Appearance
Kalashtar can be born from any race, and as such would share the physical characteristics of that race. Their only distinguishing characteristic is that their eye color is a far lighter shade than what would be typical of their parent race,
Biology
Kalashtar live at least as long as a
Human lifespan, though their parent race may extend their age to what would be typical for that race. Kalashtar reproduce in the fashion of their parent race. Kalashtar families have distinguished bloodlines due to their union with
Quori. Kalashtar are the product of the fusing of their bloodline with a
Quori. All Kalashtar of a bloodline share this bond with their family Quori, and this bond is only broken once all Kalashtar of that bloodline have died. This grants them significant psychic power, and a psychic connection to their entire family. Kalashtar that are born from the union of two different Quori bloodlines inherit the connection to both Quori. This makes Kalashtar weddings a rare, yet celebrated event, as a child made from the union permanently ties the bloodlines of the two families together, strengthening both families by reducing the odds that the bloodline would fail. Some Kalashtar with old, well mixed bloodlines may inherit a connection to many Quori, and feel very strong familial bonds with the many other Kalashtar in their extended family.
History
Kalashtar history is a secret to the world, and known only to the Kalashtar communities who teach their children of it. Young Kalashtar learn much about Quori, a race of creatures who live in the realm of Dal Quor, which they believe is within the plane of Abstract Reality. They learn of a vicious war between Quori factions, perhaps some time late in 1st Epoch, during which a group of Quori sought refuge from the conflict upon the Material Reality. Yet, Quori are inherently incompatible with material existence, they can only exist within Abstraction. In order to survive, a group of generous
Masoritanist monks performed a ritual in which each monk bound their soul (their very psyche) with that of the Quori, in perfect symbiotic harmony. These monks became the first Kalashtar, each of them spawning their own Quori bloodline and lineage.
Yet, the creation of the Kalashtar race did not result in peace for these Quori. The power hungry Quori who had seized control over of all of Dal Quor sought more power, and to destroy their last remaining foes. They found their own means to hunt down the Kalashtar upon the Material Reality. Such Quori would find opportunity to force themselves upon a psychically vulnerable victim, fusing with them, not symbiotically like the Kalasthar, but parasitically. Such evil Quori are aided by a cult who call themselves The Inspired. The Cult of the Inspired provides ideal victims, ritually flaying open the victims psyche so an evil Quori could possess the victim. The possessed victim becomes a vessel through which the evil Quori can blend in with society, and systematically seek to kill entire Kalashtar lineages.
Kalashtar have struggled a long, losing battle against the Inspired, and have had to resort to deep hiding. Their communities are scattered and small, deeply secret, yet incredibly tight-knit. These communities fear to reach out to each other, as any attempt may reveal themselves to the Inspired.
