Volatils (vo'lətils)
Volatils were the first mortal species placed on Deus, at the dawn of the First Course. In their early years, Deus was barren save for the Titans and that which sustained them, and even today Volatils are capable of surviving in even the harshest of environments, perfect for their ancestral home in the mountains of Arbor. They predate Durusans and Lacertians, the other two First Course species, by a significant length of time.
As a prototype species, Volatils had a very unfinished appearance when they were first placed on Deus, as is depicted in ancient Volatil art. Over time, as they produced children, their appearances solidified, but even now they retain some of their original traits or lacks thereof.
All Volatils have skin in some shade of gray, which is completely free of hair save for that on their heads—and even that was not present at their creation. Such hair is always pure white and straight. Volatils' eyes are solid white, with no visible irises or blood vessels, and while not as common or extreme as in their first generations, often a Volatil will have two eyes of different sizes or shapes. A Volatil's mouth appears roughly cut—they may have ragged lips, or the skin might even be connected in places. At times when such a connection impedes a Volatil's ability to eat, they may opt for surgery to sever it. Volatils have a much wider range of height than most other species, but tend towards the taller side of their average range.
The defining feature of a Volatil is their wings. These wings are feathered, like a bird's, in white, black, or grey, and they often appear much larger than their owner's body. With these wings, Volatils are capable of flight, a unique feature among all mortal species.
Volatils do not possess any universal magical powers, unlike the species which followed them. However, they do have a high incidence of natural-born mages, who have powers of telekinesis—and, rarely, telepathy.
While the ancestral home of the Volatils is in the mountains, they have spread evenly across Deus in the years since the First Course. While they have since been outnumbered by races such as Eagen and Humans throughout most of the continent, they are still far from uncommon anywhere one might go, and reign supreme in their mountain home.
As a prototype species, Volatils had a very unfinished appearance when they were first placed on Deus, as is depicted in ancient Volatil art. Over time, as they produced children, their appearances solidified, but even now they retain some of their original traits or lacks thereof.
All Volatils have skin in some shade of gray, which is completely free of hair save for that on their heads—and even that was not present at their creation. Such hair is always pure white and straight. Volatils' eyes are solid white, with no visible irises or blood vessels, and while not as common or extreme as in their first generations, often a Volatil will have two eyes of different sizes or shapes. A Volatil's mouth appears roughly cut—they may have ragged lips, or the skin might even be connected in places. At times when such a connection impedes a Volatil's ability to eat, they may opt for surgery to sever it. Volatils have a much wider range of height than most other species, but tend towards the taller side of their average range.
The defining feature of a Volatil is their wings. These wings are feathered, like a bird's, in white, black, or grey, and they often appear much larger than their owner's body. With these wings, Volatils are capable of flight, a unique feature among all mortal species.
Volatils do not possess any universal magical powers, unlike the species which followed them. However, they do have a high incidence of natural-born mages, who have powers of telekinesis—and, rarely, telepathy.
While the ancestral home of the Volatils is in the mountains, they have spread evenly across Deus in the years since the First Course. While they have since been outnumbered by races such as Eagen and Humans throughout most of the continent, they are still far from uncommon anywhere one might go, and reign supreme in their mountain home.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Volatil names are long and consist of a given name, a family name, and an honorific. The family name consists of two parts—typically a type of bird and a trait of that bird. Family names are usually written in Modern Dean.
Given names are long, rarely less than two syllables and usually three or more. They tend to have a large incidence of high vowels, voiceless consonants, and laterals and rhotics, and are usually noted as melodious. Vowel clusters and diphthongs are common, as are consonant combinations other species might consider unusual. Typically, Volatil given names will end in a consonant, and gender is usually denoted by the starting sound.
Volatil honorifics consist of a consonant and a vowel, which may be a diphthong. The consonant always pulls from an elder god whose traits are apparent in the individual, and the vowel may as well, particularly in cases where the individual recieves an honorific for the first time later in life, such as if they are a non-Volatil given a temporary or common honorific by Volatil.
Volatil will almost always give a temporary honorific when referring to someone who is not a Volatil or who has not shared their common honorific (or, in some cases, when it is not believed that the individual lives up to their common honorific). This temporary honorific is based on the perceptions of the giver and is not considered a part of the individual's name. Common honorifics, which all Volatil are gifted for the first time in early childhood and will persist and change as they grow, are considered a part of the individual's full name. The vowel of a common honorific will persist throughout the individual's life, though the consonant will usually change on occasion. In some instances, such as the case of sky pirate captain Zou Nym-Shoɾon, a common honorific will be granted to a non-Volatil by a Volatil community surrounding that individual and will henceforth be considered part of their full name.
Male given names include:
Given names are long, rarely less than two syllables and usually three or more. They tend to have a large incidence of high vowels, voiceless consonants, and laterals and rhotics, and are usually noted as melodious. Vowel clusters and diphthongs are common, as are consonant combinations other species might consider unusual. Typically, Volatil given names will end in a consonant, and gender is usually denoted by the starting sound.
Volatil honorifics consist of a consonant and a vowel, which may be a diphthong. The consonant always pulls from an elder god whose traits are apparent in the individual, and the vowel may as well, particularly in cases where the individual recieves an honorific for the first time later in life, such as if they are a non-Volatil given a temporary or common honorific by Volatil.
Volatil will almost always give a temporary honorific when referring to someone who is not a Volatil or who has not shared their common honorific (or, in some cases, when it is not believed that the individual lives up to their common honorific). This temporary honorific is based on the perceptions of the giver and is not considered a part of the individual's name. Common honorifics, which all Volatil are gifted for the first time in early childhood and will persist and change as they grow, are considered a part of the individual's full name. The vowel of a common honorific will persist throughout the individual's life, though the consonant will usually change on occasion. In some instances, such as the case of sky pirate captain Zou Nym-Shoɾon, a common honorific will be granted to a non-Volatil by a Volatil community surrounding that individual and will henceforth be considered part of their full name.
Male given names include:
- Veltian
- Coxruit
- Piloutian
- Speira
- Mnaiosveir
- Altian
- Eisvoral
- Iotes
- Aiklavar
- Outin
- Hawkeye
- Eagleflight
- Sparrowbeak
- Owlsight
- Cardinalfeather
Creator
Unknown Elder God
Notable Individuals
Ta Iotes Hawksight
Ke Lkiuer Falconwing
Unknown Elder God
Lifespan
100 years
Average Height
5'2"–5'9" (female), 5'5"–6'4" (male)
Ta Iotes Hawksight
Ke Lkiuer Falconwing
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments