Originating from the north, the Arsier have adapted to life in the harsh environments of the frigid mountains. Known for their resilience and unmatched stoneworking skills, the Arsier are a stoic and hardy people who thrive in the cold but struggle in warmer climates.
Physical Characteristics
The Arsier are stout, heavily built humanoids with thick frames, well-suited to the physical demands of their mountainous homeland. Their dense fur, which ranges from dark grey to black and occasionally includes shades of brown or reddish hues, offers exceptional insulation, helping them endure the extreme cold. This fur, however, makes them prone to overheating when exposed to warmer climates. As a result, they must seek cooler environments to avoid exhaustion. They also have broad, clawed hands, and long snout-like faces that tend to make them resemble moles. Their hands stand out due to their power, with claws meant for digging dirt, sand, and gravel. Given enough time, even stone yields to their efforts.
One of the most notable traits of the Arsier is their ability to withstand extreme cold unlike many others. Their thick fur helps them resist freezing temperatures, allowing them to navigate blizzards and survive the biting cold of high altitudes with ease. This also comes with a significant drawback: they are very sensitive to heat, which makes travel outside of the mountains difficult for them, with the Arsier being quick to overheat in warmer climates.
Behavior and Instincts
The Arsier are a people of pragmatism and endurance, accustomed to the harsh realities of life in the mountains. Their temperament reflects the resilience required to thrive in such a brutal climate, and they often come across as stoic and reserved to outsiders. Social gatherings tend to be small and intimate, as they value trust and companionship built over time rather than large, boisterous communities. Though the Arsier have a strong sense of kinship, they are not overly demonstrative in their affection. Instead, they show their care through practical acts, such as sharing resources, offering assistance during difficult tasks, or crafting useful items for their loved ones. Their interactions are often quiet but meaningful, with much of their communication conveyed through action rather than words.
The Arsier’s relationship with the cold also extends beyond mere survival; they revere the mountain’s elements, seeing blizzards and avalanches as natural forces to be respected. Their architecture and stonework are designed not just for shelter, but for harmonizing with the harsh mountain weather, creating dwellings that funnel warmth efficiently and provide protection from the cold winds. Part of this comes from an almost innate talent they have for working with stone, which makes their craftsmanship unique among stonemasons for their precision and intricacy that most others are hard-pressed to replicate.
