Lithryn

The lithryns are humanoid in appearance, with limbs and anatomy similar to that of a regular human of other worlds. They are generally smaller and thinner than other races, and their skin is pale and white. The most distinct part are their tendrils that jut out from behind their ears, which are scaly and tipped. A long cord emerges from the back of their head, at the bottom of which is a small orb. This orb is used to provide light and store arcane or magical energy. In addition, lithryns have distinct black markings on their face, which set them apart from the other teryn races. Lithryns also have tipped ears.

The lithryns are most distinct due to their tendrils, of which they have three. The primary tendril that emits from the back of their head is a biological wonder, which siphons magical energy, often arcane or light, and stores it. Lithryns are able to use this orb to provide light, and in drastic instances, for extra energy, healing, or magical spell casting.   Lithryns are also able to commit coshar, which is a specific and special ability of lithryns that allows them to "connect" their primary tendrils together, and share and understand each others emotions. This is an incredibly personal action, and is only performed by close friends, family, or spouses.   Lithryns do not grow any facial hair besides eyebrows and eyelashes.

The lithryns have reproductive cycles nearly the same as other humanoid races, with a gestation period of about nine months. Copulation between male and female lithryns is the only way of producing offspring.

The lithryns grow slightly slower than other races, but it is almost unnoticeable. After birth, a child lithryn grows up normally, quickly developing the normal structures of their race. At around 4-5 the tendrils upon their face begin to expand and develop, and they greatly increase in intelligence and curiosity. Typically around the age of 14-15 a lithryn enters puberty, and begins, and they fully develop the coshar or "sacred bond" that is frequent across their race. Lithryn are in their prime from their 20s to their 30s, and regularly live up to 90 or 100 years.

All lithryns have fair faces and darker hair, often black or brown. Specific racial black markings are found on their faces, and their have pointed ears.

The lithryns are spread all across the world, but are primarily found only in their home continent of Telreymor, or the Aether Islands. Some are also found in port cities within Sothakar.

The lithryn have regular abilities to perceive the outside world, perhaps except that they are exceptionally attune to the presence of magic and holy areas.

The names of a lithryn are given at birth, with their surname marked by the family name and the name of one's parent. Traditionally, the mother is given first choice to name the child's first name, as she birthed it, while the father is given first choice to name the child's second name, as they created it.   Each name is divided into a first name, the personal name, followed by the name of their father (or in case of the fatherless the mother's name). If the lithryn is noble, the name of their house or line is given, then finally their second and more public name is given. "esh" is used to denote "son of" and "esa" is used to denote "daughter of." Only a few of the noble houses might also have "esha" which means "of the house of" or "of the line of." And only a very exceptionally rare few are given the title of "ren" which marks a founder or creater of a house or line. For instance, Abrithas Ren’Vaeynal was the founder of the legendary Vaeynal dynasty.   For example, Avisalar Avi'esa Sholoch'esha Yamelos could be interpreted as Avisalar Yamelos, Daughter of Avi of the House of Sholoch. Typically, lithryns will give only their public and family names. Using the above example, her name written in records and given as an introduction would be Yamelos Sholock'esha. Giving a private name, while not extremely serious, often indicates a deepening of ones friendship. One could also change their last name, based on great deed or characteristic.   Some common male names include: Komallian, Benyen, Yamun, Aranalali, Coren, Shanadior, Abrithas, Renath   Some common female names include: Sarayen, Kathalam, Ciramula, Aranamar, Ebanira, Renia, Rutoami, Suran

There are several prominent lithryn organizations. One of the most immediate ones is the great kingdom of Telar. Over its extremely long history of fracturing and repeated reunification, it has remained the greatest mark of lithryn might and glory.   Beyond their blessed kingdoms, the lithryns are divided into several paths or "classes" which each have an important role to play in society. In addition, several organizations, such as the Justice-Bringers or the Order of the Felguard, are predominately lithryn-founded and formed, but do feature other races.   Religiously, the Holy Illuminated Church is the central faith of all lithryns, and teaches the truths of their faith. Priests and paladins fight for their righteous causes, purging evil and bring hope and light to the world.

The lithryns view strong and lean figures as attractive, and admire longer tendrils and fair features. Grooming and self-care is considered important in maintaining a good feature, and admirable beauty traits include having clean teeth, unblemished faces, and combed hair.

Males are seen as proactive workers who must protect and work to guide others. The ideal masculine figure is one who is kind, compassionate, hard-working, and sacrificial.    Females seek to master their grace, elegance, and support their husbands, brothers, and sons, and provide for society in more emotional and nurturing ways.

Courtship and romance is a very formal and typically social event, often involving the whole family. Romantic relationships are specifically separated into different phases. The first phase is the admittance of love, where one partner has to give a special lit candle, called a laven candle, to their counterpart, signaling that they love them, more deeply than just friendship. If the other partner excepts, they both enter a new type of relationship, similar, but not equivalent to, the human notion of dating.   After progressing through their relationship for a period of time, usually a year, the couple may move onto the next stage. The male partner, after a night of deep prayer and consideration, will go to the mother of his love and ask to marry her daughter. He will offer her a gift of some sort. The parents will deliberate, then give an answer.   With their consent, he will go to his love on a special night and declare his love to her. He will ask to "connect" or commit a coshar with her, and if she "connects" with him, it signals she accepts. The new couple then moves into the next phase, where they are eventually married. The ultimate climax of this relationship is the marriage ceremony and the consummation of the couples.

In any ideal lithryn relationship, love and respect are central. Sacrifice for the loved one is one of great importance, be it in small or big ways. To the lithryns, a perfect relationship would be one of love and true commitment with each other. True love between individuals is not neccesary, though it is desired, but regardless a husband is expected to be kind and good to his wife.    Commitment is one of the more important aspects of any marriage or relationship. Those who break their vows and separate are generally viewed badly, as all lithryns are expected to stay with their partner no matter what. Loyalty and commitment, in any relationship, is thus highly praised.

The lithryn are very advanced in several technologies. They have mastered the use of holy and arcane magic, and are able to channel it into stored mana crystals. The ability to channel, harness, and most importantly, store, magical energy has proved to be very vital to the lithryns. They often uses these to power certain machines, and are capable of creating magical weaponry seemingly out of thin air. Several innovations in boat-making and ship designs have led to great breakthroughs in sailing and navigation. Lithryns have even designed mass transport magical bridges and floating airships, thus improving transportation time.

The major tongue of all teryns is Teliosh. All teryn races speech it, including the lithryns. However, there are distinct dialects between groups, with a lithryn dialect, a dakryn dialect, and a raleryn dialect, with further sub-dialects and accents between these groups.   Lithryns typically have three major dialects: a high urban dialect, a rural dialect, and a coastal dialect.

Lithryns are expected to be well behaved and polite with others, be they a noble or a simple worker. The basis for etiquette is the idea that the more wealthy and well off should provide more for the less to do. For instance, a richer friend would be expected to pay for a meal than his poorer friend. A stronger and fitter person would be expected to be patient and wait for a weaker or slower one.

Lithryns prefer a variety of different clothing for different purposes. Many of their favored colors are gold or white. Women wear long flowing dresses, and if possible, they are embroidered with elegant patterns and designs. Men typically wear smaller frocks.

The lithryns come from a line of blessed and holy heroes, and thus can sometimes come as standoffish. However, they do not believe themselves superior than other races, unlike the aj'ra, but rather see themselves as specifically set apart or chosen by the Light to act as its enforcers and protectors, the guardian race of Telarith. Nearly every aspect of their lives are centered around order and the Light, causing the lithryn culture to be quite outward focused, trying not to draw attention to themselves, while also internally examined. Individuals are expected to delve deep into themselves and perfect themselves in every way possible.   Lithryns are also heavily focused on keeping things orderly, organized, and have an extreme belief in a hierarchy that determines nearly all things. Everyone has their own place, and has to give certain honors to those considered above or below them.

The lithryns have several customs and traditions. They have four several important holiday equinoxes and solstices, which are important days of feasting, celebrations, and family time. Lithryns also have specific ways of celebrating marriages and important events, and often mark their graves and tombs with torches.   They also have several special holidays and important dates for each year, which are usually celebrated with song and good cheer. These include:

• Day of Remembrance - A day in mid-Spring. It is a celebration of the lives of important individuals and sacred figures of the church, as well as other great figures, both local, regional, and global. Noted for large feastings and celebrations.
• Festival of Light - Held on the longest day of the year. Celebrates light and the sun, marked by an early sermon at dawn and followed by worship. The rest of the day is a long, joyful feast and gathering, a big celebration for the community.
• Giver's Day - Held on the shortest day of the year. Families spend the morning giving gifts to each other and enjoy family meals. In the evening they gather to sing and while placing candles and lights on pathways, houses, trees, and more, spreading light in the darkness and thanking the Holy Light for the blessings given.
• New Year's Festival - Held before a new year, families gather in early morning to light floating candles and sing the new dawn of the new year in. They celebrate the victory over the Great Darkness, as well as the prospering of their nation and people.

Lithryns, due to their deep connection and reverence to the light and order, thus naturally have a distain for darkness and chaotic situations and states. They keep their cities and home filled with light and neatly kept, and typically refer and associate good things with light and negative people and things with darkness and the void.   Beside that, lithryns are disdainful of affairs and scandalous business, and find extra-marital affairs vile. In addition, rule breakers, dissidents, criminal, and traitors are looked down upon. The act of betrayal is considered the worst sin of all.

The lithryn descend from the ancient line of teryns, some of the first inhabitants of Telarith. The teryn tribes had spread far and wide across the lands and had established several tribes and petty kingdoms. These teryn had traveled further to the northwest, into the lands now known as Telreymor, and continued to expand, develop, and further their species.   The lithryns were truly born, however, from the chaos of the Great Darkness, when monsters and demons invaded the planet of Telarith. Several of these tribes heroically fought on against the first demonic invasion, even though they were vastly outnumbered and outmatched, and the remaining few teryn lords and leaders either succumbed to the temptation offered by the Burning Legion, or tried to battle them, even if it was a losing fight.   When the an’gels first came to Telarith, they found a hardy species already facing off against the forces of the Twisting Nether. Despite everything, the teryns continued to fight back, and for this the an'gels chose to guide and protect them. The warrior an'gels who appeared before the teryns offered them untold holy powers and strength, and the teryns accepted the divine light, first among the races to battle the hordes of shadow with the an'gels blessing. Under the tutelage of the naaru and with the strength of the Holy Light, these teryns fought off the Great Darkness, one of the leading races in the First Alliance. Following the final salvation of Telarith, the new race of blessed figures united under a great hero Abrithas Ren’ Vaeynal’esha, who would establish their first kingdom, the first king of the lithryns, or "blessed ones"   The first lithryn kingdom would continue to prosper and expand. Under the Vaeynal dynasty the lithryns expanded and spread all across Telreymor. However, as the lithryns created new city-states, opposing states began to develop. The city of Dunnosh in particular grew into a major rival to the former city of Tel Tela. This eventually culminated in a civil war in 814 AD, and the subsequent fragmentation of the kingdom. Large and powerful city-states eventually formed their own new kingdoms. The rivalry between Dunnosh and Tel Tela would mark most of the rest of the history of the first millennium AD. Dunnosh would eventually expand and form its own empire of sorts, reaching a golden age of art, literature, and culture. However, the Second Fel Uprising would virtually waste Dunnosh, as the near century long conflict allowed for the reunification of many lithryn kingdoms under the Threnor family.   The Second Fel Uprising (and later Third Fel Uprising) marked the start of a new age in lithryn history. Over the next almost 1600 years Telreymor shifted through a cycle of dynasties and powerful kingdoms, following by a period of fractured states, and then reunification. This has been called the Dynastic Cycle, and in fact many of the wisest leaders of Telar have anticipated and prepared for inevitable collapse based on this idea. A dynasty would arise and rule the kingdom of Telar for a period, then fracture under several large state, and eventually the most powerful of these kingdoms (often Telar City) would conquer the fighting states and form a new dynastic rule.   During the rise of the second great Aj'Ra Empire, the lithryns were enslaved and conquered by the serpentine race. However, in time the seeds of rebellion were grown to fruition, and eventually under the leadership of Jaanai Ren'Jaanai, the teryns united against their masters and began to overthrow them. After decades of war, they smashed the aj'ra imperial forces at the Battle of Fallen Spire.   Over the next centuries, the lithryns would prosper as a strong unified kingdom, again under various powerful dynasties, but eventually they would fracture into numerous city and regional states and kingdoms once more. However, in the middle of the 3th millennium, the kingdom of Telar was reunited by Anthismar Ren'Alrande, and the lithryns have become one of the dominant races in Telarith. In recent years, they were instrumental in creating the League of United Kingdoms, and while held in the grips of civil war, stand as the best chance to defend Telarith from a great darkness ready to swarm over the world.

Several individuals over the eras have had a great influence on the history of the lithryn race. The first and perhaps most recognizable one is Abrithas Ren'Vayenal Yesu'esh. He was a great hero of the Great Darkness, who led the forces of Telarith against the countless evils and horrors of that time. After the war, he united the different tribes and petty kingdoms under his rule, establishing the great first kingdom of Telar. His influence on lithryn history can be seen even today, and he remains a revered hero by his people.   Another important individual was Jaanai Ren'Jaanai Abir'esa Essene, who led the Great Teryn Rebellion. By her will and tact, the teryns were freed from the aj'ra, and she established a new royal line.

The lithryns have a long mythology, dating back to their races early ages as simple tela villagers who lived around the Dawnstone. The ancestors of the lithryns always served as faithful servants and guardians, blessed by magic and order, and they saw the very first wars between primordial powers and eldritch gods, the coming of the titans, and the time of the Great Darkness. Thus naturally, they have a plethora of myths and legends that concern all of these events.   The first set of myths, often called the Telanic Myths, date to the time of the tela, who lived around the naaru K'avah. Since it was so long ago, very few myths have survived, but they mostly speak about the arrival of the mystical Goldstone and the first tela to meet it, known as Naala Tanal. Naala showed her people the power and teachings of the Goldstone, and brought them together besides its flowing power. Telanic myths typically deal with specific legendary characters and moral stories that were meant to teach lessons to young children.   The next major set of myths are known as the Terran Myths, as the tela slowly became the tera race. These myths are marked by their epic sagas and lengthy stories of heroes and battles, and feature a wide perspective of the great wars between the elementals, Old Gods, and later the Titans. The most prominent epic of this time is the Thalad'zia, a long tale about Thalad Kuram ("Chosen"), a hero who went through a great journey, and met the Titan Aggramar (Agg'ralor in the myth), and led his people to become the teryn.   Very few of this myths and stories have survived the tens of thousands of years, including the next major sets of Pre-Darkness Myths. These are sub-divided into further mythological sets, such as the Kabric, Post-Kabric, and Letorian Myths. They are diverse and are mostly centered on local and regional legends.   After the Great Darkness, the formation of a great lithryn state forged new myths, known as Post-Darkness Myths. These largely dealt with the royal houses and tales of kings, nobles, and heroes.

Lithryns have a variety of stereotypical beliefs and views on other races, and many complex relations.    Due to the negetive history between lithryns and sekryns, most lithryns have a poor view of sekryns. At best they might be capable if untrustworthy warriors, at worst they are seen as virtually demons or demon-helpers who will inevitabley become corrupted by evil and power and seek to bring further ruin to Telarith. As for raleryns, they are seen as uncertain beings, perhaps not totally trustworthy but not to be outright dismissed. In general most lithryns don't care too much about raleryns, and would be willing to work with them.