Teiguh

The Teiguh are the ancient remnants of the First World, having survived both the First and Second Upheavals. Their original reclusive nature having only been reinforced by those harrowing violent changes and the long ages between them, they live remote, sedentary, and usually solitary lives. They are divided into two kindred, apparently originating in the First World. The Heregteiguh live among mountain peaks, preferring those as high, remote, and impenetrable as possible. The Nerteiguh instead inhabit the depths of the earth, though otherwise as inaccessible as the Heregteiguh.  

Nature and Appearance

The First World was a place of cyclical balance, reflection, and opposition. Any action taken or progress made would, eventually, be unmade or reversed, only to return again. The Teiguh, embracing this metaphysical equilibrium to survive the First Upheaval, subsumed themselves into the hexal forces. Largely abandoning their physical forms granted them functional immortality, though it bound them to those forces and their raw physical material.   The Teiguh say that their forms reflect those of their original bodies, and that they were all originally of the same kin. Given the variety of shape in known individuals, they were either remarkably diverse or their imperfect memories of physicality have resulted in a certain amount of drift. All have similar body plans of a central core with six limbs. The exact arrangement varies, however; the limbs of some are spread evenly over the whole surface of the core, or around a single plane. Others stand on six, four, or two legs with more or less vertical postures.   Having discarded their physical forms, they are now composed of the raw hexal materials: stone, wood, metal, water, fire, and air. They can shift between them as called for by need or mood, and some have shown a propensity for the use of multiple forms at once. The Heregteiguh tend to prefer active hexal materials, while the Nerteighuh tend to the reactive.  

Hexal Ability

The Teiguh demonstrate significant influence over hexal forces in their home territory, and nearly complete power in their immediate presence. Beyond direct physical manipulation, they can move and reshape hexal materials and create or destroy false-materials. They do not appear to require any sustenance, taking what they need from hexal forces.   Besides their own survival and protection, they use their influence to maintain a homeostatic stability in their domain. The physical substrate, temperature, flora and fauna are all monitored, cultivated, and directly or indirectly maintained. Maintaining these environments and cycles with a minimum of direct input seems to be both a pragmatic and aesthetic motivation. While, as a rule, they do not involve themselves in events outside of their domains, they do respond strongly-even violently-to any threat to them and their home.