Verdan
The Verdan are a vibrant and mutable people touched by chaotic magic, known for their unpredictable growth, boundless curiosity, and resilient optimism. Born from goblin-kind but transformed by wild, magical forces—some say the result of a chaotic surge from a dying Feywild node, others whisper a meddling God's prank—the Verdan are forever caught in flux. Their very bodies evolve as they age, shifting in color, size, and shape without warning or pattern.
A young Verdan may begin life barely taller than a Goblin, with emerald skin and wide eyes. But as years pass, they often grow into tall, lanky forms with elongated limbs, changing skin tones that shift through shades of green, blue, and violet, and facial features that subtly rearrange. Even their voices, preferences, and personality traits may morph. This constant evolution is seen not as a curse, but as a celebration of freedom and potential. They call it the Chrysaleon—a sacred personal journey of transformation.
Verdan society, if it can be called such, is fluid and decentralized. They gather in loose, wandering caravans or temporary communities that prize stories, music, and spontaneous invention. Rather than holding rigid customs, Verdan favor adaptability. They embrace the now, trusting their instincts and welcoming change with open arms. Loyalty to friends, found families, and shared adventures often matters more to a Verdan than birthplace, ancestry, or tradition.
Though some outside their kind may see them as unpredictable or chaotic, Verdan are rarely malicious. Their moral compass often leans toward empathy, fairness, and laughter. Their ever-changing nature gives them a natural disdain for tyranny and stagnation, and many have a deep fondness for underdogs, rebels, and misfits. Verdan rarely stay angry for long, preferring to move on and explore what comes next rather than dwell on the past.
Because of their mutable bodies and minds, Verdan have a strange relationship with memory. Some find their recollections hazy or dreamlike, while others experience their past selves as if they belonged to another person entirely. As a result, storytelling, journaling, and art are deeply important in Verdan culture—a way to anchor themselves in identity and share their journeys with others. A Verdan may carry dozens of trinkets and keepsakes not for value, but as pieces of who they once were.
In the world of Aigusyl, some scholars consider the Verdan living proof of the world's arcane instability—creatures shaped by the fractures of reality. Yet others, especially druids and bards, see them as sacred expressions of nature’s creativity and the gods' boundless humor. To the Verdan themselves, however, no great purpose is needed. Life is a journey of change, and what matters is who you dance with along the way.
