Vaelethi

The Vaelethi are the lineages of those Zahar who turned to local animal spirits and the lesser animal spirits of Vaeleth. While the Vaelethi don’t have a specific single Progenitor, they all have roots in ancient Zahar Spiritist traditions. They have a myriad of ancient spirits and fey as their progenitors; each family of Vaelethi having countless spirits as its progenitors.

As most Vaelethi originated from the various Spirit worshipers of the Zahar, many have carried on said traditions through the fourth age and into the fifth age. Over the millenia, the different families have drifted in philosophy and acceptance of the worship of other gods. By the Fifth Age, the Vaelethi Lineages share very little with each other beyond their ancestral ties to animal spirits. They are amongst the most common of the lineages, and are one of the most widespread.

It is common to address Vaelethi as the animal they appear to be rather than their lineage; though this is frequently seen as ignorant, insulting, or derisive. However, some see it as a form of affection.

Canatunian

(Feline / Caprine)

Canatunian Vaelethi (Canatunians) originate from the large island of Canatun in the north of Agrakos. They hold closest to the ancient spiritist traditions of the old Zahar, usually revering the spirits of the land above any gods. The island of Canatun is closely connected with the Wylds and as such full of fey spirits who like to take on the forms of cats. Other, less numerous spirits of the land take the form of goats. In total, the cats are more common with a ratio of nearly 3:1. This has not resulted in any sort of stratification of Canatunian society, instead it is a communal and egalitarian culture. They are seen from the outside as druids who follow incomprehensible practices. Relatively few Canatunians have made their way off the island, those who have now largely settle on the western coast Raath (south of the Gods's Reach, a relatively large amount of Caprines in the north, and small pockets of Felines reaching as far south as the flower desert.

Faarunian

(Avian)

Faarunian Vaelethi (Faarunians) are the inhabitants of the region of Faarun, from the highest mountains in the [[God's Reach] down into the forests of the [Faari'Da'Moore]]. They take the forms of a myriad of different species of birds, in the mountains more often birds of prey ranging from hawks, to the more rare giant condors. In the forests the variety burgeons both in size and appearance, the largest populations are small brightly colored songbirds (~3'10" - 4'8"), others as mid-sized birds (~5'), yet others as the various corvids ranging widely in size. Usually, Faarunians take on the relative size of their progenitor species, though it isn’t uniform. Faarunian society is quite colorful, though they long ago drifted away from the spirits and into the light of the Lunar gods (primarily Navalosh). Though a few types of birds have specifically been mentioned here, they can take on the appearance of nearly any sort of bird with the major exception of vultures.

Faarunian Vaelethi have the universal ability to fly, though only half have wings. Those who don't possess an innate ability to fly through ancient instinctual magics. In either case, their ability to fly can quickly be hampered by additional weight.

Erilgari

(Cervine / Vulpine)

Erilgari Vaelethi (Erilgari(s)) are common in the mountains of Erilgar. The proportion of Cervine to Vulpine Erilgari is nearly even, with no one region of Erilgar favouring one or the other. They were the first of the Vaelethi to break away from the ancient practices of the Zahar Spiritists. They began to worship the triad of Light, Dark, and Shadow; each Erilgari is themselves ‘aspected’ to favour one of the three depending on the time of their birth. Those born during the day are aspected to light, those at night to dark, and those born during dawn and dusk are considered shadow aspected. Erilgari are generally more talented in the sort of magic tied to their time of birth with a slight exception. That is, Vulpine (and on the rarest occasion Cervine) Erilgari born under the peak of the sun in a clear midday find themselves aspected to the power of Daliun, or flame and heat.

Generally, Erilgari culture is insular and intensely mystical when within the bounds of Erilgar. There are large communities of Erilgari all around the outside the mountains originating around the time of Liutbrand. These communities have largely done away with their insular nature and are instead usually respected families of craftspeople and artisans, often producing some of the most talented mages. Physically, Erilgari tend to be quite tall with lean often lanky builds, it isn’t a rule but often as they age their fur will take on the color/patterns relating to their aspect.

Qenmari

(Boarlike /Raccoonlike)

The two sorts of Qenmari are vastly different, having split off from each other in ages past, they are none the less considered the same ‘family’ of Vaelethi due to the fact that there are boar and raccoon spirits present together in the Qenmariqian Steppe. It is said that in the ancient past, long before the arrival of the Great Khan that the Boars and Raccoons entered a grand feud, with the Boars wishing to settle down and to forsake their traditional nomadic lifestyle in favor of cities. Thus, the raccoons chased the boars from the Qenmariqian steppe into the woods to the west.

The Boar Qenmari are an intensely bellicose people, they maintain small fortified settlements and frequently raid amongst themselves and their neighbors. They are large and muscular, towering over the other lineages, able to outrun the others. They often adventure forth from their forests as mercenary companies, seeking glory in violence and death in battle.

The Raccoon Qenmari are of modest height and build, and generally follow the ancient ways of the spiritist Zahar closely, mostly eschewing modern magic in favor of the old ways. Their culture is generally semi-nomadic and highly equestrian. They are also often seen as gifted archers. They are notable in their utilitarian pragmatism when it comes to the treatment of the dead; they see no use in burial tradition, instead making use of every part of the bodies of their deceased. They view this as the greatest honor, and as a way that they can be of use to their people after death. It is a macabre practice often resulting in grave misunderstandings. As such, very few Raccoon Qenmari leave their homeland and people.

Ayadi

(Batlike / Vulturelike)

Ayadi Vaelethi are the native residents of the archipelago of Ayad, their lineage originates from the bat and vulture spirits which are common on the dolmens of ancient Ayad. Their progenitors are seen as omens of death, as are often they themselves. They are closely tied with the energies of death which suffuse their home archipelago. Despite this, they are more often seen to worship the dolmens than the gods of death themselves (though the latter are still revered). Their society enjoys company, exploration, and caring for their family. They are of note for utterly eschewing notions of gender, which often sets them apart from the other lineages in moments of confusion and misunderstanding. Despite this, it is more often than not taken as a moment of humor by the Ayadi.

Boori

(Lupine/Canine)

Unlike the other lineages of Vaelethi, the Boori can trace their lineage back to one specifically powerful blood spirit, Alooku the Blood Wolf. They are undoubtedly the least populous of the Vaelethi, with their population largely centered around the ancient kingdom of Boor. They are a people who long ago did away with their warlike nature, more often embracing a mercantile way of life. Since Liutbrand se Wraeclast, and the coinciding death/vanishing of Alooku, they have also largely devoted themselves to the lunar gods.

Grisvalan

(Serpentine)

The Grisvalan Vaelethi are natives to the island of Grisvar, making them of note as the only Vaelethi truly native to the lands of Gothi. They are serpentine in appearance to varying degrees, some simply having snakelike heads, some as far as having mostly serpentine bodies. These are revered as the most powerful of their people, commanding equal respect with the Giantborn Gothi. The lesser Grisvalans are generally on the same societal level as the Wyldborn Gothi, if on occasion even lower.

Dauranians

(Weasels)

The Dauranian Vaelethi are native to the Kazi Forest, and are ancient rivals of the Golden Kazcol. They trace their lineage to the numerous weasel spirits within their home forest. They are a people who have been under constant onslaught since their birth. They are a raucous people who resist occupation and are quick to fight. As such they have been undergoing near constant reprisals since their conquest by the draconians. Despite this, they fiercely preserve their own culture.

Eleniric

(Fishlike/Aquatic)

The Eleniric Vaelethi (Eleniri) are native to Elenir, with a very small population who left and settled in Agrakos. They can take on a variety of appearances, including those of bony fish, gastropods, and (less commonly) various pinnipeds and sirenias. Like their cousins the Eleen, Eleniric Vaelethi tend to value family and personal bonds above all else, though those who live in Agrakos may take on the values common to the places they settle, and the Eleniri are far more likely to accept the gods in their lives than the Eleen are.