Abien

The Abien are an ancient and immortal race that none really know the origins of. They are best described as sapient spirits more than anything. Most reveare and also fear them due to the unknown nature of their existance.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Nothing is known aside from their ability to comfortably maintain the appearance of litterally any creature they so please. In their humanoid forms though they maintain the average seeming appearnace of whichever race views them.

Biological Traits

Abien are known for their lack of basic needs and their reseliance to pretty much everything. It's hard to say what their biological traits are as they are known to come in many forms and to change them at will. It is known however that they do not possess any kind of gender.

Genetics and Reproduction

It is unknown if they even do reprodce as they seem to have no gender. How they multiply is unknown.

Ecology and Habitats

Rich diverse forest ecosytems, they can survive in urban settings as well, proven by the Abien who holds a seat on the council in Etherian. However the likelyhood of finding one in such a place is near unheard of and they favor rich areas teaming with wildlife.

Additional Information

Social Structure

They don't seem to have much of a social structure, preferring to stay solitary in their particular territories. However, they do all answer to one being above the rest, this being is thought to be the eldest of them. They unite only in times of great need, or when called upon by the great elder.

Facial characteristics

Not much is known of their facial features beyond glowing eyes of many colors and fangs that are often bared in the apperance of a grin. Aside from that the most prominent feature is the skull they wear as a helmet and mask.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

They live exclusively in the forests of the empire, previously only residing in Niafothra Forest but expanding upon joining the empire and taking residence across the forests of Vasea.

Average Intelligence

They are wise creatures with broad reaching knowledge on many subjects though they do not share this lightly. Many try to convince them to share their knowledge, especially of ancient peoples, civilizations, and times. They have all failed however.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They are known to be able to see and hear everything that happens within their territory. They are also credited with a near mystical preemptive sense, though some argue they can actually read the minds of those in their territory. This belief comes from their warnings arriving as soon as a thought of breaking custom, tabboo, or ettiquete crosses one's mind.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Their names can be derived from two sources and only one is commonly understood. Their names are either involving characristics or features of nature in thier territory, or words that the meaning of is unknown and of ancient origin. They typically bare two names because of this, the one that can be used by the common tongue, and the ancient name that most can not even say.

Major Organizations

They have no real organizations outside of their loyalty to the Great Elder, and to those whom he has determined worthy and allied himself with.

Average Technological Level

They reject personal use of all technology outside of basic weapons and tools.

Common Etiquette Rules

It is a common curtosy to leave an offering of some sort at the wayshrine in the center of an Abien's territory when passing through. 
It is also a common sign of respect to announce ones entry, intentions, and purposes as well as estimated duration of time spent inside the territory before entering. This is always followed by an announcement and show of gratitude when leaving.
Common etiquitte also states that one shall always acknowldege any gifts, sightings, or words, from their host in humaniod form. As well as acknowledge any sighting of creatures that are too large or that bare glowing eyes in these territories and to always accept any gifts found outside of camp grounds.

Common Dress Code

They seem to all dress the same in humanoid form. Rough natural leather pants and shirts, no shoes, cowls of leather, fur, feather, and bone. Carrying staves that look to be young trees of varying types, and covered by cloaks of the same make as their cowls.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Not much is known of their culture aside from their solitary natures, and their obvious hunting prowese. They are truely an enigma to other races. Even those they share a province with.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

They seem to have a custom of leaving gifts for travelers that they intend to protect. As well as warnings for those that anger them. 
The only traditions they seem to observe is that on nights of special moons they all light a form of effigy on fire at their way shrines though the effigies are unique to the specific Abien. The other is that they all make a trip once a season to the territory of the Great Elder, and leave offerings of various types. They then spend a few days with the Great Elder before they return to their own territories.

Common Taboos

Hunting small wildlife, the young, the ill, the elderly, or the pregnant creatures of their territories.
Not showing respect or following the proper ettiqute for traveling through their territory.
Starting fires larger than what is necessary to cook and keep warm.
Harming the forest in any way.
Leaving a scrafficial offering for them at the way shrine.

Common Myths and Legends

There are many myths and legends involving the Abien but none that the Abien seem to observe or acknowledge.
The oracle is an ancient being, one of the Abein, in fact, to them, he is known as the Great Elder, no one knows how old exactly he is, to be honest. He is older than known history, one of the few things that is known about him is that he is never wrong in his predictions. However to approach him to ask for a prophecy is to take your life in your own hands as he is known to eat those who irritate him, disrespect him, or that he does not approve of. That said the number of people he is known to have seen and let live is fewer than 30. Even rarer than that is the number he has given his approval to, in fact, there is only one person in known history to have earned his favor...the Emperor Rai. It was truly considered a feat of epic proportions when Rai not only survived meeting the being but came out with a prophecy of victory and a declaration of alliance and fealty.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

All other races both fear and reveare the Abien. They do not interact much with any other denizens of the Empire aside from what is necessary or those passing through their lands. Mostly they are left alone as it is still a mystery how why became citizens of the Empire rather than just mystical beings in the woods.

Lifespan

Immortal

Average Height

Easily average od ten feet tall as humanoids, and larger than is considered normal for most of their other forms, those of various beasts.

Average Physique

It is hard to say what their average physique is because it varies so wildly. What can be said though is that they are often large hulking creatures almost entirely masked in furs, leathers, feathers, and bone. They have long thin hands and lanky though large limbs. Easily looking as sturdy as the trees of the forest they inhabit. To most their apperance is hard to decribe or process as they seem more shadow than physical being.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Pitch black is the most prominent coloration as they apear more shadow like and emphmeral than physical. They do sometimes bare strange arcane markings in glowing lights matching their eyes.

Related Organizations

• Authudel