Ethaefal Race Rewrite

[Caelum]

A note -- the Forsaken, however, are a somewhat different story. Their section is still being written up, and there is potential for illness in there.

[Alcor]

ahh okay my character isn't forsaken yet but I may go down that road later, for now they just look pale and depressed during the day.

[Caelum]

Okay. Whew. Here is an excerpt on ethaefal generations. And society. And some other stuff. It is NOT all of the section on generations. There is a lot more on the Eclipse generation, the Forsaken, et cetera. It also gives you a bit of a hint of what I'm doing with the history and origins. So, basically, this is a teaser. Ahah. Please don't hate me. As mentioned briefly in the section on past lives, the Ethaefal have particular difficulty recalling their time in the Ukalas. Memories of that ascendant existence are limited to matters of emotion, vague impressions, and often inexplicable instincts. Practically no details and absolutely no knowledge whatsoever regarding the Ethaefalian role in the Valterrian or the circumstances surrounding their existence on Mizahar is permitted them. The only certainty an Ethaefal can claim regarding that time is that it was inimitable. It factors deeply into the Ethaefalian cultural memory and engenders considerable resistance towards the stagnation of civilization. Ethaefal rarely band together. It reminds them of the fellowship they lost, and though they are capable of deep and meaningful relationships with each other, the majority of Ethaefal often discover that the company of their fellows is unfulfilling. Though they may be compatible as companions in every other way, no Ethaefal will be content solely with another. Though many Ethaefal wander like pilgrims across the face of Mizahar, they are ultimately driven to seek out the society of other races and to influence their progression as a people in a variety of ways. Because of this, there is not, has not, nor is likely ever to be an intentional settlement of Ethaefal in any one place. They are meant to disperse through the world. Prior to the Djed Storm of 512 A.V. there was only one subgroup among the Ethaefal, known as the Forsaken. Since Ivak was released from his prison, there have been sightings of a second subgroup to the already mysterious race. Rare and questionable rumors speak of Ethaefal who maintain their divine form throughout the day and the night, never transforming into a mortal race. Though few yet know it, there is truth to these tales and this subgroup has a name. They are the Eclipse Generation. There are three known generations of Ethaefal existing on Mizahar today, four if the Eclipse Generation is counted. The first generation are those Ethaefal who are suffering from their first fall to Mizahar since they were divinely claimed and ascended into the Ukalas for their first time. The second generation are those Ethaefal who, having been ascended for a second time following the death of their first Ethaefalian life on Mizahar, fall to Mizahar for a second time. The third generation are those who are ascended for a third time and fall for their third Ethaefalian life on Mizahar. The vast majority of ethaefal on Mizahar are first generation. There are roughly thirty second generation, a dozen third, and no known fourth generation Ethaefal at this time. First, second, and third generation Ethaefal can be created as PCs. Third generation require HD approval, however, to create. The Eclipse Generation is not available for PCs at creation but can be obtained by PCs with a lower generation via extensive role play and with HD approval.

[Ornea]

Ehtaefal is said to be rare, so I have been wondering what exactly qualifies as rare. How many are they supposed to be ?

For example, a disease counts as rare if it counts as rare if it occurs in less than 1 per 10000 people (in Europe; the US has a maximum number instead). So 0,01% is the “rarity factor” in this case. Eth isn't a disease, but I just wanted a real life definition of rare to compare with.

A flat rarity factor of 0,01% would mean there’s 11-12 Eth in the whole Sylira region. 5 of them located in Syliras. There would be 4 Eth in total in Kalea. The population figures for the whole world are a bit uncertain, but for todays open for play cities in Mizahar it would total there would be about 20 Eths in total. And if the closed cities are taken into account a guess would be less than 30 Eths in total for the whole of Mizahar.

As a contrast to this example, Lhavit is said to be “rife with Eth”, and there the rarity factor is currently set to 0,5% of the population. This means 45 Eth in Lhavit with today’s population figures there.

So, here’s a few questions to think more about. What would be the maximum number of Eth in Mizahar in order for the race to qualify as rare? Or how many Eth per 10000 humaniods would there be ? How many Eth would each of the cities have ? And will the percentage of Eth in Lhavit continue to be higher than for other cities?

...

[Caelum]

The claim that the ethaefal are rare is based off of the race population numbers provided in the lore. The ethaefal have 37.5% of the numbers of the second lowest race, the Chaktawe at 800. They have one third the numbers of the third lowest, the Symenestra at 900. Then the jump is to jamoura at 1000, dhani at 1175, and the rest are either at 2000 or considerably higher with humans in the vast majority at 150,000. The ethaefal’s incredibly low numbers cause them to be “rare”, but the fact of their compulsion toward the societies of other races (which in Mizahar reads as cities) when combined with their unique and difficult-to-miss appearance allows them to be widely recognized as well. Bottom line, the ethaefal numbers are 0.2% of the human numbers alone. Below is the population count of all the races in the wiki if anyone wants to figure out the math. I have not decided yet whether Lhavit’s ethaefalian population ought to be higher than any other city’s. It’s something I intend to speak with Mirage about. Unfortunately for Lhavit, there is not and never has been any good reason for them to have those numbers. The ethaefal have no racial settlements and that has always been the case in game. But, as we all know, Lhavit is somewhat of a red headed step child. They may end up with a slightly elevated number of ethaefal due to Aysel and Talora, but like as I said, that’s pending a discussion with Kalea’s RS who is even now seeing to revisions of Lhavit. Akalak: 5000 Akvatari: 7000 Benshira: NA Chaktawe: 800 Charoda: 2000 Dhani: 1175 Drykas: 10,000 Eypharian: NA Ghosts: 15,000 Human: 150,000 Inarta: 2000 Isur: 15,000 Jamoura: 1000 Kelvic: 5000 Konti: 2000 Mixed Blood: 20,000 Myrian: 15,000 Nuit: 2000 Pycon: 8000 Svefra: NA Symenestra: 900 Vantha: 5000 Zith: 8000

[Caelum]

It occurs to me that if Lhavit has 45 ethaefals then that is 15% of the eth population in one city. If we’re claiming a relatively even spread then that is more than twice the number of ethaefals in Lhavit than in any other city. What I’m getting at is that it is probably too much. We’ll see what direction the discussions go.

[Mirage]

This is on the list of Kalea revisions as well, but it is coming somewhere closer to the end of the changes as it is lower in importance. Basically yes like Caelum says there are WAY too many Ethaefal in Lhavit, so Ill be knocking down that count soon enough. Lhavit was built by Ethaefal, not for Ethaefal

[Caelum]

Excerpt on language. Upon their fall Ethaefal fluently speak Common or the language of their mortal seeming if different from Common. They often have a basic grasp of whichever language they are not fluent in and it is not uncommon for Nader-canoch to be among an ethaefal’s languages especially if their last life before ascension occurred pre-Valterrian. Additionally, all Ethaefal are inherently fluent in the celestial language. They may therefore add this fluency to their Character Sheet in addition to the standard language levels allowed for in the Starting Package. The celestial language is multi-dimensional and incapable of being mediated in pure form through the mortal mind which is bound by the perceptions and constructs of the physical world. It cannot be spoken, written, or adequately reproduced by mortals. This includes the Ethaefal for as long as they are returned to the cycle of life and death and inhabit Mizahar. As the Ethaefal have a distinct lack of cultural relativism due to their celestial origins and spiritual nature they would therefore be capable of understanding the celestial language. The Ethaefal would still not be able to converse in the celestial language or provide a direct translation in any mortal tongue. Their very best efforts produce metaphorical terminology and more often than not vague communication of abstract concepts. An Ethaefal’s true name is in the celestial language and is therefore unspeakable. The sounds are incapable of being reproduced as a the celestial language is not strictly sound but also signal, sculpture, imbas, and understanding. An Ethaefal may attempt to explain their true name to another and it often comes out like butchered poetry. Their names in mortal mouths are described as things like claps of thunder and frost patterns on grass, temple bells and moonlight reflected from cat eyes. They may try to reconstruct their name in art or industry and when finished point at a clay sculpture, a gleaming breast plate, or even something such as the reorganization of a civil policy and say that their name is in it. And sometimes it is.

[Caelum]

Hi, guys. I would love to hear some thoughts and ideas regarding the forsaken. Or questions or.. anything really. I am at somewhat of an impasse with them and could use some inspiration. Thanks!

[Eleret]

1. When an Eth is Forsaken, does their god's regard for them change, or is it all about the Eth's regard for their deity? 2. Just how far off the beaten path does one have to go to become Forsaken? What sorts of behaviors and attitudes characterize that transition? 3. Are there any goals often found among Forsaken? Do they often try to undermine the deity they've fallen out of love with? Just eke out an existence on their own terms? 4. How does being Forsaken affect the likelihood of receiving gnosis marks from any deity? Positive or negative? 5. For that matter, how do other deities regard the Forsaken, who were once faithful and now faithless? 6. If a Forsaken dies, what happens to their soul?