|
Humanity and Elves |
|
The humans and elves of Raethania are beautiful races. Here you will find every skin color and racial type that you've even known...and many that you have never dreamed of. Both races are of noble bearing and history in Raethania. Each individual manifests as the physical ideal of the internal being. This, of course, means there is a very wide variety in the physical appearance among individuals of these races, for the internal nature of the being is directly reflected by their physical appearance. You can truly judge a book by its cover when viewing these peoples. Humans are a highly ambitious race, being somewhat less long lived than the elves. Highly sensual in nature, they enjoy their interaction with the physical world around them. They are, however, also a very spiritually minded race. Steeped in traditions of magick, many of the greatest magi of Raethania and Paradisian itself, are human. Highly devout, humans offer regular gifts to the Avatar as the representative of Anu in this world. They do have a tendency to focus their worship on the Avatar directly, but this is discouraged by the Avatar himself.....or will be once he gets here.....and worship of the One, Anu, is highly encouraged. Elves have less ambition than humans...at least to an outside observer, this would seem to be the case. In fact, the Elves are equally ambitious, but due to the longer span of their life before reincarnation, their sense of the passage of time is different than that of humans. Because of this, they have patience that humans lack, and often pursue a goal that would take half a humans life time to accomplish. The Elves also have their magicks, though it is of a different nature than that of humans. While humans tend to focus on forms of highly ritualized and complex magicks....elves have a more mystic approach. Through inner dialogs with the essence of the One and other spirits, elves gather their knowledge from within. They are very much in tune with the natural world around them, and tend to live in areas that are unspoiled and undeveloped by human interference. Despite these differences, the two races freely and joyously mingle often. Marriages between human and elf are rare due to the difference in life span, but liaisons are common. These two races can interbreed, so there are a number of half elf half humans running around, that enjoy the acceptance of both races. Longer lived than their human mothers and fathers, they are also more impatient and ambitious than their longer living Elvin mothers and fathers. It is this group that makes up the core of the Mylem (more on the Mylem later). Humans are very good at building and have several reasonably large towns throughout Raethania. Elves tend to grow their homes rather than build them, but they are masters at the construction and consecration of magickal items and musical instruments. While humans generally make swords, spears, staffs and a variety of edged weapons for distribution through out Paradisian...the Elves construct bows, arrows, delicate knives and a variety of body powered projectile weapons. Interestingly enough, neither humans nor elves engage in the activity of ship or boat building, these activities being the realm of the Trollomai. Things like censorship, body shame, indecency and sexual taboos are unknown to humans and elves alike. You will often find both humans and elves in a wide array of dress, from completely nude all the way to completely covered. For the most part, dress is dictated by weather and seasonal conditions. In the high reaches of the mountains, the snow and cold make it necessary for even the Fae to wear protective clothing...though this does not produce a nudity taboo as is so often the case in cold climes. Other times the dress of an individual is determined by their position or function in society. However, no individual exists solely to serve or work, and enjoy ample leisure time for pleasure, worship and side interests. Humans and Elves are the highest races in Raethania in terms of spiritual development, and as thus have the greatest degree of freewill. This, of course, means that they have more opportunity to screw up...though the action of "karma' is not what you are used to. Rather than a subtle force, or a force that acts over and between life times...'karma' is a very direct and immediate force on Raethania. I believe that the legend of the human devoured by a copse of trees is a good example of this. This completes a quick and rough, general description of the major races and beings of Raethania. There are many many more, but they cannot be covered in this vision. Next I will take you to Mt. Adophael to see the City of Sparkling Gray...and eventually the Citadel of the Avatar. For now, I will transport you to the base of Mt. Adophael where you will find two paths to the top. One and only one of which, you will have to choose.
|