Genasi

Genasi are planetouched humans, infused with the power of the elements. Along with Aasimar and Tieflings, genasi are the most common planetouched found in and around Winval. Technically speaking, the genasi are not a race but rather a general classification of humans who have a heritage (usually unknown) that includes some planar being from one of the elemental planes, most often a genie which is whence their name is derived.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Each of the four fundamental elements has associated genasi, so the most common genasi are air genasi, earth genasi, fire genasi, and water genasi. Para-genasi are genasi who express a bloodline of two elements. These include the dust para-genasi (Air and Earth), ice para-genasi (Air and Water), magma para-genasi (Fire and Earth), ooze para-genasi (Water and Earth), smoke para-genasi (Fire and Air), steam para-genasi (Fire and Water), among other possibilities. Para-genasi are even rarer than the four standard genasi.
No two genasi are alike in appearance. Some can pass as normal humans, bearing the marks of their human ethnicity; for others, their elemental nature is impossible to hide. Their heritage is nearly always evident in one or two physical traits, such as skin or hair colour or an elemental aura. Some genasi do not have hair at all; for such genasi, the substance that appears to cover their heads is actually a supernatural expression of their elemental nature.
Genasi are about the same size and stature as normal humans, but their bodies display signs of greater physical strength, and other subtle indications of their heritage.
All genasi have inherent magical powers and resistances related to their element. Like other planetouched, because of the strength of their elemental heritage, many spells that specifically affect humanoids have no effect on genasi. On the other hand, some spells that affect outsiders are effective against them, such as banishment.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Unlike many planetouched races, genasi generally take pride in their unusual features. Furthermore, because of their elemental power, most genasi feel a sense of superiority over other races and even over other genasi including those of the same element. This is not so much a matter of prejudice as it is simple fact — a simple mortal can not possibly understand the mind of one with elemental heritage. In return, the genasi are perhaps the most distrusted of the planetouched races for being the most alien.
The personality of the typical genasi reflects her or his core element. For example, a fire genasi might have a "hot temper" and an earth genasi might take life slowly and carefully. Because of their roots in the powers of the Elemental Chaos, genasi are by nature changeable and contradictory. Nevertheless, the psychology of a genasi depends vastly on what element is currently manifested by the individual in question. Thus, genasi who can manifest in more than one way think of themselves as possessing multiple personalities. Such genasi might even use one when dealing with one group of friends while using another to interact with another set. Others are more picky and choose friends who can cope with their changing nature.
Though genasi can be extremely passionate in a way that might seem violent, the race as a whole have a love for family and friends, to the point that few genasi marriages end in divorce. Most genasi families are large, and the genasi as a whole look upon another genasi as a potential relative to the point of referring to those they meet as "brother", "sister", or "cousin". In the infrequent genasi society, family plays an important role, likely in part because genasi find it difficult to form new friendships and bonds. To most genasi, family bonds are the only ones that are truly reliable and it is far rarer for genasi to become alienated or estranged from members of their family. This is not to say that internal feuds and disputes do not happen, but the vast majority lead to only temporary divides, and family members spread over the world will eventually come looking for a reunion. Genasi parents go out of their way to ensure that their children have a chance to interact with genasi of other manifestations, thereby increasing their appreciation for the race as a whole. This is particularly true for families that are made of several manifestations rather than just one or two.

Lifespan

90 years

Average Height

5'4" - 6'1"

Average Weight

160 - 220lbs