The Earths have their feet firmly planted in the ground, and they don't let anything push them away from that spot. It also means that they aren't going in any particular direction until a landslide happens, and then the direction is usually downwards into the mud. Guess I was born as one of the odd ones out, running in a direction the Earths have never headed... Forward.— Dr. Raven Jen
From the plants that bury their roots in the soil to the precious ores that live kilometres below the surface, Earths are the master of everything that has something to do with the ground. To the world, Earths are known for their commitment to the natural order, or to what they consider the natural order, as well as being negotiators for peace. They see themselves as steadfast, showing that they can stand for what they believe. Others look at them as people who have their feet stuck in the mud. But just because the earth moves at a snail's pace doesn't mean that it can't destroy your life in thirty seconds.
Anatomy
Life stages
Like all Elementals, Earths grow up twice as fast as humans, and remain in their prime for the rest of their life. Earths will insist that they can tell how old another is by looking into their eyes, but a human would find it impossible to tell a 10-year-old and a 60-year-old Earth apart. Earths are considered adults by 10 years of age, which is equivalent to 20 years old in humans. Pregnancy in Earths like all Elementals lasts for 6 months before birth. Earths name their life states as shown below: Infant (0-6 months old) – Toddler (6 months - 18 months old) - sprout (1.5 years old - 5 years old) – seedling (5 years old - 7 years old) – Juvenile (7 years old - 10 years old) – Adult (10 years old - 80 years old)
Physique
Similar to humans, Earths can have a variety of physiques. There is some emphasis on strong, large muscles in Earthren society because that is what is deemed attractive. However, Earths do not have any real tendency towards this physique.
Sex differences
Earths share many of their sex differences with humans, but lack the difference in muscle development. Female Earths are equally capable of developing bulky muscle as males. Male Earths are capable of growing terminal hairs on their face, also known as facial hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, and the pubic region. Females grow terminal hairs on their scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic region. The rest are vellus hairs, which are not easily visible. Earthren hair grows at a much faster rate than humans, yet incredibly slow compared to
Fire Elementals. Their hair's genetic limit on length is similar to humans.
Different to every other Elemental, Earths have different coloured magic based on sex. Males have green magic, that is often surrounded by leaves in the aura. Females have purple magic that forms crystals in the aura.
Eyes and Vision
Enjoying being underground, Earths have eyes specialized for seeing in low light conditions. Like cats, their eyes contain a tapetum lucidum which reflects light that hits the retina, increasing the light available to the eye by around 44%. This gives them that cat eye look in the dark and allows them to see with light that a human eye could not. However, they still cannot see in absolute darkness, as there would be no light to reflect at that point.
Active Period/Circadian rhythm
This night vision isn't just for seeing in the low light of mines with few lanterns, though, as Earths are nocturnal. Evening is the equivalent of morning for Earths, midnight is lunchtime, and saying last night is their version of yesterday. Soft red-rich light causes Earths to be awake and alert, as does the soft light of the moon. Earths sleep in rooms in the dark, and enjoy the feeling of a tight space with limited ways out, knowing that they are safe.
Diet
Earths can digest both animal and plant matter, and as such are considered omnivores. They show a slight preference for plant matter, usually consuming more fruits and vegetables than meat items. When they do eat meat, Earths prefer it prepared, regardless of if it came from a Ravager or a cow. Also, with the animal matter they consume, Earths quite enjoy bone marrow. With their magic, along with their strong jaws, they will occasionally enjoy treats like cleaned bones or even fresh ones. No Earth is going to sit down and consume an entire Ravager without preparing it, but stealing a few fingers to snack on is alright. They have a resistance to most parasites and diseases carried by ravagers.
Special Characteristics
Earths have an innate knowledge of pole arm weapons, and often chose the ones no human could hope to use. Claustrophobia is unheard of among them, and most feel a little weary of wide open spaces. They aren't capable of being crushed by materials that came from the ground, like a wall or a cave in, and their fall onto the ground from any height has a soft landing. Earths enjoy the feeling of soil against their skin, or even rocks, as their skin cannot be cut without it containing Gold. Being underground is where they feel the safest. Earths can survive for hours without oxygen without issue.
Magic
Uses
Earthren magic allows Earths to control the ground, and influence most of its relations. It cannot be used to manipulate lava, as that falls under the domain of Fire magic. However, it does include plants, metals, and gems. Using this magic can allow one to trigger small earthquakes, fully grow plants directly from seeds in minutes, and have infinite strength based only on skill with the magic. Earth magic is also what Earthren armour is formed out of, giving their armour a distinct black colour. This armour can be summoned at will and does very well against Gold weapons. It is weak at the joints. For passive effects, it allows plants to treat the Earth as soil, and it will grow even without water, and nearby plants will grow stronger simply by being near. Their magic also gives them the ability to just feel deposits of gems or metals. Over time, enough Earths living in an environment will cause it to become swamps, forests or plains. Mountains have a tendency to form out of nowhere if Earths are around long enough.
When used on humans, Earthren magic will cause them to become calm and relaxed. They will not respond to any outer stimuli, and in their head see themselves as wherever they felt most safe in their lives. The Earth using the magic can use their words to influence the thoughts of the human. Their words are instantly trusted and obeyed. This can be done from a distance, but is most potent when there is physical contact between the Earth and the human.
Earths can use this magic to "encrypt" their words. When it is spoken at sounds like rocks, the clink of gems and the rustle of leaves. When Earthren magic is used, it appears either as a purple aura with crystals forming and disappearing or as a green aura with leaves moving through it (as determined by sex) it has the scent of soil and the scent of autumn leaves.
Strengthened by...
Earth magic is strengthened by peace, order, and being underground.
Weakened by...
Lightning magic, rapid change and innovation, and being far up from the ground. When Lightning magic is directed at an Earth, they will be electrocuted, and crumble instead of burning. This directing of Lightning magic can be done with either the intention to kill or simply incapacitate.
Culture Overview
Society summary
Earthren society has a massive emphasis on law and what is the correct way to behave. There are jobs that are proper positions for Earths to be in, and there are those that will get you shunned by your peers. Any disputes are to be handled in a court of law, and violence is highly discouraged. There are few exceptions to Earthren law. However, as their laws are made so strictly, they also lose their ability to be interpreted to stop certain loopholes. Plenty of these loopholes exist on purpose for certain peoples gains, namely the Earths when they are at war with other Elementals. Earths expect experience to lead to people gaining promotions, however this is mostly people who kiss their superior's
█████(redacted due to non-scholarly language).
Earths expect people to keep their physical affections limited in public, and to keep any copious amounts to private spaces like the home. Most Earths will keep their affections with their romantic partners to hugs and cheek kisses in public. While Earths are much more monogamous than the Fires, they have been influenced by the open relationship culture of them. As such, most Earths will at least have a discussion of one. Earths do not understand that multiple promise bonds are possible, and as such those other than their promises are never expected to become more than side affections. Multiple promise bonds are rarer among Earths than they are for the Fires, which is why they are under the impression they don't exist. It is also why the promise system does not reflect this, as it was an Earthren Nature who created the system.
Careers that are considered Earthren are medical, biological, mining, law, and farming. Careers in the military are considered against the Earthren goal for peace. There is an exception for those in the Local Forces division, as they help to keep the peace among the population.
Earthren culture is still slowly moving away from their matriarchal past. While male and female are equal on paper, that's about where it ends. Men aren't trusted by the more extreme parts of the population to hold high positions, as they consider men to be irrational and to lack a care for the greater good. For most of the population, it is more of a subtle bias to promote women instead of men for positions, rather than one that they are willing to use violence to "correct".
In the Home of...
Earthren homes are generally follow arts and crafts architecture on the outside. They are low to the ground, and very rarely rise upwards. Instead, most floor of an Earthren home are actually underground. They often have many levels of basements, and these could even offer exits to underground tunnels with connection to magtrains and other ways of travel. Earths prefer enclosed spaces, and their homes reflect this. Despite their night vision, entering an Earth's home would find a room filled with artificial light. Decorations, and paintings mimicking nature, would be common. Even more so would be a rock or gem collection. It is likely that the display piece at an Earth's table would be the neatest rock they've ever found.
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