Sarnathi
| Sarnathi | |
|---|---|
| Plural | Sarnathi |
| Spirit Origin | Kairos |
| Classification | Chrono-Spiritual Humanoid |
| Homeland | Itharalis |
| Average Height | 5-5.5 ft |
| Average Lifespan | Unknown |
| Distinction | Glasslike skin with veins of slow-flowing light, silver-irised eyes, voices that echo with temporal resonance |
| Language | Sarnathi Signum (spoken with voice and gesture) |
| Factions | The Chronolathe • Keepers of the Frozen Echo • The Ivory Dwellers |
The Sarnathi are an enigmatic people native to the realm of Itharalis, believed to share a spiritual lineage with Kairos, the primordial force of time. Their presence within the icy expanse is marked by silence, longevity, and meticulous observation.
Sarnathi are often mistaken for statues at a distance—their translucent, glasslike skin and motionless posture give the impression of stillness, yet beneath their unaging appearance lies an intense perceptual attunement to time’s subtle flow. They act not in haste but in accordance with long-forgotten cycles and preserved memory, often serving as temporal archivists and stewards of ancient places sealed beneath the ice.
Despite their reserved demeanor, the Sarnathi maintain a structured society, centered on reflection, preservation, and the measured unfolding of events. They are seldom seen beyond Itharalis, and those who encounter them often speak of strange dialects, half-remembered events, and the unsettling sensation of being seen not just as they are, but as they were—and may yet become.
Origin and Nature
The origins of the Sarnathi are obscured by the very element they revere—time. According to preserved inscriptions and spoken records, the Sarnathi emerged in the age when Glacian's domain first crystallized, shaped not by seasonal change but by the deep, glacial stillness that guards forgotten histories. Many believe they were formed through the union of elemental frost and the nascent influence of Kairos, giving them an affinity for stasis, memory, and chronology.
Rather than being born in the conventional sense, Sarnathi are believed to awaken from long-dormant gestation chambers hidden beneath the ice. These sanctums, carved from frozen time-glass and echoing with ancestral voices, are scattered across Itharalis and guarded by elder seers. Each Sarnathi emerges fully formed, carrying fragments of ancient memory and resonating with the rhythms of buried epochs.
Their bodies are composed of a dense, semi-translucent material that resembles glacial crystal, reinforced with living essence. This unique composition makes them highly resistant to both temperature extremes and aging. Some theorize that a Sarnathi can live indefinitely unless shattered or erased from the weave of time itself.
Biology and Physical Traits
The Sarnathi are crystalline entities shaped by the forces of cold and time, their forms simultaneously elegant and unnerving in their stillness. Though humanoid in silhouette, their physical characteristics mark them as wholly otherworldly.
Physical Form
- Body Composition – Comprised of dense, semi-translucent crystal that reflects light in shifting hues of ice-blue, violet, and silver. This material is not mineral but a living fusion of ice and chronal resonance, capable of gradual growth and regeneration.
- Facial Features – Their faces are angular and masklike, with deep-set eyes that glow faintly in dim conditions. Their expressions rarely change, giving the impression of detached serenity.
- Limbs and Movement – Their limbs are elongated and appear segmented, but move with fluid precision. Despite their crystalline nature, their motion is smooth, producing faint chimes when they walk or shift.
- Vocalization – The Sarnathi speak in a language of harmonic resonance, their voices echoing like a chorus across frozen stone. To outsiders, their speech can sound like wind through hollow ice, but among themselves it carries deep emotional nuance.
Senses and Traits
- Chronal Perception – Sarnathi perceive time differently, able to sense echoes of the past in objects or places touched by great events. Elder seers can trace timelines or extract frozen memories embedded in ancient ice.
- Temperature Immunity – They are completely immune to cold, thriving in subzero temperatures that would freeze most lifeforms solid.
- Stillness Adaptation – A Sarnathi can enter a dormant state, remaining motionless for years without decay or need for sustenance. Some serve as living statues, awakening only when their presence is required.