<span class="bbc_u">The People of Ciraxis</span><br/>Humans<br/><br/>Humans were somehow not affected by the Curse. Human offspring with non-humans follow a peculiar quirk, as it turns out children of a Fey and Human are always Fey. With all non-human men gone, human men have become a commodity of sorts. Their social status is close to an indentured servant but not quite. They are allowed to be soldiers, craftsmen and so forth (pursuing whatever their talents lend them to) but their numbers and activities are watched and their actions tracked. Men are generally no longer allowed to hold higher positions of governance or authority as their desires might need to be overridden. They are not immune to the dangers of Cursed creatures, as there are plenty of female Cursed who would love nothing more than to get their hands on what has become a rare specimen.<br/><br/>This new social order did not go over all that well with human society which had for many centuries prided itself on independence and a cultural history of valor and honor. However, humans are the epitome of pragmatism mixed with ingenuity. Being so, they have begrudgingly adapted to this new life. But unlike the Fey races, they are hopeful and not willing to accept their fate, fighting the good fight. Human family could not hold onto to its more traditional makeup. Although men and women still marry, it is more of a declaration of the man’s “owner.” Human women enter into arrangements with Fey about who has access and when to their husbands, in exchange for various favors, tasks or whatever the Fey have to offer. At first, young men are quite agreeable but the shine quick fades as they come to realize these relationships lack genuine companionship. Human women are not exactly happy either and bear significant resentment for their current situation but also the demand for men gives them unique leverage which some will exploit; sometimes simply petty revenge but other times things more cruel. It is clear to everyone in Ciraxis this situation cannot continue indefinitely and it is unlikely to resolve itself without violence. Rarely, a man and woman will attempt to stay true to each other. It is not illegal for men and women to maintain monogamy, but the societal consequences can be great. Including active sabotage to get the couple expelled from the walls of Ciraxis, which is akin to a death sentence.<br/><br/>Dryads<br/><br/>The culture of the Dryad is that of a warrior-caste society. They are known among the Fey as the warrior poets of Hanlanil. In earlier times, their ways were far more secretive. Dryads took to deep forests for their homes and villages, gathering in groups usually no more than a few hundred with “cities” of a few thousand being extremely rare. Their society is communitarian. They all exist for their clan and their clan for them. Despite their caste system they do share some of the egalitarian beliefs of their elf cousins. One’s place in the clan, called circles, is earned through demonstration of physical skill and mental fortitude. Those in lower circles are not treated as inferiors, instead seen as not yet having achieved their potential. The circles represent phases of being, understanding and skill to be earned through discipline, not impenetrable class barriers. That said the hierarchy is expected to be strictly obeyed. Dryads of higher circles words are to be followed, their decisions unquestioned. In turn those of the higher circle are expected to follow the ways of Hanlanil and now abuse their power.<br/><br/>There are nine circles, when represented visually they are concentric circles with the out circle being the 9th and the circle for newborns the young. Upon reaching adulthood but before finishing their trials a Dryad is in the 8th circle. After passing the trials of adulthood they are in the 7th. From that point on, moving through the circles, towards the center, is by ritual and deed. Each clan has their own traditions and tests and what these are for each circle can vary widely. The one common link is that those already in the circle must agree that the petitioner be granted the honor. Disputes are settled by members of the next higher circle. The first two circles are known as the circles of the young as they are reserved for those who have not reached maturity in the eyes of the clan. The 7th through 5th are known as the outer circle while the 4th through 2nd are the inner circle. There are no restrictions as to who may be in anyone one circle at any time, just that they must all be occupied, nor is a Dryad expected to make their way through all circles. However, not reaching the inner circles is considered as a failure of character. Except due to premature death; those who die due to accident or disease is seen as a tragedy that their life could not be fulfilled. Those that die in battle are honored and may even be granted acceptance to inner circles posthumously.<br/><br/>The one exception is the 1st circle. This is always only occupied by three and it is through great ceremony and honor upon the death of a member of the 1st circle that a replacement is chosen. For the members of the 1st circle are the wisest and strongest and represent the leaders of the clan, they are the very expression of the will of the clan. The Branch is the loremaster and keeper of arcane secrets, the Trunk is the greatest warrior and tactician while the Root has always been female and is the clan Mother, one of compassion and diplomacy.<br/><br/>The Curse turned the very lands and forests that protected the Dryads against them. They Dryads were the last to give up on their ancestral homes and rumors speak of clans that still hold out in the deepest, most secret of places. The vast majority (if not all) had to retreat to the lands of the elves and were in turn driven to the lands of humans. The Dryads are the most resentful of the conditions they live in now. Both because they can no longer move freely among nature but also that they had to turn to humans for help which deep down they feel shows a great weakness of their kind. In truth, their small numbers were simply no match for the Curse that had even twisted plants into monstrous, life sucking abominations. They hate the fact that their secretive society has been exposed to others. Life in crowded Ciraxis allows little to go unnoticed by someone.<br/><br/>They forcibly have taken over the Temple of Hanlanil to hold their ceremonies against vehement protest from the other races. The Dryad’s stubbornness and value as warriors eventually won out and the people of Ciraxis have reluctantly given up their temple in order to keep peace. Many of the Dryads are refugees when their clan homes eventually fell. As such they have come together in Ciraxis and formed a new clan, who continues to accept any refugees that make their way to the walls. Much of the internal drama of Dryad politics revolves around the fact that some clans had significantly more survivors than others and squabbling among old rivalries dominates the circle.<br/><br/>Faeries<br/><br/>The whimsical Faeries were said to have been sprung into existence when Hanlanil first laughed. Mischievous but kind hearted, the smallest, winged member of the Fey are known for their odd proclivities. They are also well-known for their natural aptitude towards magic, so the use of this talent for their own amusement annoys the other Fey. Their curiosity is equal to if not greater than humans. This can lead them into trouble as objects of their affection cannot be sure if they are being teased or tormented. They never maintained a civilization of their own, instead living on the outskirts or at furthest a stone’s throw of elven and human societies. Faeries live off the bounty of the land and if their living style had to be classified it would best be called nomadic. If somewhere becomes too difficult to live, they move on.<br/><br/>As fellow Fey, they were tolerated by the elves despite what is seen by them as odd behavior. The elves saw them as a type of necessary element of life and a reminder of the importance of humility and poise mirrored by the boisterous and reckless Faerie. Elves offered safe haven, community and comfort in the world. But for reasons that Faeries themselves probably cannot quite explain, they took an immediate liking to humans. Even though humans were far less likely to tolerate their behavior and several times actively tried to drive them away. Most scholars think that the elves are just too stodgy and serene while interactions with humans provoke strong reactions. Faeries seem most happy in the midst of emotions and it is for this reason they prank, tease, sneer, mock, laugh, love and celebrate life. It is just most others cannot keep pace. Over time these misunderstandings caused humans to take up superstitions to try to keep them at bay. A game at which the Faeries were more than happy to play, if only to see what extreme lengths humans were willing to go to. There is a common story among them that one man nailed everything he had to the ceiling and hung ropes so he would live upside down, thinking it would finally stop a faerie from stealing his comb.<br/><br/>There is no formal structure to Faerie society, as they go where the winds take them. Although not the most rare of Fey, in the past it was unusual to see more than a dozen together at once. Even if hundreds or thousands might make their homes nearby, they are prone to make their dwellings either high up or down low. Isolated tops of trees, even buildings, or comfortable warm dens in the ground, hidden by brush and nature was where they could be found. Faeries occasionally like to gather in secret in large numbers as they revel into the night and the following morning but these are spontaneous. They love freely, only pairing together for their children to reach maturity before going their separate ways. In the time after the Curse they are known to steal into a man’s bedchamber if alone at night and be gone, not bothering to have them even help raise children should the union result in one.<br/><br/>In Ciraxis, the Faeries seem the most negatively impacted. Forced to remain as the countryside has become far too dangerous to move around in, as with the Dryad’s, nature itself has turned against them. However they do not have the familial bonds or cultural discipline that keeps Dryad’s strong. Faeries feel as if they are languishing, rotting in a trap. They are no so fanciful as to discard their need to survive so they try their best to adapt and offer their skills to help. Their wings give them some ability to find respite from what they see as ever increasing drudgery. Faeries have made a makeshift town of sorts among the masts of the numerous ships forever moored in the harbor where they can literally rise above the problems of the world.<br/><br/>Elves<br/><br/>The Elves compromised the greatest and most advanced civilizations on Arlin. They are long lived, giving them unique insight into the forces that drive the world and prone to trust their intuition which to other races might seem like divination. Elves are deliberate and graceful which many interpret as detached and haughty. In truth they feel passions just as strongly as anyone else but have learned that rash behavior has devastating consequences and wild emotion can lead to tragedy. Therefore they have developed a more reasoned look at things which is reflected through all aspects of their culture.<br/><br/>Their clothes are extremely practical in function, made from superior materials and methods but not lacking in beauty and grace. They will often be accented with complex and striking patterns. They are excellent craftsman and do not hesitate to show it.<br/><br/>Nymphs<br/><br/>(more detail to come for elves and humans and nymphs)<br/>