Vidreians

Vidreians

Physical: Vidreians are a race of crystalline people. They are commonly shorter than most humans, standing at around 4'8" to 5"4", but are generally wider and stockier. They are characterized by a thick outer coating of crystal they they grow throughout their life. Their whole body isn't actually made from this crystal however, but most of it is. The crystal itself isn't alive, but functions both as a means of absorbing mana from the environment and light, but as well as protection. At the joints the crystal breaks apart and is grinded against each other as it grows, insuring both a tight seal, as it grows over each other, but as well as smooth movement. The colors and shapes of the individual crystals all depends on the race of the Videreian and their diet. Underneath the crystal is where their fleshy-bits are, and are strangely plant like in nature. Their body is like a series of roots in a body-like shape. Their diet is mostly plants and minerals, though meats can be eaten they don't provide the nutrients a normal vidreian needs. Any waste material isn't excreted as well, forming as impurities within the crystal gem around them, giving it different colors. The purer and better the diet of a vidreian, the clearer the color. Vidreians can live to be upwards to 300 years old, some even making it to 500. Their high natural lifespan is due to their non-intrusive nature, not requiring many nutrients. Even then they can enter a state of non-growth where they can purely subside on mana. They also can see within the dark better than other races, not having a true sight but telling subtle vibrations against the earth. Things that aren't attached to the ground however can be hard for them to see in this way.

Vidreians are born much like plants as well. The male and the female both take a part of their crystal and creates a seed much like a plant, the female creating the base seed and the male pollinated it with his mana. From there the seed is planted alongside others and are raised communally.

Culture:
	Their hides forming as a protective means means that little harm them and they have no true natural predators, so they have learned to live a very peaceful life among themselves. They prefer to seek out homes within underground or remote environments as to not disturb both nature and other civilizations. However a few do seek out greater adventure and life, and in their history some have taken them to be warriors and have proven to be adamant and hard to move or impose on, their coverings acting as a natural armor, and their weight making them hard to push around. They as well are naturally inclined towards nature-magic or geomancy, using mana stored in their crystals to affect their closest elements. Herbal medicines also take a key role in their society, revering plants and the understanding nature of their mixing.

	Their history is shared not through written literature, painting, or art, although they all do exist, but rather through spoken word. A Vidreian never truly forgets anything, it being imprinted on their mana stream and through their crystal. Damaging the crystal as well won't truly damage their memory, it being reimprinted later and memories having many duplicates. Memories also can be retrieved from crystals of dead vidreains or created willingly, with vast libraries being created out of crystals of dead Vidreians from which others will pilgrimage to to learn from. The stories of families, tribes, and cities are prized to be the greatest treasures to Vidreians, other than nature itself. They take great pride in their history and that of their ancestors. However they do not take on family names. If they must identify themselves further they say specifically what city or village they come from, then their clan if there are multiple in the city. Even after they may take on a name for themselves from physical description or achievements in life. What their people have done is important to the community, what oneself has done is then more important to the individual. Taking pride in one's family and taking on that name can seem vain or arrogant to them, and has traditionally only been done by nobility or leaders to create a succession.

	Vidreians aren't actually what they call themselves, their own language is that of harsh noises with very few vowels used. They do not traditionally speak like most normal folk by expelling gas in their lungs. Instead they vibrate and grind their bodies with specialized organs, using mainly mana rather than air. Their prefered vowels are Y's or U's. Y's normally designating a high pitch vibration through their crystals, with U's being a much lower pitch. Other noises are that of grinding or hums. They can learn other languages, even human, but it takes much more time, and many years to perfect. Learning multiple languages is a trouble as well, but given time they can learn many and will never forget any of it. They traditionally call themselves "Tr'Gryull" or translated, "Kin of Crystal."

	Vidreians may not make civilizations like many other races, but they do occasionally build cities for which pilgrimages to be made to, centered around grand crystal libraries. These cities are build underground with special care to not disturb even the creatures that make it home. Large Crystal pillars and other structures dot the land, grown from the bodies of dead Vidreians over time by magic, infusing the land itself with the living mana they hold. Other crystals are made to absorb mana and let off light, so other travelers may come and visit their ancestral homes. Vines, plants, and animal life may actually follow through to the caves. Similar practices are done for other villages, though on a much smaller scale. They make ant-like burrows or homes from crystal and earth, open to all members of the community.