Genasi

Those few who have knowledge of the other elemental planes consider them remote, distant realms, but their planar influence can be felt throughout the world. It sometimes manifests in beings who, through an accident of birth, carry the power of the elemental planes in their blood. The Genasi are one such people, the offspring of Genies and mortals, or the result of elemental magics. Much of the Elemental Planes are often inhospitable to natives of the Material Plane: crushing earth, searing flames, boundless skies, and endless seas make visiting these places dangerous for even a short time. The powerful genies and elemental beings, however, don’t face such troubles when venturing into the mortal world. They adapt well to the mingled elements of the Material Plane, and they sometimes visit—whether of their own volition or compelled by magic. Some can adopt mortal guise and travel incognito. During these visits, a mortal might catch a genie’s eye. Friendship forms, romance blooms, and sometimes children result. These children are Genasi: individuals with ties to two worlds, yet belonging to neither. Some Genasi are born of mortal–genie unions, others have two Genasi as parents, and a rare few have a genie further up their family tree, manifesting an elemental heritage that’s lain dormant for generations. Occasionally, Genasi result from exposure to a surge of elemental power, through phenomena such as an eruption from the Inner Planes or a planar convergence. A baby born within the eye of a hurricane might become an air Genasi, while a fire Genasi might be born in the midst of a raging forest fire. Elemental energy saturates any creatures in the area and might alter their nature enough that their offspring with other mortals are born as Genasi. Because of their origin, all Geneasi are tied to a type of elemental power, and appear in the form of Earth, Fire, Water and Air Genasi. Being born of elemental powers, most Genasi also tend not to be worshippers of The Prime Pantheon, and rather pay hommage to their Genie or Elemental Lord.

Elemental Power in mortal form

Genasi inherit something from both sides of their dual nature. They resemble humans but have unusual skin color (typically red, green, blue, or gray), and there is something odd about them. The elemental blood flowing through their veins manifests differently in each Genasi, often as magical power. Seen in silhouette, a Genasi can usually pass for Human. Those of earth or water descent tend to be heavier, while those of air or fire tend to be lighter and thinner. While often human in shape and stature, a Genasi can technically be born of any race; Elf, Dwarf, Dragonborn, or otherwise, but will normally grow into a shape similar to that of a human. Despite this, a given Genasi might have some features reminiscent of the mortal parent (pointed ears from an elf, a stockier frame and thick hair from a dwarf, small hands and feet from a Halfling, exceedingly large eyes from a Gnome and so on). Genasi are so visually distinctive and uncommon, very much like their celestially touched Aasimar cousins; they are treated with equal amounts of surprise, wonder, and sometimes outright suspicion in all the nations of Esseas and Tyrean. The authoritarian regime of the Kingdom of Tiriande reacts the most harshly to the unique power of Genasi, and The Violet Eye in the Ondari Dominion takes especially keen interest in them. Genasi are often press-ganged into joining The Eye under threat of death or exile, and most accept the offer. Those who refuse—and who survive—often take refuge in the empire’s criminal underworld, with many finding acceptance in organizations such as The Shadow Brokers or the Bilgewater Cartel.

Genasi Lands

As rare beings in most lands, Genasi might go their entire lives without encountering another one of their kind. There are no known great Genasi cities or empires. Genasi seldom have communities of their own and typically adopt the cultures and societies into which they are born. The more strange their appearance, the harder time they have. Many genasi lose themselves in teeming cities, where their distinctiveness hardly raises an eyebrow in places accustomed to a variety of different people. Genasi are exceedingly rare throughout most of Esseas and Tyrean, as befits their unique origins. Many Genasi who wander northern Esseas speak of the far off deserts known as the Dunes of Kharak, or the colourful jungles of the Ixaocan Peninsula as their home. Within Esseas and Tyrean, the reclusive Cindarian Dukedoms sees an unusually high population of Fire Genasi, and likewise does the Meridian Concord see a larger population of Water Genasi. Most who do choose to live among people's of Northern Esseas tend to gravitate towards the Elemental focused groups within the Earthen Circle, integrate themselves into environments where odd is the usual such as travelling shows or large cities; and others instead choose to live the solitary life on the road.