Syl
Those that walk the woods
A shy and retiring folk by nature, the Syl dwell in the plains and thick forests, though some few in the less-inhabited mountain peaks. They are the first of the Daiduna, and remember the time of the Faen and the first men in their songs.
Syl are humanoids, with skin coloration much like a deer or faun, ranging from mahogany to black, though white individuals are also known. Syl’s hands and feet are black, and their hair color is usually a darker shade of their skin tone. Some syl have spirals of feathers that hang in their hair, or patches of feathers growing on their forearms, legs, or backs. They do not possess wings.
Others, especially males, often grow small antlers that shed velvet like a buck. Syl take on the characteristics of the cervines to be found in their native homelands, ranging from antelope-like forms in warm climates, to whitetail deer appearances in temperate climes, to elk or reindeer in taigas. Additionally, any feathers a Syl may have are often similar to local birds. Not all Syl manifest the vestige-feathers, but female Syl appear to more often.
Culture
The long-lived Syl are deeply connected to the natural world, bridging the space between mortal and fey. Syl live in balance with the wild and understand it better than most other mortals, especially as they are capable of spending centuries observing it. This long lifespan has helped Syl to understand that they must maintain sustainable lifestyles, which is most easily done when nature is in balance with its inhabitants. Syl prefer bountiful lands where resources are plentiful, but still thrive in harsher regions. Syl artistry, especially when working in wood, bone, or leather, is well known for its quality. Syl prefer these materials to mineral or “unnatural” materials. Syl also have an appreciation for the written word, magic, and painstaking research. While most Syl who practice magic follow druidic or sorcerous inclinations and express their talent naturally, a combination of keen minds and long lives also make Syl particularly suited to learning the Great Arts of Weaving. Many settle into great human cities, especially Dayne-on-the-Loch, to study and teach amongst humans.Religion
Syl venerate the balance of natural forces and the beauty of the natural world. They believe that is the the condition of mortals to care for and tend the natural world, as it provides life like a mother to a child to its mortal inhabitants. "Druids" (Druii) make up the bulk of Syl religious officiants, and guide the community by interpreting the will of Nature and the spirits that inhabit the Wyrd - a mirror world of our own where men are as to spirits as spirits are to men. Some Syl worship The Senden suggesting they had extensive contact with the Faen. This practice was almost wiped out in the Dark Ages, when Octani Inquisitors saw Syl worship of the Senden as worship of the Forbade. Groups that still worship the Senden are often seen as archaic or out of touch, though it’s rumored that members of the Crow’s Oath worship the Senden as a way to connect to their once-mighty fore-bearers.Basic Information
Anatomy
Syl are at a glance very similar to humans in appearance, being approximately the same height and weight, though they tend to be taller and thinner than the average human.
Distinct morphological characteristics include the wide-set eyes of the Syl, considered somewhat uncanny by humans. Syl also commonly have a black marking running down their philtrum, and the natural color of a Syl's lips is black. Adjacently, Syl nails are naturally black, and their skin tone is often "speckled" with patches of low-melalin spotting similar to the markings on a deer (though regional variance is not unheard of).
Biological Traits
Although Syl reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Syl understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. A Syl typically claims adulthood around the age of 70 and can live to be 500 years old.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Syl tend to be nomadic hunter-gatherers, moving in large extended family units known as "herds." These herds may have be part of larger "tribes," often made of up many herds living in a similar area or with similar conditions.
Facial characteristics
All syl have spotting of white or tan coloration around their brows, cheeks, necks and backs with lighter coloration along the front of their body.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Throughout Thamrysis.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, Syl have superior vision in dark and dim light.
Civilization and Culture
History
Sometime in the pre-history of Thamrysis, many Faen, horrified by the use of Ars to damage the world in the war with the Latizan over Thamrysis, left the circle of the Toran and headed out into the wilderness.
To hide from their Faen cousins, they took the forms of animals like deer and birds, hiding in herds and flocks and living as shapechangers.
Over time, these Faen (Called the Naevinar or "marked ones" ) lost their ability to change their shapes and forms. They eventually become the Syl.
Some transform into other things
Origin/Ancestry
Fae
Lifespan
400
Average Height
Syl range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall.
Average Weight
100-130 lbs
Average Physique
Slender.
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