Oreads
(Oreads are a CA race, and may not be played without making an application.)
"Fire gives...fire takes...It creates ash and destroys that which was there before. Fire is all that is needed."Oreads (or Patupai) are the second most commonly seen of the Near-Fey of the four, following Aossí. In The Faerie Wonderland they rise from streams of lava in the Autumn Court, assuming the form they will have until death. Over the course of generations, Near-Fey from the Autumn Court fled to The Prime Materia and eventually became the Autumn Elves we know today, a change many Il’ha believe to be the work of a god. Within the Autumn Court they spend their lives making volcanoes, creating Crystal Mouths and other volcanic materials. In the Prime Materia the Oe Il’ha have taken in their kind to aid in metal bending processes and some claim to bring messages straight from Ra'uki, the latter is almost always a lie for better treatment. They view metals and stones as sacred creations, to be stored properly and one day turned into architectural marvels or unbreaking weapons.
Appearance
Oreads come in multiple shapes or sizes, from very elf-like to monstrosities that drool fire and burn paths as they walk. They are made of volcanic rock and ash, the colour ranging from shades of grey to the deepest of blacks. Sharp edges and points jut forth from their body in various locations. Their skulls can have open tops with fire heads or simple heads with fire eyes and mouths. Oreads that are more elf in appearance carry traits similar to Oe Il’ha, such as square jawlines, broad shoulders and wide almond-shaped eyes. Those “monster” in appearance may have quirks that scare most children. Oreads are either bald, open-topped or have a fire on top of their heads. Their skin has the texture and feel of volcanic rock but seems as resistant to cuts as simple flesh.Body Modifications
Upon each cultural ritual, Oreads are known to carve shallow intricate passages in their body, each with different meanings. Using their given ability to manipulate molten metals or stones they can fill these passages with various liquid metals or stones that shift around their body within the small trenches. This creates a miniature river of molten liquid that wraps around their body depending on the cultural ritual.Racial Abilities
Fire Heart: Oreads are immune to mundane fire as it is part of who they are and have the ability to withstand higher temperatures than other Near-fey (900 degrees Celsius) with comfort. This heart of fire can even survive in the Winter Court for a time. They are effectively a small campfire and give off just as much warmth. See Cold Resistance. Fire Blood: This Autumn Court Near-Fey has the blood of fire running through them that they can use to launch baseballs of fire at the speed of an arrow from their mouths in a 10x1x1 line in front of them. Each shot removes their very “blood” from them and can lead to death. The projectile can be launched up to 3 times, the 2nd shot they receive -1 blockspeed and are slower to react or move until they can absorb fire, lava or magma. If fired the 3rd time without any replenishment the Oread falls still and ceases glowing with fire, becoming a statue of volcanic rock (permanent PK). Fire, lava, and magma cannot be absorbed during combat. Oreads are the heaviest of the Near-Fae, usually weighing 80 or more pounds than a human of their size. Fae Spark: Alongside this, Oreads already have a full Fae Spark. They carry the ability to manipulate molten substances. As an example, Oreads are able to manipulate molten substances as a fluid, shaping and bending such into peculiar shapes. With each metal shaped withered essence will flow within directly from the Autumn Court that adds negatives to the metals when coming into contact with bare flesh. Though in theory any substance able to reach a molten state can be manipulated, the ability to manipulate a material is only possible by engaging in a battle with the living spirit residing in such. Different materials possess spirits of differing strengths and some can be ‘impossible’ to tame. Season's Love: During Autumn, Oreads experience a distinct growth in their fire, allowing for their 2nd shot of Fire Blood to result in 0 change in blockspeed.Redlines
- Ability to manipulate molten fluids cannot be used in conflict, as it is only a constructive ability and allows for their carved tattoos that flow.
- Despite their rock texture their skin is treated as flesh.
- The average Oread weighs 80 pounds more than the average human of their height.
- Ability to manipulate molten fluids is a high concentration ability, and being attacked, threatened or otherwise endangered will remove an Oreads ability to use this manipulation.
- The fire within Oreads can be used to burn or warm but can also be put out with water. Completely submerging an Oread in the ocean is a short, painful, horrific death for them (permanent PK).
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Example Female Names: Whina, Emere, Haeata
Masculine names
Example Male Names: Koraka, Mahaka, Rapata
Family names
Oreads are called by one given name, this can be simple or composite. These names are up to the Oread who found them on birth. Later on in life, during a ritual of adulthood, an Oread may be given a new name relating to events that shaped them throughout their mentorship. They do not use surnames as every one of them is of a single tribe and should know the lines of apprenticeship of all the Oreads around them in their daily life. All of their names are generally Maori like.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Their culture, imbued with the importance of passion, strength and creation in order to destroy. Oreads are simply born from volcanic lands in the Autumn Court or from a coupling. They rise from near by streams of lava in the form they will have until death. A newly created Oread is gifted a necklace and taken under the wing of the first Oread who sees them or a family friend. This mentorship teaches them their abilities and culture, how to create jewellery, weapons, and armour. For the smallest of events, an Oread usually creates a trinket or piece of jewellery to honor and remember what happened. The more expensive the better.
Once the mentor has deemed appropriate an Oread may reforge their necklace into whatever they desire, signaling their “adulthood”. Despite the various molten caverns and surface spots, all Oreads consider each other one tribe with most carrying symbols that designate lines of mentorship. For example, a current-day Oread may carry a necklace with the symbol of Kaheru, a famous Oread in the past who mentored their mentor. Weakness in the Oread culture is severely frowned upon and provided with consequence, as it is the belief that a weak Oread will weaken the next Oread they mentor, turning into a creeping fungus on all Oreads. When new ones are trained, they are encouraged to establish a firm grasp on their strength and place in the Oread race, culminating in the allowance of them to physically punish each other severely. Bullying and unjust violence are tolerated as long as it is against a “weak” Oread. It is not unheard of Oreads being mentored to be pitted in sparring against each other with painful consequences at stake for the loser.
Oread culture generally follows Oe Il’ha culture from there, The right of adulthood is performed when a mentor decides their mentee is ready to mentor someone themselves. The ritual of parenthood mark is carved on the body of the mentor. For the mentor specifically, a mid-sized spiral is placed on the shoulder. For each mentee following the first, an additional spiral is placed, branching smoothly off the first. The ritual of passing is also the same but the body is covered in oil and laid in magma or lava.
Denizens of the Autumn Court look on Oreads with a little disdain due to their blatant disregard for any Fey lord/lady that is not an Oread themselves.
All Oreads speak Fey Speak and Common.
Religion
Oreads have a fierce faith in the volcanoes and lava streams that spot the Court aswell as the triad in existence, specifically of the drake Naezeiros and the serpent Oloris. This is due to the aspect of creation and destruction they both bring. Speaking ill of either is worthy of vast immediate punishment. They believe that in every aspect around them, there resides a spirit connected to the drake Naezeiros and the serpent Oloris. This includes the materials they work, armour, jewels, tools and weapons.Family
Oread families are interesting due to their mentorship. Those who share the same lines of mentorship act much like an Oe Il’ha family. With older or younger brothers/sisters simply sharing the same mentor. Older or younger cousins sharing the same mentor from Ages past. Grandparents being the mentor of their mentor.Food
Oreads do not eat on a daily basis but absorb small amounts of fire every few Phases. They can eat if they so choose, tasting just like a Gaia and feel the effects of these foods or drinks but it is not necessary for their survival.Common Dress code
These creatures rarely adorn clothing as with a constant fire within them one wrong move can set the clothing alight. Thus, besides being naked Oreads wear armour, harvested then forged by their own hands or by melting down the equipment of past Oreads.
Accessories
Oreads are often adorned with jewellery and trinkets over their entire body, putting most Oe Il’ha to shame. Each carries a different meaning to the particular Oread and some are created for the smallest of life events like witnessing the creation of another Oread or winning a simple child’s game. Oe Il’ha in the Old World sometimes get into minor conflicts with an Oread who seeks to create a trinket for every minor occasion that happens in its lifetime and drain the settlement of useful supplies.Art & Architecture
Oread art is primarily seen in their craft of metal or stone, of buildings and of equipment. Scribe work is more melting texting into objects through precise heating means, required and respected, but it is not a general practice to form art from other mediums such as charcoal or clay. Such art is also ever present upon their bodies and in the valuables they choose to wear, trophy or forged item.
Common Myths and Legends
Creation Story
The Maker Naezeiros called forth his children, his architects and the gods and found them lacking. For Upon the shoulders of each he tasked the molding of a creature in their aspect of the Laka. Yet he peered about the infant world and saw that it was not yet full of life. At his command, a scant few notes emerged from Aagith, the world song. The new bowing low unto their maker. So forth, came the maker of Il’ha to be. From the volatile and hardy volcanic region, the young God of Il’ha plucked up betwixt their fingers the brightest stone that burned amidst the molten rivers. Breathing deep into the stone the gift of Autumnal beauty. The most resilient of magics made flesh. The molten creation pulsed with a new flame that did not burn, one birthed of Aagith, the world song. Holding up their third child to the fading light of the Maker’s eye, the young god asked for the blessing of the Drake Naezeiros, whose eye hung low in the sky of the ‘eve. So it would be, the last rays of the first dusk filled the stone to capacity. The molten veins of the stone merged with that of it’s kin, shaped by the God of Il’ha to form the Oreads. Forevermore the Oe Il’ha would carry the colorations of what birthed them, and the connections of their kin. The raw ambers and golden zeals of the hottest flames echoed upon their hair and eyes, skin dusky as the rocks they had been carved from. They carry a deep almost biological hatred for beings of Seelie Courts.Major organizations
Other than the Autumn Court of the Faerie Wonderland there are Oreads sprinkled throughout communities in autumn elf lands as they are the only race to really understand them. It is not uncommon to find sole Oread communities inside volcanoes, however.
Diverged ethnicities
Encompassed species
Related Myths
Related Locations
Skin Tone: Dark shades of Gray to Black.
Height: Male: 5’5” - 6’6” Female: 5’3” - 6’5”
Eye Color: Fire
Hair Color: Fire or bald.
Age Range: Juvenility at 20, Adulthood at 80, Middle-age at 160, Elderhood at 240 (Near immortal)
Block Speed: 5
Related Location
Language: Fey Speak, Common
Related System
Fae Sparks
Related Species
Elves
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