Dresall

Images (c) Chasse Lune

Description

Most are an average of about 5ft 6in tall. They have a human frame, though with very obvious differences. Most have piercing eyes of a bird of prey; golden or a sharp almond colour, amethyst, or a dark rust red. All have feathers on their bodies, but few are truly covered with them, and none are flight capable. The feathers pepper parts of their bodies, mostly their chests, backs, arms, legs, and faces. All dresall have feathers growing among their hair. These feathers are usually long and wispy. They possess the ability to raise these feathers like few birds do with the feathers on their heads as well. Dresall have either pale white, tan, or grey skin, with long fingers and sharp features. Their hair colours range from white, light blonde, red, deep brown, or black. The feathers that pepper their bodies come in all colours.

Relations and Society

Dresall are an untrusting race, though do have some relations with the elves and the desislav. They guard their kingdom, land, and cities with iron resolve. The chaste of the dresall is based upon their hair colour. White is the hair colour of the kings, high priests, and nobles. Light blonde is the hair colour of the advisors, ambassadors and those believed to have high intellect. Red is the hair colour for the warriors, those that are trained from birth on how to fight and protect their people. Dark brown is the hair colour for everyday workers, shopkeepers, and farmers, etc. Those with black hair have been dubbed the outcasts of the dresall society. There are very rare cases of dresall being born with black, red tinged hair. These are believed to be the evil tainted dresall, touched by Ziga, god of all evil. Those with this hair colour are immediately hunted down and killed.

Although the priests work to prevent the black hairline from entering the gene pool, it cannot be completely bred out. It is not uncommon for those with brown or even black hair to be born into the royal white line. In such cases, the child is given to the humans, outcast from dresall civilization.

The high priests work to keep the dresall line pure, pairing those with brown hair to others of brown hair. Love is ignored among the society, and all pairs (marriages) are arranged by the priests. The dresall look down upon an out of colour pair as badly as they look down upon out of race pairing. These individuals are usually dubbed Out Of Black meaning they are at heart, black haired. Even if their true colours are white, blond, red, or brown.

The dresall do not typically ally with other nations, but do work to keep most other races out of their land. They are not hostile normally, but are very curt in letting trespassers know they are not welcome. The only races they are not completely against are the elves and the desislav. This is probably because they believe the elves think on the same level they do, and they trust the desislav to a degree because they believe the desislav are a break-off of the dresall race. One that developed feathered wings instead of feathers. The dresall are slightly cautious of the older desislav who have lost all their feathers.

The dresall are in a subtle, but obvious war with the dune raptors. Neither cares for the other, though the origin of this feud is yet to be remembered. Though they are not in enough of a war to boldly attack each other's cities, or to enter a battle if the two races meet in a city, they will not trade or have any relations with each other. If they meet in a secluded area, it is more often than not that they will fight until the other is dead.

For those who have ask, What of different shades of the hair colours? The dresall believe that a strawberry blonde, is still a blonde. The only pure colour is the white haired dresall. Light brown, dark brown or any shade of brown is still considered brown. Different shades of red are still considered red.

Those who buy the aid of a mage into changing their hair colour (it can only be temporarily) are considered, in the deepest way, evil to do so. Any dresall, including the white haired, who is caught changing their hair colour is instantly killed. These dresall are considered to be touched by Ziga, and evil.

Most dresall would not ever consider changing their hair colour, for they believe that Temani put them upon Aztersil with their born hair colour to fulfill a purpose. To change that hair colour is in the deepest wrong and only done by the most evil or the most deceitful of the race.

If a dresall chooses to reject the religion, he is considered a deviant and cast from the society. These dresall will be constantly hunted down by their own race, and will spend their lives fleeing from hunters. The priests will even go so far as to offer a bounty on the heads of these individuals.

Racial Slur

Harpies

Gender Status and Differences

Dresall view both genders as the same. The females look like normal female humans, though with the dresall body structure, eyes, and feathers. Female dresall tend to be more lean than the males (just as in most other races) and are viewed exactly as males in all situations but the main titles. Dresall females cannot hold the title of King or High Priest.

The dresall females of the hair colour stats hold the offices of their hair colour. Red haired females will become warriors, white haired females will be priestesses and learn to use magic, and black haired females will be driven from the society.

Dresall males are slightly taller than the females, and much more muscular. Male hair feathers tend to be shorter than the hair feathers of the females. Dresall female feathers also tend to be dull colored, while males have brightly colored feathers.

Sexuality

Dresall priests pair up like hair colours from a young age, assigning their people mates. This is to keep the purity of the hair colours as much as possible. They frown upon those who pair up outside their hair colour and use love as an excuse. These individuals, no matter their hair colour, are cast from the society just as the black haired are.

Those who mate outside their race are thought of even lower than dune raptors. Any dresall half-breed that is seen by other dresall is to be killed upon sight.

Homosexuality is seen as a horrible crime, punishable by death or banishment from the society. Those who have already been banished, and seen with another mate who is of the same gender are to be killed upon sight.

Personality

Dresall can be classified as religious fanatics. They are very unaccepting of other races, all but the desislav and the elves. The average dresall is very stern around other races, even if they are shorter than the individual they are talking to, the dresall will seem to be looking down on the other. They see themselves as better than others, and believe that mingling in other races would be inviting disaster and unwanted change into their world.

Once their minds are set on something, there is little anyone can do to change it. They are extremely hard headed, and can argue their points fiercely, sometimes swaying their opponent in arguments.

Clothing

White haired dresall wear robes fitting to their station. Normally these robes are white, and have a bit of a cape like addition sewn onto the shoulders, that run down to the middle of the back. They will take feathers that are found in the woods, fallen feathers from birds, and sew these onto their robes. They enjoy wearing silver jewelry. They will not touch gold, seeing the golden colour of metal as disgusting, and is often called Qalldin in dresall language or, gold urine in global language.

Blonde haired dresall wear very elegant, flowing clothing. Their clothes are brightly colored, and almost overly embroidered.

Red haired dresall wear smart fitting uniforms, normally of a red shade. Red Guard will always wear red armor, and fully red cloth pants and shirts.

Brown haired dresall tend to wear simple, loose fitting clothing.

Black haired dresall are not woven into their race's society, and wear whatever they please.

Religion

The dresall are a very religious race, placing their priests just below the king and having laws against any other hair colour but white are able to hold the station of priest. They build temples, and even, on occasion at certain times of the year, will sacrifice to their gods. The temples are built in a square pattern in their city, one at each corner of the thriving city, and the two most important in the center of the city, adjacent to each other. Their place of gathering is nestled between the temples to Temani and Cadern, the two believed to be the most important gods. Their place of meeting and decision making, which is only for the priests and king, is a grand building shaped like a giant cone, the base large and round, and it slowly spirals up to a point hundreds of feet into the air.

The main gods are as follows:

- Temani: the high god and creator of all. He is the father of all other gods, even gods worshiped by other races and civilizations. He is the High one, and sees his true greatness in the dresall who worship him.

- Ziga: the god of all evil, and master of the razorhound Korlx. He is the dark influence in all beings.

- Cadern: god of the white haired dresall. She is said to come to the high priests and king in the form of a white raven. Those with pure white feathers are believed to have been touched by her. God of intellect, wisdom, and leadership.

- Atanas: the god of those with blonde hair. Said to also be the god of trickery and cunning. Thieves look to her for favor and guidance.

- Kaud: god of the red haired ones. He is the god of war, and protection of the dresall and their kingdom.

- Mosth: god of the brown hared. He is the god of prosperity, health, and well being.

- Crich: god of the black haired ones. Most of the dresall do not care for this god, as they do not care for the black haired ones, though they recognize his existence. He is the god of speed, and of the rogues and outcasts.

Dogmas

The dresall believe in sacrifice, and do so to the god Temani on their holiday. (read holidays for info) There are no true restrictions in the dresall society put down by the gods, only those to the society. The main restriction is that of the hair colour, and that no black haired dresall is to be allowed into the dresall controlled cities. To do so would be to allow in destruction and to repeat the mistakes made by the ancestors.

If any dresall is found with black and red hair, he/she is to be killed immediately, even at the cost of those that had discovered him/her.

The holiday of the lined moons is never to be skipped, and the sacrifice of one of each hair colour but the white must be preformed or will bring Temani's disfavor for the next three years.

The letter T is very sacred to the dresall, because it is the first letter of the god of all. The only dresall who can hold a name that begins with a T is the high priest, and he does not start his life with this name, he must earn it by becoming high priest.

Abilities

Dresall have few innate abilities, but nothing that should be looked at lightly. Thought they cannot telepathically communicate, they can send a certain feeling to the animals around them, calming or stirring the creature. It comes in handy when their bands come against any of the great predators, helping them send out a telepathic feeling of calmness and safety as they escape.

All dresall, no matter the social standing, have a wild Second. This is something like a familiar, but it does not mimic the dresall it stands for. As the dresall see themselves closest with the birds, most dresall have aviaries Seconds. A Second is the bird that comes to the dresall when he calls for aid. Anywhere that dresall is, if the type of bird that is his Second is near, it will flock to him (no matter how many there are. Sparrows can create quite a swarm). The Second is also what is used as that dresall's symbol.

Dresall are masters of the magical arts, and thus commonly become wizards or druids as it is in their very nature. Though, mostly only the white and blonde haired dresall peruse being such classes. The red haired dresall are powerful warriors, having been taught from an early age to fight, and their prowess in a battle rings true at every slam of steel and death cry.

The dresall can raise the feathers along their body to appear as if they were covered in spikes, when exited or about to fight, the wispy feathers in their hair will raise up, exposing the beautiful plumage of their race.

Fighting Styles

Dresall can be muscular or lean, depending on their hair colour. Normally, the genes of each hair colour create a different type of dresall, though they are the same race, they are bred for different reasons. Almost like ants. The white haired dresall are the major figures of the society. They can do and be almost anything they wish. There are very few deviants among them who leave the path that they were bred for, which is priesthood. The white haired dresall's bodies are lean, and they tend to be taller than other dresall. They can be muscular as well, wielding long swords, though this is VERY uncommon, and to be such would be one step from blasphemy for the dresall. Their fighting style is one of magic, sure and true.

The blonde haired dresall are seen as the diplomats and regal part of the dresall world. They are viewed as nobles to their people, very charismatic and often used as spies into other races villages or explorations. Their bodies are lean, and hardly ever muscular. Their fighting style is one of secrecy, to creep in upon the unsuspecting and destroy them mentally, physically, or their reputation. Their weapons of choice would be small knives, punch daggers, poison, cross bows, and any manor of small, quick and silent killing weapons.

The red haired dresall is always going to be very muscular. They are the fighters and warriors of the dresall. There was never a red haired dresall that was able to defeat his destiny at being a fighter. Their fighting style is one of attack, frontal or surprise. They use large weapons, swords, bows and arrows, staffs, and other physical attack weapons.

The brown haired dresall is the laborer of the race. They tend to be semi muscular, but more so in strength than in power. Where as the red haired dresall relies on his strength for being able to kill another with a single blow, the brown haired dresall uses his strength for lifting, plowing, and other odd jobs. The brown haired dresall tend to be the most devious of the race, for they are not taught to read, or any such thing. Brown haired dresall have been known to learn how to make their own weapons out of the farming equipment they have, and even practice magic on their own. Their weapon of choice would be anything they could make and learn to use well.

The black haired dresall tend to be lean and fit, but can train their bodies to become muscular as the red haired. The black haired has a quickness of mind they have to learn how to use to keep from the others of their kind and be able to stay alive. Their weapon of choice would be something they could kill quickly and without much notice, much like the blonde haired.

Strengths

Dresall are strong in many fields. Ice magic is one of their strongest powers. Ice is also normally a dresall priest's main focus. Ice, lightning, wind, and earth are all used by dresall, though ice is their main weapon against their opponents. The main weapons used among the dresall are bows, arrows, small knives, and the long sword. Dresall are not quick like the klavden or the dune raptors, so they focus on incapacitating their opponent, or killing him with one blow or in the shadows.

Weaknesses

Dresall are not swimmers. No dresall can swim, and because of this, they all have a fear of water. Their main weaknesses are water and fire magic. Fire burns the sensitive and tender feathers that pepper their bodies. Against a user of fire, it is very dangerous for the dresall, who focuses on ice magics.

Cities

Dresall do not live comfortably or for very long in the midst of other races. They tend to live in the forests or in their own cities and colonies. Other races are not allowed into dresall cities without an escort of Red Guards. The black haired, rogue, and renegade dresall live comfortably among other races, though do not tend to live in the same town or city for very long. The dresall have many small cities located all over the face of Aztersil, though their capital city, Zemok is located in the midst of the Silverfron Forests.

Holidays

Every three years, the three moons of Aztersil line up perfectly into a straight line across the sky. The dresall believe that when this happens, Temani is sitting upon his throne, looking down to the world in judgment. For the six days of this event, the dresall hold a religious festival. On the final day, they pick from the ranks of each hair colour but white, and sacrifice the individuals. This is thought to cleanse each of the ranks; the white are not sacrificed because it is believed they can do no wrong.

Life Span

Dresall have a lifespan about as much as elves do, living to about 470years. They consider themselves adults by their 187th year. Elders and those viewed as wise are about 300 till death.

Classes

These classes are unique to the dresall only:

- Destroyer: Dresall warriors that have been trained for far over a hundred years in the art of fighting. They are masters at using all types of swords, spears, knives, and arrows. Dresall destroyers are only red haired warriors. They are named destroyers because it is thought that they are weapons themselves, and are able to destroy anything and anyone that threatens them.

- Red Guard: City guards and patrolmen. Their favorite weapon of choice is the spear and long sword. They are masters at their art, and that is to protect their people and keep the black haired out. Red Guard are named for their hair colour, red. Only the red haired dresall can hold Red Guard position.

- Mesmerist: A power unique to the dresall. Mesmerizing comes from the innate ability to calm creatures or riot them. The Mesmerist expands upon this power, learning how to use it to create illusions around himself and his opponent. Mesmerists can be of any hair colour. A Mesmerist who has practiced for many years can even control weak willed creatures.

- Healer: Dresall Healers are of the blonde, or black haired status. These dresall excel in the art of physical or spiritual healing. Their power can also be very deadly, for not only can they give life by filling their subject's body with white energy, but they can also kill their opponent by draining his life energy.

- Priest: Dresall mages draw their power from one of the two main gods. Dresall mages can be either of the white haired, or black haired social classes. White haired dresall will always follow Temani, the Creator. Black haired dresall can follow either Temani, or Ziga, god of destruction and disorder.

Mutations

The only known disease that is unique to the dresall race is what they call Brethren Hand. As the dresall believe they are related to the birds, and so speak that the great high priest can trace the dresall lineage all the way back to their bird cousins. This mutation is known as the Brethren Hand for good reason.

It's a simple, and non-crippling mutation, those who possess it are said to be destined for greatness, whatever their hair colou. Whether this is good or bad is to be determined by the personality of the individual.

The mutation itself is only of one hand, never of two or of any other part of the body. Beginning about three inches below the wrist, the flesh begins turning a light shade of yellow, until it reaches the wrist where it is completely yellowish orange, and beginning to scale. The hand itself is fully scaled, with very long delicate fingers. The fingers have four joints, one more than the normal hand, hand have long curved talons on the end of each finger. There are only three fingers and one thumb on the mutated hand.

Language

Dresall language is called Corish. It is a swift and elegant language. One who hears it could almost swear it sounds like the words were all made to form one, cultural song, for when a dresall speaks, it sounds as if he is singing. The language is made up of many hums, voice pitch changes, and movements of the tongue.