Aeteli

AETELI

The Aeteli, like dragons, merged with magic in such a way their physiology was altered. Unlike dragons, however, their life is tied to magic. Cutting off access with antimagic would kill them. Any serious injury that blocks, siphons, or stifles their ability to connect with magic is a threat upon their lives. Just as well, Aeteli are notoriously difficult to populate; one couple is said to take decades to produce one viable offspring. They live as long as dragons, however; 200-500. As a result, life is sacred to them--and so is death.
The idea of rebirth is widespread in their ethos. They live to die and live again. Beyond memory, their ancestors connected with the world beyond death, and established a vast realm for their souls to gravitate to after death.
Not much is known beyond that; the eyes of an Aeteli are literal connections to their soul. No one not of Aetelian descent can look into the eyes of an Aeteli for longer than a few moments, before a deep unsettling feeling claims them. This is similar to the The Unraveling Effect* noted in raw Limora Ore. It is known that Aeteli do not inherit eye color; their eyes are the same as their first breath of existence in the time before memory.
After the Cataclysm, most Aeteli were hunted and driven out of every surviving establishment, their existence taboo after the strongest Aeteli destroyed the entire known world.



In the New Era, most mentions of aeteli in any light that is not monstrous, are gone. Only those keeping records in the deep libraries of Nohr, located in The Iron Continent, is there information on them. Yet they are kept under lock and key, warned too dangerous to reveal.



Aeteli vary in complexion between onyx black and paper white - with a sheen of opalescent effect, making many appear blue or a deep purple in certain dark lighting. Their otherworldly complexion, combined with intense eyes, have set them apart from the rest of the humanoids. Even Duargen, who are closest to them in magic dependency, have less reliance on magic, and thus have a less innately unsettling presence.




Aeteli have and do produce offspring with other peoples outside their own; the amount of magic does increase the odds of success, but most never do. Those who do, it depends how strong a connection to magic their partner has, as to whether their offspring will have an Aeteli soul, and thereby the same innate connection to magic - or not. If they do not, it will not prevent another down the line from inheriting an Aetelian soul. Once their potent magic is in the lineage, there will always be a chance. Being of Aetelian soul only gives the advantage of stronger magic access with less work, but without one does not bar them innately, the potential remains always. It does, however, break expectations and predictability - something that has been noted in what records remain of Aetelian culture. They do not approve of increased unpredictability.



** The common rule of thumb with magic use is "Strong of magic, strong of mind, weak of body, death by magic" - in many different variants depending on culture and traditions, but all follow the golden rule of improving one's mind and body to handle the strength of magic. Overexertion is the leading cause of death for magic users. However, Aeteli are an exception, likely due to their physiology, their body will adapt to anchor against powerful magic - at least three times a well trained mage of any background. They can still succumb, but it is less prevalant among their peoples. However, the mind is just as at risk, and many Aeteli have met their own demise with The Unraveling Effect.