Dralvir

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The Dralvir are an ancient race of towering, antlered humanoids who serve as the enduring guardians of Celyndor. Their presence is a silent testament to the passage of time, their bark-textured skin bearing the marks of centuries. They do not seek to rule the land but rather to uphold the balance of nature, ensuring that no force, mortal or otherwise, disturbs the deep harmony of the forest.

Most Dralvir live in solitude or small enclaves, tending to sacred groves, standing watch over forgotten paths, and passing judgment on those who would defile Celyndor’s ancient ways. Slow to anger, but nearly unstoppable once roused, they are regarded with both reverence and fear by those who live within the great forest.

Origin and Nature

The Dralvir are believed to have been shaped by Kaelthorin, the Spirit of the Verdant Veil, at the dawn of Celyndor’s formation. According to legend, they were not *born* but *grown*, emerging from the roots of the oldest trees with the first breath of the forest itself. Some claim that each Dralvir’s soul is tied to a specific tree, and should it fall, so too will they.

Unlike many other beings of Adaris, the Dralvir do not expand their numbers through conventional means. It is said that when an elder Dralvir passes, their essence seeps back into the land, and in time, a new Dralvir rises where they once stood. This cycle has kept their numbers few but eternal, ensuring that they remain as much a part of the forest as the trees themselves.

Biology and Physical Traits

Dralvir are immense, powerful beings whose bodies bear both humanoid and arboreal features.

Physical Characteristics

• Height: 2.3 to 2.8 meters (7'6" - 9'2")
• Build: Massive, broad-shouldered, and covered in bark-like plating that hardens with age
• Skin: Resembles aged wood, ranging from deep brown to moss-covered gray
• Antlers: All Dralvir possess massive, branching antlers, which continue to grow throughout their lives
• Eyes: Reflective, often resembling amber or deep green, said to glow faintly in the dark
• Regeneration: Injuries heal over time like a tree sealing a wound, though they do not regenerate lost limbs

Senses and Adaptations

• Deep-rooted Balance: Dralvir are incredibly difficult to knock down, their sense of grounding unmatched
• Slow Metabolism: They require little food, drawing energy from sunlight, soil, and water, much like plants
• Seasonal Variance: In colder months, their bark hardens, making them more resistant to harm
• Longevity: They can live for centuries, their bodies growing thicker, stronger, and more rooted in the land over time

Abilities and Osia

Dralvir possess an inherent connection to the Osia of Growth and Stone, allowing them to interact with the land in ways few others can.

• Earthen Resonance – By placing a hand upon the ground, a Dralvir can sense disturbances within the forest, detecting intruders or unnatural forces.
• Unyielding Form – Their bodies can harden like stonewood, making them impervious to most conventional weapons.
• Call of the Deepwood – Some elder Dralvir can awaken dormant seeds, causing roots and vines to overtake structures or paths.
• Echo of the Fallen – It is said that in times of great need, the spirits of long-passed Dralvir can whisper warnings to their kin.

Culture and Society

Dralvir society is slow-moving, deliberate, and deeply ritualistic. They are not ruled by kings or councils in the traditional sense; instead, decisions are made through communal memory, storytelling, and deep contemplation.

Social Structure

• The Wardens of the Deepwood – A nomadic order of Dralvir who patrol Celyndor’s borders, ensuring no force encroaches upon the sacred land.
• The Silent Keepers – Elders who have rooted themselves permanently in one place, acting as living repositories of knowledge.
• The Horned Council – A gathering of the oldest Dralvir, convening only when Kaelthorin’s balance is truly threatened.

Laws and Traditions

• The Law of Stillness – No action should be taken in haste. Dralvir will contemplate decisions for years if necessary before acting.
• The Rootbound Oath – Some Dralvir choose to bind themselves to a single place, never moving again, becoming part of the land itself.
• Trial by Seasons – Outsiders seeking the Dralvir’s aid may be given tasks that span entire seasons, testing patience and perseverance.

Notable Settlements

Dralvir do not build cities in the traditional sense, but rather exist in harmony with the land.

• Thaldris’Veyn – A massive, ancient grove where the largest Dralvir gather once per century.
• The Skyroot Circle – A hidden plateau where Dralvir meditate upon the land’s deep memory.
• The Hollowed Glade – A silent, sacred place where the oldest Dralvir have rooted themselves permanently.

Spirituality and Beliefs

Dralvir revere Kaelthorin, not as a god, but as the embodiment of the land’s will. They do not worship, but rather listen, believing that all knowledge is already present within the earth.

Technology and Warfare

Dralvir have little need for conventional weapons or armor.

• Stonewood Armaments – Some Dralvir wield massive oaken staves or weapons formed from petrified roots.
• Defensive Warfare – They do not march to war, but become the battlefield itself, using the land to their advantage.
• The Last March – On rare occasions, an elder Dralvir will leave their grove, moving with an unstoppable force toward a single, final purpose.

Mythology and Legends

Dralvir legends are spoken slowly, in deep, resonant tones that carry through the trees.

• The First Root – A tale of the original Dralvir, who stood at the world’s beginning and has never moved.
• The Forest’s Judgement – A myth of a king who sought to burn Celyndor, only for the Dralvir to rise and erase all trace of his empire.
• The Eternal Sentinel – A story of a Dralvir who has stood in the same place for ten thousand years, waiting for a prophecy to be fulfilled.}}