[Article] Sapient Races

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Dakarne
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[Article] Sapient Races

Post by Dakarne »

Táchari

'It is often said that the greatest friend you can have is one of the táchari, for they never forget an act of kindness, and nor will they forget to repay it; they have so much time and such good memories that forgetting a friend is alien to them. But it is also said that they can be among the greatest enemies you can have, as they will never forget a slight against them, and nor will they forget to seek revenge for such; they have so much time and such good memories that forgetting an enemy is also alien to them.'
-Anonymous

The táchari are certainly among the most noticeable of the non-human races, due to being one of the most common, along with their close cousins, the elves. Although they are smaller in number than their human cousins, the táchari often make themselves known via frequent trading with human nations. This isn't always the case, as many groups of táchari can be very insular and keep themselves to themselves.

Physical Traits
They are physically similar to humans with the same range of regional ethnicities, though with a few others that are alien to humans. They differ to humans in the fact that they're often very slightly slimmer, six to twelve inches taller on average, and have long pointed ears. Most noticeably, they physically mature slower than humans, taking between twenty-five and thirty years to reach full maturity. From that point onwards they take between seven hundred and a thousand years to reach old age. One internal difference present in both half- and full-blooded táchari is that they have two hearts, rather than the single heart that most humans have, which often gives them greater endurance. Due to the major differences between humans and táchari, fertile hybrids are impossible, though the occasional infertile half-human/half-tácharan has occurred, though such unions are often riddled with birth defects. However, due to the closeness of tácharain and elven traits, it is possible for them to reproduce and create fertile offspring.

Some táchari have cat-like nightvision, and their eyes are similar to a cat's in some respect, though their pupils do not narrow in the same way during high-light conditions. They often prefer to work in night conditions or in conditions of low light due to this, as daylight can be painful to them. They also have sharp and sensitive hearing that can suffer in crowds.

Psychological Traits
Psychologically, táchari differ from humans in that they think in a different fashion, allowing them to plan for the long term much more easily. This can lead other species to see them as being conservative or slow to react, while táchari can sometimes see other races as overly fast to react to things, and not seeing the bigger picture. Not all táchari follow this same pattern, however. Eidetic memories are common, and with tácharain longevity it can lead to one individual alone knowing enough information to fill a library. Tácharain sexuality also differs, as táchari are commonly attracted to individuals of both sex, with only a fifth of the population being attracted to a single gender.
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'For the moment, mortal, they find the thought of killing me more desirable than that of killing you.'
'And what are their chances?'
'The answer to that is evident in how long they've been hesitating, wouldn't you think, mortal?'

-Anomander Rake and Ganoes Paran in Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
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Re: [Article] Sapient Races

Post by Dakarne »

Elves

'There dwell the folk that are called light-elves; but the dark-elves dwell down in the earth, and they are unlike the light-elves in appearance, but much more so in deeds. The light-elves are fairer than the sun to look upon, but the dark-elves are blacker than pitch.'
-The Prose Edda

The elves are an offshoot race of the táchari. Though their true origins remain unknown, it is theorised that they came about after large groups of táchari became connected to or imbued by the forces of either the Light or the Darkness, changing into something slightly different. Due to the two different sources, there are two, often warring, types of elves; the dark-elves and the light-elves. They are actually larger in number than their tácharain cousins, but due to the even split between the two types of elf, it often seems as if there are less of them.

Dark-Elves

The dark-elves were originally táchari, countless millennia ago, until they were touched by the powers of the darkness. It is not known how the shadow magic came to affect them, but it is known what was left in its wake.

Physical Traits
Akin to their táchari forebearers, dark-elves are often slimmer than humans, but are often a few inches shorter than them as well, as opposed to being taller. They are in possession of the same sort of long, pointed ears and twin hearts. They live for roughly the same lifespan as the táchari, living for between seven hundred and a thousand years before growing old. Appearance-wise, dark-elves have dark, almost black skin of various shades, with lighter-coloured hair. As with táchari, it is impossible for a dark-elf to produce fertile offspring with humans, though infertile children with a few common birth defects can sometimes occur, but such things are extremely rare, as humans are rarely seen as suitable mates. Dark-elves also have a mild spiritual connection to their associated Source, and dark-elf mages can more easily call upon shadow magic to aid them, though this is not always the case.

The dark-elves are well adapted to conditions of darkness, like their táchari cousins, perhaps even moreso. They can even see in conditions of utter darkness, without any need for light, though they suffer far greater in conditions of light for it. The complexions of the dark-elves are not affected by their constant time spent in darkness, as the origin of their differing complexions is mostly mystical in source, and not necessarily genetic. They have heightened levels of hearing, akin to the táchari.

Psychological Traits
Dark-elves are more or less psychologically identical to their táchari forebearers, though they often culturally hold that their opposite type of elf, the light-elves, should be either eradicated or at least otherwise gotten rid of. This is not innately psychological, however but instead a result of cultural leanings. Dark-elves also sometimes suffer from phobias towards sunlight, as a result of their adaptation to conditions of darkness. They have a greater rate of bisexuality than their táchari cousins, however, with only about ten to fifteen percent of dark-elves favouring a single gender.

Light-Elves

Similarly to the dark-elves, light-elves were originally táchari who were imbued with the power of one of the magical Sources. In this case, the light-elves were imbued with light magic. It is not known as to what caused them to come about in more specific terms.

Physical Traits
Light-elves are a few inches shorter and thinner than humans, on average, with many of them being seen as waiflike and slender, often like children. Like their táchari cousins, they have long, pointed ears and two hearts. They share an extended lifespan with their dark elven and táchari cousins, generally living for between seven hundred and a thousand years before growing old and dying. Light-elves are often pale-skinned, with darker-coloured hair, though shades such as blond and ginger are sometimes encountered. As with their opposite type of elf and the táchari, they cannot reproduce with humans to create fertile young, but can reproduce very easily with their closer cousins. Human hybrids, when they do occur, are often completely infertile and suffer from various birth defects and occasional deformities. Light-elves, akin to the dark-elves, have a spiritual connection to their associated Source, and as such many light-elf mages can often utilise the light powers more easily, though this is not always the case.

Unlike táchari, the light-elves are not very well adapted to conditions of darkness, to the point of sometimes suffering night blindness. They can, however, operate very well in conditions of bright light, as a consolation for such things. As with dark-elves, their complexions are unaffected by the conditions they reside in, and have no affect on their ability to withstand such conditions, as the source of their complexions is magical and not entirely biological. They have the same levels of heightened hearing as the táchari and dark-elves.

Psychological Traits
The psychology of the light-elves is similar in many respects to the táchari, though they often share a mutual opinion of hatred with the dark-elves, but such hatred is culturally generated as opposed to being innate to the person. Light-elves are also prone to suffering from fear of the dark and night conditions due to their preference for daylight. The light-elves have far less of a rate of bisexuality than the táchari, in contrast to the dark-elves, with a full fifty percent of the light-elves preferring one gender over the other.
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'For the moment, mortal, they find the thought of killing me more desirable than that of killing you.'
'And what are their chances?'
'The answer to that is evident in how long they've been hesitating, wouldn't you think, mortal?'

-Anomander Rake and Ganoes Paran in Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
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Peregrin
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Re: [Article] Sapient Races

Post by Peregrin »

I've noticed that you are a bit vague about the differences between elves and táchari... is this intentional?
"You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you." - Heraclitus
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Re: [Article] Sapient Races

Post by Dakarne »

Peregrin wrote:I've noticed that you are a bit vague about the differences between elves and táchari... is this intentional?
Yes, mostly because the differences are minor in many respects. Though there are probably a few further things that are different. Mostly, however, it's that the elves embody the idea of either the light or dark.
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'For the moment, mortal, they find the thought of killing me more desirable than that of killing you.'
'And what are their chances?'
'The answer to that is evident in how long they've been hesitating, wouldn't you think, mortal?'

-Anomander Rake and Ganoes Paran in Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
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Dakarne
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Re: [Article] Sapient Races

Post by Dakarne »

I've updated the elves a bit, and I'm working on a few of the other fantasy races that may be in need of severe overhaul or consideration as to my including them.
Image
'For the moment, mortal, they find the thought of killing me more desirable than that of killing you.'
'And what are their chances?'
'The answer to that is evident in how long they've been hesitating, wouldn't you think, mortal?'

-Anomander Rake and Ganoes Paran in Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
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Peregrin
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Re: [Article] Sapient Races

Post by Peregrin »

I find the whole sexual orientation-thingy difference between light and dark elves interesting, from an "in-universe" point of view. This, and their spiritual affinities and whatnot give me some weird ideas about the origins of elves. Wanna hear them?
"You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you." - Heraclitus
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