|Introduction=The '''Minthari''' are a subterranean lineage of humans whose civilization has evolved entirely beneath the mountains of central Terasil. Drawn into the deep places of the world by an insatiable yearning for hidden wealth and forgotten truths, they were gradually reshaped—both in form and in spirit—by the darkness they embraced. Born from the twin forces of '''Desire and Greed''', the Minthari embody the tension between ambition and excess, between the sacred act of seeking and the peril of hoarding.
|Introduction=The Minthari are a subterranean lineage of humans whose civilization developed in the [[Minthal]], the domain of [[Desame]] and [[Sarabam]] the spirit of caverns, situated beneath the mountains of eastern Terasil. Their society exists in extensive cavern systems and subterranean cities within the Minthal and Astrathal ranges.
|Origin and Nature=The Minthari trace their origins to the period known as the [[Great Migration]], when human settlers first entered the Minthal and Astrathal mountain ranges. Seeking refuge from surface dangers, groups of migrants took shelter in the natural caverns of the [[Minthal Range|Minthal range]]. Over generations, these communities descended deeper into the earth. The influence of [[Desame]], the Ascended Spirit of Desire and Greed, shaped their emerging culture and mentality. They were also affected by the Ascended Spirit of Caverns and Minerals, whose presence further transformed them in both form and temperament.
|Biology and Physical Traits=[[File:Minthari_Male.jpg|thumb|550x550px|A Young Minthari Man.]]
Long habitation in subterranean environments profoundly altered the Minthari physique. Adaptation to total darkness led to universal blindness among their kind. In place of vision, the Minthari developed advanced auditory perception, capable of echolocation. Through low-frequency clicks, footstep vibrations, and ambient echoes, they create detailed mental maps of their surroundings.
Over countless generations, they abandoned the surface world and its sunlit rhythms, adapting to eternal night through echolocation and vibration-speech. Though blind to light, they perceive their world with astonishing clarity through sound, touch, and resonance. Theirs is a society of miners, sculptors, and seekers—delving ever deeper not just into stone, but into the meaning of want itself.
Their skin is pale to the point of translucence, offering little protection from ultraviolet radiation. Surface exposure is therefore hazardous, and most Minthari rarely venture above ground.
|Culture and Society=Minthari culture is defined by its integration with the subterranean world. With no access to the sky, sun, or changing seasons, Minthari life follows the steady, cyclical rhythms of excavation, trade, and mineral flow. Their philosophy regards desire as a sacred form of striving and treats greed as a natural force to be understood and harnessed rather than condemned.
Minthari do not consider themselves exploiters of the earth, but rather its '''interpreters'''. They see in every gem a memory, in every metal vein a buried will. Yet among them, this reverence divides: some view Desire as a sacred call to creation, while others surrender wholly to Greed's darker promise.
Minthari society is meritocratic but not strongly individualistic. Communal contribution is held in high esteem, whether through mining, engineering, artistry, or scholarship. Governance differs among the major settlements. The Minthal Collective selects its leadership according to cycles of accumulated wealth, while the Republic of Astrathal practices a more democratic system. In practice, however, political influence in both regions often aligns with wealth, as is common throughout [[Adaris]].
|Origin and Nature=The Minthari trace their origins not to the surface-born lineages of Terasil, but to an ancient migration—voluntary or compelled—into the cavernous depths beneath the Anvil and Astralith Ranges. Generations ago, a sect of humans driven by an unquenchable hunger for wealth and knowledge descended into the earth, believing that the world’s greatest truths lay hidden in darkness. In time, this descent became permanent, their bodies and minds irrevocably changed.
Minthari are profoundly adapted to life underground. This transformation was not merely biological, but '''spiritual'''. The Minthari were shaped by two primal forces—'''Desire''' and '''Greed'''. These are not deities, but elemental truths: Desire as the force of creation, striving, and becoming; Greed as the shadow that clings to all wanting, capable of both ruin and revelation.
Each settlement functions as an interdependent component within the greater Minthari network, maintaining harmony with its surrounding environment and with other connected nodes of civilization.
f intricate carvings and reliefs, often incorporated into their architecture.
From this metaphysical crucible emerged a people who perceive the world not through sight, but through '''sound and vibration'''. Their reliance on echolocation, subtle throat clicks, and harmonic mapping defines not only their senses but their entire way of life. In Minthari myth, to see with the eyes is to be deceived by surface things; only resonance can reveal the true structure of reality.
Though their origin lies in base yearning, the Minthari do not reject this past. Instead, they ritualize it, embedding it in their lore, ethics, and crafts. To be Minthari is to understand the cost of wanting—and to mine that cost like ore from stone.
|Biology and Physical Traits=Millennia of subterranean life have profoundly altered the physiology of the Minthari. Though human in origin, they are no longer fully adapted to the surface world. Their biology reflects both environmental adaptation and the metaphysical imprint of their descent into darkness.
Blindness is universal among the Minthari. Their eyes have regressed into pale, milky remnants, sensitive only to pressure and ambient heat. In their place, the Minthari have developed an extraordinary capacity for echolocation. Using a combination of low-frequency throat clicks, footstep vibrations, and ambient echoes, they construct precise mental maps of their environment—far surpassing visual detail in texture, shape, and density.
Their skin is pallid—ranging from bone-white to bluish-gray—and thin enough to reveal faint [[veins]] beneath the surface. It offers minimal protection from ultraviolet light, making prolonged exposure to the surface hazardous. Hair is sparse, often silvery or translucent, and typically worn short or bound close to the skull to minimize interference with resonant detection.
Other distinctive features include:
* Elongated fingers and highly sensitive fingertips, used for tactile reading and sensing fine structural vibrations.
* Compact musculature and slightly bowed posture, better suited to crawling and maneuvering within narrow tunnels.
Minthari children are born without functioning eyes and are trained from birth in the use of resonance and touch. Despite their physical fragility, they possess exceptional stamina and sensory awareness in enclosed spaces.
The Minthari view their physiology not as a limitation but as a refinement—a purification of form in service to their purpose: to seek, to shape, and to understand what lies beneath.
|Culture and Society=Minthari culture is shaped by its complete integration with the underground world. With no access to sky, sun, or seasons, their society revolves around depth, resonance, and the cyclical rhythms of excavation and preservation. Life is governed by a deeply rooted philosophy that reveres Desire as sacred striving and treats Greed as a force to be understood, not blindly obeyed.
===Social Structure===
Minthari society is meritocratic, but not individualistic. Prestige is earned through one’s contributions to the community’s deeper understanding of the earth—whether as a miner, cartographer, artisan, or scholar of echo-lore. Leadership is vested in councils of Resonants, elders trained to interpret the harmonic "health" of the caverns and the moral resonance of community choices.
Each settlement, large or small, functions as a Resonance Cell, maintaining acoustic harmony with its surroundings and with the other nodes of the Minthari network. Silence is not prized—controlled sound is. A well-maintained tunnel sings back truthfully; a cracked vault speaks of neglect.
Settlements
===Craft and Art===
Minthari craftsmanship emphasizes resonance and precision. Metal and stone are not merely shaped for utility or ornament, but tuned—crafted to produce or reflect specific frequencies. Tools, weapons, and musical instruments double as surveying devices, navigational aids, or mnemonic tools in oral history.
Art is primarily sonic and tactile: sculptures are meant to be touched, and poems are performed in echo-chambers where meaning is shaped by the return of sound. Written language exists, but is used sparingly, often engraved in vibrating stone lines or raised scripts for touch-reading.
External Relations
The Minthari maintain isolationist but pragmatic relations with surface peoples. Trusted Intermediaries handle all trade, usually in resonance-sensitive goods such as chime-metal, deep-lode pigment, or geomantic crystals. Surface-dwellers are referred to respectfully as the Unshrouded, though they are often considered naively addicted to light and illusion.
|Notable Settlements=The two major cultural centers are:
* Minthal, beneath the Anvil Range, known for its conservatism, ritual stonework, and deeply formalized trade pacts.
* Minthsen, beneath the Astralith Range, a more experimental, adaptive society open to limited surface interaction and unorthodox mining practices.
Smaller outposts, like [[Minthek]], serve as frontier stations and deep-cavern research enclaves, often occupied by scouts, sentinels, and isolated thinkers.
|Relations with Other Races=The Minthari maintain '''isolationist but pragmatic''' relations with surface peoples. Trusted '''Intermediaries''' handle all trade, usually in resonance-sensitive goods such as chime-metal, deep-lode pigment, or geomantic crystals. Surface-dwellers are referred to respectfully as the ''Unshrouded'', though they are often considered naively addicted to light and illusion.
|Abilities and [[Osia]]=The Minthari are renowned earth manipulators, shaping their environment with unparalleled skill:
* Earth Sensing – Detecting mineral veins, hidden caverns, and seismic shifts deep within the mountains.
* Rock Shaping – Using geomantic force to sculpt stone, reinforce tunnels, and create intricate architecture.
* Tremor Manipulation – Some Minthari can generate controlled vibrations, either to weaken rock formations for excavation or to defend against intruders.
=== Language and Communication ===
The Minthari primarily communicate through a combination of deep resonant speech and vibrational signals, which can be felt rather than heard. This allows them to convey complex information even in complete darkness. Their written language consists of intricate carvings and reliefs, often incorporated into their architecture.
The Minthari are a subterranean lineage of humans whose civilization developed in the Minthal, the domain of Desame and Sarabam the spirit of caverns, situated beneath the mountains of eastern Terasil. Their society exists in extensive cavern systems and subterranean cities within the Minthal and Astrathal ranges.
Origin and Nature
The Minthari trace their origins to the period known as the Great Migration, when human settlers first entered the Minthal and Astrathal mountain ranges. Seeking refuge from surface dangers, groups of migrants took shelter in the natural caverns of the Minthal range. Over generations, these communities descended deeper into the earth. The influence of Desame, the Ascended Spirit of Desire and Greed, shaped their emerging culture and mentality. They were also affected by the Ascended Spirit of Caverns and Minerals, whose presence further transformed them in both form and temperament.
Biology and Physical Traits
A Young Minthari Man.
Long habitation in subterranean environments profoundly altered the Minthari physique. Adaptation to total darkness led to universal blindness among their kind. In place of vision, the Minthari developed advanced auditory perception, capable of echolocation. Through low-frequency clicks, footstep vibrations, and ambient echoes, they create detailed mental maps of their surroundings.
Their skin is pale to the point of translucence, offering little protection from ultraviolet radiation. Surface exposure is therefore hazardous, and most Minthari rarely venture above ground.
Culture and Society
Minthari culture is defined by its integration with the subterranean world. With no access to the sky, sun, or changing seasons, Minthari life follows the steady, cyclical rhythms of excavation, trade, and mineral flow. Their philosophy regards desire as a sacred form of striving and treats greed as a natural force to be understood and harnessed rather than condemned.
Minthari society is meritocratic but not strongly individualistic. Communal contribution is held in high esteem, whether through mining, engineering, artistry, or scholarship. Governance differs among the major settlements. The Minthal Collective selects its leadership according to cycles of accumulated wealth, while the Republic of Astrathal practices a more democratic system. In practice, however, political influence in both regions often aligns with wealth, as is common throughout Adaris.
Each settlement functions as an interdependent component within the greater Minthari network, maintaining harmony with its surrounding environment and with other connected nodes of civilization.
f intricate carvings and reliefs, often incorporated into their architecture.
