Post by Tydus on Aug 10, 2007 16:43:17 GMT -5
Wolswyn
Characteristics
Wolswyn live, on average, 20 more years than most humans, and have two forms: human and bird. Typically, they traverse as humans, hiding their identity as wolswyn. At any given time, however, they may choose to transform into their bird nature. This shape typically possesses the same height as its human counterpart. The feather color differs from wolswyn to wolswyn, however, and no one has yet been able to find a correlation between the human appearance and the wolswyn form.
The first transformation does not take place until the wolswyn is 16 or 17 for the male, 15 or 16 for the female. Often it comes on its own, unbidden. Signs of the first transformation coming include frequent dreams about flying, eating twice as much as is normal, and the desire to be alone. After the first transformation, the wolswyn must quickly learn to control and to subdue their bird nature. Otherwise, over time, the bird form will gain dominance. If this should happen, the wolswyn will lose his human identity and remain forever as a bird. He will be an animal, no longer intelligent.
Besides this, one more major difference exists between wolswyn and humans. Wolswyn have latent telepathic abilities. These only ever come into play when someone speaks into their mind first. In other words, they themselves cannot reach out first, but if a connection is established between a wolswyn and someone possessing telepathic abilities, then they will be able to communicate over unknown distances from then on. This ability is most often used in conjunction with a tinfidge which possesses such a telepathic ability.
That said, the majority of wolswyn live their lives as humans in current days, hiding their identity for fear of persecution. Only at night, and then rarely, do they venture to partake in transformation and feel the joy of flight. Once in a great while, when faced with danger and no other way out, a wolswyn will transform for his safety to escape his enemies. The danger of this, however, is that he would never be able to live with anyone who saw him transform, for they would know his true identity and would likely report him to the authorities.
It is rumored that wolswyn possess other talents that vary by the individual. These include exceptional fighting skills, the gift of invention, and the talent to grow trees into magnificent living structures. There are more, but these are the three most prevalent gifts in mythology.
Origin: The Ianuwar
The First Millennium d.s.: Sometime during this millennium the remnants of a tribe of humans set out from Talambar to find a new home, for they had been defeated by another tribe more powerful than they. Crossing in small wooden boats that they used for fishing, they managed to go from the northern tip of Talambar to the eastern tip of Aetherae. Soon in their travels they came upon an ancient stone door, towering in a clearing of a forest. A great white light shimmered inside the crisply cut frame, and in great fear and trembling the men beheld the awesome site. They ventured inside. Coming back out, they found themselves to now be wolswyn.
Overjoyed, they founded a new city around the stone relic which they called the Ianuwar. This was the great city of Mirabilis. It is rumored that all the buildings were inside giant trees, so high that they scraped the sky. During these golden days of the wolswyn, one chose to fly back to Talambar, in search of friends he had left behind. Soon the stories of the wolswyn spread orally across Talambar, and many grew jealous. An especially strong tribe followed in the wolswyn's footsteps, crossing the waters to Aetherae. There, they too found the Ianuwar and feigned amiability. Entering into the Ianuwar, they came back out wolswyn and tried to gain control of Mirabilis by force.
The Mirabilians, with superior weapons and the advantage of experience, easily defeated the tribe. They soon, however, came to the realization that others would follow. Therefore, they dug away at the bottom of the Ianuwar, causing it to collapse. As it hit the ground, it broke into two pieces. The white light gone, the wolswyn buried these two segments separately in order to prevent their unification.
A Brief History of the Wolswyn
From the First Millennium d.s. to the Fourth Millennium d.s.: During the fight, however, their city was destroyed. The decision was made that they should return to their homeland and reclaim the lands of their ancestors. Flying quickly across the waters back to Talambar, they soon reached the lands they sought. All they found, however, was an empty land, scorched by fire. They assumed that the other humans had destroyed themselves in war. Setting out to cultivate the land at once, they assumed the life of farmers, for centuries going unnoticed, passing down their history orally to their children.
3000 to 4000 d.s. During the fourth millennium, their peace was destroyed as warring factions of humans came up from the south. Quickly learning to defend themselves, the wolswyn easily resisted these broken and scattered barbarians. Fighting them off became part of every day life. In retaliation to these attacks, many wolswyn enslaved the barbarians, forcing them to work as slaves on their farms. Corruption began spreading through the wolswyn and giant farms were born, manned solely by enslaved humans.
4000 to 5000 d.s.: The barbarians, having been consolidated under Brencynt (the first rhyn), become a major problem to the wolswyn. For the first time they fought under one leader. Brencynt helped incite a rebellion among the enslaved humans, gaining huge support. In this way he brought war and the ultimate demise to the wolswyn. After a decade of bloody conflict, the wolswyn scattered in defeat and the humans emerged victorious. Brencynt placed a bounty on every wolswyn's head to ensure that the wolswyn would never again rise to enslave humanity.
5000 d.s. to Present Day: Ever since their defeat, wolswyn have been a hated part of Talambrian history. Scattered, the wolswyn lost contact with each other, never again regaining their former power. They adapted to the barbarians and accepted their ways, becoming part of them while hiding their true heritage. It is unknown how many wolswyn still exist today, as they remain completely hidden in the mass of humanity. Some escaped to other continents, but they too have remained aloof from history.
In all of history since 5000 d.s., only one attempt has been made by the wolswyn at coming together. This was quickly destroyed by the ruling rhyn as a warning to the other wolswyn to remain in hiding. Some believe that the wolswyn have died out, but others know better. If one (or both) of the parents of a human child is a wolswyn, then the child will be a wolswyn. Having adapted well to the societies in which they now live, the wolswyn may one day grow in numbers strong enough to become their own nation.
Characteristics
Wolswyn live, on average, 20 more years than most humans, and have two forms: human and bird. Typically, they traverse as humans, hiding their identity as wolswyn. At any given time, however, they may choose to transform into their bird nature. This shape typically possesses the same height as its human counterpart. The feather color differs from wolswyn to wolswyn, however, and no one has yet been able to find a correlation between the human appearance and the wolswyn form.
The first transformation does not take place until the wolswyn is 16 or 17 for the male, 15 or 16 for the female. Often it comes on its own, unbidden. Signs of the first transformation coming include frequent dreams about flying, eating twice as much as is normal, and the desire to be alone. After the first transformation, the wolswyn must quickly learn to control and to subdue their bird nature. Otherwise, over time, the bird form will gain dominance. If this should happen, the wolswyn will lose his human identity and remain forever as a bird. He will be an animal, no longer intelligent.
Besides this, one more major difference exists between wolswyn and humans. Wolswyn have latent telepathic abilities. These only ever come into play when someone speaks into their mind first. In other words, they themselves cannot reach out first, but if a connection is established between a wolswyn and someone possessing telepathic abilities, then they will be able to communicate over unknown distances from then on. This ability is most often used in conjunction with a tinfidge which possesses such a telepathic ability.
That said, the majority of wolswyn live their lives as humans in current days, hiding their identity for fear of persecution. Only at night, and then rarely, do they venture to partake in transformation and feel the joy of flight. Once in a great while, when faced with danger and no other way out, a wolswyn will transform for his safety to escape his enemies. The danger of this, however, is that he would never be able to live with anyone who saw him transform, for they would know his true identity and would likely report him to the authorities.
It is rumored that wolswyn possess other talents that vary by the individual. These include exceptional fighting skills, the gift of invention, and the talent to grow trees into magnificent living structures. There are more, but these are the three most prevalent gifts in mythology.
Origin: The Ianuwar
The First Millennium d.s.: Sometime during this millennium the remnants of a tribe of humans set out from Talambar to find a new home, for they had been defeated by another tribe more powerful than they. Crossing in small wooden boats that they used for fishing, they managed to go from the northern tip of Talambar to the eastern tip of Aetherae. Soon in their travels they came upon an ancient stone door, towering in a clearing of a forest. A great white light shimmered inside the crisply cut frame, and in great fear and trembling the men beheld the awesome site. They ventured inside. Coming back out, they found themselves to now be wolswyn.
Overjoyed, they founded a new city around the stone relic which they called the Ianuwar. This was the great city of Mirabilis. It is rumored that all the buildings were inside giant trees, so high that they scraped the sky. During these golden days of the wolswyn, one chose to fly back to Talambar, in search of friends he had left behind. Soon the stories of the wolswyn spread orally across Talambar, and many grew jealous. An especially strong tribe followed in the wolswyn's footsteps, crossing the waters to Aetherae. There, they too found the Ianuwar and feigned amiability. Entering into the Ianuwar, they came back out wolswyn and tried to gain control of Mirabilis by force.
The Mirabilians, with superior weapons and the advantage of experience, easily defeated the tribe. They soon, however, came to the realization that others would follow. Therefore, they dug away at the bottom of the Ianuwar, causing it to collapse. As it hit the ground, it broke into two pieces. The white light gone, the wolswyn buried these two segments separately in order to prevent their unification.
A Brief History of the Wolswyn
From the First Millennium d.s. to the Fourth Millennium d.s.: During the fight, however, their city was destroyed. The decision was made that they should return to their homeland and reclaim the lands of their ancestors. Flying quickly across the waters back to Talambar, they soon reached the lands they sought. All they found, however, was an empty land, scorched by fire. They assumed that the other humans had destroyed themselves in war. Setting out to cultivate the land at once, they assumed the life of farmers, for centuries going unnoticed, passing down their history orally to their children.
3000 to 4000 d.s. During the fourth millennium, their peace was destroyed as warring factions of humans came up from the south. Quickly learning to defend themselves, the wolswyn easily resisted these broken and scattered barbarians. Fighting them off became part of every day life. In retaliation to these attacks, many wolswyn enslaved the barbarians, forcing them to work as slaves on their farms. Corruption began spreading through the wolswyn and giant farms were born, manned solely by enslaved humans.
4000 to 5000 d.s.: The barbarians, having been consolidated under Brencynt (the first rhyn), become a major problem to the wolswyn. For the first time they fought under one leader. Brencynt helped incite a rebellion among the enslaved humans, gaining huge support. In this way he brought war and the ultimate demise to the wolswyn. After a decade of bloody conflict, the wolswyn scattered in defeat and the humans emerged victorious. Brencynt placed a bounty on every wolswyn's head to ensure that the wolswyn would never again rise to enslave humanity.
5000 d.s. to Present Day: Ever since their defeat, wolswyn have been a hated part of Talambrian history. Scattered, the wolswyn lost contact with each other, never again regaining their former power. They adapted to the barbarians and accepted their ways, becoming part of them while hiding their true heritage. It is unknown how many wolswyn still exist today, as they remain completely hidden in the mass of humanity. Some escaped to other continents, but they too have remained aloof from history.
In all of history since 5000 d.s., only one attempt has been made by the wolswyn at coming together. This was quickly destroyed by the ruling rhyn as a warning to the other wolswyn to remain in hiding. Some believe that the wolswyn have died out, but others know better. If one (or both) of the parents of a human child is a wolswyn, then the child will be a wolswyn. Having adapted well to the societies in which they now live, the wolswyn may one day grow in numbers strong enough to become their own nation.