An Essay on the Differences Between Dominant Species
An Essay on the Differences Between Dominant Species
Age and Procreation
Rin are understood to be one of the very first species to have been created during the age of Elders and are native to Calad. Thus, their history and memories are rich with knowledge of the past. They live long lives; a single rin can live up to several centuries, while some are said to have lived over half a millennium. However, most rin will live around two centuries, witnessing the life cycles of many human generations.
With this inferred blessing comes the boon of slow aging. Whereas a human of 30 summers is considered a fully-fledged adult, more or less ending his dynamic life and settling with a bursting family, a rin is commonly assumed to be a youngling, just starting life.
On the same topic, a rin and a human differ in their ability to procreate. The latter is capable of leaving a vast and diverse lineage of several progenies. The first is less gifted in this regard, able to procreate once in a long span and only when the seasons bid the instance. Rin are able to bear offspring once they have reached adolescence – after they have lived over 30 or 40 summers.
Functionally, the rin can indulge in physical pleasures at any time but only once per year can they bear offspring.
Interestingly, the nature of Helrin and Thenrin are almost the opposite and so are their phases. While Thenrin most commonly take their reproductive rites during the winter solstice, the Helrin try their luck in the summer.
Elemental Affinities and the Procreation of Rin
This is connected to their elemental affinities; let us talk about those for a moment.
Most Helrin possess the fire affinity tied to the summer. They show signs of prime in the warmest months; their powers and their vitality grow. On the other hand, most Thenrin have latent water and ice affinity tied to the coldest times. However, their power is also irrevocably interwoven with the moon’s phases – a crescent moon is when they are at their best, and a full moon means they might feel lethargic.
In a sense, for a Helrin and Thenrin to bear a common child, they would need to alter their surroundings for a long while before they could expect any offspring. This proved troublesome in the past; thus, accomplished alchemists researched potions and concoctions that would add a temporary affinity and natural orientation to the troubled future parents.
As expected, these solutions became useful to others as well. Changing one’s affinity can truly be a powerful investment. Nowadays, many adventurers, soldiers, and mages, in general, try these out for other ambitions.
The affinities of both parents influence a child, but there are times when a child is born with an affinity divergent from the parents’. This can either be left unexplained or directly bound to the environment and season the child was born into.
Regarding affinities, the rin are generally gifted with the ability to interact with mana as they are born with at least one elemental affinity, although rare exceptions exist. Helrin prefer wielding mana through active spellcraft, weaving and forming drawn mana into respective elements through expulsion. Thenrin prefer a less spell-oriented approach – most cannot perform active spellcraft. They manipulate mana to strengthen their bodies, toughen their attacks, gain special abilities and imbue weapons.
In the case of humans, they are often born with no affinity, unable to sense mana in nature. However, a human with arcane potential can learn new affinities through rigorous practice – this being nearly impossible for rin, who depend on their natural affinities.
Effects of Soulrot
Here it is noteworthy that the rinnian physique is better suited to controlling and expelling larger amounts of mana than that of a human. Rin have an intricate channeling system coursing through their bodies. It flares up when they are in places abundant with mana, radiating like complex, luminous rivers through their skin, seemingly setting their whole body aglow. Moreover, the markings shine in a defensive response when they near exertion from directing large amounts of mana through their body. Unlike humans, who immediately start experiencing soulrot, rin begin to expel the excess mana efficiently; however, they can still fall to soulrot if they refuse to respite.
On the other hand, humans can only predict or learn where the threshold for arcane exertion lies. One usually feels the full extent of soulrot when it is too late; the body shuts down, obligating immediate help.
Differences in Appearances
The rin and the human species appear quite similar. Externally they are both built similarly, almost to the point of obscurity. There are, however, several smaller clues to their origins.
The most obvious are the ears: the rin have pointed, sharper shapes that are tuned to pick up many sounds the human mind cannot comprehend. Human ears are rounded and more inconspicuous.
The shades of skin, hair, and eyes a rin can have vary greatly. The Helrin usually have brighter skin with tinges of warmer hues underneath. The hair and eyes can take many colors, gravitating towards yellower or redder and lighter tones. The Thenian skin, hair, and eye color are either light or dark but come in different pigments, saturations, and tones, most commonly blueish and violet. A boon of rinnian swift evolutionary capabilities is their skin adapting to the surroundings in just one or two generations, accommodating overexposure or a lack of light. In this sense, the Thenian skin is ashen and void of pigment, illustrating their life underground, while Helian skin is lighter and adjusted to the temperate climate.
Likewise, human skin has a wide spectrum, albeit usually based on red or similar undertones. Hair and eye colors are usually less saturated than that of rin. Their skin can easily bruise from standing in the sun for too long, and their evolutionary process takes several millennia to readjust to new environments.
Rin, unlike humans, cannot grow facial hair apart from eyebrows and eyelashes. They do not have much body hair except the necessary. But they do have a mane. This grows in a denser bunch from their lower backs, the sacrum, and is similarly smooth, soft, silky, and can grow as long as their hair. Similar to human beards, the rin like to style their mane. As it signifies their more natural ways, most rin shave it off or tie it meticulously. Official positions demand removal, and any exposure can be frowned upon. However, the young seem to be trending towards a more relaxed lifestyle, elaborating their manes or even letting them sway naturally.
Traditionalists support this and advocate the return to natural ways. They urge the rinnian populace to wear their manes proudly, as this would set them further apart from humans.
Another disparity between the species is their general physiques and ability to retain and build muscle mass. Rin are leaner, with statures more equal among the sexes. Compared to humans, they are less able to lift heavy things without the help of mana. They are fast on their feet and agile even when out of shape; however, they are more prone to fatigue. On the other hand, humans show greater physical strength but are generally less dexterous.
In the end, it may seem that humans have numerous shortcomings; however, they have a great ability to learn at a quick pace, making them no less evolved or skilled in all areas they strive towards.
Lastly, we must point out the uncertainty of human origin. While they have been around for a long time, most from the Empire arrived during the invasion, and we do not know if the peoples of Sand Kingdoms are indigenous to the realm. We are however certain that they were nomads before they settled the ancient ruins that were there before them.
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An Essay on the Differences Between Dominant Species
Age and Procreation
Rin are understood to be one of the very first species to have been created during the age of Elders and are native to Calad. Thus, their history and memories are rich with knowledge of the past. They live long lives; a single rin can live up to several centuries, while some are said to have lived over half a millennium. However, most rin will live around two centuries, witnessing the life cycles of many human generations.
With this inferred blessing comes the boon of slow aging. Whereas a human of 30 summers is considered a fully-fledged adult, more or less ending his dynamic life and settling with a bursting family, a rin is commonly assumed to be a youngling, just starting life.
On the same topic, a rin and a human differ in their ability to procreate. The latter is capable of leaving a vast and diverse lineage of several progenies. The first is less gifted in this regard, able to procreate once in a long span and only when the seasons bid the instance. Rin are able to bear offspring once they have reached adolescence – after they have lived over 30 or 40 summers.
Functionally, the rin can indulge in physical pleasures at any time but only once per year can they bear offspring.
Interestingly, the nature of Helrin and Thenrin are almost the opposite and so are their phases. While Thenrin most commonly take their reproductive rites during the winter solstice, the Helrin try their luck in the summer.
Elemental Affinities and the Procreation of Rin
This is connected to their elemental affinities; let us talk about those for a moment.
Most Helrin possess the fire affinity tied to the summer. They show signs of prime in the warmest months; their powers and their vitality grow. On the other hand, most Thenrin have latent water and ice affinity tied to the coldest times. However, their power is also irrevocably interwoven with the moon’s phases – a crescent moon is when they are at their best, and a full moon means they might feel lethargic.
In a sense, for a Helrin and Thenrin to bear a common child, they would need to alter their surroundings for a long while before they could expect any offspring. This proved troublesome in the past; thus, accomplished alchemists researched potions and concoctions that would add a temporary affinity and natural orientation to the troubled future parents.
As expected, these solutions became useful to others as well. Changing one’s affinity can truly be a powerful investment. Nowadays, many adventurers, soldiers, and mages, in general, try these out for other ambitions.
The affinities of both parents influence a child, but there are times when a child is born with an affinity divergent from the parents’. This can either be left unexplained or directly bound to the environment and season the child was born into.
Regarding affinities, the rin are generally gifted with the ability to interact with mana as they are born with at least one elemental affinity, although rare exceptions exist. Helrin prefer wielding mana through active spellcraft, weaving and forming drawn mana into respective elements through expulsion. Thenrin prefer a less spell-oriented approach – most cannot perform active spellcraft. They manipulate mana to strengthen their bodies, toughen their attacks, gain special abilities and imbue weapons.
In the case of humans, they are often born with no affinity, unable to sense mana in nature. However, a human with arcane potential can learn new affinities through rigorous practice – this being nearly impossible for rin, who depend on their natural affinities.
Effects of Soulrot
Here it is noteworthy that the rinnian physique is better suited to controlling and expelling larger amounts of mana than that of a human. Rin have an intricate channeling system coursing through their bodies. It flares up when they are in places abundant with mana, radiating like complex, luminous rivers through their skin, seemingly setting their whole body aglow. Moreover, the markings shine in a defensive response when they near exertion from directing large amounts of mana through their body. Unlike humans, who immediately start experiencing soulrot, rin begin to expel the excess mana efficiently; however, they can still fall to soulrot if they refuse to respite.
On the other hand, humans can only predict or learn where the threshold for arcane exertion lies. One usually feels the full extent of soulrot when it is too late; the body shuts down, obligating immediate help.
Differences in Appearances
The rin and the human species appear quite similar. Externally they are both built similarly, almost to the point of obscurity. There are, however, several smaller clues to their origins.
The most obvious are the ears: the rin have pointed, sharper shapes that are tuned to pick up many sounds the human mind cannot comprehend. Human ears are rounded and more inconspicuous.
The shades of skin, hair, and eyes a rin can have vary greatly. The Helrin usually have brighter skin with tinges of warmer hues underneath. The hair and eyes can take many colors, gravitating towards yellower or redder and lighter tones. The Thenian skin, hair, and eye color are either light or dark but come in different pigments, saturations, and tones, most commonly blueish and violet. A boon of rinnian swift evolutionary capabilities is their skin adapting to the surroundings in just one or two generations, accommodating overexposure or a lack of light. In this sense, the Thenian skin is ashen and void of pigment, illustrating their life underground, while Helian skin is lighter and adjusted to the temperate climate.
Likewise, human skin has a wide spectrum, albeit usually based on red or similar undertones. Hair and eye colors are usually less saturated than that of rin. Their skin can easily bruise from standing in the sun for too long, and their evolutionary process takes several millennia to readjust to new environments.
Rin, unlike humans, cannot grow facial hair apart from eyebrows and eyelashes. They do not have much body hair except the necessary. But they do have a mane. This grows in a denser bunch from their lower backs, the sacrum, and is similarly smooth, soft, silky, and can grow as long as their hair. Similar to human beards, the rin like to style their mane. As it signifies their more natural ways, most rin shave it off or tie it meticulously. Official positions demand removal, and any exposure can be frowned upon. However, the young seem to be trending towards a more relaxed lifestyle, elaborating their manes or even letting them sway naturally.
Traditionalists support this and advocate the return to natural ways. They urge the rinnian populace to wear their manes proudly, as this would set them further apart from humans.
Another disparity between the species is their general physiques and ability to retain and build muscle mass. Rin are leaner, with statures more equal among the sexes. Compared to humans, they are less able to lift heavy things without the help of mana. They are fast on their feet and agile even when out of shape; however, they are more prone to fatigue. On the other hand, humans show greater physical strength but are generally less dexterous.
In the end, it may seem that humans have numerous shortcomings; however, they have a great ability to learn at a quick pace, making them no less evolved or skilled in all areas they strive towards.
Lastly, we must point out the uncertainty of human origin. While they have been around for a long time, most from the Empire arrived during the invasion, and we do not know if the peoples of Sand Kingdoms are indigenous to the realm. We are however certain that they were nomads before they settled the ancient ruins that were there before them.