### History of the Strigoi
The Strigoi are an underground race born of a millennia-old curse that relegated them underground, separating them from the rest of the inhabitants of Valenor. The curse is said to have been inflicted by one of the new deities, angered by an offense committed by their ancestors. Legend has it that these ancestors, then known as Lumians, were a powerful and proud people with great magical and scientific knowledge. Their ambition, however, led them to challenge the deities themselves, seeking to steal the secret of immortality.
Which deity it was that cursed them is information that has now been lost in the mists of time, but the terrible punishment inflicted on them to punish their arrogance turned the Lumians into creatures of darkness, making them unable to endure sunlight and forcing them to live underground. Since then, these beings have been known as Strigoi, a name that evokes fear and loathing among the other races of Valenor.
### Characteristics of Strigoi
**Physical Appearance**: Strigoi have pale, greenish and almost translucent skin, with visible dark veins. Their eyes are dark-adapted, with large black pupils that glow an eerie red glow in the dark. They have sharp claws and sharp teeth, useful adaptations for hunting underground.
**Longevity**: Due to the curse, Strigoi have extremely long lives, even if they are not immortal. They live for hundreds of years, which makes them wise and patient, but also melancholic and distant.
**Food**: They feed mainly on insects, small rodents and other creatures that live underground. In recent centuries, however, some Strigoi have begun experimenting with plants and fungi that grow in caves, developing a more varied diet.
**Magic Resistance**: The curse has also endowed Strigoi with considerable resistance to magic. While this makes them difficult to enchant or curse further, it also limits their ability to use more advanced magical arts.
-**A Mysterious Deity**: A forgotten people like the Strigoi have nevertheless found a way to arouse the interest and compassion of at least one of the deities of the new Pantheon of Valenor. In recent centuries an unclear deity has begun to grant powers to Strigoi Priests.
### Culture and Society
**Social Organization**: Strigoi society is organized into clans, each led by an elder known as the Patriarch or Matriarch. These leaders are respected for their wisdom and their ability to guide the clan through the dangers of the underground.
**Religion and Beliefs**: Despite the curse, Strigoi maintain a deep spirituality. They worship a deity of the underground and the night, praying for protection and guidance. It is said that it is the goddess Danu or Sela herself who took their fate to heart. The deity is called "The Veiled Goddess" and to this day she is widely worshiped by the Strigoi. Some Strigoi actively seek forgiveness from the gods, hoping to free themselves from the curse. This group is known as the Penitents and has developed a large following in the various Strigoi clams.
**Technology and Magic**: Their technology is still very advanced even if it is based only on materials found underground. Additionally, their knowledge of subterranean plants and animals is advanced, allowing them to create potions and antidotes. Magic, the cause that condemned them to live far from everyone, is viewed with suspicion, but some clans have maintained ancient rituals and spells.
### Exploration of the Outer World
In recent decades, a growing number of Strigoi have begun venturing into the outside world, driven by the hope of finding a cure for their curse or simply to explore new horizons. These pioneers face the risk of discovery and persecution, but many of them are willing to take this risk for the good of their people.
### Folklore and Legends
**The Ritual of Forgiveness**: A legend popular among the Strigoi tells of an ancient ritual that could free them from the curse. This ritual requires the sacrifice of a sacred object, hidden for centuries deep underground, and the offering of an act of extreme kindness towards the other races of Valenor.
**The Prophecy of the Redeemer**: According to an old prophecy, one day a Strigoi will be born with the power to undo the curse. This Redeemer will guide his people towards redemption and reintegrate them into surface society.
The Strigoi are a fascinating and complex race, caught between the desire for redemption and the need to survive in the dark depths of the world of Valenor.
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