Kentori
They were once human in a time long since past. They were once trapped in the short lifespan that humanity was plagued with. However, when they came to the long since destroyed continent of Kesia, they were exposed to raw Aechonite, the power source for all magic in the world. After that event, the humans of the south were no more. In their place stood the Kentori, a species with a natural gift for magic and blessed with long lifespans.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kentori, in terms of anatomy, do not differ from humans. Their skeletal structure, limbs, and muscular structure are the same as they have the same origin point.
Genetics and Reproduction
The Kentori have sexual reproduction resulting in live births like Humanity. Their pregnancies last 9-12 months.
Ecology and Habitats
Western Katun was a land of plains, mountains, jungles, and forests. Kentori are used to the vibrant warmth and sunlight they get in the region and when Katun split between Corvail and Askia, they continued to reside within these lands, dependent on both the land and the sea more than ever before.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Horiculture has replaced agriculture within Corvail and as such, the Kentori have reflected this change in their eating habits. Fruit and Vegetables are what they mainly consume though meat isn't uncommon. This was in response to the large-scale destruction of farmland which caused them to shift away from grain-based farming. However, grain slowly rising back into a decent margin of their consumption of food groups.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Kentori reside primarily on the Corvaili Isles, the homeland of their people after the Desolation destroyed the rest of Kesia. Elsewhere, they can be found in southern Froa, particularly Oterra and Kadem.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Kentori share the same senses as humans but also have a heightened awareness of Aechonite. This is a sense that is unique to mages but the Kentori race as a whole is born with it. They can sense the amount of Aecho that living being produces and the residual traces left behind by spells and artifacts.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
The Kentori rule over the Corvaili Confederation that forms Corvail. It was formed from the ashes of the Cortavin Empire once it fell apart, trying to make sure not a single island has more power, creating another empire that could be easily manipulated by the Leviathans or any other Elder species that seeks to use them.
The Council of Magic is a organization that governs Magic Colleges around Faterra and the Kentori make up the majority since most colleges are located in Corvail.
Beauty Ideals
Masks in Kentori culture are the main way to judge people by beauty. If a mask is more extravagant, it may suggest that the Kentori behind it is rich and/or beautiful. All Kentori keep themselves relatively clean even if a majority of people won't see them. It's a standard that they've kept up as they don't wish to make their robes or masks dirty, painting a horrible look on themselves. The makes are also unique to each person as mask-making is a big business within Kentori lands.
Gender Ideals
Kentori are quite progressive when it comes to gender. The only noticeable bias is what type of mage either gender is. Abjuration mages are usually thought to be women while elemental mages are assumed to be mainly men.
Relationship Ideals
In the Upper class, there are mainly arranged marriages as efforts to distill the "perfect" mage. This isn't possible of course since the perfect mage isn't possible and no one is born good at magic, not even the Kentori.
Whatever the case, romantic relationships are seen as intimate partnerships, or they should be. Masks shouldn't be a factor once their relationship reaches that level of trust. Wearing one signifies there isn't much trust between the partners, their relationship is strained, or they're hiding something.
Average Technological Level
Like the majority of Faterra, the Kentori reside at a medieval level crossed with industrial levels. Since magic is an everyday occurance in Corvail, it is a prominent and necessary component for them. They use both Aecho airships and sea vessels powered by wind since sea trade is still a major part of commerce.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The Kentori speak Eten, a language unique to Corvail that dates all the way back to the ancient Cortavin Empire. Through the ages, different dialects have popped up with most Kentori speaking the Corvaili dialect. There also exist other branches but the Kentori don't care for them much, using Oterran when outside their homeland.
Common Dress Code
Kentori, unless they are children, do not show any skin. They cover themselves completely in fabric and/or armor. They also wear masks that conceal everything except for their eyes. This is because showing your body to others is seen as a highly intimate action. Even a Kentori removing their mask is a completely forward action that shows how much they trust the person they're showing.
Common Taboos
The act of showing skin is seen as very porcative if you're a Kentori in that culture. It is usually used as a way of finding those who sell sexual services.
History
The Kentori used to be humans who resided in Kesia thousands of years ago. For a strange reason, raw Aechonite existed in Kesia at the time and those southern humans were exposed to it when they settled in the area. As time went on, magic warped them, making their biology more distinct from humans as magic was weaved into their very being. These humans become the Kentori and despite being descended from them, they would become vastly different people over the ages.
The Kentori were one of the first Faterran species to create civilizations, their magical knowledge and prowess quickly escalating their innovation. War was common amongst them at first as they did not know the raw destructive power of magic. Eventually, they learned the truth of their magic from what they saw as the Draconic God of Magic, Kirnaelfr. However, their hubris got the best of them as they captured and imprisoned him, making the high dragon teach them more about magic.
The Cortavin Empire was formed in the western end of Kesia where the Kentori were at their strongest. They carved territory out for themselves and eventually, they came to clash with the Askian Empire. For hundreds of years, the two would be at war until Novis, King of the Phoenix Empire, forced both sides into a peace settlement, freeing the High Dragon they had imprisoned for so long. With the war over, peace reigned for some time. However, the Leviathans came and manipulated the Cortavin Empire into war once again. They crushed Askia, taking it under their reign and invaded Froa. The war was bloody and by the end of it, both empires were at the brink.
The Desolation of Faterra destroyed both empires and the Kentori lost millions of their own kind, their hubris and pride shattered as they were laid low. In the aftermath, they saw it as divine intervention as the High Dragons disappeared from the realm. While they flocked to and formed the Dragon Pantheon, they also took steps to rebuild and reinvent themselves into a people that would do good for Faterra. They formed the Confederation of Corvail and rebuilt the isles. The Kentori reached out to the species in due time, first speaking to the Selachi and the Kadembre. They created a firm friendship between the inheritors of the seas and soon turned their attention to old enemies.
The enslavement of the Wolven, Felvin, and Vulpin were quick to notice for the Kentori and they wouldn't let that go on any longer. Using the kingdom of Oterra as a pawn, they helped the Natakans break free of slavery, forming many of the current nations that would pop up in current day Faterra. The Kentori even sent aid when the Nedane invaded Froa from the North. However, the Kentori's greatest trial came when Aslandail invaded Faterra.
The Leviathans were old enemies for the Kentori and they made sure their wrath was felt during the War between Realms. Their morale never wavered and they helped keep the Faterran alliances together even through trying times. When Askia, the Phoenixes, and even the High Dragons joined in their war, they used it to push their side forward, never giving up hope. Corvail was left one of the nations least damaged by the war as their magic and knowledge of Leviathans kept the Aslandailians from attacking their home.
In the aftermath, the Kentori still see themselves as guardians of Faterra, attempting to keep the peace between the Faterran species in case any other danger arises. However, that ideal has started to change with recent events. The Avin are angry with the Kentori for supposedly stealing blueprints of airships, creating their own and nearly sparking a war between the two in the 11th century. Aslandailians have begun to be accepted by them but the Kentori grow frustrated with species such as the Humans, the Minotaurs, and even the Kadembre sometimes. With that old Kentori supremacy coming back in the hearts and minds of some people, the Kentori may find themselves succumbing to dark urges in a time that would do much more harm than good.
Common Myths and Legends
There is a legend about how the Kentori gained their glpyhs. It was said that they used to be born without glyphs, no innate skill in magic and tribal. One of the Kentori, a man named Enahel, was one of the few who could learn magic. He was persecuted by his fellow Kentori as they held a deep fear of magic but he tried to show them it was a gift. He prayed to the God of Magic, Surnuidr, to save his people from their ignorance. Surnuidr had watched the Kentori for some time and pitied their ignorance. He marked the poor species with glyphs, which would forever signify the gift he gave to them. From that day forever onward, the Kentori would bear their mark with pride. They were given a natural excellence at magic and would use it to change the world. This legend began a source of Kentori hubris.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The Kentori and Avin have had a long and bloody history. They warred against each other for centuries before the Phoenix Empire interceded in the Kentori-Avin war. The Kentori also believe they are responsible for the destruction of Kesia and vice versa. After Askia was torn from the ground and sent into the sky, the two had very little contact until before the Demon War. When the Avin came to their defense during the Invasion of Corvail, relations seemed to rise. However, that changed in 1068 when the Kentori built the first Aechonite core for their airship. The Avin believed the Kentori had stolen the designs for their ships and demanded that they give them back. This tension almost led to a second war between the Kentori and Avin but their kingdoms were still recovering from the Demon War, preventing any further bloodshed.
The Kadembre and Kentori have a strained relationship due to the Desolation of the Saikker. The Kadembre gained a deep mistrust of magic due to the Desolation and since Kentori society depends on magic, the mistrust transferred to them too. The Kentori were able to convince the Kadembre to open their doors back to magic in the mid 11th century but they are displeased about the heavy restrictions they've placed on mages. The Kentori are still trying to help the mages within Kadem but it's an uphill battle.
The Kentori and the Natakans have been on good terms since they aided the Liberation of Nataka. This friendship proved fruitful after the Demon War as the Order of Alexius came to be. The Natakans asked for Kentori mages to teach the Order to use magic and deal with magical and/or monster threats.
The Selachi are a… strange species to the Kentori. This mainly because they’re the only underwater species within Faterra. They depend on the Selachi, however, since they heavily depend on sea trade. The Kentori have allowed the Selachi to settle isles within Corvail and the two even coexist in some cities. They value their good relations with the species, especially at a time when friends are needed more than enemies.
Humans… they and the Kentori have had a strained relationship since the day they met. The first recorded meeting of the species was when a kingdom before the Cortavin Empire found the mainland and invaded, attempting to carve out a decent chunk of territory for themselves. Emperors Novis and Xeres attempted to smooth relations over but those hopes were dashed after the War for Faterra. After the fall of both Empires, the Humans treated the Kentori as enemies to be eradicated. This was shown in the Butchering of Shelsera, where countless Kentori were murdered.
However, the Humans of Oterra were a special case as they allied with Corvail out of necessity to combat the other kingdoms. They saw each other as a necessary ally when the Liberation of Nataka began and the Demon War later on. As the Humans founded their own colleges of magic, the Kentori saw this as an opportunity to gain more influence within Oterra. However, with the Oterran Lords making sure their influence is not impeded on, any hope of that has been smashed. And with the tensions between the Humans and the Kadembre, the Kentori have begun to view the former as more trouble than they're worth. However, they need them around as Faterra needs to be united for any future threat.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Genetic Descendants
Scientific Name
Homo Magus Princeps
Lifespan
500 years
Average Height
5 - 7 feet
Average Physique
Fair-looking, well groomed, with an ethereal air to them.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Kentori skin tone varies between all shades on the color spectrum with the glyphs on their bodies usually glowing a deep blue.
Related Ethnicities
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