genasi

Genasi are planetouched people infused with the power of the elements. Along with aasimar and tieflings, genasi are the most common planetouched found on the world of Toril. Technically speaking, the genasi are not a race but rather a general classification of other races who had a heritage (usually unknown) that included some planar being from one of the elemental planes, most often a genie, (dao, djinn, efreet, marid, or jann,) from whence their name is derived.

Subraces

Each of the four fundamental elements has associated genies, so the most common genasi are air genasi, earth genasi, fire genasi, and water genasi, while stormsoul genasi became common in lands such as Akanûl in the 15th century DR. Para-genasi are genasi who expressed a bloodline of two elements, akin to the Para-Elemental Planes. These include the dust para-genasi, ice para-genasi, magma para-genasi, ooze para-genasi, smoke para-genasi, and steam para-genasi, among other possibilities. Para-genasi are even rarer than the four standard genasi.
After the Spellplague, when the separate elemental planes coalesced into the Elemental Chaos, each genasi gained the potential to manifest the power of any of the elements, though only one at a time. After the Second Sundering, the genasi are again separated into the four major subraces of air, earth, fire, and water.

Description

No two genasi are alike in appearance.Some could pass as normal humans, bearing the marks of their human ethnicity; for others, their elemental nature is impossible to hide.Their heritage is nearly always evident in one or two physical traits, such as skin or hair color or an elemental aura. Some genasi do not have hair at all; for such genasi, the substance that appears to cover their heads is actually a supernatural expression of their elemental nature.
Even after the Spellplague, no genasi can maintain a neutral, "non-elemental" state, and their physical appearance changes depending on the elemental soul that they are currently manifesting. Genasi manifesting an "earthsoul" often have brown skin and golden eyes, or greenish hues. Those manifesting a "firesoul" tend to have bronzer skin and orange eyes, with flickering flames coming out of their heads. "Stormsoul" genasi have purple skin with glowing, crystal spikes of silver in place of hair. Genasi with the "watersoul" manifestation have skin the color of seafoam. "Windsoul"-manifesting genasi quite often have silver or blueish skin with blue and gray crystalline "hair". Some have regular hair, depending on how far down the lineage the elemental has been introduced.
Genasi are about the same size and stature as normal humans, but their bodies display signs of greater physical strength, and other subtle indications of their heritage.

Szuldar

Genasi of the era between the Spellplague and the Second Sundering bear a unique physical feature not reported in earlier generations. Regardless of their elemental manifestation, the body of each such genasi is etched with strange lines of energy, called szuldar in Primordial, that glows in a color associated with the element that the genasi is currently manifesting. The earthsoul manifestation has greenish-colored energy lines; the firesoul manifestation had fiery orange lines; the stormsoul manifestation had silvery or purple lines; the watersoul had bright blue lines; and the windsoul light blue or pure white. These lines appeared in a pattern that is passed along family lines, sometimes extending into small communities as well. Though the patterns could be similar between relatives in a general sense, the specific configurations are unique to each individual and serve much the same purpose that fingerprints did amongst humans; the pattern of these lines remains unchanged even when a genasi changes their manifestation. Many genasi, especially adventurers, display these lines with pride, often wearing clothing that leaves a fair amount of skin exposed.
Though szuldar usually remain unchanged throughout a genasi's life it is possible to alter them through scarring. Some genasi do this deliberately for aesthetic reasons, or in order to disguise themselves. Most genasi, however, disapprove of the practice and see it as a loss of self-awareness, valuing the patterns they are born with as a mark of their identity.

Abilities

All genasi have inherent magical powers and resistances related to their element.
During the era after the Spellplague, a rare few genasi could control two elemental manifestations simultaneously. These powerful entities are known as elemental tempests.
Like other planetouched, because of the strength of their elemental heritage, many spells that specifically affected humanoids have no effect on genasi. On the other hand, some spells that affect outsiders are effective against them, such as banishment.

Perceived Personality

Unlike many planetouched races, genasi generally take pride in their unusual features. This is not so much a matter of prejudice as it is a simple fact—a simple mortal could not possibly understand the mind of one with elemental heritage. In return, the genasi are perhaps the most distrusted of the planetouched races for being the most alien. The personality of the typical genasi often reflects their element. For example, a fire genasi might have a "hot temper" and an earth genasi might take life slowly and carefully. Between the Spellplague and the Second Sundering, because of their roots in the powers of the Elemental Chaos, genasi are by nature changeable and contradictory.
Many genasi philosophers believe that their race exists as a compromise between the chaos of the primordials and the divinely crafted world of the gods. A few genasi take this to heart and try to eliminate one or the other aspect of their nature, either becoming agents of chaos or disciples of order, but these individuals are considered the exception rather than the rule. Most genasi are simply grateful for the innate connection to the elemental forces that shaped the world that they all share.
Genasi have a strong ability to adapt, perhaps only superseded by humans in this regard, and embrace change as an inevitability or even something to be relished. Even lawful genasi embrace this change, and genasi of all kinds value the possibilities the future might bring, such as new allies or new opportunities. In many ways, genasi are the most flexible of races, less stubborn and more willing to accept new ideas for better or worse.
One of the traits found commonly amongst all genasi is a strong sense of ambition. All genasi have a desire to better themselves and advance their status, either through pursuit of power, the acquisition of friends, or other means. Nearly all genasi have dreams and aspirations and would pursue these goals throughout their life and though few genasi are truly patient, so strong are their passions for these goals that they would often continue to follow them even long after individuals of other races would have given up and moved on. Simply put, they feel that they have a destiny and a calling to leave a name for themselves.
Genasi love most forms of recreation, particularly competitive ones that allows them to improve their standing amongst other races further. Most genasi prefer recreational activities that are active and physical, allowing them to release their impulses and wilder urges.
Because of their chaotic and spontaneous nature, most genasi are not predisposed towards team athletics and prefer sports that favour the individual. Genasi are particularly fond of gladiatorial sports, which allowed them to bask in the attention of others while simultaneously releasing pent-up passions. 

Magic

Because of their elemental origins, genasi usually favour elemental magic over other forms of the Art, which they have a particular skill for given their natural elemental abilities.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

The child of an elemental creature with a human is a half-elemental. The child of a half-elemental and a human is a genasi. The child of a genasi and a human might show planetouched traits or purely human ones. Thus, over time, the elemental bloodline is diluted until it is no longer obvious in most individuals. However, every few generations, a child might display their elemental heritage as a genasi.
If two genasi of the same element are to produce offspring, the child is always a genasi of that element; if the couple is of differing elements, the child would take after only one of the parents. However, both elements are still present in the child's blood and might manifest in future generations.
Para-genasi come about when a half-elemental of one type has offspring with an elemental creature of another type.
The genealogy of an individual genasi is extremely difficult to determine, as the elemental planes have many sentient lifeforms capable of interbreeding with humans. Moreover, most such races would never admit to such a coupling and would reject both the half-elemental offspring and any of his or her descendants.
Even after the Spellplague, a genasi child comes into the world with only one elemental manifestation, the one passed on to him or her through the parents. By late adolescence or early adulthood, it is possible for genasi of this era to learn an additional manifestation. A few genasi are rumoured to have learned several throughout their lives. Because the initial manifestation of a genasi is determined genetically, specific manifestations are most common in regions matching that element. For example, an underwater culture is not likely to produce many earthsoul genasi. Children reared in close contact with genasi of a different subrace are more likely to develop a second manifestation, as are those who are reared in areas where their manifestation's element is weak or nonexistent. Hence, a firesoul genasi raised in the middle of the ocean on an island is likely to develop a watersoul manifestation as well.
The initial development of a second manifestation could often be uncomfortable, even painful, and usually has a “maturation stage”, much like a second puberty. With practice, this transition can become less discomforting, with those well-versed in the transformation experiencing little more than a mild and passing unease. The reason for this discomfort lies in the fact that the transition is more than aesthetic in nature and is actually a fundamental change in the physical makeup of the genasi, like replacing the sand in a bag with water.
Genasi possess a lifespan comparable with that of humans, reaching 80-85 years on average barring accident or violence. However, like other planetouched, some genasi have life spans roughly 20 to 40 years longer than normal humans.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Genasi are exceptionally rare among the planes. They are more common on Toril, however, because of the many portals to other planes found there. Even so, until the time after the Spellplague, genasi are lucky if they ever meet another one of their kind. In Faerûn, they can be found in isolated wildlands or in major cities, such as Waterdeep, where their strange traits will not arouse significant suspicion. Fire and air genasi are most often found in the deserts of Calimshan, and water genasi are found along the coasts of Threskel in Chessenta. Earth genasi can also be found aplenty in Mulhorand, and fire genasi in Unther. Argentor is a village located in Tethyr that is home to so many earthsoul genasi after the Spellplague that it is regarded as one of the few settlements that are exclusive to the earthsouled. Abeir is an exception to the rule in that it has a large number of genasi who are native to that world.

Genasi of Faerûn usually lived in isolation until the Spellplague. When genasi gather together in any great numbers, such as in Calimshan or Akanûl in the time after the Spellplague, their social structures are almost certain to be chaotic and unstable.

Though genasi can be extremely passionate in a way that might seem violent, the race as a whole has a love for family and friends, to the point that few genasi marriages end in divorce. Post-Spellplague, most genasi families are large, and the genasi as a whole looked upon another genasi as a potential relative to the point of referring to those they meet as "brother", "sister", or "cousin". In the infrequent genasi society, family plays an important role, likely in part because genasi tend to find it difficult to form new friendships and bonds. To most genasi, family bonds are the only ones that are truly reliable and it is far rarer for genasi to become alienated or estranged from members of their family. This is not to say that internal feuds and disputes do not happen, but the vast majority lead to only temporary divides, and family members spread over the world would eventually come looking for a reunion. Genasi parents go out of their way to ensure that their children have a chance to interact with genasi of other manifestations, thereby increasing their appreciation for the race as a whole. This is particularly true for families that are made of several manifestations rather than just one or two.
Genasi can be found in any climate, but in particular, water genasi can even make their homes underwater.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Genasi speak the languages of their native region. In addition, they often learn the languages of the elemental plane from which their powers derived. Primordial is the language of primordials and elementals. The Abyssal language is a form of Primordial warped and twisted by the evil of the Abyss. Some believe the Giant language is a debased form of it, though it has actually been taught to the giants fully formed by their creator god Annam. Primordial is also considered a language family, so that the elemental languages Aquan, Auran, Ignan, and Terran are considered a group of dialects of Primordial instead of their own, separate languages. They are sufficiently similar that creatures who understand one of those dialects can understand the others as well.
Primordial uses the Barazhad script or the Dwarvish script in most scholarly contexts.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Art

Genasi art is wild and exciting, similar to the race itself. Genasi often prefer elaborate and bold designs, using bright and vibrant colors to express the wide range of emotions and experiences. Sculptures are often explosive in appearance, resembling surges of power more than anything else. Even for relatively simple or functional items, the genasi pour care into giving it a flamboyant appearance, marking it with swirling patterns, gemstones, or elaborate carvings.
Genasi artisans often see their craft as a means of obtaining prestige. These individuals desire nothing more than to be in high demand and so work hard to please their customer base. For this reason, many genasi often substitute actual excellence for customization and individuality and while the average genasi swordsmith might not compare with his dwarven counterpart in terms of quality, the genasi would work much harder to tailor the blade to his or her customer's specific needs and wants. This could go so far as to make genasi-crafted items seem uncomfortable or unwieldy in the hands of those for whom they are not intended.

History

Calimshan has an historically higher population of air and fire genasi, because of its history of djinni and efreeti rulers. After the Second Era of Skyfire, the genasi of that land became engaged in a civil war over the Skyfire Wastes. When the Calimemnon Crystal shattered and the ancient foes Calim and Memnon were released, so too were many of their genasi servants. The two noble genies immediately began their long-lasting war again, and the genasi took sides, joined by those genasi already living in Calimshan and even more from nearby lands of Tethyr, Amn, and the Lake of Steam. The Second Era of Skyfire ended suddenly in the Year of Holy Thunder, 1450 DR, when Calim and Memnon mysteriously disappeared again to their home planes. At that point, the power vacuum was filled by the genasi who ruled Calimshan, reigning from the cities of Calimport and Memnon. Also after the Spellplague, when Abeir and Toril are merged again for a time, the lands that were once Chondath became the realm of Akanûl, which is ruled by genasi originally from the continent of Shyr. Prior to coming to Toril, these Abeiran genasi had been enslaved by the primordial Karshimis, but his citadel is not transferred with them to Toril, leaving them free to form their own kingdom. The majority of the citizens of Akanûl have the windsoul or stormsoul manifestation.

Scientific Name

homo elementalis aerieus / terranus / aquosus / igneus

Lifespan

80-85

Average Height

human-like