Degraded

Who are they?

We are not talking about a subspecies but a group of people of various species that were called the fair folk Then. Humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, etc. Although they are referring to themselves as degraded, too, sometimes they call themselves survivors to indicate they are the ones still living.

How they came to be?

During the Rending, the power of Absence affected everybody and everything: some positive, some, like the Degraded negatively. Although the Savior Gods closed Tacillia from Absence, the lingering effect of Absence's power was felt for generations. That power caused the ancestors of the degraded to deteriorate. Somewhat physically, but mostly mentally. The process was long, and its effect was felt more and more generation by generation when finally, hopefully, it ended with the Degraded.

Where do they live nowadays?

Although their ancestors had huge kingdoms and empires, Then, the Degraded currently live in the Southern Marches on the continent, Muaclun.

Relationships with other species and nations

The best relationship they have is with the Cursed, who live on the outskirts of the Southern Marches, and because they are both shunned people, that common nature brings the two people closer. Although when the Degraded moved to Muaclun, they struggled and fought against the more aggressive species that live here, like the lizardfolk and the lupian, nowadays they are mostly left alone. Partially because they live further in the depths of the marsh and the swamp itself is hazardous, they also learned how to use the swamp against their enemies. Sometimes, they are still hunted by others. Still, in the marsh, the hunters are also the hunted, and the dangers of the swamp's natural traps, the Degraded, the Cursed, and the temporal vortexes, are far greater than the potential reward.

Well known characters

Their first guide was Purmenus, a lowly carpenter who, in the end, became somewhat of a messiah to these people. At his urging, the Degraded moved to the Southern Marshes. Their current guide is Badolato, a descendant of Purmenus.

We are still people, but nobody knows for how long

— Purmenus