Eidisi

Fast Facts

Height: .....................................	5'11"-6'7"
Weight:	140-200 lbs.
Life Span:	120-160 arcs.........
Creator	Yvithia
Notable Features	Blueish Skin Shading
Leader	The Máthisi
Mostly Live In	Viden, Northern Idalos
Racial Ability	Multilinguistics
Racial Bonus	One non-arcana skill +25
Fast Track Skills	Player choice of one non-arcana skill
Notable NPCs	Eidisi NPCs
Player Characters	Eidisi PCs

History

It is not uncommon for the humans of Idalos to be the victims of pain, suffering and death. For many of the non-human races, this is how they came to be - through the destruction of a community... and then the revival of those lost by an Immortal, for whatever purpose. The Eídisi were not slaughtered in vast numbers though, like so many other unnatural creations. No, it took many individual deaths, some accidental and some deliberate, for Yvithia to create her following.

After the Great Shattering, Yvithia dealt with her grief but channelling it through a need to discover why the seven Original Immortals had been lost from the world. This desire for knowledge changed course ever so slightly at the discovery of mortal humans traversing the lands of Idalos. Instantly, Yvithia despised them; her observations found them to be ignorant and uncultured, which went against everything she stood for. But only a short time passed before she realised that the arrival of the humans coincided with he Great Shattering. Her investigative mind then recognised that there must be a causal link between the two events. And she needed to know: was the loss of her kin due to the arrival of these primitive beasts, or where they the result of the loss?

With each day, her obsessional need to discover the answers to her questions grew, and slowly she began to create her sanctuary, picking off small communities of humans and relocating them. To some, she promised protection from the bitter elements of the Northern Region, and knowledge: a willingness to share all that she had discovered in her long life. Blind to her manipulations, the humans accepted without question, and helped her to build what would not day become the ice fortress city Viden. The descendants of these humans make up the humans that now occupy the city, continuing their own intellectual pursuits.

Others, however, were brought to a section of the city that only Yvithia has created, unbeknownst to the other humans. For all who were brought here, they would never leave as they had arrived. It was little more than a prison for each of them, until Yvithia selected the next for experimentation. The investigations were carried out in solitude, and could vary from psychological analysis to physical examinations. Some could be painless, others... were not so. Yet all were necessary in the Immortal's eyes. Eventually, each of her victims would suffer an excruciating death.

Frustration at her fruitless efforts led her to reviving each of her subjects, and they were returned to their cages and cells for a period, before once again being pulled out for further experimentation. It wasn't until each of her many subjects had been revived thrice that Yvithia took the time to notice the acute change that had occurred in those victims. Most obvious was the changes in appearance, yet further study revealed a divergence in psychology: they had acquired some of her traits.

For a time, her experiments drifted course, until she concluded that these new creatures, with their enhanced intelligence and refined psyches, could be of use to her. Slowly, the race (which she named The Eídisi) was introduced to the masses in the developed city of Viden, though it took time for them to be finally accepted, even with the Immortal's assistance. Eventually, generations passed for both humans and eídisi, and the time was forgotten when only humans occupied the city.

Biology

For the most part, the eídisi physically function no differently to that of an average human, in terms of a very similar stature and no change in the design of the organs. The appearance, however, is markedly different to that for an average human. The eídisi are a slender race, though are perhaps taller than perhaps most races that wander Idalos. Long, sleek legs and elongated thin fingers are very common among those born into the race too. They range from 5'11" to 6'8" in height, which is the same regardless of sex. Their weight is the result of comprising mostly muscle, and the smaller females might weigh as little as 140 lbs., whereas taller males could weigh up to 200 lbs.

Skin colour is the most notable divergence from the mundane human, with the shading of the skin ranging from a pale periwinkle to a pale blue, some with jagged lines, marking their bodies as a reminder of what the first of the eídisi suffered at the hands of their creator. Hair colour is often a darker version of their skin colour, though some sport more natural dark shades of brown or black and, very rarely, pale shades or white might be seen. The final unusual feature, and possibly most unnerving for those the eídisi come into contact with, is the apparently void eyes: no pupil or iris is visible, making them appear blind to many ignorant others.

Psychology

Given the nature of their creator, the most dominant trait of the eídisi is the superiority complex that they have over all other races. This complex is born for a second reason too: the eídisi have inherited Yvithia's unwavering thirst for knowledge and, with that, an enhanced intelligence compared to the average human. Thus their belief in their superiority is not without just cause, yet it often manifests in obnoxious, abrasive qualities, and some are unwilling to accept the presence of humans in their places of study and teaching. Yet, given their small population, the eídisi have no choice but to integrate themselves into the vastly human world, and most have learnt tolerance, if not actual friendship.

With each death and resurrection that the eídisi experienced, a part of their humanity was ripped away from them. The replacement to this loss was part of Yvithia's personality, which is the ultimate driving force in making the eídisi what they are today. The new race display far more apathy than the humans they are created and descended from, though this is not to say that they show no natural emotion. With those close to them, they are able to form attachments much like many other races can; they nurture their young and fiercely protect their partners. But beyond bonds such as these, the eídisi do not cultivate any particular empathy for the woes and triumphs of those whose lives are not entwined with their own.

Also integrated into the eídisi psyche is the pursuit of excellence. Once an eídisi has made peace with his or her position they will strive to surpass their own expectations. Losing to a fellow eídisi is tolerable, as they are your own kind, but being bested by an outsider is considered to be a deep humiliation. Above all else, knowledge is most important.

The eídisi are entirely literate and have a good knowledge of their history and politics. They are rarely barbarous or wild in nature. Even the least experienced in the military are disciplined and tutored in basic strategy. While they are a cultured people not given to rampant bloodlust, the eídisi are also known for a cold ruthlessness - a trait passed on to them directly from Yvithia. There is little remorse or guilt in those who cause the suffering of others for the sake of learning.

Culture and Society

There is no location in Idalos which is dominated by the eídisi. Even the presumed 'homeland' - Viden - has almost double the amount of humans inhabiting the city than eídisi. For this reason, eídisi culture is entwined with that of other races, and their lives are structured around the cities in which they dwell, rather than prescribed to them according to their race.

The main diet of the eídisi is seafood, given the ease of catching fish endemic to the area. While meat and vegetables are often available, most of it must be imported from other cities, which makes it expensive. They are rationed out to the populace with the government keeping a tight hold divvying it out based on how many people reside in each household, how often they visit the regulated storehouses, what is taken and what is needed. Ration bundles consist of what can keep a person healthy and more exotic foods are deemed a luxury, thus are more expensive. For other reasons, alcohol is normally limited within Viden, and the eídisi - as a very rational, logical race - do not dispute this, knowing what damages drugs have on the mind.

As a hard rule, the inhabitants of Viden are rather well educated. Indeed, not being moderately educated can result in being ostracised. The influence of the Academy is very tangible in everyday life so much so that all eídisi children receive a free basic education up until the age of sixteen. Within this, they will receive a solid grounding in the way of literacy, numeracy, history, science and geography. Intelligence and knowledge is prized most among the eídisi thus, no matter which city a child is born into, his parents will strive to give him an education of the standard of Viden, regardless of the standards of the city they reside in.

Clothing and Grooming

Eídisi are most often found in Viden, in the Northern Region of Idalos, but some live elsewhere, intent on expanding their knowledge of other cities, cultures and races during their travels. For this reason, there are few set items of clothing that all descendants of this race adorn. Given that the majority of inhabitants of Viden are from other races, it is more the nature of the city which controls what the eídisi wear, just like others living there.

Fur is common in Viden, given the harsh climate that is endured all year round. The fortress that Yvithia created for those pursuing knowledge has many protective qualities against the most bitter of weather cycles, but that does not stop the city from being based in one of the most uninhabitable regions in Idalos. Layering up is the easiest way to preserve heat, and those in the city are accustomed to the harvesting of arctic animals for the sake of their fur. Most is white when cut off the animals, but will often be dyed into greys, browns and blacks.

During the warmer seasons, only one layer of fur is required, over the thinner items of clothing. In the winter seasons, an inner layer with the fur facing the skin, and an outer layer with the fur facing out is what is most often worn. Caribou is very common, and their skin and fur is often used, particularly because it is light and thin as well as warm, but clothing is also made from other animal skins, including dog, squirrel, marmot, fox, wolf, bears, and sealskin.

Technology, Religion, and Worship

As the creations of Yvithia, the eídisi are devout to the Immortal of Language, Communication and Intelligence, despite the suffering that the first generation suffered at her hands. Each was instilled with a part of the personality of Yvithia, which gave them her obsessional passion for learning and teaching. This is what drives their day to day lives, and all are willing to carry out the she they asks of them for her, and for their own knowledge. The eídisi are not as ardent in their worship of Yvithia, as some other races are of their creators, in that they do not perform any ceremonies in worship of the Immortal.

Instead, the eídisi are very practical in their worship of Yvithia. She is almost constant in her presence within the city, and many inhabiting Viden will have seen her, perhaps most have even spoken to her, though she gives most of her attention to those whom she is impressed by. Those working in the underground facilities - experimenting on humans - work with her often.

Yvithia is not the only Immortal to be honoured by the eídisi, though. The arctic climate around Viden means that the vast majority have a great deal of respect for Ziell. Their penchant for learning also allows for them to understand the whims of many other Immortals still roaming Idalos and some, especially those who wish desperately to see their creators return, will seek to reward the efforts of some eídisi. The race, much like their creator, also has an unprecedented amount of respect for the Immortal of Knowledge, Treid. It is no secret that there is a faction of eídisi working tirelessly in tandem with the Ellune (both on Treidhart and in Viden) to try to free the encased Immortal.

Reproduction, Aging, and Death

The average eídisi can live naturally for somewhere in the region of 120 to 160 arcs, dependant on their heritage and adult lifestyle. Yvithia's creation lives longer than the average mortal human, but they are fundamentally no different to their ancestors, and can be killed prematurely by nigh on anything that could end a human's life. It is rare, but not unheard of, for an individual to survive beyond their 180th arc. For those born of two eídisi parents, this is the span from birth until death, but for those revived thrice by Yvithia, they can expect to survive at least another 120 years, despite the length of the life they have already been blessed with.

It varies from individual to individual but most can expect to enter their pubescent stage at around 18 arcs of age, and leave it near to their 25th, at which point they hit sexual maturity. Yet an eídisi is not considered to be an adult until their 31st birthday, when it is believed that their mental capabilities have fully developed to the extent that they are in full control of their actions. Beyond a century of living, no female is of child-bearing age, and it is known that there are dangers of not birthing a neuro-typical child if carried to term past the age of 90 arcs. Males, though, are able to give seed almost up until their passing, as long as they can physically do so.

Physically functioning no differently to that of an average human, for the most part, the eídisi copulate in much the same way, though they will carry their children to a full term of just over one year. The eídisi are able to reproduce with any race that humans are capable of. Once the child is born, the eídisi display a few differences between themselves and humans. For the peoples of Viden, there are no traditional gender roles assigned to the two parents: either may remain for the early arcs to raise the child. Having faith in the next generation, most do believe that it is important to personally educate their offspring from an early age, rather than trust them to institutions.

Language, Script, and Names

As an entirely integrated race into the cities of humans, the eídisi speak in the tongues of those around them. Most often, this is the Common Language (which is also the primary language of Viden) and they will use it in everyday, informal settings. Due to the nature of their creator, however, the eídisi have a far easier time of acquiring a new language than those from other races do. It is partially for this reason that the eídisi find it uncommonly easy to assimilate themselves into new societies. Another language that almost all eídisi know is the Ancient Language, which Yvithia would have diligently seen to that her creations learnt. It is in this script that nigh on all research documents are written in, to limit the chances of prying eyes learning matters which are not appropriate for them. More formal occasions would als be conducted in this tongue.

In terms of names, the eídisi are relatively flexible, and will borrow names endemic to the society in which they reside. Otherwise, they are prone to using soft sounds and vowel combinations. Examples for females are: Alaethia, Sofia, Apasi, Rhea & Phaese. Examples for males could be: Rouvin, Maichil, Flavian, Taelis & Cyrus.

Racial Ability: Multilinguistics

• The Eidisi racial ability is multilinguistics.
• This means that, an Eidisi is able to start with a maximum of 3 languages.
  • Two of these will be fluent.
  • One of these will be broken.
• Languages Used In Idalos explains what languages are available and what the different levels of language skill are.
• Remember that, if a PC is a Mixed Race Eidisi, the Rules on Mixed Races apply.