The Elder Races were, traditionally founded by the five brothers. At least that is the tradition some places, but it has not been acknowledged by the Elder Races. They haven't denied it either.
The Elder Races all look like they are of the same family. Not clan—family! Like brothers and sisters. The only differences between them all are incidental indications of age. Though there ere are differences in coloration between the five races, they still have that family resemblance. They are all tall, six feet give or take an inch for the men and a few inches shorter for the women. They are all beautiful in a tall, thin, angular sort of way.
When one meets an Elder, one should be properly polite and address them as “Elder”, except for the Thurlen, who should be addressed as “Eldest”, because they are—unless you talk to the elves—or the dwarves.
Are the Eldest, the golden people, a race of Bardic Warriors. They all have golden tans, sandy hair and golden-brown eyes. They are also clever mages.
Their domain is Spirit. They are the most kindly disposed to humans, often disguising themselves to blend into human communities to teach and aid. They consider themselves to be the guardians of Dômus Môdé. Just ask them, they'll tell you.
They can sing to melt your heart. They live in beauty. Their houses are simple yet complex, cozy yet spacious, music in stone and wood. The Royal Palace in Käläkhän looks tawdry by comparison—my apologies to the Royal Family, but it does.
And they can sing. And they make such music.
Are the youngest elder race—don't you just love the sound of that? Their Domain is Fire. The proper way to greet a Cwis is with exquisite courtesy, and at long range. The Cwis resent the peoples who are neither of the Elder nor the Younger Races. They believe in a proper structure for the world with the Elders at the top, the Younger Races beneath them and everyone else gone. The Thurlen outrank them and the Thurlen like the other races. This conflict of belief does not bother them any more than it bothers any other true believer.
Their domain is air. They are olive skinned with dark hair and deep blue to blue-grey eyes. They live in high places. They are all mages. There are different Ashkwen “Clans”. The Caldor clan lives in Mountains of Salvin in the Domain of the Five Families. Then there are the Valley Ashkwen, but they are really Vargans—but they aren't.
The Thalm are masters of the earth. They live in dark caves have dark brown skins and eyes. There is not much that one can say about them as the stay out of sight and rarely interact with anyone, including other Elders.
They live in the oceans. They have pale, bluish skin and pale green, blue and gray eyes. They are usually found with the Children of the Seas, the younger race that lives within costal waters.
Copyright © 2021 by Robert W. Dills