The Ikayal

"The ancient, eyeless creatures could not witness the world of light; now all who walk beneath the sun may behold its glory."

- The Wandering Heretic

The term "ikayal" (singular: ikaya) does not refer to any one species - rather, it denotes all the humanoid races who have a 'deeper link with the world. This connection manifests in the ubiquitous presence of wyrcores among the ikayal, inextricably tying their bodies and lives to the wyr that runs through the world. Whether the ocean-loving emikun or the forest-dwelling ulfar, these gifted children of Wyral perhaps have the most to lose from the Ending's propagation.

Bearers of All Blessing

"Do you sense the ebb and flow of wyr around us, stormchild? That is the pulse of our 'second hearts'. That is the core of our blessing."

Interestingly, the word "ikayal" has no direct translation in any of the languages of this age, and is near impossible to trace into the past. It is entirely possible that the term originated in one of the lost languages of Wyral's elder days, as suggested by its unique plural form. Some speculate that it was a name given down by Heaven's Herald, and thus holds a 'higher authority'.
Regardless of the origins, its meaning has been preserved down the ages. Ikayal are born with primitive wyrcores, similar to those of the dragons, which grant them inherent command of the most basic castings. These wyrcores are like small 'second hearts', and are not to be confused with the fully-developed ones that are found in mages. They are also necessary for survival - in other words, ikayal must always be linked with the flow of magic, lest they suffocate and die.
This innate link to Wyral's lifeblood also causes ikayal to have unique features in addition to their humanoid bodily structure. Generally speaking, the additional features are tied to a specific Wyrpath - for example, the emikun have aquatic characteristics, linking them intrinsically with the Ocean Wyrpath. This does not exclude them from becoming mages of other paths, but they always retain some connection to the path of their blood. Ikayal with mixed heritage usually lean toward one half of their parentage; those who are only partly ikayal are rarely considered during studies of heritage.

Burden of Bitterness

"I'll never understand why they emphasize this war so much. Humans and ikayal are not so different - I would know. All it is, is an excuse for hatred. And people like me end up hated by both sides."

- Fathom of Sunless Waters

Historically, relations between ikayal and humans have been... varied. More reclusive ikayal communities like the ulfar dealt with humans in far different ways than the emikun, who interacted plenty with coastal cities. Wars naturally occurred, but these were never treated much differently than a war among human nations, or between ikayal communities. However, all that changed in the aftermath of the devastating Endwar.
Both sides of the conflict have differing claims about how their large-scale estrangement began. Many Axuans believe that the ikayal of Khiloa Woln had already been plotting against the Axuans' ancestors before the Endwar broke out, and can name any number of times when these plots were eventually carried out. The tense situation on the southern continent only worsened when a band of ikayal refugees catalysed the splitting of Axu - its resident ikayal rebelled, and created the 'rebel' city-state of Liyru. However, more objective observers suggest that the schisms here were catalysed somehow...

The bloodstained origin of Liyru was, in truth, almost tame in comparison to the ruin wrought by this war of bitterness elsewhere. The Archipelago's citadel of ice was built upon the lands of the native emikun, purged with fire and flood. The roots of the ulfar's Aulaen slowly encroach on the human cities of Zefiru. The Nøn'Ketra Saal still bleeds tears for the battles fought across it, painting the sky itself with blood. As resentment and grief only tip the scales further, it is now not impossible that all Wyral stands at the brink of a global war... at precisely the moment when it is least needed.