Lysa (lie-sah)
Lysa are consciousnesses that formed from the shattered physical remains of the essences that became the Elemental Vacosia long ago, thus creating the dominant 4 sources: Earth, Water, Fire and Air Lysa. As such their bodies are as close to physically embodying the states of matter as they can get, appearing to made up of real fire, water etc (partially and maybe even fully) in a way that is eerie, and wonderful.
On top of that, they are each born with a yearning to unite with their opposite just as their makers once did. Plasma to Liquid, Gases to Solids. A cruel twist since they're bodies can make it difficult to be near one another. Not that they fully understand this history, not when it is so ancient and long lost. Now days they may assume their feelings and drives are just as everyone else's, all mixed together, and few care to ponder where it is their kind came from. Indeed for some Lysa, it is rumoured anyway, that they walk straight from the Elemental Vacosia Seams and onto the mortal plane. But Lysa are so rare and so often filled with wanderlust its difficult to track one down and ask.
For whatever reason, couplings between Lysa break or blend their state's nature. For example, a Fire Lysa with an Earth Lysa has been told to create a new subkind: a Magma Lysa. However these combination types when mixing with other Lysa appear to break apart into producing Fire or Earth once more and not another Magma. Suggesting their forms are more volatile than they'd appear, and already so rare, these Lysa are even rarer. These combinations types are also born with a sort of emptiness in terms of ambition or drive compared to that inborn desire of the base matter four. Some truly airheaded and lacking, others vengeful in trying to find their place in this world.
It is a wonder then how a product of the most desired combinations (Fire to Water, Air to Earth) would feel.
Some Lysa reside on the fringes of civilisations, pushed there by their unsettling appearances, odd magic or more commonly, their elemental nature doesn't mix well with the infrastructure. Others may find a place in strange roles to contribute in ways unique to them or circumstances granting them power over small circles - especially those that have any reverence for the elements of old. Some may even attempt to leave Nucliosia to return to the essence of their beings, the Elemental Vicosia.
Mixing with other races will often grant their offspring a boon of resistance against their elemental, a certain strength, and a certain weakness. But be careful when falling for a Lysa, for they will always, always be pulled into the direction of their opposite.
Those born from Lysa mixes tend to take on more features of their other parent, just with some elemental twists (pointed ears from an Elf, a second thumb from a Swivet, tusks from an Omok, etc blended with fiery hair or watery skin and so on).
Appearance
Lysa resemble humans in foundation, although those that have mixed with other races will lean more towards them in appearance instead. The remaining build will tend to be filled by their elemental blood, as described in Features.
This is to say, for example: A Fire Lysa and a Swivet would produce a mostly Fire Lysa appearing as a Swivet
Height & Weight: Average around 5-6 feet / 1.5-1.8 meters but can vary if mixed with another race. Those of water or earth essence are heavier than the average human, while those of air or fire are lighter.
Features
Fire
Fire Lysa are as rapidly unpredictable as the movement of flames and change tone as suddenly as lightning, giving them a reputation for highly volatile people. But they are by no means unmanageable, they are in fact extremely warm and passionate and for those willing to learn to navigate their heat, it's well worth the loyalty. Some would even say, like fire, they are beautiful in the danger that draws one in rather than warns them off.
Fire Lysa, predictably, are physically very warm to hot and become burning when experiencing intense emotion. Their skin then takes on a red, orange or yellow tinge. 'Dead' cells then tend to become fiery flame-like, so many Fire Lysa sport fire-like hair starting from the tips and some consume the whole head. In the same vein, their fingernail tips may trail fire as well. Their eyes, the centres of their hearths, are usually a brilliant flame blue.
Due to being of fire, Fire Lysa cannot be harmed by flame, however, have a tougher time in colder environments, high winds or low oxygen areas. And diving into water? Forget it.
They can use their inner heat to create smaller flames across their skin, or condense them in a rapid burst to attack and burn.
Air
As difficult to read as it is to see the wind, the Air Lysa are known for their stoicism. But even the wind can be understood by those willing to learn the signs. Air Lysa despite this, are known to be playful and light, calm and gentle, only becoming truly horrific on a dime when angered to an extreme. But like a storm blown in overnight, their rage can cause damage, but rarely last long before all blows over.
Air Lysa typically have light minty to near white skin, and hair of either pure white or darker mint or bright violet. Whichever colour has yet to be used in their palette will fill the eyes. Their hair tends to shift lightly as if a gentle breeze keeps it from settling, for those with a keen eye the same could even be said for the hair on their arms as they gesture. General movement is graceful, never jerky or jarred as if the very air pillows their body as it moves.
Due to being of air, an Air Lysa can hold their breath for as long as they can remain awake, and while they do breathe they can filter out harmful toxins and poisons such as smoke and suffer no ill effects.
With practice, some can compact the air at their feet to hover a foot or so off the ground. Continue to focus on their forms and they could eventually scatter it temporarily, allowing them to avoid some obstacles unscathed such as being trapped in a net.
Water
As water is fluid and difficult to contain, so too are the Water Lysa. They thrive on change and rarely are deterred by obstacles, they will find a way through it or given time, like water, will wear away at metal, drip through stone, find the smallest of crack to make it through. Some Water Lysa are patient and take their time as such, slow and steady as a drip drip drip. Others are a rush, as rapid and dangerous as water when put on edge.
Water Lysa will have skin of blues to greens - some with tinges of brown, and often with slight ripples like light through water and/or undulating with their weight as if their forms are sturdy bubbles of liquid. Their hair tends to be a darker shade than their skin, and shines beautifully, some to the point of appearing wet or sprayed by mist. Their eyes are slightly larger, have dark sclera and irises of a pale colour.
Like water, Water Lysa's forms can neutralise chemicals such as acid and wash away poisons. However, they are affected by substances known to taint water quality such as pollution.
They don't simply swim, they become like water which allows them to travel through water faster than they can walk, they do not need to breathe, they can speak perfectly clearly and move unaffected when within water as if they were in air.
Finally, they have a certain sway over water within their reach, causing it to freeze, unfreeze, move, or evaporate at their command.
It should be noted that Water Lysa are vulnerable to cold temperatures which slowly freeze their forms, and in extreme cases will turn them to ice statues.
Earth
Sturdy and stubborn but generous and reliable as the earth, Earth Lysa are pillars of strength and thoughtfulness. One does not act without reason, and it's often being pushed to an edge to become a tumbling danger to those in their way.
Earth Lysa are of a sturdy make, skin sometimes rough, slated, matted, cracked or even a little rock lumpy. Their colours ranges from tinged with a rusty orange, to brown to dull green-grey to matted dirty beige. Their hair and eyes often take on the shine of gemstones or precious metals and can be just as similar in consistency.
Being of stone, Earth Lysa can manipulate solid inorganic matter to change its shape to a degree, to say for example create a pit hole track when trap hunting. And just like stone under pressure they can manipulate their own forms to become hardened and petrified at will, doing so to parts of the body can create armour while still allowing movement. However, while petrified in this way, an Earth Lysa can be smashed. If only done so to say an arm, the arm could be pieced together and reheated into a whole and reattached. A whole body smashed is as good as dead, as such full body certification is seen as a last defence.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Some take the names of the people around their place of birth, some take pride in their forms and take names that capture their heritage while others do the opposite in dedication to their search for their opposite.
Examples: Janto, Sonny, Troyka, Ryka, Sable, Wez or Noah
Being so independent and individual, many Lysa do not have or at least do not introduce themselves with a family name.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Regardless of the circumstance of birth, Lysa can understand and speak Lys. Lys is a language difficult for others to speak as it sounds of fire crackling, wind rushing, water bubbling, earth cracking, the world breathing.
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