Siltori

Population	~20 Million
Traits	Dark to pale skin, pointed ears, ritualistic tattoos
Homeland	Auris, Region of Ailizane
Leader	Witch-Queen Pyrathea d’Raihne
Art	[1]

Fast Facts

Height: 5’8-6’6” Males, 5’5”-6’1” Females

Weight: 180-230(lbs) Males, 140-180(lbs) Females

Lifespan: Adult (20 years), Elder (300 years), Deathly (380 years)

Notable Features: Dark to pale skin, sharp pointed ears, ritualistic tattoos, luminescent quality to eyes.

Player Restrictions: None

Racial Ability: Witchborn: The Siltori are touched by the power of the Mistlords. This is reflected both in their physicality and in the fact that emotional upheaval can result in the slightly luminous quality of their eyes turning into a bright glow. Siltori who delve into the personal magics and expose themselves to heightened levels of aether manipulation can sometimes see this glow become an almost fiery luminescence as their aether stirs into motion, radiating from their eyes. This quality results in Siltori having perfect night vision, being able to see even in pitch black environments though this sight is absent of color and is purely grey tones. Additionally, Siltori who take on runes of magic tend to find that their runes manifest in very elaborate patterns over their bodies. Some believe that the more elaborate the patterns, the higher one's potential as a mage.

Population: ~20,000,000

History

Ilixidor the Betrayer was not alone in his treachery. Those closest to him were forever transformed into a people now known as the Lysanrin, touched by the power of the Mistlord Akrivar. But not all of Ilixidor’s followers were so willing to plunge themselves into the depths of his madness. Some truly hoped he would lead the Hytori back to the glory they once held before the Rift Gate War, others merely wished for an upset to the status quo of society or believe they had a better chance of following their dreams with him than with the Court of Princes. These individuals were not as keenly touched by the power of the Burning King and thus their once golden skin merely became faded and ashen.

A Fractured People

The Kinslayer Wars were drawing to a conclusion. Sol’Valen lay battered and teetering on the brink of collapse. From the turmoil there arose three distinct elven peoples where once there had been only one. Touched by their brush with dark powers, there stood the Siltori. Their once sun touched and warm complexions had become pale with some even reminiscent of the color of ash and even others running to a deep ebony. They were dubbed the Silver Elves or in some circles, the Ashen Elves as a way of commemorating the destruction that coincided their birth into the world. Whatever they were called, they were a people all their own. The Hytori of Sol’Valen were quick to imprison many of these dark elves as traitors to the realm. With Ilixidor having sided fully with the dark demigod Shaeoth and the armies of the Hytori in shambles, the last thing that the ailing Court of Princes wanted was for another long drawn out civil war. The Siltori were rounded up and confined to the dark dungeons of the very fortresses and keeps that had once served as the staging grounds for Ilixidor’s madness. It seemed that for the time being, the Siltori were left to do little more than await their final judgement.

Talira d’Raihne

Not all who followed the Betrayer fell prey to his madness but some saw the merit in learning from his example. Within the depths of one of the fallen keeps, with the armies of Sol’Valen marching to meet Shaeoth and his legions head on, a young woman chose to take fate into her own hands. She did the unthinkable and welcomed into her life the very powers that seemed hellbent on corrupting the world of Ransera in the hopes that these beings would yet save her now doomed people. She believed, and with good reason, that nothing but death awaited the Siltori for their crimes against Sol’Valen and the Hytori. Whether those crimes were committed willingly or not, it did not matter. She stared into the darkness...and the darkness stared back.

It is said that before Talira arose the dark form of the Grim Lady, Drimera who was known to Talira as the Mother of Tears. To her, Talira offered herself and all in her line that would follow if the dark goddess would but spare them all from the fate that awaited them. The Mother of Tears accepted and bestowed upon Talira a mantle of great purpose but first she bade her new servant to follow the armies of Sol’Valen and to strike down Shaeoth and his legions. Talira agreed.

The newly mantled servant of Drimera approached the soldiers watching over the keep where her people were imprisoned and before her they trembled. But Talira brought them no harm and pleaded with her former kinsmen to help her set right the wrongs birth by Ilixidor and Shaeoth’s darkness. At first they refused but Talira convinced them to allow her the company of a handful of others. What would they lose if the Siltori turned on them? Nothing but trust that was already hard to gain. And if the Siltori could be trusted to help fight the legions of both the Betrayer and his dark patron, they would have been proven to be wise in trusting them. In the end, Talira was allowed to take three others with her but that would prove to be enough.

Talira journeyed from that broken keep and convinced the others to open themselves up to the eldritch powers that she had bonded herself to. They were hesitant but in the end, they agreed. Once again, the Mother of Tears stood before her servant but this time she was not alone. Beside her stood other dark gods who offered their power to these chosen few.

To the first companion, Averyx, stood the mighty Burning King. Akrivar, the Mistlord that Ilixidor had bargained with was furious that the betrayer had broken a promise made to him. The Burning King offered his strength to Averyx and the Siltori warrior accepted.

To the second companion, Seliena, stood the Hooded One. Lyren, the Mistlord of Knowledge revealed that Shaeoth had stolen from him and had thus earned his ire. The Lord of Mysteries offered to the young sorceress his gifts that what was taken from him might be returned. She accepted.

To the third companion, Xzavis, stood the Flesh Queen. Myshala, the Mistlord of Wishes bestowed upon Xzavis a great truth, that she had granted a wish but now the time had come to pay its price. The Stitchmother offered her gifts to Xzavis and in exchange he was to ensure that what she was owed was given. Xzavis accepted.

Brimming with the power of the eldritch Mistlords, the four joined the armies of Sol’Valen and though they were met with fear and terror, it was Arcas who welcomed them. It is thanks to the power of the four that the many dark and twisted sorceries of Shaeoth and his followers were countered.

The Day of Mourning

It was revealed to Talira that Shaeoth was protected by very dark and twisted magic, power that was stolen and being fueled by the black rituals of Ilixidor. Until these magics were dispelled, the dark demigod could never be defeated. The task proved to be a monumental one as the four set out to bring Ilixidor down once and for all. The mad archmage was being protected by another of Shaeoth’s generals, a terrible warrior by the name of Kyllendroth. The battle that ensued was just barely won and it seemed, too late as Shaeoth landed the killing blow on Arcas. But that moment of victory proved to be all that was needed as in his final breath, Arcas banished Shaeoth, Ilixidor, Kyllendroth and the demigod’s other generals. In the aftermath of the battle, Talira, Averyx, Seliena and Xzavis met with those left and demanded that the Siltori be free. Though many questioned the eldritch powers the four held they had proven their bravery and their willingness to rise to the occasion when needed. The Siltori were allowed to go free but were told they must leave the lands of Sol’Valen.

The Siltori were lead away from Sol’Valen, with Talira at their helm and her three now trusted companions beside her. They journeyed to the south and settled in the vast desert lands founding the great kingdom of Auris.

The Age of Conquest

Auris never fell to the legions of the Clockwork Empire. In the years since diverging from Sol’Valen and choosing to invest their time and energy into understanding both the new ways in which magic worked, as well as this newfound connection to the eldritch powers of the Mistlords, the Siltori proved a very bitter challenger to the Clockwork armies and their battlemages. So much so that an uneasy truce existed between the two nations by the time the Grand Artificer Kaitos Diraegon unleashed the powers of the Godspire.

The Sundering of the World

The sands of Auris turned black and the the skies of the once strange but glittering oasis kingdom were filled with storms that unleashed powers familiar and unknown. However, where others had for centuries rejected the weird power birthed from close proximity to the Aetherium and its denizens in the Shrouded Realms, the Siltori were well prepared to face the horrors unleashed by the Dread Mists. Where other kingdoms toppled, losing their history and culture and prominence, the Siltori persevered and used their connection to the Mistlords to preserve the core of who they were as a culture and a people. Like all the lands of Ransera, Auris was not untouched by the Sundering as many of its cities burned or were buried under great sandstorms but with their familiarity with the weird and abnormal, they fared better in the aftermath. So it was that when the Cult of Mending presented itself, wielding powers that the Siltori recognized as tied to the Mistlords, the cult was soundly defeated in Siltori lands. When the Knights of the Dawnmartyr travelled to Auris and gazed upon its black sands and scorched but beautiful cities, they were not turned away but found their help was not greatly needed. Indeed, it is said that the Dawnmartyr knights learned much of how to deal with the eldritch powers of the Aldir and the Dread Mists from the Siltori. Present Day

The Siltori are often regarded with suspicion and a trace of fear because of the touch of eldritch power that runs true in their veins. Nevertheless, the Kingdom of Auris is a haven in the desert lands where the silver elves make their home. They are a people unafraid of the strange and unknown thus they are well equipped to deal with many of the changes wrought by the Sundering. The Siltori are a proud people, one of the few cultures that openly worships the Mistlords, and it is due to this close association that others would consider dark that makes them both powerful allies or terrible enemies.

Physiology/Biology

As with all elves, the Siltori are no less handsome in their appearance than their cousins. Whereas the Hytori are possessed of an almost celestial brilliance and the Dratori seem birthed from the wilds themselves, the Siltori are somewhere in-between. They are not as rugged as the Dratori but are more earthly than the Hytori. Siltori skin tones can range from a midnight black or ebony to an almost silvery grey but there always seems to be a somewhat ashen aspect to them. Males tend to have squared facial structures with strong jawlines whereas females have the more regal patrician appearance often associated with Hytori. Hair color for the Siltori is often white, black, or an ash color with a healthy shine but it is common for Siltori to use dyes in their hair as a form of self-expression. Eye color for Siltori includes grey, black, a dark royal blue, and even violet. Siltori possess a luminous quality to their eyes that dims or intensifies depending on their emotions. The dark elves of Ransera are prone to tattooing their bodies with elaborate patterns that often tell the stories of their lives. These works of art are breathtaking and it is very common for Siltori to use inks infused with dragonshards. Those Siltori who gain runes of magic find that their runes tend to manifest in very elaborate patterns that are not easily concealed.

Psychology

Siltori are a people of wry humor, sharp wit and an unfailingly passionate appreciation for the finer things in life. Within each and every Siltori is the fierce pride and independence that saw to the very creation of their race. While they recognize the flawed madness of Ilixidor and he is used as a cautionary tale, the Siltori still venerate him in a way for his pioneering spirit and unwillingness to accept the hand that fate dealt him. If there is one thing that can be said to be at the core of every Siltori is their refusal to accept that anything is taboo. They are a society that venerates many of the Mistlords and this has led them to become a people known for their willingness to test the odds. Unfortunately this has seen a great many Siltori become prey to their vices as often as they rise to embody their virtues. It is a careful balance that the Siltori walk where they embrace their risk-taking and passionate lifestyles while also remembering that the Mistlords teachings can lead to as much prosperity as they can ruin.

Culture

Auris is the homeland of the Siltori elves and the desert kingdom is a land that mirrors the dark elves appreciation for vibrancy mixed with eldritch and otherworldly beauty. The Glass Cities as they are referred to, are each built around sprawling oases that serve as the centerfold for life in the desert realm among the sands. Setting foot in a Siltori city is bound to treat one to glamorous festivals where food and wine are plentiful, where music and dancing is everywhere and where flesh is shown freely but shared most often for a price. Siltori cities are a strange blend of science and magic and the elves are renowned for their mastery over the art of Summoning. Creatures from the Shrouded Realms, demons, elemental spirits, and other things both beautiful and horrifying travel the streets openly or not far from the side of the masters who summoned them. As a people, Siltori are driven to pursue their passions to the height of their ability.

The Kingdom of Auris is ruled by the Witch-Queen Pyrathea d’Raihne and her family, all of whom hail from House d’Raihne as descendants of Talira. The Houses of d’Averyx, d’Seliena and d’Xzavis follow in prominence after that. Outside of the nobility, power in Auris is held chiefly by the influential Temple of the Black Sands which houses within it the various priesthoods devoted to the Mistlords that Siltori hold in reverence. The Temple is joined by the Sons and Daughter of Ember which are a militant order of knights backed by the sovereignty of the crown to enforce the laws of the realm. Politics in Auris are brutal, to say the least. They are a high stakes game of intrigue often involving all manner of deals and power brokering with both influence and magic.

Magic is central to Auris’ way of life. The sustainment of the glass cities is reliant upon a mixture of trade, imports, exports, and sorcery. The silver elves are masters of employing the various forms of World Magic into their lives in order to make life among the sands easier and more interesting. While Personal Magic is just as common, it is the blending of the arcane sciences with the mundane that truly makes the Siltori stand out. Alchemy is the most widespread form of world magic found in the glass cities of Auris, this is followed by Artificing, and there is no shortage of Scriveners to be found. Necromancy tends to be practiced carefully as even the Siltori are not foolish enough to believe that brazen use of it would not go without consequence in the eyes of their neighbors. Runeforging tends to be rarer, as runeforging tends to be, but the Siltori remain accomplished crafters at the aetherforge all the same. Their use of world magic combined with the drive to innovate with feats of engineering and mathematics has lead Auris to be technologically comparable to the Gelerian Imperium. Where the Imperium works avidly to stamp out most magic, the Siltori embrace it.

Religion

The Siltori are among the only cultures in the world that openly worship the Mistlords. While some reverence for the Dragon Gods is present, it is not nearly as prevalent. There is no mistaking that the eldritch Mistlords are unfathomable and as prone to leading to one’s downfall as they are to one’s prosperity. It is this duality that leads Siltori to walk a careful line between being masters of themselves or slaves to their vices. Chief among the Siltori pantheon is the beloved and feared Mother of Tears. Drimera, the Mistlord of Grief, Shadows, Retribution and the Dark Lady of Assassins holds pride of place for the Siltori. She is the patron of Talira and is the goddess who ultimately paved the way for Siltori independence and salvation from certain doom. Next is the goddess Myshala, the Stitchmother. She is the Mistlord of Bargains, Wishes and Lust, often referred to as the Dark Mistress of Fate. The Siltori elves pay careful reverence to she who is the Spider Most Elegant and are ever mindful that a deal made is a deal that must be honored lest they incur her wrath. The Burning King, Akrivar is seen as the protector of the Siltori. He is the Ash Knight and where Ilixidor corrupted his gift, the Siltori have benefitted from it. Akrivar is the Mistlord of Tyranny, Curses, Oaths and Pride. They see him as the Oathkeeper or the Cursegiver but in either guise, Akrivar is seen as the warrior of Siltori culture. Finally, there is the reverence for Lyren, the Hooded One, the Seeker. He is the Mistlord of Mysteries, Knowledge and Undeath. It is thanks to the influence of Lyren that the Siltori are such prolific masters of world magic and the sciences and the blending of the two. While the knowledge Lyren grants comes with a price, there have been enough Siltori willing to pay it that their society has benefited as a whole.

The other Mistlords vary in prominence depending on household and area but other popular Mistlords include Vymeshis, the Lord of Greed, Gluttony, Excess and Debauchery as well as Xarakses, the Mistlord of Blood, Conflict and Conspiracy.

Reproduction, Aging and Death

Siltori have lives that are comparable to their Hytori cousins. Because of this longevity the Siltori have had a considerable amount of time to both explore the depths of their own culture as well as recalling the hardships of past eras. As is common among elves, the Siltori pay some deference to their elders but only insofar as what that individual has achieved. An elder Siltori who has nothing to show for their centuries of life is anathema to their people. Power, prestige and some sense of achievement is paramount in elder circles with the ancient elves being quite ruthless in their push to groom and perfect the younger generations in decades spanning bids for more prestige.

Overall there is not much difference between what drives the younger and older generations of Siltori, the only real difference is experience. Siltori are a very individualistic society where the pedigree of ones birth only holds merit if one lives up to the reputation. The Witch-Queen herself would lose all standing in the eyes of her peers if she lacked the power and ability to command the respect of not just the nobility but of all the influential factions in the kingdom. The expectation is that should an elder or individual of prominence fall, someone more worthy should rise to the occasion. This has led to many controversies across the history of the Siltori but it has also bred a people who are renowned for their ability to read a room and expertly navigate social situations.

Siltori children face immense pressure to either succeed or be cast aside. It is the harsh reality that if a child is not growing to be what their parents expect, they are abandoned in one form or another. One is either of use to their family or they are not.

Language

Silandris is the tongue of the Siltori. It is a language that is sonorous and pleasant to the ears of those who hear it when spoken by one who knows it fluently. While not as musical as that of its cousin, Mythrasi, it is an old tongue stretching all the way back to the Age of Wonders when it was first introduced. In Siltori culture, the surname of the individual is something they choose for themselves. Siltori are obsessed with the prominent figures in their family lines as well as their achievements and the quest to surpass them. Thus, the choosing of a surname is both a matter of personal interest and something of a declaration to the family and others. In choosing their surname, the Siltori has declared that they aspire to be equal to or greater than the ancestor whose name they now carry. Siltori do not choose their surname until they reach maturity at twenty years of age, until then they carry the name of their parents which is hyphenated.

For example, Lyka d’Tyvenir-Raellor is a Siltori who has not yet reached maturity. Whereas Lyka d’Tyvenir is a Siltori who has reached maturity but who has also declared they will equal or surpass one of their parents in achievement. Because of this unique dynamic, the choosing of a surname is done carefully by most who reach maturity. Boldness is rewarded but being too bold can result in becoming a laughingstock. The only hard rule is that one must choose one of their own ancestors.