Elementals are the beings that founded the Gray Empire. All elementals have features of either animals or plants. For every species of animal there is an elemental to go with it. Wolves, Deer and Tiger-Lilies are all example.
Elementals are called such because they have the innate ability to use one or two of the Main 6 Elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Light and Dark. For example there are Wolf Elementals that can only use water or some Hawks that can use both Earth and Fire. The element of an Elemental depends on the elements of the parents, two water elements can’t make a child with Fire, and so on.
Today most Elementals are called Demons, they took up the name after The Great War. Humans had called them that to literally demonize them and in an effort to reclaim the name a lot of Elementals kept the name, taking the power away from the insult. Most of the younger generations use the name Demon but the elders still use Elemental.
Elementals are strong physically and mentally. Some elementals can lift 100x their body weight. A vast majority of Elementals though rely on magic rather than strength, and all Elementals have some claim to magic other than the elemental kind. It is because this effenity with magic that makes them so long lived. From a few hundred years to 1000s.
Elementals are slow to procreate, some species are faster than others but children are rare. the fertility rate on average is about 15% with the high end falling to Rabbit and Mouse Demon’s at 35%. Due to this most Demon populations are very small.
Much like Humans there are a lot of genders; male, female, non binary, trans and lots more. Physically there are 3 main types of sex Male, Female, and Aditi, Also sex can manifest as a mix of the 3 and it is considered normal.
Like with Gender and Sex, there are a lot of sexual orientations, and as a whole Elementals do not hold anything that is sexual related taboo. They are baffled at humans that shun each other over such things like gender representation and orientation.
Most Elementals that survived The Great War are pack/group originated. Groups that were able to watch each other’s backs and help keep each other safe. Very few solitary elementals survived. That being the case means that social interaction is very important to them. For example going out to eat is a group event, and its considered bad manners to eat by yourself. IF you are by Yourself it's not uncommon to be Invited to sit with other people.
Because birth rates are so low Elementals are quick to adopt children and in fact celebrate children in festivals. There is not a single orphan in the Gray Empire, any children in need of parents quickly find themselves in a new loving home. Elementals will adopt literally anyone, think your too old to be adopted? Wrong, It’s guaranteed if you need a family you will get one.
Most demon’s fall in love quickly and marry quickly. If after a few years they find themselves not wanting to be with that person then it ends, no harm. Bonding on the other hand, is literally entwinding two or more souls in to a relationship. This can not be broken except for 2 ways. They must have their souls snipped apart, that is usually done by the elder with great magical knowledge. Or if one of the partners dies. If death happens then the other will die, this isn’t always the case but 99% of the time it is.
