Eldran

While much shorter than other humanoid races, Eldran are proportioned in the same way, with small exceptions. They tend to have slightly thicker bones, relatively speaking. This contributes to their stockier build and makes them sturdier. In addition, their cells take much longer to lose functionality, so they can more easily remain healthy well into old age.

Eldran can stand anywhere from 2 to 4 feet tall, with no distinguishable height difference between males and females. They tend to be broad-shouldered and stronger than would be expected based on their height. They are the longest-lived of the humanoid races, with the average ranging from 180 to 200 years. The oldest recorded Eldran lived to be over 250 years old. Despite many of the race not living active lives, Eldran are hardy, their cardiovascular systems staying strong well into old age.

The gestation period for Eldran is 18 to 20 months, the longest of any of the races. The slowed development gives Eldran mothers time to notice the pregnancy and prepare for having a baby well in advance. Birth is difficult as Eldran tend to be large when born, relative to the size of their race. The typical stocky build of Eldran, with wide hips, does provide some benefit with these larger infants.   Eldran have two unique genetic traits, violet eyes and silver hair. Violet eyes, rare even in Eldran, can be found in mixed-blood humans of Eldran descent. However, Eldran silver hair, which holds a different shade and texture than hair grayed by age, is never present outside of full Eldran. Instead, some humans with Eldran ancestry have pale blonde, almost white hair.

Eldran mature in 36 to 40 years, reaching adolescence at around age 28. Many of the developmental marks of early childhood are reached at around the time one would expect based on their lifespan, with children saying their first words and taking their first steps at around 2 years old. However, they advance more quickly in learning abstract concepts than other races, and some begin independent studies as early as 16 years old. Those who are mages show signs of their first element anywhere from 6 to 12 years old.

Eldran primarily live in close-knit communities of several families. Several generations of Eldran will live together, an extended family sharing a farmstead or a single large house. The family group looks to the oldest man as their head. He is always called upon to approve important decisions including a family member's choice of spouse, and should he not give his blessing the match is broken off. Some families will arrange marriages between their children, ensuring the community stays close. Wives leave their families to live with their husbands', and should an extended family grow too large, additions are made to the home. Those who wish to leave the community and seek their fortune elsewhere make a request to the family head. If he does not approve, and they leave anyway, communication is cut off. If he does approve, the Eldran who left will send back letters and part of their earnings, staying close to their family despite the physical distance. An Eldran's path of study is also chosen with aid from the family head, though these requests are rarely denied except by the most unreasonable.

Eldran tend to have round or square faces with rounded ears. Their noses are medium, with a defined bridge. They have round eyes that are colored blue, green, or violet and tend to be close-set. Many freckle, sometimes heavily, when over-exposed to sunlight. Their hair ranges from straight to curly, and many of their males can grow full beards, with the other males able to grow thinner facial hair.

Eldran names are formed with two parts. The first is chosen by the mother, the second by the father. Typically they pick the name of one of their grandparents, often the one they were closest to. When spoken, there is a syllable break between the two halves, and in writing each is capitalized, for example, XerAdri. Eldran often go by the second halves of their names, with the first used for formal introductions. When interacting with those of other races, they often will split their names, lengthening each half into a first name and a surname. The renowned scholar GerWyn was known to many of his peers as Gerrin Wynther, and several of his works are signed as such. As the first part is still used only for more formal introductions, it is typically treated as the surname.

There are only two Eldran languages. While there are slight differences in regional dialects, their slow spread prevented much of the language changes seen in other races. Ixalese is spoken on the continent of Terraris, while Rynean is spoken in Overdeep. Ixalese is likely closer to the original Eldran language, but Rynean shares its roots. The two languages have phonetic similarities and many cognates, making it easy for someone who speaks one to learn the other.

Loyalty to family and community is culturally important to Eldran. Even those who reject the structure typical of homogeneous Eldran settlements tend to do so by finding another community to tie themselves to, surrounding themselves with close friends that they consider family. This loyalty involves helping to support each other and sharing expertise. Often Eldran will specialize in topics that will help those close to them, as well as ones they find interesting.

Eldran have their roots in the southern foothills of the Dragonspire Mountains. This area is covered in pine woods, though much land has been cleared for farms and towns. Many of the ruins of their earliest settlements were buried in landslides and are still being uncovered. The presence of personal belongings in the ruins suggest that they were forced to flee at the time that their settlements were destroyed. However, even the earliest documents after the founding of AshIxal do not mention this disaster.   AshIxal, which still stands as the center of the nation of PietIxal, was founded in the first century of the Integration Era. It soon became the center of the growing Eldran civilization, with its libraries and laboratories host to innovations in agriculture, architecture, and hygiene. In 2203 Integration Era, ShaIxal University held its first classes. The farming villages nearby quickly agreed to provide the city with food in return for access to their study resources. Many Eldran were sent out from AshIxal to other nations in order to arrange for the addition of aqueducts or indoor plumbing.   In order to gain ores that were lacking in PietIxal, some Eldran skirted the mountains to the east until they were able to locate large natural iron and gold veins. While at first they served as a colony, they were more welcoming to other races than their distant cousins, and intermingled with Nerisiens who found the region and the people to their liking. The mixed settlements decided to declare their independence as the country of Elin late in the Integration Era. PietIxal made a brief attempt to reclaim it, but open war was not their strength, and they soon conceded and offered trade agreements that were more to Elin's benefit than the colonial taxes had been.   Eldran were latecomers to Overdeep, with the first settlers making their way across the sea in 2475 Kyrrian Era. Many settled in mixed areas, but the remainder claimed a portion of open land in the north with harsh, long winters. The province of RidRyn, officially founded in 2493 KE, established itself among its neighbors with its work in enchantment. It was here where the first flightstone was discovered and the first airships crafted, setting off the start of the Modern Era, and from here where the overthrowing of the Brandelius dynasty was led.