Ensurii (En-SOO-ree)

The Ensurii are beings deeply tied to the fundamental forces of the Inner Planes. Representing the purest forms of earth, air, fire, water, and their hybrids, the Ensurii embody their elemental essence in both appearance and nature. They are a diverse group, each type reflecting the traits of their respective element—be it the fiery passion of the Ignisborn or the calm resilience of the Stonemeld. While rare, the Ensurii are respected and feared for their otherworldly connection to the elements, making them both revered protectors and powerful adversaries across Tanaria. Their existence bridges the gap between the material and elemental planes, reminding mortals of the raw forces shaping their world.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Ensurii's anatomy reflects their elemental essence, with each subtype displaying distinct traits:

• Firetouched: Their eyes shimmer like embers, and their hair blazes as if alight with fire. Their skin is warm to the touch and often bears faint glowing patterns resembling flickering flames.
• Tideborn: Fluid and graceful, they have smooth, translucent skin that shimmers like water. Some exhibit webbed fingers, fins, or a subtle, wave-like sheen.
• Stoneforged: Broad and imposing, their skin is tough and textured like stone, ranging from smooth granite to jagged obsidian. Many have lithoderm-like growths or veins resembling mineral striations.
• Stormbound: Lithe and ethereal, their hair flows as if caught in a breeze, and their skin bears faint, swirling patterns that mimic air currents or storm clouds.
• Hybrid Elementals: Unique combinations of elements, such as Frostforged, whose frosty hair and icy fingertips evoke a wintry chill, or Magmahewn, with molten, cracked skin radiating intense heat.

Biological Cycle

The Ensurii, as beings influenced by the elemental planes, experience biological cycles that differ significantly from standard humanoids. Their connection to elemental forces profoundly shapes their growth, maturity, and even aging.

Development and Growth

Ensurii are typically born resembling their humanoid ancestry, but their elemental traits begin to manifest during early childhood. These traits often emerge in response to environmental factors or planar alignments. For example, a Firetouched child might develop warm skin and flickering hair during a heatwave, while a Tideborn’s aquatic features could emerge during prolonged exposure to water.
As they grow, their connection to their element deepens. Adolescence is marked by a heightened display of their elemental powers, often coinciding with their emotional development. This period is sometimes tumultuous, as their elemental nature may react unpredictably to external stimuli.

Maturation and Elemental Alignment

By early adulthood, most Ensurii have fully manifested their elemental traits and powers, aligning deeply with their corresponding element. This alignment can influence their physical appearance, personality, and even their biological needs. For instance:

• Firetouched Ensurii may require warmer environments to thrive.
• Stoneforged Ensurii might exhibit slower metabolisms, reflecting the steady, enduring nature of earth.

Seasonal and Environmental Cycles

Ensurii are highly sensitive to environmental changes, and their elemental traits may wax and wane with the seasons or their proximity to natural forces. For example:

• Tideborn Ensurii are more vibrant and powerful during rainy seasons or when near large bodies of water.
• Firetouched Ensurii thrive during summer months but may experience sluggishness in the cold.
• Stoneforged Ensurii feel strongest in mountainous regions, particularly during tectonic activity.
• Stormbound Ensurii exhibit heightened energy during stormy weather and may even instinctively gravitate toward storms.

Aging and Longevity

The aging process of the Ensurii is slower than that of most humanoids. While they age visibly, their elemental connection often grants them a prolonged lifespan, with many living up to 150 years or more. Their physical and elemental vitality tends to remain steady well into their later years, only diminishing in the final decades of their lives.
The final stage of an Ensurii’s life is often marked by a return to their elemental essence. Their physical form may take on increasingly elemental characteristics, such as a Firetouched emitting constant heat or a Tideborn appearing more fluid and translucent. This process often culminates in a peaceful passing, their body returning to the natural elements that defined them.

Behaviour

The behavior and psychology of the Ensurii are deeply tied to their elemental nature, which influences their temperament, interactions with others, and their responses to the world around them. While their personalities are as varied as their humanoid ancestry, overarching tendencies shaped by their elemental affinity often emerge, creating patterns in their behavior.
Ensurii tend to exhibit a strong sense of kinship with others of their kind, regardless of elemental subtype. This bond stems from their shared experience of being both part of and apart from the mortal world. When in the company of other Ensurii, they often form tight-knit, cooperative groups, valuing unity and mutual understanding.
However, the interplay between different elemental subtypes can sometimes lead to friction. For example, the fiery temperament of a Firetouched may clash with the calm deliberation of a Stoneforged. Despite these differences, Ensurii are typically quick to resolve conflicts within their own kind, recognizing the rarity of their shared heritage.

Interactions with Other Species

The Ensurii’s behavior toward other species is shaped by their cultural upbringing and how they have been treated in return. In societies that accept them, Ensurii often act as mediators, protectors, or guides, using their unique connection to the elements to benefit the community. In less accepting cultures, they may become reclusive or defensive, wary of forming bonds with those who distrust or fear them.
Their elemental nature sometimes leads to misinterpretation. A Firetouched’s boldness may be seen as aggression, or a Stormbound’s energy as instability. Despite this, many Ensurii strive to balance their elemental impulses with the expectations of the societies they inhabit.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The Ensurii’s connection to the elemental planes makes them both highly valued and, at times, vulnerable to exploitation. Their abilities and traits are sought after in various cultures, and their roles often align with their elemental affinities. Firetouched might serve in smithing, crafting, or military roles, leveraging their control over heat and flame. Tideborn excel in maritime tasks, aiding sailors and fishermen or serving as protectors of waterways. Stoneforged, with their durability and strength, are often found in construction or mining. Stormbound, connected to air rather than storms, are invaluable in predicting weather, aiding the navigation of rare airships, and working in environments reliant on wind or aerodynamics.
In regions where Ensurii are revered, their abilities are treated with respect and utilized collaboratively. Enlightened societies may honor them as protectors of elemental balance, spiritual leaders, or vital contributors to the well-being of their communities. Their presence in such places is often seen as a gift, and their unique talents are woven seamlessly into cultural practices.
However, in less ethical regions, the Ensurii are at risk of exploitation. Their elemental byproducts—such as ember-like residues, stone fragments, or water infused with planar energy—are often harvested without consent for use in crafting artifacts or conducting magical rituals. In extreme cases, they may be forced into labor or subjected to arcane experiments by those seeking to unlock the secrets of their planar connection. This mistreatment reduces the Ensurii to mere resources, stripping them of agency.
The contrasting ways in which Ensurii are treated—revered in some societies and exploited in others—highlight the moral and cultural divides within Tanaria. Regardless of their societal roles, their existence as beings of both mortal and elemental worlds remains a testament to the profound interplay between the planes and the material realm.

Civilization and Culture

History

The Ensurii, planetouched beings of the elemental planes, hold a unique place within the broader history of the Exodari. Their origins are directly tied to the primal forces of earth, fire, water, and air, making them deeply connected to the natural world and its cycles. The Ensurii's presence often coincides with areas where the influence of the elemental planes is strongest, such as ley lines, elemental nexuses, and regions with frequent planar activity.
In ancient times, the Ensurii were seen as avatars of the elements, embodying the raw power and beauty of their respective forces. They were protectors of sacred sites, guides through treacherous natural terrain, and mediators between mortals and elemental beings. Legends speak of Firetouched Ensurii who forged weapons that never cooled, Tideborn who calmed raging seas, Stoneforged who carved enduring monuments, and Stormbound who harnessed the winds to aid early explorers. These acts elevated the Ensurii to near-mythical status in certain cultures, where they were revered as guardians of elemental balance.
However, as societies advanced and elemental forces became less directly involved in mortal affairs, the Ensurii’s roles began to shift. In some regions, they retained their revered status, becoming integral to the fabric of society. Their elemental affinities made them invaluable in roles aligned with their traits: Firetouched in smithing and engineering, Tideborn in navigation and agriculture, Stoneforged in construction and fortification, and Stormbound in weather prediction and airship travel. Their contributions often shaped the growth and prosperity of civilizations.
In other areas, the Ensurii faced mistrust and alienation. Their elemental traits, while awe-inspiring, set them apart, and their rarity only fueled superstition. Some cultures viewed them as unpredictable forces of nature, prone to bringing destruction as often as they brought aid. This perception led to periods of persecution, during which the Ensurii were forced to hide their true nature or flee to remote regions where they could exist without fear of exploitation or harm.
Despite these challenges, the Ensurii have persisted. Small enclaves of elemental communities formed in areas of high planar activity, where the Ensurii preserved their lineage, culture, and connection to the elemental planes. These groups became custodians of elemental lore, passing down knowledge of the planes and their unique abilities through generations. In times of planar instability or natural disaster, the Ensurii often emerge from their isolation, using their powers to restore balance and protect the world from harm.
Today, the Ensurii continue to embody the elements in both physical and spiritual ways. While their numbers remain small, their influence is felt across Tanaria, from the cities that depend on their skills to the wilderness where their presence keeps the balance of nature intact. Their history is one of resilience and adaptation, a testament to their enduring connection to the forces that shape the world.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Elementals

Scientific Name

Ensurii

Lifespan

120 to 150 years.

Average Height

5 and 7 feet tall

Average Weight

The weight of an Ensurii varies widely depending on their elemental alignment, often deviating from standard humanoid expectations.