Volari

Volari are an elegant, aquatic race celebrated for their grace and affinity with water. They thrive along coastal environments, where they harmonize seamlessly with both land and sea.

Country of Origin: Kingdom of Asteria

Physical Traits:

• Volari are humanoid with lithe, graceful bodies.
  • Volari have extreme size variations, ranging from 4 to 7 feet tall for both men and women.
  • They have elongated limbs with webbed hands and feet, perfect for swimming and navigating their watery home.
  • Volari have smooth, flowing hair and large, expressive eyes; both hair and eye color usually compliments their skin color.
• Volari have patches of iridescence scales, usually on their back and limbs. Scales may be the same color or different colors from their skin.
  • Men typically have darker colors and women usually have lighter colors; options include blues, purples, greens, blacks, whites, golds, silvers, pinks, and oranges.
  • If a scale is lost, it regrows over a span of a few weeks, going through a cycle of colors before settling into its mature hue.
    • Naturally shed scales are often used in art and jewelry; they retain their natural iridescence and beauty.
    • Forcibly removed/lost scales (through injury, for example) retain a semblance of their iridescence for a few days before decaying into glittering dust.
  • Scales and webbing gain deeper and more saturated hues as the Volari ages.
    • Weakened, injured, or elderly Volari may develop pale, jagged markings that spread across their body.

Abilities and Traits:

• Natural Abilities:
  • Extended lifespan - Volari can live up to 120 years; they mature slowly with long childhoods.
  • Aquatic - Volari are fast, agile swimmers with the ability to hold their breath for extremely long periods of time.
  • Bonding - Volari typically bond with Tidewings.
    • There is no cost to join a Volari that is already bonded with a Tidewing; if bonding after joining, they will be charged the standard bonding cost (250c).
  • Shapeshifting - Most Volari can transition fully into a single animal form; their form retains one aquatic feature, such as gills, webbed digits, a fin, or enhanced underwater vision. Extinct and mythical forms can be unlocked through payment (standard Valka costs).
• Strengths:
  • Most Volari have an innate ability to harness the abundant sunlight in their environment for various purposes.
  • Volari can usually communicate with aquatic creatures; the method and reliability of this skill varies depending on the individual.
• Weaknesses:
  • Volari heavily rely on the sunny weather to maintain their vitality and spirit.
    • During prolonged periods of cloud cover or heavy rains, the Volari can experience a significant dip in their energy levels, becoming lethargic.
  • Volari are weak to Moonvine Toxin; exposure to this toxin can lead to hallucinations, impaired judgment, and a loss of control over their abilities for a period of time

Society and Lifestyle:

• Build villages along the coast, often built half on land and half on the water.
• They live in loose social groups, with most people being gatherers, fishermen, and cultivators.
• Homes are constructed from renewable materials like bamboo and are often surrounded by vibrant land or sea gardens.
• Value symbiosis and balance, emphasizing a deep connection with the land, sea, and sun.
• Believe in a radiant afterlife where spirits become luminous beings in a heavenly sea garden.
  • These beings continue to nourish and protect the living, lending their light and warmth.
  • The Sun is viewed as the grand guardian of this cycle, a warm, nurturing entity that oversees the continuous cycle of life and death.

Relationship with Other Races:

• Alliances: Auren, Asterian Valka
• Conflicts: None currently, but have had conflicts with Zenoxi in the past
• Neutral: Zenoxi, Rockfolk, Igneans

Concept Images

Here are some examples of what Volari may look like. It's okay to have a different interpretation as long as you get close to the description above.

Tidewings

Tidewings are unique magical creatures native to Asteria; they are similar to, but different from, the Astrofel found on New Ognos and have an innate ability to bond with Volari.

• Tidewings are large creatures that have a combination of canine and manta ray traits.
  • Their bodies are streamlined and flexible, supported by strong muscles - particularly their tails. They possess smooth, manta-like skin that transitions into a more fur-covered head resembling that of a canine.
  • Tidewings have incredibly expressive faces with gentle ocean-colored eyes that change color depending on their emotions.
  • They are often two-toned and come in a variety of patterns; they are commonly sapphire blue/aquamarine, coral/rose gold, emerald green/turquoise, white/silver, or amber/orange.
  • Tidewings typically communicate with soft barks, whistles, and clicks; they are also capable of telepathic speech with all humanoids.
• Tidewings have fins resembling manta rays’, which they usually keep wrapped tightly around their midsection;when unfurled, they aid in swimming or gliding over the land, catching the wind like sails. Their fins are decorated with bioluminescent patterns that can glow in the dark.
  • Tidewings can be used as mounts both over land and in the sea.
• Bonding is initiated when a humanoid seeks out a rare and special seaweed from the ocean floor and presents it to the Tidewing; if the bond is accepted, the Tidewing will eat the offering and a pattern resembling their wing markings appears somewhere on their partner's body.
  • Tidewings bond for life; if their bond is severed or one partner dies, the other will usually be unable to bond again.
• While wild Tidewings can be dangerous and unpredictable, bonded Tidewings tend to have a gentle, affectionate nature.
  • It is common for Tidewings to be playful and curious, which means they sometimes get up to all kinds of mischief.
• Tidewings are typically monogamous, meeting with their mate every couple years for a few days at a specific tidepool.
  • If the couple decides to have pups, the female will carry fertilized eggs for two years before giving birth in a tidepool - ideally the one shared with her mate, though any tidepool will work in a pinch.
  • The pups will hatch internally and be born as live young; Tidewings typically have twins, though litters of up to six pups have been documented.
    • The male takes half of the offspring for one year, then they meet and exchange pups again one year later.
    • After two years, the pups are ready to set out on their own; pups typically start out a dull monochrome color, coming into their true colors around this age.
  • Most Tidewings will help their pups make connections with children/people close to their Bonded, ensuring they can stay in touch over the years, but will permit bonding with someone else if the pup seeks it out.

Concept Images

Here are some examples of what Tidewings might look like. It's okay to have a different interpretation as long as you get close to the description above.