Genasi

The genasi were created by the gods known as the Elemental Princes. Usually referred to as 'elemental deities', the Princes were not true divinities, and so could not create their own lineage and bind its actions to them as sacred. Instead, they bound enslaved elemental spirits into the bodies of mortals of various races. By sealing the elemental spirits to the mortals' blood and souls, they created a viable lineage, able to pass on their elemental bond.
The genasi were originally natives of the Borderlands, where they served under the Princes along with their immaterial kin, the genies. Their mythology tells of the decline of the Princes into darkness, the rebellion of the genies and genasi against their rule, and the Princes’ confinement in the parts of their respective planes that became the Malificences. Alas, without the Princes' protection, the elemental planes were no longer hospitable to material life, forcing the genasi into exile on the material plane. Not long after, the sundering of Atharis scattered genasi of all kinds across the world.
As they found their homes, the genasi adopted the worship of a variety of less aggressive deities, some elemental in nature and others cultural deities who taught them to form societies free from the dominance of the Princes. Foremost among these were the Gods of Foundation, known to the genasi as the Archon, the Priest, the Builder, the Farmer, the Traveler, the Healer and the Dreamer. It was under the influence of these gods that the greatest genasi cultures arose.
The Empire of the Southern Sun is ruled by a dynasty of fire genasi, with strong populations of that bloodline and the air genasi who support them. The fire genasi’s rivals, the water genasi, control five of the twenty-six nomes of the The Elysian Federation, while the earth genasi control thirteen, and thus the Federation as a whole. There are also a number of water genasi tribes in the south of Suto, and air genasi in the flotsam isles behind Eurosia, while various kindreds live with the genies of the Dustlands and in Malahma.
The genasi are an oddity, in that it is not their physical inheritance that defines them. Their physical forms are a mix of many races – primarily, but not exclusively, Elves, Dwarfs, Tritons and Humans – but it is the elemental spirit within that defines them. Although the majority of those born to genasi lines bear unmistakable marks of their heritage, and are socially considered genasi, they are, to all physiological considerations, members of another mortal lineage. On average, five percent of genasi children are born with 'the gen,' with the chance being higher with two genasi parents and a greater number of genasi grandparents. As a result, some genasi families have started to consider the gen as the key to their status, looking down on those who 'marry out.' Through those efforts to preserve and strengthen the gen, most genasi are now of mixed biological lineage, whether they have the gen or not.
Every so often, a group of genasi will return to the worship of the Princes in pursuit of a regeneration of their bloodline's elemental power, but even when successful the corruption of the Princes results in a corruption of the spirit fused with the bloodline, and the resulting genasi are twisted with madness and rage. Others may seek to enhance their family's gena by seeking a mate among the genies, which can also result in the birth of a particular type of elemental sorcerer.

Genasi and Identity

After their rebellion, the genasi soon learned that only the Princes had the power to infuse the elemental spirit into new bloodlines; without their creators, the power within them would wane unless carefully husbanded. As a result, they developed a strong sense of dynasty, regardless of the species or culture they were otherwise a part of, which both preserved their legacy and gave them a strong foothold from which they often rose to positions of power and wealth within their cultural background. It is not unusual for genasi to seek alliances of blood and marriage with genies to strengthen their elemental inheritance.
Genasi blend the gender concepts of their parent races with an identity forged in their part-elemental heritage. In the Elysian Federation, this influence runs the other way as well, with the other races of the Federation often adopting a humeral model of social identity over a sexual or gender-based one. Individuals, whether genasi or not, are seen as possessing an elemental temperament, which loosely bounds their social role:

• Air – Mercurial, clever, intuitive; scouts, speculators and adventurers.
• Earth – Rational, steadfast, nurturing; leaders, carers and scholars.
• Fire – Decisive, militaristic, commanding; leaders, fighters and pioneers.
• Water – Fluid, charming, deceptive; spies, traders and diplomats.