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| Yanar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Race | |
| Pronunciation | Yah-nar |
| Classification | Magus |
| Subraces | Yanar-Flor, Yanar-Fae, Yanar-Dul, Yanar-Sil(extinct) |
| Common Nicknames |
|
| Languages | Modern Altalar, Saan, Common |
| Naming Customs | Elven fantasy naming, though avoiding Tolkien Elven. |
| Racial Traits | |
| Distinctions | Plant-like humanoids with a mysterious past and open future |
| Maximum Age | No limit, though the oldest Yanar is around 300 years old. |
| Height | Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies |
| Weight | Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies |
| Eye Colors | Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies |
| Hair Colors | Varied, depending on Wyldbirth and subspecies |
| Skin Tones | 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.
Physical & Mental Characteristics
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
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.
Yanera-Fae
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.
Yanera-Dul
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.
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.
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. 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. Yanar frequently change their personality and reset their views on the world around them, though theirr 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 & Specials
Racial Abilities are generally a set of unique powers and effects that all peoples of that Race all innately have, while Specials are more passive, aesthetic focused capabilities. Specials are defined per-page, while Abilities can be searched on the Ability List page to determine their generic function. Yanar have only Specials themed around plants, nature, cottagecore and the changing of the seasons. There is no such thing as a Half-Yanar, as Yanar cannot reproduce with other Races in the traditional sense.
Specials
- Exist Manifest: Yanar are beings made of Exist Magic given form. As such, they are naturally in tune with the Exist plane. Yanar are always Exist Occult, and cannot become Void Afflicted, or learn Void Magic. Any Magic they learn is always Exist based. Additionally, Yanar may choose 2 Magic Point Buy Packs for free without the Proficiency Point investment. Additionally, Yanar can apply Nature Magic Pack Aesthetics to all Magic Packs, even if they haven't bought that magic pack.
- World Song: Yanar have a high degree of control over plant matter and bark. They are able to use singing, poetry, recitation or music to re-shape wood and plant matter into whatever shape they like. These items can never be weapons or armor, but they can be barricades build in Regalia, which count as Vandalism (with regards to Vandalism rules and making a ticket to get staff to build them).
- Exist Weightless: Yanar are capable of transforming their lower body into a cloud of petals and plant matter that funnels like a tornado. This gives them the aesthetic of being off the ground. While this transformation is active, Yanar do not fall with terminal velocity, instead gently floating down.
- Exist Eternal: Yanar do not truly die. If for any reason a Yanar should die, their body turns into a rooting plant that takes several days to grow. If left undisturbed, the plant will turn into a new Yanar body, which can look entirely different, but keep all of their memories and personality. Though, even if it may look entirely different (gender presentation, body shape, colors, etc.) it can never count as a disguise for balance reasons. This Special can also be activated without dying, using Wyldstones which are Exist blessed through a Yanar Ritual, causing them to enter a slumber and become reborn through the same process.
- Dream Realm: Yanar can enter in a dream state in their Rental Region, or a Noble Estate or Clandestine Base that they are a member of. Anyone willing who is also inside such a building can join them. While in the Dream Realm, the Yanar can control anything anyone present can see or experiences and they will all perfectly recall their memories from the dream when they wake.
- Dream Home: Yanar have a great degree of natural control over the plants flowers and produce within their own home. Any plants in their Rental Region, or Noble Estate or Clandestine Base that they are a member of, they can animate with their will, allowing them to speak their needs and wishes to the Yanar. The Yanar can also encourage them to grow rapidly, change shapes and colors, and behavior, and even rapidly grow fruit in their own home that tastes like whatever meal they want it to taste like.
- Yattil Parent: Yanar are able to produce up to 5 Yattil Familiars out of fruits and flowers. Yattils behave exactly like normal domesticated animals would, but are entirely made of plant matter. Only very small species can become Yattils, like rodents, lizards, small birds and small domestic dog breeds. Yattils cannot be used in Combat but can be used to aesthetically bring smal items to the owner like pencils or letters.
- Solur Garden: In a Yanar’s home, a Yanar may manifest as many Solurs as they like. Solurs are small achorn-people who look like green achorns with big eyes and stubby legs and arms. Solurs cannot speak but have a skittish personality, and usually tend to gardens by watering them with their little watering cans. Solurs generally scream and scatter if a home intruder is around.
- Manifest Beauty: Yanar can change the colors and shape of any flowers and fruits on their body, which usually includes their hair and any accessories. Yanar can even pluck fruits from their own body (it must be plucked by the Yanar themselves, if done by others, it hurts a lot). This Fruit always gives the person that eats it a warm feeling, and memories of the Yanar that produced the fruit.
- Race Mimic: Yanar can make their appearance take on aesthetics of other races, but instead made of plant matter. For example, if they mimic an Urlan, they would gain a bull’s head and horns, but entirely made of plant and flower material. Yanar always remain recognizeable when changing this racial presentation, this is not a disguise.
- Empath Sense: Yanar are able to focus on a person in Emote Range, after which they feel the emotions that this person is feeling, they just do not know why. If the person is willing, and the Yanar maintains physical contact, they can also absorb these emotions so that the original person no longer has to feel them.
History
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 Trees, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Politics
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
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
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.
Art
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.
Cuisine
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.
Architecture and Buildings
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.
Religion
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:
- Ulleyan, the allfather, protector god and identical to the Altalar Pantheon.
- Elleyan, the allmistress, goddess of the seasons and Wyldbirth, but otherwise the same as the Altalar Pantheon.
- 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
- 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.
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