NEWRP Species

There are multiple living beings in Mistanne. Normally there would be some prejudice between races, however the power of Defender Spirits, which depends on artistic talent tends to even such things out, similar to many other types of prejudice. (Mind you, it still very much exists as a concept: There is no 'inferior' species, sex, hair or eye color, there are instead 'inferior' arts and ideas, and prejudice based on social standing very much still exists).

1. Humans.

Not much need to explain this. It must be noted however, that humans are especially talented in certain arts in the grand scheme of things. They make the best Calligraphists, Musicians (as long as singing is not concerned) and Magicians. Humans also have a great affinity for Doll Making: while inferior to Wisps in terms of efficiency, they produce unique results. Humans are not as talented by nature in the art of Speaking, however they have the greatest tradition of practicing it, so that only a few Sirens will dare argue with a human Speaker.

Their emotional range is also fairly spread out, however a few have noted that they have difficulties when it comes to empathy with other races (and even each-other, in many cases). In earlier ages, there existed rumors that humans had a natural tendency to selfishness, but time proved that this is equivalent across all species. Humans have the same gender ratio and reproduction means as you'd expect.

2. Sirens.

Beautiful women who manifest a fish-tail and a cover of scales when submerged. They are the world's foremost Musicians, especially when they empower their instrument play with song. Sirens are also known to be enchanting Dancers in human form, however they cannot keep it up for long. Despite the greatest source of black Ink coming from a sea creature, Sirens make for awful Inkmen. All of their stories are transmitted orally and they have a very limited vocabulary when it comes to color, such as having only two variants for blue and green in their language.

Sirens are however, tremendously talented Speakers. Taking human form is exhausting to them and thus they cannot spend much time in Artemia, where Speaking is most valued and exercised, however their compelling voices and alluring looks can make arguments even against the hardiest of opponents, turn in their favor. Are entirely female, as a species. They reproduce by converting others species into Sirens.

3. Wisps.

Giant, colorful balls of fire. The ancient wisps took to the empty and barren mountain sides, crashed into one another and let out an explosion of color. Such conflict was the entire foundation of their culture in the early ages, and most of them are still very aggressive and territorial. Wisps have no gender, nor do they perceive such things. Their ritual combat is also a way of mating, the colored flames will eventually merge to form a lasting, tiny fire, which will develop a conscience and be reborn as a wisp. Their art is the singular Doll Making, using their intense flames and malleable shape to melt and then mold metal into whatever shape they want it to take.

Once a rudimentary doll body has been made, the wisp 'shrinks' it's main self, and operates as the head of the new creature, while the rest of the flames work as fuel. Wisps both practice Doll-Making to improve their own bodies, and to make worker Dolls, who provide buildings and facilities for them to live in. Wisps are also capable Alchemists as well as Magicians of some skill, using their flames to conjure illusions.

Wisps have a longing for the art of Painting, however they show a deep favoritism for the color of their own flame, and their range of expression in painting is limited. Wisps are beings of very intense emotions, and seem to think that of any other race. The 'body' that a Wisp occupies is their defender spirit.

4. Foresters.

A very strange species, these creatures have very thin bodies, four arms, and skin that looks to be made of wood. A large crest of leaves expands from the back of their heads, and sometimes grows out of their body. Their faces are covered in white masks, with two holes in them, but no mouth or any other features really. Some Foresters have the masks elongate at the front, like a beak, and indeed very much resemble avian faces.

Foresters possess the ability to lure in Flame Fireflies, a species of firefly that possesses a particularly bright shine, and out of them they make lanterns which function much like signals of some sort. Their only way of communicating is through light signals. Foresters cannot perform conventional calligraphy, and they abhor purely black or white ink. There are however two arts that set Foresters apart. Their knowledge and mastery of the Color Parallel, which they taught to the men of Pictan, makes them prime examples of great Painting skill.

In fact, Foresters are not only amazing painters, but they are also very quick at it, courtesy of their many hands that are also very well-coordinated. Living in the forest and having plant life as part of their very being, they have a natural aptitude for Gardening. Forester Gardeners see their garden as an extension of themselves, and thus their Defender Spirit is something very close to their being. They are very protective of their gardens and tend to ignore the rest of the world, however are considered extremely dangerous if roused.

Foresters have two main sexes, and reproduce like plants (Seeds 'n all that.)

5. Dragons.

An ancient species, that begun developing some sort of culture prior to humanity's ascent. They suffered from their solitary nature however and thus could not develop large settlements and organize ideas as well. Dragons are rare, and their manner of mating is a grand process, that comes with great deliberation and forewarning, and concludes in celebration. The romance between dragons has been a subject of fascination and many stories have arisen as a result. In the modern age however, dragons are crippled.

They seem to be forced down into humanoid forms, with heavy reptilian traits. These can vary from having a different color, scales on one's body, bat wings, large horns or a serpentine tail, either the normal way or replacing one's legs. Dragons are a rarity, due to their tremendous longevity. No new dragons have been born since the later days of Kandhrak. Artistically speaking, Dragons are quite varied.

The inability to assume their true, gigantic forms, the curse on their species as is, haunts much of their art. Alchemy is what dragons are best known for, and many great Alchemists, such as the genius, Ios,have come from this species. While humans claim they have mapped out around 70% of the processes in their transmutation charts, Dragons challenge the statement, placing the number near 40%, and what their race has achieved at 95.

Speaker Dragons are not unheard of, and they seem to possess a penchant for Magician's tricks, however not to the level of humans. Dragons make amazing Oneironauts. Their age old wisdom and their unique perception of the world, makes them capable of safely navigating most dream environments. The 'seen it all attitude' keeps them from being awed too much.

6. The People of Fi.

The winged people of Fi, who sometimes manifest plant-like parts of their bodies too. They possess the ability to fly, which even dragons find themselves limited by, as their wings do not carry their bodies too far, most of the time. Naturally peaceful and joyous, their emotional range is somewhat limited by the fact that they are very difficult to anger,and generally do not perceive it in others too. Sadness is something they feel deeply and if they make it through a sorrowful period, they tend to avoid sadness at all costs.

They are highly similar to humans, but apart from their feathered parts, they seem to possess a few distinct traits. Excellent Calligraphists due to their penchant for collecting stories as they come, and writing them down at any chance, not to mention the amount of free time they seem to have, helpful in practicing the art. Stories from Fi carry a sense of wonder and longing, adventurous by nature and seeking to inspire. Most people find them delightful to read, and their Calligraphist Spirits are unlike those of most humans: not simply fancy but also awe-inspiring in many ways.

What Fi-people are also known for, is their ability to dance. The gift of flight is extremely handy as they are allowed to perform movements in a grand scale, and their bodies come with greater flexibility. Most Fi Dancers have a natural air of grace about them, and quite a few either seek to cater their performance to whatever audience they have, the best they can, or otherwise attempt the most out-there motions they can.

There is an entire realm full of them, albeit on the surface they are quite rare. It is said that Fi people have a capacity for Oneironautics and as Gardeners, they are second only to the Foresters. They are often found in Soma, as they find the atmosphere of the place synchronous to that of their being.

7. Apparitions.

The dwellers of Ishmelem. A species of phantoms that cannot exist above ground. Apparitions do not age, die, or reproduce, they are unchanging and seem to have a difficult time responding to or connecting with people most of the time, apart from their job as tradesmen. No Apparition is known to manifest a capacity for the arts, even if their own bodies and forms are considered to border on the supernatural, or to be fully part of it by most people's opinion.

There is incredibly little known about them and their nature, and the least said the better.

8. Dreams.

The entities that are akin to Ideas, but only exist in the world of dreams. Their existence is incredibly bizarre and many Artists have butted heads over just WHAT they are. Another species? Ideas? Half-ideas and half-living beings of their own? Dreams can 'bond' to someone, just like how Ideas do, but they have free will and most often do not embody something their host would support, being based off subconscious thoughts.

The most bizarre thing is that bonding allows them to manifest in reality, and Dreams are individually capable of Art as well, only...really bizarre Art. Contrary to what it would seem, they are awful Oneironauts. Mainly since they perceive the real world as the dream, and their own, native dream as the real world. They find the real world jarring, like most normal people would find a dream in their waking hours.

Dreams do not reproduce normally, but they do grow and change with time. Their bodies are often humanoid, post-bonding, but with great shifts in appearance, the number and position of limbs, facial and bodily features, colors, mixture with features from animals or objects and whatnot are common.

9. Fog Spirits.

Beings that came in existence near the time of Dragons. Spirits of smoke and mist, creatures that take form by shaping the morning dew, clouds, thick fog and all sorts of subtle phenomena to manifest. They lack a language, but communicate by creating symbols out of their forms. They dwell far apart from civilization, into the wilderness. Fog Spirits seem to be rather lonely creatures, and tend to follow other species around once they get a good look in.

They have a rare capacity for being Magicians, and seem to possess some talent in Alchemy, themselves conducting processes within their body. The Fog Spirits, whether one believes it or not, also practice an unique form of Doll-Making. They tend to 'possess' their own Defender Spirits, and bestow them the status of 'doll' by using said body to interact with the world.

While for Wisps and humans the Dolls they make are granted the status of Defender Spirit, Fog beings do the opposite. They tend to enjoy watching Wisps clash with one another. They are drawn to the flame, and it's beautiful colors. Most Fog spirits are highly curious and childlike, and seek to integrate within society.

Many cultures consider them 'precious' and sacred due to their innocent nature and their love for learning. The 'exposed' form of a Fog Spirit, is thought of as very beautiful, albeit as a species they seem to be incredibly shy of showing themselves outside of their defenders. These traits seem to make them get along very well with people from Fi.

10. The Horned.

A humanoid species, taller on average than humans, and with a potential for more muscular growth.