Mastodai

Mastodai are humanoids with Elephantine features such as their unique skulls, tusks, ears, trunks, and tails.

Elephants reproduce sexually and birth live young like all mammals

Mastodai reach maturity between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, and can live up to an average of four-hundred and fifty years.

Mastodai can live in cold or hot habitats. Wooly Mastodai are uniquely evolved to survive in harsh cold, while most other Mastodai prefer a warmer or temperate climate.

Mastodai are herbavores, their stomachs and teeth are specifically evolved to consume plant life, fruits, roots, and even the bark from trees. The Mastodai enjoy foods many other species may find inedible

In communities of Mastodai there is always a matriarch who leads her people, the individuals below her follow her guidance and wisdom.

Mastodai are known for their wise eyes, and impressive tusks and trunks

Mastodai can be found in many places across Aeris, but you're more likely to find only Wooly Mastodai in colder climates

Mastodai are exceedingly intelligent beings. Wise, and thoughtful they are among the most intelligent peoples on Aeris. There are exceptions but the average Mastodai is as smart as the most intelligent Humans.

Mastodai have excellent sense of smell, and hearing

Mastodai courtship is long and thoughtful, with gifts of meaning shared between the couple. Mastodai are known for their thoughtfulness, and this comes out strongly in their courtship

Mastodai mate for life, enjoying the time they spend with their partner for years and years. A Mastodai's love is vast.

Wooly Mastodai speak a unique version of the language. Speaking short phrases combined with subtle movements of the trunk that can express multiple sentences in less time than it would take most.

Their culture of matriarchal leadership carries on into the modern age, many Mastodai communities are led by a single matriarch till her passing. Families hold massive archives of their family's history, some going as far back as the Archaean Age, though these are rare

Mastodai were created by Ganeshathena-Devata in her own image. They were taught the arcane arts by her, and helped her teach magic to the other folk of Aeris. Blessed with their creator's natural intelligence and wisdom the early Mastodai of the Archaean Age spent their time learning, traveling, and teaching those their tribes came across. They lived in peace with others and with nature. But when threats did arise, Mastodai mustered a might and battle expertise shocking from these peaceful beings. Powerful shamans commanded the elements, weaved arcane forces, and showed great martial knowledge. And it was during this age too that the Mastodai of Sarasarada aided the fledgling Tabaxi society in Constantia with the construction of the Libris Chronatum. When Moraphan rose in the Age of Blood, the Mastodai groups across Aeris within many societies understood the massive threat posed by the Crimson Lord. Many led people to the last bastions of free peoples before Sylra Vereth's Golden Alliance turned the tide. The Mastodai were key in the battles that followed. Their extensive strategic knowledge, backed by the substantial resources they lacked when Moraphan first attacked, meant Mastodai strategists were able to out think Moraphan's hordes at every turn. And after the Battle of the Red Fields, among the powerful mages who sealed him in the sea were some Mastodai. And indeed after the formation of the Aerean Empire, the Mastodai continued be invaluable leaders. Many Mastodai throughout history have become prominent figures in politics, society, and culture.

Mastodai have positive relations with most species, being very peaceful and diplomatic. They've been known to often take on mentor roles with others, on some notable occasions even Elves have sought the wisdom of the Mastodai. They're especially charmed by Humans. Unlike some Elves who find a Human's relatively short life and subsequent folly and ambition pitiable, Mastodai often find these attributes to be noble. And appreciate Humanity's ability to make use of the time they have, hopefully learning from their past mistakes.