Species of Litavis

There are six mortal species native to Litavis, each with their own characteristics and links to the three core powers of the world— druidic, arcane, and divine. While not common, it is possible for individuals to possess prominent heritage from two sources.

  • Elves, due to their ancestral ties to the druidic energy of the world, seem to reflect the patterns of nature. Their overall shapes bring to mind images of sloping hills, knobbly bark, fanned branches, and moss-covered rocks. They have long ears, prehensile tails, and spines that line their bodies.

  • Due to their ancestral ties to arcane energy, which is found in particularly high quantities in their ancient mountain homes, dwarves are known for their stony skin– a stunning feature of their appearance, right alongside their voluminous hair.

  • Like the divine energy that is their ancestral source, orcs are both diverse and distinct in appearance. Their builds are generally tall and bulky– though there is variety even in this. They are most recognizable, however, for their prominent tusks, striking ear shapes, and intricate quill patterns.

  • Feykin are directly descended from the fey– either born of a fey and a mortal, or another feykin. They are typically small in stature, though their features vary dramatically. There are three types of feykin: goblins, gnomes, and brownies.

  • Rather than being born, elementborn are crafted by conclaves of wizards and inhabited by an elemental. Their appearances vary wildly, constrained only by practical arcane limitations and the artistic vision of their creators. The element they embody helps determine what material is used to make them, as well as several key features that make the body inhabitable.

  • By far the most diverse of all mortal species, godtouched are creatures touched by the divine and imbued with the gift of sentience and an altered form– one akin to other mortal species, standing upright with arms and legs. This form is influenced by both the creature that was touched, and which god blessed them. Lines of godtouched can outlast the god that created them.

Please see the sections below for more details.

Elves

Elves, due to their ancestral ties to the druidic energy of the world, seem to reflect the patterns of nature. Their overall shapes bring to mind images of sloping hills, knobbly bark, fanned branches, and moss-covered rocks. They have long ears, prehensile tails, and spines that line their bodies.

An elf’s spines can have a wide range of appearances; some are taller and sharper, others are more round and dull, and others are even patterned to specifically follow the elf’s dominant side, rather than both. These spines can line anywhere from the tops of their heads to the area around their hips and waist, but they tend to be clustered around the backs of joints or along the forehead. Most spines, particularly the ones atop an elf’s head, are horn-like in quality. They are denser and harder than regular flesh, and can be different in color from an elf’s usual skin tone, but are still melded to the physical being of the elf they adorn. Because of this, spines can oftentimes be points of pride for elves who take particular care of their appearance and can be accentuated with ornaments or headwear in accordance to their culture. 

An elf’s ear length can range anywhere between 3 inch protrusions, to nearly a foot-long span, much longer than most other species. Regardless of length, though, elves’ ears come with a slight hook at the tips, mimicking a shape similar to branch collars, which form before a new branch sprouts. Oftentimes elves with longer ears will take extra care to decorate them with jewelry or piercings that reflect their culture of origin. 

An elf’s prehensile tail can range in length from a foot-and-a-half at the shortest, to five or so at the longest. When living in colder environments, or by simple genetic luck, many elves have the capacity to grow tufts or manes of fur along the end and top of their tails.

Dwarves

Due to their ancestral ties to arcane energy, which is found in particularly high quantities in their ancient mountain homes, dwarves are known for their stony skin– a platelet-like armor coating their chest, joints, and back. This stony layer can flake off with changes in the weather, or when proper nutrition isn’t maintained. When it is taken care of, however, it can be a stunning feature of their appearance, right alongside their voluminous hair.

A dwarf’s hair trails along their limbs, from the feet to the ankles, the forearm to the wrist, the belly to the groin, and even the nape of the neck to the back. While many dwarves may take care to groom this fuzzy layer, which is especially thick at certain times of the year, most dwarves will spend even more time focused on maintaining their beard.

All dwarves have a beard, and most prefer to keep it long and prominent, frequently in intricate braids. While beard ornamentation is a particular symbol of status in dwarven cultures, even dwarves who hail from other traditions will often weave them with trinkets both shiny and significant. However, most dwarves tend to not apply this careful ornamentation to their other notable attributes. This means that, while it is definitely not a rule, dwarves tend to keep the hair upon their heads shorter and more plain than that upon their chin.

Orcs

Like the divine energy that is their ancestral source, orcs are both diverse and distinct in appearance. Their builds are generally tall and bulky, with longer limbs, lean upper arms and thick, prominent forearms– though there is variety even in this. They are most recognizable, however, for their prominent tusks, striking ear shapes, and intricate quill patterns.

Orc tusks can come in a few shapes and sizes, with dominant tusks protruding from either the top or bottom jaws or, in rare cases, two sets of dominant tusks on both the top and bottom. In instances like this, an orc’s tusks may interlock to create bigger, more intimidating barriers of bone. While most orcs may prefer to keep their tusks sharpened and on display, some may find the need to file theirs back in order to prevent issues in their day-to-day life. 

Meanwhile, an orc’s ears are mostly form over function. With several protruding flaps of flesh adorning them, orcs have a scale-like quality to their ears which gives room for unique patterning and shapes. Depending on their culture of origin, some orcs may choose to decorate these flaps, though in orcish cultures it is much more common to have piercings or tattoos on the rest of the body. 

Quill patterns can also vary wildly, though it’s common to have a smattering of quills around the shoulders and cheeks. Made out of hardened fibrous keratin, these quills can serve both as defensive armor and as useful tools in regular activities, or even for trade. Because of this, plenty of orcs may routinely pluck their own quills, making room for more intricate dress and decorative tattoos.

Feykin

Feykin are directly descended from the fey– either born of a fey and a mortal, or another feykin. (All descendents of feykin are feykin). They are typically small in stature, though their features vary dramatically. Unlike other species, each subtype of feykin may find themselves drawn to certain behaviors and habits due to their fey heritage. While these characteristics are typical, there is room for exceptions and individuality. There are three types of feykin: goblins, gnomes, and brownies.

  • Goblins are small, flighty, and built for all-terrain traversal. With their sharp claws, long, digitigrade legs, and large, bat-like ears, they tend to be able to navigate their way through most kinds of environments; natural or not. Goblins have slick, mostly hairless skin, with nearly all of their hair centering around their scalp and tail. Many goblins have patterning along their skin which can come in many shapes and colors, with the most common shades being deep, mossy greens, lichen yellow, or a muddy abalone blue.

  • While gnomes are taller than their goblin cousins, they aren’t necessarily physically stronger than them. Gnomes have stout bodies with longer, wiry limbs, mostly hidden by whatever garments and gadgets they feel the pull to pile onto themselves. Paired with the fluffy hair found all along their body, tails that can vary from nubs to long, gorgeous locks, and floppy ears that reach past their shoulders, a gnome’s actual body is most noticeable for how tiny it appears next to the greatness of their other attributes.

  • Brownies are noticeable for being both the tallest of the feykin, with softer bodies and stronger limbs, and the possession of hooves and cape-like wings. Their powerful, hoofed legs are covered in a fine, downy layer of feathery fur, which can also be found around the crest of their wings. These wings are ornamental, incapable of actual flight, and slope down from the shoulders and off of their arms. A brownie’s wingspan can vary anywhere between eight feet, to around a dozen or so, on rare occasions. While these appendages may seem intimidating at first, they are better suited for creating a protective barrier to shelter a brownie’s family from harm. Unlike their goblin and gnome cousins, a brownie’s ears are much smaller and less noticeable, their faces tend to be rounder, their bellies softer, and they possess two sets of pectorals.

Elementborn

Elementborn are unique entities; rather than being born, they are created through the hard work of a conclave of arcane casters who prepare a physical vessel for an elemental to inhabit. In addition to gaining a constructed vessel, through the intricate art of memory tracing elementborn are given mortality, sentience, and a soul– all things that elementals lack. Elementborn do not have any memory of their time as an elemental, and while they may be influenced by their creators, their personalities and priorities are shaped by their experiences most of all.

An elementborn’s body can come in nearly infinite different shapes and sizes. From tall and spindly to small and squat, elementborn bodies are only limited by a few things: a mortal-like form to match their memory traced minds, a material sturdy enough to withstand arcane preparations, and the artistic vision of their creators. The actual element these creatures embody will help determine what material is used in the process of making them, as well as several key characteristics that make the body inhabitable.

All elementborn have eyes that glow with the power of the elemental they contain and a body made of nonliving material that has been given life through their existence. When an elementborn is injured, they heal just like any mortal with time, rest, and care– though the addition of new material into a wound may help it heal more quickly, and may leave an interesting variegation of color and texture in their form.

  • Fireborn have a literal heart of fire– a flame in their chest that flares with their emotions, sometimes concealed and sometimes exposed. They are generally crafted from metal, as it is nonflammable and easy to shape. Their most defining characteristic are vents on their heads, which are frequently shaped like horns and occasionally spew smoke, particularly in moments of high emotion. These serve an important role in a fireborn’s health, functioning as pressure release for the intense magical fire within them; it is due to these that a fireborn need not fear setting their surroundings or clothes aflame. They frequently adorn themselves with metal trinkets or non-magical firesources, such as candles or lanterns.

  • Airborn are generally carved from wood, as it is light and durable, with airy channels winding (often invisibly) through their forms. They are most recognizable by their large, almost cone-like ears– which serve to catch wind and aid in the flow of air through their bodies, which is necessary for their wellbeing. Airborn have a near constant breeze that circulates around them, and may change with their emotions. They often adorn themselves with wind chime earrings or colorful cloth hair, or other elaborate dangling accessories.

  • Typically crafted primarily with porcelain, which is both impermeable and deceptively tough, waterborn often have visible tanks of water set into their bodies, containing their elemental core. They are most easily recognized, however, by ever-changing hairstyles of gravity defying water which stem from mesh vents set into their heads. This feature allows water to flow freely in and out of their bodies and helps maintain their internal equilibrium. They commonly decorate themselves with interesting rocks or shells, dead coral formations, or even a tiny pet fish kept and carefully cared for within their tank.

  • Earthborn are the most solid of the elementborn, though they are designed with an inner cavity just like any other– it is simply occupied by the earthly essence of their elemental. Their bodies themselves are typically made of stone, though the type of stone varies widely. They are most recognizable by gemstones, commonly set into their head, which function as an anchor and release for their internal energy. Earthborn often choose to adorn themselves with moss or mushrooms, or cultivate tiny gardens on their bodies.

Godtouched

By far the most diverse of all mortal species, godtouched are creatures, most commonly animals, touched by the divine and imbued with the gift of sentience and an altered form– one akin to other mortal species, standing upright with arms and legs. Godtouched are created either as an original animal touched by a god, or the child of a godtouched. (Any child of a godtouched is godtouched). 

The precise form of a godtouched is influenced by both the creature that was touched, and which god blessed them. Lines of godtouched can, and often do, outlast the god that created them, though some godtouched never create a lasting line in the first place.

Below is a guide for some of the more common godtouched kin that may wander the world, though it is far from a comprehensive list.

  • Blessed by the Wharf Walker, God of Quezat Pier.

    With some of the longest limbs among most any godtouched bird species and spectacular feather plumage, the Heronades, or Herons of Quezat Pier, are a gorgeous sight to behold. Their heads are crowned with drooping feather crests, large, fluffy ear-like appendages, and rounded beaks in a range of lengths. They have two sets of talons acting as both hands and feet. In addition to their lovely coats and bright coloration, Heronades are also known for having large masses of feathers lining their necks, ankles, and wrists, lending them extra insulation when they use their sprawling wings to travel or search for food.

  • Blessed by the Old God of War.

    Canidins, sometimes referred to as High Wolves, are some of the most intimidating and bestial of the godtouched. Often as tall as the average orc, as broad as the average dwarf, and as agile as the average elf, the common High Wolf has nothing to gain from hiding their monstrous beauty. A Canidin’s large hands and paws, long tail, sharp teeth, and luscious mane of fur all paint a grand, if not terrifying, sight to behold.

  • Blessed by an Ancient King of Thieves.

    Sometimes known as Nimblefingers after the prominent crime dynasty founded by their ancestor, Night Racoons are known for their tiny stature, large, fluffy tails, and pouches used for hiding the items they are commonly caught stealing. While being one of the smallest of the godtouched species, their general boisterous demeanor and propensity for wiggling out of any situation shouldn’t be dismissed.

  • Blessed by the Victor of War, God of Glory.

    The Boraffa godtouched species, sometimes known as Great Boars, are blessed with powerful legs, large, meaty arms, and hoofed fingers. Though their floppy ears and fluffy hair, chest, and tail may make them appear more docile, the average Great Boar is a secret powerhouse beneath that fur and fat. They are also the only owners of tusks which can rival the greatest of orcs, as well.

More godtouched subspecies coming soon.