Gailzeich (guhyl-zyke)

Born from pain and suffering

"Observing them throughout the years has been fascinating. They endure despite the harshest of conditions. They can go for days without food and water. And they can even regrow lost limbs! The drawback to such laudable feats is that they're quite sickly. But it does beg the question: perhaps they aren't completely human? The Ethos prevents us from exploring their genealogy to its fullest extent, unfortunately."
— Guntho Merastus, The World of Alluvia Vol. XIV

The Gailzeich is one of the known Human ethnicities in Alluvia. They are not a culture that erected empires or changed the course of history with their lineage. Far from it - they are actually the foundations that built up other empires. Throughout most of their oppressive lives, these people knew nothing but fear and pain; instead of being conquerors, they were the conquered.

Player Options

Variant Human: Gailzeich

Age. Gailzeich reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.
Size. Gailzeich vary widely in height, from around 5'7" feet to well over 6 feet tall. Due to genetic developments, Gailzeich have extremely fast metabolism, resulting in slim physiques. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Frail. Your Strength score cannot go above 10 without the aid of magical items.
Persevering. Due to your hardy Gailzeich lineage, when you make death saving throws, you add your constitution modifier to the results.
Superhuman Constitution. When you make a Constitution saving throw, you may roll at advantage. This feature cannot be used until after your next long rest.
Skill Proficiency. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Background

History

The Gailzeich people have existed since the @Age of Arcana and have endured until the present day. They were popularly known across the Keniev continent to be slaves and servants to the other human clans. Despite being of human descent, they held no affinity for magic and were physiologically weak. To survive during times of war, they were employed under powerful clans as laborers; for despite their fragile appearance, they had incredible durability and constitution. The Gailzeich were survivors, and while they don't live comfortable and fulfilling lives, they have accepted that this is their cross to bear.

Throughout the course of history, the Gailzeich have known nothing but subjugation. It has even gone so far that they accept the truth that they are no more than just pawns to be sacrificed and used for other's gain. Most Gailzeich have adopted an unhealthy, self-deprecating worldview about themselves and their people. Gailzeich fear being away from their masters, believing that they would not survive without someone to feed or shelter them. Even now, during times of peace and individual freedom, the Gailzeich still roam across these lands serving under nobles and financially wealthy merchant guilds. If not, one can find most of them in the city slums begging for food and work. And more often, dead on the streets.

Appearance and Physiology

Gailzeich were not difficult to discern due to their strikingly distinct appearances. With an average height of 172 to 185 cm, the Gailzeich were a fairly tall and lanky substrate of humans. They are described to have pale skin - their complexion drained of all color - and lithe although malnourished physiques. Their hair colors ranged from silvery white to dark shades of pitch. But the most distinct physical quality they possessed were their golden, amber eyes that glowed in the darkness like that of a cat's. Some Gailzeich, though not all, also have black sclera.

Historically, the Gailzeich were prone to various immunodeficient diseases and suffered mostly from low blood. However, they possessed extraordinary constitution, being able to work for over 12 hours a day without needing rest. During times of war, they were regarded as the 'perfect workhorses' because of this. Miraculously, even though they had a list of various illnesses that plagued their genetic lineage, their stamina and work drive is almost inhuman. Those who have had the opportunity to study these people have documented that they possess incredible regenerative abilities to the point that they can restore lost limbs. In fact, they could even survive decapitation. Researchers have found that the enhanced regenerative abilities combat the growing sickness that consumes them, but that regenerative state does not last forever.

However, this doesn't mean that the malnourished appearance is a front; Gailzeich truly are a fragile people. Whilst toiling and suffering for their masters, the entirety of that work is a pain-filled, torturous experience for them. But because of their durability, they have learned to live with such suffering. Most of their people die from sickness; only rarely do they die of old age. When the time comes, a Gailzeich shall succumb to their illness, their powerful regenerative abilities cease to function and their body will begin eating itself; only then can they finally transition to the next realm of life.

Magic

During the Age of Arcana, Gailzeich were not particularly gifted with the ability to wield magic in any form. This gave them a succinct disadvantage in holding whatever they independence they possessed at the time. However, during the Second Arcane Convergence, it was recorded the Gailzeich indeed could harness magic in some form; whether this was a new phenomena or not, only after the second convergence denoted the existence of Gailzeich mages. Though not proficient in it, most Gailzeich who possess the arcane gift become assistants to higher ranking wizards as enchanters and scribes.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Being a slave race, the Gailzeichs never truly developed their own culture. It was oftentimes a mix between the masters they served and their own ways of coping with one another. Flexible on all fronts, the Gailzeichs were able to adapt to anything that was thrown at them. Whether it was starving in the deserts or made to work on plantations and other various labor jobs. An oppressed race, their people were never given a real chance to cultivate their own communities. They held no lands, had no birthright; they merely exist to serve another.

Because of their reluctance to reproduce, their masters were known to force them to mate to create more of their kind to serve in the indoctrination. Gailzeichs were no more less than livestock to the powerful human clans that dominated the Age of Arcana. They had no magical prowess and their combat abilities were inferior, therefore in order to survive, they had no choice but to be annexed as part of other clans. None stood as their leader, none attempted to form a revolt against their oppressors. The Gailzeichs were fated to be a stepping stone for other races of their kind.

During their days of servitude, they were known to be great builders and laborers. Using their vast reserves of stamina, they were able to make complex structures continuously without rest.

Shared customary codes and values

Mutual Pain

A Gailzeich resonates with one who has endured much and has suffered through many arduous experiences. Most of their people often console each other to keep them from succumbing into madness by sharing their emotional feelings as a way of de-stressing and compartmentalizing the pain in a much more digestible manner. Although the times of slavery for their people have mostly subsided, this value continues to live on to present-day Gailzeichs. Pain is a common language that the Gailzeichs understand well; in every shape and form.

Being Unto Death

Several centuries of slavery has conditioned the people of the Gailzeichs into believing that their life is only a transitory state; that there exists something more after their passing. The people have adopted a philosophy of understanding that death is the ultimate goal in one's lifespan; for if there is no death, life holds no meaning and the pain and suffering they endured would all be for nought. For the Gailziech, death is the great equalizer and the final transition into the next chapter of existence. They eagerly await their time of passing; but for as long as they draw breath, they continue to survive in this cruel world and make most of what they can.

Funerary and Memorial customs

WIP -

Laid in a bed of flowers
Relatives must cut themselves everyday throughout the 1-week vigil and pour the fresh blood onto the corpse
A pilgrimage is held to help guide the spirit into the next realm
The body is lain out for predators or scavengers to feast upon

Common Taboos

WIP -

Disrespecting their master is considered egregious and looked down upon
Taking up stances, revolting, independency, seeking a life of self-indulgence,
Eating meat; Gailzeich were largely vegetarian
Getting involved in higher politics
Making light of other people's pain, no matter how trivial it seems compared to another

Common Myths and Legends

WIP -

It was said that their kind was cursed by the Great Beyond as one of their ancestors sought the secret to immortality. Although this is most likely an Oratorium belief rather than their own.
Most myth and legends about the Gailzeich originate from other cultures; very seldom will such stories come from their culture willingly.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The Gailzeich have an interesting, if not morbid ideal for beauty, to say the least. Because most of their days are spent in laborious work, their people often see suffering as a point of admiration and appreciation. In some essence, while their misanthropic views and distaste for life in general are apparent, they also strive to see the positivity in their lives.

They are regarded as a simple people who never truly explored the extent of their culture due to subjugation; so they do not truly have physical beauty standards for what a fellow Gailzeich should appear to be. In actuality, most Gailzeich see themselves in a bad light due to their malnourished appearances. But in truth, their faces are often regarded as ethereal and eerily beautiful for both male and female spectrums. They are often mistaken for vampires because of such an appearance.

Regardless, when it comes to matters of physicality, most of their physical beauty standards will vary depending on where they grew up. But being a people forged in suffering, they oftentimes see beauty in hard work and determination. Gailzeich often prefer to look at qualities in one's personality rather than their physicality.

Courtship Ideals

It is rare that Gailzeichs would seek romantic partnerships with other fellow Gailzeichs. It is most oftentimes that Gailzeichs mate with other ethnicities or other races apart from them as they are not prone to initiating reproduction.

The courtship ideals of their people are not usually an established priority in their eyes; it is often rare that a Gailzeich even pursues a romantic relationship - let alone reproduce. Gailzeich are oftentimes difficult to court due to their secluded and sheltered personalities. Although they are known to be ardent lovers who crave connection and emotional intimacy in rare cases they find true love.