Parhelion

A parhelion (sometimes called sundancer or raqisat al'shams) is someone who wields solar aether, ma'dhahabi, via special movements. There are two main kinds of movements used: dance and sailing.

Dance

The dance of a parhelion takes the form of an analemma, a graph of the sun's position in the sky throughout the day, forming a figure eight. Through this dance, they gather the ma'dhahabi to them, and with special ribbons, they guide its flow. At the start of the dance, they must look directly into the sun, and for this, they wear special veils.

Honeyed Water

Honeyed water is used by all parhelions in order to capture ma'dhahabi. Honey absorbs the energy, and the water cools it so it does not burn whatever is washed in the mixture.

Ribbons

Parhelions dance with special ribbons made of sunsilk (+3), harir al'shams, or of any fabric washed in honeyed water (+0). These ribbons gather and guide the ma'dhahabi, and when whipped or moved in a different pattern, hurl the solar aether as directed by the parhelion.

Veils

Veils worn by parhelions that allow them to look directly at the sun are made either from a sunsilk gauze (+3) or from any kind of fabric washed in honeyed water (+0). When they look through these veils into the sun, they draw the ma'dhahabi into themselves, and then it flows out into the ribbons as they dance.

Sundial

Parhelions who wish to use their powers after sunset or in enclosed spaces may gather ma'dhahabi by using a sundial. The sundial must be washed in honeyed water (+0) or made from sunstone (+2), hajar al'shams (+6), yucca wood (+1), mulberry wood (+1), fusang wood (+6), gold (+2), living gold (+6), talosian brass (+3), or fajari (+9). The sundial will gather the ma'dhahabi during daylight hours and will lose it rapidly during night hours. In order to use the aether, the parhelion must perform a dance of gathering upon the sundial before the sun sets.

Preserved Aether

Stored ma'dhahabi fades away rapidly outside of sunlight, but it can be preserved by further washing the ribbons (of any material) in honeyed water.

Heliostat

A heliostat is a device of mirrors that directs sunlight to a specific spot and holds it there. These devices are sometimes used by parhelions to make up for gathering or wielding of ma'dhahabi during a weaker point in the day.

Dawntreading

See dawntreader.

Barque / Chariot

Solar barques and chariots are primarily used by dawntreaders, but parhelions with enough skill and stored ma'dhahabi can steer them as well, though not as well as a dawntreader. Solar barques are boats that carry the sun across the sky (metaphorically), meaning they can fly if empowered by ma'dhahbi. Solar chariots are similar, though they must be pulled by hisan al'dhahabiu (golden horses of the sun) or pegasi.

Position of the Sun / Shem

The position of the sun and the planet the parhelion is on (presumed in this write up to be Shem). The closer the sun is to the planet, the more power the parhelion has; however, counterintuitively, the parhelion is stronger at dawn than noon, though noon is second in power during a typical day.

• Dawn: the most potent time of day for a parhelion (+6). As the sun rises, the parhelion can capture the first of its rays, which have the most aether within them. After the sun has been up for about an hour, its power wanes (+5 to +1) until halfway (+0) to noon, when it begins to wax again (+1 to +4).
• Noon: at high noon, the sun is once again at great strength (+5), almost as strong as dawn, and then begins to wane until sunset (+4 to +0).
• Sunset: at sunset, the sun has a final flare of power (+1), making it marginally stronger than an hour or so before sunset.
• Night: at night, the sun's power is almost nonexistent, unless the parhelion has found some other source of ma'dhahabi (an enchanted object, for instance). Sunlight reflected off the moons becomes moonlight, and thus has lunar aether that weakens parhelions. (+0 to -6)
• Midnight Sun: in places where the sun does not set, it maintains power through the night, but does not reach the same power it does during the day. (+1 to +3)
• Perihelion: the perihelion, about two weeks after winter solstice (northern hemisphere), is the point at which the sun is most potent on Shem (dawn on the perihelion). (+3)
• Aphelion: the aphelion, about two weeks after the summer solstice (northern hemisphere), is the point at which the sun is least potent on Shem (sunset on the aphelion). (-3)
• Equinoxes: on the equinox, the sun is in perfect balance with the world, and thus, no bonuses or penalties apply. (+0)
• Summer Solstice: in either hemisphere, the summer solstice is stronger than other parts of the year. (+1)
• Winter Solstice: in either hemisphere, the winter solstice is weaker than other parts of the year. (-1)
• Eclipse: an eclipse affects the power of a parhelion based on the totality or lack thereof of the eclipse. A total eclipse weakens them the most (-6).

Locations

The location of a parhelion on Shem can affect their dance as well.

Altitude

Though most changes in altitude do not affect the power of a parhelion, being above the cloudline or in the upper atmosphere (where air is dangerously thin) can give a small bonus (+1 to +3). However, in the city of Lesedi, the Lesedian Mirror focuses the ma'dhahabi (as well as the bright, queernariji, and lunar aether) and gives a +6 bonus.

Cloudcover

Light cloudcover will not affect a parhelion's power, but if it is enough to be overcast (-1) it starts to affect it. A major thunderstorm can make it impossible to perform the dance (enough to black out the sky). Other things (ash, floating islands, etc.) can also cause blackouts or weakening. Fog and heavy mist may similarly cause problems.

Indoors

Being indoors obviously can make it impossible to perform the dance. If there's enough room to dance, a room with open windows and doors will cause a minor penalty (-1). Closed, clear, clean windows are a little more (-2). Tinted or colored glass further impede it (-3). And anything where there is no window or door means it is impossible. The less sunlight, the harder it is.

Underwater

Parhelions in who are under water but still in sight of the sun can theoretically perform the dance (with penalties to movement), but suffer from the heavy distortion of the sun (-6 and down). If the sun is not visible, the dance cannot be performed. If they are beings who live underwater, they have no penalties to the dance, but they still have due to distortion.

Lunar

On the moons, the dance is impossible.

Cosmic

If a parhelion is in outerspace and not on a planet, their distance from the sun determines their power. The closer, the stronger. If they are close enough to die from its heat and radiation, they max out at +12. If they are outside the solar system, the ma'dhahabi's character changes into qeernariji.

Solar Phenomena

Sunspots

Sunspots have a random effect on the dance of the parhelion (-9 to +9).

Effects

The dances of a parhelion reflect the phenomena and characteristics of the sun(s):

• Solar flares: the most basic attack used by a parhelion is a flare, a burst of ma'dhahabi flame.
• Solar wind: solar wind is a very hot wind blast that a parhelion can throw via their dances.
• Aurora / proton storm: aurora and proton storm dances are used by parhelions who release their powers at night. They light up the night sky with colorful displays and send cold blasts of ma'dhahabi that cause radioactive damage.
• Prominences or filaments: these are much, much stronger forms of flares that require a larger amount of aether.
• Magnetic field: the sun's magnetic field can be mirrored by the parhelion in a special dance, sending a wave of magnetism instead of solarflame.
• Solar disc: a solar disc is a black disc of solar aether that can be throw by a parhelion.
• Sun shield: a sun shield is a shield of glowing, molten fajari that is formed by the dance of a powerful parhelion and blocks esoteric attacks.
• Corona: the parhelion can imitate the effect of the corona (an aura of ma'dhahabi) through a special dance, which uses an enormous amount of aether to create a protective aura around the dancer.
• Iamiar: parhelions can summon weaker solar elementals with a moderate amount of aether via their dance.
• Solar hawk: the dance of the Solar Hawk unleashes a hawk-shaped solar elemental that acts as an independent being and fights of the parhelion for a brief period. This requires a large amount of aether.
• Solar lion: the dance of the Solar Lion unleashes a lion-shaped solar elemental that acts as an independent being and fights for the parhelion for a brief period. This requires a large amount of aether.
• Nova: a parhelion can perform a nova eruption (a sudden flash of solar aether and then rapid dimming) via a special dance that will deplete them of energy and leave them in a near-coma state for up to a year.
• Binary suns: two parhelions dancing together form a "binary sun" dance that doubles their power.
• Kilonova or luminor red nova: two parhelions dancing together can perform a these dances, which is essentially a double nova that nearly kills both dancers.
• Supernova: a supernova dance will kill the parhelion, but cause a devastating wave of ma'dhahabi.
• Sol Invictus: the dance of Sol Invictus lets the parhelion become an invicible solar elemental for a brief period. This requires a year's worth of stored up solar aether and leaves the parhelion very weak afterward for a year

Persecution

There is no place on Ansulym where they are not criminalized, though some nobles keep them as slaves.

Variants

Dawnsinger

The main variation of a parhelion is the dawnsinger, who instead of dancing, catches the sun at dawn with their song and wields it power that way. Everything else is pretty much the same, just replace dancing with singing.

Dancers of Beltane and Midsummer

Throughout most of Jesenranu, parhelions partake in the seasonal festivals of Beltane and Midsummer as respected members of the communities.

Regional

• Mahad: parhelions are called raqisat al'shams throughout Mahad, and these are the most common and basic of parhelions.
• Tara'hin: in imperial Tara'hin, raqisat al'shams enjoy privileged status if they serve the emperor. In ancient Tara'hin, they are often gender non-conforming spiritual leaders as well. These are suppressed in class societies.
• Khursh: raqisat al'shams are honored as holy dancers in Khursh.
• Kyrestia: dawntreaders are more common in Kyrestia, but raqisat al'shams enjoy great popularity as entertainers.
• Wursawi: raqisat al'shams are more commonly dawnsingers here.
• Eatiq: raqisat al'shams are usually considered a mixture of holy dancers and entertainers.
• Qahati: the dance of the suns is forbidden except by men who serve the monarchy.
• Qawahi: raqisat al'shams are all servants of the emperor.
• Reever Sea: dawntreading is more common, but some parhelions participate in massive carnival celebrations.
• Cadonia: heavily influenced by Mahadi culture, Cadonia has its own raqisat al'shams who are part dancer, part warrior.
• Eastern Palhur: in the Golden Empire of Awilu, parhelions are holy dancers respected by all.
• Central Palhur: in the central zazotlein countries, they are considered integral parts of the culture and religion in some areas.
• Western Palhur: the desert nations and plains nations tend to have some variant of parhelions among them.
• North Taggarus: the vast deserts of northern Taggarus are home more to dawnsingers, but raqisat al'shams are not uncommon. Dawntreaders are common in Azet.
• Taggaran Savanna: on the burning savannas, parhelions are known to dance with lions.
• Western Dabusen: in the deserts and mountains of western Dabusen, they focus greatly on the use of sundials.
• Subcontinental Dabusen: in the subcontinent, their role is usually that of holy sex worker.
• Lesedi: in Lesedi, they are considered one of the occupations allowed to interact with the Lesedian Mirror.

Other

• Asheia': a parhelion who uses their ability to shape and direct sunlight to create beautiful, sun-dappled gardens.
• Cutakkal: a parhelion who uses their powers to soothe and warm others with sunlight in order to help them heal.
• Heliologer: a parhelion who uses the science of the sun to improve their powers, or vice versa.
• Kashif: a parhelion who is often consulted to use their powers to shine light on (literally) things unknown to reveal them.
• Mudaris: a teacher who uses the powers of the sundial to improve the learning of their students.
• Mutaeariy: a dawnsinger who works as a bandit in the sunlands, raiding at dawn.

Skills

Some common skills include

• Dancing
• Masonry
• Mirrors
• Singing
• Performance
• Sewing/weaving
• Sailing
• Direction/location awareness

Stats

The average parhelion has these variations on the base stats of their nation/species:

PRO +2
ATH +4
STR +1
AWA +3
WIL +4
STH -2
PRS +1