Kaithur

As seen in

In Their Shadows (Prose)

From the tinest insect, to the most glorious cryptid, to the rarest plant to the most ambitious human, every last lifeform on Emynea has two kaithur! These are two abilities inherited from one's ancestors who were originally blessed by the Erlithmanil in the Era of Legends or less commonly from their children, the Aethid. Kaithur are innate elemental connections, linking a caster to an aspect and allowing them to pull power from an elemental plane. They wield this power according to their manifestation, the way a caster can use their aspect. These are also inherited but some are rarer than others and not all manifestations are equal--some gifts are greater than others! Because each of the ten Erlithmanil have five aspects, more specific divisions of their element, there are more than fifty aspects which can be inherited in any combination! Whatever one's kaithur, their magic expresses itself physically meaning everyone has both a normal form and a magic form which they can switch between or even blend together. In fact, displaying one's form is considered stylish in many countries! Even kaithur that don't physically alter the body, such as granting their caster wings or shifting their body into metal, gain a wide array of colorful patterns and markings. These appear across the body, depending on one's manifestation, and vivid hair or eye colors are commonplace. The color of these markings express their elemental connection, certain colors associated with specific elements like orange for fire magic or purple for decay. Yet the exact shapes and patterns are different for everyone! Aside from elemental connection, the other half of kaithur is manifestation—how are they able to wield it? While cultures around Emynea each have their own names, stories and legends for these abilities, the most efficient is the Accian system. Each kaithur are named first by aspect and then by manifestation. For example, Flithmar's Aura is the ability to summon flames while Besida's Form grants the caster attributes of a specific kind of bird such as wings, feathers, talons or a beak. Which bird differs by family or even individual. As a final example, Zithvek's Manipulation is a mental manifestation which allows the caster to manipulate emotions and thoughts related to Zithvek such as rage, need, passion or drive. Each individual, of whatever species, has two kaithur in whichever combination they inherit from their parents or grandparents, these two abilities merging and interacting in unique ways. Also, as there is a distinction between mental and physical aspects, there are differences in physical manifestations and mental manifestations. While sharing similar names, how these manifestations can be used or how they express themselves differ wildly. These are simply the names established by the Kingdom of Accia's scholars after all.

Manifestation There are a wide variety of manifestations in Emynea, some far more common than others (Auras, Sense, Manipulation) while others are more rare (Body, Step, Blade). The rarest of these abilities are usually more powerful or complex and the most powerful gifts were rarely given, restricted to specific bloodlines of heros or royalty. Some will call kaithur racial magic as abilities are more or less tied to specific peoples of Emynea. Variety in what can be inherited isn't as common outside of humanity, most species sticking to the biomes they have evolved or are blessed to thrive in. After all, each biome in Emynea is heavily influenced if not laced with the magic of a certain aspect. While the kingdom believes it has documented every kind of manifestation, every now and then they are proven wrong! No matter how large this empire grows, magic never fails to show them something new.

Physical Aura Blade Blood Body Body Bone Breath Charge Craft Diet Eye Fertility Form Imprint Manipulation Movement Pocket Push Rebirth Sense Shield Skin Sleep Slip Step Touch Venom Vision

Mental Apathy Aura Binding Empathy Eye Manipulation Mind Sense Shadow Shield Step Touch Vision Will

Origins After the Birth of the Erlithmanil, these entities recrafted the world by lacing everything and everyone with their magic. They granted all lifeforms two elemental abilities sometimes referred to as blessings. These original gifts were passed down from parent to child, altering the natural balance of Emynea. Humans, beasts and plants alike came to depend upon and even define themselves by their fantastical gifts, newly capable of living in more extreme evironments seeping with magic. The societies of the newly dubbed Emynea continue to frame their lives by these abilities to this day. Few scholars know the original name for these gifts in ancient Accian, Gokiza Filthur, lost to thistory. All kaithur pull from the Erlithmanil who originally shared their power, from the elemental planes which are pieces of the elements' minds and souls. Casters draw from and use these connections using their own life energy, their own soul, to draw from or access the elemental planes. This connection cannot be severed, as all divine pacts are permanent, but the Erlithmanil are able to block or temporarily stop the flow of their magic if they make a conscious effort to do so. After all, they are the source. If a caster exhausts themselves, they are not able to utilize their connection again until they rest. Interestingly, casters tend to develop certain personality quirks, tendencies or habits aligning with their asepct. These Aspects are the actual embodiments of nature, living within their Elemental Planes as a shard of their Erlithmanil's whole consciousness. Casters will develop at least one quality but can still develop more.

Aspect Colors Each element is connected to a specific color, colors which appear on the magic forms of kaithur casters. These correspond to aspects, adding a visual indication of one's kaithur to their form. Those blessed by Aethid have far more dramatic markings.

	Zalikar	Black
	Azowyr Gray	charcoal, onyx, ash, ebony
	Vokda True Black	pureblack, jet, spider, eerie, blackhole
	Siptalis Brownish	soot, oil, taupe, midnight, basalt, licorice
	Felryth Greenish	olive, jade, power
	Irkath Bluish	slate, black rock, denim, cool, magic, frost

	Lithmor	White
	Kalitho Silverine	Mercury, alabaster, platinum, off white, pearl
	Rithaldis True White	Frost, swan, whitewash
	Mpertem Reddish	Seashell, rose, linen
	Rylmar Blueish Greenish	Snow, titan, honeydew
	Kanilwyr Yellowish	ivory, milk, pear, eggshell

	Wylrith	Blue
	Ithisda True Blue	azure, sapphire, ultramarine, royal
	Iska Light	arctic, sky, electric, ice, powder
	Vapri Grayish	slate, cobalt, blue gray, steel
	Siryl Dark	egyptian, navy, zaffre
	Lothvem Purplish	electric indigo, indigo, midnight

	Ferith	Orange
	Flithmar True Orange	Pumpkin, carrot, flame, tangerine
	Emryl Light	Amber, bumblebee, marigold
	Shil Dark	Rust, burnt umber
	Corrust Vivid	Orioles, pantone, neon
	Zithvek Reddish	Vermilion, sunset, poppy

	Rylis	Bluegreen
	Oksi True Bluegreen	Bluegreen, Vertigris
	Yrisni Light	aquamarine, turquoise
	Sonildaz Dark	teal, jade
	Pale	robin egg, seafoam
	Charnos Vivid	cyan, aqua

	Ylithuum	Brown
	Gokmar True Brown	Russet, tawny, chocolate
	Oril Reddish	Auburn, rufous, chestnut
	Martor Metallic	Copper, brass, bronze
	Gokrilvek Dark	Walnut, sepia, taupe
	Elbixur Light	Beige, tan, sand

	Dalyeric	Purple
	Ithkor True Purple	grape, eminance, tacao
	Torith Pinkish	orchid, amaranth, mulberry
	Veksit Dark	wine, egplant, byzantium
	Bulok Light	lavender, lilac, pastel, mauve
	Krithda Bluish	violet, amethyst, regalia

	Raegeric	Yellow
	Beranok True Yellow	corn, lemon, banana
	Ylixa Golden	honey, amber, goldenrod
	Ralgot Dark	dijon, yellow curry, trombone
	Ranalis Light	pale, cream, mimosa
	Malok Vivid	neon, flourescent

	Lunil	Red
	Maralith Dark	maroon, burgandy, garnet
	Riptalis True Red	crimson, scarlet, cherry
	Iliog Vivid	rasberry, neon pink, fuschsia
	Lishil Light Pink	salmon, coral, pastel
	Besida True Pink	hot pink, rose, ruby red

	Fliral	Green
	Barnok True Green	emerald, spring, malachite
	Maroksi Light	pistachio, mint, peridot
	Torrym Dark	pine, olive, shamrock
	Ithgalem Bluish	sea, fern, caribbean
	Lithyr Vivid	neon, lime, harlequin