Danaij
Pronunciation: dah-NAHJ. Grammatically, they should be referred to as Danaij in the singular, plural, and collective. Though an analogue for dark elves and drow, they should never be referred to as “drow”, as this is a term exclusive to the dark elves of Dungeons and Dragons and Forgotten Realms. It does not apply to dark elves of all fantasy worlds.
Created by Ispa, the Goddess of Darkness, the Danaij are a dark and twisted antithesis to her brother Idraen’s creation, the Idayn.
Location and Abodes
As one of the most despised and feared races of Aserra, the Danaij are mostly confined to the Forsaken Lands, the remnant of the continent of Ageond which they conquered in the name of Ispa during the War of the Gods. Most of the continent was sunk in an attempt to wipe out the Danaij and all of Ispa’s mortal armies, but the southern quarter of the continent remained. The survivors inhabiting that fragment were shown mercy by the gods and rebuilt their societies. As the Danaij rebuilt, they carved the Forsaken Land into three nations; Kiran, Mairax, and Nalxad.
There are small populations of Danaij outside the Forsaken Land, but they consistently suffer persecution. Some of these groups run from persecution, crimes, or reject the dark gods and their darker side. They have settled islands surrounding the Forsaken Land, and some have carved out places in more open-minded cities across Kalesten and Thiskel. Other Danaij resort to being perpetual wanderers, sometimes finding work as mercenaries or pirates where their skills are more important than their heritage.
Danaij homes vary depending on the caste of their occupants. Those of the noble caste build elaborate palaces and manors of shadow ore and stone, the architecture sharp and menacing. Homes of the lower castes contain less shadow ore with each consecutive social level downward, until reaching the bottom caste which does not have the resources to work with shadow ore in their own homes. These lower class homes are much simpler, lacking in aesthetic values in exchange for practicality on a low budget.
Appearance and Garb
The Danaij were created quite similar in form to the Idayn as per Ispa’s attempt to spite Idraen for his fair Idayn race. They were quite similar in structure initially, with males standing at an average height of 6’ (1.83m) and females at 5’7” (1.7m). Slim and lithe like the Idayn, though Danaij females had wider hips and larger breasts than female Idayn. In direct contrast to the fair white skin of the Idayn, the Danaij were given black skin (not dark brown, but true black) with subtle undertones of color—commonly blue or violet but sometimes red, or green (these should be stated as blue-black, red-black, and so on). While the white hair of the Danaij is not such a contrast to the pale blondes of the Idayn, Ispa found the contrast of white on black favorable still. The original Danaij were given red eyes like Ispa herself, but later generations became more varied in eye color, including gold, yellow, orange, violet, blue, and green. They have the long, tapered ears of all elemental races. Danaij typically have an attractive facial structure with symmetrical and fine features, much like the Idayn.
Modern Danaij have more variety to their appearance than their forebearers, which can be attributed more to dense Danaij population in the Forsaken Land rather than human interbreeding. The Danaij society is broken into castes based on social status, with many members of this caste sharing similar traits which they find desirable. The highest castes include Danaij whose appearances are more true to their original ancestors. Those of the royal and noble caste are mostly around 6’ (males) and 5’7” (females), with a variation of two or three inches. This homogeneity is not achieved through selective breeding, but through selective parentage. Higher castes may often have bastard children with lower castes, but these offspring are not recognized as legitimate, so their traits are not perpetuated into the higher castes. Lower castes have a wider variety of traits due to their higher population, which over time has allowed for mutations in appearance traits to be propagated, as well as mixed human, Danaij’vai, and other influences. Lower caste Danaij may range from several inches shorter to several inches taller than the noble castes.
Danaij fashion varies between castes, but in general their preference is to flattering cuts of cloth with high collars. Women often show a fair amount of skin, especially the higher caste women, or slaves in noble households. Higher castes of course have access to finer fabrics and more elaborate designs, including clothing woven with shadow ore. Shadow ore is an ethereal element that the Danaij mine and turn into many items that can be manipulated by their darkness elementalism. Clothing woven from shadow ore is wispy black and ephemeral, but only worn by the highest castes due to the difficulty in weaving, the danger of shadow ore mining, and low resources.
Lifespan and Reproduction
The Danaij are long-lived, but not immortal like the Idayn. Their lifespans vary across their castes. Members of the noble castes can live for upwards of a thousand years, while pure-blooded members of the lowest castes can live for only around five hundred years. Like other elemental races, they age slowly after reaching maturity at around the early twenties, maturing at a rate similar to humans until the age of twenty-five when they reach physical and psychological maturity, after which point they cease visible signs of aging until their final century, at which point they gradually age until death.
The Danaij are more fertile than other elemental races; females ovulate about once a season (four times a year) for a week at a time. Women of the higher castes bear up to two to four children throughout their lifetime, often evenly spaced, though women of lower castes often bear up to six or more, sometimes as many as their body can handle. They are often aware of their ovulation cycles and can avoid unwanted pregnancies with a little diligence—though Vauth, members of the slave caste, may not have have such a privilege. As with most races, gestation is nine months. Danaij can reproduce with most other races, and there are many Danaij and human, and Danaij’vai and Danaij hybrids, especially amongst the slave caste.
The Danaij are a highly sexual people, especially in the higher castes, which can be quite debauched. Marriage is practiced, but monogamy rarely is. Amongst the nobles, marriages are often carefully arranged to ensure ideal progeny in keeping with the castes. Most individuals can marry up or down one caste and have the union be legally recognized, and any offspring considered legitimate. Polygamy is not practiced amongst the Danaij, but concubinage is. In most higher class marriages (in the Vana castes, as well as the Shan and Chau), wife and husband are both allowed to keep concubines (male and female) whom are often either slaves, Rothet, or below Vana caste. Spouses have a duty to each other and only the children they bear together have legitimate claims to the family’s holdings. It is not uncommon for female concubines to bear the children of their master, and these children may be allowed certain privileges to get ahead in life. Though, if the mistress of the house becomes pregnant by one of her concubines, she is usually quick to turn to abortifacients to terminate the pregnancy rather than bear it to term. Concubines are usually expected to be loyal to their master and mistress, but they may be given permission, or even ordered to be with other people. Consorts, on the other hand—individuals of the same caste with whom a married individual has an affair—are often against the rules of the marriage (though this is open to preference—some spouses may allow these affairs) and can lead to turmoil and divorce. Though, a child born of such a union will be considered pure of blood and allowed a claim of legitimacy from either parent’s holdings.
The relationships of the Danaij can be a vast and complicated sea of options, depending on local traditions, sexuality, and sexual kinks. Many Danaij are bisexual—though complete homosexuality is rare, and often shunned in high society. Marriage is more of an assurance of ideal offspring rather than a binding contract of monogamy. Each couple may have their own sexual proclivities—one might be a voyeur who enjoys seeing his wife with other men, another might enjoy the thrill of having secret affairs behind her husband’s back. With such things prevalent in Danaij society, it leaves the rules of their relations hard to define.
Diet, Agriculture, and Hunting
The Danaij farm most of their food, and hunt mainly for sport. The Rothet are responsible for farming food for their nation, but the food they grow is quite alien to the people of the rest of the world. The Danaij grow fruits, vegetables, grains, and fungi that grow only under the dark, overcast skies of the Forsaken Land. Many plants also have toxic properties, but the Danaij are either immune to these toxins or can enjoy them in small doses as delicacies. Much of their livestock is similar to the animals used in other parts of the world, but with unique, hardier breeds, and some native species that have been adapted for food or labor.
The Danaij also make many wines and liquors from the exotic fruits and other plants of their homeland, drinks that can be powerfully strong, and even lethal to non-natives of their land. Outside of the Forsaken Land, these wines and liquors are often illegal, but prized by connoisseurs.
Religion
The Danaij are the people of Ispa, Goddess of Darkness, but they also worship her children as seen fit. The worship of the Gods of Darkness is the religion of all of the Forsaken Land, and overseen by the Danaij’s Chau caste. The worship of other gods is forbidden in all of the nations of their land, but on occasion, some Danaij may shun tradition and their gods. These Danaij are heretics to their people, and prime candidates for sacrifice, so most non-dark worshiping Danaij simply leave the Forsaken Land without making their beliefs known.
Danaij outside of the Forsaken Land are rarely dark worshipers. They often either attempt to worship other gods, or give up on worship all together.
Magic and Abilities
Danaij have the power of
Dark Elementalism from the shades bound to their souls. It is a more subtle form of elementalism in most cases, manipulating shadows and darkness. The Danaij also use a dark substance called “shadow ore” that is mined from astral crevasses and can be applied to a number of materials that allow Danaij to work with them through their magic. The Chau and Vana castes are the most powerful elementalists.
Aside from magic, the Danaij have better hearing (a trait of the elemental races) and far better night vision than humans. In combat, they are better suited to espionage and subterfuge, and are more agile than physically strong. When wars are fought, heartier Rothet and Vauth castes are recruited as foot soldiers while Shan serve as leaders at the behest of the Vana castes. They can still be formidable warriors, but they rely on speed and agility rather than brute strength.
Personality
Danaij are generally considered to be “evil” to the standards of opposing races. While they often tend to be deceptive, seductive, perverse, manipulative, cunning, and sometimes outright malicious, this doesn’t necessarily make them “evil”. They are arrogant, especially in the higher castes, though Rothet and Vauth are often much more humble. Nobility are often the worst offenders, and the most corrupt and morally bankrupt.
The amount to which an individual uses their dark elementalism is proportional to their negative behavior, as it is the influence of the shade spirit bound to their soul. Danaij who often use dark elementalism tend to tip more towards “amoral”, while those who use it less are the opposite. Danaij who chose to reject dark worship will rarely use their elementalism, if at all, allowing them to better balance their personality.
Relations
The Danaij have few allies, and arrogantly look down on most other races. In the Forsaken Land, humans are subjugated to either Danaij rule, or at least to their church. Some humans may disdain the Danaij and follow only out of fear of their lives, while others aspire to please them. The Danaij have more respect for the Asath and vampires (many of whom are former Danaij themselves).
Outside of the Forsaken Land, Danaij are a persecuted minority. Nearly all races will be reluctant to accept wayward Danaij and consider them to be evil and dangerous, possibly even killing them if discovered. Some Danaij have managed to carve out small colonies in more worldly port cities, especially Gites of Serdenaugh.
Play-ability
The Danaij have few allies, and arrogantly look down on most other races. In the Forsaken Land, humans are subjugated to either Danaij rule, or at least to their church. Some humans may disdain the Danaij and follow only out of fear of their lives, while others aspire to please them. The Danaij have more respect for the Asath and vampires (many of whom are former Danaij themselves).
Outside of the Forsaken Land, Danaij are a persecuted minority. Nearly all races will be reluctant to accept wayward Danaij and consider them to be evil and dangerous, possibly even killing them if discovered. Some Danaij have managed to carve out small colonies in more worldly port cities, especially Gites of Serdenaugh.