Sylvankind

Sylvankind Decay Timer 10 minutes Spirit Regeneration 1 per 4 min, ×2 on node Height 5.5' to 6', max 6.5' Weight 75 to 215 lbs. Languages Common, Sylvan, Elven

Long ago, as the elves moved from the forests to build their Seven Cities, some remained and became what are now Sylvans. Sylvankind are extremely rare outside of the forest, as few ever leave their wooded homes. Females are the most numerous, though males are not unheard of. They are slight and lithe, with pale complexions, sandy hair and light eyes. Sylvans move about the woodlands and hills virtually undetected, often garbed in forest green or brown.

Sylvans make their home high up in the trees, often building massive tree-cities hanging from the branches. These cities in the tree tops not only provide safety to the Sylvans, but also an incredible view of their treasured woodland surroundings. Some of these cities have hundreds, even thousands, of rooms where they have been hidden from the outside world for centuries.

Statistics

Strength	Constitution	Dexterity	Agility	Discipline	Aura	Logic	Intuition	Wisdom	Influence
0	0	+10	+5	-5	+5	0	0	0	0

For statistic growth rates by profession, see List of statistic growth rates#Sylvankind.

Other Characteristics

Spirit Regeneration	1 per 4 min	Decay Timer	10 min
Max Health	130	Base Regeneration	1
Weight Factor	0.70	Encumbrance Factor	0.81
Maneuver Bonus	Good	Elemental TD	-5
Spiritual TD	-5	Sorcerer TD	-5
Poison TD	+10	Disease TD	+100

Sylvans receive a large hiding bonus in the forest, a penalty to crafting and a small penalty to forging.

Cultures

Sylvankind spring from the same roots as the Elves, but they chose a different path. As the Elves moved from their forests to build the Seven Cities, some stayed behind. These are the Sylvans. The Sylvankind care little for the world outside their forests. For them, the forests are the world. They retain a love and closeness to the land that approaches unity.

Having a hierophant governing system, it is natural that the Sylvans would utilize a diplomatic system to designate divisions, or groups, among their populace. Their "D'ahranals" can be compared to Guilds elsewhere.

It should be noted that many Sylvans not only are great archers and warriors, but fine artisans and civic leaders as well. The decision of which D'ahranal a child is invited to join falls to the child and his/her patron. Generally, the child will join the D'ahranal of her patron, and in fact the patron is found based on the child's foremost interest. However, as a child grows, interests sometimes change; in that case, the Patron helps the youth choose the appropriate D'ahranal and usually also finds a mature guide within it to direct the youth's development. On a youth's 'coming of age' day, a ceremony is held to induct them into their new D'ahranal. They remain a part of it for the rest of their life, and the membership bonds are held to be as important as that of family.

There are four known D'ahranals:

Kytawa D'ahranal

Main article: Kytawa

This is a group of Sylvans whose talents suit them for leadership or public service roles. Most of the population's leaders, called Councilors, are numbered among this group, however the governing body does number some Artisans among them as well, mostly in an Advisory role. The symbol of this group is a pelican.

Fresiawn D'ahranal

Main article: Fresiawn

This is a group that includes architects, artisans, craftsmen, musicians and artists, as well as cooks, brewers and anything that pertains to the creation of something. At the top of this group are those associated with Arts & Sciences, a calling much esteemed among the Sylvans. Their symbol is a doe.

Tyesteron D'ahranal

Main article: Tyesteron

This group includes all those who specialize in physical and magical martial arts. It includes the great number of superb archers among the Sylvans, as well as warriors and magic-users. The group serves as protectors of the homeland as well as hunters who bring in game to feed the tree-cities. They are known for the mithril or silver linked belt and armband they wear, rather than a particular symbol. Additionally, the archers among the group form a subgroup called Ki'Tyesterons, and will have the image of an arrow incised upon the armband. This group might also wear other arrow-themed ornaments. It is not uncommon for a particularly gifted weapon/armor maker or fletcher to be made an honorary Tyesteron, even though the artisan is also a member of the Fresiawns.

Lassaran D'ahranal

Main article: Lassaran

The last group is really a conglomerate group of all three of the others. The main distinction of these Sylvans is that they have gone against normal tendencies and left the Homeland, to wander the world among other races, beyond the protection of the great trees. The symbol of these Sylvans is a hawk.

Background

Language

This section is partly hypothetical based on fragments of official documentation.

The language spoken by the sylvans of Yuriqen has been preserved almost exactly as it was spoken over 40,000 years ago due to the unbroken chain of ancestral hierophantic memory. To modern elven listeners, it sounds so archaic as to be nearly impossible to understand. Most contemporary sylvans living in the wider world have found it easy to pick up the modern elven language, though on occasion they may use some bafflingly antiquated phrasing.

The common term "sylvan" comes from sylvisterai, meaning "one who embraces, or marries, the forest".

The sylvan writing system is credited to the scholar Raolawei Ly'Setta, who exchanged his knowledge of early elven scripts for permission to live among the sylvans of Ithnishmyn for the rest of his life. Elven archaeologists believe that much of the first sylvan writings were hidden away when the sylvans left Ithnishmyn, having committed all their knowledge to memory to be passed down through oral tradition.

Religion

Most sylvans practice a religion dedicated to Imaera, the Arkati most closely aligned with nature, and among sylvans she is often called the Mother Goddess. Festivals are held at the start of every season to celebrate her with song and prayer. Many of the unusual magics known to sylvan hierophants are said to come from a special connection to the goddess.

While many traditions are based on worship of Imaera, sylvans also recognize the balance between Light and Dark, and honor all of the Arkati for their roles. Gosaena, as the personification of eternal death and the end of the cycle of life, holds a special place in the pantheon.

Verbs

LISTEN	-	You incline your ear in the direction of the natural air currents and intently focus on the slightest sound within your environment. (Character)'s concentration shifts and becomes more focused as he slightly tilts an ear in a particular direction.
LISTEN {self}	-	You listen quietly to the sounds of nature all around you, letting your heartbeat slow to join in perfect time with the pulsating rhythm of life. (Character) lowers his arms to his sides, breathing slowly and rhythmically, as a soft sigh escapes his lips.
LISTEN {person}	-	You tilt your head slightly toward (target), noting the subtle changes in his muscles and breathing.
LISTEN {person} (dead)	-	You tilt your head slightly toward (target), noting the absence of breath in the body.
LISTEN {creature}	-	Raising the tips of your fingers briefly to one earlobe, you focus your hearing on the minute sounds of (target)'s internal life force. Raising the tips of her fingers briefly to one earlobe, (Character) seems to be channeling sounds from (target)'s very being.
LISTEN {object} (not held)	-	You lean in toward (target), pricking up your ears in an attempt to register every sound (target) emits from the play of environmental forces upon it. (Character) leans in toward (target), his pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
OBSERVE	-	You observe your surroundings carefully, taking in every last detail.
OBSERVE {self}	-	You observe your own condition, expanding your awareness of yourself as a part of your environment. (Character) becomes observantly introspective.
OBSERVE DOUBT	-	Looking around, you can't help but feel that something is wrong with your surroundings. (Character) looks around with concern.
OBSERVE ENEMY	-	You look around, every sense on the alert for possible foes. (Character) surveys his surroundings warily.
OBSERVE LIFE	-	You look around, taking note of all the signs of life nearby. (Character) looks around, a serene expression on his face.
OBSERVE LIFE (creatures present)	-	You look around, and can't help but focus on the creatures nearby. (Character) looks around, a disturbed expression on his face.
OBSERVE QUICK	-	You quickly scan your surroundings, taking keen note of the flora and fauna in the area. (Character) glances around, his eyes falling briefly on each aspect of his surroundings.
OBSERVE SLOW	-	You observe your surroundings very slowly, not wanting to miss a single detail. (Character) observes his surroundings with an almost excruciating slowness.
OBSERVE GROUND (outside)	-	You observe the ground, searching for tracks.
OBSERVE GROUND (inside)	-	You examine the ground in a futile search for tracks.
OBSERVE SKY (daytime)	-	You look up at the sky, taking note of the position of the sun.
OBSERVE SKY (nighttime)	-	Your eyes scan the heavens, reading stories in the stars.
OBSERVE SKY (inside)	-	You look up, but are unable to see the sky from in here.
OBSERVE AIR	-	You observe every detail of the air, from its scent to its direction to its ambient temperature. (Character) pauses in an observational trance.
OBSERVE ENVIRONMENT (forested terrain)	-	You observe the comfortingly natural feel of your environment. (Character) relaxes as he observes his environment.
OBSERVE ENVIRONMENT (treeless terrain)	-	You observe the details of your environment and do your best to adapt. (Character) observes his environment carefully.
OBSERVE ENVIRONMENT (in town)	-	You observe the inherently foreign nature of your environment. (Character) appears uncomfortable as he observes his environment.
OBSERVE ESCAPE	-	You look around for possible escape routes. (Character) looks around nervously, ready to bolt.

Resources

• The History of the Sylvan Elves
• Elanthian Divination: Sylvans
• Wedding Traditions of the Sylvan People
• World Costume for Theatrical Productions
• Sylvankind Gemology Guide
• Races: Sylvankind, on Play.net
• Clothing of the Lassaran - A Study of Transitional Culture
• Officials folder