Syric People
 Syric Races from left to right, Elf, Gnome, Gigans, Dwarf, Human, Halfing, Half-Elf | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 823,000,000 (1744 ASC) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Mathaar, Samitesia, Sebrulia, Ynos | |
| Iblesia | 12.5 million |
| Cartulia | 11.2 million |
| Trodenheim | 24.7 million |
| Languages | |
| Iblesian, Cartulian, Troden | |
| Religion | |
| Syric Triad | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Humans, Dwarves, Elves, Halflings, Gnomes, Half-Elves, Gigans | |
The Syric Races form the largest population group in Aenodh. They can be divided into six main racial groups; Dwarves, Elves, Gigans, Gnomes, Halflings, and Humans. There are numerous variations where intermarriage between these groups has result in offspring, most notably Half-Elves which have a human parent and an elven one. All of the Syric Races are mutually genetically compatible. The Syric Races are all humanoid and mammalian, with the same approximate proportions, this said they are extremely diverse in both appearance and culture thanks to their wide distribution across the world.
Etymology & Terminology
The Syric Races are named after the Goddess Syr of the Syric Triad, and were among the first mortal races to inhabit Aenodh. The first of the Syric Races to be created were the Gigans, followed by the Elves, both of whom were sculpted by Syr herself. Following this came the Dwarves and Gnomes, sculpted by Oldyr the eldest son of Syr. The Halflings were created by Gydo, Syr's only daughter, and finally came the humans who were created by Kaldis, the youngest of Syr's children. All of the Syric Races were drawn from the same spark of the Well of Creation and were sculpted from the same materials and as such all are members of the Mortal Races of Aenodh.
Gigans
The Gigans were the first of the mortal races to be given life and served as the prototype for the races that followed. Among the Syric Races the Gigans are the largest and tallest, but also the shortest lived and least numerous. A typical Gigans stands at around 215cm in height with a weight of approximately 180kg. Gigans are also the strongest and most durable of the Syric races, possessing considerable fortitude and stamina which allowed them to survive during the primal ages of the world when the land was still an inhospitable place. Gigans have a strong resistance to cold and disease, and are able to go for extended periods without food. Unlike the other Syric races though Gigans are entirely carnivorous which makes most of their cultures more nomadic in nature.
The areas most heavily populated by Gigans can be found on the continent of Ynos within the Yniir Foothills which is where the first mortal civilisations were born during the Dawn Ages. In these lands the ancient ruins of ancient Gigans monuments and settlements can still be found and are a point of fascination to the other races. Their nomadic nature however means that the Gigans are not an uncommon sight in the continents of Samitesia and Sebrulia, where individual Gigans, or small groups, tend to travel to seek wealth or a more comfortable life. Gigans are generally well regarded and accepted by the other Syric races because they tend to be willing soldiers and bodyguards and this martial culture has made them popular as mercenaries. The practice of recruiting young Gigans from the nomadic tribes found in Ynos continues to this day.
Gigans share a similar diversity in appearance to humans, though they tend towards slightly dark skin tones. Blue eyes are rare among them, with green eyes being the most commonly seen as the gene responsible is a dominant one where the blue and brown are recessive. A Gigans's flesh is thick and toughened like leather making dexterous movement difficult, but adding to their natural resilience. The most common hair colour range among the racial group is brown.
Magically speaking the Gigans are not particularly gifted, such magic as they are able to wield tends to be subtle and indirect and heavily adulterate by cultural practices and ritual. Very few Gigans are able to directly grasp the Thread and tap into its power and those who can typically struggle to manipulate large quantities of energy in any meaningful way.
Gigans reach adulthood at around the age of 14, and have a maximum life expectancy under ideal circumstances of about 60 years.
Elves
The Elves were the second of the Syric races to be created, and the last race to be sculpted by Syr herself. In contrast to the Gigans the Elves were more ephemeral in nature, their physical proportions slight and their strength reduced. It is said that the Elves were to be Syr's favoured children, and granted dominion over the other mortal races. The Elves are not a particularly numerous race as they have long lives and long terms of gestation, making pregnancy and extended and risky business. Elves range in height from around 160cm to 170cm tall and usually weigh around 55kg to 60kg. Elves are the swiftest of the Syric races and are capable of great feats of agility, they are also born with the innate ability to detect magical fields and energy flows around them. However as a race they are slow to adapt to differing environments, a fact which has resulted in the development of multiple subraces of Elves who have, over centuries, adapted to specific environments at the expense of others. All Elves however are known for their incredible stamina.
Elves can be found throughout Aenodh, however the oldest branch of the species, known as the Wood Elves or Primal Elves, typically dwell within temperate forest regions where their natural speed and agility was of the greatest advantage. High Elves are the most numerous of the Elven subraces as they adapted to the more varied temperate hills and plains beyond the forests and are so named because of the great civilisations that they created in Ynos and central Samitesia. Dark Elves, sometimes referred to as Moon Elves, adapted to the colder climates of the far north and so have great resilience and fortitude than most, and are uniquely suited to subterranean and mountain regions. Sun elves adapted to the arid lands of southeast Samitesia, southwest Ynos, and Sebrulia, and have greater strength than their cousins elsewhere as well as a highly efficient body when it comes to storing water. Star Elves are the rarest of the Elven subraces, it is unclear to which regions they were adapted or what shaped them, but they are unique among Elves, being physically weaker and less durable.
Prothean Elves
Commonly referred to as Wood or Primal Elves, the Prothean branch of the Elven family is the oldest and some say original branch, or as the Prothean cultures see it - the trunk. Prothean Elves have the traits typical of all Elves, a slender humanoid appearance with tapered ears and angular features, and they conform in most respects to the more common stereotypes of their kind physically speaking. Prothean Elves typically have a pale skin tone, with green or amber eyes being most common and brown eyes less so. Most Prothean elves have either dark blonde or light brown hair. All Prothean Elves have an intrinsic link to the natural forces around them and their ability to sense magical forces around them is primarily centred around nature magic.
Prothean culture is ancient. Most are semi-nomadic, travelling between small settlements within the woodlands that the majority call home. Prothean Elves do not herd animals or cultivate plants and instead live in a hunter gatherer society. The magical arts of Boneweaving and Woodsinging both originate from the Prothean Elves, who developed these skills as a means to manufacture tools without needing to mine for metals or stone. Most Prothean goods are made from readily available natural resources and lack technological refinement, nevertheless their skill as craftsmen has been a cause for trade between them and the other races of Aenodh.
Prothean Elves have an average lifespan of 250-300 years.
Verean Elves
Commonly referred to as High Elves, due to the fact that most of the great Elven civilisations were created by them, the Verean branch of the Elven family is probably the most numerous. Verean Elves adapted to the large temperate hills and plains of Ynos and Samitesia and so were able to spread over large, resource rich areas. Much like the Prothean Elves they are slight of build with angular features and tapered ears, however they are on average somewhat taller than other Elves, standing at around 180cm in height. Verean Elves have light skin and dark brown or black hair, with brown or grey eyes being most common. Verean Elves are the most naturally skilled of the Elven races when it comes to wielding magic and are often capable of wielding far greater amounts of magical energy.
Verean culture is the oldest beside the Prothean culture. They were the first Elves to leave the woodlands and settle elsewhere, and were also the first Elves to begin building permanent settlements. Some Verean historians claim that it was their people who first started to cultivate land for farming, and who domesticated the first farm animals. The Verean Elves claim to have invented most of the early trappings of civilisations, including metalworking, stone working, and wine making - so there is considerable debate about the veracity of their claims.
Verean Elves have an average lifespan of 250-300 years.
Nedean Elves
Commonly referred to as Dark Elves of their dark grey skin, or Moon Elves because of their bright silver hair, the Nedean Elves are one of the more numerous branches of the Elven race. Nedean Elves are adapted to the colder climates and harsh terrain of northern Samitesia and Ynos, but can also be found in high mountainous regions elsewhere. Nedean Elves appear to be stockier of frame than most other Elves and tend to weigh more due to a naturally denser muscle structure and increased stores of fat. Nedean Elves all have dark grey skin and silver hair, but their eyes are incredibly diverse in colour with no one colour seeming to be dominant. Heterochromia is common among the Nedean Elves. Nedean Elves are somewhat stronger than the other races but no less agile, and are considered to be among the finest metal workers among the mortal races. Their innate magical abilities seem to centre around the earth, rocks, and metals.
Nedean culture is something of an enigma. They are known to have existed as a distinct ethnic and cultural group since at least the 2nd century ASC due to written records from Ynosi civilisations. The Nedean Elves are meticulous recorders of history and records in general, however their written language is unique and a closely guarded secret meaning that little of what they have recorded is known outside their own culture.
Nedean Elves have an average lifespan of 200-250 years.
Apolean Elves
Commonly referred to as Sun Elves due to their natural adaptation to warmer more arid climates, the Apolean Elves are one of the more numerous branches of the Elven race. Apolean Elves are the descendants of those elves which travelled to the warmer desert and tropical climates of southern Ynos, southern Samitesia, and Subrulia. Apolean Elves are usually somewhat shorter than other Elves with a height range between 145cm to 155cm and are even slighter of build. Remarkably Apolean Elves have adapted to have highly efficient bodies in terms of water usage and storage, allowing them to go for expended periods without needing to drink. Apolean Elves have a varied skin tone range from copper to dark brown, and usually have darker hair colours such as brown or black and similarly dark eyes. Apolean Elves are well known for their natural skill at pyromancy.
Apolean culture is highly varied due to the large and varied regions they have settled. The culture of Apolean Elves in the desert regions is substantially different from the culture found in more tropical locations. Generally however the Apolean Elves are a settled culture rather than nomadic or migratory, and rely upon highly developed and complex agricultural methods in order to support their civilisations. Apolean Elves tend to be much more open, and freely intermingle with other races.
Apolean Elves have an average lifespan of 200-250 years.