Volari

Volari are the dominant race in the Kingdom of Asteria where they coexist peacefully with the minority Valka. While they don't often venture outside of their homeland, players can create Volari characters by gaining approval from the support team and making the appropriate purchase from the Marketplace.

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.
    • If you are joining your Volari already bonded, you may join them with a Tidewing; otherwise, they will usually need to bond with a standard Astrofel. Contact Signe if you have any questions!
  • Shapeshifting - Volari can shapeshift completely in to a single marine animal at will.
• 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: Aurel, Asterian Valka
• Conflicts: None currently, but have had conflicts with Zefari in the past
• Neutral: Zefari, Rockfolk, Igneans

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 have a combination of canine and manta ray traits.
  • Their bodies are streamlined and flexible, supported by strong muscles. They possess smooth, manta-like skin that transitions into a more fur-covered torso and head resembling that of a canine.
  • Tidewings 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.
  • Sentinels communicate with soft barks, whistles, and clicks; they are also capable of telepathic speech with all
• Sentinels can produce melodic hums, chimes, and vibrations that amplify and enhance Rockfolk abilities.
  • The strength and effect of their amplification varies depending on the type of song, how strong the bond between Sentinel and Rockfolk is, and how well the two manage to harmonize.
• Bonding is initiated when a Rockfell breaks off a small piece of the Sentinel's horn and swallow it; if the bond is accepted, the Sentinel will headbutt the Rockfolk in return (usually gently).
  • Consent and friendship are extremely important in the bond, which can be dissolved by either party at any time with minor magical backlash to both.
  • Despite how easily it can be done, bonds are rarely broken as Sentinels will only bond if they sense a strong compatibility.
• Sentinels can be quite challenging, but also incredibly rewarding and affectionate companions once their trust and respect has been earned.
  • They have all the naughty craftiness and stubbornness of a goat paired with the calculating nature of a large predator, not to mention their muscular form is perfect for scaling steep mountainsides!
• Sentinels are formed in The Nursery, a specific cavern system that starts at the Prime Mountain and snakes its way across the country.
  • Sentinels are born from magma at the heart of the Prime Mountain, where they live for a few months before venturing out.
  • They are still red hot and incomplete when they first leave the magma pit.
    • What they eat during this time determines their final form; ex: a Sentinel that eats iron will become an Iron Sentinel while one that eats primarily emeralds would become an Emerald Sentinel.
  • Once their form solidifies and cools, the Sentinel ventures into one of the many Cradles, special caverns where they continue to eat and grow.
    • Young Rockfolk typically venture into the Cradles around the age of ten to find their Sentinel.
      • It is rare for adults of either species to form a bond after leaving the Cradle, but not entirely unheard of.