Post by kihaku on Jan 10, 2009 2:49:59 GMT
History:
The people of Rues had always been kind and gentle. Nomads by choice, they lived their lives out of a caravan wagon, whole cities following the grand roads that had been carved by centuries of the endless turning of wheels. Their lives were very near as perfect as it could possibly get, an Eden on axels and spokes. Then, everything changed when the heavens split and crashed to the earth.
Rues, a mostly grassy country with sporadic groves of various trees, had very little fuel to actually burn when the Meteor Fire cascaded over the surface of the planet. Still, though there hadn’t been much to lose in the first place, most of the predatory animal life survived. Without much botanical life left, the herbivores and rodent populations performed a nose-dive. With this incredible imbalance in the food chain, the carnivorous creatures killed and ate what they could to survive, and not always in that order. The surviving creatures began to adapt to their environment, sliding further and further into the vicious, the cruel, but most dangerous of all, the starved.
Fortunately, for as long as the people of Rues have lived on their caravans, they’ve also doubled as sea-faring vessels to cross the channel between their country and Lavertia. Fortunately, their sister nation had not been as hard-hit, and with the gentle-minded refugees working in exchange for assistance, the Lavertian farmers were soon put back on the right path. Not one to forget their cousins, they provided them with crop seeds, seedlings, and sapling trees to help breath life back into the barren soil.
When they returned home, they found their once-beautiful home a greatly changed place. The soil was no longer cracked and dry, but smooth and soft from rain and the inter-mixed ash. The earth was fertile, but the ravenous remaining herbivores were eating too much for germination to take hold. On top of that, the predators, now even more desperate than when the citizens left, had grown so bold as to abandon their packs, lest they get attacked and eaten themselves, and attack healthy adults and children. To combat this, the nomadic people slept in shifts and with weapons clutched in their hands at all times.
Meanwhile, the thinkers and scholars of their people had developed a plan to not only save themselves, but their savage homeland that had turned against them so completely. Firstly, they would need to find a defensible position that would allow them a semi-normal life. Following this, they would need to immediately begin to nurture the land back to life starting with shrubs and fruiting plants. In doing so, there would be an insect and herbivore population explosion, and give the predators something else to munch on other than themselves and people. However, nothing went as they had planned: day and night saw the people swarmed by animals who were ravenously hungry, and the need to protect themselves allowed no time for farming. Finally, one young woman came up with an idea so incredible, it was at first dismissed as folly.
She postulated that a collection of spiritually-advanced people and what few magic users remained could cultivate a kind of “super-tree” that would not only grow fast, but also monstrously high. After that, they would imbue the foliage with the ability to migrate, walking on their roots much as spiders do. In doing so, they could start dropping pods, spores, and seeds from high in safety, as well as all over the island continent as the groves would migrate. It was an ambitious plan, but with the younger generation willing to try, the sought out everyone who could help from agriculturalists to shamans. It took four months of careful nurturing, but eventually, their plan was a total success. The trees grew to full height in only a few weeks, and even their smaller boughs were sturdy enough to accommodate several families. It didn’t take much more to instill a life within them to facilitate motion. Half a year after conception, not a single caravan lived on the ground.
For almost three centuries, the Rellians lived in near-isolation, leaving their leaf-bound homes only rarely to venture to the mainland for certain items only the Leiversians could procure. However, the intense magic that ran through the veins of their trees created a sort of background field that managed to worm its way into the new generations. This lead to an increase in the number of gifted individuals over the course of a few lifetimes, which of course brought their people to the attention of the Mage's Guild.
Always friendly, the tree-dwellers greeted them warmly, and when their over-zealous attitude towards strict control over magic was carefully considered, the Rellians agreed to joining them on the condition that the Guild not attempt to force their will upon the peaceful inhabitants of Raoush. If the organization could exist in harmony with the world around it, the Rellians were more than willing to help them out.
Culture:
For the average Rellian child, life is very free. Rules laid down by elders and parents are more guidelines than anything else, considering that all children learn at an early age that travel down to the floor is almost certain death. Everything else concerning right from wrong, death and life, they learn from their people. Kids are mostly raised by parents, but the responsibility doesn't fall completely upon them. Families are very close, considering the restricted amount of space, and almost any adult is looked upon as a possible teacher and someone to be respected.
Each tree can carry several homes, which are equal parts artificial construction and methods used to shape the living trunk into useable space. To access the ground, steps wrap around the trunk until two hundred feet in the air, at which point a rope ladder attatched to a pulley is used to ensure that any vicious predators don't make their way to the living quarters.
Though the children are mostly lawless, the adults are not as lucky. In the Genesis Grove of the capitol caravan of Panosul, the Arbiter keeps the teachings of generations long gone alive by giving wisdom on matters that may be beyond the understanding of some. With great many years of study in ethics, philosophy, preceeded by a lifetime of service to others, only the Arbiter may be the final word concerning problems between others.
In stark contrast to almost any other people, nobody is jobless because everyone volunteers for their job. In such a close-knit communittee, everyone knows that if even one attempts to live without earning their keep, that makes everyone else's work a little harder.
With all of their careful work to try and restore the food-chain, the Rellians are strict vegetarians. Proteins and other necessary enzymes and minerals can be supplemented by certain plants. Rather than make constant trips to the ground to obtain them, each caravan has at least two trees dedicated to the growth of crops. The soil only needs to be changed out every few years due to its high mineral content, and with the gardners usually wielding affinities in nature magics, nobody goes hungry.
If there is anything that can be called a perfect life, then it is that of the Rellians.
Physical Characteristics:
The Rellians live peaceful lives, though their jobs can sometimes be strenuous. As a result, the people of Raoush come in a variety of shapes and sizes. On average, males stand roughly in the high five-foot and low six-foot range, and females will rarely reach six feet or drop below five. Though there are some exceptions, the general population is of an athletic build, and ranges from sandy brown, to light brown hair. Rellians can have brown, green, or hazel colored eyes. Oddly enough, if one parent has a different eye color than the other, the offspring have a 50% chance of ocular heterochromia, or one eye being a different color than the other; however, if this is inherent in both parents, then their children will have both eyes be the same color.
Race-specific abilities:
Rested Soul: Rellians can heal at nearly double the rate of other people on Noria. (Enhanced Healing)
Unfettered Mind: Rarely, a Rellian youth will take up a hobby. Sometimes, a person will find themselves very interested in agriculture or the life that thrives on the ground. Usually, such a thing is caused by having a Nature affinity. On the other hand, a youth may also be always looking to the sky or across vast distances, which indicates a Wind affinity. (Nature or Wind affinity)
Deep Connection: If a person realizes their specific affinity, they find themselves capable of things most others cannot fathom. Most with a Nature alignment can influence and exponentially increase the growth of vegetation. Wind alignment give an ability to influence wind patterns in short bursts. (Snare ability or Wind Burst ability)
Caring Heart: Sometimes a youth who deviates from the norm and studiously explores their unique powers opens up an entirely new path for their life. They find within themselves an attraction to helping others, caring for their aches and pains and doing all they can to alleviate them. With enough practice, they find they can do so without even touching the injured. (Can be a Potential-level Alleviator for free)
The people of Rues had always been kind and gentle. Nomads by choice, they lived their lives out of a caravan wagon, whole cities following the grand roads that had been carved by centuries of the endless turning of wheels. Their lives were very near as perfect as it could possibly get, an Eden on axels and spokes. Then, everything changed when the heavens split and crashed to the earth.
Rues, a mostly grassy country with sporadic groves of various trees, had very little fuel to actually burn when the Meteor Fire cascaded over the surface of the planet. Still, though there hadn’t been much to lose in the first place, most of the predatory animal life survived. Without much botanical life left, the herbivores and rodent populations performed a nose-dive. With this incredible imbalance in the food chain, the carnivorous creatures killed and ate what they could to survive, and not always in that order. The surviving creatures began to adapt to their environment, sliding further and further into the vicious, the cruel, but most dangerous of all, the starved.
Fortunately, for as long as the people of Rues have lived on their caravans, they’ve also doubled as sea-faring vessels to cross the channel between their country and Lavertia. Fortunately, their sister nation had not been as hard-hit, and with the gentle-minded refugees working in exchange for assistance, the Lavertian farmers were soon put back on the right path. Not one to forget their cousins, they provided them with crop seeds, seedlings, and sapling trees to help breath life back into the barren soil.
When they returned home, they found their once-beautiful home a greatly changed place. The soil was no longer cracked and dry, but smooth and soft from rain and the inter-mixed ash. The earth was fertile, but the ravenous remaining herbivores were eating too much for germination to take hold. On top of that, the predators, now even more desperate than when the citizens left, had grown so bold as to abandon their packs, lest they get attacked and eaten themselves, and attack healthy adults and children. To combat this, the nomadic people slept in shifts and with weapons clutched in their hands at all times.
Meanwhile, the thinkers and scholars of their people had developed a plan to not only save themselves, but their savage homeland that had turned against them so completely. Firstly, they would need to find a defensible position that would allow them a semi-normal life. Following this, they would need to immediately begin to nurture the land back to life starting with shrubs and fruiting plants. In doing so, there would be an insect and herbivore population explosion, and give the predators something else to munch on other than themselves and people. However, nothing went as they had planned: day and night saw the people swarmed by animals who were ravenously hungry, and the need to protect themselves allowed no time for farming. Finally, one young woman came up with an idea so incredible, it was at first dismissed as folly.
She postulated that a collection of spiritually-advanced people and what few magic users remained could cultivate a kind of “super-tree” that would not only grow fast, but also monstrously high. After that, they would imbue the foliage with the ability to migrate, walking on their roots much as spiders do. In doing so, they could start dropping pods, spores, and seeds from high in safety, as well as all over the island continent as the groves would migrate. It was an ambitious plan, but with the younger generation willing to try, the sought out everyone who could help from agriculturalists to shamans. It took four months of careful nurturing, but eventually, their plan was a total success. The trees grew to full height in only a few weeks, and even their smaller boughs were sturdy enough to accommodate several families. It didn’t take much more to instill a life within them to facilitate motion. Half a year after conception, not a single caravan lived on the ground.
For almost three centuries, the Rellians lived in near-isolation, leaving their leaf-bound homes only rarely to venture to the mainland for certain items only the Leiversians could procure. However, the intense magic that ran through the veins of their trees created a sort of background field that managed to worm its way into the new generations. This lead to an increase in the number of gifted individuals over the course of a few lifetimes, which of course brought their people to the attention of the Mage's Guild.
Always friendly, the tree-dwellers greeted them warmly, and when their over-zealous attitude towards strict control over magic was carefully considered, the Rellians agreed to joining them on the condition that the Guild not attempt to force their will upon the peaceful inhabitants of Raoush. If the organization could exist in harmony with the world around it, the Rellians were more than willing to help them out.
Culture:
For the average Rellian child, life is very free. Rules laid down by elders and parents are more guidelines than anything else, considering that all children learn at an early age that travel down to the floor is almost certain death. Everything else concerning right from wrong, death and life, they learn from their people. Kids are mostly raised by parents, but the responsibility doesn't fall completely upon them. Families are very close, considering the restricted amount of space, and almost any adult is looked upon as a possible teacher and someone to be respected.
Each tree can carry several homes, which are equal parts artificial construction and methods used to shape the living trunk into useable space. To access the ground, steps wrap around the trunk until two hundred feet in the air, at which point a rope ladder attatched to a pulley is used to ensure that any vicious predators don't make their way to the living quarters.
Though the children are mostly lawless, the adults are not as lucky. In the Genesis Grove of the capitol caravan of Panosul, the Arbiter keeps the teachings of generations long gone alive by giving wisdom on matters that may be beyond the understanding of some. With great many years of study in ethics, philosophy, preceeded by a lifetime of service to others, only the Arbiter may be the final word concerning problems between others.
In stark contrast to almost any other people, nobody is jobless because everyone volunteers for their job. In such a close-knit communittee, everyone knows that if even one attempts to live without earning their keep, that makes everyone else's work a little harder.
With all of their careful work to try and restore the food-chain, the Rellians are strict vegetarians. Proteins and other necessary enzymes and minerals can be supplemented by certain plants. Rather than make constant trips to the ground to obtain them, each caravan has at least two trees dedicated to the growth of crops. The soil only needs to be changed out every few years due to its high mineral content, and with the gardners usually wielding affinities in nature magics, nobody goes hungry.
If there is anything that can be called a perfect life, then it is that of the Rellians.
Physical Characteristics:
The Rellians live peaceful lives, though their jobs can sometimes be strenuous. As a result, the people of Raoush come in a variety of shapes and sizes. On average, males stand roughly in the high five-foot and low six-foot range, and females will rarely reach six feet or drop below five. Though there are some exceptions, the general population is of an athletic build, and ranges from sandy brown, to light brown hair. Rellians can have brown, green, or hazel colored eyes. Oddly enough, if one parent has a different eye color than the other, the offspring have a 50% chance of ocular heterochromia, or one eye being a different color than the other; however, if this is inherent in both parents, then their children will have both eyes be the same color.
Race-specific abilities:
Rested Soul: Rellians can heal at nearly double the rate of other people on Noria. (Enhanced Healing)
Unfettered Mind: Rarely, a Rellian youth will take up a hobby. Sometimes, a person will find themselves very interested in agriculture or the life that thrives on the ground. Usually, such a thing is caused by having a Nature affinity. On the other hand, a youth may also be always looking to the sky or across vast distances, which indicates a Wind affinity. (Nature or Wind affinity)
Deep Connection: If a person realizes their specific affinity, they find themselves capable of things most others cannot fathom. Most with a Nature alignment can influence and exponentially increase the growth of vegetation. Wind alignment give an ability to influence wind patterns in short bursts. (Snare ability or Wind Burst ability)
Caring Heart: Sometimes a youth who deviates from the norm and studiously explores their unique powers opens up an entirely new path for their life. They find within themselves an attraction to helping others, caring for their aches and pains and doing all they can to alleviate them. With enough practice, they find they can do so without even touching the injured. (Can be a Potential-level Alleviator for free)