Sylvans

Home world

The Sylvan home world is the moon Syl. Syl is orbiting a gas giant in a solar system with a orange dwarf star. According to Arnorian scans the gas Giant holds a dormant etheric entity of enormous power. This entity is absorbing lot of radiation from gas giant and significantly affects it´s gravity.

The moon Syl itself has two small grey submoons. Apart from the ocean, which covers about 76% of Syl´s surface, the 5 connected continents of Syl are made nearly exclusively of jungles, forests and taigas. The poles of the moon are small polar deserts.  The Syl is home to vast flora and fauna either outright created or influenced by the entity´s power, including the Sylvans.

Appearance

Sylvans are an old species of very humanoid aliens with possible human ancestry. Though no direct proof was found. They possess many different skin colors thanks to both chlorophyll and highly mutated melanin. Another of their more noticeable traits are about 20 cm long pointy ears and very athletic, slim, yet muscular physique. Their ancestors have most likely bred according to these traits to cement it in their tribes. The more pure color and bigger, pointier ears may have meant higher social status, while their physique has to do more with their warrior culture. Unfortunately, some tribes of different colors seem to went extinct or are near to it.

Their eyes usually match their skin color. Due to their pre-cataclysm evolution, they are unable to grow facial hair as well as hair on their limbs, chests and backs. Colors of hair are variously pink to white with a blue and grey tint for most Sylvans and black for small portion of Sylvans. The purple Sylvans are the most prevalent of the species, followed by blue and red while other colors are lacking far behind. The skin colours may vary according to sun exposure. For instance; dark purple Sylvan was most likely exposed to the sun for a long time, while pink or almost white Sylvan probably lived in the more northern hemisphere of the planet.

Females of the purple Sylvans are 225 cm tall on average, have greater powers when it comes to both entity and physical strength. Males are 205 cm tall and while they are weaker and slower, they possess greater endurance. For every female born, there is 6 born males.

Very noticeable in their appearance are various tattoos which they do themselves on most of their body parts. Their clothing is alluring and extravagant in a norm of less is better and they practise this even in cold environments.

They are slightly more resilient to temperature or physical damage thanks to the entity´s power which imperceptibly radiates from them and they subconsciously create a thin barrier, so the cold doesn't bother them as much as humans. Sylvan life span can be, thanks to that same inner power, several centuries long.

History

Most of the extinction and selection happend before the cataclysm, which itself was most likely caused by the entity. It seems that Sylvans progressed in technology far forward, technology based on using the entity´s power. It may have been just swearing in sleep or intentional defence, but results were clear. The Sylvan civilization was destroyed with only few ruins remaining and the Syl endowed with a lot of new life. Findings made by Arnorians about pre-cataclysm are therefore mostly speculations.

The post-cataclysm history is full of warring tribes and enslaving. Eventually, most Sylvans progressed and developed a single uniting law in form of druidic concordium, leaving noncooperative enslaved or stranded in far corners of the world. In the end, tribes still war each other and gain more slaves. However, these skirmishes are more of a fun than actual war and those enslaved are not viewed fit for free life.

The Sylvans remember legends of the godlike wrath of the past, but main reason for slow progress of both technology and society has become lavish, paradise like lifestyle that left Sylvans satisfied with curent state. With slaves doing most of the work and no real danger, who would push forward?

Culture

The Sylvan culture is that of a domination, humiliation and violence. In the recent centuries and especially with coming of Arnorians, the cruelty in which slaves lived receded to a degree. But slavery remains deeply rooted in Sylvan culture and it seems it wont go away any time soon.

The Sylvan society is largely matriarchal and whole collective of tribes is led by various chieftessnes who respect laws of druidic concordium. Thanks to their low numberes and physique, most of the female Sylvans are of high status and even the enslaved are treated far better. While only fraction of males are seen good enough to become soldiers, the females are meant to excel in martial arts.

The warrior culture mentioned before is still present after times of peace. Not only that Sylvans hold their athletic aesthetics in almost fanatical regard, they are retaining their warrior prowess by same vigour. They prove it by raiding other tribes and hunting deadly wild beasts. Contrary to Arnorians, who hold fight more seriously, the Sylvans take it as fun and even when losing, it is entertainment for them.

Some of the slaves are allowed to fight with free Sylvans in grand games. Those of the slaves that survive several duels and small battles are freed. The freed slaves are accepted back into Sylvan society and their weakness is redeemed.

Technology

The Sylvan technology is a mix of somewhat antique and medieval with remnants of high-tech. This high-tech is using their own inner energy, which they call mana, an entity´s power. Best examples of this are various staffs which heal or fasten growth of plants, heal sick and injured or unleash shock waves. Bigger machines or generators have not been reversed engineered yet and although curious, Arnorians advised to leave the past buried.

The preferred choice for weapons are spectral war bows. The steel bows have blades on the tips and fire energetic bolts formed on chord from mana. Another favored weapon is a cursed whip, which in similar fashion to spectral war bow uses mana to inflict crippling pain. To continue, the Sylvans use various forearm blades, knuckle blades, falchions, double bladed glaives and many other light and swift weapons.

Sylvans accepted some of the technologies, mostly in improvement of their common tools, but what is most significant is Arnorian surface shield. Sylvans of course refused to wear full armour and so, Arnorians incorporated the shield into Sylvan sparse clothing.

Relations with Arnor

Most of the Sylvans were quick to accept Arnorians and Yáraitalë thanks to matriarchal system of the religion and warrior focused cultures. Though Sylvans worship Yárcarniel´s darker face far more. 

The Sylvan tribes are very autonomous protectorates and it could be argued that they are more of an ally to Arnor, rather than protectorates. Arnorians have actually very little to say in Sylvan internal affairs.

Sylvan cohorts have come to be very helpful. Their expertise in ambushes and especially raids surpassed even arts of the Rangers. Sylvans are ferocious and effective, however they fall behind in direct battles.

Arnorians are of course intrigued by Sylvan physiology. Their lifespan and ability to use mana is of great interest. For much of Arnorian distaste, Denebolian Accord forbids further genetic modifications. Unfortunately, there are no galaxy wide life threatening god monsters who would justify another breaking of the Accord. Not that it would be possible after the crisis, when Arnorians strictly forbided to themselves to ever break their vows again.