Sun'Shönai

"The Sun'Shönai, People of the Sun, first known to the Domvari, mighty in magick and craft, war and speech, were favoured by angelic Sunaria, and had life immortal in doomed Sun'Aman." ~The Account of the Shönai.

Basic Information

Anatomy

They are a bipedal, humanoid species having four limbs and averaging around six feet and six inches in height. They are most often slender in physique, and are lean in musculature. Proportionally, the legs are longer than the arms, and the torso averages a 3:4 ratio with the legs regarding length.

Biological Traits

There is little in the way of sexual dimorphism between males and females that determines strength, but the females have tended to be more cunning and defensive while the males have been more overt and offensive in manner. The females, naturally, are wider in hip, and have mammary organs to accommodate child rearing, much in the way of the females of the races of Man. Likewise, the male Sun'Shönai have broader shoulders.

Genetics and Reproduction

The Sun'Shönai reproduce as most vertebrates do, through intercourse of a male and female individual, and have a gestation period of a Deian year.

Growth Rate & Stages

Sun'Shönai grew at a rapid rate during their dwelling in Sun'Aman, as their lives were greatly enhanced by the proximity to Sunaria's magick. Now, the various subspecies grow at varying rates, from the slightly quicker growth experienced by the Wal'Shönai to the more relaxed development of the Jun'Shönai, as well as the rather non-uniform rates of the Fal'Shönai. The stages are in this order: foetus, infant, early childhood, late childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood, which ends with death by weariness.

Ecology and Habitats

The subspecies of the Sun'Shönai prefer the dense foliage of forests and the prestige of their cities, and each subgroup build strong urban dwellings if their population is dense enough.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Much like the races of Man and the other Shönain species, the subspecies of the Sun'Shönai are omnivorous, and employ ambush hunting tactics against fleshy prey while also engaging in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

High cheekbones, clear skin, and strong jaws

Geographic Origin and Distribution

In Anglëa, the lands of Wal'Ashar and Fal'Ashar. In Mëria (formerly Sun'Ashar), the land of Jun'Ashar. Before the War of Blight, they lived in Sun'Ashar, with early colonies in what is now Wal'Ashar.

Average Intelligence

Highly intelligent, though they were quite rash and eager in the days of their glory in the West.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The kingdoms of Wal'Ashar, Jun'Ashar, and Fal'Ashar are the current nations of the Sun'Shönain subspecies, but they once ruled the greatest kingdom of Sun'Ashar, for which the entire Western continent was named for its glory

Beauty Ideals

Mimicry of nature is seen as most beautiful, but the Wal'Shönai also value the majesty of great stone buildings, and so their own cities are a menagerie of stone spires and tiered gardens.

History

These are the race of Shönai who dwelt in the land of Sun'Ashar, on the Western continent. They first awoke in that land, and were discovered by Sunaria, the Domva of the daylight and sunshine. The Sun'Shönai built a grand city around her tower home, which was called Sun'Aman, the City of the Sun. Many wars they fought against the Orikai, the most prominent being the First War in the West and the Daemon War. They also fought a defensive war against Ne'ertsos, who sought to end the Daemonic threat by purging away all life. After this, which was known as the War of Blight, their city was destroyed by the forces of the fallen Domvar, Ne'ertsos, and the surviving Sun'Shönai fled across the two oceans that flank the continent of Sun'Ashar. Those who sailed East made landfall on the West coast of Anglëa, where they established the kingdom of Wal'Ashar and became the Wal'Shönai. Those who sailed West landed on the Southeast coast of Anglëa, in the land of Garta'Jun, and they became the Jun'Shönai. During the reign of Nix in the Southeast, some of the Jun'Shönai fell to his corruption, and became the Fal'Shönai. In this way, the Sun'Shönai exist now in three subspecies, though the Wal'Shönai are most akin to their ancestors in both body and culture. Their stories are accounted elsewhere.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Since the First War in the West, the Sun'Shönai and their descendants have been at hostility with the races of the Orikai, and there was war between the Wal'Shönai and the Baraki (and Urk'Shönai) during the Torn'Barath, but that hostility has since waned into mild distrust. Daemons have ever been enemies to the Wal'Shönai, and the Saharin have mistrusted them as well. To most of the Morai races, the Wal'Shönai have been mysterious benefactors, and early in their dealings Men learned much about the world from them.

Scientific Name

Sun'Shönain e'Deia

Origin/Ancestry

Shönain

Lifespan

700 Deian years

Average Height

6 feet, 6 inches (by our reckoning)

Average Weight

130-170 pounds (by our reckoning)

Average Physique

Slender, lean of muscle.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Naturally pale and fair, only the Wal'Shönai retain this throughout life. The Jun'Shönai, in contrast, have deep tans, and the Fal'Shönai have had their skin marred by the corruption of Nix.