Duranthi: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:12, 6 October 2025

Duranthi
Image	Photo of a Duranthi Male
Plural	Duranthi
Spirit Origin	Oras
Classification	Human
Homeland	Terasil
Average Height	5-6 tall tall
Average Lifespan	200-300 years
Factions	Council of Kar-Thal

Introduction

Duranthi are a human race native to the mountainous region of Terasil. Deeply influenced by the Ascendant Spirit of History and Memory, Varunel, Duranthi culture centers on history and preservation. While often regarded as archaic by other peoples, the Duranthi maintain an enduring and significant role in the broader landscape of Orethil.

Origin and Nature

Like all human races of Orethil, the Duranthi trace their ancestry to the original humans of Awenlir, an island associated with imagination and limitless potential. These early humans were created by Awenlas, the Spirit of Imagination and one of the original spirits of the world. The reasons for their dispersal from Awenlir are unknown, but those who would become the Duranthi settled in the mountain valleys of Terasil near the Citadel Mountains, within the domain of Oras, the Primordial Spirit of Earth.

Terasil is also home to Varunel and the spirit of stone strata, Tehrum, both of whom exert a strong influence on the region. The Duranthi, shaped by this proximity to primordial and ascendant powers, developed unique physiological and spiritual characteristics, reflecting the endurance and stability of their homeland.

Biology and Physical Traits

Prolonged exposure to the influences of Varunel and Oras has affected the Duranthi both physically and mentally. They possess extended lifespans, with some individuals living up to 200 or 300 years. Duranthi are known for exceptional memory; many exhibit eidetic recall, capable of remembering precise details, faces, and experiences across centuries.

Their skin reflects the elemental influence of Oras. Those living close to the domain of Oras, such as in Sanctuary Vale, often have stone-like, hardened skin, while those dwelling farther away, in regions such as the Yalta Wastes, have softer, more human-like features.

Abilities and Osia

Like other peoples of Orethil, the Duranthi practice Osia, the spiritual art of attunement to spirits. Among them, two primary paths are recognized: the path of Memory, associated with Varunel, and the path of Stone, associated with Tehrum. Practitioners of the path of Memory cultivate spiritual discipline through remembrance and mental clarity; advanced adherents can influence or alter the perception of memory itself.

Those who follow the path of Stone manipulate soil and rock, shaping the physical world around them. A few attempt to attune directly to the primordial spirit Oras, a difficult practice that, in theory, would allow manipulation of the raw structure of matter—mountains, stone, and even the physical framework of living beings.

Culture and Society

Duranthi society emphasizes longevity, heritage, and continuity. Their traditions are designed to endure unchanged across generations, often preserved for centuries. While outsiders may view their customs as rigid or outdated, the Duranthi regard this constancy as a mark of strength and identity.

The capital of Duranthi civilization is Kar-Thal, located in Sanctuary Vale among the Citadel Mountains and the Mirzakar Range. Kar-Tha is the seat of the Council of Kar-Thal, which nominally governs all Duranthi territories, though its direct authority is strongest within the Vale and the nearby Yalta Wastes. The Vale contains several smaller settlements, while the Wastes remain sparsely populated, home to only a single known city.

Spirituality and Beliefs

Duranthi spirituality is centered on the veneration of Varunel, alongside deep respect for Tehrum and Oras. Their faith emphasizes the endurance of the earth, the layered history of stone and strata, and the memory of all things that have come before. Through their devotion to these spirits, the Duranthi view themselves as both guardians and living records of the world's enduring memory.

Technology and Warfare

Historically, the Duranthi resisted adopting modern technologies, especially firearms and mechanized weaponry. While ceremonial orders of armored cavalry remain part of their martial traditions, modern Duranthi forces now employ contemporary arms and tactics to remain effective within the wider world.

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-= Durnathi =
+{{Races Infobox
+|Name=Duranthi
+|Civilized=Yes
+|Image=[[File:Duranthi Male Photo 01.jpg|center|frameless|Photo of a Duranthi Male]]
+|Plural=Duranthi
+|Spirit Origin=Oras
+|Classification=Human
+|Homeland=[[Terasil]]
+|Average Height=5-6 tall tall
+|Average lifespan=200-300 years
+|Factions=[[Council of Kar-Thal]]
+|Inhabitants Name=Duranthi
+|Realm=Terasil
+}}
+{{Races Sections
+|Introduction='''Duranthi''' are a human race native to the mountainous region of [[Terasil]]. Deeply influenced by the [[Ascendant Spirit]] of History and Memory, [[Varunel]], Duranthi culture centers on history and preservation. While often regarded as archaic by other peoples, the Duranthi maintain an enduring and significant role in the broader landscape of [[Orethil]].
+|Origin and Nature=Like all human races of Orethil, the Duranthi trace their ancestry to the original humans of [[Awenlir]], an island associated with imagination and limitless potential. These early humans were created by [[Awenlas]], the Spirit of Imagination and one of the original spirits of the world. The reasons for their dispersal from Awenlir are unknown, but those who would become the Duranthi settled in the mountain valleys of Terasil near the [[Citadel Mountains]], within the [[domain of Oras]], the [[Primordial Spirit]] of Earth.
-The '''Durnathi''' are ancient, sentient beings composed of living stone. Once widespread across all of [[Orethil]], the Durnathi are now primarily found in the mountainous region of [[Terasil]], though rare individuals or reclusive enclaves may still exist in other hidden parts of the world.
+Terasil is also home to Varunel and the spirit of stone strata, [[Tehrum]], both of whom exert a strong influence on the region. The Duranthi, shaped by this proximity to primordial and ascendant powers, developed unique physiological and spiritual characteristics, reflecting the endurance and stability of their homeland.
+|Biology and Physical Traits=Prolonged exposure to the influences of Varunel and Oras has affected the Duranthi both physically and mentally. They possess extended lifespans, with some individuals living up to 200 or 300 years. Duranthi are known for exceptional memory; many exhibit eidetic recall, capable of remembering precise details, faces, and experiences across centuries.
-== Origins and Nature ==
+Their skin reflects the elemental influence of Oras. Those living close to the domain of Oras, such as in [[Sanctuary Vale]], often have stone-like, hardened skin, while those dwelling farther away, in regions such as the Yalta Wastes, have softer, more human-like features.
-The Durnathi are believed to be among the oldest beings to walk the surface of Orethil. Formed in the deep memory of the world itself, they are not born but awakened—emerging slowly from the stone over centuries, shaped by time, magic, and silence.
+|Abilities and Osia=Like other peoples of Orethil, the Duranthi practice Osia, the spiritual art of [[attunement]] to spirits. Among them, two primary paths are recognized: the path of Memory, associated with Varunel, and the path of Stone, associated with Tehrum. Practitioners of the path of Memory cultivate spiritual discipline through remembrance and mental clarity; advanced adherents can influence or alter the perception of memory itself.
-Each Durnathi is unique in form, with features resembling carved statues or naturally worn formations. Their bodies are made of mineral, crystal, and stone, yet they move with a ponderous grace and possess immense physical strength.
+Those who follow the path of Stone manipulate soil and rock, shaping the physical world around them. A few attempt to attune directly to the primordial spirit Oras, a difficult practice that, in theory, would allow manipulation of the raw structure of matter—mountains, stone, and even the physical framework of living beings.
+[[File:Duranthi_Osiari.png|thumb|A Duranthi Osiari]]
+|Culture and Society=<noautolinks>{{See also|Culture and Society of the Duranthi}}</noautolinks>
+Duranthi society emphasizes longevity, heritage, and continuity. Their traditions are designed to endure unchanged across generations, often preserved for centuries. While outsiders may view their customs as rigid or outdated, the Duranthi regard this constancy as a mark of strength and identity.
-== Culture and Thought ==
+The capital of Duranthi civilization is [[Kar-Thal]], located in Sanctuary Vale among the Citadel Mountains and the Mirzakar Range. Kar-Tha is the seat of the Council of Kar-Thal, which nominally governs all Duranthi territories, though its direct authority is strongest within the Vale and the nearby Yalta Wastes. The Vale contains several smaller settlements, while the Wastes remain sparsely populated, home to only a single known city.
-Durnathi culture is centered on patience, memory, and balance. They see time not in days or years, but in ages. Their language is slow and resonant, often sung or vibrated through stone. It is said that when two Durnathi speak, the conversation can last for hours—or days.
+|Spirituality and Beliefs=Duranthi spirituality is centered on the veneration of Varunel, alongside deep respect for Tehrum and Oras. Their faith emphasizes the endurance of the earth, the layered history of stone and strata, and the memory of all things that have come before. Through their devotion to these spirits, the Duranthi view themselves as both guardians and living records of the world's enduring memory.
+|Technology and Warfare=Historically, the Duranthi resisted adopting modern technologies, especially firearms and mechanized weaponry. While ceremonial orders of armored cavalry remain part of their martial traditions, modern Duranthi forces now employ contemporary arms and tactics to remain effective within the wider world.
+|Literature=[[Orasian]] literature is preserved through engraved tablets and oral resonance. Texts focus on memory, cycles, and the shaping of consciousness.
-They record history not in books but in [[veins]] of crystal, shifting strata, and fault lines beneath the mountains. To the Durnathi, knowledge is a geologic force.
+{{Quote
+|text=Daathir’s consciousness gathers in the silent depths.<br/>
+[[Oras]] awakens, formed of stone.<br/>
+Terasil stands, shaped by steady breath.<br/>
+No ornament disturbs its structure, no flourishes distract.<br/>
+Here, earth and will exist as one, bound in literal creation.
+|author=Unknown Duranthi
+}}
-== Decline and Survival ==
+Notable works include:
-The decline of the Durnathi presence across Orethil is attributed to ancient upheavals—wars, shifts in magical ley lines, or perhaps simply the slow erosion of their kind. Whether they are dying out or choosing retreat is unknown, for the Durnathi speak rarely of such things.
+* The Songs of Stone – Poetic descriptions of shifting landscapes.
+* The Endless Echo – A meditation on geological time.
+* The First Fracture – Historical narrative of the [[Erosion Wars]].
+|Music=[[File:Terassil.ogg|thumb|Orasian Music]]
+Music emphasizes resonance and percussion:
+* Resonant Drums – Large stone drums.
+* Chime Pillars – Monolithic tone-generating stones.
+* Echo Flutes – Wind instruments resonating in caverns.
+|Dance=Orasian dance is grounded and slow, embodying geological forces. It often reenacts land formation, erosion, or the flow of mineral memory.
+|Art=[[File:Orasian - Art 03.jpg|thumb|An Orasian relief sculpture.]]
+All art is stone-based and often functional.
-Today, they remain mostly in [[Terasil]], where they are regarded with reverence, fear, or awe by other peoples. Some are guardians of ancient places; others slumber beneath mountains, dreaming in stillness.
+* Living Carvings – Dynamic sculptures designed to evolve over centuries.
+* Monolithic Murals – Wall-carved memory records.
+* Sacred Obelisks – Landmarks resonating with ancestral energy.
+|Education=Instruction occurs communally through oral tradition, echo transmission, and engraved teachings. Elders serve as guides, and learning is tied to experience and ritual.
+|Traditional Medicine=Healing practices are mineral-based:
+* Stone Reabsorption – Drawing minerals into the body for structural repair.
+* Geomantic Restoration – Resonant meditation to restore cohesion.
+|Cuisine=Orasians do not eat; they absorb nutrients and energy from mineral substrates through direct contact.
+|Clothing=No textiles are worn. Instead, Orasians etch personal markings and embed ornamental stones to denote clan, caste, or spiritual alignment.
+|Livelihood=Core professions include:
+* Shapers – Architects and builders.
+* Keepers – Historians and mystics.
+* Guardians – Defenders and spiritual sentinels.
+* Geomancers – Diviners who read the vibrations of the land.
+|Names=Names are descriptive and earned over time, often referencing formation or endurance.
-== Powers and Abilities ==
+Examples:
-* **Stoneform:** Their bodies are resistant to damage and immune to many mortal ailments.
+* Tahr-Thak – “Stone that withstands the tide.”
-* **Geomancy:** Some Durnathi can manipulate earth and stone, especially in areas aligned with deep magic.
+* Jek-Lak – “Echo of the mountain.”
-* **Stone Memory:** They can recall events and vibrations stored in rock over millennia.
+* Meh-Thak – “Stone formed under pressure.”
-* **Longevity:** They live for ages, though their perception of life and death differs greatly from other races.
+|Origins and Nature=Orasians are expressions of the earth’s latent awareness. Their formation occurred over geologic time, shaped by resonance and mineral density.
-== In Other Regions ==
+=== Formation of the Orasians ===
-Though concentrated in Terasil, there are whispered accounts of lone Durnathi wanderers in the [[Ash
+Originally massive and formless, early Orasians have since refined into diverse, structured forms. Size and shape vary based on geological context and age.
+|Abilities and [[Osia]]=* Earth Manipulation – Limited terrain shaping and construction.
+* Stone Communion – Sensing historical and spiritual memory embedded in stone.
+* Regeneration – Absorption of minerals to repair structural wear.
+}}
+[[category:Terasil]]