Arun (AH-ruhn)

All Arun resemble humanoid mammalians, possessing two arms ending in five fingered hands, two legs ending in four toed feet, a tail, and an animal-like face. Beyond this, each "clade" is highly varied in their appearance and physical traits, such as antlers/horns for Capra and Bovra, large and muscular builds for Ursa, long ears for Lapra, etc.

While the Arun all resemble various mammals, they are further divided into numerous "clades":

Canai: Resemble various canines (dogs, foxes, and wolves), and are one of the more numerous clades among the Arun.

Felda: Resemble verious felines (cats, lions, and tigers), rivaling the Canai in numbers.

Ursa: Resemble bears, and are considered one of the physically largest and strongest clades among the Arun.

Rodira: Resemble various rodents (mice and rats).

Mustelan: Resemble badgers, racoons, weasels, otters, and wolverines.

Talpa: Resemble moles, and originally hailed from the underground before being forced up to the surface by The Fracturing.

Capra: Resemble goats, sheep, and elk.

Bovra: Resemble various bovines (cows, bison, and oxes), and rival the Ursa in size and strength.

Lapra: Resemble rabbits and hares.

Chiradi: Resemble bats, and are the only Arun capable of limited flight.

Xenthra: Resemble anteaters, sloths, pangolins, and armadillos, and are considered to be the rarest of the Arun.

Eque: Resemble horses, and are renowned for their speed and endurance.

All Arun give birth to live young.

The Arun can be found in a wide variety of environments.

The Arun have varied dietary needs, and while most are able to have a mixed diet, some tend to lean more towards carnivore or vegetarian diets.

All Arun have facial structures resembling various mammalian animals, with variations in snout length/shape, ear size/shape, horns/antlers, etc. being tied to specific clades.

The Arun are by far the most widespread of Alteras inhabitants, and are primarily found throughout the continents of Aelor and Eulan, as well as in scattered enclaves within the Broken Band.

While most Arun possess baseline perceptive abilities, some clades possess stronger senses than others (Canai possess a keener sense of smell, Felda possess a greater ability to see in low light, Chiradi are more adept at navigating by sound, etc.).

Naming traditions among the Arun are highly varied among the various kingdoms and nations they inhabit.

Male: Samir, Caleb, Andrej, Hauk, Yanis

Female: Flavia, Lin, Nadja, Freydis, Rene

The Aeloran Kingdoms: Occupying the central continent of Aelor, this loose alliance of the six kingdoms of Ediria, Ostra, Phearyn, Strayya, Graylia, and Fjelka is one of the major political forces in Altera. While primarily focused on their own affairs (sometimes even coming into conflict with one another), these kingdoms will band together in the face of significant threats to their survival.

The Kaedran Empire: Dominating the western continent of Eulan, the Kaedran Empire is one of the most powerful and industrious nations in Altera, responsible for producing some of the most advanced airships and Machina in the world. Determined to spread their influence throughout Altera, the Kaedran Empires attempts to expand into Aelor has resulted in two of the largest conflicts in the history of the world.

The Arun make the widest use of Machina in the world, and are leaders in its development. While the various enclaves that inhabit the Broken Band do not have access to, or the ability to produce, Machina, many of them make use of other forms of Amber-powered infrastructure for similar purposes.

Due to their wide spread across the world, the clothing of the Arun is highly varied, from the thick furs of Fjelka and Rangva, to the light clothing of Phearyn, to the brightly colourful garb of Castain.

Regardless of their nationality, all Arun are united to an extent by their shared Altean ancestry. It's believed that the Arun were the dominant people of Altea before it was destroyed in the Fracturing, and that fragments of their knowledge were used by their descendants to rebuild in the wake of this calamity. Even centuries after the fall of the Alteans, their influence continues to be felt among the various Arun cultures that have sprung up in their wake.

Altean Legacy

Long before the fracturing, the world was dominated by Altea, a civilisation credited with being the first to harness the power of the Ygdril to create magic, and primarily inhabited by the ancestors of the Arun. While immensely prosperous, this great civilisation would eventually fall to ruin with the breaking of the world, with the Arun themselves being scattered across the now broken world. In time, these scattered remnants would go on to form the various nations that now dominate the broken world of Altera, with many seeking to revive the ancient legacy of their Altean Ancestors.

Rootcallers and Rootwardens

According to legend, it was the Arun of Altea that first discovered how to harness the power of the Ygdril to use magic, forming the first Rootcallers. In time, this power would later give rise to the first Rootwardens, those who could draw on the Ygdril's power to achieve fantastical feats, who would go on to become great stories throughout the Arun inhabited lands of Altera. Centuries later, these individuals continue to command respect from the common folk, and stand as the greatest defence against the Rooteaters and other threats born of the Fracturing.

Elan: The myhtical first Rootwarden, and greatest hero of the Arun people. It's said that he was responsible for spearheading the defence of the old Arun people against the Rooteaters in the wake of the Fracturing, and all Rootwardens since have strived to model themselves by his example.

Ruya: An Altean oracle who was said to have communed directly with the Ygdril, and using the knowledge gained from doing so to teach her fellow Alteans how to harness its magic. Since then, she's become the central figure of the Temple of the Rootmother, the dominant faith of the Kingdoms of Aelor and the Kaedran Empire both.

The Alteans: According to legend, the Arun were the dominant people of the ancient civilisation of Altea, which was responsible for creating numerous relics and wonders that have gone on to serve as the basis for future developments, such as airships and the harvesting of Amber. Though the Fracturing had long since destroyed their great civilisation, the Alteans continue to fascinate the Arun well into the modern era, with many expeditions dedicated to uncovering lost knowledge from their time.

Syrik: The Arun are generally wary of the Syrik, due to mutual animosity born from numerous conflicts between the two peoples. This is particularly true in regards to Syrik of Gorothian descent, though relations between the Arun and Iaxan Syrik have slowly been improving.

Vyndikai: The Arun have a generally neutral relationship with the Vyndikai, due to their generally isolationistic tendancies. Despite this, most Arun are receptive towards the Vyndikai, thanks to their dedication to maintaining balance in the world, often through combating especially significant threats to this balance.