Gessians

The Gessians are spread all throughout Aeryn, thriving as much as in the cities as they are in the wilds. It looks as if they were born of nature themselves, sometimes taking on a plantlike appearance, that of the beasts of the land, and even elements of fire or air. Whichever it is, they are almost always alien and bizarre compared to the other mortals of the world. They are known for their adaptability and versatility, making them a great companion when facing adversity. They come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, making them the most varied race in Aeryn. Even the appearance between parent and child is wildly different, and no two will ever look alike.

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The Beastlies

Skin Tone
Fair, Tan, Copper

Hair
Reds, Brown, Black, Blonde, Gray

Eyes
Iris and pupil hold the appearance akin to a cat's eye.

Blue, Green, Golden

Physical Features
The Beastlies have sharp nails on their hands and feet, though not retractable like claws. Their hair grows quickly, and the males tend to have hairier arms and backs than most races. Beastlies also tend to be the shortest of the ethnicities, rarely exceeding four feet. This is likened as a probable relation to their shifting ability into a creature.

Knack
{ Shift } Once per day, the Beastly can change their form into that of a medium sized cat, with the shape and height of a serval, though keeping the coloration of their natural hair. This change is incredibly painful, and takes five minutes to complete. When in this form, the beastly can see in darkness up to ten blocks, will resist fall damage up to thirty blocks, and gains two extra blocks of movement per turn. They can understand everything around them, but cannot speak. Anything they were wearing or carrying is left behind. This change lasts for one hour, or until they choose to return.

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The Barks

Skin Tone
Brown, Green, Tan, Birch White

Hair
Green, Brown, Black, Auburn, Birch White

Eyes
There are no whites of their eyes, only the iris and pupil.
Gold, Black, Brown, Red, Silver

Physical Features
The Barks often mimic the appearance of certain trees. Their skin the color, and sometimes texture, of bark. Vines curling as hair, or their entire skin becoming like that of a bramble. Large, curling horns like tree trunks are common, and flowers that can grow upon their skin. The Barks are typically the tallest of the ethnicities, coming in at around six to seven feet.

Knack
{ Growth } Three times per day, the Green can grow one plant or flower that they have held before, allowing it to grow from somewhere on their body. They had to have held the plant, and examined it enough to know what it is. It takes two emotes to grow.

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The Sparks

Skin Tone
Black, Gray, Crimson, Tan, Copper, Light Blue

Hair
Red, Black, Gray, Orange, Light Blue, White

Eyes
Blue, White, Red, Orange
Their eyes often glow like fire or like lightning. Commonly without pupils or iris.

Physical Features
The Sparks are like crackles of electricity or like the embers of a fire. They either run hot to the touch, or hold a likelihood of shocking those that touch them. Skin sometimes like obsidian, or like ash. Or like a stormy sky. Their hair sometimes seems to float with the energy within them.

Knack
{ Repel } Once per day, the Spark can build up enough energy to repel anyone or anything within three blocks of them. Emanating enough heat, or sparking electricity, to make it uncomfortable for others to approach. After use of this ability, they are all but exhausted and cannot run or perform physically strenuous tasks for one hour.

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The Drowners

Skin Tone
Blue, Teal, Green, Silver

Hair
Blue, Black, White, Silver, Green, Teal

Eyes
Entirely black

Physical Features
The Drowners often times exhibit long, fin-like ears. All sport gills upon their neck, while others have webbed toes and feet. Their appearance varies, but shows off their affinity to the waters. They are able to breathe underwater and then move to land as needed.


Knack
{ Dowsing } Once per day, the Drowner is able to pull moisture from the air, or up from the ground, up to an amount of one liter, so long as it is not in an arid climate or frozen climate.

"Seeing a Gess is like looking into the eye of nature itself. They look as much part of the world as the world looks like them. Fire and storms, or the flora and the fauna. The water folk, even. They are born blessed to an element, though that blessing doesn't always do them favors on appearances."

A Gess, or Gessians as they are called in the plural, is a race that stands out all their own. They are perhaps some of the most bizarre and varied people to behold. When they're born, they don't look much different than an Orosian child for the first ten years. Then their affinity begins to show, and as they grow and age, they take on the aspects of their element. Some surmrise that it is the element that they are most comfortable with in their childhood. Others argue that its in the blood and that it's set in Selogal's mirrors what they'll grow up to be. Whichever it is, as they age, they begin to take on all shapes, sizes, and colors. As such, two Beastlies may have a child that blossoms into a Drowner and it wouldn't be all that much of a surprise to happen. 

There are four distinct ethnicities amongst Gessian populations.

The Barks
The Beastlies
The Sparks
The Drowners

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Average Height
Males: 3'0 - 7'0
Females: 3'0 - 7'0

Average Weight
Males: 50 - 325lbs
Females: 40 - 325lbs

Average Physique
Like the many, their physique depends largely on their lifestyle. Should they work to build muscle, they can be lean and strong individuals among their communities. Otherwise, they tend to have a wispy air about themselves.

Physical Features
At birth, the ears and long and almost sloped and drooped. Skin of varying colors, likened to the Orosian shades at first. As they grow, their features begin to shift and change. Some grow curling horns with tree bark. Others grow gills or webbing to allow them to swim. Others have skin that look like cooling obsidian, or even crackle with electric of fiery intensity. Others have bestial features, such as claws or sharpened teeth. 


Abilities
The Gessians have a talent for animals, almost to the point of unnatural kinship. Beasts and animals will neither hunt nor harm a Gess, although such deference will fade away if the Gess imposes threat or harm upon the beast first.

Lifespan
Fifty years

Reproduction
One month
Compatible with other Gess