Genasi
Genasi are hybrid humanoids with both human and djinn ancestry. These beings possess affinity and some degree of control over the elements. They tend to live within Elmincia or in the elemental planes.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Overall they tend to have anatomy similar to humans, with the difference that the color of their skin tends to have a correlation to which element they represent (air genasi will have the green or blueish screen, while earth genasi will have more brown tones).
Their ancestry can also give them physical characteristics: air genasi, for example, tend to be lighter and faster, while earth genasi have a tendency to be heavier and more muscular.
Biological Traits
Genasi characteristics can vary substantially between the subspecies. In common, they tend to have physical characters not very alike to humans, albeit with a slightly longer lifespan.
Genetics and Reproduction
They reproduce in the same way as humans, and they are able to reproduce with humans, genasi, and djinns. Their children tend to be, more often than not, genasi, though a very rare human or djinn can be born from genasi parents.
Growth Rate & Stages
They tend to mature in the same way as humans do, though they can live a bit longer.
Ecology and Habitats
Genasi tends to live where there's an abundance of their natural element. Air genasi can live either on the top of mountains or on islands that are provided with a lot of wind. Water genasi can form their towns on islands, coastlines or undersea. Earth genasi tends to have villages on large rocky plateaus or underground. Fire genasi prefer to live in tropical places (such as deserts or semi-arid climates) or near volcanoes.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Genasi tends to feed on the same sources of food as humans do, though there are rumors of some on their species that are so tuned to the natural element that they can survive from the elements alone (these claims have until now not be substantiated with empiric evidence).
Additional Information
Social Structure
They tend to follow a tribal organization. Some of their tribes allow the elders to tend control of the village, respecting their experience and wisdom. In others, especially among the fire genasi, raw strength defines the leader, and people can at certain events challenge the current leader to become leaders themselves.
Water and air genasi can sometimes live together. When this happens, each side selects their own leaders, who tend to cooperate in ruling the population.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
As workers. Air and water genasi are extremely valuable as navigators, and many who leave their tribes to live among humans tend to find jobs in the harbors or ships. Earth genasi tends to work very well as miners, and they have very good relations and even treaties with the dwarves. Fire genasi, due to their explosive temperament, work better as mercenaries and fighters.
Slavery. Genasi have a strong position against slavery and for years many of them who have achieved success among humans have petition the The Church of Light to transform slavery into a crime. Due to their affinity with the elements, many Genasi have been used for dangerous jobs when enslaved.
If a genasi becomes a poacher or a merchant that deals in slavery are caught, the other genasi will plead for the person's execution, even if they are related by blood.
Some say that the elemental affinity of genasi also gives them a great propensity from freedom, and from there this zero tolerance behavior is derived.
Facial characteristics
Their faces usually look brutish, and some humans describe looking at a genasi and feeling fear similar to the fear you feel when there's a giant storm coming your way.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Tend to live far from civilization in tribes where there's an excess of elemental energy.
Average Intelligence
Average human intelligence.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Fire Genasi tend to have a special kind of Darkvision that allows them to see in the dark, although everything they see is painted in a tone of red. Water genasi are amphibious and can breathe underwater.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Genasi tend to have names in Primordial. When dealing with humans and other species from the material plane, they tend to pick names that have some meaning due to their ancestry (for example, a fire genasi might call herself ruby or red) or assume nicknames.
Beauty Ideals
Very similar to humans, but genasi take more vibrant or colorful skin tones as a sign of beauty.
Courtship Ideals
Genasi society tends to be very equalitarian, and as such a woman courting a man is as common as the opposite. A good way of approximating a genasi is by offering a jewel of special significance, something that the genasi can appreciate for the rest of her or his life.
Relationship Ideals
Genasi prefer firm relationships, and it's unexpected for a couple to ever become apart.
Average Technological Level
Medieval.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Common, Primordial.
Common Etiquette Rules
Respect to the elders and to traditions is fundamental. Such respect is expected on actions rather than words: polite words tend to have little worth to a genasi, but offering to help an elder with their daily activities has.
Common Dress Code
Genasi tend to dress in simple practical clothes. Compared to humans, they tend to use fewer and more practical clothing. On civilized settlements, they would not be improperly dressed for their customs, but one would expect to see men or even women using very little in terms of clothing.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Most of the Genasi contributions come from the nautical world: species of aquatic monsters or wildlife would not be known if it were not for the water genasi, and their great navigation skills and their settlements in the middle of small islands on the Great Sea have made navigation much easier.
On their side, the earth genasi have greatly helped the dwarves with mining, teaching them much about ore and ways of identifying jewels and the content of the soil.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Genasi think that actions matter most than words. As such, they expect people to be direct and state plainly what they want. They are slow to trust outsiders until they can prove, by actions, that they are to be trusted.
When an outsider makes a friendship with a Genasi, the Genasi expects this friendship to be until the end of their lives.
Common Taboos
Genasi reserve some places, where they feel strong elemental power, as nodes. These nodes are sacred to them, and not only the Genasi limit entrance to these sacred places to people who can be trusted, but they also expect everyone present to preserve complete and absolute silence.
History
The genasi are relative newcomers to Elmincia, having immigrated to the islands from portals to the elemental realms. Therefore, they have been absent from most of Elmincia's history. Some say they were born from djinns that long ago visited the elemental planes, and as such the first genasi were born and raised by their djinn counterparts. Their history also states that some of these wanted to find out more about their human parents or live in the human world, and these are the ones that first came into Elmincia.
Historical Figures
Thermo. Thermo was an old fire genasi leader. She was able to tame an erupting volcano, controlling the magma of the earth itself, saving hundreds of lives. Even today she is respected and venerated as one of their oldest heroes.
Common Myths and Legends
The Genasi believe that there is an elemental field connecting everything in the world, and this energy is what produces earthquakes, floods, storms and eruptions from volcanoes. As such, nature is deserving both the awe and terror in equal parts from Elmincia's inhabitants.
They also believe that one day, this energy will be theirs to wield.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Genasi have friendly relations with humans and elves. Earth genasi have good relations to the dwarves.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
120 years.
Conservation Status
Genasi are not exactly common, but they are not in risk of extinction.
Average Height
1.5 to 1.8m
Average Weight
50 - 120 kg.
Average Physique
Depends on the subspecies: air genasi tend to be lighter and faster than humans, while earth genasi are on average heavier and stronger.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Depends on each subspecies:
- Air genasi. Green or blue skin.
- Water genasi. Blue skin.
- Fire genasi. Red skin
- Earth genasi.Dark brown skin.
Related Ethnicities
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