Varya

Artificial but Fully Sapient Humanoids of Wooden Sinew

‘Varya’ is a word in the Eladrin Old Tongue, without direct translation but meaning something between ‘guardian’ and ‘archivist’. These ‘guardians’ are beings of wooden sinew, where the roots of Elderbirches are "guided" into humanoid forms. They've historically taken a variety of shapes including bipdeal, quadrupedal and centaur-like.

Constructs, you say? They are, yes, but with one major difference from golems or animates: varya have souls. They are people, each individual as unique as you and I. This may be confirmed in a variety of ways: a major example is that varya are able to dream, casting their soul into the Dream Time, attached to the mysterious Thread of Silver. They die and can be resurrected in the same manner as organic humanoids. They are able to harness ki energy, which is thought to be the primal energy of one's individual soul. Spells that trap or otherwise affect souls, like Magic Jar, work normally. And so on.

Though otherwise as variable in personality as any other sentient species, all varya possess superb eidetic memory; they usually carry reputations as ponderous and knowledgeable despite their often imposing physique. The most long-lived of Material peoples, they tend to have a very unhurried nature.

Alas, few of the eladrin who survived the Deluge had retinues of varya, and even fewer guardians now wander Waking Materia independently (as is their sacred right, if they deem their masters unworthy). However, as Materia’s oceans recede and fresh air falls on ancient eladrin ruins, some old shells are regaining the spark of life...

Appearance

See also: Varya Image Gallery (External)

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Varya may actually take any shape or size their creator chooses, though it appears most of their creators chose standard (if somewhat large) humanoid shapes and sizes. It's commonly theorized this is to make the varya feel less alienated from the majority population.

Geography

Most remaining retinues of varya are found on the major eladrin civilization of Ilhalvalaut, to the Voidwest of the Broken Empire. The Rakuyōsei of Marai are currently exploring some newly-exposed eladrin ruins along the Coreward coasts and islands of the continent where a major population of dormant varya are located, however they have not yet discovered the means to awaken them.

Galateids

The Galateids are thought to be made the same way varya are, though this is not known for certain as knowledge of their creation seems to be a closely-guarded secret of the Former Juran Empire.