Category:Isan'i

Who Are They?
Thousands of years ago, the diverse peoples who would become the Isan'i were elven and human refugees fleeing the expansion of the Vorrak humans, who crusaded across the northern portion of the continent Esalond on the planet Ossium. After fleeing their homelands to the island of Isanduth across the sea, these refugees formed a unified society and, over time, a unified race that mixed elven and human characteristics. Sturdier than elves but nimbler than humans, Isan'i often possess wiry builds and stand between 5'5 (1.65 meters) and 6'3 (1.90 meters). Isan'i have slightly pointed ears and skin tones along the human range from pale to moderately dark. Hair colors tend to be lighter, pulling from northern human and snow elven heritage, with whites, silvers, blondes, reds, and light browns being most common. Isan'i are capable of growing facial hair. The Isan'i often have bright blue, green, purple, or amber eyes. Under normal circumstances Isan'i have 300 year lifespans, reaching maturity around 20 years of age and growing slowly from then on.

Most Isan'i on Darais are souls brought from Ossium after death, as they are a new and less populous race in comparison to many other inhabitants of Dara's realm. Isan'i receive the racial bonuses of +1 Dexterity and +1 Perception. Class-wise, the adaptable Isan'i can be found in almost any specialization, but most choose to ply their natural talents as dexterous rogues, keen-eyed hunters, or mystically-inclined mages. Playing an Isan'i grants access to Common, as well as Elven, and the Isan'i language which is a Pidgeon of the two that uses a mixture of words and grammar from both along with some unique terminology.

What Is Their History?
Planet Ossium:

Long ago, the northern lands of Ossium were home to several small nations of humans and elves. During a series of particularly harsh winters, the farthest east nation began worship of the god of Law, Vorbek. They were spared the worst of the cold and the crop failure as the elemental of Air, acting in service of Vorbek, shielded their nation and taught air magic to the first mages of what would soon become the Vorrak. As the severe cold broke, and finding their neighbors weakened, the Vorrak began their crusade to bring Order to the northern lands. Using air mages and superior numbers, the Vorrak swept across the starved and cold-battered lands to the west, enforcing their laws wherever they went. The snow elves especially were targeted and ousted from the north along with any humans who refused to join their growing empire. Eventually, the fleeing elves and humans reached the western coast of the continent. In a desperate attempt to escape, they boarded ships and sailed westward just days ahead of the advancing army.

For weeks they sailed, those with experience on the seas taking command. Supplies and morale grew low, some choosing to face their end at the hands of the stormy sea rather than starve below deck. On the brink of mutiny, with little hope for the future, a call rang out among the ragged fleet. Land to the west. The ships made landfall the next day, finding themselves in an untamed wilderness. It took human ingenuity and elven mastery of the frigid wilds to survive in this unfamiliar territory. With a great deal of effort and perseverance, the refugees began to rebuild and farm this new land. Where once they were disparate kingdoms, now they stood united, and in their unity they found strength. Those who had captained the ships to safety continued to act as leaders, steering the colony towards reliance on the sea when the land could not provide. They constructed new ships, built with the best of both elven and human craftsmanship, and soon began to expand along the coastlines of their new home. Over time they began to intermix, no longer the tall, pale, willowy snow elves and stocky, resilient humans, but something in between. Half-elves became the norm, until that term no longer conveyed the right meaning; generations of true-breeding half-elves were not truly half elf and half human any longer, but a single, unique race. So too did their culture, art, craftsmanship, and technology blend together over the years, until they were a race and culture all their own; the Isan’i. With elven care and human inventiveness, the Isan’i became masters of a wide variety of crafts. Ship building, architecture, cooking, writing, fishing, clothing, and more became theirs to command. It did not take long for the Isan’i to become a major mercantile power, using their superior ships to trade goods from their homeland and abroad. The Isan'i created a web of trade routes that span the seas of Ossium, connecting their home island of Isanduth to the rest of the planet and facilitating commerce between previously isolated lands.

Though the bulk of the Isan'i race still reside on Isanduth, they can be found living in most port cities across Ossium, often congregating to create small pockets of their own culture abroad. Isanduth is home to many cities and towns, most of which lie along the long, rocky coastlines of the island.


 * Isa - The capital city of Isanduth, a bustling multicultural trade hub featuring massive docks and peoples of many regions who have come seeking economic opportunity or acceptance.
 * Val'esan - The center of Isanduth's naval power, featuring imposing seaside walls and a more utilitarian application of elven and human architecture. Most of the Isan'i military trains in Val'esan, learning naval strategy, martial prowess, or magical arts.
 * Tyl'ara - The heart of Isan'i industry, this inland city houses a wide variety of artisans and laborers. Here, the combination of elven and human craftsmanship is the most apparent, as beautiful art and architecture meets sturdy practicality.

Planet Darais:

Isan'i that find themselves on Darais often seek to sail the seas again, joining or leading crews of other races. Though some Isan'i are wary of Dara, remembering how the forces of another god forced their ancestors to flee to Isanduth, most quickly realize that Dara has little in common with Vorbeck, and that her enemy, Xavius, is a threat to all life. Their cultural focus on community and perseverance lead many Isan'i to join established groups of people on Darais and aid them in the fight against Xavius.

What Are They Like?
Personalities:

Isan'i vary widely in personality, from gruff sea captains, to courteous merchants, secluded artisans, extravagant artists, and more. Originating from their turbulent past, the Isan'i value tight community, inventiveness, and persevering as a group. These values kept them alive as their refugee ancestors adapted to a strange land, and help them maintain their place on Ossium through working together and finding creative solutions to any problems they face. Community can take many forms in Isan'i culture; a neighborhood, the crew of a ship, a group of artisans or academics, military bands, or the clergy of a temple. It is the duty of each community member to watch out for each other and work together, as cooperation betters everyone as individuals. These communities organize to keep Isan'i settlements unified and connected. Self-sufficiency is also important, with each city on Isanduth able to sustain itself for long periods if need be. Though the Isan'i have found security in trade and the flow of goods, they remain prepared for a time when they might have to survive off of only what they can make once more.

Jobs:

A variety of professions can be found among the Isan'i, as with many sedentary peoples. Though not as stocky as humans, Isan'i farmers, lumberjacks, and miners make up for this with clever uses of simple machinery, often working together to speed up the process. Sailing and mercantile pursuits are common trades among the Isan'i, putting their keen sight to use in discerning weather or examining trade goods. Their dexterous hands aid in all manner of artistry and artisanal works, crafting masterful creations that often combine beauty and functionality. Architects and lore keepers are both honored positions in Isan'i society, as they continue the ancient traditions of their mainland predecessors. Isan'i are encouraged to seek out their talents, often taking on several short apprenticeships before settling on a trade to master.

Politics:

The Isan'i are primarily united under the ruling council of Isanduth, made up of representatives from each major city. The council is charged with leading and protecting the Isan'i, as well as handling foreign affairs with the many nations that Isan'i sailors and settlers interact with. Even now, the Isan'i have a strained relationship with the nation of Vorrak, occasionally skirmishing with their fleet. They also often clash with the other major naval presence on Ossium, the Kaeldori'i, though these interactions range more widely between trading disputes and battles over ocean territory. Though some elven nations dislike the Isan'i for their mixed heritage, most accept them as useful trade partners if not much else.

Internally, Isan'i politics focus on the settlement level. Communities prosper when their town does the same, and towns prosper when Isanduth thrives. Conversely, a problem in a neighboring town could soon spread to ones' own, encouraging cooperation and aid between settlements. Though the council holds the highest authority, settlement leaders handle most of the governing for their given regions, and towns operate with greater autonomy than in many nations.

Some Isan'i, unhappy with their lot in life, falling on hard times, or fueled by a sense of adventure, turn to piracy. Their skill at sea makes them well suited to this lifestyle, and many Isan'i pirates make names for themselves. These pirates often join forces with Kaeldori'i, combining their knowledge and skills to master wider ranges and take on varied targets. Some of these crews work as privateers, serving as mercenaries for a nation by disrupting their enemies, while others simply go for the most valuable prizes they can capture.

Who Do They Worship?
Religions of The Past:

On Ossium, the Isan'i tend to shy away from major gods. Vorbeck, especially, is frowned upon, but some small temples to the gods can be found. Much more prominent is worship of the Elements, with a focus on the Tides and the elements that shape them, especially water, air, shock, and celestial.

Common Classes
Racial Stats:

Isan'i receive a +1 to Dexterity and a +1 to Perception. Dexterity is used for dodging, stealth, acrobatics, playing instruments, some attacks, and crafting. Perception is used for ranged attacks, searching, and spotting threats. These skills can be useful for a variety of classes, either as a main stat or to aid in rp scenarios.

Strong & Hearty:

While the Isan'i build does not especially lend itself to melee combat, many Isan'i find success on the front lines of combat. Some Isan'i draw on their elven heritage, mixing martial prowess with some small magical talents as either Enhancer Fighters or as Paladin Titans. Others follow the path of the Knight Fighter or Guardian Titan, both of which give an extra bonus to one or both of the Isan'i racial stats. These combatants are often seen as stalwart defenders of their communities, putting themselves in harms way to keep others safe.

Wicked and Stealthy:

The increased dexterity and perception enjoyed by Isan'i lend themselves well to stealth and ranged combat. On the open seas, many Isan'i take the path of the Pirate Rogue, using their dexterity to nimbly fight on the decks of moving ships and using their extra perception to scan the horizon for other vessels either to avoid or pursue. On land, some Isan'i focus on their ability to hide in the shadows and deal lethal blows with the path of the Assassin Rogue, putting their extra perception to locate targets and find places to hide. Those who seek a more mystical route may take on the path of the Trickster Rogue, gaining access to small acts of magic to add to their toolkit. Those who hunt the wilds of Isanduth or gather intelligence for Isan'i forces often become Scout Hunters, using ranged weaponry and increased dexterity to help them through any number of tricky situations. On the home front, many Isan'i become Archer Hunters, providing ranged support for settlements and naval battles alike. Archers receive increased defense to deal with the hazards of combat. Those who wish to augment their tracking or connect with nature often take the path of the Seeker Hunter, gaining a talent for the mystical to commune with the elements.

Mystics & The Wise:

Magical traditions have a long history among the Isan'i, going back all the way to their elven ancestors. Many cities on Isanduth host mage academies of varying sizes, with the largest and most prestigious located in Tyl'ara. Most of those who take up the mystical arts as a profession do so as Wizard Mages, devoting many years to the study and understanding of magic and gaining significant bonuses to both of the Isan'i racial stats. Those with some innate magical power often take up the path of the Caster Mage, focusing on honing their own abilities rather than studying magic as a whole and gaining a bonus to perception. Rarest among the Isan'i are Summoner Casters, who call upon the elements to bring forth small allies and gain a bonus to dexterity.

Types of Magic:

Most Isan'i magic users align with either the Shamanic or Magi traditions. In the prestigious universities of Isanduth, Magi are trained to use magic as a tool, treating it as an almost scientific study. In this tradition, power is drawn from the source through knowledge and not interacting with the beings behind the power. Those who worship the Tides faithfully often follow the Shamanic tradition, befriending the element of their choice and asking it to lend them assistance in the form of magical power. To these mages, magic is often a religious endeavor, communing with the elements to which they give their faith. Others, however, truly become friends with the consciousness behind the power. The Mantic tradition is frowned upon by Isan'i society but is sometimes practiced by pirates. This tradition involves binding a small elemental to their will, enslaving it and taking its power for their own.

The most common elements used by Isan'i mages are water, air, shock, and celestial. At sea, calling one of the powers that forms a storm can be devastating, and befriending those same powers may save a ship. The Isan'i have a strained relationship with the element of air; an air mage can put wind in a vessel's sails, which is quite useful to sailors, but the ties that still exist between the air elementals and Vorbeck are uncomfortable for many. Mantic Isan'i pirates often practice eclipsal or air magic, many using this power to bend the winds into unnatural patterns to aid them and spite the air elementals.