NOTES ON THE VARIOUS SPECIES

Updates to all the major races of Gothenya... even the potentially deleted ones!

***A BRIEF ASIDE***

What about the idea of a “master progenitor” species. One that gives birth to almost random versions representative of all the collected genes inside themselves. Unpredictably. And better yet, these offspring become viable agents of reproduction themselves, only in their cases, the offspring tend to conform to what might be expected from the genetic traits of both parents. Basically an extreme version of the above notion of Vala’suun reproduction (where you may get Pikel by result).

RACIAL ABILITIES

INFRAVISION…

Only species with significant night/subterranean ties should have this. So, Vala’suun, Strout (or Pikel if combining - but not Pikel as they were), Isagorn (as elf-born), Daemistaal and Vess’ka only. No fortreal. No grogan.

REST & THE FEY

The Vala’suun - SLEEP - instead of the minimal sleep normal to other world elves, all Vala’suun enter a fugue state where their minds attempt to locate and drift back home to Jeis’suul. This is a dangerous process, and can be suppressed (through drugs). Upon a failure, the mind can possibly (and perhaps permanently) disassociate from the body - and can even become lost in the ethereal realm.
Conversely, there is a chance they could wake having gained useful knowledge or insight (or actual sight into a Demi-plane on the ethereal).
Some Solti have lived long enough to possess some mastery of the process. They can use this to attempt a dream quest of sorts. All Vala’suun are semi-incorporeal, ethereal beings. This is what they become upon death. And it also may be accidentally (or otherwise) triggered via entering the fugue state.
They still require the requisite 8 hours. Because this is not sleep, they maintain the standard racial immunities/resistances to sleep, charm, etc.
Use PER checks (or WILL save) to determine what happens in the fugue state. A Nat 1 triggers a disassociation (but may be canceled with an expenditure of 1 Permanent Luck- no fleeting).
A Nat 20 produces a beneficial insight, vision or even premonition. A beneficial experience may be “forced” through Spellburn, only requiring the check to reach 20+. Luck of any kind cannot modify a fugue state check.
TBD - table of different fugue state effects. Possibly 1 beneficial & 1 detrimental (as an alternative to straight-up disassociation on Nat 1).

Vistraal (and the fugue state)...

...are often affected by the fugue state. They do, however sleep and dream. The dreams just tend to gain in intensity, depending on the will or strength of personality belonging to the Vistraal in question. Because they lack the pure racial memory of the Vala’suun, they run the risk of going mad from the images within the fugue. But they also find it far easier to suppress the mental wanderings, and most do (likely inspired by their parents’ protective teachings - if not abandoned as so many Vistraal).
In game terms, the Vistraal may choose a “normal” sleep or an attempted fugue state. Normal sleep is far safer, but for one full day after such a restful night, the Vistraal loses their ability to ward off sleep and charm spells. Entering the fugue is somehow intrinsically tied to a this ability, harnessing their fae ancestry.
Resistance to Healing Aid - failure to properly lay on hands or otherwise magically heal (divine) a Vala’suun automatically means they cannot be attended to thusly for 24 hours (or one sleep cycle).

A NOTE ON THE VALA’SUUN

This applies predominantly to the Solti, as few others were then alive that remain today…
A “necessary” twisting of the historical record, methodically undertaken by the Solti concurrent with the Sundering, largely succeeds in masking a large swath and immense scope of their wretched crimes against the native Gothens. The elves were not always the man-friends they are mostly considered today. Nay, when fate favored the immortals, their treatment of man was that of an inferior species, one meant and indeed bred for domination. It may even be that the accepted legends of these Emissaries of the gods bringing civilization and higher learning to the natives of our world carries a far more insidious purpose. Subjugation.
When the head of Syggos the Younger was sent back to Celene, it was a symbol of the fragile (if not truly mortal) nature of the gods themselves. It was a rallying cry that fostered a great uprising. Only later was this historical flash point neutered into the stories of Methanokian decadence we are fed today.
Methanok, though the perpetrator of much atrocity, acted not alone or against the will of those who brought them to power. For the Solti had grown discontent, and saw in the humans pawns to be manipulated against their very own captors… the Ulta. Remember always that the Vala’suun came not to our physical realms of their own accord. Why would such a noble species choose the sway of corporeal truth, something that even altered their ability to propagate? Leave the paradise of Jeis’suul?
It is a simple thing indeed. The long game. When one has an eternity to enact "a proper and supreme revenge."

On “Exile” from Jei’suul…

Some say the Vala’suun were summoned, captured by the Ulta by means of a devious trap. The youngest and brightest amongst the Solti ripped from their parents. For in their mysterious ethereal realm, the Solti may propagate normally. Is it possible they may even be capable of the ultimate choice? To die?
Another theory says the Ulta were unwitting agents of another power. One so very wronged by the Vala’suun, and that their departure from Jeis’suul and servitude to the Ulta was punishment for some unspeakable act. The fact that Solti children were taken, along with their Kelti servants, seems to add a slight bit of credence to this rumor. It’s is the ultimate heresy to speak of such things around the Winter Elves. So forbidden is it, that such words uttered in the great halls of Neishmehil are liable to bring the speaker a terrible sentence from the Exalted Court.
As some would say… “they’ve killed for less, these noble high lords.”

THE VU’UN…

In line with the demons of Moorcock, the Vu’un have perfected a particular manipulation of The Art (or The Potential). They are able to channel and siphon it, expending it via avenues of their desire. Thus, they may bestow arcane “gifts” upon those unworthy. Those without an inborn Potential. Men. Mortal men.
As close a relationship as the Vu’un share with the Vala’suun (specifically the Solti) - something the elves dearly wish to distance themselves from and greatly underplay, one wonders if not the Solti themselves may perform similar manipulations.
More often than not, Vu’un appear radically different than their “elven” cousins. Truth is, Vu’un (once in exile, aeons past) dared to venture far closer to the font of magic than even the most powerful Solti warlock. What corruption would later become associated with the Churn, was inexorable and Endemic to the development of what we now refer to as “demons” (and perhaps even devils).
Note: it is possible that the “lawful” devils, in opposition to their chaotic eternal enemies, are not directly of Sidhe descent. They may indeed be a species unto themselves. Unique and uniquely threatened by the existence of the chaotic Vu’un.
Demons breed through the corruption of others. They have no means of reproducing amongst themselves (not fully unlike the Vala’suun). Devils, however, can allegedly propagate - yet something of the forces of law mediates their current number. Some believe the “souls” of vanquished devils merely re-enter the universe via a newborn of their own kind.
To distinguish the (possibly) different devils from Vu’un (demons), the ancient Sidhe name for them is Ril’horu’uj.
Though this distinction may itself be merely an illusion to foster the notion that such mortal enemies of law a chaos could not possibly be of the same racial stock.

More Vu’un

1. It took them several millennia to accept their exile to the Below Lands of Hejl, but the Vu’un (wisely for their mental health) finally not only accepted their lot in life, but doubled-down on it.
2. Self-imposed mutation is the name of the game. The Vu’un have long been experimenting with alteration of the physical (and mental) form.
3. Because of this, there are untold multitudes of varietals when it comes to the “demons” of the Underworld. 4. A little-known (but highly suspected) secret… The Solti “consulted” with prominent Vu’un when attempting to create their own experimental life forms… A direct violation of the Laws of The Exalted Territories of the Vala’Suun.
5. It is not unknown or uncommon for mortals to seek forbidden knowledge from these “demons” and “devils” from planes unreachable.
6. The Vat Things of Vance’s Dying Earth are a good template for the results of Vu’un teachings, handed down to ambitious (and foolhardily) men.

The Pikel

It’s entirely plausible that the diminutive pikel are not a distinct species unto themselves… or at least not originally. They are sometimes said to be an “offshoot mutation” from what the close-minded might call an “unsuccessful” union of Kelti and Human.
Generally, the result of such a pairing either garners a “full” Kelti or a Vistraal. But what of those sired who fall into neither category?
Fey blood is strange. A particular Vala’Suun may sport an ancestry (possibly unknown even to them) that includes blood from various “compatible” fey species (such as pixies, sprites, etc). This sometime leads to dormant yet dominant genes (capable of skipping one or more generations) popping up unexpectedly to produce offspring more in line with their ancient/seemingly absent heritage.
Or may the Churn has something to do with it. Gothens in general are already wary about the Vala’Suun’s involvement with the chaotic repository of dangerous magic.
So far, variants from Kelti and Vistraal are extremely limited. Most die, finding the world inhospitable to their genetic combinations. It just so happens that the Pikel thrived.

Vala’suun & the Isagorn

1. In some pockets, they are known (the Solti) to accept worshippers who treat them as minor deities.
2. Could the Isagorn be some other world’s equivalent of the Vistraal? Breeding “mistakes” that became their own species? Who were then possibly “employed” by the Solti as servants (for jobs even beneath the Kelti)?
3. The Isagorn on Gothenya could be the descendants of those who violently rebelled against their Winter Elf masters. Enmity is great on both sides. For obvious reasons regarding the Isagorn. Because they killed numerous Solti (who cannot propagate and thus have finite numbers).
4. If we want to keep goblinoid “sub-species,” we could deem the Isagorn to be afflicted by the same breeding issue as the Solti. Their kin could be intermixed with attempts to breed with other fey creatures.
5. Alternatively, if we want to make the Isagorn more historically modern and distinct, they could be “vat” experiments by Solti mages. Early attempts to cure their infertility. This would separate them from the Kelti and Vu’un and make them an analog to what the Ulta did with grogan and Strout.
6. SPOILER - we may learn that Solti infertility has little to do with the nature and effect of our dimension upon their physiology, and is actually a purposeful limitation imposed upon them by the Ulta to control their numbers.
7. The Ulta deemed the Solti dangerous and conniving enough to warrant controlling their numbers. To limit any possible uprising. They still needed the Vala’suun to be able to replace their numbers, so they imparted virility upon the (seemingly more pliable) Kelti - but with the limitation of requiring a human partner. This, as the Ulta felt very certain of their sway over the “gullible natives.” If push came to shove, they could issue a holy writ, and commons the humans to avoid mating with elves.
8. The wickedness of power keeps stacking, level after level. What the Solti did to the Kelti and the Isagorn, the Ulta did to them.

More On The Isagorn (“Hobgoblins”)

Can’t remember what else I wrote about them, but…
1. The Isagorn are not genetically manipulated or created. They are natives of Jeis’suul that were largely subjugated by the Vala’suun and eventually became their first servitor species, indentured to the Solti.
2. On Gothenya, they had a natural advantage in that they could breed freely. This changed their perspective on revolt and general disobedience towards the “masters” thrust upon them.
3. It is believed they were a bargaining chip in the peaceful acquisition of the Vala’suun by the Ulta. Serve us and others will continue to serve you.
4. Side note - the “bargain of the binding” that permeates all relations between Vu’un and mortals seems to find a slight variant amongst the Vala’suun (Solti), more significant for its similarities than its differences.
5. Though Vu’un are a evolutionarily mutated off-shot (cast off) from the Vala’suun, the Isagorn are their actual natural cousins. Both were descendants of the natural progenitor species of Jeis’suul.

Daemistaal

1. Oddly born of humans who likely have Vistraal somewhere in their bloodline.
2. Can be born of a union with 1 Vistraal & 1 human parent. Is it possible that two mated Vistraal cannot produce a daemistaal? Perhaps this “curse of the gods” is indicative of a punishment inflicted upon their Vala’suun servitors and those who would help them propagate.
3. As an additional slight (beyond the corruption of the Vala’suun bloodlines and the general distrust they instill in commoners) the Daemistaal seem to be able to pass between dimensions (not at will, mind you).
4. The Kelti may have also attained this power at the same time as the Daemistaal. After the Sundering. It is certain that the Solti did not attain this gift. They’ll never return to Jeis’suul. At least the Kelti can dream. Which might explain why so many left Neishmehil after the Sundering, becoming wanderers. Preparing for the day of their return (although many if not most Kelti were born on Gothen soil).
5. Of course the other reason for the schism amongst the Formerly servile Kelti has to do with their preordained indentured servitude. Without the promise of the gods backing their Solti emissaries, there was far less to fear from their Solti masters. Many left, seeking their own lives and wills. Others, mostly those born prior to Gothenya, are so indoctrinated that they cannot fathom a life of freedom. And so the Kelti are split. And resentful (on both sides).

Grogan & Strout - An Ecology of the “Created” (Pikel)

1. Closely related as both are Ulta original creations based upon the same organic working model.
2. Is it possible that they are asexual, and reproduce through acts of artistic creation? Strout using stone. Grogan, the local flora. They both have the power to weave the Eret Si’nu into life giving magic (using these specific materials).
3. Grogan created the Fortreal. Do the Strout have a similar creation? Some sort of Rock Golem type creature - with “free will?”
4. Both species are likely genderless but take on the likeness of a particular humanoid archetype, down to (false) gender expression.
5. Because of this, many outsiders simply assume they reproduce as mammals typically do. Grogan and Strout are not quick to correct or clarify such matters. They both tend to be insular, secretive species.
6. Both species share a common schism between those devoted to duty (to the Ulta), and those who hold disdain for this (and them), having lived “too long” in the outside world - and having formed both perspective and personal/racial agendas.
7. The Strout kicked the Isagorn refugees from their mountain kingdoms. Their hatred for the “goblins” may be partially “baked in” by their creators.

NPC SPECIES 

The Titans

1. Genetically engineered or modified from two distinct stocks.
2. Giants are the “Abhumans” of The Night Land. They were once men, until they ran afoul of the Ulta. An early experiment in their mastery over the natural order. Some were more successful than others.
3. The deformed Formian Giants were early attempts. Failures. But let us leave no part wasted. These pitiful wretches still had their uses.
4. Dragons. These were products of a slight tweaking of their Found World’s dominant prehistoric species.
5. Weaponized, the great wyrms were given deadly exhalations to compliment their terrible frames. Fire. Corrosive clouds. Electricity. Scalding Bile.