#non-chara

[sir-cortex]

O hey look its me

[musingofariael]

Chara

Quick Facts: Height: 3 to 10 feet, varies by form. Weight: 50 to 600 pounds, varies by form Lifespan: At least 1000 years Defining Features: Plant-like appearance Population: Around 1,000 Found: The Pocket Reputation: Alluring but Misunderstood Gods: Milja and Kellan Racial Bonus: +10 Growth Overview: The chara are an elusive people that remain out of the world's affairs for the most part. They are alluring and enticing to those who see them in the rare occasions where they leave the pocket. There seem to be several types of chara as individuals bearing vastly different appearances have been seen. They keep to themselves and will only mingle with the rest of the world when necessary. History: The chara are one of the youngest races in all of Ariael. They have only been around for a little over a thousand years. They are said to have been born through a pact between Milja and Kellan. The goddess of life and god of change and alchemy combined their domains to create a race that would be an embodiment of their realms. Evolution is the greatest example of change occurring within life on any world and the chara are evolution given fluid ever-changing form. It is said the Milja planted a seed in the ground at the center of a great forest. It was hidden away from all other life, never to be found or disturbed. She breathed her full power into the seed and asked Kellan to do the same as this creature would be a creature of change and evolution. What spawned from this seed was a plant that was unlike any other. It grew to bear the visage of a humanoid creature. Over time the plant grew and evolved. From this single plant others poured forth in the form of spores and with each cloud of new life, this life changed. Soon a people grew from these plants that retained much of their appearance from the flowers and stems that originally tore free from the earth. They felt a connection to the land around them, the plants and vegetation. They grew to understand that as varied as the plants around them could be, so could they be. They could shift at will through a variety of forms and change just as nature could change around them. Milja and Kellan, proud of their creations stepped back to allow them to develop on their own far away from the rest of the civilized world. Still young to this world they were only welcomed by one race, the wood elves. The Pocket as the chara's home came to be known, was located in a hidden segment at the center of the dense forest home of the wood elves. It was nearly two hundred years into their budding existence when the first chara ventured from the pocket into the dense forest beyond. The most common form of those first chara that ventured from the pocket was similar to that of the elves, if only a tad bit smaller. Pointed ears, greenish skin tone and angular features were prominent on the three foot frame of the chara. The first party that left the pocket traveled for mere moments before encountering the wood elves in their natural territory. Where most races that confront one another for the first time meet each other with fear and hostility, this encounter was different. They felt an instant kinship between them from their first moments. The Wood Elves looked upon the chara with reverence because they were formed from their sacred forest. From that first encounter onward the two races have lived hand in hand. The wood elves have helped keep the homeland of the chara hidden and safe while the chara have used their sway over the forest to make life bountiful and easier for their elven allies. As centuries passed the chara began to leave the safety of the forest and can now be seen on rare occasions frequenting foreign lands. It is rare to see a lone chara as they tend to travel in groups for safety but the odd occurrence does happen from time to time. Little is known to the outside world of their existence as the chara rarely speak to others around their people. Biology: Physical Appearance: The chara look like a melding of plant, human and elf. It is difficult to pin down their true appearance as they have several different forms they can take on. Each of these forms is designated for specific tasks or roles within their community. The chara do not possess individual gender. Their gender is assigned based on which form they currently reside in. The known forms of chara are as follows: Evris: The most common form the Chara of the younger generations take on. This form places them between three and four feet tall. Their frames are thin and ideal for moving quickly through the trees and underbrush of dense forests. They share many features with the elven people in this form. Their faces are angular and thin, their ears pointed and eye slightly slanted. Their skin tone in this form is a mixture of greens, golds and browns to mimic many colors found in the forest. Their hair is formed of layered leaf-like fibers rather then hair. Their skin seems to be formed with a leaf-like texture, with thin, muted veins running through. Their eyes are entirely one color, usually a deep forest green but other colors occur on a much less frequent basis. Though their bodies are thin and small they are wiry and strong for their size. They weigh roughly between seventy five and one hundred and twenty five pounds in this form and can be either male or female. Though not as naturally gifted with the growth ability as the tender form, many have become powerful growers within the most recent generations. The evric have shown the ability to mimic the tender in many of their traits. Though held close to those who hold this form, it is believed that they are able to communicate to those in thrasher form and spore form, but this is unknown to the vast majority of charan society. Thrasher: The shock troops of the chara if you could say they had them. In this form the chara lose many of their humanoid features. Though they retain the general shape of a humanoid they take on more of their plantlike features in this form then in any other. Their bodies are coated in a thick fibrous shell with thorns protruding all over their bodies making them formidable in battle. Their faces are hooded by what looks like a partially opened bud, their eyes and mouth concealed within the bud and behind a large number of vine-like tendrils. Their actual facial features are difficult to discern but their mouth is circular and lined with spines similar to that of a fly trap. Their eyes are large and are comprised of a single color; usually a deep sapphire blue. They are between nine and ten feet tall with a formidable presence that makes them seem even larger. They weigh between five and six hundred pounds. From their arms flow long vines that the Thrasher can move at will. Often they use these to grab things and bind them, or move through the trees with impressive speed. This form is without gender and cannot reproduce. Viril: This a female form and is considered to be the most beautiful of their forms in the opinions of many outsiders. An alluring example of sensuality that is wrapped in a layer of flower petals and pheromones. They are similar to elves in their appearance; high cheek bones, pointed ears, tall and lithe though they are more curvaceous then elves tend to be. Their skin is a light green with occasional undertones of gold, red or blue and bares the texture of flower petals. They stand between five and a half feet and 7 feet tall, providing a fair amount of variance. Their hair consists of fine vines curling down to the small of their backs that can vary in color. In this form the Viril passively releases pheromones into the air around them that make them more attractive to members of the opposite gender. Their purpose in this form is reproduction and this is only one of two chara forms capable of cross species reproduction; their physical features and biology are geared towards achieving this purpose. Waric: Similar to the viril in design and purpose with one distinct difference; they are male. Waric are muscular and strong in both appearance and attribute. Standing between six and seven and a half feet tall they are imposing in stature and alluring in their features. They too release pheromones to attract those of the opposite gender. They make up the dominant portion of the warrior class within the chara and are the second form capable of reproducing with other species outside of their own race. This form is the most common form the chara take on; though recent generations have begun to adopt the evris form with increasing frequency. Spore: Chara in spore form have chosen to forgo their day to day life and dedicate themselves to maintaining the environment around them. It is through these spores that future generations of chara will be created. Though chara in waric and viril form can reproduce with other species with the blessing of their society, they are discouraged from mating with each other leaving spore reproduction the only means of regular reproduction. The spore are responsible for spreading and fertilizing the seeds that will become the next generation. In this form the chara takes on the appearance of an exotic flowering plant. Their bodies root to the ground and connect to all the other spore around them through a root system beneath the surface of Ariael. They are of one mind perfect in it's connection yet very simple in its capability having lost their sense of self. Their bodies fold in on themselves and they look as though they were a humanoid that is crouched within the stalk of a plant. Their heads grow large colorful flowers and their arms wrap around their bodies. Vines grow from their bodies in different directions, attaching them to the ground, trees and surrounding plants. In this form they release spores into the air that mix with the spores of others to create the next generation of chara. Once life has taken root, the new chara will grow into a smaller version of the spore plant, though they do not release spores. They remain in this form for at least seventy five to one hundred years before they grow the self awareness and consciousness to shift form for the first time with the help of tenders. The secondary purpose of the spore form is to release helpful non-fertile spores and other chemicals into the air and soil that can be used by tenders to grow more plants and help heal or expand the forest. Tender: The most highly respected form the chara can hold but also the one with the most responsibility. The tenders are the wisest of the forms and believe themselves to be the most intelligent. Tenders that have held their same form for hundreds of years carry with them knowledge that would be lost if they were to ever shift to a form of lesser intelligence. They maintain the young and tend to those in spore form. They use their power of growth, the ability that allows their people to shift, in another way no other form besides the newest of evris is able to. They are able to use their mastery of growth to cause plants to grow in various ways increasing crop yield, expanding already present vegetation or just causing general accelerated growth. They use this ability to help maintain the young as they hold their original infantile forms. They can communicate on a deep biological level with those in spore form and aide them when they wish to shift. It is also the tenders that can sooth thrashers when they lose themselves to their baser nature. They are the most commonplace in appearance. A strictly female form, though they are not able to reproduce in any way. They are more rounded then the viril and they are more ample due to their lives that are free of physical tasks. They vary the most in appearance and look more like a common human then an elf like some of the other forms. Their ears are pointed though not prominent. They have the same height and weight variance of the human female as well as similar features. Though their skin retains the greenish hue it is muted and their eyes and hair vary widely in color. In is believed that elder tenders carry with them the knowledge of other forms that existed in the beginning and that the chara have forgotten. Common Traits: All forms of the chara possess plantlike features. These vary largely based on what form they are in. Common features are the greenish hue to their skin that they retain in all forms, their pointed ears to varying degrees and the eyes that are all solid in color. They bleed green in all forms. Beyond these shared traits each form does not possess much in common with each other. Though the viril, waric and evris look elvish in nature. Psychology: The intelligence and psychology of the chara is often dictated by which form the individual takes on. They are designed to fight different roles based on their form and each role is just as vital to the survival of the species as the last. Their mental and emotional capacities do not allow for variance to get in the way of the survival of the species. This manifests in the instinctual drive that pushes each individual forward in each form. The spore is a baseline form and thus it's intelligence and mental capacities are geared around one thing; propagation of the species. When the chara enters this form they are forgoing their individuality for the betterment of their community. They set down physical roots and it is through these roots that a sort of hive mind is set up. This hive mind is designed to allow all spore to communicate on a fundamental level as to provide the optimal conditions for the spreading of young. They lose their sense of self for the most part. A fraction of it remains but it is only through the help of their minders that they are able to draw it back to the surface enough to shift forms. The Thrasher is a being of violent instinct. They are ruled by aggression and brutality. If one were to equate their intelligence to something that may be easier to understand; one could say that they have the intelligence of a human child around the age of five or six years old. They are the most physically impressive and powerful of forms yet they are unable to constructively use that power without guidance from their more intelligent brethren. Again; the tenders find themselves in a role of leadership. They are able to pull forth the sense of self within the thrasher and calm them, or direct them where they need to point their destructive urges. Though difficult, it is possible for a thrasher to pull themselves out of this form. It is easier if they have a strong tie whether it be friendship, kinship or love with another individual that can act as an anchor for their sense of self. The viril are the form designed for propagation of the species through mixed breeding. Though not as pure as the spore method of reproduction, mixed breeding can still help spread the genes of the chara throughout the races of the world. Adaptability is their strongest trait as a race and this is the most effective way to adapt. Because of this the viril are heavily pushed by their desire to find, lure and copulate with males of other species. This stems from their biology in the form of pheromones and their body design which seems pleasing to most males of other races; and it can also be found within their mindset and instincts. Though they are capable of individual thought as well as being able to function as productive members of any society they are heavily swayed by their sexual desires to a distracting extent. When one sees a chara outside of the pocket that is sanctioned by their species to leave, more often then not, it will be a chara in viril form. Waric are the ultimate male specimen and do to this fact they are ruled by their aggressive and desire to propagate. Waric are the warrior class of the chara and they are filled with the desires of the male gender. They are aggressive without balance and they will allow their pursuance of reproduction to drive their actions. Like the viril they are capable of individual thoughts, actions, emotions and desires but they are over the surface of a sea of urges that they must fight. The evris are the most common form taken by the younger generations of the charan population. It is the most balanced of all of the forms. They are the most capable of individuality to its truest extent because they are not ruled by emotions or urges in direction more then any other. They can experience emotions of any type or strength or experience none of all. The newest of the forms; the evris is believed to be a result of the chara being exposed to other races. Individuality is a strong tenant of a civilized species and as generations developed with more knowledge of the outside world, this form arose as a sort of evolutionary rebellion. It was chara in evris form that first ventured forth from the pocket and broke the rules set down by their society. If the other forms excluding the evris are the cogs that work within the machine that is the charan species; the tenders are the engineers that keep it running smoothly. They are less emotional then any other form. Not ruled by desire or urges beyond the desire to keep things functioning. They are viewed as the wisest of the forms and this is true to an extent. Many of the oldest chara have maintained their tender forms for centuries and carry with them knowledge that would be lost if they were to take on a mindless form. Not all chara are allowed to enter tender form and it is heavily regulated by the elders of the pocket. This is seen as a means of control by some and a means of keeping order and efficiency by others. Reproduction: The chara reproduce through spores that are given off by those of the community in spore form. This is the only form of reproduction that is acceptable within the society of the pocket. Viril and waric forms can mate with one another but it is discouraged. In this case, the gestation of the charan live birth offspring would be three months. The live birth of a charan child is an unpredictable occurrence. The form the child takes at birth can vary and a child could find themselves stuck in a form they cannot pull themselves out of. Only two forms are able to reproduce with other species are the female viril and the male waric. Waric chara can mate with a female of another species and the viril with the male of another species. The offspring in the case of a pairing with a waric chara the offspring will possess the greenish hue to their skin, pointed ears and solid colored eyes, but no other aspect of their chara heritage will carry. They will not be able to shift. In the case of a viril pairing, the young will be born chara in most aspects though it will be born through live birth and not spore. It will come into life as a mixture of the two races and may be able to shift. If they are able to shift however and choose to do so, they will often lose their ability to return to their mixed form. The appearance this mixed form takes on will be determined by the racial mixture of the child. A viril chara that becomes pregnant, must remain in viril form throughout the entirety of their pregnancy. The gestation of the mixed child will be determined by the gestation of the non-chara parent. Aging & Longevity: Not much is known about the age and longevity of the chara. The oldest among them have existed since the creation of their race around one thousand years ago. No chara has died of natural aging since their creation. It is unknown whether they are truly immortal or merely long lived. They do not seem to change in appearance once they take on an adult form. They do not "age" per say. Society: Social Structure: The structure of charan society is a caste system set up through biology. The tenders are the ruling class and many whole families will remain in this form for their entire existence. It is viewed as an honor and sign of trust when you are allowed to maintain this form. They dictate when other individuals within the pocket are allowed to shift forms and which forms they are allowed to shift into. This is viewed by the majority of the species as a way of keeping their society functioning properly but there is a growing descent among the younger generations that believe this system is designed to keep certain families in control while the rest of their species is used to keep them in elevated status. The evris form has become most common among the younger generations because it is not ruled by instinct or biological urges so it is not slave to the tenders. The hierarchy of their society has a council of five elders at the top. All tender in form; the elders decide how the society will function. They regulate which individuals can shift forms and to which forms they can shift. The tenders maintain their order by their control over the spore forms and thrashers of others within their society. Because of their control over the pure reproduction as well as the strongest warriors of their species they are able to maintain order beneath them despite holding the fewest numbers. A certain number of the population must maintain spore form so that they can propagate the species through pure reproduction. A certain number of the population must maintain the waric form to fill out their labor force, armies and to be sent forth to spread the genes of the chara through mixed reproduction. This same task is set down to a certain number of the population in the viril form that is often authorized to leave the pocket in order to mix with the males of other species. This number must be maintained and if it cannot be done through volunteers; in the past it has been done through force. It is believed by many of the younger generations of evris chara that the thrashers were created to provide this force. Though a young race, the generational gap has grown wide and is beginning to threaten the charan society as it currently functions within the pocket. More younger chara are venturing forth from their hiding place and increasing segments of the populations are choosing to hold the evris form, which does not contribute to the survival of the species in a direct manner. This effectively removes them from the system that has maintained their survival. There is a culture clash brewing and coming to a head. As the individuality of the evris and the influence of the outside world comes up against the regimented, system driven survival of the older generations. Language: Until their encounter with the wood elves the chara communicated entirely through chemical signals. But since interacting with the outside world the chara have taken on a language of their own. It is a simpler form of elvish that is known as aric. It is usually spoken in whispers and is filled with flowing syllables. Some have begun to speak true elvish and common. Names: Within charan society they do not recognize each other by name. They know individuals by their chemical signature. Since many elder charan still communicate entirely through chemical signals with each other the need for names is unnecessary. Due to their contact with the outside world in recent centuries they have begun to adopt names in aric based on things they have done, said or seen. Younger generations have begun to adopt names that are very elvish in origin. Though those who venture out at an early age have begun adopting names for themselves with influences from many races. Grower of life tree Raiser of red harvest Slayer of great cat Hasani Maira Friends and Family: Bonds of family and friends have always been secondary to the species. One was tied to their family only loosely given how they reproduce. A single spore form chara could be the "parent" to thousands of potential offspring so their was never a true kinship among them. As the younger generations have begun to grow in number, their population swelling with each passing lifetime, they have come to cherish bonds of family and friendship more. The once fluid, almost machine-like unity of the species has taken a back seat to familial bonds. The Charan population has begun to include more mixed blood offspring with each generation and this bond is nuclear. Two parents creating offspring from their own blood and bodies. The infusion of mixed blood into the chara has brought with it a new idea of family. Though many chara still hold onto the old ideals of their race, the often cold, calculated form of survival that is ingrained in the older generations of the species is fading with each passing reproductive cycle. The evris have begun to value bonds of friendship and their time is spent maintaining those connections. This has begun to rub off on other forms. Viril and waric have taken to these activities most effectively. Driven by their own desires, previously intended to be directed outside of their own species for breeding purposes, they have turned them inward. Relationships have begun to form Daily Routines: The daily routine of an individual chara is dictated by their form. Each form fits into the day to day function of their society in a different way. Most older chara are completely engrossed by their responsibilities and the form they are currently holding. Those of the tender form run the society and their days are taken up by maintaining those around them and keeping them at their tasks. Waric tend fields and do manual labor or are sent out on expeditions and patrols outside of the pocket. Thrasher patrol the interior of the pocket. The spore are consumed by their drive to maintain their environment through chemical maintenance or the air and soil, as well as reproduction. There are an increasing number of evril chara that do not fit into the daily routines of the other forms. They have begun to integrate themselves into the society in various roles. They have begun to preform tasks of all types and mingle with the other forms during their time in the fields, on patrols and expeditions. They have begun to socialize, something that was a rarity among the chara of other forms. They play games and preform. They play instruments and artists have begun to arise from the newer generations. Where previously their days were taken up almost entirely by their duty to their species, now more and more chara spend time daily, socializing. All chara, even the majority of evris, spend time each day servicing their faith and dedication to Milja and Kellan. Religion: Virtually all chara hold Milja and Kellan as their gods. They are all told the story of how they were given life and because of this they are grateful. They serve the life around them in observance of Milja. Newer generations have begun to hold Kellan above Milja and a belief that older generations are doing a disservice to Kellan by holding to old ways and refusing change has begun to grow in frequency among them. Diet: The chara are vegetarians. Their species is geared perfectly to live off of the land around them and use all of the facets are their eating habits to contribute back into the soil and plants around them. New generations have begun to eat meat, hunt game. But this is still uncommon among the chara. They do not need meat to survive. Care: Being a mixture of plant and animal, the ailments that impact them can come from both spheres. They can be effected by mammal born illnesses though oftentimes the effects on their physiology are different and varied. They can also be effect by certain parasites and ailments that are common in plants. They must be treated by a member of their own kind or someone very familiar with the charan physiology. These non-chara individuals are extremely rare.