Arsa
Arsa are elves that have lived before humans, dwarves, and other races inhabited Gunaram. Not much is known about them and any piece of text about them often says very little about them, at least to the general public.
Very intelligent and beautiful, Arsa are natural leaders and prove to be very influential beings.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Arsa look exactly like the new elves. The only thing that sets them apart is their undeniable beauty, tattoos, pale skin, and longer ears. All Arsa have pale skin, some form of blue eyes, and some form of red hair, which ranges from strawberry blonde to deep burgundy.
The tattoos that appear on an Arsa's body varies from each Asra. These tattoos help with certain magics. If they appear on the head in some form, they help with psionics, psychic, and illusion abilities. If they appear on the chest or arms, they help with fire and healing abilities. If they appear on the legs and feet, they can help with levitation and plant magic.
The tattoos, however, don't have to help with magic. Some tattoos can help with strength if they are on the arms or legs, or eyesight if on the head near the eyes.
Genetics and Reproduction
The reproduction of the Asra is strange compared to other races. If they perform a ritual near an open crystal vein deep within a cave, Asra can be grown and born. If an Asra reproduces with a different race, they will only birth or seed a child of that race, not half-Asra.
As Asra grow in their veins, they bring in energy from nearby crystals to help develop if they have magical abilities or not.
Growth Rate & Stages
Asra can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to 2 centuries to be born from their veins. Once born, they will stay underground as they get used to the darkness. If they survive, they will learn to walk and find their way out of the cave. Often, they are mistaken for human children and taken in as orphans.
As they age, their ears become more elven. Once they hit about 13, they start to age a bit slower; about 5 months to each human year. Once they hit 16 or 17, they age slower, about 1 year every 5 human years. Once 18, they age 1 year for every 10-15 human years.
As Asra age, they become more beautiful and more intelligent if they listen to the Voices of Wisdom.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Arsa don't eat meat. They are strictly herbivores, as any kind of meat tastes and smells like it's spoiled and rancid. They forage in the forest looking for berries or other fruits. Farms are necessary for Arsa, as they can grow their own vegetables.
Corrupted Arsa, however, can eat meat, as the corruption changes their taste buds.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Arsa can see up to 60 ft. both in dark and dim light.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Before the time of humans, dwarves, and other races, the names were a mix of elegant and harsh sounding names. The common Arsa female names were Usamea, Vasati, Elora, and Tanulia; while the common male names were Khatar, Nevarth, Garrik, and Faelar. Some unisex examples were Vulmar, Tanathil, Mirthal, and Shalaevar.
Some common surnames would have been Ulahana, Keylar, Fenro, and Valmenor.
Nowadays, names are chosen by families that take newborn Arsa in.
Major Organizations
The largest Arsa city was known as Heisio. The ruins that lay somewhere deep in the forests of Traith were once a city that stood tall amongst others, and was one of the only real large cities. It was the one place many clans would travel to for trading and gatherings.
Gender Ideals
Men, women, and those identifying as anything else are able to do anything they please, from leading a city to fighting in the army.
Courtship Ideals
While Arsa can choose someone to be courted with, it's also not uncommon to have an arranged courtship. This is usually done when anyone from two different clans are arranged by families, either because it would benefit both clans or because it's out of pure love for each other. No matter the type of courtship, Arsa usually find love anywhere.
Relationship Ideals
Their reproduction ritual is a sacred one. It must be done only with a couple who deeply and truly love each other. Loving someone is to go through hardships together and being there when times are hard. Love is something the Arsa hold dear, as it's a very serious thing for them.
Common Etiquette Rules
Everyone in the clan/city is usually greeted with a formal greeting specific to the situation.
Common Taboos
Killing animals for sport/food is forbidden. Self-defense is reasonable.
Eating meat is forbidden. Meat to Arsa doesn't taste good to them anyways; it's almost like eating some rotten, spoiled, and rancid to them.
Drinking alcohol that isn't wine is forbidden. Most types of alcohol, excluding wine, cause enormous amounts of damage to an Arsa's body. This is more of a health issue than a taboo, but it is still considered forbidden. Wine is fine in moderation, as it's meant to be sipped slowly and not chugged.
Blood magic and drinking blood is strictly forbidden. This ties in with meat of any kind. Blood magic is linked with demons.
History
Before the days of humans, modern elves, dwarves, and other races, Arsa were the dominant race, mostly living in what is now Duland, Traith, and Camora. The original Arsa split from another plane of existence that was filled with fey creatures of all kinds. They had built many structures and cities, but lived to preserve nature. The Arsa race were plentiful, often staying to their clean, ornate cities or migrating through the forests, often drifting from area to area.
After about a thousand years of living, humans and other races came into existence. While modest and kind at first, early humans were not so kind. Humans thought the Arsa people were strange in their views and morals. As humans and other races started destroying what the Arsa were protecting, the Arsa became hostile as more and more of their land was taken.
The more hostile the Arsa got, the more the other races, such as humans, drow, and, sometimes, Yuan-Ti, would be hostile towards them. This hostility lead to unnecessary bloodshed and some Arsa being enslaved, having their minds broken down by these "invaders," as they called them.
The Arsa were forced to hid in cave systems. This is where they decided to wipe themselves off of face of the planet. They filled as many crystal veins as possible, wherever they could find them, and performed their sacred ritual. Thousands of Arsa were created, destined to stay in their little crevices until it was time for them to emerge, roughly about 3,000 years in the future when the other races learned to be more forgiving and peaceful. After the rituals were done, the Arsa people would then take their own lives, mostly those who were able to. Those who were enslaved later died of natural causes or their masters worked them so hard, they just collapsed and never woke up again.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Back before the other races appeared, the Arsa didn't have interspecies relations due to misunderstandings and miscommunications.
Nowadays, interspecies relations are possible.
Lifespan
2,000 - 3,000 years
Average Height
5'6 - 7"
Average Weight
95 lbs. - 250 lbs.
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