Magisteria Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
magisteriamods) wrote2023-07-15 12:55 pm
magisteriamods) wrote2023-07-15 12:55 pm
Peoples of Magisteria
Bipedal species, most of whom can trace their origins to worlds apart from Medeas. For thousands of years, humans and beings with similar appearances and origins to them have been arriving via rifts (Infinity Corridors). Though their origins differ materially, within Magisteria, these people are citizens who share much of the same destiny.
For the taxonomy, the pictures selected for each category reflect sexually dimorphic traits. Star children are an outlier, as they do not exhibit sexual dimorphism.
For the taxonomy, the pictures selected for each category reflect sexually dimorphic traits. Star children are an outlier, as they do not exhibit sexual dimorphism.
Humans
Humans have a material history grounded in millennia of natural selection and evolution. In their home world, they invented agriculture, built monuments, and later created worldwide financial systems. They also pursued technology and engaged in centuries of war. Humans have different phenotypes, some of which they have characterized in their history and sociology as races. For the humans in Magisteria, their ancestral history has been upended to some degree by the rifts, leading to a great deal of cultural intermingling in the urban metropolis, though certain sectors continue to reflect specific foods, traditions, and languages from the home world.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Faeries
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) began as later creations of humans. Eventually they attained sentience and even physical forms similar to those of their progenitors. The creation and development of AI and their current place in society have had some fraught moments in history, often prompting regulatory and ethical debates, and even philosophical debates around the meaning and nature of life itself. The precursors to the AI of Magisteria have organized themselves in form, fashion, and society to be able to peacefully live among humans and often (though not always) present similar to humans, with some even intermarrying or procreating with humans or other humanoid races. However, some AI may still retain perspectives, values, or thought processes which are quite different from most humans, whether or not they mask them; they potentially input and output information quite differently, and some have aspects of their physical bearings which suggest their origins, such as visible chips, circuits, or technological trappings.
Faeries
In their earliest iterations, it is said that faeries flew by magic or on the backs of birds, but in later days, they became winged beings, a trait which is common even now for most faeries of Medeas. They have certain physical traits which have often made them popular subjects of art – the wings being one such trait, as well as (often) long, flowing hair, and slender bodies, and their association with magic and lore and mystery have contributed to an appreciation for their overall aesthetic in humankind’s popular imagination.
However, not all the lore surrounding faeries has been pleasant. There are darker stories, ranging from them being the descendants of fallen angels to stories of wicked or dangerous faeries or varieties thereof (i.e. Unseelie). As with any race which has been known as the subject of stories told by another, their own versions of events and history may greatly differ: in particular, with the more recent intermingling of groups in Magisteria, stories of kidnapped infants have been greatly disavowed as bad press generated by malicious and prejudiced human minds. Such views now mostly receive consensus from the public.
That said, not all of the darker lore of faeries has been entirely disproven, as there remain stories suggesting they might be highly possessive, especially with regards to locations they see as haunts, and possibly even prone to tempers or dangerous whims. Some lore paints them as creatures highly motivated by passions, for both good and ill, though there also exist many stories of them having strong senses of humor – perhaps also for mischievous pranks – and being highly motivated by song, aerial dances, laughter, and food. Legend goes that they have a potentially fatal vulnerability to iron, and possibly other substances. Finally, they have the ability to appear as different sizes, either highly diminutive or of about the same size as an adult human.
Elves
However, not all the lore surrounding faeries has been pleasant. There are darker stories, ranging from them being the descendants of fallen angels to stories of wicked or dangerous faeries or varieties thereof (i.e. Unseelie). As with any race which has been known as the subject of stories told by another, their own versions of events and history may greatly differ: in particular, with the more recent intermingling of groups in Magisteria, stories of kidnapped infants have been greatly disavowed as bad press generated by malicious and prejudiced human minds. Such views now mostly receive consensus from the public.
That said, not all of the darker lore of faeries has been entirely disproven, as there remain stories suggesting they might be highly possessive, especially with regards to locations they see as haunts, and possibly even prone to tempers or dangerous whims. Some lore paints them as creatures highly motivated by passions, for both good and ill, though there also exist many stories of them having strong senses of humor – perhaps also for mischievous pranks – and being highly motivated by song, aerial dances, laughter, and food. Legend goes that they have a potentially fatal vulnerability to iron, and possibly other substances. Finally, they have the ability to appear as different sizes, either highly diminutive or of about the same size as an adult human.
Elves
In many ways, the history and lore of elves resembles that of faeries: stories concerning elves also often portray a mixture of traits, with some lore painting them as noble beings and other stories portraying them as having darker characteristics. Similar to the Seelie and Unseelie divide in faeries, there are different groups of elves who are generally regarded as more pure in nature and others who have inclinations that might be far less so, i.e. the Dark Elves, often known as Drow.
The origin stories of elves give them different roots, with some claiming them to be fallen angels or their descendants, and others claiming them to be refashioned pagan deities who have been repurposed. Primary differences between elves and faeries include the fact that elves are generally taller and longer-limbed, with very elegant bone structures. They are also longer lived; whereas faeries live for centuries, an elf’s life can span for millennia, and it is even rumored that they may be immortal. Although people of both races live and work in the city of Magisteria, sharing the same destiny as the other humanoid races who inhabit the city, they also have their own societies and politics which may be apart from and even foreign to the common society of the city proper.
Nymphs
The origin stories of elves give them different roots, with some claiming them to be fallen angels or their descendants, and others claiming them to be refashioned pagan deities who have been repurposed. Primary differences between elves and faeries include the fact that elves are generally taller and longer-limbed, with very elegant bone structures. They are also longer lived; whereas faeries live for centuries, an elf’s life can span for millennia, and it is even rumored that they may be immortal. Although people of both races live and work in the city of Magisteria, sharing the same destiny as the other humanoid races who inhabit the city, they also have their own societies and politics which may be apart from and even foreign to the common society of the city proper.
Nymphs
Nymphs are akin to both faeries and elves, but are more explicitly nature-dwelling and are often especially tied to certain aspects of nature, similar to elemental beings. For this reason, their appearances frequently resemble characteristics of the natural world, such as dryads with green-hued skin and tree-like features.
Sylphs
Sylphs
Sylphs are air-dwelling beings, one of the races which can be seen in the evening skies, often classified under the umbrella term of lunar creatures, along with zephyrs and a few other mystical entities.
Star Children
Star Children
One of the ancient native races of Magisteria, Star Children are only known to appear within the enchanted gardens in the heart of the city. As their name indicates, they are diminutive beings, child-like in appearance, and they are composed of light from the stars. Although they may seem to be of a similar ilk to some of the races above, the primary difference is that no part of their ancestry can be traced to Otherworlders or their dreams and stories: rather, these creatures are part of a purely indigenous race, and as such, they remember the oldest magic and the oldest languages and songs of Medeas. Little is known about them by most in Magisteria, for they speak in a tongue that has passed out of use by other denizens in the world; it is believed that only those with high-level knowledge of things arcane (such as the Institution leaders or the royal family) can communicate with them. It is not known (at least, not generally known) why they are not seen elsewhere in the city or its surrounding environs and most of their culture and history has been shrouded in mystery by the flow of time and the communication barrier. On nights when the world’s magic is at its most active, it is said that they can be seen dancing and playing within the gardens, and if an onlooker does not disturb the peace and listens quietly, they may hear these beings humming tunes that have existed nowhere else for many long ages.
Merfolk
Merfolk
Merfolk, the broad name for the Undersea People, encompass quite a bit of diversity. Some are stunning, enchanting beings, whereas others have the appearances of monstrous creatures from human myth and folklore. In general, there is a certain implicit tension between the land-dwelling races and those of the sea, and even the merfolk with lovely appearances may have traits that would be somewhat sinister to those above the waters.
Merfolk have built magnificent underwater cities, blending sleek and futuristic designs with organic elements. These cities feature bioluminescent structures, transparent domes, and elaborate underwater transportation systems like high-speed underwater trains or streamlined vehicles. They have also developed advanced underwater technologies, harnessing renewable energy sources and utilizing sophisticated underwater communication systems. They have created bio-engineered adaptations to enhance their swimming abilities and developed protective gear suited for underwater exploration.
Merfolk society comprises diverse clans or tribes, each with unique customs, traditions, and artistic expressions. They draw inspiration from various human cultures throughout history, incorporating elements of folklore, music, dance, and visual arts into their own distinct forms.
Merfolk have built magnificent underwater cities, blending sleek and futuristic designs with organic elements. These cities feature bioluminescent structures, transparent domes, and elaborate underwater transportation systems like high-speed underwater trains or streamlined vehicles. They have also developed advanced underwater technologies, harnessing renewable energy sources and utilizing sophisticated underwater communication systems. They have created bio-engineered adaptations to enhance their swimming abilities and developed protective gear suited for underwater exploration.
Merfolk society comprises diverse clans or tribes, each with unique customs, traditions, and artistic expressions. They draw inspiration from various human cultures throughout history, incorporating elements of folklore, music, dance, and visual arts into their own distinct forms.