemd come in dark colours, though some have lighter-coloured markings (e.g. dark red with yellow spots). Their wings come in two different varieties; males usually have bat-like wings, complete with webbing (how extensive the webbing is tends to vary between individuals), while females' wings are more unusual. They have the structure of a bat's wings, but are covered in feathers. Of course, exceptions do occur now and then. A trait that occurs almost exclusively to this sub-type is the existence of glands near the claws; these glands are able to secrete poison.
It is worth noting that the subject of Kytlekh, and worship of the Nothing, is a major source of conflict in Myshemd clan politics. Some clans still follow this religion and its philosophy; however, many have long since moved away from this to worship other deities. Needless to say, these religious conflicts can become extremely violent, and some speculate that this may have been one of the causes of the Azypot [see History].
Culture and Religion
The majority of Feydragons live away from mainstream Ramathian society, in separate societies referred to as clans. It is popularly believed that the use of this term originally referred to a clan's perceived kinship with their patron or matron deity; over the years, and especially with the rise of the now-numerous Kynnyn clans, the meaning has changed.
Each clan has multiple families, and the size of each clan varies; the smallest clans have several families, while the largest ones can easily have over a hundred. While there are variations, the most common structure in the clans consists of two social classes: the elite and the commoners. Elite families appoint family members to positions in the clan's Court, or governing council. When a member of Court dies or retires, another member of the family will take their place. Commoner families exist to support and answer to the elite.
Many clans practice a type of religion which worships one deity while acknowledging the existence of others. There are exceptions; Kynnyn clans generally follow a form of Tanalism, as do Myshemd clans that have abandoned worship of Kytlekh.
Outside of clans, a considerable number of Fey live in mainstream Ramathian society; it is estimated that they make up one-fifth to one-quarter of the total Feydragon population. Some stubbornly cling to their old beliefs and traditions, and some embrace what the rest of the world has to offer; this is largely up to the individual's decision.
Reproduction
In this regard, the Fey are exactly the same as regular Pendragons; that is, they are monotremes (laying eggs and feeding young with milk). It is possible for them to reproduce with other Pendragon subspecies, though in practice this does not happen very often, due to their small size.
Habitat
Fey societies are on every continent of Ramath-lehi. Due to their separation from Ramathian society, one would usually need to venture into the wilderness or rural areas to find a clan. In particular, the more reclusive clans (including many Azetsum clans) are notoriously hard to find - and to get to.
They can be found in a wide variety of different climates; a common joke is that the Fey are everywhere except possibly outer space. Some sub-types seem to prefer specific climates. For example, there are Alanamsul of Tejas who live underwater.
Known Fey Clans
- Alukao: Alanamsul (Reda) clan based in Notios Sudesha.
- Belasia: Kynnyn clan based in Dhruv.
- Ehemoya: Alanamsul (Renn-nukhs) clan based in Bhim.
- Kjolac: Alanamsul (Tejas) clan based in Trilok and the Kaushal Ocean.
- Mingui: Kynnyn clan based in Swaraj. Almost extinct.
- Pheurith: Kynnyn clan based in Bhim.
- Rauamaak: Alanamsul (Aidlt) clan based in Ajita.
- Shianlon: Alanamsul (Ied-nehlt) clan based in Mansukh.
- Skalmaran: Alanamsul (Aidlt) clan based in Trilok.
- Skengilo: Kynnyn clan based in Boreios Sudesha.
- Tyarith: Kynnyn clan based in Mansukh.
- Yadallo: Kynnyn clan based in Swaraj.
History
For far longer than anyone can remember, there have been Feydragons. One of the oldest subspecies on the planet, they were around from before the pendragons discovered writing, and appear in the legends and folklore of nearly every continent. There are even those who claim that the Fey existed before the normal pendragon, but this claim is oft-disputed.
What is certain is that while the Fey have been around for a very, very long time, for many generations they generally refused to interact with other races, instead focusing on the politics and relations between their own clans. The clans that were less reclusive or hostile to outsiders were usually open to trade, and this would lead to some interracial mingling - sometimes even hybrid children. But for the most part, the Fey kept to themselves.
Then the Kynnyn-Alanamsul War happened.
For many millennia, there were only three kinds of Fey, and all would have regarded themselves as Alanamsul of their gods. Unbeknownst to the normal pendragon, however, there had been a slowly but steadily-growing population of a new breed of Feydragon - one which seemed to hold little, if any, affinity to any single element or deity. This was already an alien concept to the vast majority of Fey; it was one of the reasons they preferred to avoid contact with the outside world. Seeing this emerge in their own kind sparked tension, and as this new breed spread and their clans grew in size and number, the tension - and fear - only grew.
Eventually, the tension came to a head. Exactly how this started is unclear, but there are several popular theories. One is that an Azetsum cult declared a "holy war" against this new breed. Another is that exiles from a Myshemd clan teamed up with one of these new clans and wiped out their old home. Yet another is that a charismatic leader of the new breed, often nicknamed the Dark Archon for being a Myshemd/Azetsum hybrid, slaughtered both of his parents' clans singlehandedly. Regardless of what happened, the consequences rapidly escalated into full-blown war between the new breed, calling themselves the Sjoa Kynnym Fey ("true common Fey"), and the Alanamsul.
These battles happened almost everywhere on Ramath-Lehi - it was impossible for the outsiders to fail to notice. And once they learned what was going on, a number of them chose to get involved.
All in all, the war lasted for eight years. It ended after the clans realised how many had been lost - the Fey population had been reduced to a third of what it had once been, and the Alanamsul of Ydjad, the Numegola of time, were completely gone. Treaties were written, and many of the surviving clans chose to retreat back into isolation.
However, not all of them did. The involvement of the outside world in the war meant that there was a sharp increase of interactions between the Fey and the other races - and it led to large numbers of Fey moving into mainstream Ramathian society, an event now known as the Fey Exodus. Even the ones that did not were more open to trade and visitors than they had been before. The war had changed things dramatically and irreversibly for the race - for the worse or the better.
And as for the Sjoa Kynnym Fey? Eventually, they came to be known as simply the Kynnyn.
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