khuimods | races of khu ioduan;

✽ RACES OF KHU IODUAN

Races of the Ioduan Alliance

Races from all over Konryu agreed to put aside whatever differences they had and form the Ioduan Alliance, settling and building Aifaran with their combined resources and talents. The Kedan, Erol'a, Bresilykians, the four Tavimbian races, and many others work together to build the city on the lush new archipelago. They all brought supplies, wildlife, food reserves, everything that would be needed to settle the new continent.

At present, there are near half a million people living on Khu Ioduan archipelago, nestling in about 485,000. Explained below are the major races which comprise the new Ioduan Alliance, including the approximate percentage of their numbers.

Alliance Races | Dreamfolk | Outsiders

KEDAN (12.0%)

The kedan were the inhabitants of Tu Vishan, who had been the last living Great Turtle before the birth of the new generation. Due to the chaos incurred by the unstable Planes, they were unable to stay in Keeliai because of Tu Vishan's retreat between the Planes, but they were promised that they could eventually return. That was over 500 years ago, and the kedanese people have developed something of a schism between two camps of thought: some have embraced life in Aifaran, but others steadfastly view it as a temporary way point, longing to return to Keeliai.

The kedan are shapeshifters. Their true forms are unknown, but most of them tend to appropriate a vaguely humanoid appearance, albeit often with many non-human features and colorations. There are a portion of the kedan who prefer other forms however, so it's possible to run into a kedan resembling Jabba the Hutt, or perhaps something nearer to a Salarian. It's not uncommon to meet a kedan with gills, who are accustomed to deep-sea fishing, or one who favours 'blue' as a skin-colour. They can look entirely human, also, and many do for fashion's sake. About 60,000 kedan were transplanted from Tu Vishan to the archipelago.

The kedan place a high value on family units and relationships, and as they are among the most familiar of the races to the Dreamfolk, it's not uncommon for them to "adopt" Dreamfolk members (especially those who arrive when they're quite young) into their social structure. It can even be a point of pride for the kedan, and children may brag to their schoolmates about how their family has the "coolest Dreamfolk person EVER" hanging out with them.

EROL'A (22.4%)

The last great upheaval sank most of Zeshora and left the continent a broken chain of islands and atolls, and this one essentially finished it off. There's nothing that remains of the cities above water, and only a few of the strongest reefs survived. As the Erol'a cannot live a completely submerged lifestyle, they had no choice but to join the alliance, and some still resent that lack of agency. They're typically friendly and artistic in nature, and semi-reptilian in looks - as deepsea swimmers they lack hair and have scales. Their skin ranges in colour but tends toward 'cool' colours, like blue and green shades. There are around 112,000 Erol'a on the archipelago, and there are rumours that isolated groups may still remain in the waters where Zeshora once was.

Being an amphibious culture, the Erol'a live both in and out of water; much of their architecture was on the water's edge, with stone buildings including underwater rooms. In Aifaran, sections of the city close to the water are more heavily populated by Erol'a, many of whom continue to make their living through sea-farming and foraging. The Erol'a have an age caste, wherein only those under 18 years old are considered citizens with rights (Crests), while anyone over are second-class (Kelps). Though not slaves, Kelps nevertheless could not vote or own property in Zeshora. However, Kelps are considered citizens by the laws of the Ioduan Alliance; though disobeying an order made by a Crest no longer has legal repercussions, it can have social ones. This has created tensions whereby some Erol'a consider their culture to be disrespected, and it remains a sensitive issue.

Much of Erol'a culture revolves around a deep-sea substance called lorell'an, which hardens once out from under the pressure of the ocean and is nearly impenetrable after that. Lorell'an is very close to being sacred, especially now that producing it is more difficult in the shallower waters inside the archipelago's barrier.

BRESILYKIANS (9.6%)

The people of Bresilyk possess advanced technology, and prior to Tu Vishan's dive between the planes most of them lived in a vast domed metropolis in the center of the continent Evidet. All of the outlying settlements domes were destroyed, and with it unfortunately took a heavy toll on the race's numbers. Although the capital of Lichoyras has survived relatively intact, owing to its extremely isolated and landlocked position near the southern pole, Lichoyras is not nearly large enough nor has the supplies to sustain the entirety of the Bresilykian population. Therefore many of them rotate in and out of the capital in intervals, and there are around 48,000 on the archipelago at a time, but another 75,000 in Lichoyras.

Bresilyk's individuals are... well, floofy. Tall and elegantly built, the people of Bresilyk possess thick, flowing hair which grows not just from their heads, but from their shoulders. Custom dictates that hair is used as insulation along with furs, leading to a significant emphasis on hair salons that can cater to their needs. In the warmer climes of Aifaran, they are able to shed most of the layers used to keep them warm, although the more traditional members insist on keeping theirs long.

ARYBAR (6.8%)

Bringing with them the agricultural and cultivation methods unrivaled by other races, the Arybar have been instrumental in evolving the wild flora into usable crops, and are constantly developing new ways to increase their productivity to support such a large city. The Arybar were the native albeit reclusive people of Siaxhi. A tall race at seven feet plus, they have markings reminiscent of jungle cats and their colourations are mostly earthy and warm tones. They are typically friendly even to complete strangers, and most of them live in settlements outside the walls of Aifaran, overseeing much of the agricultural production that feeds and clothes its citizens. The Arybar population makes up around 7% of the Alliance, or about 34,000 individuals.

CASTIANS (28.4%)

Formerly of the Duchy of Castis on Siaxhi, the Castis people are descended from pirates and retain many of their seafaring roots. Around five feet tall, they have long legs and short torsos, and bear signs of having once been amphibian: vestigial gills and webbed hands and feet are common. Their skin is a warm copper color, and most have seaweed green hair. They were a fairly isolated culture until the Ioduan Alliance, and brought with them strong military and naval traditions. They remain somewhat wary of other races, and many descendants of the original population live outside Aifaran in other coastal settlements. Having arrived in the archipelago with around 142,000 individuals, they are among the more prevalent races.

IGHEERI (4.2%)

The Igheeri are a tall folk, formerly of Tavimbi, with each member standing around eight feet, and resemble a cross between a harpy and a gargoyle. Although their faces are what most humans would consider attractive, their bodies are elongated on all limbs, with four-digit extremities that are approximately 10 inches long and tipped with flexible claws, for grasping (sort of like a sloth). Their skin is mostly dark coloured and has a marbled colouration to it, with different members having anywhere from subtle shifts in colour to bold splotches. A membrane of soft skin, similar to that of a bat's wing, runs from their collarbone down to a bony spur on the back of their legs, allowing them to spread these "wings" out in much the same way a flying squirrel or a human wearing a wingsuit does, which lets them catch updrafts from the geothermal heating and glide around. Despite this, they cannot actually fly, and must climb to get to a high enough vantage point to launch from.

The Igheeri are artistic and well-spoken, although they tend to be haughty or arrogant. Their relationships with the other races are mixed: they are predisposed to disdain of the Sinayg, as many centuries prior, they once had a predator-prey relationship-- even today, with both species living together, a particularly ruffled Igheeri might call them an 'oima', which translates to something like a bite-sized snack. There are around 21,000 Igheeri on Khu Ioduan.

SINAYG (2.8%)

The Sinayg people are short and stocky, about four feet tall with an almost hunchbacked appearance. They have grayish skin and thick hands, along with a strip of lighter coloured hair that runs from the crest of their head to the base of their spine. They use their other senses to navigate the city, predominantly their hearing and touch. They were the original race to live within the mountains of Tavimbi, and they possess a unique ability to "listen" to the stone, and to detect otherwise invisible changes in the density of many substances.

They are also functionally blind, although they can usually distinguish shapes of light and dark. In Aifaran, there are special raised markings, much like Braille, that are used to identify locations and objects to assist in guiding them around the city. Their relations to the other races are largely positive, although they're understandably wary of the Igheeri and generally try to stay out of their way. At around 14,000 individuals, they are one of the smaller populations on the archipelago.

MUIN (11.0%)

The Muin are the most human-like of the species that once lived in Tavimbi. Generally easy going in nature, the Muin have very dark complexions offset by bright coloured shocks of hair and jewel-toned eyes; their hair and eye colours are always of the same shade, and in fact the small percentage of Muin who are born with mismatched colouring are often considered second class. (Which is better, the Muin will argue, than the previously accepted practice of throwing them off the nearest mountain.)

They seem to love working with new ideas and new people, and were among the most prominent and eager participants in the formation of the Ioduan Alliance. They are inherently adept and creative, and can often be found tinkering with anything they can get their hands on. They're particularly drawn to technological things, and are considered unparalleled at reverse-engineering things; a good portion of the technological advances in Aifaran, especially the communications system, are due to their work.

KIN'NAL (1.8%)

The Kin'nal are a small, chameleon-like race, standing about three feet tall. They have leathery, bumpy skin, and lizard-like hands and feet with adhesive pads that allow them to cling to nearly any surface. They are often uncomfortable in direct lighting, and speak with a distinct hissing overtone, the sounds of which are also reflected in their naming scheme.

Formerly of Tavimbi, their population in Aifaran is quite low, only around 9000 individuals. Their relationships with the other races are strained due to a long history of being considered third-class citizens on their home continent. Though skittish around strangers, the Kin'nal will warm up to those who treat them kindly, returning the gesture with appreciation and loyalty.

From beyond the borders of Konryu...

In addition to the races native to the world of Konryu, the state of the Planes continues to draw individuals from every realm and metaverse, depositing them within the borders of Khu Ioduan's protective barrier. (This delights the world turtles that form the archipelago, which probably doesn't help the frequency at which this happens.) Once, long ago, they were known by the term "Foreigners", but they have become so commonplace now in Aifaran that they are no longer treated as transient visitors, but as welcomed and integral members of society.

DREAMFOLK (0.9%)

Dreamfolk have been coming and going with such frequency, for so long, that procedures for locating, welcoming, and smoothing the paths of newcomers have long since been ironed out. Long ago, the only Dreamfolk who came through were mighty warriors; but these days anyone may be drawn to Aifaran. Many, once the initial confusion has passed, opt to simply live their lives as well as they may, whether with their own trade or a new one, with friends and family of their past or of their new choosing. Roughly 4500 Dreamfolk populate the city at any given time, though of course it's difficult to manage anything but an informal census. Although this is the smallest group of individuals, they often are capable of making strong impacts that belie their numbers.

Many idioms local to Aifaran have shifted to reference dreams and their passers-through; for instance, to say that someone no longer dreams in Aifaran could mean that they have died, or could mean that they are a Dreamperson who has since been returned to their home world. The outcome is much the same, in either case.

There's often a little bit of hesitancy about entering into long-term agreements with Dreamfolk -- contracts, permanent employment, familial adoption -- but on the professional level, it's agreed that for every Dreamperson who leaves, another will dream their way there eventually, and on the familial, it's simply a risk one must be willing to take. The Dreamfolk have been part of city life for hundreds of years, and that doesn't appear to be changing any time soon.

Those who refused to become part of the new order...

Despite the aim to provide stability and to focus on the greater good in a rapidly devolving world, there were some who elected not to agree to the terms and who remain outside the Alliance's ensemble.

CHIHUELANS

The Chihuelans stand in opposition to the Alliance, and while they may only be one race against the collected resources of ten, they are a formidable adversary. The Chihuelans refused to agree to the terms of the Alliance and therefore are not allowed in Aifaran; technically, the two powers are at war, although largely it remains an uneasy standoff.

The situation with the Chihuelans and the Alliance is effectively a cold war - skirmishes occasionally happen, but all-out conflict is rare. Over the past half century, the Chihuelans have spent as much time and energy on resisting the effects of planar chaos as they have on building up their military prowess. There's no official census of how many Chihuelans there are, but all able and adult citizens of Chihuelo are members of the military, and while exact numbers are impossible to determine, their fighting force is rumored to be upwards of 35,000 people.

The Chihuelans appear to be human and are a rigidly militaristic and utilitarian people. They have strict laws and a rigid justice system. Nearly everyone wears a uniform, unless they're running a smuggling operation, and they are a cautious and suspicious. Their weapons technology is roughly a century ahead of the modern-era, limited somewhat by the harsh environment outside the protective barrier the archipelago offers. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the Chihuelans have developed more technology to combat the rigors of exposure to the chaos outside.

Of notable exception to the above is a sect of covert Chihuelan Smugglers. Despite the severe punishments if they're caught, both in their homeland and in Khu Ioduan, a large portion of the Aifaran black market is supplied by their illegal imports of supplies, scavenged technology, and unusual and sometimes otherworldly finds.