Sysen (Sy-sehn)
The Sysen are the Elves of the stone cycle. All elves were created together by or from forces of their world to embody a system, a cycle; for the Sysen they came straight from the changing winds that brought different conditions to the world so they could be the cycle of seaons. From Summer, to Autumn to Winter to Spring. Wildly different and hugely impacting the world around them, but slow and gradual.
Some Sysen remain associated with a particular season for their entire lives, whereas others transform, adopting characteristics of a new season according to whim or choice.They might choose the season that is present around them or perhaps the season that most closely matches the individual's current emotional state. For example, a Sysen might shift to Autumn if filled with anticipation while another may associate it with fear.
The Sysen are also the only Elves to have links to divinity. Mother Season was a mortal Sysen who caught the eye of the god Zalos during a time the gods walked the lands. She became pregnant with quadruplets and birthed one child every 3 months due to the strain on her body. Thus each child was born of a different system, a different temperament, a different colouring. They became the gods and goddesses of the seasons and forever defined what each season was and what they look like.
With this separation, many of the Sysen fled to the Mindwell - for so many conflicting seasons took a toll so they left to a world were the rules were fluid. For some, permanently, for others, they would return with the season they favoured. As such Sysen are elusive and proud but distinctly... odd, or at least those that have become somewhat -Ruccid.
Like the Luna, Sysen bring change and in fact much more change than the Luna. However they do so slowly in comparison, they take their time to appreciate the beauty of what they bring, not the act of change itself.
Here they find more common ground with the Leif and even do well with the Sol. They are very charismatic, after all even with all these relationships, they will always have a form (eventually) that suits the situation.
Appearance
- Skin, hair and sclera colours will change to match the palette of the season a Sysen is representing.
- Autumn = Warmer and earthy brown colours, Winter = saturated dark and light blues, Spring = pale all colours with a feature of green and Summer = brightly saturated colours like that of a scene under a blaring sun
- However, the shade of which remains fairly consistent (highly saturated or darker dull hues, etc)
- The only other consistency will be in the pupil and iris colour, a combination that is unique to each Sysen so they have an anchor between all 4 seasonal changes.
Height & Weight: Their size and build are similar to humans but more slender and slightly taller than average.
Features
Of a Cycle
Elves are resound in their ways, cycles are about change yes, but only on a set path. To break it is to cause ruin. So Elves are naturally stubborn in their mindsets, but that does come with it's advantages. Magic aiming to claim their minds in any way, struggle to do so.
Their minds also do not travel to the uncontrollable realm of Ribosia
when they sleep - in other words, they do not dream. Instead they sink into a calm nothingness to allow the centuries of memory they accumulate to rest and settle and not add more images to the pile - or otherwise risk losing themselves to madness. As such they are able to remain somewhat alert as they sleep so it's not as easy to sneak up on them and they do not - for better or for worse - feel the effects of Ribosa.
However they can still be put magically to sleep, and depending on intent, this can then force their minds to travel to Ribosa. In fact it's a known ole wife's tale that an Elf can become addicted to such magics - to dreaming - and for minds carefully made to support long lives of memory, doubling the load proves disastrous.
Of Seasons
In combination with their cycle being long-term and from being linked to Ribosia, Sysen cannot be magically aged and always know how many days or years have passed.
The seasons affect nature around them, pushing other cycles into their next steps, birds lay eggs and hatch, leaves change colour and rot, the rains roll in. As such the Sysen can magically affect nature elements around them as well in accordance to the seasons. For example, causing a tree to experience Winter: losing all its leaves, or a rabbit to turn white, a bear to hibernate etc. Whatever could reasonably be justified by the effect of a seasonal change.
They can also use an advanced version of this on themselves combined with their ability to change their own season to do a sort of small teleport - supposedly simulating the change in their spacial location with the movement of the planet across a season. If this were true though they could teleport anywhere in the world they could reach within 3 months, however to do so in an instant could lead too... nasty overlap with a building or other (best to stick to somewhere you can see).
Naming Traditions
Family names
Elven names are often long (at least 3 syllables), for as long lived as they are they wish for each to individual to stand out - far too easily can history be twisted when one can accomplish so much in so many years.
And a name is all you are, and when you live that long, you are much, and thus so is your name. While they are given a full name at birth, children are referred to a shortened version (like a nickname) until they grow up. Once they are considered an adult, it is considered an insult to be referred to by anything less than their full first name because it is a marker for them growing into themselves - thus 'growing into' your full name. From here on only those considered close, and/or with permission, may shorten an adult Elf's name into the 'nickname' as it shows they have become familiar with the book and it's contents and no longer rely on title and cover.
For these reasons, those of only partial Elven blood are given 'half names' which are much shorter.
On the other hand, some Elves of higher power may enforce use of the shorter version of their name as a way of saying 'you should know of me, and if you don't, be careful.' Although this is usually reserved for nobility and the like.
For an Elf to completely resent their name and give themselves a new one, is to turn their backs on all of Elven kind.
Examples: Sherriala (Sherri), Thaiamasdane (Thaia), Klassmerid (Klass), Varessida (Varess), Matteodan (Matteo), Sersilas (Silas), Rutheron (Ruth), Sessalees (Sessay), Vincender (Vince), Anthearosa (Anthea) or Jabneelin (Jabneel)
Family names are more of a duty and anchor for an Elf to return to if they drift, and so have great meaning in Elven but are usually much shorter.
Examples: Vemor (Vital knowledge), Yerta (Sea Farer), Merthio (Battle hardening), Irphenkiir (the gems of a plant), Jolay (Joy of sweetness), Tomseree (delight in lawful trouble), Sprinona (Spring coloured wind) or Sorcha (Sun warmed sand)
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