Therians

Therian Culture Notes

Related Species: Aetheric Dragons
Locations: The Olimian wastes, Realm of Feylisa
Language: All (Dragons can understand and speak all languages)

Common Male Names:
((Ends in -an or -i))

Iguani

Tropidan

Gopodan

Cordyan

Varan

Opidophi

Pareidan

Lubridan

Boidan

Common Female Names:
((Ends in -a or -i))

Tropida

Plica

Agamida

Teiida

Scinci

Crotala

Hypna

Ovophia

Isanopha

Family Names: Therians do not have a family name, since the concept of a family is alien to them. Therians are very few in number, with only around twenty five thousand individuals. In the cases that Therians have the same given name, they will often state the name of the sanctuary they grew up in or the town they live in.

Religion: Therians, and indeed all dragons, worship their creator, the Elder God Tarcur. While many Iron Age Humans will point out that Tarcur is evil and wants nothing more than to end all of existence, Therians will point out that they do not worship Tarcur in his current form, but rather, as he was in the distant past, when he was a kind and compassionate god that taught his creations many things and protected them. Large statues of Tarcur are found all over the Realm of Feylisa, in forms that appear much kinder than the current forms of the dark god.

Therian Ideals: Therians are detached from such things as children, parents, family, and mates. While very individualistic, they also work together as a community, turning the Realm of Feylisa into a paradise in the underworld. Therians are refined and elegant, but brutal and vicious. Arguments are settled with bloody fights as often as with words. If Therians want something, they must pay for it, in gold or in blood. Therian society can be as gentle or as violent as you want it to be, but that depends entirely on your actions.

Therian Customs: Children are raised without a name until they reach adulthood. After they become adults, they choose a name and join Therian society. A therian's coming of age is one of the few times Therians have a large celebration. The other times are when a new religious leader is chosen from among them, and during lunar eclipses. Otherwise most major events are rather subdued by comparison.

---

"Where are you leading me?" I asked as I fumbled around in the darkness. All I could see was the occasional glow of the Mother Dragon's scales.

"Keep up, girl! You will find out soon enough." The Mother Dragon yelled back. Her voice seemed different somehow. Instead of a deep draconic voice, it was higher and more human. She stayed well ahead of me, but I could not figure out how the Mother Dragon was effortlessly walking through these passageways. I hit my head twice already and I'm not particularly tall for a human. How did a dragon fit through here?

I was surprised that there was a light further down the tunnel. It seemed dull at first, but then grew brighter. It might be sunlight, but it was blue. Also, the Dragon wasn't in view. Instead I saw a humanoid figure.

When I reached the end of the tunnel, I was hit with momentary blindness until my eyes adjusted. What I was met with was...I, I can't describe it well enough to do it justice. There was a Blue Sun hanging overhead, intense, but somehow calming as well. The Skies were a warm violet color. The Plant life looked like it was from Vreathe, but the colors were much different.

There was a more pressing matter though. The Mother Dragon was gone, replaced by a pale blue-skinned woman in elegant clothing.

I could only think to say, "Mother Dragon?"

"My name is Ithonida," She responded back, "And you are, I heard those adventurers call you princess Renelle Vernador."

"It's just Ren..." I said back...I'm not a Vernador or a princess anymore...

"Well Ren, Welcome to Feylisa, Realm of the Therians! Now, I'm sure you have many questions...."

"About that...Why is a human hatching from this egg?"

-Renelle Vernador

---

Therians

It would be surprising to some that Aetheric Dragons are in fact shapeshifters, but so little is known about them among Iron Age people, this lack of knowledge can be forgiven. If one pays attention to Bronze Age stories, they will learn that the "Dragons" that the legendary Dragon Riders rode into battle, were much more human in shape for the vast majority of their lives, only taking on draconic forms in battle. Their natural form is that of a human, with sharpened ears and scaly plates covering parts of their faces and bodies. They even hatch out of their crystal eggs in the form of a half grown child, already able to speak and reason, but only learn to shapeshift into draconic forms in early adulthood.

Make no mistake about their appearance if you see them like this. They are still part of Dragonkind, and like most dragons, they are quick to anger and please, and have little patience for the foolishness of mortals, especially humans.

Crystal Eggs

The Crystal Eggs that Therians hatch out of aren't even eggs in the traditional sense. They are large amethyst crystals grown for the express purpose of holding a Therian embryo. These eggs are nearly indestructible and will hold a child for years until it absorbs enough mana to grow and hatch. While it is possible to trace the mother and father of any given embryo, Therian culture doesn't care about such things. After hatching, Therian children are raised communally at one of several stone sanctuaries scattered across the realm.

When there is a need for more Therians, or rather, to hatch the existing eggs faster, broodmothers will take around a dozen eggs each into the many caverns lining the edges of the realm of Feylisa. These caverns lead to Vreathe and other worlds. Here, the eggs will absorb the mana that flows between worlds, and develop in a matter of months instead of decades. Broodmothers will also shapeshift into the forms of large dragons in order to scare off would-be thieves.

The way Therian society works though is that strength and willpower is respected above all else. If an adventurer is determined enough to steal an egg and live, the Broodmothers will let them keep the egg, though most are rather surprised to later see a human hatch out of the egg and not a baby dragon. It is assumed that such a strong individual will give the Therian a better life than they would have on Feylisa. Some Broodmothers like Ithonida even have an agreement with the Silver Race and their Elven descendants, freely offering the eggs to be taken, if they can survive an encounter with a dragon, keeping with Therian tradition.

by Chrispy_0 (with assets from Meghan Hessler)

---

"Alright, We're at the sanctuary!" Ithonida said. We were now in front of a large stone building. The intricate stonework is unlike anything I've seen on Vreathe. Ithonida then pointed at the ground, "Place the egg on the ground here and let him finish hatching."

How does she know it's a he? I placed the egg on the ground as she ordered, and watched as it finished breaking open. A small, blue skinned human stood up, about the size of an infant, and from the looks of it, yes it was a boy. He opened his eyes, and looked around. He then looked up at me.

"Thanks for the mana!" He said. His high pitched chirping when he was first hatching was replaced with the voice of any eight year old boy I would know on Vreathe.

"Uhm...you're welcome?" I was unsure what to say. At least, now I know why I was completely drained of mana while I was carrying the egg.

"Go into the sanctuary little one. Your new life awaits!" Ithonida said, pointing towards the large building behind the child.

The boy looked at Ithonida, then at me. There was a look of sadness on his face. But then he ran off.

Ithonida then turned towards me, "Now we need to figure out what to do with you. You are injured and completely drained of mana, and you are absolutely filthy! Come along now!"

-Renelle Vernador

---

Therian Clothing

Males and females wear the exact same clothing, which consists of a Chiton tunic, leather sandals, and a Chlamys cloak. The fabric in their clothing, especially the cloak, appears as if it is cutting a window into the sky, displaying stars and constellations, occasionally the moons and planets. The reflected stars change depending on the time of the year. These are illusionary tricks accomplished by enchanting the fabric with large amounts of mana. They will often place the same enchantments in their hair.

Chiton

The Chiton is a simple tubular piece of fabric that fastens at the shoulders with buttons. Females often wear them to the ankles and males wear them to their knees. Excess fabric is gathered at the waist and fastened with a belt or piece of elastic fabric. This fabric is often made of cotton or silk and can come in any color.

Chlamys

The Chlamys is a thick rectangular piece of fabric that is fastened at one shoulder with a large pin. The fabric often drapes over the body in a way that only one arm is visible, but it can be moved around in different ways. Males often wrap the excess fabric around one arm. The Fabric can be made of cotton, leather, or silk, and while it comes in a variety of colors, the strength of the sky enchantment will often prevent that color from being shown.

Art and Architecture

Therian Architecture is unlike anything seen in Iron Age Human or Elven architecture across Vreathe. The closest comparisons are from bronze age structures built in the nations of Milcea and Irellith. Nearly every structure, from the aqueducts to the bathhouses to the palaces, are built out of intricate stonework, concrete, arches and columns. The streets and buildings are covered with sheets of marble in every color and pattern imaginable, and some that aren't.

There are a large number of sculptures and statues that can be seen, depicting great figures from the past, especially notable dragons and the four Elder Gods. Most of these statues are carved out of marble and granite. Others are made of enlarged crystals that exist only in the Realm of Feylisa. Fountains are carved with the same figures.

On many walls in nearly all buildings are large frescos, depicting historical events from the distant past. Events are shown that any Iron Age scholar would die to see, such as the planting of the World Tree, the Creation of Vreathe, The Awakening of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Races, Tarcur's betrayal, the Silver Age Cataclysm, and more. Within Feylisa's Capital City, Neteria, lies a building known as the Hall of Ages. It is said to depict future events, painted by Therian prophets. The events these paintings depict are unknown to outsiders and it is forbidden for mortal men and elves to see such things. Only gods, Immortal Dragons and Fairies, and those of the Gold Race are allowed to see them.

From the Pierers Konversationslexikon

---

Ithonida led me to a bathhouse so I could heal and clean myself. This bathhouse was larger than any I have ever seen in Cassel. The closest I can think of are Bronze Age ones, built on a hot spring in the town of Farossa, but those are mostly ruins now, with the Beacon's INN built over it. This Therian bathhouse is in its full glory, and I don't think I have ever seen so many paintings on the walls before either.

Despite my protest, Ithonida had two maidens attend to me, removing my clothing. She left to get me fresh clothing. The maidens poured what had to be mud on me. It was thick, viscous, and red in color. After I looked like I was muddy from head to toe, they charged their hands with mana and then started massaging the mud into my skin. As they did this I felt calm and relaxed, any aches in my body went away. The bullet wounds I suffered from the Crystal guardians also disappeared.

They were confused about my burn scars and why those weren't healing. I was uncomfortable explaining to them how I am, I was, Cassel's Scion of Fire, and also the way magic scars worked. The burn scar on my face, the one I suffered from Ithonida's dragon breath last week? That one did disappear.

Cold water was dumped over me to wash away the mud, then I was told to go sit in the bath and relax for a while. I did so and was as relaxed as I could be. I was wondering why I was even here and why I wasn't dead yet?

Just a few weeks ago, I hired adventurers for an expedition to steal a dragon's egg in the The Olimian wastes, to prove my worth to my father, King Brenon of North Cassel. Everyone except for me got killed when we were attacked by Crystal Guardians. I decided to return the egg of the Aetheric Dragon, expecting to die....but here I am, relaxing in a hot spring in what feels like another world.

My thoughts were interrupted when Ithonida returned. She gave me a light blue dress, made of silk and shimmering in starlight like hers. I also received a chlamys, a type of large cloak. It was dark and seemed as if a window was cut into the sky, showing the stars above. I turned down the sandals and put my leather boots on.

She then asked if I was hungry? As I spent a week eating aloe leaves for the water and nothing else, I don't think it was possible for me to say "yes" fast enough!

-Renelle Vernador

---

Ren's Story: Previous

Ren's Story: Next