Planetouched
Part mortal, part extraplanar, the planetouched are the rarest of peoples on Auxis. They are often loners and individuals, and are rarely so lucky as to meet another of their kind on their travels. They are recluse in society, gathering only on the furthest edges of civilisation where they are unlikely to be sought out and displaced. The origins of the various kinds of races are as different as the forms of the planes themselves. A djinn or efreet sometimes mated with a human slave, an incantation of a deity may have children with a favoured human, a loyal believer or tribe of favoured may have been blessed by a deity, or otherplanar creatures may have bred with mortals.
The child of an outsider and another creatuer is a half-fiend, half-celestial or half-elemental. If one of these half-blooded creatures has offspring with a humanoid, the result is usually another planetouched. The off-spring of two planetouched is always a planetouched. Mixed heritage planetouched of this sort take after one or the other parent, but carry the traits of the other parent which may show up in their own offspring. Occasionally, these traits may mix producing a unique offspring, such as a purple tiefling.
There are seven major types of plane-touched, though none are common. The water and earth genasi are considered the least rare of these planetouched, and are the only with known settlements on the material plane. It is extremely uncommon to come across any of these races in a normal life, though since they are often drawn to nomadism and adventure, an individual of this profession may have a higher chance of coming across one.
Planetouched often find themselves being outcast in society, especially tieflings and aasimar. Their rarity, isolation and typically negative connotation in many cultures regularly paints them as monsters and savages in many civilisations. As such, they often stick to smaller regions with higher quantities of atypical races, such as Bahram, Tsaskarin or the Brandruin Archipelago, though even then they are exceedingly rare.
Aasimar
The aasimar bear the legacy of a celestial being or even a deity in their ancestry, and have incredible potential to do good in the world. At the same time, their heritage marks them as different and often leads to persecution, ridicule, or exile from superstitious or backward communities. It is not unknown for an aasimar to give in to bitterness in the face of adversity and turn to evil. Aasimar are the descendants of humans and some good-aligned outsider, often an angel from Mount Celestia. While elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings with good outsider ancestry are reputed to exist, those crossbreeds are not true assimar. Aasimar are born to serve as champions of the gods, their births hailed as blessed events. They are a people of otherworldly visages, with luminous features that reveal their celestial heritage. An aasimar, except for one who has turned to evil, has a link to an angelic being. That being – usually a deva – provides guidance to the aasimar, though this connection functions only in dreams. As such, the guidance is not a direct command or a simple spoken word. Instead, the aasimar receives visions, prophecies, and feelings.Description
Aasimar bore the mark of their celestial touch through many different physical features that often varied from individual to individual. Most commonly, aasimar were very similar to humans, like tieflings and other planetouched. Nearly all aasimar were uncommonly beautiful and still, and they were often significantly taller than humans as well.
While several aasimar were immediately identifiable as such, others were even less distinguishable. Most aasimar had pupil-less pale white, gray, or golden eyes and silver hair, but those descended from planetars could also have emerald skin, while those descended from avoral celestials might have feathers mixed in with their hair. Those descended from ghaeles often had pearly opalescent eyes. Solar-descended aasimars often had brilliant topaz eyes instead or silvery or golden skin and those with couatl or lillend lineage most commonly had small, iridescent scales. Many aasimar also had a light covering of feathers on their shoulders, where an angel's wings might sprout. Similar to conventional angels, some aasimar would also have a feint golden or white halo around their head, especially noticeable when channelling their innate celestial power.. As in tieflings, aasimar bloodlines could sometimes run dormant for generations, reemerging after being hidden for some time.
Most aasimar grew up cautious around others and, like tieflings, were sometimes misunderstood, though never to the hateful extent many of the fiendish bloodlines were. Even those raised by understanding parents could not escape their strangeness, or the curiosity (or even fear) that their unique nature sometimes provoked. Many aasimar even suffered prejudice, something that deeply hurt the soul of the aasimar in question since most had an inherent bent towards empathy for others.
Some aasimar found the isolation and uniqueness of their existence painful, and the responsibility of their connection to the upper plains too much to handle. As such, many fell - sometimes through no fault of their own, down a darker path. These fallen aasimar severed their connection to their celestial guide and often connected to more chaotic gods, such as those of the Tempest or War domains.
by Heroix
Aasimar History
Unlike many other races, and even planetouched races, there is no history of "the aasimar" to speak of. No culture, religion or outlook unites these unique people, and they have no society on Toril to call their own. Each aasimar is unique, with an individual origin story and a personal link to the celestial realm. Aasimar rarely have sibilings who are like them, for this hereditary supernatural ability is exceedingly rare. On the rare occasion an aasimar may meet another of their kind, their is an innate understanding and bond between them and yearn for the taste of kinship. That being said, aasimar have played an important royal in the history of Auxis. Many such planetouched were born during the long astral war, and those celestials who arrived on the prime material plane to support their mortal allies sometimes fell in love with a mortal to the point where they bore aasimar children. Many of these aasimar were drafted into war, their power useful on the front lines against their fiendish foes, and as such many were slain on the battlefield. That, and the exodus of aasimar back to the celestial planes at the end of the war left Auxis starved of such populations, leaving them a largely uncommon and forgotten element of mortal history.Fey'ri
Fey'ri were an especially rare planetouched sub-race throughout the planes, and those that did exist were thought to be wiped out by the end of the second age. Much like their aasimar and tiefling cousins, they are quickly cast out and exiled from their homes, or hunted by demon-hunters on the material plane. Fey'ri are to elves as tieflings are to humans, and were the result of fiendish blood in a sun-elf. Fey'ri resulting from other elven lineages are not unheard of, but are dwarfed by the sun-elf variety. They were often born from the ancient blood of a fiend - such as a succubus or devil. They fought during the astral war on the side of the lower plains, where many escaped the captivity of elven dungeons and were slaughtered on the battlefield
In general form they resemble tieflings, but exhibit large pointed ears and one or more powerful sets of wings. They often have unique features such as barbed tails, horns, thick scaled skin or fiery red eyes - or any combination of them all. Fey’ri are obviously different from normal elves and would quickly be killed by most other elves if discovered. Luckily for them, their demonic bloodline gives them several abilities, including the ability to change their shape. Thus they can pass freely among other creatures without causing an alarm. Fey'ri can live just as long as elves, believed to be upwards of a millenia, and can easily survive in any terrain and even underground. This means their true numbers are unknown, and exist as creatures of ridicule and fear in many cultures.
Much like tieflings, they are mostly evil aligned and seek revenge for what they feel is persecution by their elven brethren. Their fiendish blood spurs them on to seek glory and vengeance, and often combine it with aspirations of grandeur - the wish to restore the glory of ancient elven empires with themselves at the head. Unlike their tiefling cousins, the fey'ri do not follow the chaotic and bloodthirsty practices of their fiendish ancestors. Fey'ri are patient, calculating and suspicious, and especially cruel. They are often powerful spellcasters and mages, using their magic for sadistic and selfish means. Their intelligence, strength and flexible morals meant they were often untrustworthy and were only out for their own gain.
Despite their elven blood, Fey'ri did not worship the good gods of the Seldarine. They neither follow the Tiefling practice of worshipping demons. Instead, many were known to worship Ghaunadaur , who attracted the attention of the outcasts and abominations of the world.
Genasi
Genasi were planetouched humanoids infused with the power of the elements. They were the most common planetouched found on the world of Toril, and some had their own isolated communities of common genasi tribes. Technically speaking, the genasi were not a race but a general classification of humanoids who had the heritage of a planar being from one of the elemental planes. They typically were offshoots of elves and humans, though other humanoid genasi were not unheard of. Genasi ancestors typically had heritage from elemental beings such as genie, from whence their name is derived.
Each of the four fundamental elements had associated genies, so the most common genasi were air genasi, earth genasi, fire genasi, and water genasi. Para-genasi were genasi who expressed a bloodline of two elements. These included the dust para-genasi, ice para-genasi, magma para-genasi, ooze para-genasi, smoke para-genasi, steam para-genasi, among other possibilities. Para-genasi were even rarer than the four standard genasi, and typically came from the breeding of two fundamental genasi rather than any extra-planar intevention. Each genasi has the power to to manifest their particular element and have particular resistances to damage of their elemental type.
Left to Right: Earth, Air, Fire and Water Genasi
Personality
Unlike many planetouched races, genasi generally took pride in their unusual features. Furthermore, because of their elemental power, the occasional genasi felt a sense of superiority over other races and even over other genasi—including those of the same element. This was not so much a matter of prejudice as it was simple fact—a simple mortal could not possibly understand the mind of one with elemental heritage. In return, the genasi were perhaps the most distrusted of the planetouched races for being the most alien. The personality of the typical genasi reflected her or his core element. For example, a fire genasi might have a "hot temper" and an earth genasi might take life slowly and carefully. Many genasi philosophers believed that their race existed as a compromise between the chaos of the primordials and the divinely crafted world of the gods. A few genasi took this to heart and tried to eliminate one or the other aspect of their nature, either becoming agents of chaos or disciples of order, but these individuals were considered the exception rather than the rule. Most genasi were simply grateful for the innate connection to the elemental forces that shaped the world that they all shared. Genasi had a strong ability to adapt, perhaps only superseded by humans in this regard, and embraced change as an inevitability or even something to be relished. Even lawful genasi embraced this change, and genasi of all kinds valued the possibilities the future might bring, such as new allies or new opportunities. In many ways, genasi were the most flexible of races, less stubborn and more willing to accept new ideas for better or worse. One of the traits found commonly amongst all genasi was a strong sense of ambition. All genasi had a desire to better themselves and advance their status, either through pursuit of power, the acquisition of friends, or other means. Nearly all genasi had dreams and aspirations and would pursue these goals throughout their life and though few genasi were truly patient, so strong were their passions for these goals that they would often continue to follow them even long after individuals of other races would have given up and moved on. Simply put, they felt that they had a destiny and a calling to leave a name for themselves.Society
Genasi were exceptionally rare among the planes. They were the most common of the planetouched on Toril, but they were still lucky to meet another one of their kind in greater civilisation. On Auxis, they could be found in isolated wildlands more then major cities, but were attracted to places where their strange traits would not arouse significant attention. Air and fire genasi were found in the deserts of Erisdun, water genasi along the islands of the Brandruin Archipelago, and earth genasi in the deep jungles of Tsaskarin.
Genasi usually lived in isolation after the Astral War. When genasi gathered together in any great number, their societal structure were almost certain to be chaotic and unstable due to their passionate nature. Though genasi could be extremely passionate in a way that might seem violent, the race as a whole had a love for family and friends, to the point that few genasi marriages ended in divorce. Most genasi families were large, and the genasi as a whole looked upon another genasi as a potential relative to the point of referring to those they met as "brother", "sister", or "cousin". In the infrequent genasi society, family played an important role, likely in part because genasi found it difficult to form new friendships and bonds. To most genasi, family bonds were the only ones that were truly reliable and it was far rarer for genasi to become alienated or estranged from members of their family. This is not to say that internal feuds and disputes did not happen, but the vast majority led to only temporary divides, and family members spread over the world would eventually come looking for a reunion. Genasi parents went out of their way to ensure that their children had a chance to interact with genasi of other manifestations, thereby increasing their appreciation for the race as a whole.
Air Genasi
Air genasi were a rarer fundamental genasi subrace after fire-genasi, and were difficult to come across in civilisation. Those genasi born with the power of elemental air were ofter referred to as Windsoul Genasi. Most air genasi are descended from djinn, air genies, though other origins exist, and the touch of the elemental power of wind and air shapes the genasi physique. Like all genasi, the exact appearance of an air genasi varies from individual to individual. Compared with other genasi, air genasi are often slightly quicker, but also somewhat physically weaker.
However, just as the wind may vary in strength and temperature, so do air genasi vary in appearance and a few have other distinguishing features. Some have light blue or pale white skin or similarly colored hair. Other strange features may include unusually cool flesh, a voice that carries over the wind, a whistling sound that follows quick movement, or even a slight breeze that seems to follow the genasi. They were quicker to disguise their nature from the common folk, and could lay unrecognised for years in society.
Air genasi are fast and free-willed, even for other genasi, and in some ways represent many of the stereotypes about genasi in general. For instance, while most genasi see one another as parts of a larger family this is particularly true for air genasi, and the bloodlines of many air genasi are so old and so untraceable that air genasi, as a whole, tend to view one another as cousins—even air genasi they've never met before. Likewise, though this bond of kinship is strong, it is also highly competitive, another trait which is typical of all genasi, but particularly true for air genasi.
The air genasi stem from lineages of elementals who populated the dangerous and forbidden lands of Erisdun during the convergence. This presence, particularly of Djinn, often took human concubines from nearby villages and from these unions were born half-elementals, the children of who were air genasi. Unique among the genasi, the air genasi are the most common to be born to unexpected mortal parents. Djinn lineage is surprisingly common, and may appear in a child of two human parents as a long dormant gene appears. These modern genasi continue to live in isolated pockets in the deserts of Xedaris with their fire genasi cousins far from civilisation.
Air Genasi Society
Air genasi, regardless of whether or not they're actually related, tend to view all other members of their subrace as part of a larger extended family. However, in spite of this, air genasi are still fiercely independent and view one another through a competitive lens. Unlike the members of some races, who might feel inclined to help others of their race, air genasi feel no such compunction and see the weakness of other genasi as a reaffirmation of their own worth. The powerful drive and strong willed nature of air genasi makes them in some few cases, excellent leaders. These charismatic individuals band together form mercenary companies, arcane cabals, or mercantile groups. Some of these groups, made up entirely of air genasi, even take air genasi from human parents to raise them amongst their own kind. Since many such groups fall apart within a year these children often end up living with just one or two of the band and develop a sense of community that was fairly unusual amongst genasi.Magic and Religion
The vast majority of air genasi feel a strong pull to the elemental energies of the world, more so than even most genasi and particularly favor spells that involve the air domain. Those genasi who become wizards usually specialize as evokers or conjurers. Air genasi often become monks and sorcerers, drawing on their primal abilities to become effective fighters. Like most genasi, air genasi do not have any one deity they predominantly cling to but many of the race seek out deities who hold sway over the winds and air. Many air genasi clerics, for instance, worship the primordial Akadi, and she is perhaps the most commonly worshipped being amongst air genasi, in large part due to her association with air elementals other than djinn. Other such beings of the wind worshipped by air genasi include Sheela Peryroyl and Valkur. Not all worship deities of the wind however, and many worship the goddesses Selûne and Aerdrie Faenya for their protection of the skies. Auril the Frost Maiden holds sway over a large number of air genasi who reside in cold deserts of the north, and some believe the goddess spawned a lineage of genasi, marked by their unusual pale blue skin. Many of these followers are cold and zealous, relishing in cold-touched magic. Many genasi also worshipped Shaundakul, who many believe to have spawned a lineage of genasi of a deep purple variety after taking a human wife. There is some overlap between air and water genasi worship, and some Tempest Domain gods are worshipped by the air genasi, such as Talos or Stronmaus.Earth Genasi
Earth genasi are patient, stubborn, and contemplative in their decision-making. Marked at birth with obvious traits reflecting their heritage, earth genasi are often shunned by others, but their physical gifts make them able to defend themselves against most attackers. Their strength and girth means that they sometimes become bullies, attracting sycophants out of fear and respect for their power.
They are the most common genasi alongside water genasi, but their origins are unknown. They live mostly primitive lives in mountains and jungles, particularly in the Tsaskarin forests, and as such have little knowledge of which outsiders led to their creation. They have the most human-like features among their genasi cousins, except for one or two defining traits, such as thicker, rougher skin, black rims around their eyes, iron gray hair or a gravelly voice. Naturally, they are stronger than almost all humans, but are often slower to act and lack the fiery temper of other genasi.
Earth genasi, like all elemental planetouched, are proud of their nature and abilities, but their pride is a quiet, confident sort rather than a boastful one. Earth genasi are pragmatic about their parentage, usually not going out of their way to learn their ancestry but not avoiding the topic either. Earth genasi have no special relationship with others of their kind, although they seem to prefer others who share their physical differences.
Earth genasi like to stake out a piece of land as their own and defend it, which makes them particularly valuable homesteaders in dangerous regions such as Tsaskarin. A few unusual ones come down with a strange form of wanderlust, wishing to plant their feet on every nation’s soil
before they die. Such a journey might take thirty years, but with methodical determination certain genasi have become famous for their long-distance travels.
Fire Genasi
As the rarest of the genasi, fire genasi are usually thought of as hot-blooded and quick to anger, and they have earned that reputation. Mercurial, proud, and often fearless, they are not content to sit and watch the world pass them by. Fire genasi have obvious physical traits that mark them as different from humans, and they are often the target of mistrust and persecution. Some fire genasi are able to use their quick wits to turn the tables on their tormentors, while others find that their barbed words only make their foes more angry. Many fire genasi are destroyed as infants by their own parents, who fear that they are demonspawn.
Most fire genasi in Faerûn are descended from the efreet that once invaded Auxis. Planetouched of this derivation live all over the hottest deserts of Xedaris, and some have travelled away from their ancestral homeland to escape the fear and prejudice that the north-western empires bear for genies. Small islands to the east of Bahram also have a small number of fire genasi, for those lands bear volcanoes that sometimes act as natural portals to the Elemental Plane of Fire, allowing efreet and other fiery outsiders to make contact with humans.
Fire genasi are obviously not fully human, and find and even more difficult time to pass as mortal than water genasi. Their unique traits are exceptional, usually exhibiting charcoal gray or deep red skin, red or orange hair, unusually warm skin and larger, steel grey teeth.
Fire genasi are proud of their ancestry and consider themselves superior to normal humans, although the smarter ones don’t make an issue of it. Because the efreet-descended genasi have almost no chance of finding their original elemental ancestor (who have long since been slain, banished, or imprisoned), they make no effort to
do so and enjoy the gifts that ancestor’s blood has granted them. Fire genasi enjoy the company of their own kind and have been known to form elite groups of mages or fighters that hire themselves out on the basis of their skill and heritage. They have been known to adopt the fire genasi children of human parents as well. Fire genasi have the same life expectancy and age categories as a human.
Magic and Religion
Fire Genasi are exceptional at magic, and it comes most naturally to them amongst their genasi brethren. As such, they are often persecuted in regions where magic is forbidden, and avoid these like the plague. Unsurprisingly, they work most well with fire magic, and thus perfect conjuration and evocation based spells. They often become wizards or sorcerers, or are quick to make pacts in order to access warlock magic. Some fire genasi are known to don armour and fulfil a cleric or paladin life, though this is rare. Fire genasi have no common racial deity or pantheon, though are particular fond of the Lord of Flames, Kossuth. Fire Genasi clerics are also known to worship Gond and Talos due to their fiery and violent natures. Traditionally, few fire genasi worship Gond, for he is the god of crafting and knowledge which is difficult for the impatient fire genasi. However, a number of these are fond of the explosive and powerful capabilities of alchemical and mechanical crafts, and thus seek his guidance to help with this craft. The reverence of Kossuth's firey aspect is most pronounced, however, and tracks in the typical outlook of a lethal genasi.Water Genasi
Water genasi, also known as watersoul genasi, were most common subrace within the genasi people alongside their earth cousins. Unlike many of the planetouched, the water genasi are fortunate enough to stay amongst their own, forming clans and tribes near the water where they thrive. They are most populous on the islands of the Brandruin Archipelago, such as Syber, but are known to exist on the shores of the mainland far from civilisations ire.
Water genasi are patient and often wise, and not quick to temper like their genasi cousins. Unlike earth genasi, however, they are rarely introverted and stubborn, instead exhibiting markedly communal and extroverted personalities in their tribes. Despite this, they were fierce and destructive when pushed to anger, like terrible storms, and many of their most powerful members worshipped tempest deities who gave them this ferocity.
Many water genasi feel strong ties to great bodies of water and see themselves as possessing the deep, elemental strength of oceans and mighty rivers. Though more patient than other genasi many retain a chaotic instinct and hated to be tied down, preferring to remain as untamed as the waters of the world. Most water genasi had no particular bent in alignment, preferring to avoid extremes, though like all genasi they were drawn towards chaos.
Before the astral war their numbers were few, descended from marid genies who resided on the shores of Auxis. However, the chaotic waters of the brandruin became a perfect place for many of the water deities to lay their claim. Unlike other genasi, the water genasi were mostly had divine origins, descended from deities such as Deep Sashelas, Sarula Ieline and Umberlee.
Water genasi generally looked human, though had more distinguishing features compared to earth genasi. They usually had lightly scaled skin which was often wet and cool to the touch, blue-green skin or pearl white hair, and deep eyes which were often black or deep blue.
Water Genasi Culture
Before the Astral War water genasi had no culture to call their own, though since then small water genasi tribes have appeared on the eastern islands. Many ancient water genasi were raised by aquatic elves and sometimes demonstrated similar virtues such as freedom and curiosity. Others were raised by sahuagin and became bloodthirsty killers and the difference between water genasi of different upbringings was sometimes compared to the difference between a quiet spring and a raging waterfall. Water genasi often seeked out the company of their own kind, banding together in clans in order to protect themselves as they grew in number. Often, the watersoul were poor leaders, and many of their cultures had large tribal councils and meetings involving a whole clan who took weeks or months to come to a decision. Water genasi were the most artistic of the genasi, and were very sentimental, crafting and painting with natural materials which signified long lines of ancestry and proud achievements of their fore-bearers.Magic and Religion
Like all genasi, water genasi felt a draw to both arcane magic and elemental magic but a great many also felt drawn to the ways of divine or even primal magic. Most water genasi spellcasters were clerics or druids and relatively few had the talent for sorcery. Many genasi wizards favored conjuration as a school of specialization, as it allowed them to summon other water elementals to their side. Water genasi had no common racial deity due to their varied origins, but there were some tenancies among the race. Many worshipped Istishia for his connection to the seas, but only in a cultural aspect. The primary deities - Deep Sashelas, Serula and Umberlee were the most common, and showed the primary divisions in water genasi society. Followers of Deep Sashelas were calm, noble and haughty, focusing their energy on peacemaking and diplomacy. They were not natural explorers but were fiercely opposed to evil and would defend their land with all it took. Followers of Sarula were close to Sashelas' kin, but were far more chaotic and bold. They were drawn to adventure and sought out glory and recognition, and her people would often compete with one another for valour. They were similarly fierce, but were also altruistic, protecting and advocating for others as well as their own. They often fought with followers of Umberlee to keep them in check. Followers of Umberlee were far more temperamental and viscous, keeping themselves hidden away from other mortals and actively attempted to draw others away from their lands. They would slaughter who they saw to be invaders, attacked nearby vessels and sunk them for fun and out of sheer malice. All water genasi clerics - their primary magic users - were of the Tempest Domain. They were the best at combining their elemental power with the divine gifts handed to them, and were loyal followers of their deities. Those who have made contact with these tribes have returned with tales of their ferocity and passion unmatched on Toril.Tiefling
Tieflings were human-based planetouched, native outsiders that were infused with the touch of the fiendish planes, most often through descent from fiends—demons, Yugoloths, devils, evil deities, and others who had bred with humans. Tieflings were known for their cunning and personal allure, which made them excellent deceivers as well as inspiring leaders when prejudices were laid aside. Although their evil ancestors could be many generations removed, the taint lingered. Unlike half-fiends, tieflings were not predisposed to evil alignments and varied in alignment nearly as widely as full humans, though tieflings were certainly devious. They were the demonic counterpart to the celestial aasimar
Tieflings were the most rare of all planetouched. Unlike fey'ri who could hide in plain sight, or the aasimir who - despite being outcasts - were at least good-aligned, the tiefling were truely outcasts, exiled due to the unsettling air about them, and most people were uncomfortable around them, whether they were aware of the tiefling's unsavory ancestry or not. While some looked like normal humans, most retained physical characteristics derived from their ancestor, with the most common such features being horns, prehensile tails, and pointed teeth. Some tieflings also had eyes that were solid orbs of black, red, white, silver, or gold, while others had eyes more similar to those of humans.
n many other ways, tieflings were similar to humans physically. Tieflings were, on average, just as tall as humans, from 5′6″‒6′2″ and weighed just a little bit heavier at 140‒220 lb. Tiefling skin was usually human-like in colour, though extending past normal human colors into reddish hues as well. Tiefling hair was also often the same colour as human hair, though dark blue, red, or purple were common shades amongst the race. Although it was not always the case, tieflings tended to have better reflexes than their human kin. This, along with their natural propensity for hiding and deceit helped to give tieflings a reputation for thievery and duplicity. They were naturally drawn to innate magics, sorcery and blood magic, but also were often expert fighters and monks from their quick reactions.
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