Cefenik (Keh-fennic)

"Long has it been debated of the existence of another godling race—not of Hopheht, but of the Beofrera, Angel of Dark. There is little evidence of any such beings, and even the oldest médōnai records tell of no such existence. Still yet are the untranslated scripts of the Ceproci Cliffs and the depictions of star-skinned individuals weaving magick as if it were silk."
_— Old Secrets of the Gods, Volume II _{by T'och Idmumm}

_{*All works by T'och Idmumm are now banned within the Sovereign Lands}

Basic Information

Anatomy

Cefenik people, at a distance, appear just the same as any commoner. Their musculature and stature are dependent on their geographical ancestry, and they have no extraneous anatomy that marks them apart from everyone else which has allowed them to remain unnoticed in the general population since the dawn of time.

Biological Traits

It is unknown how long the average cefenik lifespan is. The elders within their small communities are often well over two hundred years, but they speak never having seen one of their elders dying from age. Most are said to have just disappeared one day.

Genetics and Reproduction

Like médōnai, cefenik are capable of intermixing with the human population and have done so since their creation. Any resulting child does not carry the magical abilities of their cefenik parent, and very little of their celestial heritage is visibly notable, if at all.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Most cefenik communities are small and rely upon a group of elders and community leaders to keep them safe and govern them. Given their coastal inclinations, it is not uncommon that the communities forgo a terrestrial existence and live on the seas, posing as merchants or even pirates to the common populations.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Most cefenik communities are coastal, hiding along the eastern cliffs of Fir'nost and along the barrier islands. A few are more inland along the mountain ranges. It is rare that cefenik abandon their communities and live among the common population.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

One of the greatest things that set a cefenik individual apart from the common people and even their médōnai cousins if their innate magical abilities. The cefenik can bend the matter of the world to their will at the expense of their energy. Such as skillset would have them feared by the common people, so most hide their magic from the greater world.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

The cefenik people value strong morals and guardian or protector roles, so cefenik names often speak of the strength or worth of the individual. The names can be simple, such as things like Shield, or more complex, such as Virago.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The cefenik have a glyphic written language but no uniform spoken language. Their spoken tongue is often a pidgin form of whichever human language is nearest and most-often interacted with. At times, this can make communication with the common people difficult, but it is often brushed off as sea-speak or sailor's talk.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Cefenik culture heavily prizes storytelling, both visual and oral. The visual is most commonly achieved through magic, as stories are told alongside spectacular light shows of fire, dust, and light. As Beofrera is attributed with parties and celebration, such things are popular among the cefenik, and they will take any little excuse to throw a party.

History

The cefenik people were created by Beofrera in secret from the other Angels, and the Angel of Dark crafted them from their own image to serve as the silent watchers over the rest of their creation. Gifted with the possession of magic, the cefenik would be able to protect the common people from the shadows. Among cefenik legend, great heroes would be given honor in the afterlife and serve as charters for the dead into Estrosh's land, continuing to serve as protectors.

Origin/Ancestry

Celestial

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

1.5-1.9 m

Average Weight

54-113 kg

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The most noticeable physical characteristic of the cefenik people is an iridescent subcutaneous layer, giving their skin the appearance of having a thousand stars beneath it when the light hits it.