The Gemfolk
General Information;
A robust humanoid race divided into clans, called clusters, rigidly defined by the gems they bear that are both source of great power and key to their existence. Each cluster has its own unique culture.
Statistics;
Name:: Gemfolk
Average Lifespan:: 5,000 years
Average Height:: 6 feet
Average Weight:: ~200 pounds
Location Found:: Abroad.
*all statistics based on averages; extremes in any direction, or found in odd locations, are always allowed.
Notes;
Birth and Reproduction The gemfolk are unlike many other races; they cannot simply have children as others do. While procreation is possible, it is much more involved, and requires a sacrifice a piece of both parents' life-gems before the child's birth so that they may survive. This does not need to happen until the latter stages of pregnancy, but should one or both parents fail to craft a new life-gem for their future offspring then the infant will die hours after it is born.
To do so, each parent takes a small chip from their central life-gem - careful always not to break it further, as shattering or any great damage will lead to a painful death - and then forge the two pieces together with their magics. For each cluster, it is different - save for the un-clustered, which can interbreed no matter their gem type (their gems are crafted through reiatsu instead). With each child born, a life-gem heals a little less from the chip, and may become irreparable over time. Children are, therefore, not conceived lightly, and must be born to dedicated parents willing to risk their own lives for that of their offspring.
For amber, their gems must be forged with strong light energies, or the life-gem cannot be crafted.
For amethyst, their gems must be forged with strong lightning energies, or the life-gem cannot be crafted.
For diamond, their gems must be forged with strong ice energies, or the life-gem cannot be crafted.
For emerald, their gems must be forged with strong nature energies, or the life-gem cannot be crafted.
For opal, their gems must be forged with strong dark energies, or the life-gem cannot be crafted.
For quartz, their gems must be forged with strong air energies, or the life-gem cannot be crafted.
For ruby, their gems must be forged with strong fire energies, or the life-gem cannot be crafted.
For sapphire their gems must be forged with strong water energies, or the life-gem cannot be crafted.
Because of this, cluster hybrids are nearly impossible; it is very, very rare that a life-gem forged between two gemfolk types is stable, or that a child born and given such a gem lives for very long. Due to the conflicting natures of each gem type, the traits of each cluster may war within the being. This may cause irreparable damage, and lead to death. Most often, these rare hybrids cannot perform either of their parents' magical affinities.
For the un-clustered, offspring is rarer than other gemfolk. It is easier to break an un-clustered's life-gem than it is through one of the clusters, and it is believed that something of their soul is also lost during the forging of a new gem.
Death When gemfolk die, they do not leave behind bodies to decay and deteriorate; such things are seen as disgusting, and the death of outside species is a thing that is completely alien to them. Should a gemfolk individual die, their life-gem first disintegrates, allowing their soul to escape to the Spirit Realm. Then, their bodies solidify and crystallize before shattering completely. These shards also begin to disintegrate over time, but are usually gathered and placed in urns as the pieces turn to ash. To steal a shard - be it by one of their own race or that of an outsider - is of the highest crime, and may incite an entire city to violence if found.
Dragon Bonds Due to their shared nature, gemfolk dragonriders prefer gemdrakes that match their stone. Those that form these sorts of bonds successfully often form an even deeper affinity for the traits of the appropriate gemstone. If a gemdrake's rider is a gemfolk, and the rider dies, it is not unheard of for the gemdrake to eat their jewel person's stone before it disintegrates to inherit their power. Thus, their souls remain joined until the dragon's death, upon where both spirits will flee to the Soulplane together.
Life-Gems A gemfolk's life-gem is their Soulgem, forged through a ritual into something that closely resembles a true gem or semi-precious stone depending on cluster type and creation. It is through this life-gem that magic is derived, and where the soul is housed; thus, a life-gem is the most important thing to any gemfolk individual.
These life-gems are loosely attached to the gemfolk's body, but may be pried loose with limited force. Therefore, gemfolk are very careful around those of other races, and must be careful that they do not accidentally dislodge it during any difficult, physical task they complete. Should a gemfolk's life-gem become dislodged or stolen, they have a short period of time (how long exactly depends on the individual) to reclaim it and fuse it back to themselves with their magic, lest their bodies turn into their gem and shatter in death.
Should they die in this way, their life-gem lives on, consciousness trapped within, until the gem is destroyed or its energy spent.
Diet This is what this species, and any variants, may eat at any given time.
Common:
All-
fruit, nuts, tubers, mushrooms.
Uncommon:
All-
red meat, vegetables.
Rare:
All-
elemental energy.
Overview:
Gemfolk are omnivores, though they prefer to consume what they can gather over actively hunting. When such sources are abundant enough, gemfolk can absorb elemental energy to feed themselves. Un-clustered can make use of any elemental energy, though they cannot draw as much energy this way as the clustered with their corresponding elements.
Credits;
Species info credited to JPG, Fyfergrund, Aviela, and Verridith.
In-Depth Information;
Appearance Gemfolk are a tall, robust race who usually have thick, somewhat blunt features, though this often depends on their tribe - called a 'cluster' - and overall health. The healthier the gemfolk, the brighter their colors, and the more fit they appear. Most, if not all, gemfolk have subtle facet patterning on their skin, and this is more apparent if they become sickly or ill in any way. Their hair can be any color and worn in any style, though some individuals may have the tint of their jewel's color in their hair as well.
Their eye color tends to at least somewhat reflect their particular gem, though exactly pronounced this is tends to vary with the more powerful individuals showing stronger gem coloring; this is also true for the tints of color in their hair and skin tones. The central gems that serve as the source of their power and existence are nestled within their chests, foreheads, or backs, and are very visible. These may be referred to as 'life-stones'.
Secondary gemstones are common in all clusters, though their placement differs per variant. These secondary jewels are not connected to their life-stone, and have no ill effects if broken or cut away. Different clusters have other variations, listed below.
Amber: The gemfolk in this cluster are gifted with gemstones formed of amber, and their gems, eyes, and the tint of their skin ranges from bright yellow to deep burnt orange, along with the occasional blue. Their central gem is located in their chest, where secondary gemstones may be found on the backs of their hands and neck. Amber gemfolk have completely smooth, if shiny, skin with little to no facets; their builds are commonly blunt and their height short.
Amethyst: The gemfolk in this cluster are gifted with gemstones formed of amethyst, and their gems, eyes, and the tint of their skin ranges from a light lavender to a very dark purple, with the occasional pale green. Their central gem is located just below their collarbone, and secondary gemstones may be found on their back and under their eyes. Amethyst gemfolk have subtle skin facets that may only be seen in hard light; their builds are commonly tall and willowy, often with sharp features.
Diamond: The gemfolk in this cluster are gifted with gemstones formed of diamond, and their gems, eyes, and the tint of their skin ranges from nearly colorless to white, and the occasional pale yellow or very rare black. Their central gem is located on their back, and secondary gems may be found on their cheeks, arms, and shoulders. Diamond gemfolk have bright, glinting skin facets that are visible in all lights; their builds are commonly tall, thin, and lithe with gentle features.
Emerald: The gemfolk in this cluster are gifted with gemstones formed of emerald, and their gems, eyes, and the tint of their skin ranges from an aqua-teal to a dark green. Their central gems are located on their foreheads, and secondary gems may be found along their shoulders and shins. Emerald gemfolk have small, uniform skin facets that shine when hit by bright light, and shimmer subtly in lower light levels; their builds are commonly heavy and muscular, with broad features.
Opal: The gemfolk in this cluster are gifted with gemstones formed of opal, and their gems, eyes, and the tint of their skin can be anything from opaque white to darkest black and everything in-between, marked by the trademark opal iridescence and 'fire' on every surface. Their central gems are located at the top of their spine, and secondary gems can be found on their chests and arms. Opal gemfolk have no skin facets, but have smooth skin that is iridescent and flashy in certain lights; their builds are commonly middling, with soft features.
Quartz: The gemfolk in this cluster are gifted with gemstones formed of quartz, and their gems, eyes, and the tint of their skin ranges from a nearly colorless white to greys and blacks, with the occasional yellow and brown. Their central gems are located on their chests, and secondary gems can be found along their wrists and ankles. Quartz gemfolk have rough, angular skin facets that shine oddly in different lights, never uniform; their builds are commonly short and squat, with hard features especially noticeable in their faces.
Ruby: The gemfolk in this cluster are gifted with gemstones formed of ruby, and their gems, eyes, and the tint of their skin ranges from a deep red to pale pink, with the occasional blue and rare white. Their central gems are located on their upper chests, and secondary gems can be found all along their torso and forearms. Ruby gemfolk have very small skin facets that are nevertheless very shiny, giving them a shimmering effect; their builds are commonly very tall with broad, muscular shoulders and average features.
Sapphire: The gemfolk in this cluster are gifted with gemstones formed of sapphire, and their gems, eyes, and the tint of their skin range all across the board. Potential sapphire colors include common shades of blue and teal, purples, greens, yellows, oranges, pinks, blacks, and the rare individual that has a colorless gem. Their central gems are located on their foreheads, and secondary gems may be found down their backs and lower legs. Sapphire gemfolk have varied, layered facets much like scales that are slightly iridescent, and can come in multiple colors; their builds commonly vary quite a bit, but most are thin and have somewhat elongated features.
Un-Clustered: Any gemfolk that are considered un-clustered do not fall under any of the primary clans; they can be a variety of different gemstones, considered 'lesser' by those born in clusters. This includes not only other jewels - such as alexandrite, onyx, beryl, tourmaline, citrine, etc - but also semi-precious stones and minerals, such as lapis, turquoise, jasper, labradorite, etc. Their builds, secondary gems, jewel-hues, and skin facets vary greatly across the board.
Culture Gemfolk are rather isolationist in their demeanor, and come across as standoffish since they disdain physical contact and prefer to remain at least twice an arm's length away from others. They are an industrious race, very loyal to those they feel to be worthy friends, and deadly foes to those they deem to be enemies. The gemfolk, as a culture, are very guarded and xenophobic, and unwarranted physical contact is much more of a taboo than normal.
Amber: Amber cluster is the light-infused branch of gemfolk, marked by their golden amber gemstones. They are an honest, open people with a keen interest in knowledge and understanding how things work. While they are easy-going, when provoked, they tend to retaliate by bringing complete and utter destruction to their enemies.
Amethyst: Amethyst is the lightning-infused cluster, marked by their translucent purple amethysts. They seem to switch between quiet contemplation to grand displays of emotion, whether in revelry, reverence, anger, or some other emotion. There seems to exist no in-between for them, and such moments always arrive suddenly, with little to no forewarning.
Diamond: Diamond cluster is the ice-infused group, noted for their pure, beautiful diamonds. These gemfolk come across as cold and calculating, and they are indeed very stoic and prefer to think things through before acting. They are rather unforgiving, and once you've lost their trust, it will never be regained. However, they are just as unyielding in their loyalty, and though they lack the fiery spirits or their ruby cousins, they are nonetheless deadly fighters.
Emerald: Emerald cluster is the earth-infused branch, marked by their vivid green emeralds. A deep-rooted, thoughtful people who approach every action with well-planned, relentless energy, no matter what the task may be, or how long it may take. They are amazing artisans, capable of great works of art that may take them centuries if not millennia to fully finish.
Opal: Opal cluster is the dark-infused branch, marked by their varied opals. They are the most secretive and cunning of gemfolk who value their secrets. However, despite their penchant for secrecy, they aren't malevolent, simply enjoying mental challenges. They are the most subtle of gemfolk, and rarely strike directly if provoked.
Quartz: Quartz cluster is the air-infused group, noted by their oft-clear quartz gems. As befits their element, they are nomadic and mercurial, always drifting from place to place, project to project. While they are the easiest of gemfolk to befriend, they are still prone to abruptly wandering off, only to return later and act as hardly any time had passed.
Ruby: Ruby cluster is the fire-infused variant, marked by their fiery rubies. A fiercely independent, passionate people, and honorable warriors. They tend to blend weapons and footwork together into exotic dances that double as weapons practice. It is considered a rite of passage for a ruby warrior to have a personalized weapon crafted for themselves.
Sapphire: Sapphire cluster is the water-infused group, marked by their brilliant, multi-colored sapphires. They tend to be as passionate as the ruby cluster, but lack the fiery demeanor of their more volatile cousins. While they often appear to be reserved, their emotions are deep and profound, and can be quite frightening to see when released fully.
Un-Clustered: The un-clustered are those gemfolk who fall outside one of the cluster hierarchy. Since their abilities and temperaments are so varied, they have no set culture or coloring. They tend to be semi-nomadic, either traveling together in small groups, wandering between their clustered cousins, or rarely among other races.
Abilities They draw powerful magics from their gemstones, as well as their very existence, as their gems are also Soulgems, akin to a kitsune's starball, though not as separate from their bodies. Therefore, their gems are both blessing and curse. If removed, they have a short time where they can attempt to reclaim it, or their bodies will solidify and shatter. An unbound gemstone will provide whoever wields it with a substantial boost in power for as long as it lasts. Other gemfolk can sense these life-gems, and tend to react with violent anger against the wielder. They are physically robust and resilient, resistant against most diseases.
Gemfolk of the same type may combine their elemental affinity and use it to much greater effect than a simple individual casting; however, gemfolk from different clusters cannot do this. Each cluster has its own common abilities, listed below. While gemfolk may have other, non-elemental magics, their cluster's element will always be their primary ability.
Amber: Amber cluster are powerful wielders of light magics, whether using it for healing, purification, or destruction.
Amethyst: Amethyst cluster calls upon lightning to satisfy their needs, whether to strike their foes, or to put on a vibrant visual display.
Diamond: Diamond cluster calls upon the power of ice for various purposes, whether for shelter, defense, or as weapons.
Emerald: Emerald cluster are powerful practitioners of earth magics, and can cause plants to grow, shape the earth to suit their needs, or cause mighty walls to topple.
Opal: Opal cluster wields great dark magics, whether for concealment, corruption, or other purposes.
Quartz: Quartz cluster are skilled manipulators of the winds, whether for flight, to disorient their foes, or to play pranks.
Ruby: Ruby cluster wields fire with great power and finesse, whether for use at a forge, to start a campfire, or in battle.
Sapphire: Sapphire cluster calls upon the power of water, whether for purification, to water the parched earth or soothe thirst, or for some other purpose.
Un-Clustered: The un-clustered have a wide array of abilities too numerous to be listed. varied as their abilities are they as a whole lack the ability to use their powers together like each cluster can with one another. However, they make up for this through sheer diversity.
Species Origin;
Long ago, in the First Realm, there were elementals; hundreds of them were created by Leartes' claws, give life amid the chaos. Over time, they formed communities, friendships, romances as many races do. But they soon began to realize one thing: their world was dying, and with it they too would die.
This filled many of the elementals with fear, and some with anger. Why had the god given them life only for that life to be taken away? They did not understand what was happening around them, or how soon the First Realm would fail. However, these elementals did not give up - they decided to seek a way to survive. To go on living even after their world had died.
The elementals devised a ritual that would, in theory, take their spirits and preserve them in Soulgems after their death. Thus, they would live on, and become something new. Though the ritual has been lost to time, it was done on a great many elementals, and they settled in to wait for the end. However, not all went according to plan - for the gods rarely warn anyone when they are about to do something, and detail their plans even less. When the Ten began moving their creations into new worlds, the elementals were taken completely by surprise. Many of them survived the relocation... but many did not.
Their planned ritual had worked. Those that died, instead of true death, were converted into bright and glimmering Soulgems of every color imaginable. These Soulgems were transported by the gods as the living elementals were, and trapped within the confines of their shimmering prisons, they beheld the new world of Millirand in all of its glory. But they were unable to move and act as they thought they would be able to; their Gems were immobile, fragile, and powerless. Those elementals that survived, overcome with guilt, took these Soulgems with them and tried to figure out what to do with them.
Destroy them, allowing the souls inside to die? That would destroy all of the work they put towards surviving. Allow the Soulgems to exist, and watch the world from behind their crystal prisons? That would be cruel. They needed to find a way to restore these Soulgems back to life. And yet, born in such a time of chaos and destruction, there were no scholars that knew how to do this. Soulgems were still very little understood.
A plan was crafted after many weeks of discussion, after long hours of listening to the ethereal, telepathic screaming of the trapped elementals. New bodies would be forged, and tied to the Soulgems themselves. Aura elemental enchanters, earth elemental crafters, and dozens of others to contribute their energy swore their aid. Combining their efforts, they were able to craft bodies from pure gemstones and semi-precious stone (for the bound individuals deserved no less, in their eyes), humanoid in shape, beautiful and faceted with a jeweler's skill. The auras imbued the jeweled bodies with energy, while an elemental matching the element that lay within the trapped Gem began to focus their magic upon them. The idea was to unlock the power - the soul - within the Gems, and while they resisted for a time, they eventually began to mutate within the intense energies of the elementals; and soon, they began to change.
Each gem changed depending on what type of magical influence it was touched by. They began to resemble true gems, losing their reiatsu-colors and taking on the qualities of the gemstones themselves. Light rendered amber; lightning created amethyst; ice crafted diamond. Similarly, five other distinct gemstone types were formed, as each changed: earth to emerald, dark to opal, quartz to air, ruby to fire, sapphire to water. These were paired with the gemstone bodies that the transformed Soulgems most resembled, and were fused to them with the aura's magic.
It is said that those now referred to as the 'un-clustered' originally came from chaos, storm, and aura elementals that were trapped in their Soulgems, but whether this is factual or not is a much-debated topic among scholars.
Something unexpected, however, happened to the crafted gemstone bodies when they were fused with the changed Soulgems; as life took hold of these rigid, glittering forms, they began to soften and change. The sharp lines of stone slackened, smoothed, and became flesh; real eyes opened as the figures began to stir, marveling at the ability to see, feel, breathe. Their former Soulgems glittered and shone upon their bodies, and though their skin still flashed with subtle facets, they were not simply inhabiting constructs as was initially thought. They had flesh and blood bodies that they had not had before.
Similar gem-types congregated with one another, and they began to call themselves by another name; gemfolk, after the gems from which they were spawned. Clans, called 'clusters', were formed. As time passed and the gemfolk realized that they aged and were mortal, concerns turned to the future of their race. Children, thus far, had all died; and it was found that though they could conceive as other creatures could, their offspring could not live without life-sustaining gems of their own. A ritual was created to address this - and soon, new generations of gemfolk began to thrive.
This species did not have an Ancient First.
subspecies
No subspecies have been discovered for this species yet!
