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Syliph
(pronounced: Sil-'if)
Sometime before the year 13,000 B.F.A. when the first Ta’Jahu lifeships crashed into the ancient sea of Cayrula, now known as the Sea of Tarn, there were numerous Ta’Jahu that had long been practicing with Sultra Nal Reatha, tampering with its core principles to make it more powerful by infusing it with the power and essence of elemental magic.
Unexpectedly these ancient spellcasters had unleashed a new type of magical variation that infused them with both chaos and elemental qualities utterly changing them physically, emotionally and spiritually. So different were these new beings that they were ostracized and forced out of the Ta’Jahu cultures and communities.
Calling themselves the Syliph meaning “from magic” these new beings began their lives living on the fringes of society through out the world. They are very rarely known outside the world of Kralis, those Syliph that have made their way into the Omniverse tend to huddle into larger groups of up to 100 in remote, isolated areas. Many clans of the various of types of Syliph gathered together in a hidden realm in the Seven Valleys within the Fire Mountains north of the Duchy of Mashrapur they named it Igharith. It would be later destroyed in the late period of the Age of Mortals by a powerful demons.
Syliph are often referred to as “half of an Ta’Jahu”, despite the fact that they are still true Ta’Jahu. In the eyes of many Ta’Jahu their elemental blending has made them less an Ta’Jahu and more of something else not Ta’Jahu. The term is often used as a derogatory insult.
Most Syliph live in small, tightly knit communities in remote locations and the WildLands of the world. Here they feel the safest as they are able to handle the chaotic nature of the WildLand and yet remain close enough to civilization to not be complete outsiders.
Most Syliph encountered, despite their sub-cultures, are following a life of adventure and intrigue.
The elemental magics and chaotic energies that blended into the Ta’Jahu spellcasters mutated them into several types of Syliph and cultures. Because of their mutated existence all Syliph are born with mutation ranging from horns, to tails, to wings, webbed fingers or webbed feet, some with soft reptilian like skin and more.
There are four well known cultures of Syliph: Fae’ru (fire Syliph), Eyri (earth Syliph), Tefrie (air Syliph), Guhri (water Syliph). The most commonly encountered are the Eyri as they are the most open and approachable of all the Syliph. There are two rarely encountered sub-cultures of Syliph: the Tanari (essence Syliph) and the Ushri (spirit Syliph).
Eyri Syliph
The Eyri Syliph are the most dominate of the Syliph cultures. This is presumed by sages it is a result of the ease by which the earth element is accessed. Culturally, the eyri people prefer to live closer to civilization than most other Syliph. They are often of a thicker body type with earthen tones and marble-like streaks of red, white, blue or jade-green running through their skin. They tend to have dark brown eyes with flecks of gold.
Eyri, unlike other Syliph, prefer to live in large communities of many families. These communities are often situated near, but not close to other civilizations of other species. They have long cared for returning to be a part of the Ta’Jahu culture, but through the thousands of years of being marginalized and ignored by their ancient cousins they have settled with being at an arms length when dealing with other species and their civilizations.
Guhri Syliph
The Guhri Syliph are the second most encountered type of the Syliph people. They are viewed as a river people, and prefer to stay as remote from others as they can while maintaining open relations with many other species. Unlike their Eyri cousins they do not trust other species easily. Because of their water nature, they adhere to the water ways and remote great lakes, seas and oceans of the world.
Precocious and filled with a strong will for life, Guhri are strong able folk that enjoy the company of friends and family. They have strong family bonds to each other as well as to others in their communities. They prefer the warmer areas of the world. Those Guhri that wander the world do so looking for personal and spiritual growth. They tend to devote themselves to the inner strength of themselves in order to achieve this growth and to help those that they can.
Guhri tend to have skin tones are typically light gray to pale brown. They are very similar in appearance to Ta’Jahu, having long-pointed ears that they quite frequently pierce with jewelry. They tend to have dark hair with streaks of silver. Guhri eyes are mostly dark green or dark blue with flecks of silver.
Fae'ru Syliph
Fae’ru are quick witted, proud and filled with passion, they are the most daring, challenging and foolhardy of all the Syliph. They live life to its fullest, they tend to be eccentric adding a great amount of flair to everything they do. While they love the open, wild ranges of the world, they are also very comfortable sailing the skies and the oceans of the world. They tend to have sandy colored skin with bright green eyes and dark hair of various colors, most tend towards the color of purple, reds or oranges, their original hair color long ago lost. Fae’ru are exquisite artists, they create beautiful works of art for many a noble, but they prefer to apply ink to skin, often creating very detailed and elaborate tattoos. They often find themselves in pursuit of the mastery of magic or embroiled in some war or battle. Most Fae’ru are wildly independent, and live in small communes, very distant from any civilization.
Tefrie Syliph
With a preference of deep, remote locations the Tefrie are the most aloof of all the Syliph. They tend to be quiet and contemplative, preferring a recluse, solitary life style in very small enclaves, though most prefer to live alone. They prefer to remain the outsiders of the world, and rarely will travel into anything larger than a small town, and only for a limited amount of time.
This makes for pinpointing their locations, even their small enclaves very difficult. Those few that group together are barely enough to create a small thorpe of a community. Even then they tend to leave each other alone, except for social gatherings. The Tefrie are a very light skinned folk, nearly albino, with very light colored hair and brilliantly blue eyes. They enjoy long conversations of ethics, philosophies and the nature of the world and are often seeking the mastery of multiple magical disciplines.
Ushri Syliph
Known for their deep spirituality and strong connection with the world around them, the Ushri and are known to have a strong and archaic understanding of Kai energy as well as strong connection to the spirit element and divine connections of the Omniverse.
Referred by many as the spiritual leaders of the Syliph, the Ushri are very rarely encountered even among other communities of Syliph. They are true hermits, avoiding nearly all contact with others at nearly any cost. They prefer to communicate or interact only with other Syliph communities. They are not culturally a people like most of the other Syliph, they are born to the eyri folk once every 100 years or so. As such they are raised within the eyri society, but at an early age they leave the community to seek their own way.
They normally tend to be true albino’s with very white skin, very little to no hair and brilliant pink, blue, purple or green eyes. They stand at a staggering heights from 7’-0” to 7’-6” and are known for strength and their great wisdom. They tend to shun themselves as they get older, seeking out solitary confinement within the great Wildlands, becoming very close to Gishra. They tend to take a guardianship of the lands that they call home, even if this includes a large town or even city.
As with all things, there is light and there is darkness within the hearts of all creatures and the Syliph are no different. The Tanari are the personification of chaos and selfishness. They are not evil per-say, though they are arrogant, aloof and calculating. Born to the Fae’ru, in much the same way as the Ushri are born of the Eyri. Born to a Fae’ru family only once in every 50 or so years.
They are often reckless, selfish and at times uncaring towards anyone but themselves, which makes it difficult for anyone, including, other Tanari to work or live with these beings. They tend to have very dark skin, nearly obsidian black, with stark white hair and brilliantly green or blue eyes. They stand around 6’-6” in height and are both extraordinarily strong and enduring.
They tend to believe in entropy and are known for their single-minded determination, if not ruthless pursuit of their desires or needs. They do not shun or despise mechanical or technological items or tools.
Ny'tefru Syliph
Though not as uncommon or rare as the Tanari or the Ushri, the Ny’tefru (the untainted) are known to lack a connection with the elements of the Omniverse. Originally an anomaly of the Ta’Jahu spellcasters that were mutated thousands of years ago, these individuals appear in every Syliph society. Most Ny’tefru are cautious when dealing with others, they are very polite and appear to be more civilized than even the Eyri. Many of Ny’tefru are known to have a strong connection with the Kai energy of the Omniverse, nearly to a level that the Ba-liayn are known for.
Ny’tefru are are highly independent, very resourceful, tenacious and often quick to anger. They are fiercely loyal, when they give that loyalty. They possess undeniable and unshakable charisma.
Psychology
Those that meet a Syliph for the first time, will find them more or less extremely self-reliant which is at the core of their notoriously aloof personalities. This tends to lead outsiders in characterizing their species as being distant and stand offish. They are highly intelligent, valuing their privacy as a result of their being ostracized by the Ta’Jahu. This extreme protection of their privacy has allowed them remain from most of the world and Omniverse. They are pensive as well as contemplative, deliberate and calculating.
Most Syliph tend to act calmly and intelligently as well as not giving themselves over to passion. Though there are those few that think with their hearts and their passions much more. Unintentionally, most Syliph are thought of as having a lack of emotion, and their actions are seen as motivated by the pursuit of knowledge and secrets.
Society and Culture
Syliph society and culture is unique to each of the individual Syliph sub-cultures. Yet, like other species that have a large cultural family, the Syliph people have a number of cross cultural views, beliefs and points of view.
As a people the Syliph are extremely aware of their place in the Omniverse. Once a part of the ancient civilization of the Ta’Jahu, the Syliph are keenly aware of their much different existence. While many have moved on to becoming a unique species with a new culture, there are those that have held onto the ancient believes of the Ta’Jahu. As a society that has faced discrimination because of their connections to the elemental forces of the Omniverse, they survive on the fringes of the world. They have developed a reputation for a nomadic lifestyle at worst and hermit enclaves at best with a highly insular culture. Much of what is known about the Syliph culture come through stories and observations of those that have been allowed to live in peace within Syliph communities.
Family and Structure
Most Syliph place a great value on close family ties. Until the creation of Igharith they had neither a country, a kingdom or a republic to call their own, it was the strength of their family ties that kept the Syliph people whole. After its destruction, it has been the strength of those family ties that have continued to further the species and their various cultural roles.
Most families (prariva) are generally made up of two partners, each taking a leading role in the direction of that family. The families are made up of several children, elder parents and often several non-partnered extended family members.
Because the fluidity of the Syliph genders, reproduction and children bearing is often shared between partners. Each partner tends to take on the female form for sometime, often years, while the other partner shifts between each as they feel the need, as do all Syliph, to fulfill areas of life from taking care of children to taking care of the family as a whole.
Typically, Syliph love opulence. This opulence is often seen in how they dress, particularly the brilliant colors of silk and cloth that they wear, which is often thread with silver, gold and red steel that give them a display of wealth and prosperity. Homes will often have displays of highly detailed spiritual and religious icons. These displays are considered honorable and a toe of good fortune. Sharing the family’s success is also considered honorable, and hosts will make a display of hospitality y offering food and gifts. Generosity is seen as an investment in the closed network of social relations that a community may need to rely on.
Community
Communities (samudia) of Syliph tend to be small, very close knit and secluded as Syliph tend to feel that they cannot trust anyone except other Syliph. These communities are as little as 30 to as many as 200. Many of these communities often accept those of other species that have been ostracized. While they are welcome into these communities they are rarely given positions of authority.
Syliph recognize the divisions of their various cultures with some sense of territoriality emphasized by the various cultures and dialectal differences.
There has never been on recored any one authority, either congress or “king” accepted by all Syliph, even during the Igharith years, although each community has a ruling body called pa-rishta, that direct the community at large, they are also the political authority of the community. The pa-rishta are made up of elected chieftains, which are for life and are selected from among the more outstanding families of the community, these chieftain titles are not heritable. A pa-rishta generally is lead by the eldest Syliph of the elected chieftains. Each of the pa-rishta’s power and overall authority within the numerous Syliph communities is based on the samudia’s size, its traditions and its relationships with other samudia in the region.
The Syliph adhere to a type of code, a set of rules for Syliph life. Though the various Syliph cultures and communities have different set of rules, some rules are common amongst them all. These rules are considered the Syliphi Code, which describe the relationships inside the Syliph community and set limits for customs, behavior and other aspects of life. This is not a written code, but is kept alive via their oral traditions. The code can be summarized into four pillars: aghdar (honor), shakeet (shame), vitrata (purity), and ashudah (impurity).
Although the types of communities are varied, there are a few common types.
Outlaw: This type of society is composed of outlaws. They can be either true criminals or accused criminals. Either way, they do not trust one another. They are together for the protection of a large group and that is it. A few rare ones actually try to impose order.
Nomadic: This is the most common among Syliph. They feel a kinship with one another and enjoy interacting with the rest of the world. Some feel this is the only way to be accepted.
Militocracy: Some Syliph feel that mercenary is the way to go. These societies train all their members on fighting techniques. This is often with weapons, but can include magic use as well. Their leader is often a mid to high level warrior or warrior-spellcaster
Art
Syliph art, like much of the art of other species, is uniquely their own. Throughout history many culture artists have exercised their creative power to define their species through art to fashion a self-definition that reveals them and their species in the best possible light. Syliph have exercised the same right, but until the past few hundred years, this art has mostly been condemned to anonymity.
Syliph are incredibly artistic in their designs, skill in carving and sculpture often using their connections to the various elements to enhance their artistic ventures. Syliph create art for several reasons: inspire their kin, pass along information, show of their skill, etc.
Syliph art is highly stylized that favors a type of idealized realism. Much of their painting tend to feature Syliphs fighting against and slaying monsters and defeating foes. Their sculptures are highly posed and emblazoned with sigils.
Customs, Traditions and Beliefs
Syliphs understand loneliness, and know that character is often less a product of species than life experience. Syliph practice a number of traditions based around this profound sense of loneliness that the species feels.
One of the more common traditions that sylph practice on an individual basis is the Way of Blessings or ashirhavad. This quasi-magical ritual encompasses requests for protection from evil or blessings against evil. This tradition is often done by a Syliph before he or she takes on any new task.
Births within the Syliph community are a time of extreme celebration. Traditionally, new born Syliph are not given their name for one year and are referred to by a nickname by the community. During this Year of Naming, the community observes the child and then offers the parents a number of choices based off the observation of the child’s behavior.
In what is called shubhaku, a final tradition amongst Syliph is the way they greet one another or another that they have a deep relationship with. In both greeting and parting ways Syliph bring their heads close together to touch foreheads, many often grasp the back of the others head. This sharing of breath is meant to say that even though they are separated by distance they are never physically gone from their presence. Upon returning to the presence of family or close relations they perform this same action but instead of sharing breath intentionally they share eye-contact for several moments.
The Syliph have many different beliefs that go beyond their spiritual beliefs. Predominately in relation to their element connection Syliph belief that they must maintain respect and honour the element that each Syliph is connected to. They also believe that maintaining a harmonic balance between the Syliph and their surroundings is important to their own spiritual upliftment.
Marriage
Marriage is very important to the Syliph, especially within the same species culture, though occasionally Syliph of different cultures do marry. Marriages are a community event and often take three days. The first day is set aside for the spiritual meddling and ceremony. On this day there is a mock negotiation between the couples families for a marriage-price, often this includes a friendly and fun abduction of one of the partners, where the other partner and their friends storm the location of “capture and holding” in order to rescue the other.
After this ceremony the partners each arrive to the place of ceremony separately, often carried by friends and family. Once they have accomplished the spiritual bonding, they travel together to the reception. There friends and family offer gifts to the newly bonded couple.
Upon bonding, a young couple typically lives with the one of the parents while the young couple learns the ways of bonding. Ideally, by the time an older son is ready to move away with his family, a younger child will have bonded and joined the household with their new partner.
Holy/Dates of Importance
Perhaps the most important date in Syliph communities is what is called the Day of Transition or Dijika Suhnkra. This is the traditional accepted date that the Syliph species was “born” it is celebrated over a week in the month of Lehet and ends on the Dragons Heat. During this week there are celebrations through the various communities, many spiritual bondings occur and new relationships are found.
Each of the various communities celebrate a day known as Viasrantu. These spiritually important dates are set at various times through out the year, predominately around the equinoxes and are used for meditation and contemplation around the element that the Syliph communities have connection to.
Called Karanti this date of importance is celebrated on the 1st Tych day in Janak, and celebrates the return of the lengthening of days and the return of the sun on its northward journey. It tends to coincide with the winter harvest in many Syliph communities.
Ghulatak welcomes the arrival of spring and celebrates the triumph over divisiveness and negativity. Is is highlighted by the various communities by tossing colored and mildly explosively powders into the air where camaraderie and oneness of the Syliph are honored. The evening of this day sees the communities have gigantic bonfires and eating festive foods. This is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of Tavaz.
Dress/Clothing
Much of the clothing that Syliph hand crafted and woven within the communities themselves. Occasionally, they will purchase textiles and materials from those few merchants that they trust. Those that are woven by hand, tend to have threads of silver, gold and red steel woven through out, giving their clothing an otherworldly glistening.
Syliph dress is designed to be very functional as well as enhancing their individual beauty. They tend to wear woven trousers and leather jerkins with cotton or woven shirts, many prefer a single piece wrap to create skirts and waist coverings as well. Their specific dress is often built around their specific type of mutation, such as wings or tails.
Syliph prefer bright type of colors with intricate embroidery with extravagantly decorated with all manner of patterns. They also frequently decorate themselves with body art. The designs are inspired by life from their surrounding regions and fused with geometric patterns with smooth organic shapes, many of these are often permanent tattoos of varying bright colors. These patterns range from simply vanity to deep personal and spiritual expressions.
Food
Nearly all Syliph are vegetarian in their diets. Preferring to abstain from eating meat out of respect for sentient life as well as health related, though each community and each individual Syliph have variations on this diet.
Syliph are well known for their ability to bake a great number of breads from a large number of ingredients. The most well known type is called Ajodok, a type of sweet flat bread that is well known to stay fresh for several weeks, and can be stored for many months in clay containers. It is made from red bean paste mixed with cornmeal, water and molasses. It is sough after by many explorers as its lightness does not take up a great deal of room. It is said eating a small portion of the bread rejuvenates those that eat it (Recover 3d10 Fatigue Points) and will fill full for several hours.
Religion and Spirituality
Syliph do not recognize the pantheon of most other species, or even the pantheon of Kralis, but instead believe that all things come from the One or Vahju. They are a highly spiritual species believing the power of the elements that are a part of them were imbued into them by the One so long ago. They do believe in the existence of a dark world where unenlightened souls are delivered to serve out their penance. They tend to believe that the all other deities or gods of other species are simply lesser aspects of Vahju, and while they do not directly worship them, they do believe that they exist as energy and aspects of the One.
Their believes have no specific founder, no official sacred scriptures in the strict sense and no fixed dogmas. Their is a belief in the harmonizing power of the One and in the truthful way of the One.
For the Syliph the nature of the One cannot be fully explained in words, because the One transcends the minds of mortals. However, as devoted followers they are able to understand the One through faith. The Syliph spiritual outlook emphasizes truthfulness in mortals.
The recognize the existence of bad luck and supernatural spirits and ghosts, as well as the existence of demons and other dimensional beings that wield great power. Their extended believe of Vahju also extends to the cultural concepts of aghdar (honor), shakeet (shame). Those that have gained shakeet can only become pure by performing mhaktat or the ritual of avoidance, a type of ritual to cleanse one’s soul.
The Gods
The Syliph, while ascended from the Ta’Jahu and thus the believe of ascension, have developed a single sustainable believe in a singular god know as the One or Vahju.
Syliph sense the existence of Vahju by pure instinct, without out a prophetic revelation to guide them. The majority of Syliph worship only Vahju, though many do prey and recognize the many other spiritual energies of others deities as either minor aspects of Vahju or a holy beings in service of Vahju, the Ones angels.
Death and Funerals
Death within the Syliph cultures is a very big deal and it is celebrated and mourned as such. With their connection to various elemental forces, they have learned and believe that death is not a tragedy, but merely a transition of life from one energy to another energy. Syliph view themselves as servants of the Omniverse and its core elements.
Syliph funeral traditions are characterized by abundance. There are generally enormous, with the entire community coming to take apart of the solemn rituals.
When a Syliph dies the entire community partakes in avoiding shakeet by not eating and only drinking teas until the deceased Syliph is placed on a funeral pyre. Traditionally, the body, if it is available, is scrubbed clean and then rubbed with fine white dust and is then wrapped in dark linen cloth which is decorated with runes, glyphs and sigils. The funeral pyre is built to burn for 24 hours while the entire community witnesses the final ascension of the deceased.
After Life
Syliph believe that the spirit and soul of the deceased survives beyond death. This can be seen in their extremely strong traditional believe in the souls of dead ancestors which the Syliph consider to be intermediaries with Vahju. Accordingly, they believe the souls of the dead come back to the living, the good ones visit their relatives and offer advice, while the non-pure ones (ashudah) return to make trouble for all living things.
Language
The Syliph language, called Uthai, that is spoken in a rhythmic manner with emphasis on the important parts of the language. Each of the different Syliph communities separate and unique dialect. Many Syliph tend to also learn Cor Shan and common as uthai is very close to both of these languages.
Uthai is spoken with some speed, the words tend to flow from one to another in a object-verb-subject word order. Eyri speak Uthai Rah (Eryi Dialect). Fae’ru speak Uthai Fah (Fae’ru Dialect). Guhri speak Uthai Gah (Guhri Dialect). Tef’rie speak Uthai Tah. Ny’tefru to speak Uthai Ura (Ny’tefru Dialect).
