Eunsurian
These tribesmen live to the far west of the plains of Lostariel, across the volcanic range that forms its western border. Their knowledge of the elements and the natural world have taught them how to use its resources, and are famous world-wide for Arushan steel, the finest that can be had anywhere. Scholars spend years at the Chuo Kikuu at Ndombwe, a university of great renown, studying elemental magics and history, while merchants make call on the coast, at the isle of Pemba, trading fine goods for steel and spices.
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Ancestries
Eunsurian
These tribesmen live to the far west of the plains of Lostariel, across the volcanic range that forms its western border. Their knowledge of the elements and the natural world have taught them how to use its resources, and are famous world-wide for Arushan steel, the finest that can be had anywhere.
Costuming & Makeup
Eunsurian tend to dress in representative colors with bold patterns based on their element of birth.
Requirements:
All Eunsurian have scales or spots colored by their element (Red for Fire, Yellow for Lightning, Blue for Ice, and Green for Earth) around at least 1/3 of their eyes and down the side of their face and neck.
Advantages
Chooses Elemental Tribe heritage at Character creation - (Air/Earth/Fire/Water).
Air/Fire/Water may specialize in Elemental magic regardless of class; may begin play with Elemental specialization.
Air/Fire/Water May learn Read Magic at ½ cost.
All May purchase "Resist Fire/Lightning/Ice/Acid" of element of tribe chosen at Character creation. (2 Build)
Earth may learn First Aid and Healing Arts at ½ cost.
Disadvantages
Air/Fire/Water Eunsurian may NOT specialize in Confining magic, nor any Earth specialty.
Earth Eunsurian may NOT learn Celestial magic
Location
Chuo Kikuu at Ndombwe:
The great university is home to many of the greatest scholars on Amroth. Chuo Kikuu is comprised of a large village that supports the various scholars and their individual domiciles. Chuo Kikuu is set up more like a medieval university rather than a modern one. Students seek out the scholar that they wish to learn under and then negotiate the contract for educational services. Many students study under different scholars until they have established their own educational credentials to teach on their own.
Legends & Folklore
Pela, the Omni-mental:
On the Elemental Plane resides the Great Balancer, the entity known as Pela keeps the peace between the ever-warring factions that are the Elements. Recently, after the fall of the Star King and the unification of the Elemental Plane, Pela was able to fend off the aggressions of a band of Para-elemental (Smoke, Storm, Magma & Ooze) terrorists bent on upending the delicate social balance of the united Elemental Plane.
Culture
As an ancestry, they are divided into four tribes, and their land is separated among them - Fire to the east, among the ridges of the volcanic mountains that form a natural border between their domain and the barbarian steppes. Water to the west, up and down the coast where they operate small fishing boats and coastal trading vessels. Earth lives in the south, among the jungles and swamps of the bottomlands, tending their herbs and farms.
The Eunsurian of Air roam the plains, tending great herds of cattle. In the center of the lands lies the great city, Ndombwe, surrounded by walls 90 feet high, with towers inside that can see the mountains and the coast from their height. Contained within are the two greatest treasures of the Eunsurian people: the Elders House, where clan chiefs and local village kings can settle disputes and arrange tributes; and the Chuo Kikuu , or University - center of learning and knowledge. Masters of history, philosophy, and lore study and learn, sending out young scholars to explore and discover new information with which they can achieve their own status as a teacher. Almost all mages among the Eunsurian study here.
It is said that the Eunsurian arrived first on the plains, from lands beyond the sun, refugees from an eternal war in which they were but pawns. Each tribe was very small, and made a pact to meet once every year in the same place to ensure that such wars never again plague their people. The place eventually became Ndombwe, and for the most part the peace has been held. There are rumors that the land they came from was another realm of existence entirely, and some think that their unique ability to manipulate the elements, and mastery of elemental magic support this school of thought.
The Eunsurian are not a long-lived ancestry - an elder is fifty years old, and may serve on the Elder’s Council from that age, if chosen. It is rare for a Eunsurian to see eighty years, and even rarer still for one hundred. Children are raised by their clan until they see fifteen summers, and are then given the rite of passage to adulthood. From there, they must marry, travel to another clan to make their living, or go to Ndombwe to continue their studies at Chuo Kikuu. The last thirty years have been a difficult time for the Eunsurian. The magical collapse that prevented new births, and for a race with a short lifespan, has proven devastating. Now that the natural cycles of Life and Death have been restored, the entire nation has begun to explore the world once again, ready for adventure.
Daily Life
Eunsurians tend to marry early, or leave their clan to find a partner or follow their chosen trade. For example, a local blacksmith may not be needed in the village they were raised in - so they will travel to find a suitable place to ply their trade. It is considered good to travel before marriage, since there will be less disruption to the family. In some circumstances, whole clans will move to start a new settlement if the local area cannot support the population.
Children are raised by the extended family, and even at young ages are taught the basic skills needed to make their way in life. They are given a wide variety of teaching by all the members of their clan, so that they may experience every task that must be done to keep their clan healthy. Once they begin to express an interest in a career, the child will move in with an adult who plies the trade they wish to learn. Once a child has seen the sun pass over fifteen summers, they will undergo their clan’s rite of passage to adulthood. This ceremony differs from clan to clan, but usually involves some sort of endurance test, followed by a feast and festival. All children rising to adulthood are initiated together, and are considered siblings. They are forbidden to marry from this group, as well as direct blood kin.