Mini-Teaser: The Aerendar & Dwarven Beards.

[Fruitomancer]

Aerendar
Masters of the Deep Waterways

'Being on a boat that's moving through the water, it's so clear. Everything falls into place in terms of what's important and what's not.' - Popular Aerendar Saying.

   Trade between the colonies has always come with unique challenges, despite extensive work there are caverns few would dare to pass, deep places where tales of ruthless ambushes by the dark creatures of the Depths are all-pervasive. Despite these threats trade can, and does, flourish in part due to the survival of the Aerendar. Always few in number, but nonetheless essential, the Aerendar are a common sight plying their trade from their elegant barges in the ports and deep waterways of the colonies. Aerendar share a close relationship and (mostly) friendly competition with the land-based Czerdic traders and together they form the lifeblood of the colonies, ever-willing to trade and transport goods safely, for a price.

   Aerendar possess mostly elven features however are uniquely physically adapted to their chosen lifestyle with almost all members of the race boasting webbed feet and hands that allow them to move gracefully through water. Whilst popular rumour within the colonies exists, I have been assured by several working within Gauth's docks that gills are something they lack. Most Aerendar find this urban myth complimentary, however, as members of the race who choose to become explorers and divers do boast remarkably long breath, a skill honed and practised over many decades. As a whole, the elves of the waterways are tougher than most of their elven cousins and demonstrate a highly adventurous spirit. Much of their history in the Depths is passed on through traditional songs that are handed from barge to barge and they are well-regarded for having pleasing singing voices. Indeed, as popular as their music is many Aerendar can be found plying their trade as bards and musicians in the taverns and inns of the Depths.

   Much of the Aerendar way of life revolves around their unique canal boats and the traditions they have built up around them. Almost all major Aerendar families boast their own barge, those that do not being objects of much pity, and these craft are often named and decorated with examples of legendary explorers and warriors from elven history. The family barge is a matter of great pride for most Aerendar, with even those members who make the choice to leave the waterways for a life on land forever introducing themselves by their own name and the name of their family barge. When an Aerendar is born, it is usually to the decks of this vessel, and most can foresee no finer fate than to be buried in the deep lakes from the same deck upon their death. Key amongst Aerendar traditions is that of marriage, which is seen as the most serious of commitments and requires that the couple construct a new barge for the new family they seek to form. This is a difficult endeavour, as not only are resources for such projects scarce and expensive but each new vessel must be appropriately named and decorated as a work of art. Marriages, as a result, are rare amongst the Aerendar of the waterways and when a new family-barge is launched it is always with great ceremony and public celebration.

   Despite their unique place within the deep waterways, Aerendar have become an increasingly common sight as the colonies have become more firmly established. Perhaps, in part, due to the limited space on their traditional vessels, young and old members of their community alike have taken the choice to become 'landbound'. Often taking with them only the cloths on their back and a few coins, these Aerendar frequently become the most celebrated as they travel the Depths and bring back with them stories of wonders and horrors in hidden, unexplored places. Those who take the choice to become landbound are freed from the usual marriage requirements of the waterway Aerendar, making it common to find young couples travelling together in the hopes of earning enough money and resources to one day construct their own barge and return to live their lives amongst their people. Some more enterprising Aerendar also make the choice to take their business to land without marriage prospects, hoping to win fortune either for themselves or their families. Whilst fundamentally a free race, the vast majority of Aerendar align themselves with one colony or another in order to receive better trade deals and even those who make their homes on the waterways spend a significant amount of time trading for the food and goods they need in their chosen colony.

---

Dwarves and Beards
Facial Hair in Gauth and Beyond

'He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man.' - Conservative Dwarven Saying.

Gauth

   Gauthian dwarves have a long history of appreciation for hair and beards, with long-standing traditions passed on from father to son since far beyond reckoning. Conservative dwarves with noble ancestry place much importance upon having long and immaculately groomed facial hair which they display with pride throughout their day-to-day activities, some of these proud stout folk even shave their hair to bring their beards even more to the fore. Amongst the general populace there are several divergent points of view and many a late night debate in the Hanged Man has been devoted towards considering what the most appropriate hair and beard style might be for any given profession.

   For the most part amongst the working dwarves of Gauth pragmatism has come to replace idealism, though there has never been a formal ruling dwarves working on the heat and fires of the smithy have come to the consensus that long-beards in such an environment are dangerous indulgences. Many craftsmen and practically-minded dwarves have instead adopted clean-shaven faces or shorter styles and instead express their dwarven identity through styling their hair, with many different styles gaining popularity depending on the current fashion. Whilst older dwarves might scoff at such antics, younger members of dwarven population have taken to experimenting with many an outlandish style, hoping to stand out amongst a community highly devoted to work and tradition.

Avera's Hope and the Warrens

   Traditions differ amongst dwarves who live away from Gauth, particularly those who have been cast out from their clans. As punishment, these outcasts occasionally have their hair and beard shaved to mark them for their shame. Some choose to keep this style, accepting the punishment and turning it into a mark of pride. Clanless dwarves within Avera's Hope often take to adopting the hair-styles of the humans they live amongst, whereas others steadfastly stand by their old family-traditions; being unwilling to completely leave them behind.

   Dwarves within the Warrens are no exceptions from the albinism that has come to affect much of the population and with these radical changes in appearance the individual styling of both hair and beard has lessened in importance. The Warrens accepts all who accept Eloth and the Sect and as a result of this most dwarves simply make their own decisions. Amongst those dwarves who do wear facial hair it has become commonplace to sacrifice a braid or tuft of beard every so often to Eloth as proof of their devotion.

[mobsterlobster]

It's a good read, great job though the next teaser must be GET YOUR ASSES IG.

[Kasira]

Aerendar  Race ability/feat ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGPoHKBI6tI&feature=related   




Is it me, or does that female dwarf look like she an beat the male dwarfs rear?

[Dwarfare]

Beards.

[Heru-Duath]

I can only assume these Aerendar dont sport the blue skin and green hair of servers past?

[Gothic Rose]

I can only assume these Aerendar dont sport the blue skin and green hair of servers past?

They aren't Aerendir.  They're like...gondola elves.

[Dinean]

Aerendar  Race ability/feat ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGPoHKBI6tI&feature=related   

That would be awsome for all races actually!

[Andy]

Aerendar  Race ability/feat ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGPoHKBI6tI&feature=related   

That would be awsome for all races actually!

That looks well good.

I'd be all for this getting implemented later on. Perhaps you could implement a swim skill.

Seen the levitation video too? Looks awesome.

[Rogue]

So frickin' sweet! Does this mean we can get to adding new / flashy / awesome animations too?

Cause the game needs that so bad. >.<

[Thalidus]

Nice teaser. But...did anyone see the horse?!

[Red Hat]

Nice teaser. But...did anyone see the horse?!

Why in the name of Allkind, would you need a horse? Useless in caves I tell you, except if you just wish to keep them as company.

[Clockwork]

We've looked at riding and swimming. They may be added later, but right now they aren't high priority. Especially riding.

[Zydel]

I can only assume these Aerendar dont sport the blue skin and green hair of servers past?

They aren't Aerendir.  They're like...gondola elves.

So the Aerendar, which are water-elves, have nothing to do with the Aerendir from EM, which were...water-elves?

[Gothic Rose]

I can only assume these Aerendar dont sport the blue skin and green hair of servers past?

They aren't Aerendir.  They're like...gondola elves.

So the Aerendar, which are water-elves, have nothing to do with the Aerendir from EM, which were...water-elves?

Kinda.  A DM can answer that better than me, since I had nothing to do with their development.

[Tipsgraph]

I got the Much Ado About Nothing quote off the top of my head, but I had to look up the other one.

Edit: I may have made an alarmingly feminine squealing noise when I noticed where it's from.