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{{Info races
{{Info races
|image = B22ac5ff78a7386eb2b8cb1dc6792fb7.png
|image = 3c1166940ed1b3c4fae5b461c035b301.png
|pronunciation = Yah-nar
|pronunciation = Yah-nar
|classification = [[Magus]]
|classification = [[Magus]]
|subraces = Yanar-Flor, Yanar-Fae, Yanar-Dul, Yanar-Sil(extinct)
|nicknames =  
|nicknames =  
*Plant-People (derogatory)  
*Plant-People (derogatory)  
*Forest Child (endearing)  
*Forest Child (endearing)  
*Va'silsthae (Elven)
*Vasilta (Elven)
|languages = [[Modern Altalar]], [[Saan]], [[Common]]
|languages = Modern [[Altalar]], [[Nātl]], [[Common]]
|naming = Elven fantasy naming, though avoiding Tolkien Elven.
|naming = See Language section


|distinction = Plant-like humanoids with a mysterious past and open future
|distinction = Plant-like humanoids with a mysterious past and open future
|maxage = No limit, though the oldest Yanar is around 300 years old.  
|maxage = 500 years.
|height = Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies
|height = from short to tall, depending on Floral Shift.
|weight = Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies
|eye = Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies
|hair = Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies
|skin = Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies
|}}
|}}
Fostered by nature, the Yanar are a [[Race]] of plant-like humanoids that were once thought of as the heralds of their creator [[Estel]], but that uniquely created a destiny of their own after the collapse of the [[Allorn Empire]], and continue to find new ways to exist in the world around them. Since the event that they called the Stalwarding, the Yanar have spread across the world, mixing with existing societies with surprising ease, but also establishing small communities of their own called Florai, each with their own purpose and ideology to impart on the world. Where once they heard the song of Estel now reigns silence, and in that silence, the Yanar have found the communal song of each other’s minds and hopes and dreams to give shape to an entirely new purpose in life. While many presume the Yanar to be harmless plant-tending and peaceful forest dwellers, Yanar are in fact far more complex than any but their closest friends and allies give them credit for, sharing the same tenacity for adaptation as the [[Allar]], and somehow managing to give life and wonder to even the most barren and unexpected places. It is perhaps their innocent appearance that hides the greatest of their warriors, politicians, and rogues from the common man. While not all Yanar think and act alike, and many have different views on their present and past, one thing can certainly be said of the Yanar: they are the most underestimated Race, something that often comes to the ruin of those who are not wary of their great potential.
A syncretic [[Race]] that once lived alongside the [[Elves]] in the [[Allorn Empire]] as one of its many non-[[Elven]] minorities, the Yanar are a Race of plant-like humanoids that have been around for about as long as the Elves have, but have since [[Cataclysm]] detached their entwined fate from the legacy of the collapsed Elven Empire. Many still foster good relations with the many offshoot Elves, but others have ventured into the wide world in search of new purpose, new allies, and new friends. The Yanar are truly undefined by history, their role in the Allorn Empire was so small that they do not face the same scrutiny as other Elves might, and for many, a Yanar is a unique and rare sight that invited curiosity. Inherently interested in nature, and also intrinsically a part of it, the Yanar go wherever mother nature has spread her roots, intent on preservation and harmony or to live as freely as they please.  


==Physical & Mental Characteristics==
==Core Concept==
[[File:EkT2XO-XgAQYGO4.jpg|260px|thumb|right|Yanera-Dul dress to impress]]
The Yanar are roughly split between three distinct population groups that aren't really subraces, rather more like subcultures. The most commonly found in an urban setting are the Ferlon who have spread out in the world whether for curiosity or purpose. The Senlon have remained close at home and to their roots, still finding their way into cities, but living on the peripheries where nature can be felt all around. The Dulon are a rare sight, once unfortunately trapped on the wrong side of the Kathar-Allorn divide, but now having adopted a distinct culture of control over nature rather than subjection to it. Each subculture represents a different aesthetic, but also different reasons for why they might appear in Regalia, with different allies and different friends to make.  
Yanar at a base are plant-like humanoids that have the physical features that one would come to expect of other Races, such as limbs, eyes, and even facial hair; but instead of their skin and hair being made of keratin and other humanoid matters, these traits are made out of plant-matter. Yanar do not have any set physical features beyond their plant-like properties because they as a Race are capable of changing many of these things over the course of their life. There are however some limitations to Yanar that are shared by all of their kin. Yanar cannot be shorter than five feet tall, and cannot be taller than six feet and five inches. Furthermore, Yanar are also not capable of having a higher [[Body Shape]] than [[Muscular]]. Furthermore still, one must understand that their entire Race does not have genders in a typical sense. While their bodies can appear masculine or feminine, or with qualities of both, they do not discern between male and female, and often also have difficulty understanding the separation of gender among other Races. Sometimes, Yanar who do understand the boundaries between genders choose a represented gender for the sake of the comfort of others who are not Yanar around them, but even this feels strange to them. The Yanar are subdivided into three sub-races, or so-called Yanera: the Yanera-Flor, Yanera-Fae, and Yanera-Dul. Technically a fourth division exists, called the Yanera-Sil, however these are presumed extinct, or at the very least have not been seen for several centuries.


===Yanera-Flor===
===History===
The Yanera-Flor are the most common Yanar one might see. Their skin tones are a range of greens, green-like yellows, or teals, with a clear plant-matter quality to them. Other plant or flower growths can exist on their body in any color, though their skin must always remain within the ranges of greens and yellow to teals. Their hair is made out of a bundle of leaves, grasses, or plants, as are their ears and any facial hair they might have. Their eyes tend to be any bright color, sometimes without a clear distinction between eye-whites and irises, but always with a clear pupil. While it is true that many Yanera-Flor can in ways be described as plant-like [[Altalar]], a Yanera-Flor never looks quite like an Altalar translated into plant-matter. Their eyebrows are shaped longer or differently, their nose might be flatter or wider, their mouth might be lip-less, and their hair-line might be much lower on their forehead, almost as close to their eyebrows. There is always something unique about their appearance that makes them look distinctly alien to other Races. Proportion wise, however, the Yanera-Flor appear just like all other humanoid Races—though their fingers might be more leaf-like or claw-like depending on their ‘Sallence’—the term used to describe the Yanera-Flor that merge nature with their bodies. Yanera-Flor are capable of picking up plants and other floral matter and combining it with their body to have certain effects. For example, the Yanera-Flor might pick up a daisy and merge it with their hair, changing the color of their hair from red leaves to white leaves. They might retrieve some twigs or broken bark from the floor and merge it with their arms to cover them in bark plating. They might come across a rare orchid that they think is beautiful, harvest it, and then merge it with their body, allowing it to grow indefinitely from their shoulders for example, and sprout more orchids from their shoulders that can also be painlessly harvested. Inversely, the Yanera-Flor can also remove items from their body. For example, a blueberry branch might have been merged with their body, growing actual blueberries from their hair which can be painlessly removed and used as sustenance, or just to remove the blue color from their hair. The creative customization options with Sallence are endless; however, they can never change their green or teal colored skin tones or their eye colors. Yanera-Flor are varied in their mental characteristics. While many of them are nature-loving and caring and avoid violence or confrontation at all costs, some Yanera-Flor are also warrior-like and have tasked themselves with the duty to defend their family and friends from any threat. Generally speaking, the Yanera-Flor are righteous, meaning not necessarily having a distinction between good and evil, but at the very least they do not relish in the suffering of others and are not prone to inflict it. That being said, Yanera-Flor are very varied in their personalities, and unlike some other Races, cannot really be ascribed one theme to fit all.  
The exact origins of the Yanar are murky, because they existed in a somewhat uncivilized state by the time the Elves first unified under [[Talea]] and formed the very first Allorn Empire. The Allorn Empire subjugated many minority Races (and purged a few as well), though the Yanar had a somewhat unique and privilege position. While most minority Races were demoted to class-less citizens of the magical Elven Empire, the Yanar had the blessings and protections of the [[Estelley]] gods. Their intervention, when the Allorn Empire expanded and impeded on the Senlionn Forests (the Yanar homeland, now part of the Allorn Empire), made the Elves respect the Yanar as different from all other Empire minorities, granting them great freedoms and exemption from the military or service and the Elves seeing themselves as their protectors. The Yanar formed communities in and around Estelley Temples as a result, and as the Allorn Empire descended in mania and decadence, history mostly passed the Yanar by who were very politically unengaged, and uninterested in the carnal delights that the Elves had started lusting after. In many ways, because of this non-engagement and disinterest, as well as their community isolation, the Yanar could ethically avoid blame for the Allorn Empire's greater crimes like genocide (against the [[Dewamenet]]). The Yanar finally became politically active several centuries before the collapse of the Allorn Empire, as agents of the Goddess Mana, using diplomacy, subterfuge and even violence to try and turn the tide of Void corruption among the Elves. They were far too few to change the tide when they finally did act, making only drops worth of change in an ocean of social decay. The Yanar suffered severely during the [[Night of the Weeping Stars]], when pre-[[Kathar]] Elves took axe and torch to the Estelley temples, burning down the Va'sil Trees and proto-Mana Trees, killing many Yanar in the process who desperately tried to defend them. As the Empire collapsed, many Yanar fled the Empire's boundaries for lands beyond, or retreated deeper into the forests, or in the case of the Dulon, were caught behind enemy lines. The Yanar diaspora that fled the continents of the Allorn would end up in places like [[Southwynd|Ashaven]] and [[Regalian Archipelago|Regalia]], international ports of which rumor was spreading far and wide. The Senlon Yanar who retreated deep into the forests eventually re-emerged, making alliances with the Xotik [[Maquixtl]], preaching for the need of a stronger connection with nature and a detachment from the corruption of urban culture. The Dulon were unfortunate enough at first to become corrupted with Void Essences in the [[Dread Empire]], but later would come to praise this circumstance, becoming fervent supporters of various darker gods and spreading their dominion over nature far and wide. Yanar society unlike that of many other Races is very divided in the modern era, with many Yanar choosing their own destiny away from the memories of the fallen Allorn Empire, while others try to stay true to their origins and rebuild the respect they once held in the eyes of the Estelley faithful.
 
===Yanera-Fae===
===Yanar Sub-Cultures===
The Yanera-Fae are in many ways similar to the Yanera-Flor, except that they have more humanoid skin as opposed to plant-matter skin. The Yanera-Fae still have hair that imitates a bundle of leaves—and their arms down from the shoulder and legs down from the knees are still made of plant-matter—however, the rest of their body and most notably their face is made up of regular humanoid skin with a variety of color tones. Whatever body parts remain plant-like, while being green or teal colored, can have other floral growths of any color on them in the same manner as Yanera-Flor. The Yanera-Fae can change their skin-tone and the color of their hair as well as their eyes (though cannot mimic [[Affliction]] eyes), through the process of Shaillence, the term used to describe the Yanera-Fae’s ability to mimic the bodily colors of others around them. A Yanera-Fae might simply look at a [[Suvial Altalar]], and immediately adapt their own skin-tone to match theirs (barring the legs and arms which remain plant-like of course). Then, they might look at an [[Avanthar]], and immediately adapt their own hair-color to match the auburn hair of the Avanthar. While the plant-matter hair of the Yanera-Fae is distinctly plant-like in organic matter, it appears almost like real humanoid hair from a distance, only showing clear thin leaf-like qualities from up close. Also, while the Yanera-Flor have facial features that make them appear distinctly alien, the Yanera-Fae do not. If a Yanera-Fae were to cover the rest of their body besides their face in robes, they might almost pass for an [[Ailor]] or Altalar, albeit with a face that isn’t quite as angular as an Altalar’s, or quite as square as an Ailor’s, looking somewhere in between. Yanera-Fae are not capable of merging their body with plant-like matter like the Yanera-Flor are, but they are capable of growing any type of flower from their hair—appearing as if a freshly plucked flower was inserted between strands of hair. Yanera-Fae are less varied in their mental characteristics than the Yanera-Flor, but still have a great capacity for change. Yanera-Fae are very flexible and open-minded, often having equal numbers of friends that are Yanar and non-Yanar. That being said, while the Yanera-Flor tend to be more purpose driven and thoughtful, Yanera-Fae tend to be more mischievous, and often enjoy a bit of deception or trickery. They are far from childish or arbitrary, rather, the Yanera-Fae have learned that they are able to seamlessly flow in and out of social groups and communities, and can get away with a bit of tomfoolery at the expense of embarrassing others through pranks. Their attitude tends to be more care-free than that of the other Yanera, though they are just as capable of becoming serious and understanding the gravity of any calamity as the others, when the need arises.
<table style="width: 100%;"><tr><td style="width: 33%; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
 
{|
===Yanera-Dul===
|[[File:noimg.png|170px|thumb|left]]
The Yanera-Dul are a bit of an oddity among the Yanar. In many ways, they do not quite appear like what the other Races expect Yanar to appear as. Yanera-Dul are inherently exactly the same as Yanera-Flor, except that their skin tone ranges from reds, to purples, to pastel red or lavender. Their eyes are usually a bright color just like the Yanera-Flor, though they can also be very dark—so dark that there is no discernable color difference between the pupil and iris. The Yanera-Dul are capricious and self-driven. While the other Yanera are very communal and love the presence of others, Yanera-Dul often end up being more solitary, or at the very least mostly look out for themselves. The Yanera-Dul have the capacity to use Mallence, the term used to describe the Yanera-Dul’s ability to adapt their bodily appearance depending on who they are trying to get closer to, or attract, or deceive. A Yanera-Dul might look at a person, which will then cause their bodily proportions and plant-matter to change according to what this person is more comfortable with, or finds beautiful. For example, if the individual favors feminine body-types, the Yanera-Dul might appear more feminine—not necessarily through their body shape itself—but through floral growths giving them a more hour-glass figure by virtue of the leaf shapes. Furthermore, if that person really loves roses, and the color blue, then blue fragrant roses might rapidly sprout from their hair and shoulders, releasing a strong rose scent in the air. In fact, Yanera-Dul excrete a pheromone of sorts that does not have a distinct smell of its own, but rather is perceived to smell like someone’s favorite flower, meaning the smell is different for everyone who comes into contact with it.
|
 
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Ferlon Yanar'''</center></span>
Personality-wise, the Yanera-Dul are self-gratifying and seek the attention and affection of others around them, mixed with a heightened sense for material value, and perhaps even a tinge of greed and sometimes megalomania. Yanera-Dul, like the other Yanera, are still distinctly un-erotic since the entire idea of eroticism does not exist in their biology, but that does not mean the Yanera-Dul are opposed to close physical contact as a means of expressing adoration, as they are prone to vanity. Yanera-Dul can both be very alluring and secretive, but also very energetic and bouncy, depending on what kind of attention and spotlight they want on themselves. The Yanera-Dul also have another interesting quality, appropriately called Beast-Facing. When a Yanera-Dul uses Beast-Facing, they are attempting to appear threatening, intimidating, or simply wish to use a more beast-like appearance to cover up their identity. Beast-Facing allows the Yanera-Dul to change the shape of their head to become more beast-like, albeit still made up of plant-matter. For example, their face might change to that of a gorilla, or a crocodile, or a rhino—any type of animal that is strictly not feline or canine. This only affects the shape of their skull, while any visual features these animals might have are translated into plant-material. Finally, the Yanera-Dul have a type of blood lust unique to their Yanera. It is not known what causes this bloodlust, and while it certainly is distinctly different from [[Vampirism]], it sometimes raises some eyebrows. The Yanera-Dul do not need to subsist on blood as a food source (as all Yanar can eat plant or meat matter), however they have the ability to, and they quite like the taste of blood (as long as it is not Yanar blood). A Yanera-Dul can live a whole life without ever drinking blood, but will always acknowledge the allure and smell of blood as a delicacy. To facilitate this, Yanera-Dul also have small retractable claws on the palms of their hands. If placed on the bare skin of another person, these small claws can extend, producing a pricking sensation. If the hand is not removed, it allows the Yanera-Dul to drink small amounts of blood from the other person, like a leech. They gain no benefits and don’t need to do this, they just really like the taste.
The Ferlon are urban city dwelling Yanar, preferring to live in housing made by other Races, surrounded by literally anyone and everyone, and trying to be friends or allies with as many as possible. Ferlon are most accustomed to the ways of living among other Races, and as such try to appear more like them (including humanoid skin tones), by wearing silk clothing or having jobs as business owners. Ferlon Yanar often come to Regalia to experience the jewel of the world, where anything can be seen, anything can be tried, and any mistake can be made, to have it their way.  
 
===Yanar Wyldbirth===
All Yanera share the same longevity that technically gives them immortality from aging. Any Yanar that has not died through unnatural means in the past centuries of their existence is likely to still be alive, as no Yanar has ever been recorded as having died of old age. Rather, Yanar undergo a process called Yanar Wyldbirth in which, much like a snake, they shed their old body and grow a new one. Once each season, whether it be spring, summer, autumn or winter, a Yanar can choose to undergo Wyldbirth in their Grove or Solur Garden, as it is called among Yanar. A Grove is usually a location chosen by the Yanar in question to be their home-base of nature, though this does not necessarily need to be their own house or garden in [[Regalia]]. It can be any type of garden outside of the city, built inside a house, or  even designated as a patch of nature out in the forest. During Wyldbirth, a Yanar either embraces or lies up against a tree or the ground, allowing nature to overcome their body with vines and plants that hold their body in place, moments after which they effectively “die”, and leave their body. Their soul appears like a ghost-like apparition (that cannot leave Emote Distance of their bodily remains), but can speak and move around the Grove. The Yanar will remain like this for at least 48 hours, or longer if they want to, before a new body emerges from the plant-matter around their old one, that their soul is then placed into. This new body can look radically different. For example, the old body could have been a female-coded Yanera-Flor with a lithe appearance, while the new body could be a muscular male-coded Yanera-Dul. All Yanar are capable of changing between Yanera through Wyldbirth, while also changing their facial features, bodily aesthetics, and Body Shape. In fact, the changes sometimes do not stop with the physical aspect, as many Yanar have been witnessed to at least partially, or wholly change their personality through Wyldbirth, albeit keeping all their memories and [[Proficiencies]] and [[Talents]] intact in the transition. Wyldbirth is not mandatory, and there are plenty of Yanar that do not transition through any change over decades, though aging does have an effect on the Yanar’s body. While not Wyldbirthing, a Yanar’s skin grows drier over time, and might harden into bark. Their flowers start fading in colors, and their body might start getting more hunched over and frail. Wyldbirth as such is a process that the Yanar use to keep their bodies young and fresh, but also to change their appearance and persona from time to time to live the world through a new lens. Their old body quickly deteriorates and simply becomes a bundle of flowers and plants, often in the vague shape of a humanoid body that stays there and acts as a strong fertilizer for any plants that grow in the direct area where it was laid to rest.
 
Additionally, Yanar Wyldbirth can also be used to save a dying Yanar from certain death—or even to revive a Yanar that has already died—with some caveats. While all Yanar on the inside have organs and blood circulation (Yanar blood is actually blue), instead of a heart, the Yanar have a so-called Wister. A Wister is shaped like a heart, but it is more like a solid amberite rock with a green color and a faint yellow glow at the center of their torso where an Ailor heart would normally be. When a Yanar dies properly, their body’s plant matter rapidly decays, however the Wister is always left behind unless it is destroyed through brute force or burning. Such a Wister can be brought back to any Yanar’s Grove and helped into Wyldbirth by another Yanar, after which they gain a new body, and are in essence revived. The same thing applies if a Yanar’s limbs have been removed and they are about to die of catastrophic damage; whatever is left attached to the Wister can be brought to a Grove to help a new body grow. Through Wyldbirth, any body parts lost or other maiming damage done to the body are undone, and the new body is delivered in a clean state. Wyldbirth is usually intentional, meaning the Yanar can guide the process through asking themselves in their ghost state “What do I want to look like”, and “Who do I want to be”, though the process can also be left to complete chance by simply not pondering on these questions, in which case a random appearance, Yanera, and personality might come out. Yanar consider Wyldbirth a very important cultural tradition, and in many ways, those born in certain seasons are often called such. For example, a Yanar who was last reborn in the summer season, are called Summerwilder, while those reborn in winter are Winterwilder. Sometimes, the seasons might also impart personality quirks, though not always. Springwilder might be more prone to happy thoughts and positivity, while Summerwilder might be more prone to passion and conviction. Autumnwilder might be more prone to melancholy and pensiveness, while Winterwilder might be more prone to solidarity and protectiveness. Whatever the implication, each Yanar can only Wyldbirth once per season, for a maximum of four times a year, though a Yanar can have any reason to Wyldbirth, or any reason to choose not to Wyldbirth for years on end. Yanar frequently change their personality and reset their views on the world around them, though thei maximum age is still constrained by when the Yanar first appeared in history. Yanar frequently gain a new and refreshed outlook on life after Wyldbirth, and as such, are immune to the aging effects of longevity on the mind. That being said, Wyldbirthing does tend to remove a few memories here and there. After a few hundred years, a Yanar’s history of their early life will quickly begin to fade after a few successive Wyldbirths, only remembering major events, but suffering whole lapses of memories. It is common for 300 year old Yanar to only remember the last 100 years in detail, and only remember flashes or key moments like their first birth and retreat back into the forest before the [[Wildering]] that destroyed the Allorn Empire, or the Stalwarding. They might vaguely remember the faces of people they met and connected with, but not remember the details anymore.
 
===Yanar Reproduction===
Yanar do not have a concept of eroticism, in fact, Yanar do not even have reproductive organs and cannot reproduce with any other Races traditionally. Yanar reproduce asexually, meaning a single Yanar can create new life without needing a second partner, though they can include a second partner, or even a third or fourth if they want to. To reproduce, a Yanar travels to their Grove or Solur Garden, and meditates on the creation of life. After a few dozen minutes, they extend their hands into the ground, saying a blessing in Nen’yavaye, the Tree Speech, before burying any type of gem or crystal in the ground that quickly forms a Wister by drawing plant matter and water from around it and solidifying it into [[Amberite]]. This Wister will then grow a new body over the course of 48 hours, while the soul of the Wister forms from surrounding Soul Essence and walks around the Grove. The soul will at the beginning be confused and not know what is happening, or who to be. It is up to those present in the Grove to teach it over those next 48 hours what kind of person to be, before it is “born” by having the soul enter the body formed around the Wister, then it breaks out of the shallow ground like a plant from a seedling. Yanar are as such born as an adult; their mentality defined by what they have been told over the 48 hours of their birth, while their body is based on (but never exactly the same as) what their parent looks like at the time of their creation. This process can also be done with multiple individuals instead of a single Yanar, and these people do not necessarily have to be Yanar either. Up to a maximum of 4 people can join the Yanar in a group of five in the Grove. To initiate the process, the group must all hold hands in a circle and meditate on the creation of life, before laying their hands flat on the ground in front of them. The single Yanar (or multiple Yanar present) must then recite the blessings in Nen’yavaye, before burying a single gem or crystal together that will form the Wister. From this point, the same process plays out. The only difference is, that the Yanar born will appear like a physical combination of all those participants, and acknowledge all of them as parents, just like [[Shadowbroods]] for the [[Void]]. The only limitation to this entire process is that Yanar can only reproduce once per year. However, Yanar who were the ones to say the blessings of Nen’yavaye can still participate as additional Yanar in their reproduction, meaning there is a technical maximum of five times a year, with a different Yanar initiating the process each time.
 
==Racial Abilities==
===Yattil Creation: Nen’chrat===
Nen’chrat allows Yanar to use animal templates and fruits to create small pets for themselves called Yattil. In order to make a Yattil, a Yanar must first observe a depiction or life specimen of an animal that they wish to make a Yattil out of, while also taking a specific fruit as their inspiration. In fact, they must acquire that specific fruit, while a depiction or memory of an animal will suffice to produce a Yattil. The fruit must also be fresh, and cannot be taken from a Yanar’s own body: it must be taken from nature or bought at a market. This will sometimes require Yanar to travel to acquire rarer fruits and animal templates. The process of blessing the fruit in Nen’yavaye is similar to that of Yanar reproduction, in that it must be done in the Solur Garden, with creating a new life in mind, but with the fruit as a base, instead of a crystal or gem. Instead of a 48 hour growing period however, as soon as the fruit is buried, it will immediately form the Yattil that then crawls or slithers out of the ground and is effectively made on the spot. Two or more Yanar can also make a Yattil together, blessing a single fruit in tandem, and burying it into the ground together. This will then birth two identical Yattil, each that has a unique appearance trait that compliments the other, like a green body with a white dot on its head, while the other has a white body with a green dot on its head. Yattil are limited in size, as they can only be the size of a domestic cat, regardless of what animal template was used, and each Yanar can only possess a single Yattil at a time. Yattil theoretically live forever, but have a habit of also undergoing Wyldbirth with their owner if the owner wishes them to, changing their fruit theme in the process. While the animal template dictates what the Yattil roughly looks like (for example, a [[Goat]] template creating a goat-like, cat-sized plant-matter being), the fruit often dictates their appearance further. For example, if a goat was indeed chosen as an animal template, and an orange was used as a fruit to grow the Yattil, then at the end of the plant-like goat’s tail, it will have an orange tree flower sprouting, while its eyes glow orange, and it produces a gentle citrus smell to anyone holding or petting it. Yattil can be templated from predatory animals, but their Yattil counterparts always look softer without claws, talons, or teeth. Yattil are clever, and can be taught to do tricks reliably and understand speech from their creator, but they cannot speak themselves, and are purely aesthetic. They do not have any combat uses, and cannot fetch items or hold onto things. If a weapon were to attack them, they would burst into a cloud of leaves, then re-materialize behind their owner, who they cannot leave Emote Distance of. Yattil cannot be killed except by fire. The total list of animals all Yanar can take the animal template from is: Hedgehogs, Rodents, Primates, Songbirds, Lagomorphs, Hawks, Ponies/Horses, Felines, Foxes, Canines, Susids, Bovidaes, and Mustelids. The total list of what fruits can be used to create a Yattil are: Apples, Apricots, [[Banasque Spears]] (Bananas), Cherries, Figs, [[Given Fruits]] (Soursops), Grapes, Grapefruits, Mangoes, Melons, Lemons, Olives, Oranges, Pears, Pumpkins, [[Shurbakal]] (Red Pineapples), Strawberries, and Watermelons.
===Nen’shall===
Nen’shall is an ability which allows the Yanar to enter a communal meditative state, or an invasive mind struggle, depending on the use. Primarily, Yanar use Nen’shall to link their minds together in a Grove: done by tapping the forehead, nose, then chin, and then facing each other in a meditative seated position while inside the Grove. Any number of Yanar can participate in this, and Yanar can even invite in one single non-Yanar by having the non-Yanar join them in the process. As soon as all participants enter a meditative state, their minds are transported to a misty grove surrounded by trees, where they can all communicate telepathically while their real body’s eyes are closed and they remain motionless. While in this misty grove, the individuals cannot physically interact, but they can speak with one another, and share memories by displaying them in the misty grove around them. They cannot show whole sequences of events like a playback, however they can show individual snapshots of memories frozen in time. Disrupting the meditation of any one person rips them out of this dream connection, and anyone can also step out of it anytime they like. Yanar are also capable of inflicting a hostile Nen’shall on an unwilling target. If someone is restrained, they can force all five of their right or left hand’s finger tips onto their forehead, forcing that person into the same misty grove, but not allowing them to leave it at will. While inside this misty grove, the Yanar forcing Nen’shall on the other person (which can be Yanar or non-Yanar) can be bombarded with images from the Yanar’s memory, whether they be positive or negative. This whole experience will be felt like a sensory overload, as images and sounds flash in the senses of the target, and is often described as borderline brainwashing by barraging a person with memories and images of memories without allowing them to close their eyes. Only the Yanar can choose to end Nen’shall, however it can also be ended forcibly from the outside by knocking the Yanar away from their target, or removing their hand from the forehead.
===Nen’nailon===
Nen’nailon allows the Yanar to change the shape of and wear a variety of floral and plant designed clothing, that they are capable of manifesting from any leaf, grass, or floral material nearby. While Yanar are also perfectly capable of wearing woven cloth, wool, or armor, they are also capable of shape-bending large flowers or plant leaves into the shapes of dresses, coats, hats and gowns that blur the border between what is part of their body, and what they are wearing. For example, a Yanar might be able to find some large fern leaves, pluck them, and then use Nen’nailon to turn them into a woven gown—changing the color to yellow and orange in a pattern, but keeping it’s appearance distinctly floral and petal or leaf-like. The size of the material used or summoned does not matter; a Yanar can for example turn a single rose into a large rose petal shaped gown with complex layers that flow like silk. They can add and remove such articles of clothing, re-shape it, recolor it, and reposition it at any time. Nen’nailon clothing is however always purely aesthetic. It does not offer protection against heat or cold, nor can it ever be a substitute for armor or have the hardness of armor, even if the petals can be arranged in such a way to imitate a suit of armor and colored gray.
===Ability Summary & Yanera Abilities===
All Abilities are listed in detail on the [[Ability List]] Page. Additional rules applied to those Abilities are recorded in the table below. Aesthetics for Abilities may be dictated by the players, as long as the Ability Name is mentioned in the Emote, which is mandatory for Ability use. The following Abilities are what is considered a Racial Ability Set. Meaning, that none of these Abilities attribute Aberrant status to any individual, even if they are classified like they would. Only additional Abilities gained from outside of this Racial Ability Set can attribute Aberrant Status. All Yanar have access to the Common Yanar Abilities, while only Yanera Flor, Fae, and Dul have access to their respective Ability kits.
====Common Yanar Abilities====
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center; background-color:#c0c0c0;"
! Ability Name
! Ability Type
! Ability Range
! Ability Description
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Sorcery Skill 1
| Constant Passive
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip:  Sorcery Skill 1 | If the Character has purchased at least 1 Sorcery Ability, they may gain an additional Sorcery Ability from any Category for free. This Ability can only trigger once, and if this Ability is somehow removed from the owner, the chosen Sorcery Ability is lost.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | World Shift 1
| Control Power
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: World Shift 1 | The user is able to Song-bend any unliving materials (dead wood, stone, metal, glass, bone, etc) into other shapes or a desired shape. This involves the act of singing, and then using one’s hands to bend the material as if it is made of a clay-like substance. This can never result in sharp edges or strong surface that Metallurgy can produce, and is only decorative. Objects cannot decrease or increase in size, and this Ability does not allow the Song-bending of objects that consist of many smaller objects, such as a wall consisting of hundreds of bricks, but does allow the Song-bending of a single wooden pillar in a palisade wall.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Flux Shift 5
| Body Alter
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Flux Shift 5 | This Ability does two things. Firstly, with this Ability, a Constant Passive is active for the user, that allows their clothes to perfectly resize and change to fit whatever Mythic or Racial Shift they engage in except if they would somehow become quadrupedal or no longer humanoid, while also returning magically after Shifting back from any such non-humanoid Shifts. Secondly, with this Ability, the user is able to magically change the color, shape, material and appearance as well as layering of their clothing and foot and head wear, including removing and adding new pieces on the fly. This Ability acts instantly and seamlessly with no Cooldown. This Ability cannot create or emulate armor or any tough materials that add extra armoring, and materials cannot consist out of rare materials that require Abilities or Progressions to produce.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Yanar Biology 1
| Constant Passive
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Yanar Biology 1  | The Yanar is composed primarily of plant matter. When the Yanar dies, or goes through the Wyldbirth Cycle, they shed their body as fertilizer and are reborn after 48 hours. This new body can have a completely different appearance, be of a different Yanera subspecies, have a different personality, different Body Shape, but must always have the same Proficiencies. For more specifics, read the Wyldbirth section above under Physical Characteristics. A Yanar can only go through Wyldbirth 4 times a year, based on the 4 seasons. Additionally, the Yanar is able to exert minor influence on the flora around them, causing them to sway with a wave of the character’s hand.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Yanar Biology 2
| Constant Passive
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Yanar Biology 2 | The Yanar can, while in a region or area affected by Home Enchant 7, meditate while holding hands with as many other characters with Yanar Biology 2, and up to one character without Yanar Biology 2, drawing them into a communal dream-realm. While in this realm, they can talk and share photo-like images of memories to others in dream. Anyone can leave the realm at will, or be forced out of it if their meditation is disturbed. Additionally, the Yanar can forcibly bring anyone who is fully restrained or incapacitated into the dream realm as well. This is not voluntary, and the target cannot leave on their own. The target cannot close their eyes, allowing the Yanar to bombard them with flash-like photos of memories, sounds, and smells in rapid succession. This can only be used on one target at a time, and can only be disrupted by the Yanar ending it, or being forced away from the Target.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Yanar Biology 3
| Constant Passive
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Yanar Biology 3 | The Yanar can summon a plant or bark stave between 5 to 6 feet long that is as tough as steel. It can be freely given to others, but will rot after 48 hours. The Yanar can re-absorb the Stave at will by touching it, and can only summon one stave at a time. It can be stolen from the Yanar. Additionally, the Yanar can plant a piece of fruit in a region affected by Home Enchant 7, growing a domestic-cat sized familiar called a Yattil that takes on features of the fruit and a certain kind of animal. The Yattil is purely aesthetic, and can interact with their Yanar owner in friendly ways, but cannot be hurt or assist in any functional capacity. Only one Yattil can exist at any given time, though the Yanar can re-plant the Yattil to change its fruit or animal type.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Home Enchant 7
| Region Enchant
| Player Region
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Home Enchant 7 | The user is able to use Home Enchant 7 inside any Player Region such as Rental House Region or Clandestine Base, or a 10x10 area of greenery, to transform it into a Solur Garden. This Garden allows any plants to be grown within them, and protects them from Corruption or Fungus, even from Abilities such as Vile Vine 1. In addition, the Garden can have any number of small Solur Companions, which are mostly aesthetic acorn-sized familiars that cannot leave the confines of the garden. If the Garden is attacked or intruded upon, these Solur companions will jump at the assailants, one per intruder. From there, they will explode and reduce all Combat Proficiencies of the user by 25%. This effect remains for as long as the intruders are in the garden, or up to an hour maximum. If the Garden is burned, this Region Enchant ends, and the same area cannot be re-enchanted for 24 hours. Only one Region or area may be Enchanted by the user, and they must be allied or the owner of that Region. In order to represent this Enchant, the region should be filled with Sunflowers.
}}
|-
|}
|}
====Yanera Flor====
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 33%;">
{| class="wikitable"
{|
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center; background-color:#c0c0c0;"
|[[File:noimg.png|170px|thumb|left]]
! Ability Name
|
! Ability Type
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Senlon Yanar'''</center></span>
! Ability Range
The Senlon are nature adoring Yanar, who try to live in or as close to wild unkempt nature as possible, preferring the company of Maquixtl and Estelley faithful. Senlon remain very true to their original roots, appearing more plant and flower like with vibrant dazzling colors and scents. The Senlon live more in tune with nature, taking and using only what they need and giving back by preserving the health of flora. Senlon often come to Regalia to be with their migrant Maquixtl allies, or to help the cause of environment preservation, a burgeoning cause in the capital.
! Ability Description
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Light Mend 3
| Magic Spell
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip:  Light Mend 3 | The user feeds and gains strength from sunlight or moonlight. Either moonlight or sunlight are capable of feeding the user much like normal food would, thus making drinking and eating redundant for them (though they still can). Additionally, while standing outside (with no block that interrupts a direct line from the player model to the open sky, including leaf blocks), the Character has +5 Physical Stat, and can choose to absorb strength from the moon or sun and increase Body Shape by one additional step.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Flux Shift 6
| Body Alter
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Flux Shift 6 | The user is able to change their Body Shape, Body Fat, Sex and Body Hair (including top hair and facial hair: color, texture, shape and consistency) at any point, seamlessly and instantaneously.
}}
|-
|}
|}
 
</td><td style="vertical-align: top; width: 33%;">
====Yanera Fae====
{|
{| class="wikitable"
|[[File:noimg.png|170px|thumb|left]]
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center; background-color:#c0c0c0;"
|
! Ability Name
<span style="font-size:130%;><center>'''Dulon Yanar'''</center></span>
! Ability Type
Once caught behind enemy lines, the best way to describe Dulon Yanar is to call them "Void Yanar". The Dulon have abandoned their Estelley worship origins to join the Kathar in their worship of darker faiths. Their ideology dictates that Nature is not a force to be respected and lived under, but one to use their unique skills and command of to control and subjugate. Dulon are inherently antagonistic to Senlon and Ferlon, seeking to usurp power over nature, and aligning with other [[Evolism]] and Kathar allies. They seek power in Regalia, often at the expense of other Yanar.  
! Ability Range
! Ability Description
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Flux Shift 7
| Body Alter
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Flux Shift 7 | The user is able to shift races on themselves. Unlike Flux Shift 1 however, there is no flexibility to change individual aspects. Flux Shift 7 simply translates the exact person as they look in their original race, to whatever race they have chosen, with all visual features that make them recognizable translating over to the new race’s equivalent features. Even if logic would dictate that a race shift from Ailor to Urlan would become unrecognizable, they still are. Their voice also remains the same.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Empath Sense 2
| Trigger Passive
| Emote Distance
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip:  Empath Sense 2 | The Character may blank their own emotional state while focusing on a single person within Emote Distance. As long as focus and a stare is maintained, the Character will duplicate the emotions and feelings of the Target and feel them, themselves. For example, extreme grief or joy, or heartache and melancholy. This does not explain why they feel that way, it simply copies the feeling to the user without altering the feelings of the Target.
}}
|-
|}
====Yanera Dul====
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center; background-color:#c0c0c0;"
! Ability Name
! Ability Type
! Ability Range
! Ability Description
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Shrewd Insight 1
| Control Power
| Emote Distance
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Shrewd Insight 1 | When conversing with a person, the user can, once a day, detect the true disposition of a person towards them. This may be done either by detecting how much the target likes or dislikes the user, or by more specifically detecting how they perceive the user. This may need to be updated from time to time, as people change their minds about others all the time. A character with at least 10 Proficiency Points in Theatre Arts is immune to this Ability. They simply send back blank results.
}}
|-
| style="background-color:#cbf1cb;" | Yanar Biology 4
| Constant Passive
| Self
| Grants the user {{#simple-tooltip: Yanar Biology 4 | The Yanar can target one person within Emote Distance, and alter the aesthetic visuals of their body via plants and petals to suit the person’s interests. For example, the person’s favorite color, or flower, or hair length might appear or re-appear on the Yanar’s body. Additionally, these Yanar always produce an Emote Range wide floral scent that smells different to each person that smells it, always representing their favorite floral or fruity smell.
}}
|-
|}
|}
</center>
</tr></table>


==History==
===Physical & Mental Characteristics===
The birth of the Yanar is often a highly contentious subject in [[Alorian]] scholarly circles. The reasons for this is that for many, mere rumors and hearsay are all that remain of their origins, while many older Altalar openly leer at the Race’s name. The reason for this is simple, as during the waning days of the Allorn Empire, the proto-Yanar that emerged into Aloria were not the force of kindness and care they are today. Instead, these Grul-Yanar as some call them were towering beings in command of the forces of nature atop beasts similarly formed of vegetation—often twisted and gnarled as if the anger of the forest manifested into living beings. While most of these plantlike beasts ranged only up to twenty feet or so, several reached as high as forty, and were terrifying creatures to beyond; twisted vine and rock forged together into siege beasts and living weapons. Supposedly, they were led by the [[Va'sil Tree]]s, massive sentient trees that slowly walked across the land, with warbands of Grul-Yanar in tow. Their actions were similarly terrifying, laying waste to Altalar cities and their surroundings, openly attacking traveling Altalar, and leaving behind dense, plant-filled wildlands the likes of which are rare even today. Attempts to communicate with the Grul-Yanar all but failed, though scattered reports claim the creatures spoke that they acted out the will of Estel. In response to these creatures, Altalar [[Mages]] immediately got to work. Their own magical powers dueled hard against the Grul-Yanar, and while some fell, a majority actually resisted rather well. What brought them to an end was the [[Cataclysm]], and the Wildering that occurred at the same time. To this day, [[Cielothar]] continue to claim that the Grul-Yanar, while violent and cruel, were actually at work weeding out Void-infected Altalar, which at that time were not easily discernible from the non-infected Altalar population.  
[[File:EkT2XO-XgAQYGO4.jpg|260px|thumb|right|Many Yanar use their control over the plants and flowers on their body to approximate clothing]]
Yanar have a very flexible physical appearance, because of their natural ability to Floral-shift, making them effectively shapeshifters though with obvious plant themes. Yanar (and half-Yanar) should always look recognizably plant-like with floral, bark, or other plant matter covering their body parts, hair, etc. Their skin tone can be that of vibrant flowers, however they are also able to mimic the skin-tone of other Races, and even reduce the amount of plants and vines and flowers on their body so they fit in more (or do the exact opposite and become more or less indistinguishable from a walking bark-person). Yanar appearances aren't always grounded in the same appearance, with many of them changing frequently. Yanar can also be encountered in many shapes and sizes, with a body that approximates a muscular form, a slender one, or a very burlesque one. They can be tall or short, have natural eye colors or funky combinations (though efforts should be taken to avoid eye color combinations common in [[Afflictions]] or [[Affinities]]). Yanar also inherently intersex, and can swap between any gender presentation or identity. Yanar are capable of reproducing with other Races, which always results in Half-Yanar, who have the same general appearance, though have noticeably less plant matter on their body, even less than those full Yanar who try to adapt to Regalian society by toning down the amount of flowers in their hair. Personality wise, Yanar are never grounded in any one particular personality. There are kind, generous, skittish, brave, and cruel Yanar, all products of their environment and a process called Wildbirth. Yanar when either choosing to do so, or undergoing a large deal of stress, can cocoon themselves, after which they are reborn they have a completely different personality better suited for their new situation or the stress they are dealing with. They retain all their memories, Abilities and connections, but may also shapeshift their appearance to look very different (though this does not extend their max age).


At the point right before the Wildering, Grul-Yanar vanish from the records of the Altalar. It was presumed that they retreated back into the densest and untouched forest lands and went into a slumber, accepting that they had failed to achieve their goal of purifying Altalar society of its Void element. Decades after the Wildering, around 30 AC, the Yanar started re-emerging, though they were far different this time—smaller, and without the gnarled and twisted rock formations that made them so ferocious. It was as if the anger had left their physical body, even if their mind was still very much at conflict with what happened to nature around them. Over time, their contact with the other Races turned them much more humanoid. While the Altalar living in the old Allorn Empire’s borders still look upon them as the horrors of the dark wilds, all other Races have largely accepted them as an extension of nature without any great global designs or plans, and as such do not consider them a threat (sometimes to their detriment, as Yanar can absolutely be threats). What happened to the Grul-Yanar, or what caused the Grul-Yanar to become modern Yanar is unknown, but a report in 291 AC made by Regalian troops during the [[Ranger Crisis]] suggests a strange fate that only raised more questions. When out scouting in a strand of trees on the central plains of [[Daendroc]], the men found a great, petrified being formed of plants. It was dead, though new growth and plantlife was dense across its entire form and in the air, while there was a great cavity in its chest that had seemingly burst outwards. The troops, however, were lost in the terrain and when later attempts were made to rediscover the site, it could not be relocated. This has led to the belief by many that the Grul-Yanar directly birthed the modern Yanar of today; that like flowers releasing pollen or spores for reproduction, the Grul sacrificed themselves to birth this Race. As for the Yanar opinion on the whole matter, they claim that they in fact were the Grul-Yanar—rather than a creation of the beastial Race—and have some vague memories of the anger that the Grul felt, and inflicting the harm that they did.  
==Heritage Traits==
When designing a Character, Proficiency Points allow for a limited Ability selection with Point Buy Packs. Heritage Traits adds free Packs and Mechanics on top of that to help with cultural themes. Free Packs grant Abilities usually, while Mechanics change the way a character functions in Roleplay through subtle, and usually out of Combat ways. In essence, Mechanics just add aesthetic flair that invest in the niche of each culture. Free Packs never raise Proficiency Points, but the character must be able to purchase them normally. (ex. if a character is a certain Affinity that locks them out of a category, they cannot take that specific free pack and must choose the alternative option.) If a Free Pack grants Magic of some type, that Magic can be of any Alignment the character can normally choose, or limited to a select alignment, which will always be written in the Free Pack description.  


Regardless of who or what truly birthed the Yanar, in the three centuries since, they have used their powers to passively heal, reinvigorate, and help plants and people to thrive, but also diversified and turned away from their nature-tending stereotype, finding new ways to experience the world and themselves. While many Yanar have worked with Allar to further the research and deployment of [[Alchemy]], other Yanar have also deemed it fit to extract alchemical resources from the Allar for their own goals. The Cielothar also greatly appreciate the Yanar and the two Races have become almost synonymous in the minds of many, though there have been Yanar who weaponized the Cielothar around them and deceived them into becoming a personality cult around a single Yanar. Additionally, there have been tales of Yanera-Dul becoming notable members of Kathar society in the [[Dread Empire]]—their alluring beauty a much appreciated tool in the plotting courts of the Kathar Empress. Not everyone looks favorably on the Yanar, however. In the fall of 304 AC, the Yanar within the [[City of Regalia]] watched in horror as the largest of their Solur Gardens, opened to the public at a festival, was burned to a crisp by [[Void Cultists]]. With this act, dozens of Yattil and Solur Companions died as well, sending the Yanar within the city into mourning. Following this, many Yanar left or retreated into privacy within the City of Regalia, vowing never again to create such public and open Solur Gardens where they would become prime targets, and creating more private gardens away from prying eyes. Today, the many different types of Yanar continue to exist across the world, some existing to be part of societies, some existing to make use of societies, and some existing to protect them. Truly, Yanar remain the most varied Race, as while other Races remain dogmatically stuck to ideologies or beliefs, the Yanar are a clean slate that decide for themselves what they want to be in the world.  
Mixed Heritage characters (i.e. characters born from two parents of different Cultures) may take one parent's 'Free Packs' and mix and match up to 5 Mechanics from both parents, although some Peoples cannot produce Mixed Heritage children (due to Magical/Fantasy reasons).
===Free Packs===
* Yanar can choose one free Pack from the [[Medical_Point_Buy|Medical Point Buy]] Category, or choose one Pack from [[Magic Point Buy]].
* Yanar can choose one free Pack from the [[Chem_Point_Buy|Chem Point Buy]] Category.


===Mechanics===
* Yanar can regrow or re-attach lost limbs over the span of 24 hours after they were lost, they cannot become Undead unless an Ordial Entity intervenes.
* Yanar can become Marken/Urlan, but if so, the fur is replaced with plant-fibers/leaves/roots/flowers.
* Yanar can manifest a dream realm where anyone who sleeps in their Region/Base/Estate can travel to.
* Yanar can speak to plants and trees, and even encourage them to grow faster or hide, or change their appearance.
* Yanar can even create new plants altogether in their own Region/Base/Estate, complete with fruits and flowers.
==Society==
==Society==
Yanar Society is complicated to understand, because much like the petals of a rose, it is often multi-layered, and a Yanar is rarely a member of only one single organization or social group. At the lowest level, a Yanar can form a society with other Yanar and Yanar-minded allies who exist around a single Solur Garden, sharing similar mindsets, and worldviews. Though, many Yanar also choose to be solitary and have a Solur Garden for themselves instead. On top of that, Yanar also participate  in societies that go beyond their Solur Gardens. For example, a Solur Garden may exist inside of, or near a town, where the Yanar is considered both a member of the society formed around this Solur Garden and the town beyond it, even if the town members are not part of the Solur Garden society. Further still, Yanar may exist in societies formed around a potential affliction or ideology they have lapsed into. Yanar are flexible enough to be members of multiple different ingroups without necessarily making their loyalty (or disloyalty) clash.
===Language===
===Politics===
The Yanar have their own language called the Silmaan, but this language cannot really be used in Roleplay because it is a near-telepathic communication method that Yanar use with pheromones. It is not capable of transferring simple concepts like "I like this" or "I want that", and is certainly not useful to have whole conversations in, though other Races can pick up these concepts, even if they have never experienced it before. Their language in general lacks a vocabulary or translation, and as such, they often speak the languages of other Races like Elven languages or even Common in Regalia so all other Races can understand them. Yanar names are non-gendered and they often do not have surnames, only taking a spiritual clan-name in case they align with a Maquixtl family:
Yanar lack much in the way of formal politics, largely because of their mentality as well as their limited interactions with the world. For the Yanar, trust is a major aspect of their friendship and society—forming a bedrock of community in the process—but personality worship can also be a basis for a hierarchy to be formed around a single person. As a result, a leader or speaker for the Yanar must first be trusted by the majority of, if not all, Yanar in the Florai. That being said, Yanar as a Race are unique in that they can accept being led by a non-Yanar quite easily, or as Yanar themselves, can choose to lead an entirely non-Yanar group without any issue. They aren’t necessarily attached to their identity as Yanar or the identity of others who are not Yanar when it comes to forming hierarchies within their societies or groups. As can be imagined, Yanar don’t really have power struggles like Ailor society does, though in some cases, contention can occur should a Yanar feel obligated to recommend another to a leading position, or split off from a group to form a new group. However, outright enmity against fellow Yanar is almost unheard of in Yanar groups, with any protest to the behavior or actions of other Yanar taking the shape of silent protest or wilful ignorance.
===Culture===
Yanar culture is heavily focused on the idea of sharing and communion, a theme that perpetuates itself throughout all their ideologies and actions, even if such a group is actually a personality cult and the sharing and communion comes as a projected blessing from the leader as opposed to goodwill from the group. The easiest way this can be observed is in the charitable nature of Yanar towards each other, freely sharing resources, food and clothes. Private property rarely exists among the Race, and when it does, it is often for a very specific reason: for example, a Yanar may hold onto an item when they know others won’t understand or respect its purpose. Aside from their own notions of sharing, Yanar are also charitable to other Races, [[Cielothar]] in particular for obvious reasons. In many ways they adopt Cielothar principles and cultural notions, mostly related to their clothing and jewelry, but also life views in general. That being said, Yanar are able to alter themselves to supplant the need for the Avanthar-Cielothar symbiotic relationship, thus creating their own protecting class of Yanar to ensure that the Race as a whole does not become codependent on another. While Yanar do exist within the Plains hierarchy, often more on the Cielothar side, their place is very temporary, and they can step out of these kinds of protector/protected arrangements whenever they feel like it. This does however often create a clear distinction between Yanar that are part of the collective for protection, and Yanar who protect the collective. Physical differences can sometimes be extreme, ranging from more childlike Cielothar-like Yanar who provide the food, and tall, broad Yanar who protect Yanar Florai from outside attacks, as Yanar are prone to project their purpose and goal into their physical appearance.


====Families and Romance====
'''Example Yanar names:''' Taethor, Critha, Aphelor, Leitha, Ram, Saegra, Aew, Caph, Merilin, Gwaun, Gail, Erist, Niid, Caan, Iach, Rusta, Hithu, Telia, Millia, Senila, Talia.
Yanar are unique in Aloria for lacking traditional marital unions, and for having very particular romantic inclinations. With respect to romance, given that Yanar lack sexual organs, a rude but common assumption is that they lack the capacity for love or affection altogether. This is certainly not true. Yanar affection and romance is displayed through the caressing of the skin, as Yanar skin is extremely thin, and it gives them an enormous sense of affection to be held and feel safe with another. Yanar do not kiss or perform other erotic-adjacent or erotic interactions. Rather, the act of attention and focus on the individual is to them what kissing is like for others. Yanar are capable of showing or receiving affection from others without ever physically touching, and receive the same satisfaction from these interactions. This can sometimes also lead to misunderstandings, as to flirt with a Yanar, can to them be perceived almost of the same intimacy as being in a lover’s embrace and passionately kissing, which when unwanted, can cause a Yanar to become quite unpleasant. As for the concept of marriage, Yanar themselves do not believe in the formal, religious union of two people together, but do sometimes engage in it for the sake of marking their territory, so to say. While Yanar can be flexible when it comes to polyamory or open relationships, many Yanar are also very monogamous, and want to feel the peace of mind of a relationship bound and secure through marriage bonds, in which case they apply Altalar or Cielothar marriage protocols. Additionally, they lack any prejudice or dislike of same-sex couples, and instead use the universal term “life partner” for all unions of people.
====Language====
It might be said that the Yanar have no [[Language]] to call their own, and this is in many respects quite true. When the Yanar emerged, most knew how to speak [[Modern Altalar]] naturally, and a few even became cognizant of [[Allorn Altalar]] and [[Saan]] after a short time. However, in the centuries since their formation, Yanar have simply adapted to possessing the Language that has suited them best, passing this on to their children as they mature. However, the Yanar do possess a natural tongue, albeit a subtle, almost magical one. Known as The Tree Tongue, Tree Tongue, or Nen’yavaye, it is what the Yanar whisper and “communicate” to plants to perk them up, and use in speech to the plants and Solur Companions within their Solur Gardens. This strange Language is most commonly described as indecipherable whispers, and bears no similarity to any other Language known in Aloria, even ancient tongues known dating back thousands of years. Yanar also automatically speak it when needed, and lack the ability to teach it since it is inherent to their Race alone. That being said, it is important to remember that this language is not a full language for use in communication. It is a language used to recite blessings and incantations, it does not have the vocabulary to support actual conversations, and as such should never be treated as an actual operating language.  


====Lifestyle and Leisure====
Yanar do however have a so-called "Wild-name", but are very picky with who gets to know this name. There is a cultural understanding among the Yanar that handing out a real name grants a person power over them, and there have been some historical cases that imply this is more fact than reality, with Spirits seeking to discover the real name of Yanar and then invading them, secrecy being their only defense. Wild-names are normally created with a combination of Silmaan scents, but they can be roughly translated to three-word compounds:
The Yanar are often considered, in their natural state, to be a very laid-back and inoffensive people, stemming both from their mentality but also their general daily routines. Many Yanar in rural areas work in groups, to casually complete required tasks with freedom, taking their time to talk, take care of themselves, and otherwise enjoy their day. This is not to say they are lazy, as many also till fields and actively work to produce or collect food for their people and others, but they generally go about this with a calm lack of rushing. Even Yanar physical training, for those who are protectors or schooled in the art of weapons, often takes time to relax and collect oneself before returning to practice in earnest. However, urban regions see Yanar much more adapted to fast-paced, earnest lifestyles that require or demand constant focus or effort. Additionally, younger Yanar over the past few decades overall, even in the rural regions, have similarly become more earnest in their work and efforts, as many of them feel that the world has entered a new, aggressive age.


As for leisure, Yanar leisure is often tied into their work, though often by the simple merit of their Race focusing on the production of plants, if not crops. When Yanar have free time, they usually tend to their own gardens, or visit their community’s Solur Garden to tend the plant life there, or just go for walks through nature. Games and more are often adapted or outright taken from Altalar, Cielothar, Avanthar or even [[Daendroque]] Ailor society, given how Yanar so often meld into [[Daen]]-based societies. However, despite all of their adaption to [[Cultures]] and Races, Yanar do possess a game all their own, albeit a bit morose. Some claim it was originally an unpopular game of the Altalar that emerged in the final centuries of the Allorn Empire but such information is scattered at best. To the Yanar, the game is called Survive, or “Sojar’vyvar” in Modern Altalar. Set on a symmetrical five-point grid, one individual controls the Hunters, four pieces that start at the distant corners, and the other controls the Herd, a collection of twenty pieces at the center of the board. The goal for the Hunter player is to capture at least five of the Herd, while the Herd’s goal is to cut off the Hunters and force them to not be able to move, causing what in most other games would be called a stalemate. The game is loaded with political and cultural significance to the Yanar people, as they often see themselves as the Herd and the Hunters as any one of a dozen enemies, from [[Ancient Worshipers]] to Altalar Loyalists. Some games are even narrated by the two players together or a third watching the game be played, describing each move as an action carried out by an individual. The Yanar see playing the Hunters as a way to try and understand their enemies, or as a teaching tool to those outsiders who are unaware of how the Yanar have been so constantly pursued.
'''Example Tanar Wild-names:''' Resplended Autumn Mother, Verdant Valley Herald, Blessed Orchid Beauty, Eternity Lavender Matron, Greatest Daffodil Knight, Treasured Lilac Trophy.


====Art====
===Religion===
The Yanar are seen by many as lacking any form of art that is their own, though this is technically false. The first and foremost Yanar art has always been garden care, with natural and beautiful topiaries, garden arrangements and more being what they crafted for the communities who hid or supported the Yanar after their first emergence into the world. When the Allorn Empire fully collapsed, the Yanar and Cielothar meshed their art forms together for wood and bead creation alongside the decoration of Cielothar worship spaces with the features and plants of a Yanar’s, thanks to the formation of Solur Gardens. In other regions, Yanar came to serve Altalar and wealthy Ailor to fulfill the creation of aesthetically pleasing, grand gardens, which many fulfilled. The other form of Yanar artwork is weaving, often with raw plant matter, crafting baskets and clothing for their own bodies. It appears to almost be an innate mentality of the Yanar, as even when passive, or asked to wait somewhere with vegetation, they will entertain themselves by tying grass knots and more. Cielothar and Yanar designs when weaving baskets or clothing have become so close over the decades though that the two share the practice as a form of cultural expression. Additionally, the Yanar’s nature bending Abilities are often also used to produce art, usually of abstract meanings or implications, shapes which only they understand, or which have a hidden meaning or secret message.
By far and large, most Yanar are avid [[Estelley]] worshipers (except the Dulon, who often follow [[Evolism]] and other faiths the Kathar do), with a particular reverence for Mana in the modern day. That being said, other Gods and Goddesses may equally be worshiped, Estel herself is also considered important, while most other Races who worship Estelley leave Estel largely to the sidelines as the slumbering arch-goddess. Even when Yanar are not faithful, they still have a positive perception of Mana as their modern protector and patron (excepting the Dulon again). Because of the historical relation between Yanar and Mana, as well as the wider Estelley temples, other Elven Races tend to see Yanar as heralds of Mana, or the wider pantheon. They are considered in a higher statue of virtue, though this is largely historical revisionism, as Yanar are more than capable of committing sin, and frequently acting outside of the bounds of what is expected of the faithful. In many ways, this is a furtherance of the general perception among Elves that Yanar are weak, simple-minded, lacking in culture and in need of protection. Only those who have spent a lot of time around Yanar, and the Maquixtl, have a genuine deep respect for them as equals, seeing them less as heralds of the Gods, and more as just fellow faithful.


====Cuisine====
===Families===
Yanar are often comically assumed to just gain life from sunlight and water, given their vegetative nature. However, this is untrue, as Yanar can eat and drink a variety of foods just like the other Races of Aloria. Their diets though, are often considered very plain when compared to most others. It is largely made up of nuts, berries and produce harvested from their gardens, or foraged from the wilderness. While eating meat is not abhorrent to them, they largely reject the consumption of anything but fish, who are often considered the least intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom, and also the most removed from the earth and forests Yanar so often dedicate themselves to. This largely gathered produce and vegetation diet, heavily focused on agricultural products, is what ultimately changed the Cielothar into what they are today as well. As a result, it is sometimes called the Ve’genne Diet, a truncated Modern Altalar word for natural things.
Yanar are the only Race that find it comfortable to insert themselves into composite families of other Races, meaning, to be adopted when there is no blood relation. The Yanar population globally is not terribly large (not nearly as small as the Dwarven population, but certainly not sizeable). This is largely because of the fact that it is fairly rare for Yanar to copulate with other Yanar, in fact more commonly pairing and marrying into Maquixtl families, or just being adopted by them. Yanar families do exist, but they often model themselves after other Family units, or adopt non-Yanar into their fold to make sure it's not exclusively Yanar. Dulon Yanar are in fact very prized by the Kathar, and every Kathar family aims to have at least one Dulon Yanar present in their midst, because they bring a great deal of utility value in their nature control skills.  


====Architecture and Buildings====
==World View==
The Yanar are often considered featureless when it comes to matters of architecture and building design, given that they so often live with the Cielothar or in the confines of territory of other Races. However, there are some characteristics that can be given for Yanar homes when within these spaces. For one, they are often humble and small, with a lot of clutter built up over the Yanar’s long life, as well as general carefree attitude. Additionally, they enjoy being close to everything they need or what matters to them, and the Race has often been said to be immune to claustrophobia. This is not strictly true, but Yanar do make use of small space rather well and rarely complain about it (unless it is something truly demeaning or ridiculous). But, beyond the confines of urban or allied territory, Yanar do have common building features. The first category are those Yanar who completely lack buildings, instead living au-natural with the landscape, within the remains of ancient, dead trees or their roots, or other ideal areas of natural protection. They do tend to avoid caves though, mainly to avoid disturbing the many animals that tend to rest inside of them. The other category of Yanar construction are their Wetans, unique, simple circular domed homes constructed using all natural elements, from sticks to bark to lichen. These are often built by Yanar Florai in the deep forests or swamps of Daen, isolated and often a shock to encounter while out in the wilds of the continent. That being said, some Yanar have also been known to enjoy the spaciousness and luxury of palaces, particularly for those who have aligned with the nobility, become rich aristocrats, or sided with the Dread Empire.
* Yanar are always a bit ambivalent or negative about the return of the Allorn Empire. While they will vocally support their friends who want a return of the Allorn Empire. Once an Empire has fallen, it can fall again for the exact same urban corruption and decay reasons unless those aspects are removed.
* Yanar in Regalia are usually either very loyal to the Regalian State, believing it to be more stable and generally well put together than the Allorn Empire once was, or apathetic towards it, just being happy to be in a relatively peaceful place with relatively little repression and freedom of religion and movement.
* [[Unionism]] does not acquire much of a hold on Yanar, due to it strongly contradicting Yanar Estelley sensibilities. Yanar Unionists do exist, but are generally ignored or excluded by the wider Estelley Yanar and Elves.
* Yanar are inherently ultra-progressive people who appreciate the concept of democracy and honesty, until they are not. Yanar generally lean progressive, but Yanar who are more violent or have a wilder temper, may be more inclined to believe autocracy is more effective, especially after the collective trauma over the inability to avert disaster of the Allorn Empire and how a stronger more centralized government like Regalia might have prevented collapse.
* Yanar are very uncomfortable around Suvial, because everything they are is drenched in the aesthetic of fire, the very thing that Yanar are wildly afraid of. They don’t outwardly hate the Suvial, they just choose to stay clear of them as much as they can.
* Despite their fear of fire, fire is not a sure-fire way to scare a Yanar into submission mid-combat. Usually, their bravery and dedication to their convictions triumph in the moment.  
* It is commonly believed that Yanar photosynthesize or only eat plants, but both statements are false. Yanar can also be omnivores or outright carnivores, and in fact have a blood circulatory system and similar organs on the inside.
* A false theory about Yanar souls circulated for over a decade based on incorrectly interpreted data, that claimed that Yanar did not truly possess a soul of their own and were artificial. Recent research has shown this to be wrong.
* Yanar can never truly starve, as even the most isolated Yanar in the darkest of dungeons can grow small plants and fruitlings and nuts from the cracks between bricks and stones, even without water and sunlight.
* Though Yanar are very gregarious and open to others usually, Yanar are extremely sensitive to unwanted touch, and consider uninvited bare-skin contact to be a grave insult.
* Yanar care deeply about the origins of a person, believing them to intricately affect what they are like in the present day. As such, Yanar will often ask “where are your roots?” so as to act where someone is from, to understand who they are now.  
* Yanar (despite jokes and comedy to the contrary) do not consider eating plants or destruction of plant-life as murder or violence. That being said, they would prefer proper treatment of plants and a level of respect for nature that does not involve senseless destruction of flowers and trees.  


==Religion==
==Trivia==
The Yanar believe in practically the exact pantheon as the [[Faith of Estel]] worshipers among the Altalar. Their version of Faith of Estel is virtually identical, though has some peripheral differences for the Yanera. Much like the Altalar and their subraces, the Yanar worship the pantheon of eight, while also each Yanera having their own representative god. One major difference between the Yanar and Altalar Faiths of Estel, is that the Yanar don’t acknowledge Talea at all. Instead, Estel created the Gods, and continued to guide them, and also created the Yanar in turn. The Yanar have the following gods:
* The Yanar had a special relation with the [[Va'sil Tree]]s, though their closeness largely faded over time as they become accustomed to Allorn society. When the Va'sil were still around, Yanar would often socialize around and with Va'sil Trees.
* Ulleyan, the allfather, protector god and identical to the Altalar Pantheon.
* Yanar have an unexplained discomfort towards insects. Theories claim that it is because of the habits of insects to skitter and crawl, and Yanar over-sensitive skin to gentle touch.
* Elleyan, the allmistress, goddess of the seasons and Wyldbirth, but otherwise the same as the Altalar Pantheon.
*Yanar historically had little connection to Manaseia, the being Mana was once part of. Their worship was instead broadly spread between the different Estelley deities, but the rise of nature in the final decades of the Allorn Empire alongside the Wildering, drove the Yanar to largely focus around Mana.
* Valleyan, the living mother, the creator of life and the forger of souls, but otherwise the same as the Altalar Pantheon.
* Savellan, the master of magnificence, and the creator of all non-organics, but otherwise the same as the Altalar Pantheon.
* Isteian, the connivance of persuasion, the master of all wit and intellect and mind games, but otherwise the same as the Altalar Pantheon.
* Talseyan, instead of the Wayfarer, the Forestwarden, protector of the forest and all its creatures that reside within.
* Amayan, the soul guardian, instead of the compatriot of the dead, since the Yanar do not acknowledge death as something natural to them.
* Seiyan, the sparkmother, the creator of magics and the giver of all Yanar Abilities, but otherwise the same as the Altalar Pantheon.
 
Then, exist the Yanera specific gods. Each Yanar chooses a pantheon patron from the list above, while also entertaining the god of whatever Yanera they are at that time. This does mean that when Yanar go through Wyldbirth and change Yanera, that their Yanera specific patron also changes.  
* Florianna, the Yanera-Flora mother (not necessarily female, but female-coded), is the goddess of nurture and compassion, of loving and of caring, and of giving growth to the world around one’s self. Yanar worship Florianna through the creation of vibrant patches of flowers in the shape of a six-pointed star, and by generally leaving plants and flowers in a better state whenever they leave an area. Florianna is seen through the beauty of flowers, and the resilience of plants, and the vulnerability of trees. On the flipside, Florianna can also be vain, prideful and greedy, demanding of obedience. This duality is important to the Yanar, to strongly acknowledge that kindness and compassion doesn’t always come from true virtue, but can also come from a savior complex and a sense of superiority.
* Faemaal, the Yanera-Fae mother (not necessarily female, but female-coded), is the goddess of playfulness, glee, joy and laughter, of loving and companionship, and growing new friendships with strangers. Yanar worship Faemaal through the act of making friends and throwing parties, as well as baking, cooking and brewing foods and drinks for others. Faemaal is invoked as a small prayer before food, thanking for abundance, and thanking for the absence of insects from dishes (as Yanar incidentally hate insects). On the flipside, Faemaal can also be arbitrary, ignorant and naive, making mistakes. This duality is important to the Yanar, to strongly acknowledge that experiences are mistakes that are learned from, and that nobody can do everything perfect on their first try.
* Dulofall, the Yanera-Dul father (not necessarily male, but male-coded), is the god of blood, of passion, of attention and fame and glory, and becoming more known to the wide world. Yanar worship Dulofall through the consumption of blood, and if having taken a vow against blood consumption, they instead offer up a meal during each dinner in a ritualistic burning bowl, the insides of which are coated in a substance that causes the fire to burn in an intense red color. On the flipside, Dulofall is also hedonistic, enslaved, and deceived. This duality is important to the Yanar, as they must acknowledge that passion itself can become a slaver of the mind, and that Yanar should always focus on their own life goals instead of becoming the life goal of another.
* Sirvall, the Yanera-Sir father (not necessarily male, but male-coded), is the god of spirits and ghosts. Not much is known about this god, because there are no Yanera-Sir to learn from, and because currently, Yanar are incapable of Wyldbirthing into Yanera-Sir. Sirval is supposedly depicted as a [[Green Forest Dragon]], but in a ghostly form, and made up of a storm of leaves and twigs ever writing and twisting and turning. Sirval is sometimes acknowledged by the Yanar as the unspoken god, or the lost god, to tie him into the Grul-Yanar, or a part of their history they can barely remember. In such ways, he becomes also known as the god of forgetting.
 
The Va'sil Trees, massive walking sentient trees that are commonly thought to be extinct in the modern era, are also factored into Yanar religion. The Yanar believe that foremostly, the Va'sil are their guides and protectors: prophets of the words and laws of Estel and the gods, much like the [[Avatars of the Gods]] were to the Altalar. These words and laws are also rather complex to explain, as they are not a certain set of codified laws like “Do not steal” and “Do not murder”, but a simple, general understanding that Yanar were created with a purpose, and that purpose itself is commutable to the situation and global threat at hand. Many Yanar in their early years had the role of protectors, while decades later, when Ailor wars occurred, they took on a more healing and caretaking role, with some returning to their role of protectors in recent years as the world, especially Daen, has been thrown into chaos over the past decade. Others yet become users and usurpers, sometimes for nefarious goals or selfish desires. Va'sil Trees do not judge morality, rather they would exist to guide the Yanar on the duality of their Yanera gods.  


==Interactions and Customs==
{{Peoples}}
*Yanar consider it a grave insult to be held by the chin or cheek by one who is not a romantic interest or partner. This furthermore extends to their wider body, and shoulder taps on bare skin or other similar unrequested contact is often seen with disdain by Yanar (though many Races don’t know any better).
*When Yanar greet each other, they usually approach with a palm flat out, facing upward on a level arm. This is thought to symbolize the fertile ground, and a greeting of mutual equality given that both approach on “the same earth”. Romantic suggestion can be added by the holding of flowers or other small gifts between the fingers of the upturned hand, allowing these objects to be gazed upon freely.
*Yanar believe that where someone comes from is very important to their lives and how they develop, even after they have long left that place, or even if they were born there only to move away as a baby. They commonly phrase questions investigating someone’s origins as “Where are your roots?”
*Female or long-haired male Yanar commonly braid each other’s hair, or at the very least loosely comb through it to ensure its vegetation is as straight as possible. Those training in hair cutting also often make sure to touch up the style and formation of the Yanar they are working on. This is often done in a circle, so that everyone who needs it can get it done at once.
*Yanar do not get normal tattoos as their skin is far too thin for the process to be pleasant for them, in addition to the cultural taboo against skin contact. What tattoos any Yanar does have are often the result of a devotion to [[Ritualism]], and are bearable so long as they are done by someone trusted by the Yanar.
*Despite jokes and assumptions, Yanar do not see the consumption of plants as “murder,” especially considering they engage it in themselves. However, they do believe in the proper treatment of plants as well as a proper treatment for their remains. Everything must return to the earth, and so Yanar are major proponents of composting organic material for their gardens.
 
==Trivia==
*Early tales tell of Yanar in the earliest months of their emergence speaking with Ailor and Cielothar in Daen about their birth. They claim to have awoken first in a beautiful dream with a voice in their ear, a tall tree looming above, and sensation unbelievable all about them. Some see this as actually referring to the first Nen’shall of the Yanar people, but others suggest it has actual meaning to it and might be tied into their origin.
*The Yanar rarely speak of the Grul-Yanar except to state that they know little of them. This is maintained by even the oldest of their Race, though many suspect that even if they do know something, keeping it quiet or close to their own trusted communities has long been in their best interest.
*Yanar have a secret hatred for insects, something which is never fully understood, not even by them. This causes them to have a burning hatred for [[Scor]], who they think are both disgusting and vile, and must be exterminated. Many Yanar alchemists continue to work on new variants of insecticide.
*The School of Vasty'naar was forever changed with the arrival of the Yanar, which splintered the School into its three distinct Disciplines seen today.
{{Races}}
{{Accreditation
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|Artists = MonMarty
|Artists = MonMarty
|Writers = HydraLana, MonMarty
|Writers = MonMarty
|Processors = MonMarty, HydraLana, FireFan96, Eccetra, Nesstro, Okadoka
|Processors = Okadoka, FireFan96, HydraLana
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[[category:races]] [[category:Magus Races]]
[[category:Heritages]]

Latest revision as of 19:42, 29 September 2024

Yanar
Race
PronunciationYah-nar
ClassificationMagus
Common Nicknames
  • Plant-People (derogatory)
  • Forest Child (endearing)
  • Vasilta (Elven)
LanguagesModern Altalar, Nātl, Common
Naming CustomsSee Language section
Racial Traits
DistinctionsPlant-like humanoids with a mysterious past and open future
Maximum Age500 years.
Heightfrom short to tall, depending on Floral Shift.

A syncretic Race that once lived alongside the Elves in the Allorn Empire as one of its many non-Elven minorities, the Yanar are a Race of plant-like humanoids that have been around for about as long as the Elves have, but have since Cataclysm detached their entwined fate from the legacy of the collapsed Elven Empire. Many still foster good relations with the many offshoot Elves, but others have ventured into the wide world in search of new purpose, new allies, and new friends. The Yanar are truly undefined by history, their role in the Allorn Empire was so small that they do not face the same scrutiny as other Elves might, and for many, a Yanar is a unique and rare sight that invited curiosity. Inherently interested in nature, and also intrinsically a part of it, the Yanar go wherever mother nature has spread her roots, intent on preservation and harmony or to live as freely as they please.

Core Concept

The Yanar are roughly split between three distinct population groups that aren't really subraces, rather more like subcultures. The most commonly found in an urban setting are the Ferlon who have spread out in the world whether for curiosity or purpose. The Senlon have remained close at home and to their roots, still finding their way into cities, but living on the peripheries where nature can be felt all around. The Dulon are a rare sight, once unfortunately trapped on the wrong side of the Kathar-Allorn divide, but now having adopted a distinct culture of control over nature rather than subjection to it. Each subculture represents a different aesthetic, but also different reasons for why they might appear in Regalia, with different allies and different friends to make.

History

The exact origins of the Yanar are murky, because they existed in a somewhat uncivilized state by the time the Elves first unified under Talea and formed the very first Allorn Empire. The Allorn Empire subjugated many minority Races (and purged a few as well), though the Yanar had a somewhat unique and privilege position. While most minority Races were demoted to class-less citizens of the magical Elven Empire, the Yanar had the blessings and protections of the Estelley gods. Their intervention, when the Allorn Empire expanded and impeded on the Senlionn Forests (the Yanar homeland, now part of the Allorn Empire), made the Elves respect the Yanar as different from all other Empire minorities, granting them great freedoms and exemption from the military or service and the Elves seeing themselves as their protectors. The Yanar formed communities in and around Estelley Temples as a result, and as the Allorn Empire descended in mania and decadence, history mostly passed the Yanar by who were very politically unengaged, and uninterested in the carnal delights that the Elves had started lusting after. In many ways, because of this non-engagement and disinterest, as well as their community isolation, the Yanar could ethically avoid blame for the Allorn Empire's greater crimes like genocide (against the Dewamenet). The Yanar finally became politically active several centuries before the collapse of the Allorn Empire, as agents of the Goddess Mana, using diplomacy, subterfuge and even violence to try and turn the tide of Void corruption among the Elves. They were far too few to change the tide when they finally did act, making only drops worth of change in an ocean of social decay. The Yanar suffered severely during the Night of the Weeping Stars, when pre-Kathar Elves took axe and torch to the Estelley temples, burning down the Va'sil Trees and proto-Mana Trees, killing many Yanar in the process who desperately tried to defend them. As the Empire collapsed, many Yanar fled the Empire's boundaries for lands beyond, or retreated deeper into the forests, or in the case of the Dulon, were caught behind enemy lines. The Yanar diaspora that fled the continents of the Allorn would end up in places like Ashaven and Regalia, international ports of which rumor was spreading far and wide. The Senlon Yanar who retreated deep into the forests eventually re-emerged, making alliances with the Xotik Maquixtl, preaching for the need of a stronger connection with nature and a detachment from the corruption of urban culture. The Dulon were unfortunate enough at first to become corrupted with Void Essences in the Dread Empire, but later would come to praise this circumstance, becoming fervent supporters of various darker gods and spreading their dominion over nature far and wide. Yanar society unlike that of many other Races is very divided in the modern era, with many Yanar choosing their own destiny away from the memories of the fallen Allorn Empire, while others try to stay true to their origins and rebuild the respect they once held in the eyes of the Estelley faithful.

Yanar Sub-Cultures

Ferlon Yanar

The Ferlon are urban city dwelling Yanar, preferring to live in housing made by other Races, surrounded by literally anyone and everyone, and trying to be friends or allies with as many as possible. Ferlon are most accustomed to the ways of living among other Races, and as such try to appear more like them (including humanoid skin tones), by wearing silk clothing or having jobs as business owners. Ferlon Yanar often come to Regalia to experience the jewel of the world, where anything can be seen, anything can be tried, and any mistake can be made, to have it their way.

Senlon Yanar

The Senlon are nature adoring Yanar, who try to live in or as close to wild unkempt nature as possible, preferring the company of Maquixtl and Estelley faithful. Senlon remain very true to their original roots, appearing more plant and flower like with vibrant dazzling colors and scents. The Senlon live more in tune with nature, taking and using only what they need and giving back by preserving the health of flora. Senlon often come to Regalia to be with their migrant Maquixtl allies, or to help the cause of environment preservation, a burgeoning cause in the capital.

Dulon Yanar

Once caught behind enemy lines, the best way to describe Dulon Yanar is to call them "Void Yanar". The Dulon have abandoned their Estelley worship origins to join the Kathar in their worship of darker faiths. Their ideology dictates that Nature is not a force to be respected and lived under, but one to use their unique skills and command of to control and subjugate. Dulon are inherently antagonistic to Senlon and Ferlon, seeking to usurp power over nature, and aligning with other Evolism and Kathar allies. They seek power in Regalia, often at the expense of other Yanar.

Physical & Mental Characteristics

Many Yanar use their control over the plants and flowers on their body to approximate clothing

Yanar have a very flexible physical appearance, because of their natural ability to Floral-shift, making them effectively shapeshifters though with obvious plant themes. Yanar (and half-Yanar) should always look recognizably plant-like with floral, bark, or other plant matter covering their body parts, hair, etc. Their skin tone can be that of vibrant flowers, however they are also able to mimic the skin-tone of other Races, and even reduce the amount of plants and vines and flowers on their body so they fit in more (or do the exact opposite and become more or less indistinguishable from a walking bark-person). Yanar appearances aren't always grounded in the same appearance, with many of them changing frequently. Yanar can also be encountered in many shapes and sizes, with a body that approximates a muscular form, a slender one, or a very burlesque one. They can be tall or short, have natural eye colors or funky combinations (though efforts should be taken to avoid eye color combinations common in Afflictions or Affinities). Yanar also inherently intersex, and can swap between any gender presentation or identity. Yanar are capable of reproducing with other Races, which always results in Half-Yanar, who have the same general appearance, though have noticeably less plant matter on their body, even less than those full Yanar who try to adapt to Regalian society by toning down the amount of flowers in their hair. Personality wise, Yanar are never grounded in any one particular personality. There are kind, generous, skittish, brave, and cruel Yanar, all products of their environment and a process called Wildbirth. Yanar when either choosing to do so, or undergoing a large deal of stress, can cocoon themselves, after which they are reborn they have a completely different personality better suited for their new situation or the stress they are dealing with. They retain all their memories, Abilities and connections, but may also shapeshift their appearance to look very different (though this does not extend their max age).

Heritage Traits

When designing a Character, Proficiency Points allow for a limited Ability selection with Point Buy Packs. Heritage Traits adds free Packs and Mechanics on top of that to help with cultural themes. Free Packs grant Abilities usually, while Mechanics change the way a character functions in Roleplay through subtle, and usually out of Combat ways. In essence, Mechanics just add aesthetic flair that invest in the niche of each culture. Free Packs never raise Proficiency Points, but the character must be able to purchase them normally. (ex. if a character is a certain Affinity that locks them out of a category, they cannot take that specific free pack and must choose the alternative option.) If a Free Pack grants Magic of some type, that Magic can be of any Alignment the character can normally choose, or limited to a select alignment, which will always be written in the Free Pack description.

Mixed Heritage characters (i.e. characters born from two parents of different Cultures) may take one parent's 'Free Packs' and mix and match up to 5 Mechanics from both parents, although some Peoples cannot produce Mixed Heritage children (due to Magical/Fantasy reasons).

Free Packs

Mechanics

  • Yanar can regrow or re-attach lost limbs over the span of 24 hours after they were lost, they cannot become Undead unless an Ordial Entity intervenes.
  • Yanar can become Marken/Urlan, but if so, the fur is replaced with plant-fibers/leaves/roots/flowers.
  • Yanar can manifest a dream realm where anyone who sleeps in their Region/Base/Estate can travel to.
  • Yanar can speak to plants and trees, and even encourage them to grow faster or hide, or change their appearance.
  • Yanar can even create new plants altogether in their own Region/Base/Estate, complete with fruits and flowers.

Society

Language

The Yanar have their own language called the Silmaan, but this language cannot really be used in Roleplay because it is a near-telepathic communication method that Yanar use with pheromones. It is not capable of transferring simple concepts like "I like this" or "I want that", and is certainly not useful to have whole conversations in, though other Races can pick up these concepts, even if they have never experienced it before. Their language in general lacks a vocabulary or translation, and as such, they often speak the languages of other Races like Elven languages or even Common in Regalia so all other Races can understand them. Yanar names are non-gendered and they often do not have surnames, only taking a spiritual clan-name in case they align with a Maquixtl family:

Example Yanar names: Taethor, Critha, Aphelor, Leitha, Ram, Saegra, Aew, Caph, Merilin, Gwaun, Gail, Erist, Niid, Caan, Iach, Rusta, Hithu, Telia, Millia, Senila, Talia.

Yanar do however have a so-called "Wild-name", but are very picky with who gets to know this name. There is a cultural understanding among the Yanar that handing out a real name grants a person power over them, and there have been some historical cases that imply this is more fact than reality, with Spirits seeking to discover the real name of Yanar and then invading them, secrecy being their only defense. Wild-names are normally created with a combination of Silmaan scents, but they can be roughly translated to three-word compounds:

Example Tanar Wild-names: Resplended Autumn Mother, Verdant Valley Herald, Blessed Orchid Beauty, Eternity Lavender Matron, Greatest Daffodil Knight, Treasured Lilac Trophy.

Religion

By far and large, most Yanar are avid Estelley worshipers (except the Dulon, who often follow Evolism and other faiths the Kathar do), with a particular reverence for Mana in the modern day. That being said, other Gods and Goddesses may equally be worshiped, Estel herself is also considered important, while most other Races who worship Estelley leave Estel largely to the sidelines as the slumbering arch-goddess. Even when Yanar are not faithful, they still have a positive perception of Mana as their modern protector and patron (excepting the Dulon again). Because of the historical relation between Yanar and Mana, as well as the wider Estelley temples, other Elven Races tend to see Yanar as heralds of Mana, or the wider pantheon. They are considered in a higher statue of virtue, though this is largely historical revisionism, as Yanar are more than capable of committing sin, and frequently acting outside of the bounds of what is expected of the faithful. In many ways, this is a furtherance of the general perception among Elves that Yanar are weak, simple-minded, lacking in culture and in need of protection. Only those who have spent a lot of time around Yanar, and the Maquixtl, have a genuine deep respect for them as equals, seeing them less as heralds of the Gods, and more as just fellow faithful.

Families

Yanar are the only Race that find it comfortable to insert themselves into composite families of other Races, meaning, to be adopted when there is no blood relation. The Yanar population globally is not terribly large (not nearly as small as the Dwarven population, but certainly not sizeable). This is largely because of the fact that it is fairly rare for Yanar to copulate with other Yanar, in fact more commonly pairing and marrying into Maquixtl families, or just being adopted by them. Yanar families do exist, but they often model themselves after other Family units, or adopt non-Yanar into their fold to make sure it's not exclusively Yanar. Dulon Yanar are in fact very prized by the Kathar, and every Kathar family aims to have at least one Dulon Yanar present in their midst, because they bring a great deal of utility value in their nature control skills.

World View

  • Yanar are always a bit ambivalent or negative about the return of the Allorn Empire. While they will vocally support their friends who want a return of the Allorn Empire. Once an Empire has fallen, it can fall again for the exact same urban corruption and decay reasons unless those aspects are removed.
  • Yanar in Regalia are usually either very loyal to the Regalian State, believing it to be more stable and generally well put together than the Allorn Empire once was, or apathetic towards it, just being happy to be in a relatively peaceful place with relatively little repression and freedom of religion and movement.
  • Unionism does not acquire much of a hold on Yanar, due to it strongly contradicting Yanar Estelley sensibilities. Yanar Unionists do exist, but are generally ignored or excluded by the wider Estelley Yanar and Elves.
  • Yanar are inherently ultra-progressive people who appreciate the concept of democracy and honesty, until they are not. Yanar generally lean progressive, but Yanar who are more violent or have a wilder temper, may be more inclined to believe autocracy is more effective, especially after the collective trauma over the inability to avert disaster of the Allorn Empire and how a stronger more centralized government like Regalia might have prevented collapse.
  • Yanar are very uncomfortable around Suvial, because everything they are is drenched in the aesthetic of fire, the very thing that Yanar are wildly afraid of. They don’t outwardly hate the Suvial, they just choose to stay clear of them as much as they can.
  • Despite their fear of fire, fire is not a sure-fire way to scare a Yanar into submission mid-combat. Usually, their bravery and dedication to their convictions triumph in the moment.
  • It is commonly believed that Yanar photosynthesize or only eat plants, but both statements are false. Yanar can also be omnivores or outright carnivores, and in fact have a blood circulatory system and similar organs on the inside.
  • A false theory about Yanar souls circulated for over a decade based on incorrectly interpreted data, that claimed that Yanar did not truly possess a soul of their own and were artificial. Recent research has shown this to be wrong.
  • Yanar can never truly starve, as even the most isolated Yanar in the darkest of dungeons can grow small plants and fruitlings and nuts from the cracks between bricks and stones, even without water and sunlight.
  • Though Yanar are very gregarious and open to others usually, Yanar are extremely sensitive to unwanted touch, and consider uninvited bare-skin contact to be a grave insult.
  • Yanar care deeply about the origins of a person, believing them to intricately affect what they are like in the present day. As such, Yanar will often ask “where are your roots?” so as to act where someone is from, to understand who they are now.
  • Yanar (despite jokes and comedy to the contrary) do not consider eating plants or destruction of plant-life as murder or violence. That being said, they would prefer proper treatment of plants and a level of respect for nature that does not involve senseless destruction of flowers and trees.

Trivia

  • The Yanar had a special relation with the Va'sil Trees, though their closeness largely faded over time as they become accustomed to Allorn society. When the Va'sil were still around, Yanar would often socialize around and with Va'sil Trees.
  • Yanar have an unexplained discomfort towards insects. Theories claim that it is because of the habits of insects to skitter and crawl, and Yanar over-sensitive skin to gentle touch.
  • Yanar historically had little connection to Manaseia, the being Mana was once part of. Their worship was instead broadly spread between the different Estelley deities, but the rise of nature in the final decades of the Allorn Empire alongside the Wildering, drove the Yanar to largely focus around Mana.

Accreditation
WritersMonMarty
ArtistsMonMarty
ProcessorsOkadoka, FireFan96, HydraLana
Last EditorHydraLana on 09/29/2024.

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