Duine walk the roads of Tír na nÓg with the quiet, steady gait of those who have long made the world their own. They arrive not in radiant light nor trailing prophecy, but in breath and voice and open hands. There is no glamour to disguise them, no aura to precede them—only the undeniable presence of will sharpened by countless generations. Where other beings shine with arcane brilliance or divine trace, Duine glow with the embers of fire kept, stories told, and choices made.
They move through the Realm with restless eyes, driven not by need but by wonder. Where others settle, they question. Where others hold tradition, they test boundary. It is in their motion—across forests, oceans, cities, and silence—that one senses their gift: the ability to adapt without vanishing, to touch what is sacred without becoming it. They are listeners, challengers, architects of meaning, whether building bridges or burning them down to see what lies beneath.
Communities of Duine are as varied as the lands they inhabit. Some gather in bustling centers of craft and discourse; others retreat to cliffside dwellings where the winds teach silence. They form rituals with soil and circuit alike, blending the old and new with seamless irreverence. Among themselves, they debate as often as they dance, the friction of their differing dreams sparking yet more creation.
Their bodies are not forged for spectacle, but for survival. Bone, breath, and blood work in balance, guided by instinct and invention. Their features tell stories: sun-creased brows, hands inked with lineage, scars that mark both folly and triumph. Unlike other species, their form rarely declares their function—a Duine healer and Duine thief may wear the same skin. What differs is their intention.
No one knows if the Duine were invited to Tír na nÓg or arrived by mistake. Some say they are echoes of something older than the gods, others that they are the gods' final gamble. Whatever the origin, their existence here tilts the weave of the world just slightly. They are reminders that purpose is not assigned, but chosen.
When the sun fades or the moon rises, it is often a Duine who still tends the fire—not because they must, but because they are curious to see what dawn brings next.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Duine are bipedal humanoids with symmetrical bodies, flexible joints, and balanced musculature. Their internal systems prioritize versatility: organs tuned to process a wide variety of food, lungs adapted to different elevations, and vocal cords capable of immense tonal range. This versatility reflects their broader nature: to adapt, to endure, to evolve.
Biological Traits
Though lacking supernatural enhancements, Duine excel in innovation and learning. Their brains are unusually plastic, capable of rapid growth through experience and shared knowledge. While physically weaker than many species, they make up for it with persistence, memory, and improvisation. They are capable of cross-cultural mimicry, tool-making, and abstract symbolism, all of which allow them to thrive in unlikely settings.
Behaviour
Duine behavior is a mirror of possibility. Some are deeply communal, others fiercely independent. They form laws, break them, worship, rebel, mourn, and love—often all within the same generation. Their defining trait may be contradiction: peaceful and warlike, faithful and skeptical, noble and base. Yet from these contradictions emerges a unique kind of creativity. They write their own myths even as they forget them.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Facial features among Duine vary greatly depending on ancestry and environment. Some possess broad brows and strong jaws; others fine cheekbones and narrow noses. Expression is vital to their communication, and Duine faces are often deeply expressive. Age brings lines that mark laughter, grief, effort—a life etched visibly into skin. Many cultures among them consider facial variation to be a mark of divine intent.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Duine possess the standard five senses, though often less acute than those of other species. What they lack in precision, they make up for in integration: sight guides craft, smell shapes memory, touch fosters empathy. Some train to extend their perception through art, ritual, or science—learning to read patterns in weather, movement, or silence. Their strongest sense may be their intuition, the quiet inner compass that draws them toward wonder or away from danger.
Civilization and Culture
Common Myths and Legends
In countless Mortal Realm traditions, Duine are cast as the flawed heroes, divine students, or sacred fools. From Prometheus to Pandora, Coyote to Adam, mortal figures who defy fate or spark creation are everywhere. Some myths frame them as clay shaped by gods, others as fallen stars. In Tír na nÓg, they are often whispered to be the "Echo-Born"—not originators of power, but those through whom power becomes story. Legends abound of Duine who walked with immortals, stole knowledge, or redefined the balance between realms—reminders that mortality is not a weakness, but a catalyst.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Neacha; Nádúrtha; Globalis duine
Origin/Ancestry
Originating from Earth, Duine have a varied ancestry that reflects a broad spectrum of cultures and histories. Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive in almost every environment on the planet.
Average Height
5.5
Average Weight
155
Average Physique
Duine exhibit a broad spectrum of physiques depending on ancestry, lifestyle, and region. Some are tall and sinewy, shaped by open plains and long marches. Others are compact and dense, molded by mountain life or coastal labor. While no two lineages are alike, their shared trait is adaptability: bodies that can endure change, persist through strain, and rebuild themselves across generations.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Their skin tones span the full range of human diversity, from ivory to copper to deep brown and beyond. Eye and hair colors vary from obsidian to gold, with some rare instances of silver or storm-gray. Many Duine bear cultural markings—tattoos, scars, piercings, or ceremonial paints—which denote personal milestones, ancestral ties, or spiritual devotion. These adornments are as much language as decoration.
