Chatillian
Overview:
The Chatillian Feyn are known for embodying the cold wisdom of death. They are keepers of knowledge, particularly the memories and souls that pass through the Second World. These memories not only sustain them but also serve as a vital resource in their role as record keepers. Chatillians are typically solitary, residing in hidden or remote places. The hidden city of Nirithea is often cited as their primary domain, though its exact location is debated. Imari scholars suggest it lies deep beneath The Great Divide, while members of the Guild of Letters in Rostova argue it is concealed within the Chatil Shadow Forest to the West.
Role in Chernayan Society:
In Chernaya, the Chatillians are both feared and respected. Their association with death and their ability to blend into human society through powerful illusions have made them the subject of numerous dark tales and superstitions. Many blame them for unexplained deaths or disappearances, feeding a pervasive fear. Despite their infrequent appearances, their influence is considerable, especially given their mastery of magic related to death and memory.
Abilities and Traits:
Chatillians are skilled shape-shifters, capable of altering their appearance to infiltrate human society undetected. Their illusions are not merely visual; they can create entire false realities, making detection nearly impossible unless they choose to reveal themselves. This ability has fueled much of the fear and mistrust surrounding them, as people are never quite sure if a Chatillian is among them.
In addition to their shape-shifting and illusionary powers, Chatillians are sustained by the memories and life experiences of others. They often collect these from the souls they guide, absorbing the essence of a life lived to sustain their own existence. This practice has led some scholars to speculate that the Chatillians view themselves as stewards of memory, preserving the knowledge and experiences of the dead even as they draw strength from them.
Interaction with Other Feyn:
The Chatillians maintain a cautious and respectful distance from the Tovag Tovag, recognizing their shared origins from the Land of the Dead. This mutual respect is rooted in an understanding of the roles each plays within the broader Feyn society—Chatillians as keepers of knowledge and memory, and Tovag as guardians of the borders between life and death. Their relationship with the Meliae is typically more complex, often seeing them as tools for their own schemes due to the Meliae's ability to integrate into human society. On the other hand, they are usually the most excepting of the Karlu-Chatil, especially those who have come to dwell in the Chatillian Shadow Forest.
Basic Information
Anatomy
In their true form, Chatillians appear as tall, slender figures with bone-white or faintly blue skin, often adorned with slender, curved horns. They have a statuesque, ethereal quality, with eyes that range from icy blue to deep black. Their robes, made of shimmering material, enhance their otherworldly presence.
When they venture among mortals, Chatillians typically wear masks as part of their magic, creating powerful illusions to alter their appearance. This is not true shapeshifting but a sophisticated form of illusion that allows them to blend seamlessly into human society while keeping their true form hidden.
Ecology and Habitats
They are known to dwell in quiet, secluded places, far from the bustle of human society. Their only communal home is rumored to be deep within the bedrock of the Divide, in a hidden city of crystal, known as Cryst-Nirithea, though few know how to find it. They also have smaller congregations throughout the forests far to the East of Chernaya.
Unlike the other Feyn, the Chatillians are not inherently hostile to humans but prefer to keep their distance, interacting only when it suits their purposes. They maintain a complex relationship with other inhabitants of Alterran, particularly the Imari in the south, who respect their isolationist tendencies and honor their wisdom.
Behaviour
Chatillians are cold and distant, typically viewing mortals with indifference. They are deeply introspective, often lost in contemplation. Masters of subtle magic, they excel in illusions and transformation, manipulating the energies of the dead with ease. Though formidable, they rarely engage in direct conflict unless provoked. Some Chatillians choose to remain discarnate, as spirits. These can project their will into the world through the seeing-stones and other Cryst- artifacts from Those Who Came Before, many of which were utilized in the construction of Nirithea.
Chatillians prefer isolation or the company of their own kind, residing in remote or hidden locations. Their interactions with humans are rare and shrouded in mystery, often conducted through intermediaries or under the guise of illusion. Gender for Chatillians is fluid; they can alter their appearance and identity as needed, though they cannot bear children.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
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