Of Rin and Men: Lifeblood, Legacy, and the Arcane Thread
Age and Procreation
The Rin are widely believed to be among the first sapient species created during the Age of Elders, and they are native to Calad. Their heritage is rich with the memories of bygone ages, and their longevity makes them living witnesses to centuries of history. While a human may see the span of a few decades, a single Rin may live for several centuries—with some said to have surpassed half a millennium. Typically, however, most Rin live to see around two hundred summers, observing the rise and fall of many human generations within their own lifetime.
With this gift of longevity comes a slow rhythm of life. Where a human at thirty is considered fully grown and often deep in the duties of hearth and kin, a Rin of the same age is but a fledgling—only beginning the first chapters of adulthood.
In matters of procreation, humans and Rin diverge even more. Humans are prolific, capable of leaving behind great and sprawling lineages. Rin, however, are more reserved by nature and biology. They can bear offspring only sparingly and solely when the seasons permit. While they reach physical maturity around thirty to forty summers, Rin are only able to conceive once per year—an event deeply tied to their elemental affinity and the natural order.
Helrin and Thenrin display mirrored cycles. The Thenrin typically partake in rites of procreation during the winter solstice, while Helrin do so during the summer, both aligning with the elements to which they are attuned.
Elemental Affinities and the Procreation of Rin
These reproductive patterns are deeply intertwined with the elemental affinities innate to Rin.
Most Helrin bear an affinity to fire, their vitality peaking during the height of summer. Their energy, magic, and spirit burn brightest under the sun’s zenith. By contrast, Thenrin are usually attuned to water and ice, their strength waxing with the darkening of the world and the chill of the solstice. Moreover, the Thenrin are governed not only by seasons but by the moon’s phases—feeling heightened potency beneath a crescent, and lethargy under a full moon.
When individuals of opposing affinities seek to produce offspring together, they often face difficulty. The differing elemental conditions create natural resistance. In the past, this led to complications—until alchemists began producing affinity-altering elixirs to help unify these oppositions. These potions temporarily shift the elemental balance of one’s body, and while created to assist procreation, they have since become prized by adventurers, warriors, and mages alike.
Though a child usually inherits the affinity of their parents, exceptions do occur. Occasionally, a Rin is born with an element divergent from both bloodlines—likely influenced by the season, environment, or celestial conditions at birth.
All Rin are naturally attuned to mana and are born with at least one elemental affinity. Rare exceptions exist. The Helrin typically channel their mana through spellcraft, expelling it outward in precise and destructive forms. The Thenrin, on the other hand, channel mana inward—augmenting their bodies, enhancing their movements, strikes, and even weapons.
Humans, by comparison, are most often born without any affinity or sensitivity to mana. However, those who possess arcane potential can, through practice and will, develop affinities over time. This is nearly impossible for Rin, whose connection to their element is innate and immutable.
Soulrot and Rinnian Physiology
It is worth noting that Rin bodies are significantly more attuned to mana manipulation than those of humans. They possess a refined and intricate internal network through which mana flows. When standing in a mana-rich environment, their bodies become illuminated—arcane patterns glowing beneath their skin like celestial rivers.
This same system serves as a warning: when nearing their threshold, the markings flare defensively. Where humans begin to suffer from soulrot the moment they surpass their limit, Rin begin to expel excess mana, delaying the effects. Nonetheless, Rin are not immune—prolonged overexertion without rest can still bring on the affliction.
Humans, lacking this internal warning system, rarely notice soulrot until it is too late. The affliction overwhelms the body, leading to collapse or worse. Immediate aid is often the only way to prevent a grim fate.
Differences in Appearance and Build
Although Rin and humans appear broadly similar at first glance, there are several subtle and distinctive differences.
Ears are perhaps the most obvious: Rin possess pointed, sharply curved ears, capable of detecting sounds that surpass the comprehension of the human ear. Human ears are rounded and less sensitive to subtleties.
Complexion, hair, and eyes vary greatly across Rin bloodlines. Helrin typically exhibit lighter skin, often with warm undertones, and favor golden, auburn, or crimson hues in hair and eye color. Thenrin, shaped by their subterranean and lunar environments, have skin in ashen or deep blue tones, often with violet or silvery pigments in hair and eyes. This is due to the adaptive evolution of Rin—capable of acclimating their pigmentation in as little as one or two generations.
Humans, by contrast, adapt more slowly over the course of millennia. Their skin tones tend to be redder in undertone, with hair and eyes in more muted hues. They are also more prone to sun damage and slower to adjust to drastic environmental changes.
Unlike humans, Rin do not grow facial hair, aside from brows and lashes. Their bodies are generally hairless, with one striking exception—the mane. This thick, silken growth emerges from the sacrum, extending from the lower back. Treated much like a beard would be among humans, manes are carefully styled, tied, shaved, or displayed depending on personal and cultural preferences.
In formal settings, exposed manes are often frowned upon. However, a new movement—especially among younger generations—has embraced the natural display of manes as a cultural symbol. Traditionalists support this trend, urging pride in their heritage and a return to older ways.
When it comes to physique, Rin are leaner and more uniform in build between sexes. They lack the raw lifting strength of humans but possess natural agility and endurance. Even when out of condition, a Rin may move with grace, while humans tend toward greater brute strength but with slower reflexes and heavier frames.
Yet, despite these differences, humans are quick learners and highly adaptive. Their capacity to evolve through knowledge and practice often closes the gap between them and their longer-lived cousins.
On Origins
The true origin of mankind remains a subject of debate. While humans have inhabited Calad for ages, most of those in the Empire of Soga trace their lineage back to the invasion centuries ago. The Sand Kingdoms, despite appearing to be a predominantly human culture, have uncertain roots. Though they now thrive in ancient ruins, evidence suggests they were once nomads, wandering the dunes long before settling the remnants of a forgotten civilization.
And so the tale continues—of two peoples alike in shape, yet different in legacy. One born of the stars and mana, the other from paths unknown, still carving their story into the ever-turning world of Calad.
