Eisthar

Demi-humans with pure white skin, the eisthar have white, pupil-less eyes. Their hair is also white, and many other species find their appearance unnerving (some dye their hair or wear colored contacts to ease their dealings with other humans). They exhibit standard mammalian sexual dichotomy. While classified as demi-human, their DNA has drifted too far from standard for them to interbreed with other human strains.  

Overview

  The eisthar are a humanoid species originating on the moon Si'ar. The surface of Si'ar is horrifically inhospitable, racked by 100 mile per hour winds, storms that rain shards of razor sharp glass, storm gliders (large predatory creatures that glide on the winds and swoop down on prey), and intense radiation from the gas giant, Ikelu (Tirsei VI). As such, the eisthar evolved underground in the planet-spanning network of caverns running deep below its surface. There in the dark, visual perception was useless, so the eisthar evolved to sense their surroundings through the An permeating everything. As such, although they cannot see photons, they can see other things hidden from conventional sight such as emotions. They perceive the world primarily achromatically, however, certain things will appear colored to them based on the nature of the An resonating through it. Consequently, when they describe the color of a thing, it may be completely different from the color conventional sight would show.   Eisthar also comprise almost the entire population of Dursos. According to legend, this is due to an ancient exodus in the days of the Imperium. In more recent times, the unpleasant conditions on Si'ar have led many eisthar to leave their moon for the inner planets. As a result, there are old, thriving eisthar communities on Belera. Si'ar's conquest by the Turunai has created a new wave of emigration as those who can escape flee to places like Deseina, Abyn Station, and Kaskremur.  

Strengths and Weaknesses

  Spirit Sight: Eisthar see the world entirely through An. As such, they can see things in their vicinity hidden from photon-based sight and are unaffected by light level. The downside is that machines and inanimate matter can't be seen directly. Instead, eisthar perceive the currents of An as they flow around the spiritually neutral object, giving them a vague impression of its appearance. This deflection prevents them from seeing through solid matter, limiting their sight to the standard range. Dark Ones cannot be seen at all. Conventional sight enhancers, such as telescopes, do not work with Spirit Sight. eisthar cannot see normal colors, instead perceiving a thing based on the “color” of its spiritual resonance. They also cannot read conventional writing or displays. In eisthar communities, texts and displays use special bio-engineered pigments that exhibit a weak spiritual resonance, making them visible to Spirit Sight. In other areas, they typically are unable to read or see pictures. Eisthar do get a +2 bonus to rolls to read others as they can see spiritual changes caused by emotion (characters can still attempt to hide this, but have a harder time deceiving the eisthar's sight—hence the bonus). Eisthar can also see unmanifested spirits. They get a +2 bonus to Xa'an rolls to read past events using the spiritual resonance left behind.   Xa'an Affinity: +5 power points   Environmental Weakness (-1): -4 to resist sunlight. Takes +4 damage from sunlight attacks.