Genasi
High King Nor has talked with these dwarves who appear cut from stone. They claim to be creatures known as Genasi, born of Uzka who influenced the planes. While their origin is suspect, their capability with stone and metals is not. We watched as they glided across rough stone terrain and found rich mineral deposits with ease. With these people in our kingdom, Kal-Morak's prosperity will boom.
Basic Information
Anatomy
While Genasi share the anatomy of their mortal lineage, it is obvious what Elemental influence is upon them. Some Genasi look like they are made out of their elements such as the Earth and Air Genasi, appearing as metals, skylines, or even raging storms. For Genasi like the water ones, they take traits of animals that live in their elements such as fins and gills. Fire Genasi, due to being the only ones that have darkvision, seem to have eyes that glow more than other Genasi, sometimes appearing as balls of fire instead of normal eyes.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
- The Brandovian Empire: Just like Aasimar, Genasi tales of heroism were spread in the Empire and they were viewed as another example of Mortal Divinity. As a result, many can be found in their ranks, fighting to bring an end to the worship of gods.
- The Haiakage Empire: The valor and strength the Genasi showed in the face of the Elders moved many within the Empire and they are viewed as model warriors who were invited to join the Empire in their destruction of the weak and the forging of the strong.
History
The story of Genasi is connected to the Elementals they have a connection to. Before the Cosmic Barrier fell, elemental energy was the only thing from the Elemental realms that could influence Avestra. While the Leylines were the effect on the land, the birth of the Genasi was the effect on the people. However, this wasn't the first appearance of the Genasi as the Elementals on the different planes were sometimes found of the races in their home fascinating enough to cause the same result.
Some Elementals saw these elemental-touched people as their own children. Others, however, saw them as tools and slaves. Thanks to the Elemental planes serving as moons to Avestra, that meant the Genasi could pass through the Cosmic barrier at ease. And they were often sent out to show people on Avestra how to conjure Elementals or even have the Genasi summon them there.
The people of Avestra regarded these strange people the same way they viewed the Aasimar and Tiefling: Fear and persecution. It didn't help the magic they helped to spread caused such terrible calamities. It is believed that Genasi are to blame for the Xi'jian Desert as a Phoenix burned it and most of the Aerin Valley into a desert before the supposed restoration by the Aerin Pantheon.
Some Genasi followed them because it was all they knew but when the extraplanar Genasi saw how their Avestran cousins could live free without Elemental masters looming over them, many fled to Avestra and chose never to return to the Elemental planes. How long the Genasi did this is unknown as markers of their arrival can be traced across the world and very far back. The few records from the Underroad empires have mention of "people who appeared as if they were carved from stone" who helped them build the network.
Whatever the case, Genasi viewed both Avestra and their Elemental planes as their homes. When the Elders came, many Genasi warriors lost their lives in the fight to protect their home. However, they were not given the gratitude they deserved as much as the Aasimar and even Tieflings were in the battle against Aberrations. The majority of Elementals didn't even give them that, viewing it as their duty as descendants of them.
So now the children of Elementals live in a world where they are the unsung heroes, their treatment varying from land to land. It should be no surprise they turned to more extreme ends such as the Haiakage or the Brandovian Empire who's messages are tempting to those who think they were abandoned.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Genasi view most of the Elementals as fickle parents or ancestors that view them as nothing but tools. While the latter view the former as nothing of consequence, the Genasi view their parents with malice born from the mistreatment they faced. The ones that don't share these trait watch the Elementals with a wary eye as they know that for them, they only care for their own power and prestige. The rare ones that don't, while mistrusted at first, are eventually accepted with open arms.
Genasi treat both Aasimar and Tieflings better than the non-planetouched treated them in the past. The 3 are cousins in a way and when push comes to shove, a Genasi is more likely to look to them to aid than anyone else. This kindness has begun to spread to the Kalashtar as the Genasi know what its like to be treated badly because of their creator's heritage. As such, Genasi settlements will sometimes have Kalashtar living amongst them. Though this gift can turn to a curse should a Kalashtar be revealed to be working for the Elders.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Origin/Ancestry
Air, Earth, Fire, Water
Lifespan
20 years longer than their original species
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