The Erlithmanil are the elements, the forces of nature given consciousness and physical form. They are embodiments and personifications of their given elements and exert total control over them. There are ten Erlithmanil and each of them possess five aspects which represent different pieces of them. Zalikar is darkness, Lithmor is light, Wylrith is water, Ferith is fire, Rylis is air, Ylithuum is earth, Dalyeric is decay, Raegeric is energy, Lunil is fauna and Fliral is flora. There are other minor elements as well, the Aethids, which are the children of the Erlithmanil but they do not possess multiple aspects as their parents do.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Their original bodies had many mysterious and magnificent abilities tied to their divine nature. This included altering their size, sex or appearance at will, changing depending on how they saw themselves and even taking on gargantuan proportions. These bodies were immortal and were regenerative but they could be damaged and even destroyed. If not for their sealing, their bodies might have regenerated over time. However, only Sylthari herself can destroy these crystals.
Biological Traits
by Lee Stepp
Similar to all lifeforms, they possess both a magic form and a human form and can switch between them at will. However, in their original bodies they had many other abilities and their magical form was far more extreme than any human. This form possesses appearances and qualities of all five aspects at once.
Genetics and Reproduction
by Lee Stepp
They are able to reproduce with each other and humans but the results are different. When they have children with each other, when they had their own bodies, new minor elements were occasionally born—the Aethid.
When they have children with humans, that child will be a Divine Descendant. Some of the most powerful blessings are granted to these bloodlines, such as Body Physical Manifestations. However, they are still limited to two manifestations.
Ecology and Habitats
by Lee Stepp
Each of them has biomes they have altered, shaped and even weaved magic into the land, resuling in permanent effects. Each of them, and the Aethids, created a 'Seat' which became their private residence. These locations are often difficult to or impossible to access without using all five of their aspects.
Behaviour
Each of their personalities, behaviors, etc. resemble the properties and symbolism of their elements. They are those elements and share many quirks and qualities with them.
Additional Information
Social Structure
They were originally all each other's equals, working together or on their own but respecting each other's autonomy. However, after Zalikar formed his pact with Azryth, he proclaimed himself their leader by leveraging his control over their renewed power as well as a particular ability Azryth bestowed him with. However, after their downfall a schism has begun to form between all of them. Half siding with Zalikar and half with Lithmor. Those who sided with Zalikar were Dalyeric, Lunil, Wylrith and Rylis while those who sided with Lithmor were Raegeric, Fliral, Ferith and Ylithuum. This division grows more extreme as the centuries drag on and both Zalikar and Lithmor, once lovers, now consider the other their nemesis.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
by Lee Stepp
Each of them are intimately connected to five aspects and each aspect has an elemental plane. The two types are generally physical or mental. These planes are a part of their own minds and souls and they are affected by occurrences within the planes. They are also aware of what is happening within their planes if they turn their attention to one. They can feel the connections to those blessed with their magic as this connection leads back to their own soul. All of the physical occurrences of their aspects can be felt with concentration, as it is a part of them, and they can freely control them. This is one major reason they were/are worshiped as gods.
Now, without physical bodies, their perception is limited purely to their planes. They can exert control inside the planes despite being sealed away but cannot influence the physical world without a host. When they have a host, the abilities they had in their original body are limited by how "synchronized" their host body is with their element and by how much power this host can withstand. If pushed too far, their power can tear a host apart.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
by Lee Stepp
Each Aspect, while a piece of the whole, has a consciousness of its own and resides within their corresponding plane. These represent different emotions and characteristics of their element's overall personality. They are splinters, pieces of an Erlithmanil's mind. They cannot survive outside of their planes.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Their names originate from an ancient Accian alphabet but they rarely utilize their full name, lengthy and holding a mysterious power. They prefer using the shortened versions for practicality.
Relationship Ideals
They do not marry but they do form relationships when it suits them or when they feel the urge to do so. This has become less common given their lack of physical bodies.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
by Lee Stepp
Each Erlithmanil tended to favor one or more cultures and ethnicities around Emynea and often would take up the ethnicity and appearance of these peoples. For example, Ferith and Lithmor adored Alkelbulan and often take up the features, appearances, clothing and beauty standards of those who preside there while Wylrith and Ylithuum favor Yaxiya.
History
by Lee Stepp
When the Erlithmanil were granted consciousness and physical form, they walked the old world as newborns. These events are called the Birth of the Erlithmanil. Amid these events, they began reshaping and molding the world to their liking. As they experimented and created unique biomes, they also blessed the humans, plants and animals with their magic so that they could better survive these changes. In this age of myths and legends, they granted abilities to many heroes, believers and those they had come to admire or even love. Many origin myths occurred in this time often referred to as the Era of Legends. Those blessed by the Erlithmanil passed on their abilities to their descendants and so humanity came to call these abilities Racial Magic. However, by the end of this era the Erlithmanil had gifted all of their magic away.
by Lee Stepp
Weak and powerless, the humans turned away from their once gods, abandoning or even casting them out. Some among the elements were even attacked by humans and Wylrith remained on the precipice of death. Horrified, they turned to those who gave them life. Lithmor begged Luxis, Life, to restore their magic to them but Luxis refused, unwilling to take away the gifts which brought their creations such joy, beauty and power. Zalikar then turned to Azryth, Death, and beseeched them for aid. Azryth struck a sacred pact with Zalikar and, as long as Zalikar upholds the conditions of this pact, Azryth would restore their power and divinity. Azryth allowed those blessed by the Erlithmanil to retain their elemental connections and ability to manifest these gifts but restored each Erlithmanil as the source, owner and wielder of their corresponding element once again. They regained their divinity as promised, including their regenerative abilities and immortality.
In both revenge and obligation, Zalikar became the leader of the Erlithmanil and began his reign over humanity—his reign as the Dark King. Humans became like cattle to the Erlithmanil, completely at their mercy and subject to their whims. Zalikar was the most feared element and, without explanation or reason, was prone to mass eradication of entire civilizations. In the beginning, he particularly targeted those which he had blessed with his magic, those who had betrayed him, believing them unworthy of his gifts. Few escaped his wrath and, as a result, dark racial magic became very rare. Millennia passed by and civilizations rose and fell—some even reaching modernity before Zalikar would purge them.
by Lee Stepp
Luxis wept for their children during these eradications and, in the ashes of what would be Zalikar's last elimination, Luxis chose a hero from among those faithful to them. This hero, Accia Syltharis, and Zalikar's own daughter Princess Sylthari opposed and overcame the Erlithmanil in events referred to as the Downfall of the Erlithmanil. After defeating the elements, they sealed their undying souls into ten crystals crafted by Sylthari.
by Lee Stepp
While Sylthari and Accia went on to found the Kingdom of Accia, the crystals were entrusted to the ten shape shifting beasts which fought alongside them. They were charged with their protection and expected to pass this responsibility down to their own children. However, the Erlithmanil tempted their guardians with alluring pacts of their own. They offered raw power and immortality in exchange for becoming their familiars, for them to seek out a new body. One by one, either the original beast or their descendants, each guardian accepted this pact. Each of them eternally scour the world for potential hosts for their master.
See Shape Shifter and Elemental Familiar for more details of this pact and its results.
EXTINCT
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
Immortal
Conservation Status
All Erlithmanil have had their physical bodies destroyed and their souls are sealed within ten Syltharian crystals. Their familiars are seeking out potential host bodies.
Related Organizations
Related Myths
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