Atlanteans:

The following news files will give you information about the sea-dwelling Atlanteans; one of the four elemental races of this world. If you would like to choose an Atlantean background for your character, please read each one carefully, and contact a member of the staff if you have any questions.

For more information about the Atlanteans, visit The Atlanteans, created by Asherah@Aether.

History:

It has been said by some that Atlantis did not always exist beneath the ocean's waves. That once, long ago, it was a city like any other in that it lay situated above the sea, but unlike any other in its grandeur and opulence. At the time, it was the city of cities -- rich and vast; a mecca of the arts, sciences, and technology. Travelers came from all the corners of the earth to visit that city, and came away with tales of wonder for all that Atlantis had to offer. It was legendary, even then.

But fame is fleeting, and disaster struck the city. Some say it was a storm that swept Atlantis from the earth -- others contest that it was a volcano or earthquake, and still others insist that a flood was responsible. Only one thing is certain -- when the catastrophe passed, Atlantis was no more.

It was swallowed up by the ocean, and there it remained for centuries -- no more than a colossal ruin to be whispered about in ancient tales. But while Atlantis may have been lost to those who live above the sea, it was soon discovered by those who live beneath.

They were not called Atlanteans then. Perhaps they had some name for themselves that was never spoken aloud, but only in their "mind-speak." They were barely known to the races of the earth save in myths told to children. Those many millennia ago, they lived in small colonies or tribes, and shied away from discovery by the other races. But when Atlantis was found, that changed. They had a home -- a place to build and expand, and to call their own.

Their shapers restored the crumbling ruins, using coral and shell and stone to rebuild the structures, and the far-roaming colonies soon congregated in the underwater city. Their leaders were hailed as kings and queens, and ten royal families were established, just as had been described in the ancient tales of Atlantis. Under their reign, Atlantis prospered, and other cities were founded until an entire network of undersea kingdoms were connected like spokes of a wheel to the realm that had started it all.

It was around this time that the Atlanteans first made themselves known to the other races. Not through warfare or an attempt at conquest, but peacefully, with the hand of friendship extended. Atlanteans wanted to learn from the other races, not dominate them. Theirs had always been a more scholarly approach, and they used that same philosophy when making first contact with the other denizens of Aether.

With the Empyreans, they formed a lasting alliance, for the two cultures had similar ideals. But their offer of peace was rejected by the Varati, and since then, tensions have never entirely been eased between the two races. The Sylvans were an enigma -- they seemed to have little interest beyond their forest homes, and the Atlanteans never knew quite what to make of those woodland people. Still, contact had been made, and it wasn't long before the Atlanteans were playing pivotal roles in the formation of Delphi and the rise of the neutral city, Haven.

Which brings us to the present day, where the Atlanteans are the premier diplomats and ambassadors between the varying realms, trying to keep the peace in a time when the threat of war runs high. They are still the foremost scholars and historians of Aether, and many of that world's great philosophers and thinkers were of Atlantean blood.

And yet ... there is still much of the Atlantean history that is unknown. The preceding was merely an abridged version, and the details are known only to the Atlantean "lorekeepers." Their kind may promote peace and goodwill between the other children of Aether, yet they keep themselves apart, and rarely offer more detailed glimpses into their past. Some say they have something to hide.

And those same few might say that the water-race was not always so peaceful -- that before there were written records, the Atlanteans held dominance over Aether by force, and only now are they seeking to make amends for those ancient, bloody conflicts. And that there is more to the sinking of Atlantis than what the stories reveal ... and that it may have been the last true link between the world of Aether and another one, which is now only spoken of in old myths and legends: Earth.

Society:

There are three classes in the largely tranquil society of Atlantis. Few of the Atlanteans have much interest in government, politics, and relations above the ocean's surface, but by necessity such things must be undertaken by someone. The Decemvirate of kings, the civil servants, and the diplomats are all considered to be part of the Ephorate, the governing class; membership is mostly hereditary, for usually only those Atlanteans raised to take an active interest in politics ever manage to achieve such a position.

The second, and smallest class in Atlantean society is that of the rigidly structured clergy of Pasiphae. Due to the age and presumed importance of this order, which includes both men and women, they are shown a degree of greater respect. In manner, however, the clergy seem no different than any other Atlanteans, and are often only identifiable by their headdresses and jewelry.

The third class simply consists of anyone who isn't part of the previous two, the masses of Atlantean citizens who live a life of leisure in their undersea home. They typically concern themselves with matters of philosophy, art, architecture, and idle conversation, but they are not truly so lazy as the stories indicate. A strong altruistic nature predominates the race, and each willingly does his part for the society, whether it be in beautifying Atlantis itself, tending to the kelp gardens, or drawing in the daily meals with the hunting nets.

There is no known antipathy between the classes, for they only differ from each other in occupation; those of the clergy and Ephorate do not look down upon the citizens -- on the contrary, those citizens often jest goodnaturedly at those unfortunates who must take on the more weighty duties. Generally, however, it is an easy life for all who choose to remain beneath the waters, and the Atlanteans pride themselves on their civility.

With their telepathic and empathic methods of communication, miscommunication is nearly impossible, and strife between the denizens of Atlantis is quite uncommon.

Atlanteans who leave their undersea home for open air often find speech to be an awkward way of communicating, but to all appearances they do not find it difficult. Those accustomed to speech are often eloquent, if soft-spoken, and are particularly polite to others, even when provoked. They are incredibly honest people, and the ability to lie does not come easily to them -- not to say they are incapable of falsehood, but most would suffer a severe sense of 'wrongness' in speaking anything but the truth. As a result of their honest reputations, they have a tendency to be ridiculed as naive or dull-witted, and are constant targets for those with unscrupulous aims. Though truthful, the Atlanteans are often quite shrewd, and those assuming them to be dullards might be in for a surprise.

Philosophy:

The Atlanteans are the most cognitive of the four races, and are particularly preoccupied with thoughts and philosophies. Often considered in other realms to be sophists and time-wasters, the largely carefree lifestyle of the undersea people gives them leave to think and communicate with each other more frequently, and their telepathy often conveys a broad range of thoughts and ideas with an ease that cannot be matched by audible speech. Not unlike philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, More, and Thoreau, they are concerned with the creation and maintenance of a perfect society, and upon studying their own city, often question each other whether or not they have achieved it, or at least approach the goal closely. They are largely a peaceful people, who desire little conflict with the other races beyond friendly haggling in surface markets; mercantilism being a source of constant amusement among Atlanteans, who place no true monetary value on objects and have no currency of their own, save that with which they humor surface-dwellers.

Religion:

There are several variations to the religion of the Atlanteans, but they are all largely shamanistic in nature. At the least complicated level, the Atlanteans venerate the water itself; the substance found in all living things, which all life requires to sustain itself. Living within the depths of the sea is, perhaps, the highest form of this worship, for at almost all times the Atlantean is in contact with the cold waters. These telepathic peoples also 'associate' closely with aquatic life, whether it be to prompt a school of fish into their nets, or to communicate more civilly with some of the ocean's greater, more elusive, and more intelligent creatures. All are respected as various agents of the ocean itself; some are simply there to nourish the Atlanteans, others are regarded more as allies.

An older and rarer faith exists among the Atlanteans, from which the more simplistic water-worship evolved. The newer faith is more a way of life than a religion, but the worship of the Goddess Pasiphae ("She who Shines on All") still continues, though its priesthood is somewhat diminished at present. The Goddess is a mistress of beasts, a ruler of nature, who is shown honor through the occasional sacrificial feast. She is also a celestial figure, embodied in the moon itself -- where other races have often looked to the sun as the center of life, the Atlanteans seldom see its light, and concern themselves more with the moon, whose waxing and waning affects the tides. The oldest stories indicate that this faith may have been more savage, long ago, involving more sentient sacrifices, but that may simply be myth, and it is one the Priests vehemently deny.

Ephorate:

Historically, Atlantis had been ruled by a Decemvirate of ten kings, but the royalty is a fading tradition in these modern times. Although the Decemvirate is maintained, the kings hold less power than they used to, and most of the governing influence is found in the Ephorate. Made up of politicians, diplomats, civil servants, and ambassadors, the Ephorate ensures that the city and its outlying territories operate smoothly and efficiently. They oversee both foreign and domestic matters, and play a significant part in the exchange of goods with other colonies and races. The Ephorate is fairly small in number, and most of their members are born and raised in that field, though it is not completely uncommon for outsiders with the inclination and talent for that kind of work to join the ruling class.

The following list shows the ten Decemvirate names and corresponding territories (Aether is not Earth, but it mirrors our planet, geographically). Members of the Ephorate typically hail from one of them.

• Amaris: Amarisian (Southern Atlantic)
• Ipponis: Ipponisian (South Pacific and Australian Coastlines)
• Lir: Lirites (North Sea, Irish Sea, and Baltic Sea)
• Orcinus: Orcini (Pacific Rim and Sea of Japan)
• Organil: Organili (Pacific Ocean)
• Orman: Ormani (Mediterranean Sea)
• Pandion: Pandionite (Indian Ocean and Indonesian Islands)
• Phorcys: Phorcysians (Black Sea)
• Salacia: Salacian (Great Lakes and Arctic Ocean)
• Triton: Tritonian (Northern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico)

City:

The submerged city of Atlantis is perhaps even more renowned than the home of the Empyreans, and is less accessible. Few save the Atlanteans themselves have ever laid eyes upon it, for only those capable of breathing underwater and surviving in the frigid temperatures of the deep ocean are able to reach it without significant magical assistance. The city itself consists of almost entirely one sprawling edifice; a large palace in which nearly the entire populace resides. To a visitor, the construction makes little sense: winding, seemingly endless corridors, haphazard additions attached with no understandable aesthetic principle, great halls and galleries with ceilings of only the great ocean.

How, precisely, the Atlanteans transport these rare visitors to their home is an unknown and likely arcane process, but there are many stories of an enormous "courtyard" in the center of Atlantis; old and powerful magics maintain an atmosphere of breathable air, and foster the growth of a grove of trees and other surface agriculture. Here, a small manor houses those rare guests.

It is thought that the city of Atlantis bears many secrets. What use could the underwater race have for stairs and paved paths? For what purpose do they reside in such a large, chaotic palace, when their race has no need of shelter from the elements? It is known that the stone from which the city is built is very old, and that its corridors show signs of wear from footfalls; at one time, then, Atlantis was not an undersea realm. How and why the palace sank beneath the depths is, however, a secret known only to the Atlanteans -- if even they recall.

Resources:

The following lists show what resources the Atlanteans are known for:

Trade-Goods (Items/Services Atlanteans need from other races):

Population:

Magical Breakdown:

Description:

Atlanteans are perhaps the most varied of the races in terms of appearance. Like the Sylvans, the affinity for magic is frequent in their progeny, and almost all of them possess some mild level of telepathy. Shapeshifting is nearly as common, for both were a means of adapting to their element. Telepathy was necessary for communication, and shaping their bodies allowed them to survive underwater. It was a mix of evolution and magic that gave them the ability to grow fins, tails, gills, and other aquatic attributes.

This high concentration of shapeshifters among their race accounts for tales of mermaids, mermen, selkies, and other water sprites. Some are fixed in a stage between human and animal -- they might have the tail of a fish or dolphin and the upper torso of a man or woman. And while this would technically make them "graisha," they are not burdened with the predatory nature that might alienate them from their kind. Only in rare cases, such as when a shapeshifter takes on the aspects of a shark, are they banished from society.

Despite this wide range of appearances, there are some general similarities. An Atlantean's eyes are usually pale green or blue, like the underside of an ocean wave. Skin color ranges from a smooth, sandy white to the deep brown of sealskin. And any hue the sea provides can be found topping the crowns of its people -- hair color varying from ffoam-white to sleek black, or even the bright shades of algae, coral, and kelp. Their fingers and toes are typically webbed to allow them greater speed in the water, and some might have fins along their backs, arms, and calves to promote ease of movement. All of them have gills, barely visible at either side of their throats, which allow them to breathe underwater.

Their clothing is scanty at best. Rarely do they feel the cold, and temperatures that would be freezing to others are only a mild irritation to Atlanteans. Among their own kind, they wear jewelry fashioned of shells and pearls or ornamental headdresses, and an occasional loincloth. But as the other races are more particular about modesty, Atlanteans will don loose, flowing garments that don't hinder their movements.

For more information, see the terms files on items such as the sari, sarong, or zoris. Weapons include spears, knives, or swords, generally crafted from stone, coral, or bone. Armor is rare, although some might wear breastplates, arm- and leg-guards. But for the most part, Atlanteans are pacifists, and they use their weapons for hunting rather than fighting.

Atlanteans typically live to be from 100-120 years old.

For clothing or description ideas, check out the following sites:

• The Blades of War
• Hawaii's Living History: Makahiki Season
• Mermaid.Net

Names:

With their emphasis on learning and observation, Atlanteans tend to pick up aspects of other cultures more readily. One example is in the way they name their children. Varati, Sylvan, and Empyreal names have all been adopted by the underwater race, mainly because they are easier to translate. Atlanteans have been using telepathy to communicate for centuries, and names they use in "mind-speech" sound different when spoken aloud.

Also, although the Atlanteans do have an ancient, written language aside from telepathy, this language is sacred. Only the priests are allowed to speak and write it; to use it with an outsider is sacrilegious. For these reasons, Atlanteans reserve their own language for rites and rituals, and adopt words or phrases from the other races for their common names.

Atlanteans typically list their family name before their personal name. Thus, Ronan from the house "Amaris" would list "Amaris Ronan" as his full name. Strangers would address him in that manner; friends use his given name.

Female: Alima (sea maiden), Amaris (child of the moon), Cari (flowing like water), Coral (coral), Darda (pearl of wisdom), Delmari (of the sea), Delphine (dolphin), Delora (from the sea coast), Doria (from the ocean), Ghita (pearl), Halcyone (sea-conceived), Halimeda (thinking of the sea), Hama (shore), Janeva (white wave), Kai (seawater), Kenda (child of clear water), Kishi (beach), Konane (bright as moonlight), Lana (buoyant), Lorelei (river siren), Mahina (moon), Marina (from the sea), Maris (of the sea), Meri (guardian from the sea), Meriel (sea-bright), Morgana (bright sea dweller), Naida (water nymph), Nerida (sea nymph), Nerine (one from the sea), Nerissa (daughter of the sea), Nixie (water sprite), Odessa (long voyage), Ondine (little wave), Pelagia (ocean), Penina (coral), Perla (pearl), Rea (stream), Riva (shore), Sagara (ocean), Salacia (sea goddess), Selima (tranquil), Sirena (mermaid), Tethys (queen of the sea), Thalassa (sea), Thetis (ocean), Vanora (white wave)

Male: Achelous (river god), Akar (flowing water), Annan (from the brook), Cal (cool, clear spring), Cori (misty pool), Dagon (little fish), Dalit (to draw water), Dar (pearl), Delmore (of the sea), Deror (free-flowing), Dorian (child of the sea), Dugald (from the dark water), Dylan (son of the sea), Earvin (friend of the sea), Havmand (merman), Inek (sea friend), Kai (sea-water), Kenn (bright water), Lamar (close to the sea), Lir (sea), Manannan (sea god), Merwyn (sea lover), Misu (rippling water), Morgan (sea dweller), Morven (child of the sea), Moshe (saved from the water), Murdock (sea fighter), Nereus (old man of the sea), Orman (sea-man), Palaemon (god of harbors), Pasha (from the sea), Phorcys (sea divinity), Radnor (red shore), Ronan (little seal), Scamander (river god), Seger (sea fighter), Tinnin (sea serpent), Triton (sea god), Xanthus (river), Zale (sea-strength)

Also, see the supplemental names page, for some additional examples.

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