Crystal Folk

Elementals of light.

Basics

• Taxonomic Order: Elementals

• Alignment: Aetherial

• Energy: The Bright

• Lifespan: 500 years

• Diet: Energy

• Habitat: Crystal fields and light forests in the sky

Origins

When light first struck a crystal and split into the spectrum, it gained consciousness, infusing the crystal itself and giving it life.

Description

Crystal folk never stop growing unless they trim themselves regularly. As adults, they can reach up to 30’ in height if they are untended, but most keep themselves to 10’ or so for practical reasons. If they dwell in non-giant societies, they shave themselves down to the height of those they dwell with. They are made entirely of jagged crystals filled with different colored lights. Crystals are all translucent, but they also vary in colors. They are anthropomorphic to a vague degree - they have arms, legs, and long, jagged fingers - but their faces are blank unless they sculpt them intentionally - something they do only to appease other mortals. They do have mouths, but only to speak with. Their voices come from the energies within them vibrating the crystals in their throats. They have natural indentations in their heads that are sometimes confused with eyes, but these are simply a consequence of how they grow.

Procreation

Crystal folk create new crystal folk by breaking off a piece of their own heads and planting it somewhere with mineral rich water, high pressure, vapor, or molten rock in order to grow it into a new crystal folk. Once the new crystal folk grows something resembling a mobile body, it is bathed in the bright in order to awaken it fully (usually at the Lesedian Mirror, but sometimes in other sources).

Powers

Crystal folk have excellent vision. They can absorb esoteric energies and convert them into the bright within their bodies (this is how they “eat”). They are made of crystal and therefore do not feel the cold, and heat is often absorbed unless it is extreme.

Refraction

When any form of light touches their bodies, it is refracted. Part of it becomes the bright, part of it becomes mundane light, and the rest remains the kind of esoteric light it was to begin with (if it was esoteric).

Inner Light

The energy within a crystal person can be directed by them from within their core (torso) and out of their hands in beams. These beams are pure aether (the bright) or mundane light, usually, though they can redirect other forms of esoteric light (ma’dhahabi, qeernariji, lunar aether, prasinofos, euphotonia, gossamer light) if they have stored enough of it (this is rare within the Faurillean nation). If they use their inner light, however, they must recharge.

Weaknesses

Brown aether kills them - it is the only energy they cannot convert other than the shadow energies (true shadow, arcane shadow, Elysian essence, and gemtkhereg), which is dissolved by their inner light, and recursion (which cannot be wielded or contained), void (which nullifies their power but does not kill them), and shebv heya (which neutralizes their power but does not harm them).

Nations

The main nation of crystal folk is the Faurilleans who live in Lesedi. Other nations exist in other parts of the world:

• Apavartak: subterranean crystal folk who live near magma pools and refract both ikehua lyua pele and lahab al’qalb. They are an obscure nation, though still sister to the Faurilleans in shepherding the flow of aether in the world.

• Didan: crystal folk who dwell near Lesedi and refract euphotonia, sending inspiration and wonder around the world. The Faurilleans consider them lost cousins, but still friendly, and respect their work in regulating the flow of celestial essence in the world.

• Modriljudje: crystal folk who dwell on the Moons and refract lunar aether, qeernariji, starlight, and moonlight, basking in it and directing it, being stewards of aether in the world and a sister nation to the Faurilleans.

• Munkasirat: crystal folk who dwell in equatorial regions where they bask in the sun as long as possible, absorbing the ma’dhahabi and emitting the power of the sun. They are considered a sibling nation to that of the Faurilleans who regulate and influence the flow of aether in the world.

• Omimbipáva: crystal folk in eastern Palhur’s rainforests who refract prasinofos (the green light of plants) as a sister nation to the Faurilleans, regulating and influencing the flow of aether in the world.

• Uanna: considered a traitor nation by the Faurilleans, these are a small nation who “succumbed” to gossamer light and became slaves to Ettuttu, or were “liberated” from “enslavement” to anything but themselves, depending on whom you ask.

Culture

Faurilleans dwell in Lesedi, the relatively small sky island country where the Lesedian Mirror is. The Mirror is a massive reflective glass that is instrumental in directing the flow of all esoteric energies in the world. It is one of the most powerful wonders of the world, and even the Divine bow before it. The Faurilleans tend and preserve it.

Faurillean culture is an egalitarian, genderless, classless society, but they have intermingled with the various other nations that dwell in Lesedi. They keep themselves separate for practical reasons, but they guide the other nations in keeping the mirror safe and preserved. They are ruled by a council of elders, which is elected from the eldest members of their people. The elders serve also as religious leaders, honoring Sedeia, the embodiment of the light.

Crystal folk have complete control of their reproduction and keep their population limited by custom, for the number 10 is sacred, so they always have a multiple thereof, usually 10,000. They replace themselves when one dies. If someone chooses to reproduce without another Faurillean dying, it is not forbidden, but it is frowned upon and discouraged. When children are created, whether acceptably or not, they are raised by the whole community. They are taught early to respect and honor Sedeia, the Mirror, and the light itself.

When children are deemed ready - usually after about 20 years - they are taken to the Mirror and allowed to bathe in its light for 10 hours. This gives them intense power, which they use to fill mundane crystals to create aetherial lamps. These lamps are then used within their homes for centuries to come. Once the last one goes out, the Faurillean knows they are going to die soon, it is said. If this is biological or cultural is unknown even to them - the few exceptions are those who restore themselves before the Lesedian Mirror to create new lamps. The more times they do this, the less power they can store each time.

Most crystal folk learn every task there is to do in their communities, which are small villages clustered around major crystal outcroppings in the lightwood forests or mountains around the Mirror. They generally have fewer material needs than most - they feed off light, which is abundant, and what little “waste” there is comes either in the form of more light, which takes care of itself, or crystal shavings, which are scattered in the crystal fields. They need no clothing, typically. Their greatest needs are shelter (to protect from scouring winds or violent storms), weapons to defend them from attack (the Mirror attracts dangerous foes sometimes), and various accouterments of disposing of crystal shards. They have a cultural affinity for accentuating the jaggedness of their bodies, and thus, certain kinds of polishing and sharpening tools are kept for cosmetic reasons.

Common roles in their communities are the lebone (lamplighters who keep the non-bonded lights shining), khanya (luminaires, those who wield the bright in its full powers), moletsi (musicians who wield light and sound together), gezelencz (those who preserve the lightwood and crystal fields), palaqq (storytellers, history-keepers, poets, musicians, bards among the crystal folk), ologba (those who keep crystal gardens and tend plants with light), and the tiboloalotha (the elders). The mosesisi oa likepe (light-sailors in the skies or space) and sethunya (refractors, warriors who use laser beams) are less common but still a part of the culture. The Seipone are tenders of the Mirror (among other species, these are all women, but there is no gender among the crystal folk); druids commune with the lightwood and crystal fields; and in modern eras, the setlhomo use the bright to take photographs. The mofuputsi are special crystal folk chosen by the community to “bring things to light” - investigate mysteries, crimes, or other issues - and the latela are religious worshipers overcome by the light.

Two crystal folk from every community are sent to serve in the Lesedian Guard every five years.

When a crystal person dies, their bodies are divided up and spread among the crystal fields. They are mourned for a year and a day, during which time a new crystal person is budded and grown.

National Cultures

• Apavartak: in the deep caverns, the Apavartak replace the bright with the light off the magma flows and pools, the subterranean phosphorescence and bioluminescence, and the dim drops of sunlight that reach them. They especially focus on ikehua lyua pele and lahab al’qalb, which they draw from the magma. They are more resistant to heat and protect the passages toward the Spirit Gate, though they never enter Shadowdeep. Once a year, they send a pilgrim to Lesedi to meet with the Faurilleans. They keep themselves much shorter than other crystal folk.

• Didan: in a nearby sky island, the Didan replace the bright with euphotonia, celestial light, the light of inspiration and wonder. They are friendly with their cousins the Faurilleans, but they serve a different purpose, carving vast crystal sculptures, forming works of wonder. They are also great sky sailors and have their special light ships. They, too, send a pilgrim to Lesedi once a year, but to commune directly with the mirror.

• Modriljudje: on the moons, the Modriljudje are part of the same cultural region as the surori, and they serve a similar role as the Faurilleans do to the Lesedians, being protectors of esoteric power who are seen as guides, friends, and protectors. They absorb the lunar aether, qeernariji, starlight, and moonlight that fills the moons, and they focus on understanding the cosmos. They fly spaceships between the moons, but they do not travel much further. They send a pilgrim to Lesedi once a year as well. They tend to be tall and slender.

• Munkasirat: in Mahad, the Munkasirat are an obscure nation in the deep deserts who bask in the ma’dhahabi and sunlight, becoming beacons of solar power. They tend to be larger than their cousins, and they consider themselves “purer”, as the sun is the greatest source of light. But they still send a pilgrim to Lesedi and pay homage to the Mirror. They pride themselves at being great warriors.

• Omimbipáva: in eastern Palhur’s rainforests, the aether known as prasinofos - green light, plant aether - is abundant, and the crystal folk here absorb it and let plants grow around and through themselves, forming symbiotic relationships. They believe that the Faurilleans and other crystal folk are engaged in vital work for the world and for light itself, but they find themselves often unable to engage that work, so deeply entwined they are with the plants. They range in height greatly - some are as tall as trees, others as small as flowers. They do not send pilgrims to Lesedi, but they often speak about how they should.

• Uanna: in Srisia, the Uanna all dwell within a special temple to Ettuttu where they tend to the spider warrens and bask in the gossamer light. They are servants to the Srisian Hierarchs and in truth, slaves, though they do not believe themselves so. They are extremely skilled at controlling others and are part of many political plots in the complex Srisian religion. They tend to be 8’ tall, slender, and they have extra arms.

Esoterica

Crystal folks are elementals of the bright and are the greatest wielders of it in the world. They invented the art of lamplighting and the luminaires. They wield all forms of esoteric light, especially ma’dhahabi, lunar aether, prasinofos, qeernariji, lahab al’qalb, ikehua lyua pele, ashar, euphotonia, lhair, radiance, tenyocan, gossamer light, flux, complexity, ethereal essence, and infernum. They also often wield kazaddarean, sonic aether, nommos, and mijjit. They cannot use brown aether, true shadow, gemtkhereg, arcane shadow, Elysian essence, or void.

Religion

Faurilleans worship Sedeia, the Mother of Light, the Lightbringer, the Shining Divine. They serve her as a figure of creation, nature, and guidance, and they believe she speaks to them through all forms of light. She is said to have created the Lesedian Mirror (though this is disputed outside their religion) and gave life to all crystal folk. Every community has religious leaders and beatificers who speak with Sedeia’s will and guide the community, but religion does not take the place of secular power. They simply advise.

Gender

Crystal folk are made of literal crystal. They reproduce asexually. Gender is unknown to them. They kinda view it as silly. While they are capable of love, they generally do not experience romantic love in the same way as others. Instead, they have communal love, familial love, and love of the self and of the Divine or the world as the highest forms of love.

Economy

They live in classless, moneyless communities, but they create things to trade with other Lesedians or outsiders in order to get things they need, though this is minimal. They sometimes create things for other Lesedians to trade for things the wider community needs, however.

Military

Two Faurilleans join the Lesedian Guard every five years as part of the local garrison. All Faurilleans learn to defend themselves.

Language

Lesedian is based on Sesotho.

Occupations

• Druid: communers with the lightwood and crystal fields.

• Gezelencz: rangers of the lightwood and crystal fields.

• Khanya: luminaires.

• Latela: those filled with the light who praise Sedeia.

• Lebone: lamplighters.

• Lesedian Guard: mirror-armored warriors who guard Lesedi.

• Mofuputsi: bring things into the light.

• Moletsi: musicians who wield light and sound.

• Mosesisi oa likepe: light-sailors in the skies or space.

• Ologba: gardeners of crystals.

• Palaqq: bards of Lesedi.

• Seipone: tenders of the Lesedian Mirror.

• Sethunya: refractors, wielders of lightbeams.

• Setlhomo: photographers.

• Tiboloalotha: the elders.

Outside View

Crystal folk are said to be secretive, manipulative masters of control and terror by most class societies, but those who know them view them as gentle, kind, wise giants. Both stereotypes are off.

Notables

• Ntswaki, Crystal Folk Manifest, Shining Brilliance, Eldest Before the Mirror, Aeonian

Estimated Populations

• Apavartak: 1,000

• Didan: 2,000

• Faurilleans: 10,000

• Modriljudje: 3,000

• Munkasirat: 5,000

• Omimbipáva: 1,000

• Uanna: 800

• Other: 100

Sample Stats

PRO 8
ATH 8
STR 10 Toughness 12
AWA 11
WIL 9
PRS 9
STH 6